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Strada 57 Ristorante Italiano
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
315 W 57th St(between 8th Ave & 9th Ave)
New York, NY 10019
Neighborhoods: Hell's Kitchen, Midtown West
(212) 757-1620
- Nearest Transit:
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59 St - Columbus Circle (1, 2, A, B, C, D)
57 St - 7 Av (N, Q, R)
7 Av (B, D, E)
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
34 reviews for Strada 57 Ristorante Italiano
Review Highlights
"Good wine list with nice Italians for around $40."
(in 6 reviews)
"Strada does offer a 24.95 prix-fixe as well."
(in 5 reviews)
"The wait staff was pleasant and attentive, and the menu has..."
(in 3 reviews)
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34 reviews in English
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Review from Danielle J.
West Village, Manhattan, NY
4/30/2011
Passed TOTALLY randomly when en route elsewhere and my boyfriend spied the happy hour mojitos sign in the window, so returned post a normal midday drink elsewhere.
While they didnt have the mint on hand (which was odd given the sign was up)...bartender left for a (long) while and returned with mint. Once he returned however, the coconut mojito was AMAZING. Mango which bartender recommended also good, but coconut is the way to go.
Only got 3 between the two of us and were fairly wasted afterwards (a rarity for this one). Super random place (and italian so i was expecting pretty horrid mojitos), wouldnt go there for the food - but if in the area for their all day happy hour, MUST check it out.
side note - bartender claimed sylvester stallone had been there the night before - which struck me as very odd/unlikely, but still funny -
Review from Steve C.
New York, NY
4/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Kind and attentive staff. Prices are extremely reasonable for the area.
Jon L. And I had the calamari as an appetizer, was nice that we each got our own plate and lemon for vest but the taste was mediocre.
Noticed after that waiter never gave us the specials. Not a terribly big deal but would have been nice to know.
Had the linguini with artichoke and mushrooms. It was very good. Tasted like it came with wheat pasta. It didn't say that in the menu but it was nice because it's healthier but would have been nice to know. -
Review from john k.
New York, NY
11/27/2011
Had the pre fix menu which was tasty but rather small.
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Review from Marc I.
Montville, NJ
1/7/2011
This is a really nice place to take someone who you want to impress and don't want to spend a lot of money. The service was excellent, very attentive waiter and he knew all the specials from memory after a long night. We did go later than normal so it wasn't crowded. If you do go late, it is much more romantic. The decor is stylish too.
My girl had the lasgna and I had the chicken marsala. It was classic Chicken Marsala and had a boutiful of mushrooms and the marsala sauce was very good. Chicken was cooked well, not over done and not dry.
She had the lasgna and I tasted it and I felt it was not that good, she said she liked it but I felt she was just being nice. The lasgna was cold in the middle and boiling on the outside, which means they just nuked it. I understand if they made it earlier in the day but at least show some temperature consistancy.
Overall the place was very good and had great service. I would recommend it because of the price and service. -
Review from Alayna J.
New York, NY
7/12/2010
I had my birthday dinner here and it was a great experience. The staff asked if we wanted to be seated even though half of the party wasn't there yet. We graciously accepted and the waiter was very patient with us as we waited about 45 mins for others to arrive before ordering.
I was planning to do the prix-fixe which was a great deal, $24.95 for three courses. But after the waiter read the specials, I wanted to get the avaocado salad instead of the appetizers on the prix-fixe. This was a good choice because the salad was really good. My main, however, was not as exciting. I got the Romana (fettuccine with chicken, prosciutto, shitake mushrooms, tomato sauce) because I love prosciuttio, but I could barely find it in the dish. it was diced rather than big slices like I am used to, and the whole dish was very bland.
Luckily, everyone sitting around me had really good dishes that they all enjoyed and they let me have some of theirs. The chicken with aspargus was one of the favorites at the table. Someone also ordered a risotto dish which I thought was by far the most delicious of everything.
All in all, good food, good price, and good service. I had made a reservation, but it was a Saturday night and it never seemed to get too crowded so I bet with a regular party you wouldn't need to wait long (if at all) if you came without a reservation. -
Review from Amber M.
New York, NY
7/17/2010
It looks like the kind of place you'd take your grandma but inside, everyone was actually Italian and the food was fresh, well prepared and well plated. Fresh pasta, perfectly prepared meat. Traditional Italian favorites on the menu as well as a good selection of appetizer and fish specials of the day. Nothing special from the outside, ambiance needs to be updated but the food holds it's own for sure.
Affordable for the high quality of food you get.
Will easily come to mind as a good dinner option after a movie or stroll through Central Park. -
Review from Brandice H.
Staten Island, NY
Updated - 2/4/2009
It's my party, and I'll cry if I want to
Cry if I want to, cry if I want to
You would cry too if it happened to you.
Good thing I did not cry.
I chose Strada 57 Ristorante Italiano to celebrate my 27th birthday with my friends as I had such a wonderful past experience here on my previous visit.
My friend arrived first, then me, then the other member of the party.
The whole time we did not feel rushed, nor did we get that "evil eye" stare wait staff sometimes give diners waiting for their entire group to show up.
After some red wine, we split the appetizer- Buffalo mozzarella with tomato, and olive oil and basil, however the mozzarella tasted slightly off.
I ordered the Gnocchi pesto and it was just as good as the first time I ate it here. And for dessert I ordered the Chocolate Soufflé. It was ORGASMIC.
I didn't get the typical happy birthday song by all of the wait staff as you often find at chain restaurants, but then again, Strada is not a chain restaurant. Moreover it is FAR from it.
The quality of the food was superb.Listed in: Knock ya Socks off
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/7/2008 First to Review
This place is AMAZING!
From the moment I entered the front doors and walked into the foyer the… Read more »
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Review from Tina C.
8/30/2009
After an exhausting long hard work's day at my work place I just wanted to go home and sleep my weary tired body for the night. I meet up with a fellow poet, who coincidentally, is also fellow Yelper at the end of my exhausting work shift of a Friday night. We ventured my work place area for a restaurant and spotted Strada 57 by "winging it."
The service is impeccable as so were the quality of food including the presentation. I was so in the mood for Risotto as well as something sweet to wash away the stress and frustrations from work. The gargantuan pepper mill of approx. three feet in length is, indeed, a conversation ice breaker.
Strada 57 contains a comprehensive wine list mainly from Italy as well as other regions worldwide. The Vanilla - Chocolate Tartufo to my utter suprise contains orangish almond nuts which is so not my cup of tea. Personally I do not like nuts of any format, despite of NOT being allergic to nuts, as I've never had an interest for nuts.
Strada 57's menus are printed on Magna Carta Parchment 8 1/2" X 11" at 65 lb. card stock in cream color of 30% Post-Consumer, which as any avid paper aficionado can easily recognize. -
Review from Rissa M.
Pflugerville, TX
8/20/2008
Had it not been for my dish, I would have rated it higher.
My BF and I sat down on a Monday night and were waiting for a guest. The waiter was very accommodating and did not rush us. We went ahead and ordered our meals as we were unsure if our other person would be joining us. We ended up waiting quite some time before our guest came, and our waiter was extremely accommodating.
The BF got Vodka Penne something which came with Italian sausage meatballs in a thick tomato sauce with peas. His dish was my favorite based on flavor. The sauce was very flavorful and the pasta was cooked perfectly aldente. My only complaint about his dish is that the sausage was very grisly with lots of unchewable grit. His costs 15.99.
The bread was nice, sort of rustic style and very chewy. I got the Prix Fixee dinner option and choose mixed greens, Chicken Marsala, and Tiramasu for 24.99.
The mixed greens were decent with just the right amount of dressing. As I recall, it was more bitter than usual and a bit on the wilted side, but it was still edible.
My Chicken Marsala was not what I expected. Perhaps this is typical of NYC Chicken Marsala, but it came in a brown gravy sauce that already had a skin on it by the time it reached the table. The portions of chicken were generous with 2 full size breasts. The portion of mushrooms in the sauce were also generous with lots of pieces of portabella mixed with button mushrooms. My initial impression of the sauce was that it was the brown gravy that comes in terrible frozen dinners with salisbury steak. I've had others that were slightly tan, but this one was a deep rich stroganoff brown. I wanted to give it a fair shot though, so I set my preconceived notions aside and tasted it.
Ehhhh......
Salty, thick yet watery, something you'd expect to go well with beef not chicken. I honestly wanted to send it back. Not only was the sauce completely out of character for the chicken flavor, the chicken was overcooked! Seriously, I had difficulty cutting the chicken with my butter knife and fork. Very disappointing. Also the chicken itself was flavorless, as if it wasn't cooked with the wine or other ingredients. Instead of being breaded or sauteed, it was white and rubbery.
Anyway, I didn't send it back because I already felt bad for waiting so long at a table for our guest and I ate my fill. I eventually realized that for each bite of chicken, it tasted better with an accompanying bite of mushroom. My boyfriend took one bite and refused anymore. The mushrooms had a great deep flavor, obviously sauteed in a bit of wine. My dish also came with mashed potatoes and veggies. Nothing to write home about there.
When our guest arrived, he had the lasagna which looked and smelled very good. I'm not a big fan of lasagna at Italian restaurants unless it is really special, but I definitely had plate envy.
Oh, and the Tiramasu was pretty good too. I really enjoyed theirs. -
Review from Orlando E.
New York, NY
6/16/2008
Out of the blue we dropped in here to grab some nice grub before a movie. Their clientle was mostly composed of Pre-Theater or Carnegie Hall attendees.
Their layout was pretty open and comfortable. The three of us got a table quickly and were very courteous. I have no complaints about their service and treatment.
The food was nicely prepared and had a fresh flavor to it. I had a gazpacho and seafood Fradiavolo. I have a slight problem though, with the flavor in the food. Whats up with that? The chef must have been quiet shy about it. I suppose the general population of the locale is to blame for that. Seasonings were very tame. Fradiavolo sauce is supposed to be quite spicy, if not hot. Not so here. the Gazpacho was nice and fresh, but it was missing a kick. I am sticking to the 4 stars because the staff was very welcoming and helpful. They offered us some drinks in the house for the our comments on the seasonings. Mind you the dishes tasted nice the way they were, but it wasn't up to what they were meant to be. I would readily go back some time. -
Review from Edward R.
New York, NY
3/16/2009
The lunch price fixe is a good deal for the escalating Columbus Circle neighborhood. Your next cheapest choice after the $14.50 price fixe at Strada 57 is Subway...the Italian BMT perhaps.
Alas, there is no price fixe wine list, so if you choose to indulge at lunch your bill is still going to be high. I did, and felt a little tipsy. The tables are close enough that I thought I heard a nearby patron urging her companion to touch her breasts during the dessert course. He didn't -- which is the only reason why I think I must have misheard it -- because they looked rather irresistible from my vantage point.
The Spaghetti Primavera I ordered was a bit of a disappointment, as it was prepared with a broth that made it seem more like a soup. I always steer clear of noodle soups at lunch because I inevitably splash some on my shirt, and this was no exception. I was expecting a drier spring.
My companion was similarly unenthusiastic about her Tilapia Francese and was also unimpressed by the tiramisu, which I thought was tasty enough.
The price is right for quiet lunch with a friend or for business associates. It's not the best choice for a special lunch, but for that you may want to get out of the neighborhood altogether, unless your tapping into bailout money. -
Review from Chris C.
9/7/2008
My grandma came to the US from Napoli (and she was a wiz in the kitchen, especially peasant food) so, I don't go out for Italian food much. With such a high rating on Yelp, I thought there might be hope. But, it was not to be. I'm not here to judge...much.
The restaurant looks nice enough. The wine list is fine. The salads were ok and we got bread immediately when we sat down. Check, check, check. They have whole wheat pasta which is a plus. But, I will admit that I am hard to please when it comes to Italian food. It gets a little depressing because, though I love to cook, I would like to go out for a great Italian meal once in a while.
Strada 57 is fine and completely inoffensive. It just was not a life changing experience for me. Fair or unfair, that is where I set the bar. We both had the pasta Romana. The sauce ran a little salty and the meat was over done. It was fine for the night but, ehh...(wow, I actually trailed off mid sentence).
Staff was fine. The place seemed clean. I'm just looking for something that rings more Italian and less American Italian.
That's just me. Seriously. No passive aggressive attitude. It really is just me.Listed in: Go to Hell, Tutti a tavolo
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Review from Ann L.
New York, NY
2/1/2010
Stopped by here before seeing an opera at the Met - the food was good but nothing that I would classify as stellar.
I ordered the Fettucini Romana - shittake mushrooms, prosciutto, tomatoes, slight lemon flavor. The portion size was just right. Service was good - they refilled our water multiple times and waiter came by to check on us frequently but not excessively. Only problem - the food took a little longer to arrive, and it's not like the restaurant was bustling with customers everywhere.
I don't know what it is, but there was just something about this place that just made it seem ... average. The food was decent but not particularly memorable, the servers were attentive... there's nothing bad to say about this place but it's not quite in the "elite" category of restaurants. Maybe I'm just being elitist after eating at some other super nice places for Restaurant Week, but I wouldn't mind coming back here for another dinner before an opera :) -
Review from Kristen H.
Manhattan, NY
5/10/2011
It's one of those places you can go to have a decent meal in a nice setting with your coworkers and not spend too much. I went there for the prefixe lunch which is very reasonable. The pasta was decent, but the portions were a bit small. I remember my coworker was complaining that his ravioli only had five small pieces for his main dish. (too bad he was a decent sized guy).. Another good point to make is that the restaurant is very spacious, great for large groups. We had good service and had a good time, but I don't think the food is anything special or spectacular.
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Review from Veronica i.
Chicago, IL
5/8/2011
Went here on a beautiful day after a stroll through Central Park. The food was moderately priced considering it's location and the decor is a little old, but not bad. The place was much bigger than what you would think from the outside, there's a good amount of seating. The menu is not extensive, but all the dishes me and my friends tried were great! The salmon was large and came with a good veggies, the gnocchi and pesto was filling, and the lasagna was tasty! They serve warm bread and the food came out fast. My only dislikes really were the small menu and prices for the salads, they were appetizer/small sized but priced like meals ($10). The music in the background was bad too, wish it was maybe some Italian sounds for a better ambiance.
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Review from Jesse R.
12/6/2008
Strada 57 is a pretty fine Italian establishment. A cozy little restaurant, but with an extensive (and reasonably priced) menu and wine list. I had the tri colore salad (too much onion, but otherwise good) and the mushroom ravioli in a sage butter sauce - tres good! My girlfriend has the caprese app, and the the goat cheese salad (she's a veg). All the dishes were very good, though like Orlando E. said the seasonings are pretty scant.
Service was excellent, but that could be due to the recession and they are desperate to develop loyal customers. Very attentive and friendly, and the manager was Mr. Handshake with all the customers. Romantic ambiance, complete with a classical piano player! I would come here again. -
Review from Tom K.
11/25/2009
Strada 57 is on a somewhat quieter part of 57th Street, with close proximity to the Time Warner Center. In search of a dining location pre-Lincoln Center, we decided to try Strada 57. Much like the National Chorale, the diverse elements of what defines a pleasant dining experience came together in harmony at Strada.
The staff was unusually polite and accommodating. There were genuine smiles on their faces as opposed to other places where I've overheard staff dishing on guests and expressing distaste for their job.
Not so at Strada, where every employee was a pleasure to interact with.
The food was easy on the eyes, delightful in the mouth and gentle on the wallet.
I started with melon prosciutto and was not disappointed. Large slices of prosciutto draped over healthy slices of melon was a great start to the meal.
The pappardelle with lamb ragu was a pleasant surprise. While familiar with beef-based meat sauce, the choice of lamb was a smart one.
Finally the ricotta cake convinced me that next time I should just order three slices and forgo an actual entree.
Strada does offer a 24.95 prix-fixe as well. -
Review from Tamara P.
Manhattan, NY
9/16/2011
Mediocre at best.
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Review from Laurent T.
San Francisco, CA
5/1/2010
For the price of the restaurant, the atmosphere is excellent and the staff is very good.
The food is average. We had the lobster and prawan raviolis, which were average and missing flavor, and the primavera risotto, which was simple and good, but not very well presented. We had the profiteroles for desert, that was a big disappointment for me as the "choux" were not real, and the chocolate is mixed with caramel. -
Review from Zach S.
New York, NY
6/8/2008
I came to Strada 57 based on the review I found on Yelp, and I wasn't disappointed. The wait staff was pleasant and attentive, and the menu has dozens of great choices.
I opted for the Gnocchi Genovese, which is gnocchi in pesto sauce, while my friend decided to order the angel hair pasta with tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. Our appetizer was fried mozzarella, which I cannot recommend enough. The cheese was incredible and the fried casing was absolutely delicious.
With great food and service, Strada 57 proved to be an excellent place for dinner. -
Review from Richard D.
New York, NY
7/12/2009
The prix fixe lunch is a bargain for the neighborhood, the food is good, and the service is quite good.
I've eaten dinner here also, though much less frequently than lunch, and I was not disappointed. I have pretty high standards for Italian food but they know what they are doing. The house wines don't suck. I have seen a few celebrities in here, I don't know if that's because of the proximity to television production studios or if I'm just unlucky.
Also, it is rare that a restaurant stands out in my mind for bread, and I don't know if they bake in house or not, but the bread is always far above par. -
Review from Harrison E.
New York, NY
2/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Italian staff, excellent service, decent wine list, exceptional food with great prices. Food is plated well and the waiters are helpful with selections.
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Review from Adam A.
Brooklyn, NY
1/6/2009
I had a tough time rating this place...
I went here with a group of 11 for New Year's Eve. I was relegated to the neighborhood, so Strada 57 seemed as good as we'd get.
I don't want to say my experience was bad, because it wasn't. I don't want to say my food was bad, because it wasn't.
We were given the pre-fix menu for $59.99 a person. Three courses.
I had a lobster, which sufficed. As I said, the food wasn't bad.
I just felt it was a little overpriced. The service was fine.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I left underwhelmed. But I didn't leave disappointed. -
Review from Michael H.
San Rafael, CA
4/13/2011
Pretty darn good food, but the service - while knowledgeable and polite - was a little slow. I had Rigatoni with tomato and carbonara, and it was very good. The Portobello appetizer was awesome - except that it's a salad. Order extra grilled 'shrooms and hold the Arugula, and it's a hit. Good wine list with nice Italians for around $40... we had an Italian Pinot Noir recommended that was great; they gladly gave us tastes of a few alternates - and these are by the bottle, not the glass - this just doesn't happen in wine country. Overall, a solid 3+ stars; I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here, but I would come back. it was a great place to find myself.
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Review from David L.
3/15/2009
This restaurant should be serving Ecuadorian food since most of the waitstaff and managers and clientele are Ecuatoriano -- even some of the music!... The food is mediocre "classic Italian" -- my Orata was overcooked and came with an almost inedible overly-homogenized (stewed too long with too much vinegar, perhaps?) tomato/onion/olive/basil sauce, my frisee/pancetta salad was entirely overdressed and way too salty, and the complementary bread was just average and came with nothing to dip it in or spread over it. And the cocktails (of which there is a very limited selection) and wine list (by bottle and by glass) are over-priced. The service was incredibly slow and the waiter's English and Italian were pretty much indistinguishable and unintelligible... It's not absolutely horrible here (thus 2 stars) but I definitely wouldn't recommend it (therefore not 3 stars).
Listed in: Places I'd like to like (NYC)
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Review from Juan A.
Fishkill, NY
8/29/2010 1 Check-in Here
The food was great! Nice atmosphere. We arrived at 3:15 but they still offered us the lunch menu which was supposed to end at 3:00.
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Review from Lorraine S.
Manhattan, NY
5/15/2011
Awful, awful, awful. Terrible food and even worst service. Salad of roasted pears, watercress, cheese & pecans consisted of a mountain of watercress (on thick stems), 3 small pecans, 4 thin slices of pears & 2 tiny pieces of cheese. The broccoli rabe pasta was horribly bitter with a watery sauce. The waiter even had the temerity to say that I was the only person who ever complained about the salad and that the rabe is always bitter. This was the 2nd time we went to this restaurant and won't give it another chance. Stay away!
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Review from Beth G.
Long Island City, NY
4/4/2009
This is one of my favorite Italian restaurants! My first experience here was for a co-worker's goodbye party, and the group was seated in a very private back room where we could appreciate each other's company (versus screaming at the top of our lungs). I've gone back here on a date (this place is great if you want an intimate spot), and I hosted my 25th birthday dinner party here on the very affordable prix fixe menu. Service is usually very friendly and I have always been satisfied with the dishes (the salmon and ravioli dishes are very good). If you want to avoid the midtown crowd and actually get some attention from the wait staff for a good Italian meal, this is your place.
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Review from DW B.
Los Angeles, CA
5/28/2010
Lovely decor, but the food was so-so; and, while the waiter was nice, I had to beg for parm cheese. Probably deserves 2 1/2 stars, but some of these other reviews are suspect so I don't mind pulling down the score.
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Review from Sean C.
New York, NY
12/18/2009
pretty tasty pear salad with lemon herb dressing. Not alot of cheese (good for the calorie conscious) pretty decent service too. Nice setting. Good first date kinda thing.
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Review from Troy C.
San Francisco, CA
3/31/2010
DEEEE LISH!!!!!!!
One of the best most unique carbonara's I've ever had, SOOO GOOD. The bread was crusty and full of flavor. The Proscuitto & Melon was perfection and the bar was perfect. I can not praise this place enough, it was fantastic. My friend and I loved it. -
Review from Zak C.
Brooklyn, NY
12/12/2010
Food is of good quality (tried pasta, fish, salad and soup dishes) and service, in some ways, is quite all right. But in other ways is rather lacking. Waiters seem not to provide the set menu/prix fixe page except on specific customer request, to the detriment of the customer who hasn't been lingering at the window display (One waiter glowered at the next table after they asked for the menu... We didn't know there was one till then, then noticed the window display on leaving the restaurant). I also had a special that cost about 50% more than comparable menu-listed items, but I take some responsibility for not asking before agreeing.
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Review from Jenny H.
Fremont, CA
11/10/2009
Luv the ambiance of this restaurant. My family and I were hoping to get a good meal here after a disastrous dinner at Jekyl and Hyde (I know I shouldn't even compare). And for me this would've been my carb load meal the night before the NYC marathon. But I was a bit disappointed. Not because of the food but the relatively long wait for our main entrees. Our starters came out in good time. Bread was excellent. Asparagus soup looked gross but it was actually really good and my baby liked it. The portobello mushroom with spinach salad was good as well. The main course took forever to come out and mine came out wrong. Our server was apologetic though. But regardless, I had to wait another 15minutes for my meal. In the meantime, I had to feed off of everyone's meal. I can't remember what everyone had ordered since I was soo hungry but they were all good. When my entree finally came (It was some taglatelle pasta with crab and shrimp. It was excellent! Now how could they have screwed that up in the beginning? Maybe it was just a busy night.
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Review from Zachary C.
New York, NY
2/15/2010
A truly wonderful and romantic restaurant. The food was excellent and the waitstaff were courteous and charming and very accommodating. I love to add a few things to the italian classics and the restaurant more then accommodated my small changes to the menu free of charge. My girlfriend loves chicken francaise, which is not even offered on the menu, yet to both of our surprise upon request the restaurant made the order and it was the best chicken francaise either of us have had in the city. Strada has a wonderfully quiet and classy atmosphere perfect for dates or meetings between friends. I loathe the all too familiar loud and obnoxious italian restaurant atmosphere where every table is filled to the brim with overweight and outspoken guests competing for audible dominance( Carmines for example). Strada 57 is a terrific place for great italian food, and is one of Manhattans best kept romantic hideaways.
