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Astor Place (6)
8th St-Broadway (R, W)
2nd Ave-Houston St (F, V)
Mon-Thu. 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Fri. 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 a.m.
Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 a.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
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I love all things Italian, and the name of this place and it's adorable set up has attracted me for a long time. I finally went there but only for a drink. I'll have to update this review when I actually eat there. I can just say that it was crowded, the bartender was nice, but sadly, they had a Lazio scarf up on the wall.
Vai Roma!
VDP is a great-food version of the stereotypical crowded italian bistro. Tables are tight but the food is great value, especially given the price. The waiters are on top of things and I don't remember ever asking for a refill on water.
We had a 3-type bruschetta sampler, definitely some innovative combinations here. The bruschetta with shrimp and avocado was certainly notable, so if you're getting an appetizer, I recommend it.
I had one of the special dishes, spaghetti with white wine sauce and seafood, all rolled up and cooked in tinfoil. They serve it right in the tinfoil on your plate. I can't say I've ever had this before, but I was really impressed with how well the flavor seeped into the pasta with this technique.
Also, they have great wine specials, and we had a solid bottle of Syrah for $34. Total bill for 2 people with tip and wine was $105. Not too shabby.
If you do not enjoy large glasses of Italian vino, flavorful bruschetta, or delicious homemade pasta then you should not eat here. You also should also have your taste buds examined!
In addition to quality Italian fare, the two-story, dimly lit, cozy yet not cramped atmosphere radiates European authenticity and lends well to group dining, date nights, or late night drinks. The bartenders and waitstaff are friendly and attentive (no wine or water glass is ever empty). Salute!
Stand-out dish: Lobster Ravioli
Every review on Yelp is relative what is being reviewed. Let's be frank - a four star rating for a gyro joint can't be compared to another review of Craftsteak. In this case, this is as good as neighborhood Italian can get. And considering the sheer number of Italian joints in the East Village (let alone the city), this is a compliment to Via Della Pace. They've been my go-to Italian joint for the last four years. I've since moved out of the 'hood but was back again last night for another great meal.
Service - these guys (and gals) mean well. Attentive, respectful, and honest. The wine suggestion was spot-on, thanks to our waiter (bottle #613). Although the place was its usually packed self, we were never rushed. Want to enjoy app's and salads before even glancing at the pasta options? Go right ahead.
Food - This is what neighborhood Italian should be. Fresh ingredients, simple but thought out flavor combinations, and fantastic pasta dishes. The bruschetta sampler (pick any 3) is a great way to appease multiple parties and taste buds at the table. The salads are huge and easily shared between two people on a date (great conversation piece, btw). The pastas - well, enjoy them. You can't go wrong.
Ambiance - small and loud inside, Chad T. below called it the "stereotypical crowded italian bistro." I tend to agree, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Yes it can be loud, but if that makes you pull in your chair and sit closer to your date, what is wrong with that?
Cash only - honestly why is this even an issue? Unless you're boppin' in off the street on a whim and miss the sign on the door, doesn't everyone yelp/google restaurants before going? Someone below said it could be embarrassing to be on a date and not have cash...again, who's not doing their research before going on said date?? Come on people, prepare! Two minutes on Yelp and you would have been okay.
Overall, this place is a comforting, satisfying restaurant tucked nicely up and off the street level. Hit up the ATM, pick up your date, and enjoy your night. Cheers.
I'm sorry to say that my experience here was less than awesome. I had this gnocci with tomato sauce and mozzarella which seems pretty difficult to screw up, right?
The gnocci was overcooked and seemed... packaged (?!), the sauce, while tasty, was nothing to write home about, and they skimped on the mozzarella, a key ingredient to the dish. It was about as boring as possible.
I SO wanted to love this place with the eccentric owner walking around and shouting merrily to staff and potential customers alike, but for this area? The food really ought to be better.
Via della Pace is home for me....so here there are a few tips:
Ask Giovanni (he is usually behind the bar) to make his trademark cocktail "Vacanze Romane" and you will fall in love....
Then start off your dinner with a bruschetta, Ligure is my favorite (shrimps and avocado)...if you are into pasta you need to try Carbonara, Lasagne and Gnocchi - it might be wise not to have all of them the same night.
If you instead feel you want a main course instead, Cotoletta or Tonno all'Aragosta are the way to go.
Great selection of wines, I love their Vermentino.
Trust me you should NOT leave the place without a few drops of Limoncello, you will get home happier...
Great ambiance, delicious food and good music. I just love it!
This restaurant makes outrageously good Pasta!! Pasta!! Pasta!! The artichoke ravioli is to die for. Though the salads are served in big salad bowls (well worth the price) I always opt for the bufalo mozzarella tomato salad. It's not an appetiizer portion but the mozzarella cheese is so creamy and delicious. The limoncello dessert is a favorite of mine. It's sweet ice cream rolled into a ball with some candy crunchies on top, with a tart limoncello center. It reminds me of lemon sorbet/ vanilla ice cream.
Def. worth coming to as the prices are decent and the pasta never fail.
Also, there's a downstairs in case you have a large group. As for outside seating, please note that you may be inviting second hand smoke from smokers nearby.
THEY FINALLY HAVE AN ATM MACHINE!!!!
This restaurant def. has character. Try best to come early to grab a seat by the outdoor patio and… Read more »
Ambiance: 4 stars - adorable block in a high traffic East Village throughfare with outdoor seating, dim lights, and a European wine bar feel.
Food: 3 stars - disappointed with the linguini con vongole - the clams were tasty but shriveled into oblivion and the addition of arugula was not inspiring. Also, the cured meats weren't delicate...not the most appetizing.
Service: 4 stars - attentive and friendly.
Overall, I'll deduct a star because it's cash only. No mention of it on the menu, just a tiny sign on the door. Not impressive.
Even when I don't exactly enjoy the food, I always eat my fill. This was one of the rare instances that I left dinner hungry.
The salad was terrible. Well, the spinach was spinach, and the hearts of palm were fine. However, the smoked mozzarella, well, I WISH it had been tasteless. The eggplant was repulsive: I put a large piece of it in my mouth, and immediately tried to chew and swallow as fast as possible to get it away from my tastebuds, as I was genuinely frightened that I was going to vomit. If I was a less civilized man, I would've spit it on the floor.
For an entree, I ordered the Fettucini Mama Mumba (or some such nonsense): fettucini bolognese, with pork ribs and sausage. It was even labeled "signature dish." Doesn't that sound good? How could it be bad?
The pasta had clumped together as if it was overcooked, sat out for some time, then was reheated and had the sauce dumped on top. The meat sauce tasted...old, frankly. Like old, unseasoned meat was dumped into a sauce that was watery and inferior to Prego. If that wasn't enough, I was saddened by the pork ribs and sausage. Seriously.
I have never in my LIFE left sausage on a plate. Even when it's bad, it's edible. I took one bite, and was so turned off that I couldn't finish it. I was incredulous. I can buy sausage at the supermarket, let it sit past it's expiration date, cook it in a pan and it will still be thirty to forty times better than this sausage. I cannot even imagine what they did to make it so awful.
My date said, "Know what's good about this meal?"
"Nothing?" I responded.
She paused, clearly having had another answer in mind. "Yeah, I guess that's right."
If I was to admit that the meal was not a complete failure, I would say that the only redeeming qualities were:
1. The Umbra bruschetta, topped with pancetta and goat cheese. Pretty much impossible to screw up.
2. The busboy who kept my water refilled, as I was forced to drink incessantly to wash the taste of the food from my mouth.
3. I now have an even greater appreciation for the number of delicious Italian spots throughout the neighborhood.
Perhaps this was some sort of perfect storm of an off night for Via Della Pace, and there is some explanation for all of this...but I will not be back to find out.
I love this place. i stumbled upon it through some New York transplants and I couldn't have been happier, besides the fact that it was probably 3000 degrees inside, while it was below zero outside. That's a small detail easily rectified by removing all of my clothing and sipping wine in my undies...not really but that's what I was imagining myself doing.
We shared steak, and pasta with vodka sauce for entrees, a savory salad to start with, loads of bread, a bottle or two of wine, dessert and espresso without breaking the bank!
Had brunch here today and was neither disappointed or impressed by the food. The atmosphere was very laid back and the place was well decorated but the food was just so-so. I had a shrimp omelet served with side salad and potatoes. I thought the food was alright but it wasn't anything to write home about. Probably wont eat here again but i dont hate it either.
Honestly haven't had a meal this good in a long time. Little Italy has nothing on this place.
Artichoke ravioli was so delicious I mopped up every drop of sauce with the bread. Gnocchi was unbelievable and had us all raving. Shrimp risotto and lobster ravioli were also good. Bread was ok, the house Chianti was very good and reasonably priced. Salad with yellow and red tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella was divine.
4 star food - 1 star for service - 1 star for CASH ONLY
Food: We had three different pasta dishes and two desserts, and everything was spot on. My spaghetti al brucio was even extra-spicy just like I requested it to be. The wine list is pretty darn good, too.
Service: After Wife and I finished our quartino of nebbiolo, the waiter asked if I wanted another glass of wine. "Yes, just one glass of nebbiolo, please." A few minutes later a waitress returned bearing another quartino. I said I just wanted a glass, she said nebbiolo only comes in quartinos or full bottles, I said I only ordered a glass, she stood there and frowned, I returned the frown and gave her an opportunity to suggest an alternative (such as a glass of something else), she let the opportunity pass by silently, so to end the awkwardness I said "OK fine, whatever, I'll just drink the whole thing." Then at the end of the meal it took forever to receive a bill, then a little bit longer than forever for her to come retrieve the bill, at which point she informed us that they accept......
CASH ONLY: Come on. You seriously would rather save 2% of your revenues than risk making your customers look like schmucks in front of their dates or dinner companions? Most of your profit is made from the wine anyway.... if you're so concerned about your bottom line, just raise your wine prices a little bit. It's 2009. Get with the program. And, more importantly, think about your customers.
And: what's with all the anti-war t-shirts? I came here for pasta and wine, not to be preached at. Besides, this is the East Village, which would make this like preaching to the choir. If you want to spread your message of peace, go write an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal.
We went here after having been turned away from Zum Schneider (sold out for Karneval). It caught our eyes walking along 7th St. and after walking around the neighborhood a bit more to find a place we decided to try it for dinner.
We were seated right away (this was at about 8 PM on a Saturday night - they had maybe 2 open tables at the time, but when we left there was a wait). The server brought us bread which was sliced and put on a plate, not a basket - which I thought was odd. We couldn't tell if the bread was stale or if it had been toasted, it was tres crusty on the outside, but lacked the tell-tale marks of a toaster or grill. After breaking it open to try with the olive oil they brought with the bread (which was, by the way, delish) we realized they might have just done a half-ass job of toasting it. Though we're still not sure.
Ordered a bottle of Prosecco, which wasn't as bubbly as it could have been. If I hadn't needed a drink so desperately I would have sent the bottle back. Shared a shrimp / avocado bruschetta, which was delish. I ordered the rigatoni della pirata, a baked rigatoni which supposedly came with a tomato rum sauce - sounds intriguing, right? It was OK. The sauce could have been better distributed over the pasta before baking it because when I got to the bottom of the dish, there was all the sauce! Husband had tuna, which was cooked very nicely and was a decent quality, and friend had the lobster ravioli. As another reviewer noted the sauce is ok and the ravioli are decent - I guess when I think of lobster ravioli it sounds so grand that you expect these giant pillows of lobstery goodness, not little one-inch squares of so-so-ness.
Anyhoo - if the bread had been better I'd have given it another star because, as other Yelpers have noted, the ambience is quite nice - a bit loud if you're looking for quiet conversation, but if you can get the table in the corner (the one with the bench) that kind of makes up for it.
Oh, and the second bottle of Prosecco was much bubblier.
Cash only wasn't a problem - they had it posted on the front door so you knew going in, but the less observant in our party totally missed the sign.
I'll definitely go there again, only to see if I can figure out what's up with the bread.
I almost want to be angry with them and rate them harsher, but good sangria & tasty carbs make one so mellow.
We came for a cozy Italian dinner and sat down and listened to horrible pulsing music on repeat for an hour before we got any food. That's after it took us 30 minutes to get seated and 10 minutes to get menus. And then the tuna carpaccio was really not good at all. Way too much (unpeeled onion), celery, and capers on kinda fishy (i.e. not fresh) tuna? So they had a lot to redeem.
Luckily, the waiters were pretty nice if harried, the sangria was extremely extremely tasty, and the bruschetta and pastas were real quality eats. The portions and the prices weren't out of control either. By the end, I'd mostly forgotten about the wait, the tuna crap-accio, and now, knowing to go on a weeknight and to stay away from the fish, I'm sure I'd have the second time would be a better go around. Especially with that ridiculous 50% off http://restaurant.com gift certificate.
One of my very favorite spots in the city for good food, good wine and a great atmosphere at a reasonable price. They are cash only but I understand why because the prices are fair.
The bruschetta is amazing as is the pasta. It's a great spot for a late date or to take a group of friends visiting the city for a casual meal and a bottle of wine.
I recently brought a friend to Via Della Pace, and she said "When I think of New York, I think of Via Della Pace."
I love this restaurant. I was introduced to it by a good friend about a year ago (always a good sign), and it has remained one of my regular favorites ever since. The staff is warm and friendly, and the atmosphere is both comfortable and lively. I have never experienced anything but a positive, fun time. - yes, it is cash only (as many places are in NY), but that also lends itself to being incredibly affordable for such great food.
The Food. I have friends that insist we go out of our way just so we can go to VDP and have their Gnocchi. I love their Fusili pasta with Pesto and asparagus, their Salmon with capers and olives - and every Bruschetta and Salad I have tried from their extensive list has been delicious. Top that off with a great and affordable wine list, house made sangria, or any of their original cocktails, and I can't imagine a more pleasant, affordable, relaxing and enjoyable night.
I came here Monday night with three friends. Initially, the more adventurous half of the group wanted Ukrainian food, but after a well-executed mini tantrum by the less adventurous half (yes, I belonged to the latter group), we came to Via Della Pace instead.
They had a Yelp sticker on the front door so I had pretty high expectations going in. But alas, this treasured community has failed me. I'm sorry, but I just don't see the point of serving bread unless it's interesting, unusual bread and/or it's served with interesting/unusual spread. But plain white bread with olive oil? Snooze. I don't need the carbs, thanksverymuch.
I ordered the lobster ravioli which is my Italian restaurant control meal -- the yardstick by which I measure the quality of the restaurant. (See Boston North End restaurant reviews.) While the prices were fair ($14.95) and portions were reasonable, I was not impressed with this particular lobster ravioli dish. The pink vodka sauce was bland and the lobster inside felt mealy rather than creamy. They served it with caviar which was a nice touch, I suppose, for someone into that sort of thing but for me it just seemed out of place.
This place earns three stars from me on the basis of the following:
- Ambiance; loved it.
- Friend's risotto dish was pretty good which gives me hope for the rest of the menu.
- Our server was fantastic, could not have been sweeter.
Overall, I was less-than-enthused with this place, but even so, I probably would choose Via Della Pace over the terrifying prospect of Ukrainian again.
Via Della Pace is an interesting place at first glance, but turns out just to be blah. I went here with my dad, and we got seated on a little balcony overlloking the sidewalk, which was nice. However, there were like waitresses for the whole place, and this spot meant we didn't get great service at all. We got a cheese and meat appetizer (the one that comes with honey), which was ok; nothing special. I do not remember what my dad had, but I had the lasagna. It was ok, once again nothing special. This place is also cash only, which to me is ridiculous; if you're going to inconvenience the customer, then at least deliver the goods. Via Della Pace fails to do that, and in this neighborhood that means don't bother.
save yourself the trouble.
stay home, boil up some De Decco penne and heat up some Ragu or walk down the block to one of the many of the other Italian restaurants in the E-Vill.
food: bad
service: bad
music: too loud
the only saving grace is the little table on the outdoor balcony of the restaurant. I suppose you could propose to your date at this romantic, little balcony table...that is, if she makes it through the meal.
I'm shocked by the negative reviews! I went the other night w/ a friend. Grabbed a glass of delicious sangria while I waited for my friend to arrive. The bartender was very attentive and chatty (although I could see if he just loves the ladies).
When my friend got there, we were seated right away at the last table in the house. Service was good, food was great, the next glass of sangria was as great as the first!
As far as food...my friend for the soft shelled crab. It was good...had some kind of lemon sauce which wasn't quite up my ally, but she loved it. I had the signature tuna crusted w/ poppy seeds w/ red roe & a little cream sauce. Mmmmmm....
I'll definitely be back!
We were on 2nd Ave looking for a place for lunch... looked like they have a full menu, let's do it... I haven't been back for years, so why not?
Service was quick as we were the only other table in the whole place. Fine, whatever. Got the coffee, the sugar came... we picked up a packet of Domino sugar (don't get me started on the the whole nice-coffee-shop-serving-cheap-Domino-sugar-packet s thing, another time, perhaps), and sugar poured out from the bottom... hmm strange... another packet, same thing.
It then dawned on us that there was a saw-toothed opening on the packet. Ah ha, I am just all too familiar with those saw-toothed edges on food packages. Rats munching. We were so grossed out by it. I didn't want to alarm the other group of lunchers, so I quietly took the sugar container to our waiter/host and showed him the opened packets, telling him that it was probably the rats...
He apologized, and he brought back another container of sugar. Guess what, more packets with saw-toothed openings!!! I mean, couldn't he just check before sending us more sugar!? Apparently they put all the Domino packets in a plastic bag on the floor next to the the toilet. You get the picture.
Food was, eh, ok. I had a panini and the bread was so damn thick. The whole thing was dry, dry, dry. I was surprised that we had the appetite to even eat. Guess we were just too hungry. Thank God I didn't get food poisoning.
I love these place i know the owner for a long time and the food is always amazing!! they have excellent outdoor seating which helps to spent a great dinner in company of someone special or even by yourself.
You gotta try it for sue
The owner is HILarious! He gave us a round of shots on the house and made extras of our appetizers because of a small misunderstanding. I'm all about customer service and that was remarkable. The menu is speckled with dishes that I liked and didn't like. The bruchetta with buffalo mozarella was mouth watering, along side the homemade fettucine mamma mundo ("MY GRANDA MADDA'S RECIPIA" he told us...) I didn't like the artichoke ravioli at all. The ambience was nice, dim and cozy. My only regret is not coming back to try the rigatoni before I went back to LA :(
Our experience here was great, probably because we stumbled upon the restaurant on our way over to Gasparino's (which was closed on a Monday night? I lack the motivation to research why) and had zero expectations.
Everyone on the staff from the hostess to the server to the manager to the water filler (yes, "busboy") were personable and kind. The prices were refreshingly modest and the pasta was fresh and delicious. The s/o got the fettucine with pork ribs and meatballs.. totally forgot the name but was marked with an * indicating the restaurant's signature dish so I immediately recommended it to my meat-devouring counterpart. Of course I tried a few bites and went, wow! This is so yummy! My dish was the gnocchi with a gorgonzola cream sauce and walnuts. It was very good but kind of rich so I took half of it home. I know, shame to my reputation as a real foodie.
One very deserving mention is the white sangria. The first sangria I've tried in the city that really made me go, wow! This is so yummy! I like that sweet sensation in my alcoholic drinks and this really hit it. There were plenty of fruits in my glass and a delicious white wine with a bit of a sparkle.. I think.. who knows. I think the point is that it was so surprisingly pleasant that I want there to have been a sparkle to call it perfection.
The only downside, I mean real downside and not just the overly critical "the bread was not bakery fresh crispy outer crust and soft heavenly middle quality" downside, was that the place is cash only. I am kind of against this practice considering how evolved we are into the digital age, and how inconvenient cash-only restaurants make it for unsuspecting customers. I get it, but I hate it.
Overall, the experience was pleasantly comforting for a quiet night out and we'd probably visit again if not lazy enough to stop by the ATM beforehand. So, maybe not. But I'd recommend it to others.
I went here on a Sunday night with 5 other friends. It was easy to get a table and not crowded at all which was nice. We sat downstairs where there was an amazing singer and a guitarist playing as we ate. It was very Norah Jones-ish and awesome. It is a pretty good date place and the food was great and reasonably priced. I got the artichoke/parmesan ravioli. The portion was pretty small (about 6-7 raviolis) so you won't feel farty and bloated afterward. Also we had a really nice waitress who was always smiling. I had a really bad Ikea New Jersey experience with really mean people a few hours earlier so her smiling alone made me feel better.
Cash only though, so minus a star
Came here with two friends on a Friday night and we were seated right away even though the restaurant seemed pretty full. The atmosphere is great - really cozy and intimate with candles on every table.
We got bruschetta for the table to share - they have so many different types but we were boring and got the basic one. Then, my friend and I shared the Piazza San Pietro salad (fresh spinach, smoked mozzarella, grilled eggplant and hearts of palm). Then, we shared the risotto with shrimp and asparagus. There are many different ways to mess up a risotto but this one was perfect - creamy and just the right consistency. Yummy in my tummy! Can't remember what my other friend got... some pasta with meat dish. It was good enough though for me to keep picking off his plate (sorry friend!)
Minus one star for being cash only.
Went with a group of 5 (including Anh V., see below).
Weird, loud music -1
Seated quickly +1
Awkward, but nice waitress +1
Liked the bread basket +1
Waited 1/2 hour before having order taken -1
Asked 3 times for something that never came -1
Still billed for item that didn't show up -1
Glass in friend's pasta -2
My specifc entree was pretty decent +1
Cash only -1 (sorry, it's 2009, not having it.)
Moral? Meh...I guess I'd give it another shot, but I'm certainly disappointed after walking by for 2 years and always wanting to go, then having such a mediocre experience.
This is a regular spot for me. The pastas are delicious and everything is affordable plus it has a lovely and lively ambiance. Great place for a private party downstairs.
Really good quality Italian food that won't break the bank AND the portions are actually reasonable, not ridiculously large. I love the spaghetti with red pepper. Just the right amount of spicy, and it's such a simple (I mean that in a good way) meal. I just don't like that it gets so loud in this place! With the music bumping and the small spaces between the tables it can be a little annoying. I was having a hard time holding a conversation with my boyfriend across the table because the couple next to us was sooo close and sooo LOUD! The other downside is that they are a Cash Only restaurant. I'm kind of used to that, but that doesn't mean that I like it.
Like Grace S, I hate having to shell out my perfectly good, hard-earned money on pasta. But, one of my dearest friends picked here to have her birthday dinner, so here was were I was gonna be spending my cash. Don't even try to plop down a card - they don't take em!
We had a pretty sizeable group, but we're all close, so we didn't really mind sitting in each other's laps. For the occassion, it added to to the cheer and general merriment. We were all cozy and snug in our corner.
I ordered an amazing salad that all my dinner companions kept sneaking forkfulls of. The Piazza San Pietro salad was made up of spinach, smoked mozzarella, grilled eggplant and hearts of palm. No one thought much of it, but as soon as they had a taste, they were more than happy to continue "helping" me finish my salad.
The room was filled with the amazing smell of truffle oil, which made my decision to order the grilled steak drizzled with truffle oil a no-brainer. It was delicious and cooked surprisely well. I'm pretty sure I finished the whole thing and I usually never finish a whole steak!
As for dessert, I'd say to save the moolah for elsewhere though. Desserts were all kinda lackluster. I'd walk a couple blocks up 2nd Ave and hit up Cold Stone or something.
So besides that one snag, I say GO! The food was great, my company was excellent and service was good as well. Bring cash and enjoy!
Nice, affordable, dimly lit Italian restaurant.
The first thing on the menu to jump out is the 10-deep Bruschette section. I went with the Emilia which was Proscuitto, shaved parmesan, and sliced tomato. Hard to go wrong with that one but it was more of a double than a home run.
The Insalate section was quite deep/inventive as well. I went with a Proscuitto, Bufala mozzarella, and Roasted Red Peppers over mixed greens salad. The salad was huge. Again, hard to wrong with a dish like this but the quality of the meat and cheese didn't blow me away as much as I would've liked.
The main course section is more truncated than the previous two, covering a decent range of pastas and an abbreviated list of meat/poultry/fish dishes. I went with a Fusilli in pesto sauce and asparagus that was a solid buy at $10.
The wine selection was extensive and offered a number of bottles per Italian type. The $30 Montepulciano bottle we ordered went down quite well.
The dessert menu looked ok. I sampled the Dark Chocolate Fondant cake (my friend's b-day, they were nice enough to comp) and it was flavorful but I wouldn't order it again.
This place doesn't take reservations but we were able to get a table for four at 7PM on a Saturday.
All in all, this is a solid, affordable, date-worthy spot. There are so many great EV Italian restaurants that it's hard to imagine returning anytime soon but it'll serve as a handy backup when those other places have monster waits.
So I have come out of my 6 month review writing hiatus just to give this place the 1 star review it deserves. (actually it deserves negative stars but you get the point) So I went to this place because my girlfriend, a friend, and myself were starving for brunch and every other place in the area that looked decent had a hour wait. Now I should have known that this place was not a place I wanted to go to by the fact that they had no wait but my friend assured me this place was a "hidden gem"
Here is a short list of why I hate this place:
1. Waitress took 15 minutes to even acknowledge our existence
2. We never got the bread and marmalade that was supposed to come with our brunch
3. My drink didn't come until after I had finished my entree.
(Yes thats right folks in the time it takes to make ONE bloody mary, I had time to order my appetizer and food, get my appatizer eat it, get my entree and finish my entire meal!!!!!!!!!)
4. I had to go up to the bar and get (fake) maple syrup for my girlfriend because the service sucked soo much.
5. Even though the service was the worst I have experienced in my life, and they were understaffed, they offered no free drinks/deserts/break on the check.. etc.
6. The food was meh, portions poor, price bad for what you got, and the service deplorable. People should stop going to places like this so they go out of business and the space can be used for good well run restaurants.
Overall this place was amateur hour all around with the reports of rats and lack of any real positives I would avoid this place like the plague.
Food is quite good but I had terrible service last time I was there and will not return. The place was completely empty at about 12:30 pm one sunday so my girlfriend and I entered and were told to sit wherever we wanted. So we sat next to each other cuddling in a window seat so we each had a small table each to ourselves. The bus boy with an eyebrow stud who also brought our meals out said I have to sit directly across from my girlfriend and when I refused he accepted it but gave me stink eye the whole time I was there. Later he even put my food where he thought I should be sitting and not in front of me. This is in an empty restaurant after the waitress told us we can sit wherever we wanted.
I thought I had found a gem of a place but unfortunately it turned out to be a lemon. Sadly I will not be returning or recommending the place. Being cash only is also a real pain.
I have been coming here for years. Very good Italian relaxed style restaurant. All my friends loved this place.
Caveat: We ended up spending over $45 in coffee alone on saturday afternoon. Why? Well your brunch includes one cup. We stayed for a few more hours ordering bottles of wine and past the afternoon that way. The 3 of us drank coffee along with our wine in between talk. We were shocked to see the coffee price total. More than a wine bottle. We just had black coffee each! Live and learn.
Very good food and service otherwise.
I came here multiple times with a http://Restaurant.com gift certificate. The bruschetta was great each time -- especially the tuna bruschetta. The entrees aren't bad, nice size portions.
This is a sweet spot for a light bite to eat. This was my first time eating here, but the service was incredibly friendly, and the vibe of the restaurant was breezy.
Giant windows bring in lots of light for this quaint Italian restaurant. The service didn't seem to mind seating two people at a four person table, so we could have a nice booth seat. My date ordered the chicken, brie, and eggplant panini. It was a really hardy sandwich with excellent flavor. I ordered a salad with chicken breast served with walnut and almond dressing. I had no idea the dressing would be that different and so good. Via Della Pace isn't shy with the baked bread distribution. Yum!
My only beef may have been the cash only policy, but that doesn't take away from an all around comfortable and pleasant dining experience.
One of my favorite recent finds, a place I had passed by a lot without really giving it much more than a glance. Via Della Pace is the perfect place to spend a Sunday afternoon. Their brunch menu lasts until four and has a number of great dishes to choose from. I enjoyed the atmosphere here a lot, thanks in great part to the elevator nature of the building, as well as the massive picture windows in front. All of the decorations and the menu options, including a few Italian beers, give a nice Roman feel, which added to my appreciation of the restaurant. I am a very big fan. Just know its cash only.
Came here on a Saturday night at around 8 with a friend of mine to satisfy our craving for Italian carbs. Enjoyed some nice warm bread and wine while we waited for our entrees- she had the lobster ravioli and I had the rigatoni. Both were delicious and exactly what we were looking for- homey good Italian food. The portions weren't huge and just enough to leave us full but not disgustingly bloated; prices were fair ($10-15 pasta entrees) The atmosphere was nice= laid back and quaint. This would be a great place for a date.
after living in the neighborhood for years but never having gone till last night, i'd now like to echo the sentiments of robert below. the food was disappointing to say the least. i had the signature tuna dish, prepared medium, which was extremely dry and overcooked. the presentation was flawless and beautiful however, and the idea was brilliant with the poppyseed and caviar/fish roe. i should have ordered my tuna rare though. in terms of taste, this dish didn't really deliver anything at all as it was very bland. it was served over some mash which was very standard.
my boyfriend had the chicken marsala. he was also disappointed with it. the sauce was very subtle--not the salty/flavorful dark brown sauce, but a more lighter sauce with a subdued taste. i thought the marsala sauce was pretty good though, as it had a slow-cooked taste to it. the chicken was alright--a thin chicken breast that the boyfriend thought was on the dry side. the portion was medium to small. it came with steamed zucchini and carrots over mash. again, disappointing dish overall.
we had the beef carppaccio for an appetizer. they give you a lot of shaved romano. while the slices of beef were on the thick side, it was delicious along with the arugula, light dressing and cracked pepper.
all in all, the food was very disappointing. i'm wondering if some of their more simple pasta dishes are worth trying. their signature pasta dish (with ribs in it) sounded very interesting. i would come back just to try their pasta to get a better idea on the food here.
the interior on the other hand is lovely. it's one of those romantic, cozy and intimate spots. the fact that it's elevated from the street with large windows makes it a great place for people watching. if you pass by at night, it looks very warm and inviting inside, especially with the candles. a great place to come on a date to have some wine and cheese/appetizers. but stay away from their main/non-pasta entrees.
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Neighborhood: Upper West Side
Just for Yelpers!
Neighborhood: Theater District
Neighborhood: East Village
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: East Village
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: East Village
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: East Village
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: East Village
Category: Italian
