If you are visiting Brooklyn, make this a must on your list!…read more First of, the service is A-1. From the time I walked in, to the time I left, the servers, host, everyone is so kind, helpful, and welcoming. My server Felicia was such a warm and friendly presence, and answered my questions, and even knew my dietary restrictions from the reservation. Give that woman a raise ASAP. Now the food Leles is Roman style Italian, which means it's more rustic with a focus on fresh ingredients. My carprese di burrata was so fresh with the heirloom tomatoes, and burrata. Just divine. My bucatini was so good and the fact they were able to leave out the pork for me, made me happy. Lastly I got their panna cotta that was both firm, creamy and not overly sweet. And with that sugar cookie on top? Perfection I will def be going back and the prices were reasonable for semi fine dining.

Girls trip started off strong with breakfast at Lele's before we checked out of the Ace Hotel. The…read moreinterior was spacious with tons of natural light. Service was friendly, if a little on the slow side. LEMON RICOTTA PANCAKES: 5/5. I've thought about the lemon jam every day since I had it nearly a week ago. SO bright and tart, not too sweet, perfectly balanced. VEGETABLE FRITTATA: 5/5. Veggies were super fresh, and the frittata was well seasoned without being salty. TWO EGGS ANY STYLE: 4/5. The chicken sausage, while herbaceous, was chewy and tough to bite into.

We recently celebrated a family member's college graduation at Barbalu in Brooklyn, and we found…read morethis hidden gem. This cozy, family style Italian restaurant offers a warm atmosphere and an impressive bar. We enjoyed refreshing drinks, including peach spritzes, classic old-fashioneds, and Aperol spritzes, all while soaking in the inviting vibe. We ordered burrata and shrimp / calamari to start. Our meal featured a variety of entrées, and everything was delicious. The bronzino was a standout, while the ribeye steak earned rave reviews. The lamb chops and roasted chicken also delighted our taste buds, and we wrapped up with their delightful tiramisu. Barbalu truly made our graduation celebration special. Special thank you to Adriana and the staff for great service.

Salty, bland, and overpriced for small portions with slow service. Ambiance exuded PE-backed…read more"upscale Italian" restaurant that had no soul. I had the short rib ragu; the pasta was al dente but the sauce was lackluster - way too salty yet still bland and 1-note. Meat was tender but wish there was more. Portions were tiny for a $28 pasta. House bread was stale. Overall, not the worst if you have $60 to spare for dinner and eat a bite somewhere else beforehand. Ambiance is strange: hard uncomfortable wooden chairs and tables complemented by a florescent half empty deli counter.

Gersi is a neighborhood favorite. I've never had an issue with a walk in and the food never fails…read moreto disappoint. Upon arrival you're not able to ignore the carefully curated boutique & aristocratic Tuscan vibe. Small chandeliers hang from the ceiling with exposed brick and intricate detailing to keep you cozy no matter what season you visit. Gersi does comfort well. We started with our wine orders, montepulciano and Sauvignon Blancs and an order of bruschetta. They have a bruschetta section of their menu, and we opted for the garlic, chili, & olive oil with anchovies on the side. I didn't realize bruschetta had different variations outside of the classic chopped tomato and basil topping so this felt more like a variation of garlic bread to me. But still perfectly soft and crusty. For our mains, we ordered the spaghetti limone, linguine vagole, and chicken parm alla vodka. The spaghetti limone is a bright dish that captures the sun's rays onto a plate to brighten any day with its glossy lemon and butter finish. The linguine vangole seizes the tastes of the ocean with the saltwater clams cooked perfectly into al dente linguine for a comfort punched light dish (that I still packed home with leftovers). The genius of the chicken parm with substituted vodka sauce instead of marinara stole the show. It was a version of a spicy rigatoni with a perfect chicken cutlet that invited you back bite after bite. This is not on the menu so you specifically have to order it this way, but if you're in the know then you know. This wasn't my first, second, or third time to gersi and I'll continue to be coming back - winter, spring, summer, and fall.

I'd give Gersi about a 3.45 overall. The food was closer to a 3.75: good, occasionally very good,…read morebut never quite crossed into memorable. I started with the veal meatballs. The meatballs themselves were probably a 3, but the sauce was much better, closer to a 4. In fact, the sauce with the bread was more enjoyable than the actual meatballs, which probably tells you everything you need to know about the dish. The best thing I had all night was actually the margarita. Excellent cocktail, around a 4.5 for me. Really well balanced, flavorful, and one of those drinks where you don't particularly taste the alcohol even though it's clearly doing its job. For my main, I had the linguine vongole, which was very close to a 4. I'd put it around a 3.9. The foundation of the dish was very good, but it needed a little help. Parmesan and a healthy amount of black pepper brought it the rest of the way. Once I added those, it really came together. The weakest part of the experience was the service. It wasn't actively bad or rude, just strangely absent. I mostly saw the staff when I was ordering or when food was being delivered. There wasn't much checking in, engagement, or sense that anyone was particularly invested in how the meal was going. It felt transactional rather than attentive. The dining room is attractive and certainly designed to feel cozy, but for me it looked cozier than it actually felt. It has all the visual cues, but somehow not quite the warmth. Overall, Gersi is a good neighborhood Italian restaurant with some genuinely strong moments, especially the cocktails and parts of the food, but the experience as a whole didn't quite rise to the level the setting seems to promise. 3.45/5.

Me and my girlfriend of a year had a breakup here so I ended up eating alone after she left before…read morewe ordered. Fausto declined to let me pay for the meal. Insisting that it was on them. It really cheered me up and the orecchiette tied me over for the rest of the evening. 5 Star

Back in Brooklyn doing what I do best: Hang with my son?…read moreAfter a long day of getting here from Chicago, my #2 and I went right to work on our project. Once it was over and in need of a delectable gin martini, Fausto's in Flatbush came to the rescue. This incredible Italian restaurant is making some lovely dishes. My son and me ordered: * Two London Dry Gin martinis that were a perfect timing beverage * Our Little Gem Salad with Red Onion, Marcona Almonds, Wildflower Honey Vinaigrette was delicious * Meatballs with Whipped Ricotta, Basil *Contains Allium, Chili, Egg, and Dairy was scrumptious * Orecchiette with Fennel Braised Pork was wonderful * Campanelle with Lamb Sausage, Rainbow Chard, Spring Onion, Pecorino was great * Olive Oil Cake with Strawberry-Rhubarb Compote, Whipped Mascarpone was a great addition to our meal The service was excellent, the ambience was marvelous and the noise level was very zen I loved this place, especially after a very long day working the load and I Love New York and what it does to me!

Came with a friend…read more Ordered the brussel sprouts and kale salad for appetizers. The Brussels were exquisite, the kale was really good. I got the salmon and leeks and my friend got the chicken. Delicious. The service was very friendly. Our waitress was a delight. My only issue was the drinks. If you're going to charge $9 for a draft beer, it should be a pint. Charging $9 for a 6 oz glass of beer feels like a crime. Come on Baba Cool!

Very cute place that has inside & outside seating available! Not sure if it was just the one day I…read morewent but the AC was very low. Service was nice and attentive! I do find the cups weirdly shaped, but cute. The B.E.C. was so good! The brioche bread really tied it together, and just wish it was more bigger! My friend got some sort of bowl, but it looked nice and filling.

Been meaning to check this place out for a while now and safe to say we'll be returning! Both our…read morewaitresses were SO sweet and ready with the recommendations. Decor is lovely as well. And of course, the food was delightful. Our salad was very refreshing and perfectly dressed and we enjoyed both our pastas. My favorite was the oxtail (it's a staple on their menu for a reason) but I also liked the squash pappardelle (mushroom and shallot flavor really came through). We got the chocolate tart for dessert, which reminded me of a flourless chocolate cake (not too sweet, more for dark chocolate fans). They serve a good espresso martini too.

Walking over to the Fulton St. C train from Brooklyn to NYC to have dinner in Little Italy with…read moresome friends, I reversed course because it was raining cats and dogs. It was just too sloppy (even with an umbrella) to continue on. Walking back to my son's apartment I was hungry and decided to try and get into Aita Restaurant and get a bar stool for dinner. It Worked! This cozy, warm and very friendly restaurant is making some pretty delightful fare. It's basically Italian but I opted for an Oxtail burger with secret sauce, jalapeño, onion, housemade brioche, herbed fries with all of the fixings; it was excellent. I started this impromptu dinner with a unique Little gem salad with tomato conserva caesar, parmigiano-anchovy crisps The service was impeccable and I was happy with my choice to stay in Brooklyn.

Overall rating: 4.8…read more Admittedly I was expecting to hate this place. There were so many positive reviews and TikToks, it's hard not to think it's overrated. When I went, it's very small. Seats at max 10 maybe less. Being a single person, it was hard to seat me. But they sat me at a table of 4 and told me if the two seater opens up they'll move me. They were very transparent which I loved. When a couple came, they said they're seating with me and I was fine with it. No complaints. The artichokes were just okay, but the lobster ravioli was delicious. My only point or two off is when they asked for water they didn't give any options. So with the question I said still water. They served it and it was sparkling. I should have said something but I chickened out. And then! I realize everyone around me is drinking tap water! I didn't know that was an option wish that was clear. Will definitely come back when I'm craving lobster ravioli.

This cute little Italian restaurant is pretty awesome in a quiet little neighborhood. The staff was…read moresuper nice and made the vibe feel like a chill place to hangout and enjoy your meal. I got the cacio e pepe which was great. The fresh cracked pepper and the pasta was very fresh and more al dente the way I liked it. This place takes cash only so make sure you have some on you to pay.

Excellent restaurant. I had the pesto rigatoni, friends had eggplant parmigiana and the grilled…read moreoctopus. All were outstanding! Pizzas looked cooked coming out of the kitchen also.

Get an appetizer. The fair prices DO reflect the plates BUT they ARE worth the prices. Yummy…read more Confused? Tired of cheap prices mean you go home with a doggy bag full of spaghetti? It's a fair price and you'll like it all. Also....Great ambiance. I hope to be back when it's warm enough to have the windows open to the street. Super nice people. Park Slope has it all.