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    Balera

    5.0 (10 reviews)

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    BALERA ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Balera

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    Jennifer H.

    It's rare to dine at a place where everything really is a 10/10. My friend and I sat at the bar and each ordered 2-3 drinks, margarita with pepperoni (it's not on the menu but they put it on for us which was so nice), seafood pasta, squash appetizer, and a string bean salad, then ended with a tiramisu. Every food item was delicious, the bartender was so attentive with our drinks - he made sure I liked the wine I was ordering before I committed, there was outdoor seating and a really nice indoor dining area past the bar as well. I'd love to go back and try other menu items!

    Pamela A.

    My first time at Balera and WOW!! I felt completely transported to Italy the moment I walked in. The staff was incredibly hospitable and welcoming. We started at the bar with wine and appetizers, and the focaccia alone was worth the trip. The sommelier's wine suggestions were spot on and absolutely delicious. We moved on to pizza, pasta, and salad and I have to say, the eggplant pizza was a revelation. Never tried it before and now I'm obsessed. Every bite was insane in the best way. Already planning my return visit. Well done, Balera team! 10/10

    Calamari
    Matt L.

    Fun ambiance. Trendy vibe. Great people. Servers were very attentive amidst it being the opening night. Food was good. Really enjoyed the pizza.

    Menu showing the mozzarella in "carrozza" menu item
    Chad L.

    Went on their second night open and despite being completely booked (the server mentioned they had over 250 covers that night), the service was friendly and warm and the food was ABSOLUTELY HITTING. This is the sort of place where you comment to your dining partner on how good the olives are. The mozzarella thing (think a mozzarella stick but it's triangular and has sage and anchovies inside) is destined to go viral, and deservedly so. The zdory Bloody Mary was surprisingly noteworthy, it was like a drinkable delicious marinara.

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    4 months ago

    Balera is just great. The staff, food and overall experience was outstanding. I'm so happy to have a place like this on the neighborhood.

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    Review Highlights - Balera

    We started at the bar with wine and appetizers, and the focaccia alone was worth the trip.

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    Ammazzacaffè

    Ammazzacaffè

    4.3
    (406 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    I've been back multiple times since my first visit and always get the Reginette and another pasta…read moredepending on my mood for our entrees. We came for dinner today and got lucky because the Sunday only special (Chicken Parm) was available so we ordered that and I decided to switch up my usual to the Spaghetti. My boyfriend loved the Chicken Parm and it comes on top of Vodka Pappardelle which was also delicious and the Spaghetti wasn't too heavy even though it was cream based. I wish they sold the Vodka pasta separately as an entree because I would order that as an entree on my next visit. Another fabulous dinner at Ammazzacaffe!

    Really a 3.5/5. The drink and one of the appetizers were great, but the entree was disappointing…read more Sunchoke - interesting for sure. The sunchokes and apples are tossed in a creamy and slightly herbal dressing. Burrata - really great. The eggplant base is richly spiced and tart to complement the rich and creamy burrata. Gemelli - disappointing, and the only vegetarian option. The goat cheese totally overwhelms the dish, so you can't taste the pesto at all. The texture on the noodles was perfect at least. Passion project - delicious drink with notes of passion fruit, chocolate, and some spices. The others in my group also had the duck (which they found to be a bit overly loaded with duck fat) and the reginette (which they enjoyed). I'd love to see a more balanced vegetarian main course make it on the menu sometime. The bill for 4 people came to nearly $230 after tax and tip.

    Photos
    Spaghetti bottarga
    Spaghetti bottarga
    Mini Martini and Caviar bump
    Mini Martini and Caviar bump
    Reginetter with pork ragu

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    Reginetter with pork ragu
    Piccola Cucina Casa

    Piccola Cucina Casa

    4.6
    (74 reviews)
    3.1 mi

    I never left reviews but this restaurant just stole my heart! This is officially best Italian food…read moreI ever had!!! First time here and will be back again and again 20000%

    Piccola Cucina Casa Brooklyn delivers the rare kind of meal that makes you rethink what a…read moreneighborhood Italian spot can be. The room is small and romantic, homemade pasta hangs in the front window, and the whole evening felt less like dining out and more like being invited into someone's family table in Florence. We started with the fritto misto, a well executed mix of fried fish and vegetables, alongside an insalata caprese that let fresh tomatoes, burrata and basil speak for themselves. From there we went family style, which is really the only way to do it here. The bucatini cacio e pepe was as much performance as dish, mixed tableside directly in the cheese wheel. The fusilloni di Gragnano from Puglia paired scampi with burrata, cherry tomatoes and arugula for a bright, briny plate, while the tagliatelle verdi brought a rich wild boar ragu finished with fresh black truffle. The two standouts, though, were the agnolotti ossobuco with veal sauce and pecorino fondue rounded out with thyme and lemon, and the lasagna Bolognese. That lasagna, layered with meat ragu, tomato and bechamel, may be the best I have ever had. We paired the meal with a bottle of Salvioni 2022 Rosso di Montalcino, aromatic and beautifully matched to the food. The space is cozy and intimate rather than sprawling, so a reservation is a smart call. Everything else, from the food to the atmosphere to the sense that someone's nonna was cooking just for us, made this one of the most memorable meals in NYC. We would return without hesitation.

    Photos
    Nice room
    Nice room
    Bread service
    Bread service
    Bar area

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    Bar area
    Evelina

    Evelina

    4.4
    (510 reviews)
    2.4 mi
    $$

    So a friend and I decided to dine out on a Tuesday, thinking that most places would be empty, well…read morenot EVELINA. We were able to snag an early seating at 6:30. Note: reservations are not required but definitely suggested!! This place was packed. Every table sat, but a few chairs at the bar. I give this place 5 stars, EVERYTHING was lovely! The dim lights, (I love a dark and moody restaurant) noise level, talk-able but good music in the background, food, drinks, service.... all of it TOP NOTCH. Let's get into the deets.... I ordered the Portia cocktail... if you like Mezcal, you should definitely try this one. Smoky and a little sweet, it was a delicious drink We order Pinsa Bianca for appetizers, the bread, roasted peppers and whipped ricotta all made for a light but delish start. We then dove into the rib-eye (for 2) DELICIOUS ! One of the best steaks outside of a steakhouse I have had. The marbling gave it great flavor, salted well and the perfect char on the outside, it was accompanied by French fries and broccolini. All a great addition; The broccolini was surprisingly not too bitter which was nice. To round it off we ordered their version of a Lemon tart! It was the perfect level of sweet and tart! Yummmo Overall a great place for dinner, run don't walk, you won't be disappointed! You'll thank me later

    I recently had dinner with friends at Evelina and had a nice experience. We started with the…read morezucchini blossoms, which were okay, and the fritto misto, which was delicious. The calamari and shrimp were perfectly crispy, although I wish the portion included more than two shrimp. For drinks, I ordered the Lavinia, and it was excellent--a refreshing blend of tequila, lime, orange, and a nice touch of honey. For my entrée, I had the grilled pork chops, which were cooked perfectly. The pistachio gremolata added a unique burst of flavor that really elevated the dish. My friends ordered a variety of pasta dishes, which I tried and tasted good, and everyone enjoyed their meals. We ended with dessert and tried both the traditional tiramisu, which was very good, and the budino--a butterscotch pudding with pistachio gelato--which completely stole the show. It was absolutely amazing. Overall, a great dining experience, and I'd definitely return.

    Photos
    Evelina
    Evelina
    Burrata, Asparagus, shaved Bottarga

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    Burrata, Asparagus, shaved Bottarga
    Bamonte's

    Bamonte's

    4.0
    (535 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    my experience at Bamonte's was amazing!! the food, environment and service was 10/10 here. my…read moresister was dairy free and they catered to her preferences and never forgot about it! the bread, chicken parm, eggplant parm and pasta was amazing! the prosciutto and cheese here was of quality too.

    Oh the old school thrill of an old school beauty of an establishment like Bamonte's!…read more I just love this place so much! I can't say enough great things about the decor the ambience and imagining all of the past goings on in this restaurant. It's been watching over Brooklyn for well over 100 years now! That in itself is a Herculean feat! From what I was told it was very popular with the mob as they say... And that's why the kitchen which is at the very back of the restaurant has full glass windows so that you can see exactly what's going on in there. I guess some of these mob guys were paranoid and rightly so consider considering their history. I arrived with my friend on a Wednesday evening about 6 PM and there were some scattered tables but by 7 PM it was mobbed (pun intended ) in there!! our waiter was affable and patient and a quite enjoyable fellow. As a sidenote, you will not find any female servers they are all male which l lends to the old school vibe in my opinion. My friend ordered the lamb chops with broccoli Rabe. He enjoyed them but did mention that though they had great flavor one of them was slightly tough... It happens... My meal was pasta with Bolognese sauce with a dollop of fresh ricotta on top. It was delicious actually the sauce was excellent. I would've liked to have a different pasta shape but they did not have it. No biggie. I could really say the food was very good but it was not excellent but for me that was not an issue as I fell in love with the place itself. The service was excellent and the ambience was fantastic! I would definitely return again and I highly recommend it if you have never been you must at least go one time!!

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Breast Chicken Parmigiana
    Breast Chicken Parmigiana
    Fried Calamari

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    Fried Calamari
    Olio e Più

    Olio e Più

    4.5
    (7.5k reviews)
    3.1 mi
    $$$

    Jose and the entire team at OLIO E PIÙ absolutely knocked it out of the park! I stopped in while…read morespending some time in the East Village, and this was easily one of the best Italian meals I've had in New York City. I ordered the Lamb Ragù pasta, and every bite was packed with rich, slow-cooked flavor. To start, my brother and I shared a pizza and the lobster appetizer, and both were incredible. My brother ordered the truffle pasta, and after stealing a few bites, I can honestly say it was just as unforgettable. The atmosphere was on another level. Even on a Tuesday night, the restaurant was buzzing with energy, full of happy people, great conversations, and an authentic Italian vibe that made you want to stay for hours. The service from Jose was outstanding. Friendly, attentive, and genuinely passionate about making sure we had an amazing experience. If you're looking for incredible Italian food, outstanding service, and one of the best dinner spots in the East Village, OLIO E PIÙ belongs at the top of your list. I'll definitely be back the next time I'm in the city.

    The restaurant is beautiful! Nice and open, perfect to sit for nice weather but it does feel a…read morelittle tight, especially at the bar. Almost like each table is crammed together. I thought the food was okay, nothing too exciting. I didn't even enjoy the glass of Rośe I had. If I had to pick, I'd choose the pasta over the pizza for sure. Complimentary bread was nice and hot which is always a bonus. All in all, I don't think I'd come back, sadly.

    Photos
    Olio E Più NYC Greenwich Ave
    Olio E Più NYC Greenwich Ave
    Crostata Di Pera e Mandorla (NYC Winter Restaurant Week 2026) - Olio E Più NYC Greenwich Ave
    Crostata Di Pera e Mandorla (NYC Winter Restaurant Week 2026) - Olio E Più NYC Greenwich Ave
    Pinamenta (Non-Alcoholic) Cocktail - OLIO E PIÙ NYC

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    Pinamenta (Non-Alcoholic) Cocktail - OLIO E PIÙ NYC

    Balera - italian - Updated August 2026

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