2nd time here. In a city with so many options, the service and hospitality blew me away. During my first visit I had made a comment, which they remembered and then proceeded to go above and beyond. Ambiance was upscale, intimate, perfect for a night out or something more casual. The dill vodka martini was dangerously easy to drink. We enjoyed every dish here, but standouts included the labneh (+simit), wagyu filet mignon, and the seasonal butternut squash. If you like uni, then the spicy tuna crispy rice or the uni pasta. Unpopular opinion, but the carrots were OK so i'd skip in favor of other options. Get the dark chocolate mousse for dessert and thank me later. We left stuffed and will be back. Shoutout to Hector! read more

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Opto had been on my list for a while, and I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to get a reservation. The space feels warm and inviting the moment you walk in. But just as I'd given my name and the hostess was about to seat me, someone at the bar stepped in to greet friends, and three people stood up to meet them. By the time I could get around them, the hostess was already at the far end of the restaurant, near a back room, not having waited to guide me the rest of the way. I'd barely reached the table, hadn't sat down or taken off my jacket, when a waiter greeted me and asked if I'd been to the restaurant before. I gave him a look that said I haven't even sat down yet, but he pressed on, asking what kind of water I wanted and whether I'd decided on a drink. In that moment, the room stopped feeling like fine dining and started feeling like a diner. When my friend arrived a few minutes later -- someone I hadn't seen in a long time -- a waiter was at the table the instant she sat down, asking what she wanted to drink. They tried to clear our starters twice while we were still eating, and at one point took the cutlery off my friend's plate while she was mid-bite of her salad, just to make room for the entrées. During the entrées, two waiters and a back waiter attempted to clear our plates three separate times while we were still eating. The food was delicious, and the space was lovely. But the sense of being rushed throughout the meal was the most absurd I've experienced at a restaurant like this. I won't be going back. read more

Man. 0 notes. So delicious My second time here and I had to get the limone pasta again because it stuck out in my mind so much The pesto ravioli was incredible as well Just skip everywhere else Opto is amazing read more

Opto - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

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I was very surprised at how good the food is at Opto. I'm not a huge fan of Flatiron's food scene but this place definitely flies under the radar. Speaking of which, they apparently have an off-menu burger that "some people call ahead" to see if it is available as they only serve so many per day. Ok do we think we are 4Charles now? Relax, Opto! One other thing I appreciate is that the interior is intimate but doesn't feel crowded at all. Nice balance there. I recommend this place if you're looking for high-end flatiron. read more

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What a beautiful time at Opto! I came solo for dinner during a business trip. I was on a call and the staff was super accommodating, as I also arrived early. The food was great! Best menu items were the lemon pasta and gem salad. The mousse was amazing (but heavy), carrots weren't my favorite, the toast was just okay, and they gave me calamari on the house (not my favorite). The venue is beautiful and intimate -totally appropriate for date night or an evening with girlfriends. I'll certainly be back for that lemon pasta! read more

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Opto has all the elements of a restaurant with staying power. Very good food that's well-executed across the board, drink and food menus with tons of good options, and particularly great service. The prices are definitely a little inflated but for some reason I feel like the prices at most Flatiron places of this caliber are set similarly so I suppose it is ~locally~ normative. In any case, it fits the vibe of the area well and it is suitable for pretty much any occasion so it's versatile too. We came here at 8:15 as a party of four on a Saturday night. Though it wasn't too hard to get a reservation, the place was completely full. That said, it's a relatively big space so they have plenty of tables to accommodate parties of many different sizes. The decor is fresh and refined, lots of greenery which is the move these days. Though it's a white tablecloth situation the vibe is not pretentious or buttoned up, it's lively and fun just in a sophisticated way. Cocktails and wine options aplenty here, with quite a few cocktail options featuring Greek/Mediterranean ingredients (mastiha, I'm looking at you) which I very much appreciated. A few folks started with the "I Speak For The Trees" (Spring 44 Vodka, Cucumber, Mastiha) cocktail and in doing so tried mastiha for the first time. I, not surprisingly, had to try the martini, which is the Fantasy Is A Necessary Ingredient (Dill Vodka, Sardinian Vermouth, Olive Oil). Despite not being a vodka person, vodka in dirty martinis is the one exception I will make from time to time, especially when there is a fun infusion that elevates the drink. I was extremely happy that, after ordering it, our server asked if I wanted it with a regular olive or feta-stuffed olive, as if there is really any deliberation that needs to happen there (read: feta-stuffed olives are a no-brainer). For the rest of the night I just got dirty martinis or espresso martinis which are both particularly excellent here. My partner tried the La Osa Albarino (Val do Salnes, Rias Biaxas, Spain) with our entrees which I also enjoyed. Food-wise, we got to sample a decent portion of the menu being a party of four, though we didn't order any of the bigger entrees (mostly because we could not justify the price). Everything was great and the only reason this isn't five stars is just because I reserve that for experiences where things are mind-blowing/super memorable and as they say, it is called the Hall of Fame not the Hall of the Very Good. In any case, it's hard to pick out a favorite dish because we really enjoyed everything, but that is a good sign for the rest of the menu should you want to order something we didn't try. Everything was an A or A+ in this meal so I'll skip the letter grades for this review. Eats, below: Norwegian Yellowtail Tartare w/ Ezme, Borage, Sumac Light, delicate, relatively straightforward as far as tartares go but the ezme adds a nice touch that's a nod to the Mediterranean. Gem Lettuce Salad w/ Dill, Scallion, Cucumber, Sesame-Anchovy Vinaigrette Super fresh and delicious, perhaps a little Caesar-esque but with far more intrigue. Sugar Kiss Melon w/ Stracciatella Di Buffala, Spicy Coppa, 25 Year Balsamic We actually decided to nix this at the last second when we realized we may have ordered a bit too much food but our lovely server brought it anyway (she really made the night for us). This could even be a dessert-type dish if you'd like, but certainly works among the savory courses too. Charred Spanish Octopus w/ Potato, Mint, Aged Sherry The octopus was beautifully cooked and presented, seasoned well, no notes on that. The potatoes were decent but less exciting than the rest of the dish imo. Roasted Dorade w/ Tamarind Glaze, Pomegranate, Jalapeño, Herb Salad Absolutely loved this dish. According to our server, it's on the opposite end of the spectrum from the branzino, which is a cleaner, simpler preparation (and the whole fish), while this is a total flavor bomb. While I do love branzino, I'm glad we opted for this at less than half of the price. And I'm pretty sure the last time the four us went out for dinner we ordered a full fish and I'm pretty sure it was branzino so here's to shaking things up. Rocky Mountain Lamb Chops w/ Black Garlic, Ras El Hanout, Mint Chermoula Despite not usually being a red meat person I really loved these. Incredibly juicy and flavorful, making a strong case for being priced as high as they are. Honey Spiced Carrots Don't sleep on sides! Often an afterthought but they deserve a seat at the table, and these were good evidence of this. read more

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Very good restaurant in Flatiron area, Italian Mediterranean dishes done just right. This was a last minute find and I'm glad stopped in. Classy interior, with mood lighting, and a few different nooks around the restaurant which insulates noise well. We had the Turkish Simit with Feta Butter, Crispy Calamari, Gem Lettuce Salad, Octopus, Pesto Cavatelli, and Chocolate Mousse. I love Turkish simit, and this was tasty, but it should really be served with two breads given the large quantity of feta. The calamari was a big portion and seasoned well with a wonderful fry on them, Salad was refreshing and the octopus dish was awesome. The pesto cavatelli has a lot of buzz, but it was just ok to me, the pesto was missing something. Can't go wrong finishing with the chocolate mousse, we were stuffed by the end of the meal and we didn't even order any mains. Turkish Simit 5/5 Calamari 5/5 Charred Spanish Octopus 5/5 Gem Lettuce Salad 4/5 Cavatelli con Pesto Genovese 3/5 Dark Chocolate Mousse 5/5 read more

Opto - Calamari, Simit, Gem Salad - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

One of the best restaurants we've dined at in recent months!! The inside is beautifully decorated with light shining from the glass ceiling and there is a cute private room to request seating in as well. We started off with their whipped ricotta and calamari, both exceptional. The honey in the ricotta paired with the fresh bread were perfectly executed! The sauce for the calamari was a bit spicy w Indian spices, but still enjoyable! We followed w the pesto pasta and the macaroni Pomodoro- the macaroni was the star for us. We ended our dinner with the Dorade fish and honey spiced carrots, both delicious. We finished our beautiful meal with the dark chocolate mousse and tea. Dessert here is a must!! All in all, service and food were perfect and we look forward to returning with family and friends to enjoy with next time!! read more

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We went here for the Valentine's prix fixe menu and it did not disappoint! To start off, we ordered drinks. Ryan ordered the "truth is rarely pure" cocktail which was a light, Japanese whiskey based spritz. I was torn between the carricante and the albarino, so the waiter brought over a taste of both (the carricante was the winner). Side note that our waiter was so bubbly, friendly, and had the most fun energy. I would totally want to be his friend in real life. For the apps, we ordered the yellowtail tartare and the beef carpaccio. The yellowtail was fantastic. It was light, refreshing, tangy, and the yellow quality was very fresh. The beef carpaccio was just ok. They top it with a layer of potato chips which is a fun idea in theory. However, both the chips and the carpaccio were intensely salty, and taking a bite with both components was just too much salt. We enjoyed eating the chips and carpaccio separately, though the meat was a little "meatier" than most carpaccios I've had. Between the two, the yellowtail was the obvious winner. We also ordered the whipped sheep's ricotta which came with crusty bread. This was absolutely delicious, subtly sweet, and very mild. Next up for the main courses. I ordered a spicy lobster cavatelli dish that I don't think is on their normal menu. I loved it! It had a slight spicy kick with generous pieces of lobster. We also ordered the lamb chops that were almost life changing. I am picky about how people cook lamb, but it was so tender and the mint chermoula was refreshing without overwhelming the dish. Honestly, this may be the best lamb chops I've had in my life. The lamb also came with crispy potatoes on the side. Moving onto dessert - at this point I was so full I had a hard time taking more than a couple bites of each. We got the chocolate mousse and the lemon torte caprese. Normally, I'm more of a fruity dessert fan than a chocolate fan, but in this case, the chocolate mousse won. Both were delicious. The lemon torte came as a dense lemon infused cake (almost tasted like olive oil cake) with a fluffy layer of torched meringue). It was good, but felt healthy after such a big meal. The chocolate mousse was lightly bitter, only a little bit sweet, and felt much lighter. We had no problem finishing this dessert. The ambiance was luxurious yet cozy, tables were pretty close together, but music was playing at the perfect volume, and we still felt like we had some privacy from the next table over. Our biggest complaint was the restaurant was soo hot we were glistening the whole night (we even heard another couple ask for the AC to be turned on). I don't think this is typical (based on my friends' experience here on other nights) and might just be because NY has had some crazy temp swings lately. Overall, this was a delicious dinner and great experience. Highly recommend for a date night. read more

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AMBIANCE: 10/10 -pretty interior and dim lighting!! great for dates or girls night outs SERVICE: 10/10 -just enough check ins without feeling overwhelmed -our servers gave great recs :) FOOD/DRINK Spritz: 6.8/10 -wasn't super sweet :( Taramosalata: 9/10 -Bread was SUPER good, very chewy! -Spread was good but not mind blowing Bluefin Tuna Carpaccio: 8/10 -Solid but have had similarly good carpaccios Macaroni: 8/10 -Was a fun thicker/not as chewy texture! -Flavor was similar to other pastas I've had Grilled Half Chicken: 10/10!!! -I'm seldom wowed by chicken, this was a HUGE standout -Suuuper juicy and tender, texture did it all read more

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Everything we ordered here was delicious and well-executed with each dish full of fresh flavor and a great balance of ingredients. The Spanish charred octopus was my personal favorite so tender, smoky, and perfectly seasoned. The limone pasta was also so good, bright and comforting with just the right amount of citrus. Overall, a very satisfying dining experience with standout dishes throughout. read more

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Opto is a great new add to the area! A little pricy but the food is definitely worth the cost. Everything we ordered was packed with flavor and left us licking the plate clean. We ordered the whipped ricotta, octopus, and limone pasta. The octopus was served over a potato salad which was delicious and paired very well with it. I am not usually one to order pasta but the limone was very good and cooked to perfection! I would recommend you order a few items to share with others so you can try more items on the menu. All of the food we ordered was plenty for 2 people! read more

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Call me the wicked witch of the west bc I am blown away how delicious everything was! From what I saw on socials and Yelp, I knew Opto was gonna be good but idk, wasn't expecting it to be THAT good! Everything was so crisp, flavorful, clean and delicious!! We had a rez for 4 on Tuesday at 630p and we left around 1030p - we were there for almost 4 freakin hours bc the vibes, food and service was impeccable. We felt bad being one of the last to leave but it's a testament to how great this restaurant was. I'm sure we were only able to do that bc it was a Tuesday but even then, it was boppin in there - every seat was filled! It wasn't hard to get a rez for the week but idk about the weekend. Note: We had someone that was allergic to dairy and they were so accommodating with putting some things on the side and being clear about which dishes to avoid!! Here's what we got Feta butter: 10/10 mild yet deep and flavorful Gem salad: 10/10 crunchy, crispy, tangy, umami Melon: 10/10 the sweetest crunchiest melons I've ever had with the milky goodness of stracciatella Calamari: 10/10 when the dish came out I was hoping for a more tempura-y fry but this was somehow light and tempura-y yet had that that rustic Italianness and squid was perfectly cooked Branzino: 10/10 the crispiest saltiest skin with the perfectly cooked flaky meat YOM Ribeye: 100/10 PERFECT NO NOTES Limone: 10/10 so buttery and salty and cheesy with the parm Tomato Pasta: 9/10 They brought this out complimentary for us!! And made sure it was dairy free!!! We were blown!! The pasta was slightly too thick/al dente for me but the rest of the table loved it!! Herbed Carrots: 10/10 maple (?) glazed and so sweet and soft!! Almost tasted like a mix between a carrot and a yam Harry's Strawberry Shortcake: 100/10 DO NOT SKIP!! I wished I wasn't so full at the end bc this was AMAZING! It was deconstructed with a nice serving of whipped cream and poppy seeds on top - wowowowow perfectly slightly sweet and the shortbread in it was indescribable!!! The restaurant itself was bigger than you'd think walking in and from what I saw, was a great spot to accommodate 6-9 people! Can get a bit loud but vibes are bright all around it was giving amalfi coast ~ Can't wait to bring more of my friends here!!! read more

I came with some friends for dinner and got a few plates to share: calamari (good and better without the sauce), whipped ricotta (probably my favorite), gem lettuce salad (refreshing) and the macaroni al pomodoro (the pasta was too hard - not al dente). Overall a nice place but very pricey. Service was attentive. The restaurant is very cute inside. read more

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overall loved this place! food - the pastas and the chocolate mousse were my favorites. i usually don't like red sauces, but the red sauce on the macaroni was delicious and unique. i ended up dipping my chicken in it. the tagliolini was lemon zesty and light! loved it. the chicken was tender but wasn't obsessed with the sauce or vegetables on top of it. still great though. the dark chocolate mousse with cream on top and chocolate shavings was incredible. vibe - perfect for date night or girls night. loud but not too loud that you have to scream. super cute, think candles and dim warm lighting. service - server was super nice and had good recommendations, but we felt rushed to leave closer to the end. the plates were also cleared a bit too quickly after we finished each one. not a huge ding overall but could've been better. read more

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Cute spot for an intimate dinner or sitting at the bar. I had bread with arahova feta butter, which was good. For the main, I had the cavatelli with pesto, which had nice strong notes of basil. My husband had the tagliolini al Amalfi limone, which had bright notes of lemon balanced with saltiness from the cheese. For dessert, we shared the dark chocolate mousse, which was delicious -- rich, not too sweet, and ample portion for sharing. The cocktails are also good. Service is very friendly. read more

Nothing but the highest compliments to Opto - the hype is 100% warranted! First and foremost, this restaurant is beautiful... be sure to make a reservation, by 6:30 this place was packed. The Today You Are You cocktail, which was highly recommended by my waiter, is a like drinking a sparkling lemon drop - you'll love this drink. My friend and I are both vegetarians, so we split the 3 vegetarian-friendly pastas (macaroni pomodoro, cavatelli pesto, and taglioni) and to be honest...all 3 were absolutely incredible and unique in their flavor. The pesto was the most basic of the options, and I think the fusilli was my favorite. It was definitely not too lemon-y so don't let that scare you away. The side of the honey spiced carrots is also a must - these were some of the best carrots I've ever had. Do not skip dessert - the chocolate mousse is famous for a reason. We also tried the rice pudding, which was also very tasty. They make a perfect espresso martini here (and I'm very picky), so do order one to enjoy with your dessert. Overall, Opto takes a high spot of my list of top restaurants in the city. Make the reservation! read more

Opto - Macaroni Pomodoro, Cavatelli Pesto, Fusilli - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

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This review is for dining here only for the dessert and the sweet, pleasant customer service. All the dessert we tried was fabulous! The rich Dark Chocolate Mousse was the standout along with the Moroccan Rice Pudding, which tasted pure heavenly bliss in each bite and I normally don't like rice type desserts. The cake and cookies were also yum! Would recommend for dessert. I'm sure their dinner menu is also equally as wonderful too. read more

Opto - From left: Lemon Torte Caprese, Amaretti Cookies, Dark Chocolate Mousse, and Moroccan Rice Pudding. - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

Wow! Charming ambiance. Wonderful servers that actually recommended dishes that were a must try. My favorites of the eve were: Arahova Feta Butter Honey Spiced Carrots Tagliolini al Amalfi Limone Gem Lettuce Salad The Lemon Torte Caprese is an absolute must. Highly recommend a visit. read more

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Love what they did with the space. This restaurant is so cozy inside and has Mediterranean vibes. The food was in the vein of Sicilian. Whipped ricotta was mediocre but the half chicken and octopus were great. Bar area is cute. read more

Opto - Half chicken - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

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I loved it! First off it's super cute in there, which is always a plus. But the food was also top notch. The filet had an amazing char to it and was perfectly cooked. I think I preferred the lemon pasta over the pomodoro (sauce was great, but I expected it to be hollow - it had quite a bite to it). They also have matches! I wanna try their choco mousse next time read more

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I have to say, the food was excellent- but have a few reasons as to why it's not a 5 star restaurant for me. First, it's very expensive. Extremely so. I don't think Opto has a Michelin star, and I don't think the prices are justifiable. Second, the acoustics are horrible. We sat down at 6:15- could still hear the music which I thought was somewhat too loud, but by around 7, the conversations from the other tables were so loud, I couldn't hear what my friend was saying to me. Lastly, the set up of tables in the back corner- very poor. Where we were sat, I was literally 3 inches from another diner's chair. I asked to be moved to the next two top that was vacant and was told no. We were told we could move our table a few inches closer to the vacant table which we did. Then every single time a server, busier, or anyone else came to the table on our side, my chair was kicked . EVERY SINGLE TIME. Either the staff is very clumsy or there is one table too many in this section. Very annoying and took away from the experience. The food/ I had the lemon cocktail/ was good, not great, we shared the sun choke appetizer which was great, the grilled octopus- which was very thick so a little hard to chew but tasty- and it came with a delicious potato salad, the pesto pasta which was very good, and a very expensive Red Snapper that came with clams. I think the price of the snapper was ridiculous. Great food and service, bad pricing, acoustics and design. read more

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It's been a while since we've been wowed by a Manhattan restaurant. Lots of big production and mediocrity. Opto has only been around since January and deserves the attention! Firstly, the space is cozy yet roomy enough for gathering friends or date nights. The friendly and snappy staff have purpose when serving customers. Very well trained on execution. Every single dish was a surprise that landed unique balances of flavor. We had the Norwegian yellowtail tartare (a bright Mediterranean taste that didn't overpower the delicious yellowtail), sunchoke salad, Spanish octopus (tender and the accompanying potatoes were so good!) and finished with the Rocky Mountain lamb and straciatella cavatelli (perfectly al dente). Our only suggestion was more light at the table to let the beautiful food speak in person and on my iPhone! And yes, it's on the expensive side, but the food was excellent. We'll be back. read more

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A bit of the Mediterranean in Flatiron. A menu with significant Greek and Italian influences. Restaurant is located on the basement level and requires stair to access. I started with one of their house cocktails which was a spin on a gin and tonic. For the second and third rounds I switched over to a Dirty Gin Martini. They rang my drink up as a Dorothy Parker, so I don't know what to make of that. Cocktails were pricey but good. We shared a bunch of appetizers as starters. We had toasted sourdough with whipped ricotta, a Montreal style bagel with labneh, fried calamari, and the grilled summer squash with manouri cheese. The fried calamari was a hit. The medium thickness breading that was generously seasoned with a pepper based blend. Super crispy Sam's it was the first plate cleared. For the main course, we shared three pastas. We decided to honor the Italian flag by ordering a red, white, and green sauce. The red sauce was a light pomodoro with a thick udon like noodle. It was cakey and doughy with a big chew to it. The white sauce was a creamy lemon sauce with taglioini - essentially a fancy fettuccine Alfredo. A nostalgic item and another hit at the tables. Green sauce was a pesto with a long thin pasta called trenette. It was served with potatoes, green beans, and pine nuts giving it a home style feel. Service was attentive. Atmosphere was dim and had an intimate Mediterranean cave like ambiance. Pacing of the food was good. There were gendered restrooms. read more

Came here for dinner on a Saturday night and was easy to make a reservation for 4 day of! The staff are so kind and attentive and the inside is beautifully decorated. The restaurant was pretty packed but not too noisy at all. We started with the ricotta and labneh dips which were both amazing. Over the two I preferred the ricotta but both were delicious. We also got the oysters which were super fresh and the octopus. The potatoes in the octopus dish were incredible but the dish overall was quite salty so I would not necessarily recommend. We also got the gem lettuce salad which is a must! It's perfectly crunchy and the dressing pairs perfectly. For our mains we got two pasta dishes, the pomodoro and lemon tagliatelle which were both delicious! The pomodoro was perfectly chewy and the lemon tagliatelle was light and refreshing (my favorite of the two). To end we had to try the dark chocolate mousse and it is phenomenal. It's rich but not too sweet and I am still thinking about it to this day! Great food and incredible service! read more

This is a newer pricier Mediterranean restaurant located in the same space as Periyali which was there for 40 years. The inside has a classy ambience and would be nice for a date and the service was professional though perhaps a bit slow which was especially the case with ordering. The prices match the ambience being on the relatively high end but the dishes are mostly pretty shareable and we overall had a good time. To drink, I had one of their many excellent sounding cocktails which was the "Truth Is Rarely Pure" for $19 which is one of their spritzes with Japanese whiskey, Aperitivo Nonino, and prosecco with the cocktails on the menu ranging from I believe $16 to $22 or so which is the usual for a nicer spot. While I'm not usually the hugest fan of drinks with prosecco or other sparkling wines, this worked here with the drink having a nice mix of bitterness and sweetness with a slight bite at the end from the whiskey and I would recommend it for those who like negronis. Another person had a glass of Basque wine (the rosé) which they enjoyed. The only appetizer we started with was the Whipped Sheep's Milk Ricotta for $18 with chestnut honey and grilled bread. The ricotta had a nice soft texture and the pieces of bread had a mix of softness and hardness with some being perhaps grilled a bit too long. There was definitely a bit of sweetness from the honey though I think the dish itself was missing something extra such as either salt or perhaps an herb as the flavor was a bit one note. It was fine though overall our least favorite of the dishes. We otherwise got two larger plates. The smaller of the two was the excellent Macaroni Di Bussa Al Pomodoro for $32 with Vesuvius tomato, basil, and pecorino Sardo. The pasta had a nice texture to it being chewy but not too much so. The dish had a good kick to it with some saltiness (presumably from the pecorino) and there was a hint of spice from the tomato sauce which was a nice touch. This was a very tasty pasta dish and I would recommend it and it would make an excellent solo main dish. Much larger and much higher priced was the Rocky Mountain Lamb Chops for $85 with black garlic, ras el hanout, and mint chermoula which we ordered two of. The price might leave you a bit wide-eyed but it was actually worth it as the four lamb chops on the plate were massive being I would say 1.5 times the size of usual lamb chops. The lamb was cooked a perfect medium rare as requested with them being very tender with a slight chew to them. The dish had a light sweetness, some warming spices, and a bit of sourness from the chermoula with none of this overpowering the excellent quality chops. I would recommend this for a group and I think two people could split this easily with the last lamb chop being easy enough to cut in half as long as a person doesn't mind getting the bone. We didn't bother with dessert though we were tempted by the mousse. The restaurant is pricey but it's good quality and the portion sizes make up for the price point at least for most dishes that we ordered. If I could give a 4.5 I would but I can't so I'll bump it up as it's an early review. read more

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Opto is a newer Mediterranean spot from chef Tubero; their menu changes often, as it's a seasonal menu. We came here for an early dinner with some dear friends, staring off with: +Periyali's Domades +Taramosalata - served with grilled bread +Whipped Sheep's Milk Ricotta - drizzled with chestnut honey and served with grilled bread +and, Green Market Fritto Misto - with charred jalapeno tzatziki and lemon For our mains, we tried: +the Trenette al Pesto Genovese - with potatoes, green beans, and Spanish pine nuts +Canary Islands Branzino +Herb Crusted Ribeye +Spiced Lentils +Wild Mushrooms +and, Bloomsdale Spinach Service was friendly, and the restaurant space is bright and cheery, with nicely printed seating, plants, and nice lighting fixtures. Making online reservations was a seamless process! +friendly service +making reservations is a seamless process read more

When you step into the space you're greeted by the host and a very ambient low to no lighting setting, all table scapes are light by candle light. The service was great. Very prompt and always right there for when needed. Santiago went above and beyond. The food was excellent. We had the lobster spaghetti, whipped ricotta and the chocolate mouse. The whipped ricotta was fine, bread a little too crispy for my teeth but didn't leave any behind so that's something. The lobster was heaven. So so good. The mouse, excellent. If you need food and want your taste buds happy. Look no firth read more

Calamari was bad. Pasta was okay. Drinks were strong. Little tight and loud, but it's a New York restaurant. Not a date place. Server was nice. Bathroom smelled awful. My local place that is like 75% takeout orders has a candle in their bathroom. Get it together. Absolutely no reason I should be able to smell the bathroom before I enter when I'm paying $50 for some mid pasta and wine. read more

Great ambience, great cocktail, and great food. Started with the answer is simple cocktail -- Japanese whiskey, Sardinian vermouth, Italian bitters with a lemon garnish. Wonderful drink. We tried the octopus which was prepared to perfection, pesto cavatelli and Parmesan lemon tagliolini. The pesto was aromatic and fragrant. The Parmesan lemon was rich and refreshing while not overbearing at the same time. Both pastas were perfectly al dente. The half chicken was reminiscent of an upscale schwarma. Service was a bit on the slower side but it was 7:30pm on Saturday night and everything was fresh, warm, and well presented. 4.5 stars -- will absolutely be back. read more

Opto is everything you want a NYC restaurant in 2025 to be. Service that makes you feel welcome, cared for, and part of the family. Food that is approachable, yet innovative with deliciously balanced flavors of salt, fat, and acid. An ambiance that is refined, warm, and comforting. Highlights for me are the $45 caviar service at the bar only (best deal in ny for caviar), the taramasalata, and octopus. Not to mention one of the best Negronis I've ever had. Chef Alex is an amazingly talented chef, curating a constantly rotating menu of top notch dishes that are well worth the money. The bar team is top notch- shout out to Kevin especially, who showed us that hospitality still exists in 2025. The team here truly cares about hospitality and their guests. They treat them respectfully, engage with those interested in what they do, and they overall treat you like friends and family. I will continue to make Opto one of my regular spots and I hope you do too read more

Wow wow wow! What a great restaurant! It's deceivingly big but it feels so intimate. The service was incredible! Everyone was very attentive to our table and of course the food was delicious! It was a great experience and I look forward to going back. read more

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We stopped in for a nightcap and can't wait to go back for a meal. We sat at their sleek bar and received excellent service, including a sweet treat to taste. Excellent Manhattan. read more

Opto - Manhattan - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

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An unforgettable dining experience with a perfectly curated triumvirate of atmosphere, service, and food. Floored by the quality of care shown by staff. Friendly, funny, passionate. I'd go back for the staff even if there was no food served. Thankfully they serve food, because it's some of the most delicious you'll have. When was the last time you could "taste the love" in each dish? Outside of my mother's kitchen- Opto. Simple and dynamic ingredients with textures your palate will crave for days after. Cannot speak highly enough of this wonderful establishment. So many phenomenal dishes but a few favorites: taramosalta, gem lettuce salad, charred Spanish octopus, macaroni di Bussa Al pomodoro (11/10 flavor & texture- a step beyond perfect al dente), tagliolini al amalfi limone, branzino, chocolate mousse (must order). Bring an empty stomach and a wheelbarrow because after your first bite, you'll want to order everything on the menu. Congrats to the entire Opto team on delivering excellence. read more

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Dinner for two. Excellent service in every way. Attentive but not overbearing, with relevant questions for us and suggestions for us as well. Servers, other staff great. Literally every staff person had a smile on his/her face and was super-friendly. Maitre D' was so friendly and helpful. Came over to check on us a couple of times. We appreciated that attention and help with selecting wine. The food was absolutely delicious. Prices appear a bit higher than average, but the portions are substantial so we felt our dinner was actually a good deal. Music at a reasonable level. Not quiet and not loud. Easy to talk. Old-school dance music, which was a surprise but also was very fun, since it was not what we hear at every other restaurant. Somewhat dark inside, lights were fairly low. That was fine. Seats were very comfortable - nicely cushioned - which pleased us. Tables are typical NYC-close to your neighbors so that was fine also. Food came out quickly, was plated nicely, looked superb and tasted excellent. We were thrilled. Taramasalata and we got a Simit in addition to the grilled bread. We added salt to to the tarama, which we like to do with "dips". We loved the Simit and the grilled bread, both were so good. This was a great dish. Fried calamari, comes with a side of somewhat spicy amba. This was a great dish. Grilled half chicken was cooked perfectly with a terrific jus. Wow this was extraordinary. So moist and easy to cut. Had saved a bit of the grilled bread, so used that with the jus and that was awesome. Tagliolini with Amalfi Lemon. Plenty of lemon flavor, plenty of parmesan flavor. Background of butter. This was a terrific dish. Pasta cooked just al dente. Full of flavor. Chocolate mousse for dessert. This was amazing. Every dish was pretty large. Every dish obviously made with pride, and with great care. We were, ummm, well-fed. 100000% going to return. Loved it. read more

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Lovely ambiance with attentive service- dim with candle light! The "i like nonsense" yogurt cocktail was refreshing. The salad was a bit overdressed, and octopus too salty with heavy mayo tasting potato, but everything else was good, including the chocolate mousse, sheep ricotta and tagliolini limone pasta. Honestly pasta was too small a portion for being $30, it was good but not mind blowing. Would recommend for a date without the octopus and salad dishes. read more

Hosted a group of six at Opto and they sat us at a fabulous round table. Pastas and desserts were the stars, especially recommend the Pesto Genovese, Lemon Butter Pasta, Lemon Torte and Chocolate Mousse. Octopus also deserves a mention. Didn't love the lamb chops (tasted overcooked?) or the whipped ricotta (stiff competition in NYC). Menu is setup well for sharing. Overall, I'd recommend if looking for a spot in the neighborhood, but wouldn't go out of my way to come back. read more

Fabulous friendly professional service. Great vibes. Yummy food. The lemon risotto was phenomenal. Will return. Highly recommend! For celiacs: Almost everything is or can be made gluten free and it's amazing. The gluten free pita was the best gluten free bread I've ever eaten (and I've tried a lot). read more

Opto - Dolmades, braised leeks, gluten free pita, labneh - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

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Loved our meal here - started with the whipped ricotta and grilled GF bread, which was absolutely delicious. Also had their version of a margarita (I asked for a splash of Mezcal and they obliged), also very tasty. We shared the roast chicken, Trenette al Pesto Genovese, and Tagliolini al Amalfi Limone (they do risotto for GF folks for the pastas, which was great), all were great. Service was totally on point. Beautiful decor and vibe, with tables up front and another room in back. We will definitely return! read more

The food at OPTO is phenomenal--especially the gluten-free pita with ricotta and honey (a must), grilled octopus, limone risotto, tuna crudo, and gem salad. As someone with a gluten intolerance and a member of my party with celiac, I felt completely safe and impressed by the quality and care in every dish. That said, we had an 8:15 PM reservation and weren't seated until after 9, which threw off our plans. Service was kind but overwhelmed--water alone took 15 minutes after sitting down. Worth it for the food, but the wait and stretched-thin service were frustrating. read more

Opto - Gluten free pita, tuna, ricotta with honey, grilled octopus, and gem salad. - Mediterranean Near Me - New York, New York

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