Forma pasta for the win, to end a wonderful Easter. Lasagna,…read morespicy Alla vodka pasta, fettuccini fungi, bolognese, kale salad with seared salmon, lemonade and 2 glasses of wine, we feasted. Lasagna wasn't anything special in my opinion, but my family likes it, the spicy alla vodka was delicious, not too spicy, but spicy enough haha, the fettuccini was good, the bolognese was great and salad is always a yes for me. Almost forgot the bread, the complimentary bread is delicious. Service and vibe was great and super affordable!

Great standard Italian spot if you don't want to break the bank! You see the workers making the…read morepasta fresh and the deals are incredible. They have special for each day and a meal and drink special for $16. Can't beat that!!! Super fresh. The searing situation can get a little hectic on a busy day and you may have to wait 15 mins but other than that, must try!!! You pay first, get ur tray of utensils and find a seat and you kindly put your dishes in the counter after.

My boyfriend scoped out LaRina ahead of our Brooklyn trip due to their chef competing on Top Chef…read more Needless to say, I can see why she was on Top Chef. Food was phenomenal! We started with the Crocchette and the Polpo. For entrees we got the Pappardelle Al Funghi and the Agnolotti Del Plin. For dessert we shared the Panna Cotta. All the food was excellent. Octopus was cooked perfectly. The Crocchettes were super flavorful. Both pasta dishes were divine! We actually switched plates halfway through the meal so we could enjoy both dishes. The Panna Cotta was the perfect ending. We made a reservation about a week in advance to be safe. I'm glad we did because the restaurant filled up quickly after opening. We reserved a table in the dining room table due to not knowing the what the patio situation was like. But it does look like their patio is enclosed for the colder months. The service was great. The food came out hot and fresh. Our server was attentive and knowledgeable on the menu. I would absolutely return to LaRina the next time I'm visiting the city.

Ambiance was adorable! We were a table of 7, and we made reservations about 1 hour beforehand and…read morewere sat as soon as we got there. The whole restaurant is well curated and had super cute, classy, decor. We loved our seating outside. Food was very good. To start, we got the green fried tomatoes that were that night's special. I am so glad we did as the whole table loved them! I also really liked the lasagna and bistecca. The agnolotti del pin was good, but there was so little of it! I wasn't even that hungry but had to beg my friends for some of their food after finishing mine because they saw how little my dish served. The smoked spaghetti was way too woody tasting in my opinion, too. Service was awesome - we may have been a bit rowdy as a group for our birthday girl, but our server was awesome and even brought out a tiramisu and ice cream for us. Thank you!!

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

We went for a Mother's Day brunch. The place was packed. Lots of families with kids and babies…read more 9our server was friendly and sweet and helped guide our decisions. We got the lobster with white asparagus with eggs to share. Yum. It really did not need the eggs. The hollondaise was delicious. We ordered. Oxtail rags, carbonara, and the fish pasta -Sardinian nod. All were excellent. The carbonara could have used a bit of pepper and a bit more pecorino. Guanciale? Or bacon? Also had the scallops which we loved. I ordered a Bellini but it was not a Bellini. No peach. Just a cherry - odd. The Lemon scone was the best we have had - served with cream and lemon curd. Amazing The Carmel custard dessert - was rich but a bit one note. It did come with a crunchy buttery cookie. The ice creams were homemade. The restaurants is lovely. Food wonderful. Service friendly and quick. But it is so loud you are literally yelling at your companions. Maybe they could turn down the music ? Regardless. We love this place!

Eastern District is a really fun little store for shopping and browsing and the people who work…read morethere are really cool and helpful. This place is definitely one of my go-tos for cheese if I'm in the area - and they will let you taste/sample cheeses that you're curious about. They also often have samples of one or cheeses, as well as samples of other foods, on a display table near where you enter the store. There's also a good selection of crackers, Jams and preserves, beer,non-alcholic beverages. They sell breads from She Wolf Bakery and they often have cookies from The Good Batch. This is a great place to stop in if you're already in the area but if you're not it's worth making a special trip over just to check it out! Chances are you'll find something that you like (and a lot that you're tempted by)

Every time I visit friends in Park Slope, I make a mandatory stop here to gather everything one…read morecould possibly need for a delicious charcuterie board. This place is my personal treasure chest of cheeses, meats, and little delights I didn't know I needed until I saw them. The staff is truly wonderful: warm, patient, and impressively knowledgeable. I always arrive puzzled by the sheer number of incredible options, and they always guide me to the perfect picks. Honestly, they know more about cheese than anyone I've ever met, and thanks to them, I walk out with bags of greatness and the promise of an amazing night ahead. And whatever you do, don't sleep on their sandwiches. They're crafted with the same magic touch. A gem in Park Slope, through and through.

Visiting Russo's Mozzarella & Pasta in Park Slope to shop for ingredients always feels like a…read morelittle treat right around the corner. Their fresh pasta is irresistible. I love making my own, but having Russo's just a couple blocks away? It's so tempting every single time. I always snag a slice of tiramisu to-go, and they have the best Italian snacks: taralli, sausage, olives, and stuffed peppers. Their sandwiches are solid too, satisfying and on point if traditional (they also come with a free beverage). If the mozzarella is fresh it's not to be missed either!!

What's terrific about this place is that the cold cuts are all (or maybe almost all) imported -…read moreit's not the typical Boar's Head or Hormel that most places use these days. Definitely one of the top hero sandwiches in NYC. I can't say the staff is the most friendly in the world, but they get the job done. And they're fine with sandwich customizations - "skip this, but put this on instead."

Sankyodai natto has a firm bean texture, a delicate flavor, and is made with organic soybeans. For…read morea high-quality, locally produced, organic product prices are reasonable. Natto has been a staple of my breakfast for years, and I am so grateful I can get it freshly made whenever I want, instead of having to stock up on frozen imported ones. On Chieko-san's suggestion, I also order a box of oyaki (Japanese donuts filled with sweet red bean paste), and I'm very glad I did: the contrast between the crunchy outside and soft filling is so satisfying. They're not overly sweet and make a great snack or small treat with a cup of tea or coffee. I recommend warming them in the oven rather than the microwave for the best experience. All in all, a wonderful experience, with warm and professional customer service. I will certainly be purchasing Sankyodai products again.

I order their freeze dried natto all the time and I pretty much eat it every day. I love it.read more

Six years is too long for an update. Caputo's Fine Foods is an institution and should be on…read moreanyone's radar if you can get here. I dropped by today to get some Easter goodies, the savory kind. As always, excellent. It's an annual tradition for me to visit around Easter specifically for their Basket Cheese among other incredibly delicious items. This cheese is only out around Easter and sold in a basket. A must try. Here's my list from today (to name a few): Arancini with cheese only? Check. Arancini means riceballs. Roasted Red Peppers? Check. Charred and to die for. Homemade Turkey? Check. I got a divorce from Boar's Head a long time ago. Breadcrumb stuffed peppers? Check Focaccia? Deliciously Checked from my list. Fluffy and light as air with a light tomato sauce coating. Yummy. And so on. I love everything about Caputo's. From their fresh pastas and ravioli to the variety of cheese to their holiday specials. It truly is amazing. If in the area this week, grab the Basket Cheese. You will leave with a full bag and undoubtedly drop more than a few bucks here. Quality over quantity, and they have it all. .

A small, but mighty grocery store. The prices scream Carroll Gardens, but the quality of the items…read morethere are just as top notch as the neighborhood. They offer sandwiches for takeout as well, which knowing me, I had to buy one. The Italian sandwich I ordered is small but mighty, much like the store. I got it with hot peppers which provide an extra layer of heat, but do not detract from anything that makes it less of a sandwich. The only problem I had was, where was I going to eat it? That problem was quickly solved when I went down to Carroll Street and ate this in a local park, all the while looking like a Saturday slob. There are other stores similar to this one that are closer to me that are just as good, but I am happy I came here and gave this one a fair shake.

Located on one of the most amazing blocks in Brooklyn, this place surely delivers. They have some…read moreof the best foods. I also found out that they supply to some neighboring restaurants, which explains why the restaurants carry delicious options. Opt for their lunch special if you get there on time. You get a good portion of their meat and sides of your choice. I have enjoyed their mac and cheese, brisket and broccoli sides in the past. Would love to come back and try their short ribs for a recipe.

What stands out the most is their service. It almost feels like a home away from home when you step…read moreinto this shop with multiple people asking you if you need help. We've gotten the breakfast sausage patties, the dry aged 20-30 ribeye steak as well as prepared foods from here before. My husband really enjoys their basic meatball sub for 10 dollars, which is as basic as cooked meatballs with a type of marinara sauce and cheese on a toasted hero. I recently got their plate of porcini with 2 delicious sides of mac and cheese and grilled vegetables. Can't wait for our next adventure here. We are going to learn how to cook duck breasts next.

cornucopia of italian goodies: dried and fresh pastas, frozen lasagnas/sauces/ravioli, desserts,…read morejams, oils, breads, and of course tons of cheeses and meats/seafood of all styles. Walk up counter available for ordering a variety of sandwiches. I had a Caprese sandwich. Was neither here nor there.. Nothing stood out. Would benefit from a really nice balsamic glaze/better tomatoes/lottts of fresh basil. But the service was friendly and I have a feeling their meat-based sandwiches go harder. The selection of items is and charm inside the store is unbeatable, though!

This well-stocked little Italian market has all the things I want to buy and cook and eat. Some of…read morethe things are ready to eat already, like all the cookies, crackers, cheeses, olives, cured meats, chips, candies, coffee, and more. However, for their extensive selection of quality Italian pasta, you're going to want to cook it first. Maybe pair it with the olive oil, artichokes, tuna, dressings, sauces, mustards, broths, etc. A special bonus is the adorable array of kitchen tools that look like pasta. Like the conchiglie lemon squeezer, penne pan holder, and the mafaldine kitchen ties. This review may be spoiling someone's gift coming up, but such is life. All that aside, I'd still come in if it was a panini counter and nothing more. There is an extensive menu of options that I am only starting to make my way through. My first choice was the Parma, which is a generous amount of homemade pork shoulder, fresh tomato, truffle pecorino cheese cream, and a little drizzle of truffle oil as well. It was hot, it was rich, it was delicious. It came recommended by the lovely woman behind the counter, who was very sweet, if not very talkative. There's even a backyard and seating area if you don't want to take it home. If I had any criticism for Tavola, it's minor: I would like some acid on that sandwich to cut the richness (some pickled red onions would go a long way), and I would like everything in the market to be about 20% less expensive, because I want it all and I could really only afford a sandwich and some very nice pasta that I'm excited to make.

For context, I like true authentic Italian pasta and if you like overcooked, small -portioned,…read morewatered down American-Italian pasta, this place isn't for you. Rather, Tortelli serves true Italian, authentic al dente firm pasta with delicious sauces and good portions. The place is fairly cozy with three 2 seater outdoor tables, but they have fresh made pasta and fresh tortellis beautifully folded on display. The cavatelli pasta is one of my favorite pasta shapes as it's slightly chewy and retains a good amount of sauce. The sauce in the cavatelli was perfectly balanced and not too sour or sweet. I also greatly enjoyed the Tortelli with the great quality butter and generous filling of ricotta and greens. Reading some of these reviews makes me truly question the credibility of reviewers who claim overcooked pasta is how pasta should taste and feel like ... so please disregard some of the lower starred reviews. I've had pasta from Rome/Lazio regions, Apulia (Lecce, Bari, Polignano e Mari, Matera), all the way to most of Brooklyn from East Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Little Italy, all the way to the Bronx - I've eaten so much pasta and have been able to tell the difference from Americanized Italian and true Italian. My partner is 100% Italian and we go back to Italy every Ferragosto. Even Piccola Cucina is more salty than I can handle as well as Misi being overcooked. Tortelli, A Pasta Eater, Forma Pasta, a Pasta Bar, and Rezdora (though small portions), is where I find myself going for true al -dente firm Italian pasta. Safe to say it's hard to give a 5 star review, but Tortelli has it down to perfection. I don't mind the 9-10 stops on the G train from Greenpoint to come all the way here!

I love a tiny little specialty shop. And I love pasta. So it isn't surprising that I like Tortelli…read more When I asked a friend to meet me here for lunch, I wasn't aware of how tiny it really is. It's more of a pasta shop than a restaurant. In the winter months, without their two or three outdoor tables, dining in is inadvisable; there's basically half a counter with a few stools. But we were there, and I wanted some pasta. The guy behind the counter (cook, server, shopkeeper, cashier, etc.) steered us toward the tagliatelle with ragu, and the tortelli with butter and sage. Sold. Both dishes were fresh and delicious, and presented quite well. We enjoyed both, and went on our way. All that said, the pastas were small portions for $19 apiece, which after tax and tip I find a bit too steep for a regular stop for lunch.