Buona Notte — Restaurant in New York

Greetings all, after our tour of the abandoned Old City Hall Subway Station, we decided to head over to Mulberry Street in Little Italy. It was fun watching the restaurant personnel compete with each other by attempting to coax people into their restaurant as they walk past by kindly gesturing: “where do you want to dine, inside or outside?” Some restaurants have been opened for 40 years, and others, even longer. We chose this place because of the reviews :) and glad we did. There was no coaxing to dine with them, just a courteous gentleman patiently waiting to answer any questions posed. We were immediately seated by a window, all the staff members were friendly and attentive. Our server answered my questions and when in doubt, checked with the kitchen and got back to me… a big plus in my book. The place was clean, cozy and aesthetically pleasing. We commenced with sharing an appetizer; Italian Antipasto Freddo; A sample plate decorated with fresh mozzarella, prosciutto, soppressata, reggiano parmigiano, green olives, and roasted red peppers sitting on a radicchio leaf (all good except the sliced tomato, which tasted more like a potato… but in their defense, it seems not easy to find decent ones in NY lately). Next, were our entrées; Risotto - Mushrooms & Taleggio; arborio rice, wild mushrooms, herbs and reggiano, which became my new favorite mushroom risotto dish, it was cooked to perfection, just delicious, the flavors were perfectly balanced and with plenty of mushrooms. My mouth still waters just thinking about it. The other entrée was Gnocchi al Pesto- Basil, pine nuts, garlic, parmigiano cheese and olive oil, also very good. The Sauce was just the right consistency a harmonic blend between pine nuts and herbs. Last was Desert, a nice size serving of Panna Cotta - (Creamy sugar dessert flavored with real Tahiti vanilla beans, delicate body aided by gelatin, and topped with mixed berry confiture). Exquisite taste with a fresh strawberry confiture.

The complimentary made on premises focaccia bread for dipping in olive oil and balsamic reduction was a nice touch.

The manager, Betul was amazing, she was friendly and personable, she checked on us frequently and gave us a brief history about the restaurant. It’s very evident that she really enjoys her job and genuinely cares about the customers experience.

What a delightful experience and good conversation, we will be visiting again for the risotto… and to try new dishes :)

Thank you for the hospitality, Betul....

OMG! This review is sooo overdue, don’t even know where to start. My husband and I have a beautiful memory of this place (“that restaurant” where we went to celebrate our love right after our wedding in City Hall).

On February 26, 2019, right after our wedding we started walking the city, white wedding dress, wedding suit and all, with us it was just my son and my husband’s friend. Because our dreamed honeymoon was in Italy (but couldn’t afford) we decided to visit Little Italy for the first time and we found this “random cute restaurant” that I just had to stop right in front of it to look at the beautiful lights that were in it. Right after my husband told me “this is it, after you my love” and then he opened the door of this restaurant for me.

We fell in love with the place, I felt so cozy inside in this cute restaurant, it felt that this restaurant was just for us to enjoy. Shortly after we sat down, we were received by either one of the owners or by the chef (don’t remember clearly) and he congratulated us for our marriage, ask about how we met, and then told us that that same day he also got married, so it was his wedding anniversary and he told us his story. He was so thrilled about everything that he invited us to a bottle of limoncello! He and his staff really made us feel sooo welcome and somehow at home.

We never forgot this place, and this memory will be in our hearts forever. They made our very humble wedding into one that we couldn’t ask for a better one.

Was looking into my picture library and finally found the pictures that we took in this restaurant on our wedding day because I want to come back to the restaurant one day and create some new beautiful memories. Thanks to the pictures I finally found this restaurant!!! And I am so emotional right now, always thought it was a long shot to find it, but thanks to the pictures details I found it!!!

We just wanted to say hi! And that we are still very grateful for all the little details that he had with us that made our wedding day just extra special, and for giving us a gift of a memory that will last forever.

I will definitely come back one day and update this review, just hope that I don’t have to wait such a long time for...

Most of the time i review a restaurant because it is just that outstanding. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for Buonna Notte.

Upon entering, we were greeted and seated promptly. It then took nearly 15 minutes to be given menus and given water. To say we were treated with no respect, and that the service was terrible would be the understatement of the century. There seemed to be no waiter at all, and after hailing someone who seemed an employee/manager, we were allowed to place orders.

It was then we noticed everyone who is in the restaurant before us also seemed to have no food and no drinks.

This would all be excusable, were the dinner to be delicious. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case for Buona Notte.

Not only was this is the worst Italian food we have ever had, having been to Italy and eaten at many restaurants, but it was the worst meal we can remember ever having in our entire lives - and we could only take a few bites of our plates.

The burrata was over salted, the calamari was frozen , soggy and chewy, and the gnocchi would have been easier to eat were it a sponge. The food was hardly seasoned, the carbonara was not al dente. It was raw, and we over paid for the worst meal of our lives - then promptly left without even bothering to finish and have dessert.

Not even to mention, it was my birthday. The drinks were fine, Campari not overwatered, but very, very, slow.

Thank you buonna notte, for one of the most memorable meals we have ever had in our entire lives. Zero stars would be a massive...