Gnocco — Restaurant in New York

Honestly, reading through the 1 star reviews here and seeing how defensive the responses are is pretty insane to me, so I was hesitant to even say anything, but I felt like I needed to write about my experience here. Right off the bat, the male server was really rude and would snap at my friends for asking a simple question (she asked when Happy Hour ended and he said “I literally just told you that it’s Happy Hour like look at the menu”). I get that serving is an exhausting job, so I didn’t want to judge him based on his instances of snapping at us. I ordered a vegetarian pasta, and it truly tasted like it was microwaved from Trader Joe’s and was making me feel nauseous. When I told the waiter this, he told me it’s because I’m used to “Little Italy pasta” (whatever that means genuinely) and that I need to start reading the menus more carefully. I told him I know what I ordered (like, I’m not illiterate) and said “I don’t mean any disrespect, but it doesn’t taste good to me and it’s making me feel sick”. Despite this, he just kept insisting that me and my friends don’t know how to read the menu carefully. He told me he will not refund me (I took maybe 5 bites of my food), but he can make me something else. I was pretty upset since I was losing $23, but since the food was making me feel sick, I offered to just pay for the meal without a replacement. I genuinely think that he got offended because he kept flipping through and telling me how amazing their pasta is and he doesn’t understand why I wouldn’t want it. I didn’t want to argue so I just ordered a replacement meal to go. The bartender (maybe he was a manager, not sure) gave us complementary drinks to make up for it. He was nice, and I do feel bad about being that person to complain about food, I just was so upset with the way we were being spoken to and the food was really not good. I got this replacement meal to go and got so sick as soon as I ate it and then had to go to work till 4 am on an empty stomach since my dinner made me so so sick—it just was not an ideal situation and I wish they had just listened to me instead of making me feel like I “don’t know what good pasta is”. Obviously I tipped 20% because not tipping is just an abomination, but let me say I really, really did not want to. The waiter was nice after I ordered the replacement pasta but I do not understand why he was so offended. And no, I won’t come here again, just so I don’t have to hear that in a rude response, I’m just sharing...

In short - this restaurant left me speechless. I will be back. Here is the more detailed review- Nestled in the heart of a bustling foodie paradise, Gnocco stands out as a beacon of Italian cuisine, offering an authentic dining experience that transports patrons straight to the rustic countryside and lively streets of Italy.

The restaurant takes its name from a delectable type of Italian dumpling, a nod to the care and authenticity infused in every dish. The menu at Gnocco is a testament to the rich culinary traditions of Italy, curated with both passion and precision. It's evident that each ingredient is chosen for its freshness and quality, ensuring that every bite is a celebration of flavors.

The star of the show is undoubtedly the homemade pasta, each strand and shape a canvas for the vibrant, locally-sourced ingredients it accompanies. The gnocchi, true to the restaurant's namesake, is pillowy perfection, served in a variety of sauces that rotate with the seasons but are consistently delectable. The pizzas, too, are a revelation – thin, crispy crusts topped with gourmet ingredients, all fired to perfection in a traditional wood oven.

Service at Gnocco is as outstanding as its cuisine, with staff that are not only knowledgeable about the menu but exude a genuine warmth and hospitality. They're eager to make recommendations, share the stories behind the dishes, and ensure that your dining experience is memorable.

Gnocco is more than just a restaurant; it's a celebration of Italian culinary mastery, a place where every meal is an occasion and every guest is treated like family. It stands out not just for the authenticity of its food but for the experience it offers – a slice of Italy that feels both comforting and exhilarating. Dining at Gnocco is not just eating out; it's an immersive journey into the heart of Italy, promising flavors and memories that are truly...

Gnocco was recommended by a fellow Italian friend who really liked the food here. So coming from an Italian (Rome) I'd tend to believe.

The interior was clean and modern. We had a reservation for 8 people which was all set up in the patio in the back. The host was friendly and led us back while we waited for the rest of the group of join. We ordered some appetizers to start. The buffalo mozzarella was creamy, smooth and delicious. The octopus carpaccio with fennel tasted great except that it was sliced paper thin. We prefer the octopus as bite size morsels. The Arancini de Riso is as I remembered it from my travels in Italy.

Our server had several lost in translation moments where we ordered one dish became two. When it came to ordering the main entree he said it would take a long time if we all ordered our own dishes so better so share. But what is the difference between ordering 8 dishes verses 6? And secondly, it wasn't like we were in a hurry...? We were a bit puzzled but decided to order our own individual dishes anyway.

In terms of time, I didn't think it took that long for the food to arrive on the table. The pizza was light and the crust was delicious. The pasta cooked al dente and the steak cooked as requested. The Branzio al Cartoccio was filled with seafood. In all everyone was very happy with the dishes and we all shared to try a little from everyone.

Gnocco may be a new find for us and a place we will be returning back to again even with the puzzling moment that left the table all pondering.

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