La Pecora Bianca UWS — Restaurant in New York

La Pecora Bianca: A Bright and Bustling Haven for Pasta Lovers With several locations across Manhattan, La Pecora Bianca has firmly established itself as a go-to for stylish, all-day Italian dining. The name, translating to "the white sheep," hints at the restaurant's ethos of using fresh, seasonal ingredients, a promise that draws in crowds seeking everything from a leisurely brunch to a vibrant dinner. We recently visited the SoHo location to see if their house-made pasta, particularly the classic Bolognese, lives up to the buzz. Stepping into La Pecora Bianca is to be enveloped in a chic, rustic-modern aesthetic. The interior is bright and airy, with whitewashed brick, light wood furnishings, and pops of greenery creating a welcoming, farmhouse-in-the-city vibe. The atmosphere is undeniably energetic, with a constant hum of conversation and the clinking of glasses. While this creates a lively and convivial environment, those seeking a quiet, intimate dinner might find the noise level a touch overwhelming. The menu is a well-curated tour of Italian favorites, with a clear emphasis on their pasta fresca. We began our meal with the highly recommended whipped ricotta, served with truffle honey and crusty bread. The appetizer is a definite standout, with the creamy, delicate ricotta beautifully complemented by the sweet and earthy notes of the honey. For the main event, the tagliatelle al ragu Bolognese, the presentation was simple and appealing: a generous portion of fresh pasta coated in a rich, meaty sauce. The tagliatelle itself had the unmistakable tender bite of house-made pasta, providing the perfect canvas for the Bolognese. The sauce was robust and flavorful, a slow-simmered blend of beef and pork with a pleasant depth. It was a hearty and satisfying rendition of the classic dish, though perhaps a touch more rustic than the most refined versions found in the city. Service throughout our meal was efficient and friendly, with the staff navigating the bustling dining room with practiced ease. The wine list offers a good selection of Italian varietals to pair with your meal. Overall, La Pecora Bianca delivers a consistently enjoyable dining experience. It's a reliable choice for well-executed, house-made pasta in a stylish and vibrant setting. While it may not be a hidden gem for a quiet, romantic evening, it's an excellent option for a lively dinner with friends or a chic weekend brunch. And for those craving a comforting bowl of Bolognese, La Pecora Bianca's offering is sure to leave...

New Neighborhood Italian - Uninspiring At Best

We tried La Pecora Bianca UWS last Friday with high hopes. The restaurant is in an excellent location at the corner of 77th St and Columbus (in the old Isabella's site). We were hoping to discover a new Italian restaurant that would be a real plus to the neighborhood, and a place that we could come to on a regular basis. Unfortunately, we were sorely disappointed.

Our group of 3 arrived on time, and we were promptly seated at an outdoor table. The welcome was well-managed, and the service at the table was earnest and prompt. Sadly, those were the highlights.

We ordered the fried calamari and fired zucchini as starters for the table in addition to the arugula salad. For the price that they charged, the calamari platter was a severe disappointment. Only a handful of calamari, all surrounded by so much breading. The actual calamari in the middle of the breading was such a thin ring that you could only taste the oil and the bread. The fried zucchini were not much better - again overly breaded and fried to a crisp. The arugula salad was just a bunch of greens dumped on a plate - not much different than what you would make in about 2 minutes at home. The dressing was bland.

Moving on to the main courses, we ordered the branzino, the pork milanese, and spaghetti with pomodoro (tomato) sauce. The branzino was completely uninspired. The person that ordered the dish couldn't finish it. The pork milanese was dry and - again - overly fried. The spaghetti with pomodoro sauce was the best of the lot, but that is not saying much. Our daughter ordered the spaghetti - which was appropriate - since the portion size that they served was small.

For dessert, we ordered the tiramisu for two which we planned to share at the table. It came, and looked terrific with the logo of the restaurant emblazoned on the top of the cream in powdered cocoa. However, the tiramisu - itself - was way too creamy, almost like eating butter. Not appetizing at all. We only took a few bites before we just had to stop eating it.

Overall, a very disappointing meal at what we hoped would be a new neighborhood icon. For us, definitely not worth the prices that the restaurant charges.

To be fair, the service was earnest, attentive, and well-meaning. That would be the only real reason that I give them one star. Without the service, I would rate this new restaurant a zero - if that...

One of the BEST italian restaraunts Ive been to. First off, the atmosphere is beautiful. It was very crowded but dimly lit and the servers were very friendly and knowledgeable. The tables were quite small though We started with some truffle fries and bread. The fries had a delicious thin texture and melted in your mouth. Very delectable. The bread was very soft, premium, and the dipping sauce went so well. The salad was great, the pork chop was extremely tender, not chewy like most are, and flavourful. It melted in your mouth and had the same consistency as wagyu beef!! The sauce was rich and paired well and the pork chop had good amounts of fat and crispy seared edges to compliment the meat. Highly recommend that dish as well as the beef and pork tagliatelle with burratta cheese. Expected the $6 cheese to be bigger but the quality and softness was well worth it. The pasta dish was a good portion and the flavours were well spread out and robust. Not the average pasta dish. It was restaraunt quality absolutely and it was very noticeably rich and didnt just taste like bolognese. Though i expected the colour to be different. They gave us a candle since it was a birthday and got two desserts: the chocolate carmel budino and the olive oil cake. The okive oil came came with luscious rich creme fraiche which beautifully complimented the soft cake and the well made compote, and the budino was absolutely delicious, chocolaty, and creamy with a hazelnut flavour and very subtle not overpowering caramel note. Very fancy italian meal that lasted two hours and a perfect birthday dinner for my mum.

Just wish the tables were bigger and more burrata cheese. Also extremely loud surroundings and tables very...