LaRina Pastificio & Vino — Restaurant in New York

LaRina!!! Has easily become one of my favorite Italian spots and for a multitude of reasons. We came here for a bday celebration and most recently for a brunch with family. It’s in the neighborhood next door to where my parents live and it’s a perfect place for any occasion.

It’s not hard to get a reservation right now and they boast a beautiful outdoor space in the back which is covered making it ideal for any season. Their set menu for a large group was well priced and their wide menu contains an endless number of favorites that will leave you feeling full but not stuffed, which I think is a testament to the quality of ingredients they use.

Starting out their homemade focaccia and sourdough with their popular olive oil (you can buy it there) — it’s fluffy, fresh and made in house. First batch is free, refills cost you $5. They offer an array of cocktails and a couple mocktails, which is appreciated. The food itself is primo. The musts I would recommend are the croquettes, prosciutto, crudo, anchovies as well as their fish/meat selection (if you’re going for dinner). Each of these dishes were creative, plated well and really tasted fantastic. The pasta they serve there is great but surprisingly, it’s not my favorite option on the menu. Out of the ones I tried my favorites were the Paglia e fieno (beef bolognese) as well as the Agnolotti del plin (braised beef and chicken, black lime and chicken), which offered a rich flavor and a homemade feel that left me reaching for another bite. Between brunch and dinner, I thought dinner was superior. And whatever you do, leave room for dessert. They serve different types of homemade sorbets (ones I have had include lemon w/ mint and a blood orange) that are creamy and flavorful, and may be some of the best I’ve had. Throw in the tiramisu too, it’s on the creamier side which I like and I’ve been amazed how quickly it always disappears.

The best part about this spot though, is the service has always been A+. The people there are mad attentive and extremely friendly and know how to sell their dishes and products. Check it out but god I hope it stays low key for a little bit because I don’t want to fight for rezes in the future. Also…their...

First off, if I could give LaRina six stars, I'd probably STILL want to give it ten. My husband and I had been waiting for Larina to open, walking by every couple days to check on their progress, curious to see what they'd bring to the neighborhood -- and after walking by earlier this afternoon, we'd learn LaRina would be open this evening & made a plan to check it out with a friend. So glad we did. Without question, LaRina is my favorite new restaurant in the area -- and among my favorite dining experiences worldwide (seriously folks, it's that good). To begin, the decor is near perfect...a cozy mix of old & new -- considered, yet unfussy. Nice enough to feel fancy, casual enough to show up in jeans. LaRina's menu approaches Italian fare like Alexander McQueen designed clothing. As considered as the interiors & branding, Chef Silvia's creative menu avoids cliched, staid dishes (no spaghetti bolognese here) and instead crafts a new Italian -- a sophisticated yet accessible fare cool enough to impress your clients, relatable enough to keep visiting parents happy. We tried three appetizers (a fresh burrata served with peanuts, a delicious cold beet & fig salad served with prosciutto & selection of fried pickled veggies) and decided to share a sampling of 5 pastas (all made in house) as part of a tasting menu chosen by the chef -- each completely outstanding in their own right -- and incredible paired alongside a house-made focaccia (the best way to scrape all the goodness from the bowls). We finished it all off with a yogurt cake topped with a house-made fruit relish & fresh cream & an equally delicious biscotti served with a lemon ricotta custard. Alongside a pitch-perfect atmosphere & top-10 meal came service that was both warm & enthusiastic -- clearly this team is proud -- and they have every right to be. Their hard work has definitely paid off (and I hope it continues to pay off in spades) as you end up feeling like you've just spent the evening at an established favorite rather than the newcomer it is...making it my new favorite. Welcome to the neighborhood, LaRina -- we're glad...

I am happy to report a wonderful experience after giving La Rina another try! We dined indoors at a corner table that felt cozy and comfortable. Our server Aubrielle was excellent - attentive, knowledgeable and charming. She, along with the sommelier, gave us a great recommendation for a bottle of wine to suit our preferences and price point. We started with the radicchio salad and fried funghi which were generously portioned and delicious. I had the fettuccine with ragu and my husband had the tagliolini alle vongole - both flavorful and satisfying! You can tell their pasta is made in house. We ended with the panna cotta and the warm chocolate torta 🤤 - fantastic! I think it must have been an off night when we visited in the summer. La Rina really redeemed themselves and we will definitely be back!

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Really bummed by my experience at LaRina Pastificio & Vino as I was excited to eat here! The food was underwhelming and expensive...portions were small and my fish, as well as my husband's spaghetti alle vongole, were very salty. Wine options by the bottle were shockingly at extremely high price points...we had to go line by line to find something that was under $80/bottle. They would do well to incorporate some more affordable options. Service was unpolished, inconsistent, and detached. The one redeeming feature was the lovely patio. However, our meal was slightly ruined by the table of loud and obnoxious high school/college students sitting smack dab in the middle of all the tables. It would have been nice for management to take notice of this and ask that they be more considerate to other diners. Overall, I think there are MUCH better Italian restaurants...