Osteria Nonnino — Restaurant in New York

What a hit of a place!

Nestled in Manhattan, Osteria Noninno packed in some great Italian vibes and flavors.

We got there an hour before our dinner reservation to enjoy their daily (yes, daily!) Happy Hour. The Pinot Noir they house is absolutely wonderful, and that's a big revelation for me because I'm typically not amused by a Pinot. I now stand corrected.

After a round of drinks at the bar, we were ushered to our table for an incredible meal that followed, and a few more glasses of Pinot of course.

They start you off with fresh bread - soft interiors and a crusty exterior, ideal for that scarpetta moment (the soaking your entrees' sauces). This came along with confit tomato oil, and boy was that impressive too! It packed some great depth of flavors!

For our mains, we shared the following:

Chicken Parmigiana with Penne in Vodka Sauce (5/5) - this was part of their daily specials and an absolute stunner of a dish. The chicken was perfectly breaded, tender yet crispy, and very well seasoned. The Penne was al dente, just as we like it, and the vodka sauce was just right. They also give you a choice of penne or spaghetti to go with it. 100% repeat-worthy.

Cacio-e-Pepe (4.5/5) - this is prepared table side and who doesn't love a bit of theatrics and a cheese-wheel? Simple and classic. Worth noting, if you'd like, you can ask for your pasta to be more or less al-dente. Love the flexibility they offer.

At the start of your meal, they even come up to you offering that extra bit of crushed peppers and/or Parmesan. Again, love the ability to customize, or just to get in that extra bit of parm and pepper to make the already incredible plate of food, extra decadent.

To end with, we had to order dessert, and that decision got tougher when we learnt that most are prepared in-house by the owner's father - the person after who the restaurant is named. To add complexity to our decision making process since we only had room for one, the day's special sounded like a hard one to miss. However, since we came in with a plan to get that table-side Tiramisu, we had to stick to it and not deviate. Really hoping their special's from yesterday - Pistachio Lava Cake, is available on our next visit too because I'm still living a what if moment towards it.

That being said, the Tiramisu (5/5) was the best I've had and I have had a few. Prepared in front of you, the espresso doused ladyfingers, fresh mascarpone on top, and the bitter cocoa is a chef's kiss and another must order!

Just when we thought that we were done, we were reminded that the Italians live a hearty life, so we had to do the same and ended with a little bit of a digestif - Limoncello! This wrapped up our experience wonderfully.

Every item on the menu was a huge hit, and I couldn't be happier by the service, warmth offered by the staff, and interiors of the place. I am telling all of my friends about this place and am already planning a return...

This Isn't Just Dinner, It's a Warm Hug from an Italian Grandmother

Let me just start by saying: WOW. I'm almost hesitant to write this review because I want to keep this gem all to myself, but a place this special deserves all the praise it can get. Osteria Nonnino isn't one of those flashy, trendy spots. It's something far, far better. Tucked away like a wonderful secret, the moment you step inside, you feel like you've been let into someone's rustic, impossibly cozy home in the Friuli region of Italy.

The ambiance is pure magic. The lighting is warm and low, casting a soft glow over the dark wood and exposed brick. It’s intimate without being stuffy, and the gentle buzz of happy conversations and clinking glasses is the only soundtrack you need. It’s the kind of place where you immediately relax your shoulders and know you’re in for a truly special evening.

Now, the food. Oh, the food. This is where Nonnino goes from being a great restaurant to an unforgettable one. We started with the Frico, which our server passionately explained is a traditional crispy potato and cheese pancake. "Crispy" is an understatement. It was a glorious, golden-brown disc of savory, cheesy, potato-y perfection. I could have eaten three of them. We also shared the Prosciutto San Daniele, which was sliced so thin it was like silk and practically melted on the tongue. You can just taste the quality and the tradition.

For my main, I went with one of their handmade pastas. It’s a crime to go here and not get the pasta. I chose the cacio e pepe, a simple dish that is so easy to get wrong. They got it spectacularly right. The noodles were perfectly al dente, with that satisfying chew you only get from fresh pasta. The sauce was creamy, peppery, and clung to every single strand. It was simple, elegant, and one of the best pasta dishes I've had outside of Italy. My friend had a lamb ragu that was so rich and flavorful, he barely spoke a word until his plate was clean.

The service was the cherry on top. Our server was warm, knowledgeable, and genuinely excited about the food and wine. He recommended a perfect red wine from their home region that complemented everything beautifully. You never felt rushed, only welcomed and cared for.

Osteria Nonnino is a true love letter to authentic, regional Italian cooking. You leave not just full, but with a warm feeling in your soul. It’s a place that values tradition, quality, and making you feel like part of the family for a few hours. A thousand percent a 5-star experience. I'm already planning...

Starting out we didn’t have any issues with this restaurant, I have guests arriving from spain and thought this would be a lovely spot to show them the nyc atmosphere and cuisine. We were a party of 5 and arrived to the restaurant when it was pretty empty — The first red flag was we were seated at the front of the restaurant by the door on a windy day. There are many open tables and we were seated at one of the most inconvenient spots where 3 members of the table including me have long hair and are having hair blown in our faces every 10 minutes when more guests arrive and enter the restaurant. We decided to ignore this and continue to enjoy our time despite the inconvenient seating at an empty restaurant. Later we were given bread which was really good, we all enjoyed it. We were taking our time to look over the food menu and before ordering food we decided to order drinks — Here’s where it went downhill. We ordered a bottle of wine for the table and were asked how many glasses, and we were served. After the wine was served our server targeted one of my guests and asked to see her ID. The server failed to ask everyone else for their ID. She had left her ID in her hotel as a normal tourist would incase of getting it stolen in a foreign country ( I would do the same). During this conversation a man who looked like he was a manager said that since she looked young which is why she is the only one that is being asked for identification. Why is it that after the wine is served onto the table that she is being asked for identification? This is a targeted act and was not warranted as we were ready to spend money on their establishment. They lost great customers and we didn’t even order food and paid the bill and left. The staff made it feel as if it was our fault and claimed that we shouldn’t make it a issue and it’s only a issue because we are voicing our opinion and vouching that she is over 21. 1/10 We would not come again. I guess you have to make sure to have your ID before...