Salumeria Rosi — Restaurant in New York

First time ever that I give 5 stars to an Italian restaurant in NYC! I am Italian and I know well how the vast majority of Italian restaurants are not true Italian. One thing is cooking Italian recipes another is doing it right and with "gusto". This restaurant is absolutely outstanding, on every possible aspect:

1. true Italian menu: not "Americanized". Already starting from the menu it seemed to me that I was back in Italy again. No compromises, only genuine, proper Italian dishes. First star.
2. all is cooked (and served) like it should be done. I had fried carciofo (carciofo alla giudia) that even if not done with Roman artichokes (impossible to find here), it was done great, more than great, superlative. With also an amazing cheese cream aside. I ordered also lasagne, it was what we call in Italy "white lasagna", basically with not so much sauce as usual, it was simply perfect. Period. It's hard to make a not dry white lasagna, but this was absolutely spot on. Plus: it smelled so much real Italian food (Italians will understand what I mean...) that I almost cried for the joy... :) second star.
3. the selection: finding Italian ingredients here in the States is not impossible, but pretty difficult. I am in the food & beverage sector, so I can say that I saw in their counter pretty difficult to find Italian ingredients. Those that come from small factories, and when you eat them, the difference is in fact huge. Third star.
4. the service: we were served by a waiter called Marina, she truly deserves a special mention. Since the first moments she was very kind, polite, supportive and very competent on the menu. She was also genuinely interested in having my opinion on their food, as Italian customer and she not only welcomed us along the dinner but she left us with a gift, a fantastic chocolate mouse that was absolutely out of this world (and I usually don't like ice creams and sweets in general). She did her job with true Italian passion and hospitality, this is extremely difficult to find in NYC. Fourth star.
5. The Chef, honestly speaking, this place is by far the best Italian restaurant that I've found in NYC, and I ate in many also much more famous. Italian cousine is simple, genuine and freshly made, and all in this place is done this way. I was told that the Chef, Lorenzo, wasn't present last night, so I couldn't say "bravo!!" to him, but this made me appreciate his work even more, since eating so well in a restaurant while the Chef is not there means that this guy is also a great teacher and he trained his staff in a fantastic way. Fifth star. One more thing: we have been there on Monday night, that in this new post pandemic NYC is the slowest day in the week, especially for restaurants. Well, this place was packed. And they absolutely deserve it, like they deserve to have way more awards and fame. So ultimately a BRAVO!!! goes to the owner/s since the work done in this place is meticulous and passionate. I'll be back very often, and...

There is no easier review to write than this one. I love Salumeria Rosi. It is the best meal out on the UWS. I'd eat there every night if I could. I celebrate special occasions there, and go for a pick me up when I need something yummy. The food is so delicious and the staff so welcoming that it feels like eating at home, but better, and without the clean up. The ambiance among patrons is very friendly, an extension of the welcoming attitude of the staff, and I have often found myself falling into conversation with folks at the next table. Now to specifics about the food: The pastas are all out of this world. My personal favorites are the Spaghetti al Pomodoro and the Campanelle al Pesto. The best pesto I've ever had -- rich, creamy, and immensely satisfying. My husband says the octopus is the best he's ever had, and he is quite the critical foodie. My daughter orders the steak .... every time we go. I'm not a meat eater, but she and my husband both swear by its quality and that it is cooked to perfection. Me, I love the Orata (had it yet again just last night). It is perfectly prepared -- the skin is crispy and the meat is moist and flavorful. Oh, speaking of flavorful -- the mussels with a spicy red sauce ..... To back up a moment, they have many delicious starters: caponata is a favorite in our family, the artichokes in cacio e pepe, burrata with apricots, all of their soft cheeses are exceptional, dissolving in your mouth. For those who want a sampling of cured meats and cheese, you can get a charcuterie board of your own choosing. The olive oil provided with the bread is wonderfully peppery and smooth. The focaccia is fresh and delicious. Shall I go on ... .sure, why not? For dessert, the ice cream is insane -- as the talented and affable chef says, it's from Italy, the cows are happy. Yes, you can actually taste their happiness in the creaminess of the ice cream. I also love the tiramisu, and the chocolate mousse. In short, if you are in the neighborhood and haven't yet been to Salumeria Rosi, go. You'll...

The staff was adorable and kind, even funny, and very receptive and careful about the nut allergy at our table. But the food was very disappointing. The mix of food and atmosphere gave a taste of chain-restaurant rather than little operation run out of love and passion in NYC. My boyfriend and I love that other Italian restaurant in the city called Malatesta Trattoria which is absolutely delicious, and really has a vibe of Italian authenticity. He was on the phone with a friend while at the post office trying to find a restaurant where to reserve for a dinner for us this week, and he mentioned Malatesta Trattoria. A person in line with him told him that he knew and loved Malatesta Trattoria, and he recommended Salumeria to him then. So my boyfriend took the recommendation and reserved at Salumeria for us. Well after having had dinner there, I don’t see what this person finds similar between these places. Salumeria feels really overpriced for the quality of the food. As an example, the Tiramisu costs $15, for a really small portion, that doesn’t even taste great. Malatesta Trattoria’s is bigger, wayyyyy better, And cheaper. Our server, despite being adorable, told us spontaneously how great their bread was. The bread was as disappointing as the rest. I don’t get how some people think it’s so good. It was not disgusting, but it was really not great either. There’s way better Italian...