Serafina Madison 38th (Midtown) — Restaurant in New York

I have been eating at Serafina restaurants in New York City for over 25 years. The best one in my opinion is on 61st. The food is always consistent. That is why I go there. No-one likes writing a bad review, but if we don’t then things will not change. My hope is that this review will lead to professionalism and eliminating this table as a viable table if only one of the doors work. I made a reservation the other day at the Madison and 38th street Serafina. Unfortunately I did not get a chance to eat there. I had a 7:15 reservation and I arrived early with my family. I party of three was a head of me and I am pretty sure they did not have a reservation. We were seated at a table that was near the bathroom. But worse than that it was next to a door that led to the hotel. There was no way to open the door because the seat I was in was against the door. For some reason the other door was locked. Someone wanted to use the door so I had to stand up. The bar tender tells me to move the table in so people can get by. I’m paying to have a nice dinner. I do not need to be squashed. My wife asks for another table. There were other tables open, but they would not give us one. They said the table was for three and I should have sat on the couch side. If I did that sure the door could open but they would walk into my son. I did not think it was professional the way we were treated. Fortunately, there are many good restaurants nearby. We ended up having a superb dinner nearby. I would not eat at this Serafina until changes are made. Be careful they do not all operate with the same professionalism. Follow-up March 2024 I wrote Kate an email with more details including the server's name. I never heard...

"Lovely Spot, But the Pasta Missed the Mark"

My visit to Serafina on 38th and Madison promised an noon of ambiance and convenience, nestled as it is in the hustle and bustle of Midtown. It's not every day you find a restaurant that tickles your fancy with its service and setting while letting you pop in quickly thanks to its prime location.

Stepping into Serafina, I was instantly taken by the stunning interior—a cozy yet elegant tribute to the charm of Italy. The warmth of the decor paralleled the staff’s service, attentive and with a genuine smile that made us feel right at home👌 On a chill noon in the city, I was looking forward to a comforting plate of pasta to round off the inviting experience.

But then came the food. It's with a heavy heart I must pen that both pasta dishes we ordered were a letdown 🥲 Italian cuisine, a rich tapestry of flavors, textures, and aromas, is something I've always held in high regard, so my expectations danced on the higher rungs of hope. However, there was an undeniable disconnect between the allure of the surroundings and the main event itself. The flavors did not embrace the gusto of Italy; rather, they stumbled, leaving us with a discomfort hard to overlook, and regrettably, unfinished plates.

It truly is a shame when the heart of the restaurant—the culinary experience—doesn't sing in harmony with other aspects of dining that were note-perfect. I appreciate the efforts of the staff and the thought put into the lovely space, but until the recipes are revisited and the pastas pay proper homage to Italian zest, my stars remain a middling three.

In food as in life, balance is key, and I hope Serafina finds its footing to match the taste with its service and beauty. Here’s to hoping for a better bite...

This review only gets 2 stars solely for the manager and the excellent hostess. My boyfriend and I made a reservation at this location for 4:15 PM on a Monday--we got there at 3:45 hoping to be sat early, and the manager was nothing but kind about getting us sat right away. We were one of 3 tables in our section, with the rest of the resturant being relatively empty except for the bar. Our FIRST waiter came over and could barely make eye contact with us, constantly fixing his hair and did not introduce himself. He took our wine and appetizer order, and that was the last time we saw him--we were not waited on for another 30 minutes. At this point, we were one of 5-6 tables. I ended up going to the hostess and explaining no one had come back to even check on us, let alone ask if we wanted dinner/more to drink. She was very sweet and the manager also was apologetic, and gave us a free appetizer. Our second server again did not introduce themself, and only came over once throughout the rest of our meal. We skipped out on dessert and asked for the check twice before it came out, only for it to be wrong. They had charged us for an additional appetizer and a more expensive bottle of wine--yes, it was changed and we paid the correct amount, but frustrating with the experience that we had. Pictured are the bruschetta and burrata with prosciutto, as the gnocci di mama, the spicy penne alla vodka, and the ravioli alla salvia. The penne was undercooked and crunchy, but otherwise, the food was not bad. Cute place with a more intimate vibe. We will not be back, but thank you again to the manager and hostess who tried to make our experience a bit better. For $200+ in the city, you are better off finding another...