Vesta Trattoria & Wine Bar — Restaurant in New York

This was recommended to us by a co-worker so we came here for dinner. I called about 3 hours in advance to make a reservation. They had no problems fulfilling the reservation.

When we got to the restaurant around 7pm, there wasn't that many people. I initially thought, what a slow place, why was it recommended? Long story short, by the time we left, the place was filled.

We ordered the Lasagna and roasted duck breast with a side of crispy brussels sprouts with parmigiano. I'd have to say that I liked all the dishes that we ordered.

The Lasagna had a heavy meat flavor and they didn't hold back on the meat either. It comes in a nice circular ceramic dish. It was good, but not as good as my own homemade lasagna =P If you're not to hungry, it can feed 2 people barely.

The roasted duck breast it cooked with the skin. The meat itself was cooked perfectly. A hint of pink at the center of the meat and tender throughout. Only thing I had an issue was the skin. Duck skin tends to be on the fatty side and it just didn't work so well with the entire dish. Reason is that the pearl barley and braised romaine makes the dish a little soggy/watery. The fat just adds to that soggy/watery feel. If they want to keep the fat in the dish for texture, they need something to cut the fat. The romaine lettuce or barley didn't do it for me. However, it's still a good dish.

I loved the crispy brussels sprouts. They couldn't completely hide the bitterness but the cheese helped A LOT. It added another dimension to the dish and frying it to make it crispy add to its intricacy. Because it's fried, it accentuates the smell of the cheese and gives it a fried/crispy cheese taste, which I liked! For lack of words, you basically tasted a lot of "fresh" things in your mouth so your taste buds were distracted with that instead of the bitterness. But towards the end of that bite, the bitterness kicks in because now the brussel sprout is not crispy anymore, it's soggy in your mouth and the cheese has more or less melted in your mouth.

Service was excellent. For the lack of staff, they sure kept our water levels high. Every staff member paid attention to detail and that's what counts!

I would recommend this place and I would come here again because I can get good food without having to go into Manhattan. This restaurant definitely is on par and better than some of the restaurants that I've tried...

This review is based on a half a dozen visits for the dinner service only. I cannot comment on the menu and service during lunch or brunch. But if my dinner experiences are an indication of what's in store, then I will gladly come at the earlier times should the occasion arise.

I've been living in Astoria for over a decade, discovered Vesta nearly three years ago, and it has become my favorite restaurant, bar none. There are three things that get me to come back here: the rotation of seasonal food (the staples are a draw, too, like the wild boar lasagna),  the terrific service,  and the bread with the olive oil given when you sit down.

One of my favorite experiences here is hearing about the daily specials. From the starter to entree, and finishing off with the dessert, I have never, and let me underscore that, never been disappointed with any special. When I come here I do so looking forward to the specials.

The service here is impeccable. From the moment I place my reservation to the moment I get the bill, that exceptional level of service is a big factor in my continued patronage. Sure, there are times when I must wait for my water to get refilled, but then again, every table is occupied, and I'd be considered a brute, not worthy of dining out at a Denny's, let alone this place if I expected my demands to be fulfilled with a flick of the wrist. (Believe me, I've come across my share of pretentious diners, as a diner and a server.)

Lastly, if you come here for one reason and one reason only, make it the bread you get when you sit down. If they served that as an entree I would order it, without a doubt. As great as the food is, I come here to eat the bread; the rest of the meal is just incidental, as far as I am concerned. The rosemary in the bread made me realize how much I love the herb and as a result I've been using it ever since and as much as I can, within reason, of course.

To finish things off, you have got to get the Baby Jesus cake and a cup of coffee. After a meal at this place, the Jesus cake, one slice, should be shared by two. Come to think of it, I  believe this was done by design.

Whatever the occasion, birthday, romantic date, or a casual dinner with friends to discuss America's foreign policy, you cannot go wrong with this place. And again, my review is based on multiple dinner visits to this establishment, so I'd like to think I know what I'm...

Hmmm...my experience is mixed. I came there based on reviews and recommendation. The menu does not follow online description and there is a difference between their official website and actual offer. The venue by itself deserves some maintenance, from inside and outside, looks much better on photos. Service is ok. Prices are ok. My appetizer was the same size like my entree. I had arancinies as a starter, followed by wild boar lasagna, but the appetizer was better. I ate well, but I was not astonished. They did not have any specials. Very modest both the menu and the wine list, although I came there predominantly for wines. They have 5 whites and 5 reds to choose, not so great options, the most expensive bottle is $60. This is a typical local place, good to visit if you are nearby. Overall, ok place. Nothing more or less. One more thing. They should take care of a waiting time: the main course I waited 30 min. (lasagna does not take so long as far as I know) and the dessert (Baby Jesus - just a simple cake) 25 minutes sharp. And it was not...