Tutti Noi — Restaurant in Town of Hempstead

Not Welcomed

If you are a normal person, who works hard - maybe 2, even three jobs - maybe a single mom, or not... just a normal person - chances are you WONT BE WELCOME here.

Last night I wanted to take my son out for an authentic Italian dinner for doing really well academically. We found this place online, and although I’ve seen it before, I’ve never been.

So we take our chances and walk in, hoping they’ll have available seating. The hostess was an older woman with a slight accent. From where we were standing there were three empty four-tops, and one 6/8-top. She did ask if we had reservations, and scrunched up her face with an awkward smile while asking - and when I said we didn’t she told us there were no tables. Not, it’s a 15, 30 minute, or even one hour wait. Just, no.

I asked if we could exit through the back door, since my car was in the back and it was 35 degrees out. ‘No,’ just ‘no,’she said.

I knew she was full of it - I’m a server and that’s not how you tell customers there’s no availability... especially when there were plenty of open tables.

I called about 7 minutes after leaving. She answered, and I asked, “what’s the wait time for 3, maybe 4 people?” “How soon can you get here,” was her response. She said she’d have a table ready for me in 5 minutes!!! (If you’re reading this - I gave the name Jessica). Also while leaving, a man walked in, looked at the available seating, and while standing at the door, waived for his wife to come in. They were welcomed and seated. 2 people. He wasn’t wearing a suit and tie, no fancy up-scale attire, and neither was anyone in the place. Meanwhile, I was still in my work attire - I work at a law firm in garden city.

I’m also a server on weekends, and also a really good tipper. Their loss. I went and spent good money elsewhere, and their server got screwed out of a great tip.

Reply to Owner I kind of new you’d go with that, and I actually was hoping that would be the case (that you only really take reservations; even if poorly handled and rudely expressed by your hostess; and even if you did seat a two top that just walked in as we were leaving). That is exactly why I gave the benefit of the doubt before posting a review - and I called. Not even 10 minutes later. Actually it was probably no more than 5, because I was upset. She had no problem taking a 3 or 4 top right away when I called, told me to come right over. So, that being said, my initial feelings and intuition seemed completely justified. My 13 year old son even felt it, and as we left said, ‘I guess were not fancy enough.’ Before I said a word. I had defend you to him, just so he didn’t feel less than - the exact way your hostess made me feel and then was reiterated by our invite not 5 minutes later over the phone. So yeah, given all that, I am implying that your hostess just didn’t want OUR business. And that’s fine, we gave it to someone else and tipped their server over 30% on an $80 bill (being in the...

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Edit review 10/28/2019

I read the reviews on YELP about Tutti Noi. The restaurant in Oceanside NY, is not far from where we live. Checking their menu on their website I noticed, two things not often found much anymore in restaurants, because they are pricey. One is ossabuco made from the veal shank, and the other was the grilled octopus. I am a butcher by trade now retired, and I know my meats. Now a day, many restaurants are serving pork and lamb shanks for what they call Ossobuco, nay, nay, that's a cheaper version. The real deal, is made from veal shanks which are expensive to buy! For starters my wife and I ordered, whole baked clams that were topped with seasoned bread crumbs in a white wine sauce with lemon, and the other was their grilled octopus. Both were delicious! For our entrees, my wife ordered the clams over linguini in a white broth with garlic and basil, and I of course, ordered the veal ossobuco and with it comes their risotto milanase . We would NOT say it, if it were not true, both were excellent! We spoke to the owner Tracey, her husband is the chef and had restaurants on Mulberry Street in NYC and also in Staten Island. This restaurant, TUTTI NOI is in Oceanside, NY and has been open for about 3 months now. It's not very big, but very easy to get comfortable in, which we did very fast. As we all know, rents are shy high everywhere, I hope they make it here, that's why I'm writing this review, to get the word out to people who love Italian food and appreciate quality food give them a try! They have a nice bar if you like to come in for just a drink or cocktail too. Parking IS behind the restaurant, and across the street adjacent to their parking lot. And only a few steps from their door. Last but not least, their HOME MADE desserts, I will say this, I almost ate the spoons too! You gotta save room for their Tiramisu, the best we ever had, and their Gelato, Wow! Give this family restaurant a try, I am sure you will be happy as we were! Good wholesome food, cooked the way it should be. My only complaint, and I know they can correct it easily, was the bread served at the table which fresh and delicious, was not warm, I wished it were, we love warm bread. I know they can make that happen too! Before I forget, the restaurant is super clean, and their serving staff was on the money and attentive. Reading a negative review of this restaurant, we can assure you, my wife and I are neither relatives or employees of Tutti Noi, just a couple, trying to find a good restaurant close by with dishes made the way we like them. We hope you enjoy the food as much as we did! Joe & Angela G. ...

My husband and I went to the new Tutti Noi Restaurant in Oceanside with a group of our friends.

The restaurant impresses upon entry with a simple elegance, grand without ego or pretension, designed by co-owner Tracy Sabella who also manages the restaurant with perfection. The evening was an extraordinary dining experience prepared by a culinary master chef Arthur Sabella. The ambiance feeds the senses, from the subdued lighting to the décor to the quite buzz of diners, one senses that an enjoyable experience is near.

Our waiter was fully focused on explaining the menu choices. His attentiveness was impeccable, making suggestions to further enhance the experience.

Impressive selection of fine wines. The bar itself was designed wide enough to accommodate guests who prefer dining at the bar. The dishes introduced to us epitomized the clean pure flavors of Italy, imported olive oil, artisan cheeses, herbs freshly picked, bronze cut imported pasta, garden bounty vegetables.

It was explained to us that in an effort to preserve their powerful flavors and fragrances they keep the cooking techniques simple, slowing braising, roasting, sautéing. All the broths are made from scratch. The result is elegant, authentic and satisfying.

Our appetizers were a blend of the most unusual combinations; burrata, nectarines, fresno chilies, white balsamic and honey, we also had Vongole e Salsicce Arrosto, roasted clams, sausage, sambuca infused broth, house made mozzarella, eggplant caponata, the main course was Ossobuco de Vitello, veal shank with risotto milanese and Salmone Scottato, salmon, artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, baby spinach and white wine.

We were a party of six, sharing the many dishes, every one a culinary experience, one of the pasta dishes was without question one the best most unusual I have ever tasted.. Cacioe Pepe, spaghetti alla chitarra, parmigiano, pancetta, arugula, butter, cracked black pepper! Every dish was prepared with precision and beautifully presented.

The desserts are all house made.. cannoli, cheesecake, panna cotta and tiramisu. There are no words to describe these pure treats... except divine.

The influence on the creation of clean food is nothing short of inspiring. Fresh herbs, sauces and flavors that remain with you long after you leave.

In no way is this an average Italian restaurant with predictable menus. Tutti Noi is definitely not one of those - it is the embodiment of what fine dining is all about.

I highly recommend - cannot wait to do it all over again and no, I'm not related to anyone there ! It was just...