Arezzo Ristorante

The kind of place that will pad your bill if they feel you didn't order enough. Whatever you do, don't order off the menu! And check those figures! We were charged $50 for an--at most--$20 bottle of wine. When we protested, we were rudely told to ""go to Starbucks."" It was an all-around unpleasant experience. Felt like a tourist trap in Venice. I would never go back. Pros: Decent food. Cons: Will pad the bill and act like you are in the wrong. more

My New Favorite Place\r \r This winter, tired of the same old everyday Italian, I turned to Zagat?s in search of something new. Under the category of ?Tuscan,? Arezzo was the first listing to appear. All the reviews were positive and it was ?Zagat?s Rated? as well. It seemed like a safe bet; it turns out I scored big time! I returned this week to find a somewhat different menu. The waiter explained that they change certain dishes to reflect the season and make use of the freshest seasonal ingredients. That was really cool, but I simply had to have the same pasta I?d enjoyed in the winter ? pea flavored cavatelle with hot & sweet sausage ragu. They claim it as a ?signature dish? and it is worthy of the title. It has the comforting look of a home-cooked dish, but with so much more flavor than mom usually makes. After sharing that, and scraping the plate clean, we shared some seasonal soft shell crabs. I know many places serve them, but not everyone serves them well. They were plump and light and prepared ever so simply ? just perfect. For dessert, we sampled a perfect creme brule and a traditional tiramisu, along with expertly prepared cappuccinos. I should mention that the place has a modern yet warm feel to it (partly due to the wood burning brick oven), but for me it?s all about the food. And the food was fantastic. Once again, Zagat?s came through for me. They haven?t let me down yet! Pros: parking across the street Cons: can't afford to eat here every night more

Since I drive in from New Jersey and pay parking to eat in the city, I always have high expectations for my dining experience. Arezzo surpassed them all. Due to construction scaffolding, the place is a little hard to find and the exterior slightly unappealing at the moment. But this will pass, and indoor parking was right across the street. The interior is clean, upscale and comfortable. The open wood burning brick oven in the back really sets the mood of Tuscany. Before selecting our meals, we shared a small pizza with such a delicate crust and fresh toppings, and foccacia oozing with yummy cheese. I chose a salad of shrimp roasted in the wood oven with raddichio and oranges...delicious! The lamb chops were among the best I've ever had and served perfectly rare as requested. My companion had the pea flavored cavatelli with sausage ragu and said it was bursting with flavor and very filling. For dessert, the warm apple tart we shared was sooooo scrumptious. All the food had a beautiful presentation, and had substance as well (no leaving hungry). The wine list was really impressive and the owner was extremely knowledgeable about the wines, while leaving the ultimate decision to us. I just loved this place and will definitely be back again. PS - the owner told us they will be participating in ""Restaurant Week"" with a new spring menu, and we couldn't help notice that their everyday prices are not much more than the 2 week citywide promotional prices! A real bargain in my opinion. Pros: inviting ambience, convenient parking, great service, friendly owner Cons: exterior scaffolding (which is not here to stay) more

Very mediocre and bland food - as good as microwaved Italian TV dinner, and rather rude service to top it all. Not the rudest, but definitely not nice. Nothing special about it, excpet the hard sell for the more expensive wines (and even that we saw better performed in other restaurants). Oh, yeah, and overpriced. Did I mention the bland food? Pros: Very mediocre food Cons: OK decor more

Polenta that tasted like it was from my grandma's kitchen, risotto you keep eating even though you're about to burst just because it's so good, and amazing deserts.\r From the greeting you receive when you walk in, to the courteous and attentive wait staff, the people there really make you feel like they care about your experience. The first time I visited Arezzo, I tried the Salmon, which was cooked perfectly and full of flavor. The second time, being raised on Italian food, I had to try a pasta dish. I opted for the Panzotti, a ravioli like pasta filled with ricotta cheese and spinach. This dish did not disappoint either. It was cooked al dente, with just the right amount of filling, and a light sauce that complemented it very well.\r Altogether, Arezzo is a great choice for a night out. more

At least according to the rating Citysearch has given this restaurant. How can such a divergence of opinion result in a 9.3 rating? My girlfriend and I took the number to heart (apparently we should have read some of the reviews here) and, based on our experience, have arrived at the conclusion that the folks at Arezzo only sprinkle happy powder on half their dishes. I had the pappardelle with duck ragu - very tasty. She had a fish dish which was an affront to nature. The watery excuse for pesto (served on the side) never moved. Neither did the waiters, or will our opinion of this place. I suppose a good visit here depends greatly on what you order and who brings it to you. So much for consistency on both fronts. Too much money spent here for the risk. Try the NY Lotto. Pros: One out of Two Ain't Bad. Cons: One out of Two is Bad if you're the other one. more

Regrettably, I had dinner here on a quiet, Tuesday night. The Fish of the Day was a sea bass that tasted like it had been boiled twice and maybe more. It was hastily plopped on a plate with nothing-to-write-home-about fingerling potatoes. The disgruntled wait staff made the experience even more unpleasant. What a waste and it was no bargain either, spending close to $100 for two entrees and a couple glasses of wine. With all the competition out there, I'm astonished this place survives. Pros: None. Try a frozen dinner. Cons: Attempt to be high-end dining. more

Spotted Arezzo on Citysearch and decided to give it a try. The wine selection was excellent and the bottle of merlot recommended by the waiter was terrific. Throughout our meal, the service was attentive but most importantly, the food was delicious, prepared with fresh ingredients that were cooked just right. I'm glad we found this place! Pros: food(freshness), service more

Maybe it was my expectation but for me this restaurant did NOT live up to it's reputation. Upon entering we were greeted by a very friendly host and immediately seated. The wine selection was fantastic with countless wines to choose from, not that we'd know about it because the wine list does not come to your table unless you ask for it.\r \r The waiters were very friendly and helpful except they were unavailable for most of the night. A 6:45 pm mid week dinner reservation turned into a 3 hour affair. While we passed the time with no problem it became evident that this establishment focused on bringing the customer in quickly and with great service but once you had ordered it was a completely different story. There was no quick bus boys or even full waitiers to refill the water, pick up finished plates (30 minute wait after we finished until our plates were picked up and our dessert order was taken) or even refill the wine.\r \r The simple but romantic setting of Arezzo is negated by the loud customers seated closely together. I would avoid Arezzo if you are trying to have a quiet night as you simply will not be able to speak quietly because to keep up with the atmosphere you will have to talk loud yourself. \r \r The meals were prepared with high quality and fresh ingredients but there was really nothing special to make Arezzo really stand out - it was simply average. The only thing that stood out about my dinner was MY choice of wine and the simply amazing tiramisu (maybe I just love chocolate?!?). \r \r Overall, I wouldn't go out of my way to make reservations for Arezzo again. It is an average restaurant if you're in the neighborhood looking for a place to eat and simply walk-in. Pros: Dessert Cons: Loud more

I went here with a co-worker for lunch and was very glad we did. The ambaiance was nice and the service was attentive. I had the chicken with snowpeas and roasted potatoes. My coworker had the Pizza Margherita which willl be what I will try next time. We both left satisfied and ready to face the rest of our work day. Yes, a good choice for lunch. more

This restaurant is a rare find in NYC. The food is fantastic, the service is very attentive to detail, the decor is hip and trendy, yet it is not stuffy in the least. The owner came by to personally introduce himself and later made a recomendation for the wine we had with dinner. We had the lobster salad, follwed by the ravioli and finished with some prime rib, all cooked to perfection and served in a timely fashion. PERFECT and no wait!!! Pros: good date spot, cozy more

What a dissappointment!! The service was some of the worst I have ever experienced. The food was good, not great, and for the prices they charge it should be better, much better. The room and ambience are dreary and dark. The wine list is mediocre. It is clear the chef has talent, but this is not the platform to demonstrate her skills. After my second visit, nothing has changed. Pros: food Cons: service, prices, wine list more

I arrived in the uncomfortable time between lunch and dinner and was welcomed immediately. The wood-burning stove and the baroque mirrors make this a sophisticated place but there's no pretension or attitude. The food was similar--fresh, creative, but also hearty. I especially like the fresh cheeses they use. Make sure you try the baby gnocci and the salmon--and the rich tiramisu. This is Northern Italian fare, so the place is free of red sauces that can drown flavors. Especially recommended for people dining on their own or between hours. Their dinner Restaurant Week menu was the best of the five places I've sampled. Enjoy! Pros: Friendly, Prix Fixe Menu, Fresh Veggies more

Excellent food and service. Decor is simple because they focus on making great italian food. I highly recommend trying arezzo. Pros: Great Food, Good Service more

Food was excellent, as was wait staff. Ambiance was good, but overall a very pleasureable dining experience. Pros: Food, wait staff Cons: , a bit noisy more

On the recommendation of a friend, I checked out Arezzo with my wife. I'm glad I did as the food was very good and the staff was friendly, courteous and efficient. more

While the food at Arezzo was very good, the service was absolutely abhorrent. We waited 1/2 hour between our first and what should have been our second course, only to have the waiters skip the second course and bring us our main entree. When we mentioned this oversight to our waitress, she mumbled an excuse about the kitchen being busy but then apologized and said she'd ""make it up to us at dessert."" Imagine our surprise when we received the check and found that we were fully charged for our dessert! Although the food was good, it was a pretty disappointing experience overall. more

What a great little place. The food is out of this world and although the decor is kind of plain, it has a really relaxing and comfortable feel to it. I went with a group of 6 and everyone liked everything they ordered. Harrison Ford was there the night we went. Pros: Food, Service more

Really, the food was not impressive. I didn't have a bad experience, I just didn't think the food was all that good. I will not return again. more

Upon walking to the restaurant I knew I had made a good choice. Hostess was very pleasant and the ambience was fantastic! Food was great. I recommend the Pea Flavored Cavatelli. One of my new favorites! Pros: great service, great food, great atmosphere more