Falai

Brooklyn Boy meets Top Chef \r \r If you have every watched “Top Chef” on TV and wondered how the dishes the chefs prepare would actually taste, go to Falai. We should have known this was no ordinary place when we saw the expensive menu online and we had trouble getting a reservation on a Tuesday night. \r \r Falai is a narrow storefront almost entirely decorated in white (white, unusual platters and white tables, as well) with clear plastic chairs. There is seating for about twenty, with an open kitchen and bar. \r \r After being treated to baked rolls with unusual flavorings i.e. kale, fennel etc., we were emotionally prepared for our antipasti, POLENTA BIANCA, chicken liver, dried dates, wild mushroom “Vellutata”. A very small dish with plenty of flavor, this is not your grandma’s chopped liver! \r \r A gratis intermezzo of about an ounce of yellow watermelon soup with ginger, and we were on our way. Our next dish was PICI, hand-rolled egg-less pasta, marsala braised wild board ragu, aged herb pecorino, black truffles. Where do they get these ingredients?\r \r Main courses COTOLETTA DI MAIALE, rack of Hampshire pork, lardo-peach-hazlenut financier, artichoke; A pork chop like no other! Probably the best dish was ANATRA, smoked duck breast, leg confit, foie gras bon-bon, broccoli rabe, with fingerling potatoes. The duck was at once greaseless, but still medium rare, a real stand out. How did they do that?\r \r While the portions are small, dessert was, a not so simple. A single scoop of chocolate gelato, while ice cold, it was not icy and tasted like a very intense Mississippi Mud Pie.\r \r Dinner is not cheap at $ 100 for two, without drinks, but the experience and food was worth every penny.\r \r For more see www.ditmasestates\r \r more

My favourite restaurant in the city. Cons: best food + great service + good price more

iacopo falai e' un genio!!!! tutti i piatti scelti erano di altissimo livello, curati in ogni piccolo particolare e serviti con una professionalita unita ad una simpatia unica da parte del personale molto attento. su tutto vorrei segnalare la bufala ricotta flan, i pici e l'anatra. i dolci tutti.dico tutti!!!!!!!! tornero' sicuramente Pros: pane, pasta, dessert, cortesia e professionalita more

Iacapo Falai's main restaurant is truly a unique dining experience. We were seated in the outdoor area and proceeded to have a simply fantastic dinner. From the design of the restaurant to the subtle and delightful way the food is built up, you'll really have to see for yourself. Thanks Falai for keeping the dream alive! more

I love Falai because I'm tired of going to restaurants and being charged $30 for a course I can cook at home. This does not happen at Falai. The di... more

I love Falai because I'm tired of going to restaurants and being charged $30 for a course I can cook at... more

Been here about 6-7 times now, the first time was when they just opened. Immediately fell in love with the little place with unique food, and excellent service. The latest visit was last week when I had dinner there with my husband: we both loved everything. Yes, as people say below, it is a bit expensive but you get what you pay for. The quality, and presentation, atmosphere, service, TASTE - everything is exactly what a doctor ordered: definitely coming back. Pros: service, food, pairing of wine more

Some very unique dishes. I ordered a foie gras appertizer as my main course because there is a ""chocolate lollipop"" as part of the dish. I liked the dish. Too bad that piece of chocolate is not sweet. My friends enjoyed their dishes a lot too. But I found the portion too small for that price and quality not worthy of that price. Another thing is, I ordered an appertizer as my main, but they served me my ""main"" first. Then when my friends had their main, they gave me an empty plate. So they assume my friends are going to share with me? I always order appertizer as main, but all other restaurants would serve my appertizer the same time they serve main course to the rest of the table. I found it rude for the restaurant to give me an empty plate and assume we share, without asking. Good that those are good friends so they shared their mains with me. There was a fly buzzing around all night, which was annoying. We were sitting right outside of the washroom but that didnt bother me. Pros: unique dishes Cons: service, price more

We had reservations on a wed night at 8 pm. We didn't leave the restaurant until close to midnight. Yep, it took about 2 hours to get our appetizers and another hour or so for the main meal. It was the longest I've ever waited for food. I don't know how they stay in business, since it seems they only have time for one seating a night. The food is good, but definitely NOT worth the wait. The restaurant wasn't even crowded when we were seated. I wonder if it would take as long if we had been the only customers in the restaurant.\r Pros: food Cons: the excrutiatingly long wait more

I love Italian food I heard about this place as people recommended its terrific wine list. When we got there, it turned out to be one of the worst nights ever! First, we had reservations and yet ended waiting for half-an-hour. It got to a point where (for the first time) I told them that I was getting too long and we wanted leave. So miraculously they get a table for us and so we decided to give it a chance. The food was small and average, the wine list was great, but what was unacceptable was the service. Our waitress was rude, obnoxious and seemed bored to cater to us. She did not even smile or greet us. Thats fine...if you are getting a pie at Grimadi's pizzeria but not when here and not when you get a bill for over $150 for dinner for two people. Do not go...save your money. Pros: Good wine list Cons: SERVICE more

Went to Falai for the first time last night and had a wonderful experience. I cannot say enough good things...\r Everything we ate was wonderful, from the different types of homemade bread, to the papparadelle we started with, the entrees, and the amazing dessert. The bleu cheese i had to end the meal was some of the best I've ever tasted and my friend had the deconstructed tiramisu, which was out of this world. On top of all of this, our service was absolutely wonderful. I've worked in restaurants for years and definitely appreciate good service. Everyone who came to our table was friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. We got to sit in the window seat, which allowed us an elevated view of the room. I can see how sitting in the dining room might be a little cramped, so I'm grateful that we got a great table! Pros: great service, creative food, homemade bread Cons: slightly expensive more

the food was cold - we returned it and it still came back cold . We rang they said they had a table - yet we had to sit at the bar. there were 3 of us the food came out at different times about 10 - 20 mins between each dish - \r service was over bearing and yet totally missed the point, i wanted my food hot and on time. Pros: wine was ok Cons: cold food, terrible service & value more

Had a leisurely dinner here a couple of days ago. Found the wine list to be reasonably priced and the plates have a lot of thought put into them. Don't miss desserts. Great lower east side vibe and competent service Pros: Desserts, Wine Cons: Tough to get in more

I came here a few weekends ago after a girlfriend and I decided we did not want to wait an hour and 45 mins for 'inoteca, which is just around the corner. Since we didn't have reservations, we had to sit at the booth up in front, but we were so glad we did! We felt like we got special attention from our waiter, a cute little man, who worked double time for us and definitely was eager to please! We started with a delicious amuse, then an octopus appetizer (forgive me -- I can't recall the specific names of the dishes since a few weeks have passed already) which was DELICIOUS!! Next, I ordered the Vegetable Risotto and it absolutely blew me away. It was so delicious, my friend couldn't stop picking off of my dish. Then, we finished off with the panacotta topped with dehydrated strawberries. We also got an excellent wine recommendation to go with our meal. The staff was very knowledgeable and again, our waiter delivered excellent service. To this day, my girlfriend and I talk about our wonderful experiene at Falai! Pros: Delicious food, VERY charming atmosphere (white and clean, with a hint of antiquity), excellent service! Cons: Can get a little pricey! more

i was at Falai recently with some friends of mine on a week-end.\r We did really like the decor,i thought it was charming for such a small space. The food was unique; the details in each dish were a bit extreme. The service was attentive,all the staff was nice,the wine person suggested us a good wine.The other people in the room seem to have a good time.\r I am sure we will go back to Falai. more

After enjoying a brunch and some casual dinners at the owners ""panetteria"" I decided to have a more formal dinner at his main restaurant. What a mistake. Although the food was decent, it took ages to arrive. Someone we thought was the owner (maybe a manager?) was evasive when my wife and I asked why we were waiting so long... couldnt really understand what he was saying but he mentioned something about the ""process""...?\r \r When we got the bill it was more than double what we would have paid at the more casual panetteria down the block! And we left hungry! Pros: nice space Cons: inattentive service, high prices more

I had the pleasure to experience Falai on my last visit to NYC in February 2007. They were so popular that we couldn't get seated until after 11pm but as we waited the owner shared wine and other taste treats with us to keep us happy. From the first piece of bread I was sold. Every item I was served as an appitizer and as a main dish was the best ___ I had ever had. I visited Falai with 6 others and I tasted every dish. Believe me when I say this was the best dinning experience I have ever had. Pros: Ambience, Food, Service more

It's delicious! There's a charm about everything- the room, the food, the wine......the portions are on the smaller side, but thats to be expected from a nice restaurant, I dont just want a ginormous bowl of pasta. Romantic too. Pros: food, atmosphere more

I have been a frequent diner at Falai since it opened and the food and service has always been wonderful in the past. However my meal there last night was a huge disappointment. All of the food was off in some way-unseasoned, cold, undercooked, the cheese plate was ice cold and tasted like refrigerator...when I spoke to our waiter he said the chef had not been there in awhile and that he knew that the cheese was not good. He still served it and charged us $21. for it even though we commented on its poor quality and did not eat it. Too bad it was a great place, I will certainly not be back . more

We ususally eat at Falai and in the past the service was good and the food had small portions but tasty. Tonight they just could not get their act together. We waited an hour and a half for the entrees and they just would not deliver. Several other people complained and left. The owner would not give a straight explanation. So we left. I think they have lost the edge and certainly being honest about what was happenning would have helped....\r DISAPPOINTED Pros: nice ambience, good food Cons: Inconsistent delivery of food- plan on long waits more