Well folks, here we have a real New York legend. Fanelli's has been around since SOHO was inhabited by artists -- not the ultra-rich or the kitsch. To go to Fanelli's is to go expecting an experience as well as good, decent food. Do not go with an attitude or looking for haute cuisine.
Firstly, the staff is replete with a good, solid sense of neighborhood and customer service. The matire'd is excellent and even in the throes of a large crowd, she is in control and treats everyone equally. She is a pleasure to deal with.
The food is good. As the previous reviewer mentioned, the sandwiches, salads, brunch menu, hamburgers, basic pasta and deserts are well made and can stand up to any menu that another, higher-priced restaurant can offer.
First of all, the 2VillageGirls love their vodka so we focussed on the drinks first. We had vodka, seltzer with a splash of cranberry juice. Perfectly mixed drink. We then shared the pumpkin raviolli in alfredo sauce and a vegetarian dish of squash filled with cheese and vegetables. I found that the pumpkin was robust and nicely seasoned. It stood up to the sauce. There was too much alfredo sauce, however, but it was good and you could taste the various ingredients which was a a very nice touch to the pumpkin in the ravioli. The squash dish was great. Nicely cooked and flavored.
The deserts were also quite good: chocolate moose, although a bit cold at first, was substantial and sensuous. We also had a fruit tart that was fresh and very good. Both were served with whipped cream.
This is another one of those local places where you want to establish a relationship with the history by going on off-hours. It gets very crowded (for its size) on the weekends. All-in-all, a great experience and a great meal.
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