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All Reader Reviews of...

Bianca

5 Bleecker St., New York, NY, 10012
nr. Bowery
212-260-4666

Avg. Rating

9
Food: 9
Service: 8
Décor: 9
"Highly Recommended"

Average Reader Rating on a Scale of 10.

100% would go back.

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A Favorite for Five Years

By drewpictures on 11/5/2011

  • Overall Rating: 10
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 10
  • Décor: 10
  • Yes, I would go back!

This is a bit redundant with all the good reviews, but I feel like this place can't be recommended enough. It's a great place to bring friends, family, and out-of-towners for a delicious and cheap Italian dinner in a lovely dining atmosphere. I always get the mussels, fried puffy dough with cheese or meat and butter and sage ravioli as appetizers. The specials are generally awesome: mediterranean white fish, tagliatelle with crab meat, pasta with mushrooms. Waiting is no big deal when you get a drink next door at Von and can even bring it on over to Bianca when your table is ready. Eat at Bianca. It will be a lovely experience and a memorable night.

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25 out of 49 people found this review helpful.

A Must Try!

By Cmorgan on 2/21/2011

  • Overall Rating: 10
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 10
  • Décor: 10
  • Yes, I would go back!

With all the choices in New York, it can be overwhelming. Trust me, this is as good as it gets. For starters, the atmosphere is unbeatable. The owner treated me like family. He even sat at our table and took our order. Next, the food is unbeatable. And to top it all off, the prices are fantastic. That is a hard combination to find, especially in New York. We waited over an hour for a table and I would have waited for 2! Have a drink at the bar next door and just relax. You are going to love it!

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46 out of 88 people found this review helpful.

a find

By dmunczek on 1/16/2011

  • Overall Rating: 8
  • Food: 7
  • Service: 8
  • Décor: 10
  • Yes, I would go back!

Contrary to another's complaint about the service, I found the waitstaff friendly, prompt and efficient and always available, and this given that the restaurant was crammed full on a Saturday night. The setting was lovely and welcoming, and the food was solid and VERY abundant. I had Brodetto Di Pesce adriatic fish and shellfish stew, huge portion, and a steal for $15.

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44 out of 83 people found this review helpful.

i'm biased, i know the owner

By alwayshungry on 12/10/2010

  • Overall Rating: 8
  • Food: 8
  • Service: 7
  • Décor: 8
  • Yes, I would go back!

I once met the owner/culinary chief, Juan Carlo (sp?). From the Emilia Romagna region in Italy, the soft-spoken foodie told me about how he got started – standing shyly outside the kitchen door of a known chef in his town in Italy, lined up like migrant workers for handyman jobs. One day he was allowed in.. of course, as dishwasher.. working his way up, it’s and old school ascension tale. Bianca’s interior was created to remind him of the milk houses in Italy.. thus the Bianca.. clever, eh? part of macnchis blog on wordpress

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56 out of 106 people found this review helpful.

great food, terrible service

By caribrooke on 7/30/2010

  • Overall Rating: 7
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 2
  • Décor: 9
  • Yes, I would go back!

Bianca is a culinary gem, delicious authentic italian food. however, because the prices are reasonable, they feel as though they don't need to train their wait staff. the first time i had dinner here, we complained a few times and the owner said "the food is cheap here, plenty of people come, if you don't like it, don't come back". i assumed he was disgruntled by my large group of young pushy women, and figured i'd try again. went back last night, food was great. the waitress was simply rude. pushy when she wanted us to order, but impossible to find when we wanted the wine list. i think we took too long too order for her standards. she was whispering to her coworkers while passing off dirty looks to my friends and i. to top things off, they added things to our check assuming I wouldn't notice, and then apologized for their error. so my advice, great food and charming place. don't go to there impatient friends.

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52 out of 108 people found this review helpful.

What a treat.

By Chris Rovzar (NY MAG) on 5/19/2010

  • Overall Rating: 8
  • Food: 8
  • Service: 9
  • Décor: 8
  • Yes, I would go back!

Showed up with a party of eight at 9:30 on a Tuesday night and had a drink at Von while we waited, but not for long at all. Mussels were good, as a previous reviewer said - giant and juicy. Balsamic chicken as well (though, as the waitress warned, probably not as healthy as it sounds), as well as the ravioli and a tagliatelle special with baby shrimp. The service was friendly, the wine list was startlingly reasonable, and the environment is just so charming. I don't know why this place doesn't get a Critic's Pick, but I'm kind of glad - we would have never gotten a table if everyone knew about it!

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60 out of 112 people found this review helpful.

unexpected delight

By martydia on 1/24/2010

  • Overall Rating: 10
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 9
  • Décor: 9
  • Yes, I would go back!

Never heard of this place. Steered to it by hostess of restaurant around the corner whose kitchen was not yet open at 5:50 PM on a Saturday night. Was immediately seated and within 10 minutes all other tables were taken (Lucky us!!) Appetizer of Lasagnette (vegetable lasagna) was incredible. Two of these would have been a great meal! Wife had pasta with sausage, I had the thinly slice filet subtly spiced with rosemary accompanied by perfectly roasted potatoes. Both excellent. Shared a unique Tiramisu (mocha sauce a nice touch) Expected small plates given the prices but had enough to take home for great second meal today. Not taking credit cards a minor inconvenience as long as you know that ahead of time. WILL DEFINITELY BE BACK!

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101 out of 188 people found this review helpful.

Where I take friends new and old

By ComfortablySmug on 7/17/2009

  • Overall Rating: 10
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 10
  • Décor: 10
  • Yes, I would go back!

To the point- Bianca is absolutely brilliant. The food has been without exception delicious and is a great value for the price, let alone in New York City (you can get dinner for two for under 40?!?!). The service has always been friendly and as has been mentioned, the system of them letting you know your table is ready while you get a drink at a bar next door works like a charm. I have made this spot my go to destination to take friends from out of town. I have yet to have any of them disappointed. I highly recommend this fine establishment.

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102 out of 199 people found this review helpful.

Awesome

By jeffyjoe44 on 6/30/2009

  • Overall Rating: 10
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 10
  • Décor: 10
  • Yes, I would go back!

Lasagna was fantastic. Atmosphere was festive and the system they have to usher you next door for a drink is fantastic! I love this place.

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81 out of 176 people found this review helpful.

really good food

By pinafour on 4/12/2009

  • Overall Rating: 9
  • Food: 9
  • Service: 9
  • Décor: 9
  • Yes, I would go back!

I really enjoyed this place! The mussels were the best I've had anywhere - tender and big. We were dipping our bread in the broth. Dessert (Panna Cotta) was amazing, so good. It's a little cramped inside, you will have to go early on a weeknight. Definitely going back.

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108 out of 199 people found this review helpful.

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