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Home > Restaurants > Elettaria

All Reader Reviews of...

Elettaria

33 W. 8th St., New York, NY, 10011
nr. Macdougal St.
212-677-3833

8.8 "Highly Recommended"
Average Reader Rating
on a Scale of 10		 Write Your Own Review
91% Would you go back?
91% Would you take a date?
0% Would you take kids?
91% Would you go on business?
100% Would you go on a special occasion?
Food: 8.8
Service: 8.3
Décor: 9.3
Value: 8.9
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  • Showing reviews 1 through 10 of 12

phenomenal drinks, very good food

adub from 10003 | Posted on 6/18/09

Overall Rating: 10 (Highly Recommended)
Would you go back? Yes
Would you take a date? Yes
Would you take kids? No
Would you go on business? Yes
Would you go on a special occasion? Yes
Food: 8
Service: 10
Décor: 8
Value: 10

My husband and I have become regulars here, and really love it. The decor is dim and cozy - more suited to cold-weather months than summertime, but very comfortable. We never make it past the bar, because the cocktails and the bartender (Joe) are just that good. The happy hour ("violet hour") is one of the best deals in town - $6 for truly extraordinary cocktails. The food is nearly as good - we usually end up splitting a couple of appetizers, and the crabmeat resala and shortribs in particular are fantastic. The bar snacks aren't universally great, but for the price, they're an incredible deal. The place is super-busy Fri. and Sat. eves, but much mellower other days.

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12 out of 22 people found this review helpful.

Overall an excellent experience

kristenhul82 from 07045 | Posted on 3/24/09

Overall Rating: 10 (Highly Recommended)
Would you go back? Yes
Would you take a date? Yes
Would you take kids? No
Would you go on business? Yes
Would you go on a special occasion? Yes
Food: 10
Service: 7
Décor: 8
Value: 10

We decided to visit Elettaria based on positive reviews and its critics choice nomination. We were not disappointed one bit! We arrived around 8pm on a Monday evening and were seated quickly. Despite the dining room being busy, the wait staff was friendly and attentive and made excellent recommendations. To start we had the crab cake as well as scallops, both had amazing flavor. For our entrees we ordered the halibut, cod, and snapper. All fish were delicious, fresh and cooked to perfection. Overall we had a wonderful experience and will return!

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9 out of 18 people found this review helpful.

A surprize find!

EWHS from 10003 | Posted on 1/20/09

Overall Rating: 9 (Highly Recommended)
Would you go back? Yes
Would you take a date? Yes
Would you take kids? No
Would you go on business? Yes
Would you go on a special occasion? Yes
Food: 9
Service: 7
Décor: 9
Value: 10

I found Elettaria the best way! That would be walking past, without previous reviews already filtering in my head. I went in because of the warm inviting Decor. Once in, I looked at the menu, and selected one of the best meals I've had in ages. I travel alot, and eat in many of the critics best choices. So here is what I like about Elettaria. The Portions that are served are the correct size. I dont want to feel nautious when I leave! And, the chef has imagination with flavors and appearances with the food, without seeming to try to hard. Thats important! As well, I rather enjoyed the opened kitchen, which didn't overwhelm me with certain smells. The people there where very nice, and if I had to make a suggestion, then it would be to have 2 bartenders instead of one. My cocktail took forever!

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7 out of 15 people found this review helpful.

Chef licks spoons!

jolove from 10025 | Posted on 12/21/08

Overall Rating: 3 (Not Recommended)
Would you go back? No
Would you take a date? Yes
Would you take kids? No
Would you go on business? Yes
Would you go on a special occasion? Yes
Food: 7
Service: 1
Décor: 9
Value: 5

First, I will say that the restaurant is gorgeous; a homey, yet chic feel with door wooden floors, lovely botanical sketch artwork and vintage decorative pieces. The kitchen is completely open to the restaurant so you can watch the chefs work their magic… I was waiting for our main course (by the way, the service is reaaaalllllyyyyy slow--prepare to be there for 3 hours, begging for water the entire time), and I'm watching one of the chefs plate a meal. He dips a spoon into a sauce, puts the sauce on the plate, LICKS THE SPOON, and then uses the same spoon to put potatoes onto the plate. Yuck! I felt so bad for the person whose plate that was...and then, oh…it was mine. Great. I sent it back and had them prepare a new one. I asked to speak with someone after we had paid the check (in full!). I got one of the owners, Noel, explaining their policy is to "taste every dish that leaves the kitchen" and they "use a sanitizing solution to dip utensils into” between tastings. Riiiight. Needless to say, I cannot, in good conscience, ever go back to Elettaria.

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8 out of 18 people found this review helpful.

Great!

qkiemonster from 10024 | Posted on 12/3/08

Overall Rating: 9 (Highly Recommended)
Would you go back? Yes
Would you take a date? Yes
Would you take kids? No
Would you go on business? Yes
Would you go on a special occasion? Yes
Food: 9
Service: 9
Décor: 9
Value: 9

Great to take family and friends to. Food was excellent, Service attentive and warm, cocktails were delish! the place was cozy and beautiful and not to mention the chef was eye candy (open kitchen). Definitely worth it!

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9 out of 18 people found this review helpful.

Shows Potential...

englishmaninnewyorkII from 10014 | Posted on 11/24/08

Overall Rating: 6 (Mixed Reviews)
Would you go back? Yes
Would you take a date? Yes
Would you take kids? No
Would you go on business? No
Would you go on a special occasion? Yes
Food: 5
Service: 6
Décor: 9
Value: 7

Was there on Saturday (11/22/08). Front of house staff v. helpful and charming but made us wait 45 mins for our reservation. Waiters not bad either although they lost interest later on (admittedly, we were a large group). Food sounded interesting, I was definitely excited by the prospect of the asian influence, but actually what was delivered was a bit of a let down. Bread and Raita was v. good. For my main I think I had a bit of chicken with the salt they served me, the sprouts it came with sounded like an intriguing combo but ended up an oily mess. Agree with review, the duck looked good. The decor, bar, lay out, open kitchen all show promise of a really atmospheric restaurant but the food is not quite there yet. Will be back in a few months to see if it has improved.

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11 out of 19 people found this review helpful.

Ignore the Critic Rating

alexa108 from 13066 | Posted on 10/13/08

Overall Rating: 10 (Highly Recommended)
Would you go back? Yes
Would you take a date? Yes
Would you take kids? No
Would you go on business? Yes
Would you go on a special occasion? Yes
Food: 10
Service: 10
Décor: 10
Value: 10

Was there last Sat 10/11/08. Fabulous! Sit by the kitchen, the smells are divine and you get to peak at all the plates going out. Everything was superb; service as well. I wish I lived closer; reading the other reviews makes me want to visit often as the menu changes. If you have cooked indian and know all the wonderful spices that are involved in that cuisine, you will love this food even more. Favorites: Bavette, Crab meat Resala, Quail, too many to list!

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12 out of 20 people found this review helpful.

Elettaria

cdehne from 10011 | Posted on 9/20/08

Overall Rating: 10 (Highly Recommended)
Would you go back? Yes
Would you take a date? Yes
Would you take kids? No
Would you go on business? Yes
Would you go on a special occasion? Yes
Food: 10
Service: 10
Décor: 10
Value: 10

Everything from the atmosphere to the food/ wine was worth every penny.. The sweetbreads appetizer was probably the best I have ever tasted. Sat in a corner table and had a full view of the kitchen, Service was fantastic!

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10 out of 16 people found this review helpful.

Overall Great Experience

drosselements from 07621 | Posted on 7/20/08

Overall Rating: 10 (Highly Recommended)
Would you go back? Yes
Would you take a date? Yes
Would you take kids? No
Would you go on business? Yes
Would you go on a special occasion? Yes
Food: 10
Service: 10
Décor: 10
Value: 10

Saw the episode of Reservations Required for Elettaria, and decided on a whim just to check it out. It was early on a Sunday so it was very quiet. Service was fantastic, and the atmosphere very warm and welcoming. Ordered the crab meat resala and the duck, and my friend ordered the samosas, and the chicken. Everything was cooked to perfection. I highly recommend these dishes, and would be confident in trying any dish on the menu. Cocktails were all perfectly crafted with fine detail to great flavors. Excellent esperience!!

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14 out of 21 people found this review helpful.

Loved It

mschmitt23 from 10023 | Posted on 5/24/08

Overall Rating: 10 (Highly Recommended)
Would you go back? Yes
Would you take a date? Yes
Would you take kids? No
Would you go on business? Yes
Would you go on a special occasion? Yes
Food: 9
Service: 10
Décor: 10
Value: 10

Went to Elletaria last night and loved it. The decor was really neat - we were lucky enough to get one of the best seats in the house - the corner seat in the back right near the kitchen. For appetizers, we had the fried quail and the guinea hen terrine with rhubbard and foie gras. The terrine was good and the fried quail was awesome - and VERY reasonably priced - $16 (i think) and $11 respectively. For entrees, my boyfriend got the bavette (like a "minute" steak) with oyster mushrooms and turnips and i got a double order of the scallop appetizer with oxtail and ramps. Again, very reasonably priced $24 (i think) and $20. Our plates were literally wiped clean - we were really impressed with the sauce on both plates and freshness of the ingredients. And if you are going to get dessert, get the "milk" donuts with chai ice cream. The donuts had this sugary crusty outside - like they were double fried or something - they were so delicious. The service was great and our bill, including 4 alcoholic drinks, came to $130! I thought that was a tremendous deal given the quality of the food and how much we ordered.

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14 out of 25 people found this review helpful.

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