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All Reader Reviews of...
Via Emilia
47 E. 21st St., New York, NY, 10010
nr. Broadway
212-505-3072
| 7.4 | "Recommended" Average Reader Rating on a Scale of 10 |  |
Very Disappointing
Hiccups from 10011 | Posted on 3/22/09
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Went for a fun night out with the girls after reading the review, but it turned an otherwise sweet day sour. The pasta quality tasted and felt stale, as if it had been made days earlier, and not a single dish was hot. Were they reheating dishes on a Saturday night? We won't be back.
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Beautiful, tasty and a good value
jarret from 11216 | Posted on 10/7/08
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I love Via Emilia. Just like Cafe Asean, I take all my friends there and they all fall in love. Clean, simple meals focusing on good ingredients -- just like in Italy. The simple pastas: pomodoro, ragu, etc. were all killer. Beautiful interior referencing Gerhard Richter, cute friendly waiters and a relaxed atmosphere only add to the dining experience. Go now! Plus Scores is next door so you can watch desperate men go in and leave which is always fun.
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The real thing
RiccardoNY from 10025 | Posted on 8/9/08
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To those who believe maccaroni and cheese (BTW, it is maccheroni) is a popular italian dish, there are plenty of TGI Fridays to pick from in New York. Please avoid going to Via Emilia - it will shorten the waiting line to the rest of us. To those who actually want to taste the real thing, this is probably the best option in NY aside of getting on a plane and flying to Italy. Have tried a few, have also been to 'Del Posto' and other fancy so-called Italian restaurants in New York - taste has nothing to do with what it is supposed to be. Which is fine, as long as expectations are clear. To the uninformed, the original tortellini receipt has them actually "floating in chicken broth". Tortellini alla panna is a popular but modern interpretation.
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Excellent Italian Food
IngeNYC from 10025 | Posted on 8/9/08
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The person who wrote that Via Emilia has horrible food and wouldn't survive three days in Italy - doesn't know what he/she is talking about. My husband is from Bologna and we have been more times than I can remember to get our 'fix' of food from his region. Especially the lasagna is very good and authentic (even if possibly the portions are bigger than you would get in Italy - but that is simply because they cater to the average American big appetite), the tortellini alla crema are to die for and certainly try the gnocco fritti. All our Italian friends in town love this place and we even took my husband's mother there when she was visiting & yes she loved the food as well ;)) Service is very good, everyone is always very friendly and helpful. The decor is maybe not what you would expect for an Italian restaurant but the food more than makes up for that. Highly recommended to anyone that appreciates real Italian food.
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no no
pki from 10001 | Posted on 2/14/08
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No longer than 3 days a place like this would survive in Italy. Food is almost inedible. (Although you could eat it if, you ask them to heat it up for you.) All in all one of the worst italian food we had in the city.
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A bad visit
marillahiltz from 11201 | Posted on 12/4/07
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I hated the decor- the bands of bright color on the walls made it look like candyland. We tried the tortellini in brodo and the gnocco frito. The tortellini had a suprisingly tangy flavor but the suprise was muted by the murky chicken broth in which it was floating. The gnocco were good but I would have been happy with more prosciutto. The Chicken Tortelloni was awful. The tortelloni were dressed with truffle olive oil, which was diluted by an extra helping of pasta water on the plate. The tortelloni was filled with minced chicken, which reminded me more of a bad chinatown dumpling than anything else.
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Lovely Emilian food
speedskater from 07043 | Posted on 7/23/07
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After reading the NY times article on Lambrusco, my wife and I stopped by for an early meal. The selection of Lambrusco, a thoroughly underappreciated beverage that I grew to love from time in Parma & Modena, is fantastic. We tasted 6 different wines and all were excellent. The food felt classically Emilian, with the emphasis on meat products and parmigiano. I particularly liked the Gnocco Fritto and the Borlengo, which was like an Italian dosa. the service was excellent. Being there early, the place had a family feel, with the owners kids running around.
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One of best values in NYC
ScottK18 | Posted on 1/30/06
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The food is fresh and the menu eclectic. The salads integrate interesting mixes of fruits and cheeses. The lasagne is total comfort food. The pastas are fresh. Very cute and young wait staff -- they could perhaps relax a little bit and not rush to clean off plates (would make for a more relaxed atmosphere). Overall one of the best values in the city. Consistently excellent. Go early as they don't take reservations.
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Emilia serves you up right
focaccia9 | Posted on 12/15/05
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I went in before the dinnertime rush so I had the whole place to myself. The service was quick and courteous and the food delicious especially the duck salad. The pumpkin tortelloni was interesting and sweet; quite good actually but I was craving something a little meatier so I think next time I'll order something along those lines. And you get good-sized portions for the money. Such a better experience than last week's disastrous trip to Le Zie, a restaurant purported to be of the same caliber. Not even CLOSE. I'll definitely be back!
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Wonderful find for an out-of-towner
joodlenoodle | Posted on 4/11/05
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We found the restaurant listing in a guide book and decided on a train trip into the city to give Via Emilia a try! The food was wonderful and the decor was beautiful.
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