Lupa - New York

I saw the wonderful reviews and was lured in by the menu and pictures of the promising carbonara pasta with black pepper and linguini with clams in lemon. It all started well with complementary bread and chef’s complementary tuna appetizer. However, very disappointed in the pastas. All we could taste was the salt in both pastas. The pastas were also cooked very al dente. I sent mine back and my son struggled to even eat half of his carbonara. I tried a bit and I can’t even taste the fresh ground black pepper. He also waited for the waiter to refill his sprite. They remade my pasta without any salt the second time and it was much better but definitely did not use fresh lemon. Where we are from in Houston, TX. Sodas are refilled without charge. We were charged $10 for 2 sprites that was in a small glass half filled with ice. I don’t mind paying for good food but this was not good nor would I recommend. The tip option also starts at 20% as the lowest option, I felt obligated even though there was an option for custom tip. In our 5 days stay in NYC, this dinner for 2 at $100 was our most expensive and our worst meal. We were better off eating at hot dog stands or corner pizza shops.

I was recently introduced to this lovely restaurant the last time I was in the city. Normally I don’t expect too much out of an Italian restaurant, although I always enjoy the food and drinks. This place was different; the food was incredibly flavorful and…cozy. I think that’s the best word for it. It just felt like the best home-cooked meal you’ve ever had. And it was obvious from the first bite of their bread. I’m not a bread fanatic , but I can’t stop thinking about Lupa’s. Great food, wonderful service, and a memory I will cherish.

First of hopefully many visits to this delightfully cozy establishment. Extensive wine list and steady advice for pairings. The meatballs alone are reason enough to return! Portions are appropriately sized. Everything I have samples thus far has been delicious. Very well done

Italian mainstay in the Village, my first visit. Wonderful server and pleasant ambiance. Appetizers were good and well prepared but pretty ordinary. Good cocktails. I had the cod, not a particularly Italian preparation but very tasty and fresh. Points deducted for the contorni (side dishes), lackluster, chewy and frankly kind of weird. The place was packed at 8 pm on a Monday night so they must be doing something right.

Up(per) scale Italian restaurant. Ambience is very nice and servers are professional. Menu is in all italian so get ready to translate or just ask your waiter. Bread with oil and sourdough with fava bean spread were both complementary. Didn’t try the wine (I know, a crime) but the other drinks and cocktails were nice. The Brussels sprouts appetizer was really yummy, but the pasta sealed the deal. Honestly, one can’t recommend any dish here because they were all so good. But I will recommend the pomodoro and chili.