Osteria Carlina West Village

“We had the most amazing time at your restaurant last night. Everyone was so welcoming and friendly. The food was absolutely delicious—quite possibly the best meal I’ve had in NYC. I’ve been making the trip from DC to New York City for the past two years to participate in the NYRR 9+1 races, and this meal was truly exceptional. At the end of the evening, my son and I ordered a dessert to share as we celebrated his birthday. We never mentioned his birthday to our wonderful server; he simply overheard us talking. When the dessert arrived, we were delighted to see “Happy Birthday” written on the plate, complete with a candle. It was such a thoughtful surprise and a perfect ending to an unforgettable meal. Thank you for the outstanding food, exceptional service, and genuine hospitality. We can’t wait to come back the next time we’re in New York City.”

“Stumbled in looking for somewhere with outdoor seating serving an aperol spritz on a sunny weekday after work! Was so pleasantly surprised by the food (the focaccia is so fluffy and light and the Carlina salad was amazing, I could have eaten 5) and the service! Rodrigo was so attentive. Will definitely be back, thank you!”

“Osteria Carlina does many things right. It is a small establishment, very classy, and perfect for a date night out but also can swing small important business meals. The atmosphere is clean, upscale, but also cozy. They have nailed the positoining as genuinely premium yet approachable. Service is extremely friendly and personal. Again, many things right. Obviously, the food is wonderful as well. And this is where we need to spend some time. The cuisine leans to progressive and modern Italian but with a cozy touch. The focaccia comes in amazingly soft. The peach and tomato salad was perhaps the best it can ever be. The crudo was fresh and the spaghetti bolognese definitely had the craftsmanship, hand-made touch. The pasta was perfectly al dente but also, you could tell they put the effort into the dough. And the desserts were also lovely, whether the pannacotta or the hazelnut chocolate. Again, from any standards, the food is wonderful. But here are the issues. Something about the food makes it "shy" a bit. I can see what the chef is trying to express, but falls just a inch short, each dish. Like the crudo could have had a bit more punch. The pasta could have been just a bit more moist. The pannacotta just a tad bit more sweet. I completely understand the intent of each dish. And they are really thoughtful. But you end up feeling a sense that you were turned around before hitting the top of the mountain and you never got to see the full view. Perhaps the salad was the most perfect dish - perfect vinegar and olive oil, with nuts. It was so good that I used the olive oil and balsamic mix as the focaccia dip. But again, other than that, the food does not end up being memorable. What is memorable is how small the portions are, compared to the price. $30+ for a pasta, but literally, 70% of the portions you get in any Italian restaurant. And you repeat this same pattern over and over for each dish. I get it. This is supposed to be high-end dining done in a cozy way. But then... why not make the food unforgettable? I will leave it as 5 stars because I genuinely had a great time there. But for the price... I want to be dazzled. I saw the stars falling behind the horizon of the pinnacle. But Carlina does not take you all the way to the top... So close. Really close. Will definitely return to give it another shot.”

“The service Is friendly and formal without being stuffy. The food is delicate and the flavors authentic. I had the fluke crudo and it ticked all the boxes. The vitello tonnato was delicious. Pasta al dente 🙏. The biscotti melt in your mouth. We’ll be back.”

“I was supposed to be here for a dinner reservation for two, but my friend couldn’t come. The manager was kind enough to accommodate me and seat me at the bar as I requested. The food was absolutely delicious! The pappardelle was prob among the top 5 pasta dishes I have ever tried. There was also an order of focaccia that’s not pictured, which I didn’t realize I was getting charged for when initially offered, but it was so delicious as well so no regrets here. Finally, I have to mention these other guests, a mother and a young adult daughter presumably, who waltzed in 5 mins after me and decided to sit at the bar right next to me just to simply order two glasses of wine. A few mins later the dad joined them, but there was no room for him to sit at their end of the bar. So the manager very kindly asked me a favor to move my seat to accommodate them. I did, albeit begrudgingly. The dad then ordered a beer after sitting down. They all left in less than 10 mins after arriving, only to have ordered two glasses of wine and a beer in total. PSA to folks out there only looking for a drink: please just go to a wine bar instead! I asked to have my seat moved back after they left and the staff were kind enough to accommodate. 100% would revisit this place.”