Da Andrea Ristorante

The review I hoped not to write. My Italian wife and I frequented Da Andrea as our neighborhood Italian joint. Good food, nice service, pleasant ambiance back then. So, we made the trek yesterday to Da Andrea's new location on 13th Street, excited to see our old friends and settle into a good meal. Sorry to say, somewhere between Hudson Street and 13th, they lost their way. The new space is noisy with music ringing from the stereo, chaotic with tables (no longer with tablecloths) scattered randomly, the service surly. Still, the meal started well with fresh bread and the mussels in red sauce appetizer. However, the main courses were abysmal. The zuppe di pesce looked and tasted like a boiled, lackluster and random bowl of seafood overwhelmed by salt and a strong bitter note (perhaps due to dried versus fresh herbs). The tagliolini was clumped together in short pieces, making it very chewy, the sauce bitter and overwhelming and the clams unappealingly thrown all over the bowl. Looking around the restaurant, meals appeared over sauced and over oiled, not at all characteristic of authentic Italian cooking or the old Da Andrea. Our waiter (new to this location?) acted aloof and surly, and hardly made us feel welcome (though we were warmly greeted by holdovers from the Hudson Street locale). The search for a new, authentic Italian joint starts anew.

Unfortunately really fine and authentic Italian cuisine is wasted on one particular segment of the population. A previous reviewer referred to this restaurant as "hum drum" and "without people watching". Well, if that's the priority, you're obviously not serious about food - especially Italian. It's a small, personable, comfortable place with the most wonderful italian food I've eaten since my last trip to Italy - and I ate with my family there.

Perhaps Da Andrea wasted it's time on you. Move on to someplace that suits your character - shallow, superficial, pretty people watching, substandard food with plenty of minute portioned food.

Bravo Gianpietro!! Grazie per tutti!!

nothing to write home about. not bad, its an ok casual place. no atmosphere,no people watching. very hum drum. there are so many other italian restaurants that are much better and fun.

We went to this restaurant to celebrate an important event with another couple and had such a great time. From start to finish, it was great. The restaurant is small, quaint and very cozy. It has a good layout, and the immaculate bathroom is downstairs. When we walked inside and sat, the owner walked over and hung up the men's jackets. We ordered a few appetizers, an entree as an appetizer, two bottles of red wine, 4 dinners, and all of the desserts. The food was absolutely excellent, authentic Northern Italian cuisine. The portions were perfect and it was all very tasty. We had two pasta dishes and two meat dishes for dinner. We all tried each other's food and were all pleasantly surprised. We also really enjoyed our wine. The desserts were incredible and very authentic. Our waiter was very good and the owner was very accomodating. He always made sure everyone in the restaurant was satisfied and was very friendly. The greatest surprise to us all was when the bill came: it was all so well-priced! We ate like Kings and Queens and paid almost nothing compared to the quality, service and overall satisfiaction that this restaurant provided us. Overall, great authentic food, a great ambiance, and all at a great, affordable price. Great overall value. We sat there for hours just eating, drinking and relaxing at such an affordable price. Truly a delight. Highly recommended.

I went to Da Andrea the other night with a few friends; we went on a whim and I didn't know quite what to expect. Being poor college kids, we opted to share four appetizers between the five of us. Suffice it to say that this left us in a state of extreme desperation and longing, not to mention that some subtle hoarding tactics were being employed. We had a calamari salad, mussels marinara, bocconcini caprese and a carpaccio salad; all were superb. Attention to detail in every facet of every dish was remarkable. Based on my experience I'd have to imagine that the other appetizers were equally good. One could easily order a three-appetizer spread for dinner and leave thoroughly satisfied...and with plenty of money still in the wallet!

Also, the olive oil, which comes with the bread at the beginning of the meal and is served in small porcelain bowls with real olives to munch on at the end, might have been the best I've had at any Italian restaurant in the city. It starts a great meal off on the right foot.