Insider Pages Reviews for Crispo Restaurant

5 Stars: Great Food (by Ella72)

Ella72 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:00:00 GMT

I love this place. My friend and I go here every few months and have not been disappointed once. The food is good the staff is very nice and they have a great wine selection. It's a great restaurant for small parties or a romantic dinner for two.

5 Stars: Great food for a Great Cause!! (by Rachel M)

Rachel M — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:00:00 GMT

If you haven't had a chance to experience all that the Crispo menu has to offer....Now's the time!! On Sunday, November 8th, Crispo is presenting "La Famiglia". It's a four course "abbondonza" style supper.. beer, wine, tax and tip are included in the $50minimum cash donation, and %100 of the proceeds go directly to Adrianna Cavanagh and Nathen Trueblood, two children who are battling Stage 4 Neuroblastoma. The chefs at Crispo have been planning this special menu for months, and invite anyone with a big appetite, and a big heart to share in this unique dining experience. Make your reservations now! The event starts at 2pm. The children and your bellies will thank you!!

5 Stars: Loved It!! (by mereditheats)

mereditheats — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:00:00 GMT

I went to Crispo last night for a birthday dinner. Everything from start to finish was perfect. Our waitress was lovely, personable, and gave terrific recommendations which were totally spot on. I got the Bucatini...amazing. The duck (which i tasted alot) had exactly the right amount of crisp on the outside with a perfect balance of meat on the inside. Wine awesome..service terrific. I even ate brussle sprouts which i never do...candied with almonds and proscutto..GOODNESS!!! They even gave me a complimentary glass of calvados since they were out of it and that was the last of the bottle. All in all 100% terrific restaurant. I highly reccommend this place!

5 Stars: A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!! (by AnthonyB)

AnthonyB — Thu, 07 May 2009 09:00:00 GMT

If you love overpriced, empty restaurants with the wait stuff starring at you the entire time ? don?t go to Crispo! People seem to overlook the fact that Crispo is not a fine dining place, even though the food and the service are too good for the menu prices. They could have charge twice as much. New Yorkers know that even with the reservation they might end up waiting for the table on a busy Friday or Saturday night and they are not stressed out about it. I find it amusing that people complain about 20 min wait and expect some free stuff to be sent to their table.
I?ve been to Crispo on many occasions and I have never left disappointed. The food is absolutely amazing! From appetizers I would recommend prosciutto with polenta and smoked mozzarella, roasted peppers and buffalo mozzarella, caramelized cauliflower. Spaghetti carbonara, meatballs and trofie are outstanding. Branzino, lamb chops, pork shank and duck breast are definitely worth trying.
The place can get crowded and loud pretty fast, but the servers are always up to speed. I was very pleased with my waiter?s knowledge of the wine list (I think his name was Jordan). When I had dinner with 7 of my friends, the waitress (with a slight accent) was friendly and very fast, we didn?t have to ask or wait for anything.
I love sitting in the garden when the weather is nice. I always recommend Crispo to all my friends and have never heard that they were disappointed. Give it a shot!

4 Stars: Great Food (by ang44ny)

ang44ny — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Great place but htey need for their wait staff to be more interactive. Make your diners feel they are at your home. Not a very welcome place.

2 Stars: Good Food, Sloppy, Confsed Service (by ab1847)

ab1847 — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:00:00 GMT

We had a 9pm reservation on a Sunday, my boyfriend, his mother and myself. We received a friendly and prompt greeting and were seated right away. The restaurant was not crowded but most tables were sat, so I don't know why we had service issues. Our first waiter brought the menus and then asked us for our drink order. We asked if he could suggest a dry red and he just said "oh they're all good" and couldn't recommend anything. Everything related to service went down hill from there! We ordered individual drinks which never came; we had to go to the bar to get them ourselves. We ordered 4 salads/appetizers, one was brought after the main courses and we had to remind the waitress we had ordered it. The bus-boy took our appetizer plates while we were still eating. We tried to tell him we are still eating the appetizers and waiting for a fourth, but he didn't seem to understand us, so we sat with our remaining appetizers with no plates to eat them on. After our food was delivered I had a question about my dinner, but there was never any follow up by the wait staff. When we got the bill there were charges for drinks we didn't order and we had to chase down a server to have the bill corrected.

I think the main problem here is that they seem to use a "tag-team" approach to service. We had a bout 4 wait staff during our meal (not including the bus-boys). No one remembered your order and I think they all assumed someone else was taking care of you.

The food was very good, we loved our meal. This is really the only thing that made the night "ok". If you can deal with flaky service, you will get a good meal here. Otherwise, steer clear!

5 Stars: Delicious pasta dishes (by trimiami)

trimiami — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 09:00:00 GMT

I was nervous about the reviews on bad service, I went on a sunday night and experienced no negative service. The place was very cute, with exposed brick and dim light. The pasta dishes were great, the angliotti stuffed with veal and mushrooms was amazing. The only critique is i was hoping for canolis to be on the dessert menu, but the tiramisu was good. Would definitely go back.

3 Stars: awful service (by torontoian)

torontoian — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 09:00:00 GMT

the bus boy was more pleasant to us then our waitress, the mumbled when she spoke and she never came to check on us.

other than the awful service, the food was amazing.

5 Stars: Pretty Patio! (by AmityM)

AmityM — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 09:00:00 GMT

The back patio is very pretty! The tables in the front would be nice to eat outside too I imagine. The food is really good and so is the service. Loved it!

1 Stars: Terrible service (by nycgal14)

nycgal14 — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 09:00:00 GMT

I love the food at this place and have been coming often but had the worst expierence at a aresturant the last time I went. After telling them weeks in advance I was going for a special celebration we waited a half hour for our table, they then gave us the worst table and a waiter who kept telling us they didn't have what was on the menu. He completely forgot about us until he asked if we wanted the check, at which time we were about to leave he caused a huge scene about us not leaving our credit card reciepts. He proceeded to yell at my friend and when we asked him to calm down, only then did he realized he had them in his hand. I was mortified to have brought out of towners here and even more disappointed because it use to be my favorite resturant in the city.

3 Stars: Nothing Special (by kanataj)

kanataj — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 09:00:00 GMT

I have to say that I've heard lots of things about this place and maybe my expectations were set to high. I did not enjoy the food which was barely edible. The service was ok but the food spoiled everything. I'd give it a second try but I'm not sure I'll be giving a third chance.

2 Stars: Disappointed (by 1jess1)

1jess1 — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 09:00:00 GMT

This used to be one of my favorite places to eat but no more. While the garden and atmosphere can't be beat, my entree was just plain bad this past Sat night. I ordered a special (papardelle with porcini mushrooms) and the whole dish had no taste and the mushrooms tasted like they had been microwaved-plus they were giant-I could barely fit one in my mouth and they were rubbery and hard to chew. I find it insulting that they served me that dish. At $70 for the meal, I was incredibly annoyed and while my friend's fish special was good I still won't be back. The service was also pretty bad-waited 20 minutes for the waiter to even take our wine order.

1 Stars: Disgusting... (by sussyshine)

sussyshine — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 09:00:00 GMT

By all standards, this so called ephemeral experience I was supposed to encounter never transpired here at Crispo (03/25/08). Perhaps, it was the over-intoxicating aroma of over overcooked (and perhaps spoiled) "sweetbreads" (pancreas) that got my stomach churning. The tableware was dirty. (IE: Something floating in my water glass/ dried specks of food on my fork...) Our waiter seemed like a nice and courteous server, Spanish I believe, but distracted due to a problem going on with a drunken, rude table making problems for the entire restaurant. The managerial staff appeared half heartedly concerned about anyone else but this obnoxious table... (I mean, what about the rest of us? Are we just something undesirable stuck to the bottom of someone's shoe?) I would have liked to have discreetly talked to the GM about the small hair in my roasted beet salad, but with the frenzied state he was already in, I didn't want to jeopardize him going into a greater tirade and firing our waiter, when clearly it was a kitchen problem. My husband and I also ordered the Seared Octopus Salad (very rubbery texture), a pasta dish... Spaghetti Carbonara (interesting that it included a poached egg, rather than traditionally incorporating it into the sauce) and we each ordered an entree of Crisp Chicken Diavola (very bland... where's the spice?) and the Seared Duck Breast that was mediocre at best. The wine selection by our server however was the only enjoyable part of our experience.

I personally have severe issues with abuse of power and verbal degradation of hardworking restaurant staff. It not only leaves a sour note in my stomach, but a disgusting insight on their ethical stance in the maltreatment of their employee base. When people are in a working environment without dignity, I morally can not further support this present day feudal system within this restaurant's walls.

5 Stars: Awesome all around (by Ivy41)

Ivy41 — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 09:00:00 GMT

I had my birthday party at Crispo on a recent weekend. The food was absolutely phenomenal, the staff was accommodating, and the decor - we were in the garden room next to the fireplace was absolutely great. We had a wonderful time. Highly recommend it!

5 Stars: Definately worth a try if you have never been! (by james8234)

james8234 — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Cripso is one of my favorite restaurants, and I've only been three times. The food is consistently great and the service is good. I make sure to try something new each time I visit and I have yet to be dissappointed. I recommend the Pork Shank, or mabye the Butternut Tortelloni (both were excellent). Also, the Asparugus with Parmigiano is simple but very good. This restaurant has a back room with a fireplace which is where i try to sit whenever I go. I have been recommending this restaurant to alot of my friends and co-workers and they have all said good things about it as well. Happy eating...

1 Stars: Christmas Eve would have been better spent with the Grinch... (by qtpie2007)

qtpie2007 — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I was anticipating my return to Crispo with a 9pm Christmas Eve reservation. (Mistake.) We arrived on time and were sent to the bar despite the several open tables; had I not gone to the hostess station a half hour later to check on my table, I don't think we would have been seated. The hostess seemed dumbfounded and was 'wondering if we were showing up for the reservation'. (Anybody home?) None the less, we were determined to enjoy dinner. But, no bread, no water, no waiter detracted from that a bit... FINALLY, our order is taken... and out comes my app but not my boyfriend's and until we ask. (We're talking an uncomplicated salad here. 15 minutes later it arrived.) When the entrees finally arrived over an hour after being seated, they were delicious but overall, it seems that the staff in general were waiting for Christmas Eve 2008 to bring dinner to the table and service to the restaurant.

3 Stars: Where is my favorite waiter? (by psichiboy)

psichiboy — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Staff turnover due to spotty management and ownership seem to be the down fall of this potentially amazing place! Having been a long time regular, I have had the opportunity to see the waitstaff interact with management, and it doesn't seem plesant.
The person affected is me, the customer, my all time favorite waiter is no longer there, and those I am now served by are no where near as knowledgeable as some of the long term employees that they seem to lose.
The food may be great, but with service lacking, why would i return? This long term favorite is no longer a favorite!

1 Stars: Terrible experience (by jacklynsinagra)

jacklynsinagra — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 09:00:00 GMT

After frequenting Crispo quite often over numerous years, last night will be the last and final time. While ordering a bottle of wine with my also twenty-five year old friend, we were carded by the waitress and then again five minutes later by the manager- made out to be a complete spectical and then told that he did not believe the state issued drivers licenses (NY and NJ) were real. When my friend lowered herself to offer to show backup- he refused.
Failure to recognize returning clientele is unfortunate. Treating 2 pretty girls with young faces and proper id so disrespectfully is not.
Never going back..

5 Stars: Love Crispo (by jennigiglio)

jennigiglio — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I have been to crispo multiple times and LOVE this place. The atmosphere is nice, not great but the food is to DIE for. I have never sampled anythimg that has not been extremely good. The staff is always great, whether they're busy or not. I have dined with a large group here and on a date. Service was great either way. They have specialty cocktails and the crispo sparkler is wonderful. If you are considering dining at Crispo... make reservations now!
You won't be disappointed.

5 Stars: nice place, good food and great service ! (by stephwolman)

stephwolman — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Crispo ti amo !
A great place for dinner in a festive atmosphere, Crispo delivers excellent food and it won't cost you a fortune. Super friendly staff, casual, warm and welcoming, Crispo offers simplicity with quality. The perfect spot for a date, meet friends or have a party, Crispo will accomodate you. And don't forget the garden, a hidden gem in the heart of the city.

3 Stars: Average dining experience (by sonic117)

sonic117 — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 09:00:00 GMT

went there for a birthday event so we had a huge table for 15 people. they put us in a private room which made the night a bit more cozy and intimate rather than being in the main dining hall which was extremely loud to hold down a coversation. we got our entrees and while the food was tasty, it was a bit salty. the best part was the dessert where I had the creme brulee with chocolate cream and it was delicious. overall, our waittress was very polite and not annoying checking up on us every so often. would I come back? possibly to give it another chance

5 Stars: CRISPO-licious!! (by liljers)

liljers — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Okay, get ready city searchers, I am about to make a bold statement. Dare I say it, this is probably one of the best Italian places in Manhattan. No need for a lengthy review, it's simple--JUST TRY IT. The spaghetti & meatballs are superb....the ravioli simply melts in your mouth. Before you know it, you are scraping your plate, wondering how you devoured the entire entree in minutes. Needless to say, this restaurant will definitely be in my monthly rotation. If possible, try to sit in the garden area (especially if it's date night). You'll be lining down the block just to watch what they've got.....

4 Stars: Surprisingly Good (by mugsyrx)

mugsyrx — Sat, 19 May 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Very pleased with our meal at Crispo. The Branzino was perfect; flavorful, moist and deboned properly. Veal was tender and perfectly portioned. Looking forward to returning and trying some of their other dishes.

5 Stars: Great food, nice ambience (by ljsquintz)

ljsquintz — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 09:00:00 GMT

This restaurant has amazing food. I have been here for a romantic dinner as well as for a large party, and it is great either way. The mozzarella is the freshest I have ever had, and everyone thought their dishes were amazing (hangar steak, veal parmesan, spaghetti & meatballs).

They have a private room (which is more like an alcove, but private nonetheless) for groups of 8-10 people, which is absolutely perfect. If you are coming with a group of that size, I strongly recommend that room (called the Empire Room). The service was good - they were attentive without being intrusive.

5 Stars: Amazing!! (by spen661)

spen661 — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 09:00:00 GMT

I have eaten at Crispo numerous times and never been disappointed. The food is wonderfully prepared and inventive and always fresh. The back patio is like being in Tuscanny. The service is good and the staff pleasant. It has a homey feel to it and just a wonderful place to eat. I can't say enough good things about this restaurant. It's one of my favorites and I take friends and family there whenever I can. Dining at it's best!

1 Stars: Ice Cold (by nishio)

nishio — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Let me say that we were so fed up with the poor service here that we left before the waitress made time to take our order. I can honestly say that I have never been made to feel so unwelcome in a restaurant in my life. From the icy reception, to the slow staff, to being seated in a hidden alcove built for a party of ten when there were only two of and the main dining room was half full. Never again, Crispo. Pretension with no just cause.

4 Stars: You cant judge a book by its cover. (by downtowngeneral)

downtowngeneral — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Walked by here a million time went in on Thursday, this place is beautiful and the food was really good really good. If you get a chance check this place out you wont be disappointed.

3 Stars: Nothing Special (by antler2)

antler2 — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 09:00:00 GMT

So two of us walked by last Friday and decided to give Crispo a try. We knew we would have to wait since we didn't have a reservation. The hostess/manager told us 20 minutes, well it seems she forgot about us because it took 1 1/2 hours until we were seated!! This alone made us realize how disorganized they were. The service was great-server and manager on the floor were very attentive and knowledgeable, but the food was such a dissapointment. My salad (with pears and frisee) was bland, Pasta (Polpette) was over cooked and the meatballs were tasteless! My friend had the Bass, boring to say the least. We decided not to even bother with dessert. There are so many great italian restaurants in the city. Crispo is now at the very bottom of my list!

1 Stars: Skip it! (by alexie)

alexie — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I went there on Saturday night with a group of 4 and was embarrassed I suggested it. The pasta was
over-cooked and clumpy. The service was just ok. The price was not commensurate with the food, service or setting. There are so many great Italian restaurants in the city I can't imagine why anyone would come here.

5 Stars: Love (by wonderbelly)

wonderbelly — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 09:00:00 GMT

Crispo is such a treat to come to. The asparagus salad is great, the Branzino is delicious, the wine list is so easy and reliable. Also try ordering a half an order of the carbonara and one of entrees together and you will certainly leave the restaurant a better person. Crispo is a great place or a cozy date or even for a group date. Definitley ask to sit in the barn in the back - its a great atmosphere. ... Crispo makes for a perfect night. You'll always see the chef perusing through the restaurant too - which is a nice little touch.

3 Stars: the food was great but....... (by jcnyc180)

jcnyc180 — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 09:00:00 GMT

The host and management were rude and disorganized. I was there with a large party and it seemed as though no one at the restaurant knew what was going on or what to do. At one point I saw the manager arguing with one of the people throwing the party. Now, I don't know who was at fault BUT what ever happened to the "customer always being right". It was embarrassing and it made the restaurant look bad. And from my perspective, the customer was not wrong. I would not go back there based on that experience.

5 Stars: Delicious Italian! (by sw33tears)

sw33tears — Fri, 22 Sep 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I had dinner there last night- the food was amazing! The Beef Steak Tomato & Bufala Mozzarella salad was really good- the mozzarella was so fresh! I had the Branzino and my boyfriend had the Veal Medaglione- both entrees are highly recommended. For dessert we had the Banana Flambé w/ Nutella & vanilla gelato- delicious! I can't wait to go back to try the pasta dishes, although I do agree with the other reviewers that the service needs improvement. Our inattentive waitress kept on disappearing and was kind of stuck-up!

4 Stars: I'll keep going back (by foodthoughts)

foodthoughts — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I've been to Crispo over 5 times in the past 3 years sometimes with large groups and sometimes on a date, my experiences have always been very positive. The food is wonderful and the wine list is impressive with out being snooty. On this last visit the service could have been better but still, I'll be back.

4 Stars: Relaxing ambience, dependable food (by melissajt)

melissajt — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I honestly wonder who some of the people on Citysearch are and what they want. Crispo is really a wonderful restaurant in its price range. You're not going to get a sommelier, but you will get very good northern Italian food. I've never had a problem with the service there. But go ahead and believe what everyone else is saying so it won't be too crowded for me to enjoy it.

2 Stars: Good Food - Terrible Snotty and Rude Service start to finish (by randifaith113)

randifaith113 — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I read the reviews about Crispo before going and thought "oh come on it can't be that bad, I mean it has a 9.1 rating" well that will teach me!

We walked in and the hostesses (there were 3) were rude, the bartender was funny but a bit snappish. Finally 40 minutes after our reservation time, we were seated. We had had an appitizer at the bar, and it was delicious so were very excited for the food, and ok with the wait.

Well...enter the waitress. Rude, quick, snotty...so many words so little space. We asked if we could order our drinks and some antipasto. "No they want the whole order at one time." Ok so we ordered antipasto, salads and entrees with our drink order (have you ever?). The drinks never came, the antipasto never came. The salads came...we mentioned the antipasto, a few minutes they slapped it down on our table between the salads .

Now I don't need to "dine" per se. But (and this is no exageration) one bus boy picked up our salad plates as another put down our entrees. No joke it was like an assembly line. It was pathetic and rude and the drinks never came.

the food was very good. No question he can cook. But no matter how talented a chef you are, if your food is being served by rude people in an unprofessional manner, noone is going to remember how good the food was.

Bottom line, in a city full of fabulous food...why pay $160/couple to have food thrown at you and snappish hostesses? Sadly, no matter how delicious the Branzino was, I just won't be back.

5 Stars: Love it! (by ny23)

ny23 — Wed, 14 Dec 2005 09:00:00 GMT

My boyfriend and I always go to Crispo. We love it! The food is great, especially the carbonara and if you like spicy, the orecchiette.

5 Stars: Unpretentious, sophisticated, and pleasant (by nlevine)

nlevine — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 09:00:00 GMT

Crispo is aperfect combination of great food, sophistication, and neighborhood comfort. They have the best chicken in the city and their tomatoes are the freshest and incredibly flavorful. Highly recommended for dates, casual dinners, parties, or just about any occasion.

2 Stars: Overrated (by rhannafo)

rhannafo — Mon, 21 Nov 2005 09:00:00 GMT

The salad and cheese plate were decent, but the pasta and service were terrible. The papardelle were overcooked and tasteless. The waiter couldn't recommend a wine or pasta after we asked him, and the restaurant serves wine in tiny glasses. And the cars buzzing by on 14th street does not create the most serene atmosphere. Also, incredibly overpriced.

5 Stars: Out of this world (by illitus)

illitus — Wed, 21 Sep 2005 09:00:00 GMT

The best italian restaurant in NYC. My experince is like fairt tale. This is Italy. Don't waste your time walking through Little Italy and come here. The food is delicious, service is great and overall impression is just lovely. I recommend reservation. You have to check this out.

1 Stars: Bad Service will keep me away (by pearl88)

pearl88 — Sun, 18 Sep 2005 09:00:00 GMT

I recently dined here for the third time. Have loved the food, ambiance and wine list. However after the last visit I would be foolish to go back. The staff acted as if they were doing us a favor by showing up. Service was slow (an hour between finished entree and dessert menu) and snippy. ( If you're not my waiter than who are you and why have you been taking my orders and bringing me food???). I get the message- won't be back...

1 Stars: Poor Service at Crispo (by girlsview)

girlsview — Wed, 22 Dec 2004 09:00:00 GMT

Very disappointed in the service. Waitress did not have knowledge of what the dishes were. Felt very rushed by all staff members. The worst part was the manager didn't care to better the situation for us at all. I always thought that you went to a restautrant not only for the food but the ambience as well. Bottom line is I will never eat at this restaurant again, nor will I recommend this restaurant to anyone. It doesn't matter how the food may taste if the service stinks it ruins the experience.

5 Stars: Awesome! (by willis69)

willis69 — Thu, 23 Sep 2004 09:00:00 GMT

Made a reservation last night to sit in the garden. Have been here 5-6 times before, but this was my first time outside. All I can say is it's one of the nicest al fresco spots in Manhattan, they must have spent a fortune on this patio. As always the food, service, ambience were all excellent. This place keeps getting better and better. Go!

4 Stars: Great Neighborhood Spot (by sgourmandp)

sgourmandp — Mon, 13 Sep 2004 09:00:00 GMT

The food here is very good and reasonably priced. The only issue is the service, which remains challenged, and where waits between courses can be quite long. Management should take note- your formula almost works, and would be perfect if the service got up to snuff.

3 Stars: Decent food, crappy mood (by goocherb)

goocherb — Thu, 15 Jul 2004 09:00:00 GMT

A cold reception got even colder when we didn't have a reservation for a Tuesday night (the place was half empty).

Our hostess gruffly sent us to our table where an over-zealous waiter explained EVERY special in detail (all 10) and made snide comments when asked for an explanation of a menu item. (didn't realize we were within ear shot).

Despite bringing the wrong appetizer, the food was tatsy. Not over the top, but good nonetheless. No attention was paid during our meal, excpet when we were asked twice if we wanted another bottle of wine for dessert.

The check was average, but picked up and wisked away before I could say I didn't need change.

Not a word of thanks or a "how was your meal." If there were a next time, I'd stop to let them know how my meal was. Sadly, that day will never come.

4 Stars: This is the way the place really is (by barbden)

barbden — Wed, 26 May 2004 09:00:00 GMT

Food is simple and pretty good. Somethings are not to miss. (Octopus salad ; Pear Carpaccio with gorganzola and prosciutto; Lamb Chops ) Consistent. Not gourmet but damn tasty!

Service is back and forth. There are waiters who are a familar face every time I go which has been on and off for two years now. They are excellent! One or two servers who were really bad!!! Pray that you get one of the excellent ones and your night will be fun and enjoyable.

Decor is simple. There are so many themes going on I don't quite get it. I just sat in the new garden and its like I was in the Italian Countryside.

My only negatives are these. The host can be short.They overbook and you wait.(Only on weekends) It gets really crowded. Cocktail drinks tend to sometimes take a long time.

Its simple.

2 Stars: The most offensive service (by vesselar)

vesselar — Thu, 13 May 2004 09:00:00 GMT

I took two out of town guests to Crispo on Saturday night because I had read a good review. After we sat down, I soon wished we had gone somewhere else. It was 20 minutes before anyone even greeted us at the table, and when our waiter approached, his pompous attitude was overwhelming. The relationship with our table was borderline hostile! He didn't want to answer any questions, and it seemed like he didn't want to serve us at all. With all the restaurants in New York, why go somewhere to be insulted. And the place wasn't even crowded at the time! I called the manager the next day, and he offered nothing. TERRIBLE. Food was pretty good, but far from mindblowing. Nothing I'll remember. Go someplace else if you like to enjoy yourself while you eat.

3 Stars: dont pass the salt (by chun04)

chun04 — Sun, 07 Mar 2004 09:00:00 GMT

I was expecting to get a bit more harrassed, based on the reviews here, but I thought they were on the right side of the pushy/attentive dichotomy. Crispo needs to lay off the salt. It also got pretty loud as the evening wore on. Fine, but I wont be going back.

5 Stars: Busy, Trendy and Tasty (by RogerGill)

RogerGill — Thu, 06 Nov 2003 09:00:00 GMT

First things first, the food is fantastic. I've seen some reviews about long waits, but I had a Thursday night reservation recently and we were seated right on time, and our waitress was extremely pleasant, if only moderately attentive. The torta melanzane appetizer was AWESOME

1 Stars: Unacceptable Service (by cindy_uws)

cindy_uws — Sun, 19 Oct 2003 09:00:00 GMT

We made our reservation two weeks in advance and confirmed the day of. We ran into traffic on the way down and called to say that we would be 10 minutes late. Upon arriving I told them that our party was complete. After WAITING ONE HOUR and being told that our table was on dessert 3 times, I inquired as to how much longer the wait would be. I was told that since we were late (10 minutes) and our party had been incomplete (?) it would be at least another HALF-HOUR. A 1 ½ hour wait with a reservation is unacceptable. I suggested that they pick up a round of drinks, since we had been waiting so long. I was told that Crispo felt that they were under no such obligation to do so. We left. We were treated with rudeness and disrespect. I would never go back.

4 Stars: Stop overbooking! (by aes37)

aes37 — Tue, 16 Sep 2003 09:00:00 GMT

I love this restaurant's food so much that I keep going back, but I have to beg the management - please, please stop overbooking! A wait of an hour plus for a reserved table with no apology and serious attitude from the wannabee actress hostesses is simply not acceptable. The prosciutto plates are delicious, the pastas unbeatable and the hangar steak melts in your mouth. All of the waiters that I have had are pros. So why have such amateurs running the hostess station? NB - they have a great alcove and a back room that's fantastic for groups.

3 Stars: Good but too salty (by maryannlin)

maryannlin — Sat, 23 Aug 2003 09:00:00 GMT

We had 3 very different pasta dishes but unfortunately, all of them were way too salty. Rich but salty. Almost felt that the salt was hiding the possibility of tainted food since we had the blackout the week earlier. Put it this way, the food didn't digest very well.

5 Stars: mouth watering! (by sixrockstars)

sixrockstars — Mon, 28 Jul 2003 09:00:00 GMT

i love this new spot--but i have only one complaint: when i ordered the prosciutto special with peaches, there was not enough prosciutto--i know this b/c i had it with melon last time and the serving was generous. anyway, the octopus was incredible, well cooked with the potatoes and large caper garnish. perfect. i had the salmon with corn and BACON (i can call it pancetta if you insist) and it was fabulous. the lambchops with goat cheese polenta were also really great. i orderd a glass of pinot noir from an oregon vineyard--gorgeous. teh desserts are off the hook, especially the profiteroles with pistachio ice cream. this is a mellower il bucco without the bells and whistles and to be honest, i much preferred it. the food's great.

5 Stars: Great food! (by Christiana01)

Christiana01 — Mon, 07 Jul 2003 09:00:00 GMT

I had no expectations - just passing by and decided to eat here. The food was unbelievably amazing - from appetizer to main course to dessert. The waiter was polite and attentive. I was most impressed with how fantastic the food was in correlation with the modest price-range - a total bargain in my book.

4 Stars: yummy carbonara (by suebeehoney)

suebeehoney — Thu, 26 Jun 2003 09:00:00 GMT

went for the second time on monday night. all the prosciutto plates are delicious. the spaghetti carbonara was absolutely sublime! you can even order it as an appetizer and then order an entree. prices are very reasonable. wine list is average. the only con was the wait staff. our waiter said and did all the things he was supposed to but his attitude ruined his service rating. he just didn't seem to care or maybe he was bored. overall, i enjoyed both times i went. i would definitely go back.

4 Stars: Consistently Good Food (by arnold_d)

arnold_d — Thu, 26 Jun 2003 09:00:00 GMT

Been to Crispo twice and both times the food has been very good. The wait to be seated (got seated close to 10pm for an 8:30pm reservation for 2) the first time I went was a bit excessive but the food turned out to be worth the wait.

Enjoy!

5 Stars: Perfect service, wonderful food (by iditarod)

iditarod — Tue, 17 Jun 2003 09:00:00 GMT

We went for a late dinner on a Monday night - the atmosphere was smooth and warm and the service was friendly and accurate without being intrusive. Then the food arrived - sensational! I would not hesitate to recommend Crispo and there's no doubt we're going back.

5 Stars: Fantastic! (by shu_gal)

shu_gal — Thu, 05 Jun 2003 09:00:00 GMT

What more can I say? My fiancee and I had 2 of the specials and they were sooooooo tasty, both of us finished them in about 10 minutes! We had a wonderful bottle of wine that complimented the meal very well and I had the Creme Brulee for dessert. I thought that the total bill was very reasonable for all that we had and the ambiance was just great. It gets full pretty quickly, even during the week, so I suggest making dinner reservations early.

5 Stars: crispo at your dispo (by garsonps)

garsonps — Thu, 17 Apr 2003 09:00:00 GMT

Trendy 14th street restaurant. Attractive space but you always feel like you're in a basement. The staff is friendly and effficient. The food is moderately priced. The food is creative and sometimes marvelous, sometimes what-were-they-thinking? I've gone back many times.

3 Stars: Not Impressed (by mazydar)

mazydar — Sat, 12 Apr 2003 09:00:00 GMT

I saw Crispo as a candidate for best new restaurant in Time Out New York so I thought I would give it a try. The crowd was far from trendy and the food was okay, nothing special. The music was terrible. Crispo is a nice restaurant to go to with your college buddies if you live in the area, but nowhere near the best new restaurant in New York.

4 Stars: Give Crispo a try; here's why (by diane_court)

diane_court — Wed, 09 Apr 2003 09:00:00 GMT

Loved the place when I walked in! It had a great ambient atmosphere and I loved the lighting and rich wood and brick. The bartender took about 10 minutes to notice us at the bar although it wasn't that crowded. The long-awaited drinks were delicious (I had a red apple martini) and we were seated timely and with a smile from the sweet hostess (no attitude mercifully). The waiter was a doll, the Pancetta appetizer delightful (although we had to ask for bread that was supposed to come when we sat down). My tortino with garbanzo beans with surprisingly greasy and limp. Not happy with that, but my friend's mushroom/pasta dish was really great. The house merlot was a happy surprise. Our chocolate dessert was yummy but not excellent. Overall I would revisit Crispo, but probably make smarter menu choices.

3 Stars: A little disappointed (by Maryl22)

Maryl22 — Mon, 17 Feb 2003 09:00:00 GMT

I had high expectations for Crispo and was disappointed with the restaurant. I arrived without a reservation and was told that there was a wait but that it shouldn't take too long. However, it was a very long wait (over 45 min) and I confronted the hostess who stated that she could not find me at the bar and she had seated 6 other parties before me. Our waiter was excellent as was our food. However, we were never served bread with our meals and the restaurant is too crowded. I would not recommend this restaurant to others.

5 Stars: A really good time (by paddcc)

paddcc — Fri, 07 Feb 2003 09:00:00 GMT

We had a warm knowledgeable waitress, the bus service was a little underpar (the bread didn't arrive until the apetizer) but the drinks were very reasonable (6-8 for a very decent red wine by the glass and only 8! for a vodka martini) and the food was very very good and under 18 for each entree. We were seated promptly and never rushed.

1 Stars: "The Worst" (by rztrader1)

rztrader1 — Mon, 27 Jan 2003 09:00:00 GMT

Crispo is the epitome of a trendy, crowded, new restaurant that will not last more than six months!

4 Stars: hostesses NEED training (by uptowngirl)

uptowngirl — Wed, 15 Jan 2003 09:00:00 GMT

There were about 4 tables filled in the entire restaurant yet the hostess made us sit at the bar for 20 mins--she never would have come for us had we not approached her & asked to be seated.

The food and waitstaff were excellent and therefore I would definitly recommend.

2 Stars: Really rude (by nycron)

nycron — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 09:00:00 GMT

Good food. Bad attitude. The reservations people were rude; the people at the door were rude; the wait staff was indifferent.

Crispo thinks it's hotter stuff than it is.

4 Stars: excellent service / pasta!! (by dr_Angelino)

dr_Angelino — Mon, 06 Jan 2003 09:00:00 GMT

Incredible Service and pasta that redeemed the awful start. we waited almost 40 minutes before getting sat in the crowded smoky bar area. we expected the worst but we were greeted by an enthusiastic waiter who promised us "the best pasta you'll ever have". we took his suggestions and were extremely pleased. we started with a hot proscuitto dish that was simply fabulous, next we had a rigatoni, which delivered on our servers promise. our main course was the sea bass with artichokes and steak. the crowded bar soon disappeared and we enjoyed one of the best dining experiences in months. i will reccommend this place to all my peers with one caution, go during the week. Thank you Crispo for coming to our neighborhood!!!!!!

5 Stars: Great Spot (by MichelleJM)

MichelleJM — Thu, 12 Dec 2002 09:00:00 GMT

I loved Crispo! It had a really nice relaxing atmosphere. The food was excellent! I will definitly recommend it to my friends!

2 Stars: All-Hype (by madeline_345)

madeline_345 — Mon, 25 Nov 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Thoughts: unmemorable food, pushy service, disappointed - overall, I had a bad taste in my mouth when I left about the restaurant and the entire experience. I went with a girlfriend to get a bottle of wine and a few appetizers - both of us were disappointed in their menu and in the wine that was recommended to us. The waitress seemed particularly displeased that we had ordered a bottle of wine at the bar (even though we had a wait).

4 Stars: Crowd pleaser (by TJBNYC76)

TJBNYC76 — Thu, 14 Nov 2002 09:00:00 GMT

If you don't mind near-claustrophobic crowds, Crispo is a surefire bet for good, hearty, sophisticated downtown dining without a designer price tag. No wonder you're packed in like sardines: the food is consistently fresh and appealing, and a 3 course dinner for two (with cocktails or wine) will still clock in at less than $75. Servers are overworked but extremely friendly and upbeat. Have been back 3 times, and will continue to do so!

5 Stars: Scrumptious ! (by foodie56)

foodie56 — Wed, 13 Nov 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Went there for dinner with 3 of my friends on a Monday night. It was quite busy - a little loud, and seating is close together- but overall I can't say enough...The food was fantastic, the service great, and a wonderful, reasonably priced wine list. Will be back, and will recommend.

3 Stars: just ok (by ssherry)

ssherry — Fri, 08 Nov 2002 09:00:00 GMT

crowded, food above average,but not worth a return trip. The service was good. the menu here is extremely lacking, very little to choose from. This would deserve about a 20 food rating in zagat. veal tortellini pretty good, everything else average, hangar steak not good.

3 Stars: feels like Bennigans (by jiffyiuen)

jiffyiuen — Tue, 05 Nov 2002 09:00:00 GMT

I have no idea why this restaurant was listed as a new and notable restaurant. When we were sat in a booth there was a plastic cup with a half finished soda in it. The food was good, not great. Our waiter acted like he just stepped out of his "how to be a cheesy waiter" class. The decor felt like we could have been anywhere, USA. There are so many unique and spectacular dining experiences in NYC. This one felt unexceptional.

1 Stars: no way to run a restaurant (by gguerriero)

gguerriero — Fri, 01 Nov 2002 09:00:00 GMT

We made a Friday night reservation two days earlier on a Wednesday. The reservation was for 9:30pm (the only time available) for two people. When our concierge called on the Friday night, just to check the address, she was told that they had no such reservation...long story short, at no point did they even TRY to accomodate us, or suggest we go and wait for a table. They basically told us their was nothing they could do. We went anyway at 8:30pm, just to see how crowded it was, and were told that there was a 40 minute wait for a table for two! Needless to say, I would not give them my business, I will never give them my business, and I am going to tell everyone I know to do the same.

4 Stars: Fantastic Meal (by beancounter)

beancounter — Fri, 01 Nov 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Went with a fellow girlfriend after hearing rave reviews of the place. Was not disappointed at all!! The procuitto plate, though a bit small, was delicate and flavourful. Our orders of steak and ravioli were amazing -- would definitely come back again!! Waitress wasn't terribly knowledgeable about the extensive wine list. Dessert was not very memorable.

5 Stars: Yum! (by pattymarrero)

pattymarrero — Thu, 31 Oct 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Our night was delightful! Not only was the food spectacular and the ambience agreeable, the staff was made up of some of the friendliest folks in Manhattan! It was refreshing to go to a restaurant that made you feel as if they really appreciated your business rather than the usual "you're lucky we let you eat here". I'll be a regular before they know it!

2 Stars: Bad food (by katy)

katy — Sat, 26 Oct 2002 09:00:00 GMT

I was looking forward to going to this restaurant. I was very disappointed. The atmosphere is nice, but the food was terrible. I had the spaghetti carbonara and it was the saltiest thing i have ever eaten. I will never go back again.

2 Stars: Crispo - Does Not Succeed! (by djceat)

djceat — Mon, 21 Oct 2002 09:00:00 GMT

We were very much looking forward to go to Crispo. From the outside, it looked like it had all the elements for success. We made reservations for 8pm, but they could not fit us in until 8:30pm. No problem. We showed up anyway at 8pm to have a drink at the bar...the hostess was very friendly. When at the bar, we were not served by the two bartenders...don't really no the reason. When we sat, it took way too long for the waiter to come over. The resaurant was loud and the tables were way too close to one another. We kept on being banged into/bumped by anyone that was walking by. Food was decent, but it was not a pleasant dining experience. Crispo definitely looks like an old farmhouse, but it doesn't have the charm or ambiance of an old farmhouse. Unappealing to say the least.

5 Stars: Tuscany meets Chelsea neighborhood (by suzcluze)

suzcluze — Mon, 21 Oct 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Winning combination of friendly/chic ambience and fantastic food! Nice but not too dressy, this charming Chelsea made an impact on me. The food was phenomenal- brought me back to Tuscany with that olive oil. I was seated in the 3 table alcove which made for an intimate experience. I like to try new places but this one makes the favorites list.

4 Stars: Sit back and enjoy! (by thomyg2010)

thomyg2010 — Fri, 18 Oct 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Loved it. Filled with great atmosphere, an unpretentious chic-y crowd, great lighting and fabulous food. Great wine list - either by the glass or bottle. Appetizer through dessert was tasty and enjoyable. Our server was knowledgeable and helpful with his suggestions. I felt like any moment Martin Scorsese could walk through the door.

4 Stars: Worth trying (by carlbillek)

carlbillek — Mon, 14 Oct 2002 09:00:00 GMT

The food is pretty good, the place is nice looking and comfortable and the prices are about as reasonable as you could possibly ask for.

5 Stars: Next Celebrity Chef (by highlander180)

highlander180 — Fri, 11 Oct 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Frank Crispo is brilliant. His food is amazing. The best appetizers in New York. Entree's are not as good as the appetizes, but are close. The service is a little raw, but they are extremely pleasant and obviously trying their best. At new restaurants this often happens. The ambiance is excellent and everything in the restaurant has a story. I have been back 3 times and each time gets better. I strongly recommend Crispo's

4 Stars: Mixture of Candela & Pastis! (by raffysavarino)

raffysavarino — Thu, 10 Oct 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Loved it.... looks great from the outside and very cozy & intimate from the inside! Being from Italy I cant say it's really "italian" food...... but whatever it was, was great! It reminded me decore wise of Pastis & Candela. It was rather loud but that did not bother me.. as it added charm to the cozy & intimate room. I owuld go back indeed!

3 Stars: I'll give you the real down lo on Crispo (by nikkinikki)

nikkinikki — Thu, 10 Oct 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Crispo sounded great from the description that was written about the restaurant. We were seated prompty as we had a reservations, but then again, it was early. I ordered a coke and sent it back after it was flat and then my gingerale was flat so I sent that back....needless to say, I settled for water. My fiance and I both ordered fish and both were as bland and uninteresting as any can be. To top it all off, we were sitting in the front where they had open ceiling to floor windows and had outside pan handlers coming by to grovel for money and cigarettes. Not such a pleasant experience nor meal. Would not recommend it to anyone.

5 Stars: Trendy - Hip (by KellyMarlow)

KellyMarlow — Thu, 03 Oct 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Fun, Fun, Fun - great for after work dining - loud but worth it. Food is delicious.

5 Stars: Crispotacular (by msw62)

msw62 — Wed, 02 Oct 2002 09:00:00 GMT

I have been 4 times already and it gets better each time, this place is soon to be a New York landmark. the food is great, the service has improved 100% from the first visit. the food is very close to Lupa. All I can say is look out Mario this guy has you beat!

Bravo! Crispo

5 Stars: Crispo Perfecto! (by kissthecook)

kissthecook — Mon, 30 Sep 2002 09:00:00 GMT

Was greeted and seated with no attitude from the host and hostess, despite no reservation. Attentive service from the waiter who kept returning to make sure everything was okay, in a completely unannoying way. The food was delicious, particularly the spaghetti carbonara, served in a "novel" way (for me). And a meaty grilled portabella. And the prices won't kill you.

4 Stars: Crisp-ohhhh.. a pefect description (by johnson_gail)

johnson_gail — Fri, 20 Sep 2002 09:00:00 GMT

I am extremely impressed with Crispo. The food is fabulous. The prociutto with the black mission figs and parmesan cheese is a wonderful first course as well as the perfectly tender calamari with the slightly spicy marina. The skate with rosemary and mandarin was cooked to a perfect med rare temp. Romantic atmosphere with a couple of private rooms and unpretentious winelist and well educated staff. I love Crispo and highly recommend it!