Crispo Restaurant

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.

Posted 08/22/03

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.

Pros: great wine list, fabulous food, worth the $$$

Cons: service a little slow

Posted 07/27/03

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.

Pros: amazing food, eclectic menu, good service

Posted 07/06/03

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.

Pros: spaghetti carbonara, reasonable prices

Cons: waiters

Posted 06/25/03

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!

Pros: Food, Atmosphere, Location

Cons: Wine List, Wait Time

Posted 06/25/03

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.

Pros: Excellent service, Excellent food, Warm, Cozy atmosphere

Cons: None

Posted 06/16/03

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.

Pros: specials, wine, ambiance

Cons: creme brulee not done, a little noisy

Posted 06/04/03

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.

Posted 04/16/03

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.

Posted 04/11/03

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.

Pros: terrific atmosphere, great staff

Cons: menu limited, somedishes disappoint

Posted 04/08/03

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.

Posted 02/16/03

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.

Pros: great food, Cheap Drinks

Cons: Poor Busing, bad parking, (Take a cab)

Posted 02/06/03

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

Pros: Decent Wine

Cons: Long wait, Terrible Service, Crowded

Posted 01/26/03

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.

Pros: food, waitstaff

Cons: hostess

Posted 01/14/03

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.

Posted 01/07/03

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!!!!!!

Pros: service, pastas, location

Cons: host, wait time, crowded

Posted 01/05/03

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

Pros: atmosphere, food, location

Posted 12/11/02

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).

Posted 11/24/02

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!

Pros: Fairly priced, Great atmosphere, Friendly service

Cons: Very crowded

Posted 11/13/02

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.

Pros: very reasonable

Posted 11/12/02

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.

Posted 11/07/02

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.

Pros: quick service, reasonably priced

Cons: boring atmosphere, middle aged crowd, crowded

Posted 11/04/02

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.

Cons: poor management, poor customer service

Posted 10/31/02

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.

Posted 10/31/02

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!

Pros: Tasty, Friendly Staff, Comfortable Seating

Cons: None

Posted 10/30/02

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.

Pros: ambience

Cons: food, service, value

Posted 10/25/02

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.

Posted 10/20/02

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.

Pros: good location, great food

Cons: bad sign

Posted 10/20/02

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.

Pros: good selection, wine list, atmoshere

Cons: parking

Posted 10/17/02

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.

Pros: food, price

Posted 10/13/02

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

Pros: Inexpensive, Great food, Ambiance

Cons: Crowded, Raw Waitstaff

Posted 10/10/02

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!

Pros: cozy, romantic, yummy

Cons: loud, tight

Posted 10/09/02

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.

Cons: the pan handlers

Posted 10/09/02

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

Cons: Great Food, Hi[

Posted 10/02/02

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

Posted 10/01/02

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.

Pros: No attitude, Good value

Posted 09/29/02

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!

Pros: food, location, earthy atmosphere

Cons: noise level

Posted 09/19/02