Lidia's

I almost went with a 2 because I thought it was more like a 2 1/2 but what the hell.  For a place with a $26 brunch you expect above average service, preparation, and tasty food.  The brunch included salads and desserts on a buffet table, an entree of choice, and bread.  There were a number of us and 4 people ordered the pasta trio and 2 of us ordered the filet and egg.  That's right, I said egg as in one freakin egg.  So I ordered two and they charged us $3.50 for an egg.  A dozen organic eggs are $4 so you tell me if that's not just plain ridiculous.  Plus, they charged us $5 added to the $26 brunch because of the filet and egg choice.  That was listed on the menu though.  Please, really, you guys need a reality check.  Go to the brunch at the Four Season's in Maui and it's $40 for everything plus a cocktail.  10,000 times better.  Forget the location and ambiance and just compare the food.  I'm happy to pay the $31 bucks but don't bend me over for an egg.  Now the service, below average.  These guys are either poorly trained or just didn't care all that much.  Go to the table and ask a party if there's anything they need as a whole.  One person would ask for salt, he left and wouldn't give you a chance to ask for Parmesan or a napkin.  Dude, stand still for 5 seconds and patiently ask the whole party.  We just felt like we were putting them out.  He came back and forth a number of times because he wouldn't just ask.  The salads on the bar were good but the bowls were empty so we asked them to bring more out.  20 or so minutes later they bring out one of the two.  The other salad was the tomato salad and they only brought one of us a side later, which the kitchen made a one off version of.  The rest of us didn't get any and the one they brought was absolutely not the same salad.  The building is very nice, the ambiance is old world and interesting, the bread is tasty, the penne with a meat sauce was very good, and the filet wasn't bad.  Otherwise, for the money and the lack of attention to caring and detail, nope will not go back anytime soon.

i used to enjoy taking customers to lunch at this place.  they have a pasta trio all you can eat.  but they've gotten inedible for me.  i've tried ordering other things on the menu.  and they all just gotten overly salty.  my customers agreed.

the gnocchi with duck was my fav.   but no more.  RIP Mar 2012

jack stack is just next door.  go there instead.

Love Lidia's!!  

Consider getting the Express Lunch if you're in a hurry or you have a smaller appetite!  Its perfect and not expensive for what you get, soup or salad, one pasta from the Pasta Trio and a mini Tiramisu!

I personally am addicted to the Gnocchi with Braised Duck Ragu.  I think its the best thing ever to be served on a plate!  Get it, you won't be sorry!

Truly, I've never had a bad experience at Lidia's and I think its great that we have such a high caliber and noteworthy restaurant here.