Osteria Morini

I was really excited to try this restuarant because it is close to home.  I went on a Sunday night at 6:45 because they were booked solid for a Friday and Saturday night dinner.  Which I thought was a good sign.  The restuarant was not busy when I arrived and it was relatively quiet.  However, it took forwever for the waiter to come to our table to take drink orders and supply a menu.  

Then it took forever for the waiter to even take our order and I ended up getting the wrong entree!  I got an excuse for why it was wrong and nothing else.  Given my experience when it was slow, I would not want to come during prime hours.

Plus, it is really overpriced pasta and the portions are small, and they only give about 4 oz of wine.  I don't have an issue with small portions because it keeps me from overeating but this should be reflected in the prices.  Plus, italian restuartants are know for giving large amounts of pasta.

I came here because I love the location downtown and I assumed the food/menu would be the same..and it wasn't.

I am basing this review on only two items on the menu - the pasta and the pizza:

The pasta with mushrooms was very good and tasted homemade. The sauce was a bit heavy, but the flavor was really good. I enjoyed it.

The pizza, however, tasted like Ragu canned sauce was thrown all over it. Not good. And the crust? Not crispy.

Not cheap for the quality of food presented. Can't say that I would run back here.

We were long time fans of Due Terre, the previous restaurant that occupied this space.

The obnoxious manager is still there, he does nothing but stand at his friends' tables and pour their wine while the rest of the restaurant looks around for help.

HELP!??!!!   Non existent.
5 hosts/hostesses stand at the front and do nothing but bring you to your seat.
A menu will arrive eventually.

The place is SO LOUD that our party of 4 could not hear anything we were saying.
It was loud at Due Terre, but now that the carpeting and multi level has been taken out, this place is like a high school cafeteria.

Michael White (owner of Osteria Morini in NYC and others.....) is the owner in name only.
He has been to this location one time since its opening.   He sold his name, so if you are expecting a NY experience, go pay the toll and cross the river.

It's a shame, because the food is GOOD!  

We had an amazing salame platter, plentiful served w/ pizza bianco and fruit moustarda.
Wines are great by the glass, and thank goodness Karen the bartender is still there, she is the only one who knows what she is doing.

The crostini with tuna, mint & pea pesto & fresh ricotta was also delicious.
My tuna for $29. was average and my husband's short ribs also average with not much flavor.
Took 15 minutes to find a waiter to get check.

Ok, enough said.
Won't be back anytime soon.