38 Chairs

Bliss. The Risotto was one of the best. All the ingredients in each dish were unbelievable and the menu fantastic.

The duck ragu was my favorite pasta! I also loved the berry compote dessert! Great service and nice staff! Small and cozy restaurant.

38 Chairs is aptly named for it’s limited seating but what it lacks in space it makes up for in authenticity. The staff all speak Italian, know their menu well and make service a top priority. Specials are listed on the wall but if you can’t see them from your seat, they will gladly describe them for you, in addition to recommending dishes from the standard menu.
There is a decent wine list, most from Italy, some specialty cocktails and a range of aperitifs. Since the trio of cold fish was suggested as an entrée, we gave it a go. Beautifully sliced swordfish, ocean trout and slivers of octopus with a light olive oil with complementing lemon juice really brought the seafood to life. Such a simple dish was so delicious.
For our mains, we went with the pappardelle al ragu with duck and mushrooms, which my dining companion enjoyed immensely. It was hearty and fulfilling. I had the costoletta di miale, a large cut of pork chop atop mashed potatoes and peas. It was juicy and satisfying. We also shared the Verde 38 salad, which was so large that we didn’t finish it all. The dressing was light and the greens were fresh along with orange slices, really tasty.
We couldn’t help but indulge for dessert on the Affogato Liquore 38, a blend of ice cream which you pour espresso and your choice of liquor over the top. We chose the Amaretto, a silky almond flavour that heightened the experience. I highly recommend this dish, so save room!
38 Chairs is simply a fantastic Italian restaurant with superb customer service and high quality dishes. If you are looking for the perfect place for a celebratory meal, this is the place to go.

What a great little neighborhood restaurant. Superb Italian food. We asked the waiter to pick our meal start to finish, he didn’t quite understand that… So we picked each course, including our own wine pairing… But it delicious. The pastas are to die for. The ox cheek was wonderful. Every flavor better than the next. We sat inside. It’s close quarters, but very cozy. Again wait staff could be more knowledgeable, and friendly, but we did go to eat ;-)

*Review incomplete
Oh wow!
Maybe the area’s best kept secret! Lovely atmosphere, nice and cosy, but super loud inside!
Food superb, friendly Italian staff, however got charged for a tiramisu that was ordered by another table as a pressie for my birthday!

Perfect for an afternoon sav blanc and an up close and personal afternoon with fabulous company. Casual and classy

This is a busy little place, tucked away down a side street off Chapel Street. As the name indicates it is quite small, however what it lacks in size, it makes up for in spirit. The food was excellent. I had the gnocchi which was soft and fluffy. The staff were very friendly and attentive.
Due to its size and the concrete walls, it was quite loud, so probably not a good choice for a romantic dinner.
I will go again.

«Vino devino!»
Wine makes me happy, good wine makes me truly joyous! I’m sure that some people will disagree with me on this but personally I find it difficult to find a good, backstreet watering hole on the south side of the river. I will honestly admit that my previous failures were on my mind as I snuck off Chapel St to try and duck in for a quick glass of wine as I wrote up a rather boring proposal, a chore that should only ever be attempted with vino!
Upon sitting down and perusing the menu I found myself a little shocked; I was enjoying myself! They didn’t have a wine list a mile long but the stuff that they did have was marvellous and matched the experience, leather bench seating, marinated olives that were to die for and a glass of Nero D’Vola,
Then, the moment of truth, I pulled out my laptop! For those reading this who don’t work from a café/​restaurant, many places will become cold the moment your laptop lid opens in the fear that you will suddenly become an immovable piece of furniture and they will have lost the table for the evening. 38 chairs didn’t even bat an eyelid, I flicked up the laptop lid and started hammering away at the keys while devouring, one, two, maybe four glasses of wine before deciding that maybe it was time for a work break and a lovely little bite to eat.
Like I always do, I had pasta, because of my long love of the controversially Italian claimed cuisine I judge places on this more than their wine. The pasta at 38 chairs surpassed the experience of the wine, words I never thought I would type in my life! Cooking pasta to a perfect aldente and then allowing the silky, creamy sauce to handle the rest is an art, one I have never had the good luck to master. The chef in 38 chairs should be commended for the way that they could soothe my palate, their pasta was devine!
All in all I left with a rather lengthy proposal, a full stomach and a satiated palate! If you ever happen upon the circumstance to try this place I would very much recommend sitting down and taking the time to be blown away.
Pro-​tip: don’t like crowds? Go early, their quality is fast becoming renowned on this end of town!

Second visit. First was a month ago, excellent food and service. Second visit yesterday, once again spot on: food and service outstanding! From the folks who brought you caffe e cucina, but more intimate: you feel like part of the family.

Great coffee! The wait can be a little long.