Il Buco Alimentari & Vineria

was great when chef justin smillie and his staff were cooking/​managing the place.
now it just sucks :(
although the drinks/​wine list is good.

Of course I’ve known about il buco pretty much since I first moved to the city. But one, I’m not a huge fan of Italian restaurants in NY. Two, the reviews seem to be mixed. And then with the prices I’d rather spend the same amount for another type of cuisine other than Italian.
With all that said, I ended up here for dinner with my parents because they are my total opposite and they love Italian food like no other. In fact, they are regulars here. Thankfully I’m happy to report that my dining experience here exceeded my expectations.
First, let me say something about the décor and ambience. The restaurant interior is carefully curated to reflect this rustic, countryside atmosphere. There is a small market, if you will, at the front of the house. This set up lends to a rather confusing and cramped front and bar area during prime hours so do make a reservation for a table at the back. The service is a little harried but satisfactory.
Now the food. Oh wow! Everything was so good it not only made up for the slight annoyance from having to wait in the aforementioned crowded bar/​market area it also made me feel like the final bill was worth it. And that’s saying quite a bit. We ordered the grilled octopus and beets salad to start with, followed by some gnocchi and of course my dad’s favorite, the short ribs for two. Everything was excellent. The octopus was cooked just right and the beets salad perfectly complemented the heavier dishes that followed. The gnocchi was also delicious! My mom was happy to be able to try it as whenever they dine here the short ribs dominate their meal. That the menu says ‘for two’ is misleading. Really it’s for at least 3 or even 4 people. With everything that we ordered we still left with leftovers. Granted, you’d savor the leftovers the next day as it is an incredible dish. Not merely for the gargantuan proportion but it’s also a well prepared dish. The slow roasted meat is so tender and flavorful you almost can’t stop eating more. And the combination with the Castelvetrano olives and shaved celery is quite interesting. It works and I completely understood why it was my dad’s favorite. After this huge meal you’d think we’d barely be able to walk but we did have some room for dessert. But here is where their offerings were less than memorable. So my recommendations? Book ahead. Try and bring a group of 4 so you can order the short ribs and have room for other plates. And skip the dessert.

Food was quite good. Short ribs above average in taste but below in portion.
Busiate and Tagliateele was reportedly good. Olive oil cake excellent.
Fairly priced. Large restaurant and can get a bit loud. Saw lots of people on dates but not sure it’s the best atmosphere.

Was hoping for same quality food as in classic il buco, but no, its not as tasty
Dull menu
Small veriety
Great ambiance if you wish for good wine cheese snd salumeria

Great good, good wine list, vibrant crowd of happy customers and a take out bar where you can get the best salted flat bread in NYC.
Michael

While on a quick trip to NYC, this was a last minute reservation for us. We found it on the trusty Unilocal app and were quick to book on Open Table and had no trouble. This place is really easy to get to and was close to the venue we were going to next, so it was a perfect spot. The interior of this restaurant is adorable. It is so cozy and makes you really feel like you are in someones home. It is dimly lit with touches of Italy all around. When we were seated our server immediately came to greet us and got us started with some amazing wine. We ordered the artichoke appetizer and it arrived hot and amazing. We ordered a few dishes off of the menu including the short ribs (which is made for two) and the tortellini. I have never had homemade pasta before and I doubt I will ever be able to eat regular pasta again! The pasta was amazing and the broth it comes in is just phenomenal.
The short rib literally falls off the bone. We loved it so much that we carried it on the plan with us the next day home so none was wasted! For desert we had the salted carmel gelato and it was the perfect cap off of the evening. One really amazing thing about this restaurant is you can use your apple pay to pay through the Open Table app. I thought that was really progressive and something more restaurants should take advantage of! We were able to pay as soon as we were done, and not have to wait for anyone to take the card and return with it. It just makes it easier for everyone involved! Especially if you are in a hurry! If you are in this area of NYC I really cant say enough amazing things about Il Buco!

Stunning meal, presentation and attention to detail. We had the wonderful honor to sit at the chef’s table and view the kitchen for our evening. Maybe it was the power of the seats but we were treated like royalty.
To start, as we waited for our reservation time, we ordered some prosecco. Finally seated, we were drawn to a particular dish that they were able to direct our wine selection to complement that dish.
We ordered so much… the salsiccia, cacio e Pepe & Bronzino. We ended up with a Nero da’vola that was a great pair to the meal. We also got to try the lasagna, spinach & asparagus… all soooo good! For dessert, we ordered the olive oil cake & panna cotta. Both did not disappoint.
We were blown away and missed our time in Italy just a little bit more. Highly Recommend. Everything we had was on point.
Cin cin! Salute!

My husband loves their branzino here… he says it’s the best he’s ever had. They filet it, which is nice and rare. I had the ricotta gnudi and did not like it AT ALL. Also, please don’t be so petty as to charge me for bread, particularly at an upstandable place… so, so petty. Overpriced and just eh in my opinion. DO get the fried artichokes.

the service here is amazing. The staff is so friendly and helpful. Particularly the maitre’d.
The food is outstanding. the salads… the sausages.
The pasta! The bread…
all super

This review is only for their brunch. I loved the ambiance here and the service was great, but the portions are too small for dishes that were $ 18 each. I got the famed porchetta sandwich and my boyfriend got the sausage sandwich, but he was still hungry at the end. The coffee was also $ 4! Thankfully it came in big mugs and refills were free. That being said, the porchetta was delicious and actually pretty filling. The small «salad» on the side was good, but I would have liked some potatoes or something else on the side.
I loved the light from the skylight and airy feel to the dining area. The high ceilings and open kitchen were wonderful. There are two long communal tables and one row of seats, where we were, against the wall. When we arrived, the two communal tables were basically empty, yet we were seated next to a party of four, at a four person table, and another couple was then seated at our same table. I know restaurants have specific ways of seating people, but I hate it when they squish everyone together when the rest of the restaurant is completely empty. They also have a few tables in the café/​market area in the front, and I wouldn’t have minded sitting there. Oh well.
I enjoyed our brunch but I’d rather go somewhere else and get more food for the same amount or less money. It’s a nice little gem with a great atmosphere though. I loved that it wasn’t crowded at all at 12 pm and we could hear ourselves speak. I hate going to brunch and feeling like I need to dress up /​wait 30 minutes for a table.

The Easter Dinner special was a bust. Having been to Il Buco Alimentari & Vineria several times in the past, I was expecting better. Lamb was awful — tough, overcooked and fatty. The Blood Orange starter was pathetic. Other dishes were also disappointing. Still, I have to think that if you ate from the regular menu — as the rest of my party did — you would have done better.

Brunch en famille.
The bloody marys were on point, tangy, no strange flavors.
I am somewhat perturbed that we had to pay ($ 11?) for a basket of bread, as we had ordered the charcuterie platter ($ 28).
For some reason the basket was mostly filled with the chocolate and nut breads while we were eating the meats, and the waitstaff refilled the basket with more of the plainer stuff later in the meal. This made no sense. You don’t put charcuterie on chocolate bread. The ricotta was nice, but the butter, one large pat for four people, was a bit parsimonious.
The salumi were sublime, nice moist prosciutto, salame, and two other meats I am forgetting. A good portion.
Three of our four main courses were a hit. I think my porchetta sandwich topped with two eggs took the prize. The plating is a little odd for a dish that runneth over. The porchetta was really delicious, although the skin was a bit too chewy. The feinschmecker enjoyed her rabbit ravioli, and the missus scarfed a good carbonara. My son found his Eggs al Forno too greasy, so that one’s off the list.
Desserts hit the mark. An olive oil cake and an ethereal, citrusy bowl of goodness and creativity that I cannot recall the name of, possibly a special.
I’d go back. Especially if someone else was treating.

What a wonderful experience. My fiancé and I came to celebrate our 7 year anniversary before we tie the knot and everything was perfect. We came on a Sunday night, music was on, food was perfect and it was the perfect combination of cozy and cool. Btw the sage gnocchi was phenomenal and the steak was served with a butter knife. Absolutely delicious. We’re definitely coming back. Perfect anniversary.

I just really love the atmosphere of this place ! Warm, cozy yet spacious place with open bar and kitchen. The tall ceiling allows natural light to come inside during the day. When you enter, you can decide to dine inside or to go at the deli station. They also have a mini bakery and sale of condiments.
I tried their prosciutto sandwich. The meat was juicy and tender. Perfectly seasoned. Pesto flavor added whole new upgrade to the sandwich. I really enjoyed the whole thing in one seating.
What I most enjoyed though was their pickles. Freshly made pickles had great flavor. I love how they used various ingredients and condiments.
I dined in at the bar. The bartender was very friendly. I will definitely come back to this place for lunch, but would also like to try for dinner.

A fun, boisterous market slash restaurant. My Cacio e Pepe was the highlight of the night. Everything else paled in comparison. The basket of bread was dismal for $ 8. When I asked for more of the only good bread, our waitress declared they were «out of bread». We got the bottom of the barrel and still paid. Salads were ok. Pastas were homemade. The Cacio e Pepe was al dented, cheesy and toothsome. Incredible. The boar Raghu was overpowering. The anchovy pasta too mild. Our dessert was some crostata that seemed pulled out of a bakery bin and warmed up. It was in a word… sad. Great, good looking crowd but I like the original Il Buco a thousand times better.

Perfect dinner date spot! Went here for Vday and it was very nice.
We first got seated at the common table — which was a bit odd. Many couples were sharing a table with other couples. Wish it was more private, but we got over it and had a nice time.
The crudo and oysters were light and refreshing but the fish was just okay. I have to give a bravo for the seared foie gras! Soo delicious and the service was top notch. Dessert was a bit sad and the check came out to be pretty pricey for the dinner we had.
Overall a great experience! Would go back with a group of friends or family.

We popped in here on a Thursday evening and found this place very lively, both in the front in the more narrow dining area as well as in the back main dining room/​bar area. I always enjoy eating at places that have exposed bricks and wooden tables, and this is exactly what you get here. If you are to come for dinner, I would recommend 1 — making reservations and 2 — requesting to sit in the back dining room so you don’t feel like your space is being encroached upon.
For starters, we went with the beet salad (creamy yogurt but flavorful with nicely fried quinoa) and the persimmon salad (a bit more acidic but different), both of which were good. For our intermezzi, we did the cacio e pepe (a bit too al dente and dry for my liking) and the spaghetti neri (cooked perfectly but be sure you are ready for the bottarga which is a bit salty in flavor). For our entrée, we did the branzino with roasted carrots (which was cooked simply and was nice and light). To wrap things up, we did the chocolate tart (a little too rich but well balanced with ice cream), a panna cotta (with balsamic reduction that was nicely done) and a goat cheese ice cream (concord grape jam, grape shaved ice, pistacchio and honey comb) that is a must order!
Overall, the service was friendly and attentive as our bartender/​waitress Lindsey was great. The dining room did get a bit loud so be ready for that but overall, I enjoyed the atmosphere. With the amount of food and drinks we got, after tax and tip, the prices were very fair and I would most definitely return.
Buon appetito.

Very cute place where they have a deli-​style counter store in the front and some tall tables and a dining room in the back. We came here for a late lunch, so it was pretty empty.
Service is friendly and the server asked if we wanted bread. Obviously we said yes, but be aware they’ll charge $ 1/​person for it, which I find tacky.
Dishes were small portion, just like primi dishes in Italy, and had good flavors. But, as many others mention here, their Cacio e Pepe too undercooked and not even al dente. The chef does not check the noodles or they don’t know how long to cook their noodles?
For the portions you get, dishes are very pricey. Not sure if we’ll choose to go back.

We visited NYC this last weekend for a wedding and had dinner with a few friends on our first night in town. Some of our group had been to the original Il Buco a couple years ago for a rehearsal dinner so we thought it might be fun to give the sister restaurant a try.
The crowd here is mixed and the atmosphere is lively. Once seated we started with wine and an assortment of salumi for the table. Some of the salumi was better than others but overall we enjoyed it. For my starter I ordered the crispy artichokes and the gnocchi as my main. Both were nice and the combo ended up being just the right amount of food given that we planned to go out afterward. Several of the others in the group ordered the agnolotti which was a nice little crab dish. However, while the flavours were good, the portion was extremely small. Make sure to order an extra starter or side dish with it!

Summary: The short ribs are amaaaaaaaaazing (especially the fatty pieces). The Cacio e Pepe is waaay too al dente. The roasted gnocchi was good — it tasted like yummy potatoes. However, BEWARE — they will put down a plate of bread without letting you know that they will charge you for it… It’s $ 1/​person.
I went with a party of 6. I kept changing the time. and the party size. but the restaurant was very accommodating
Short Ribs (their most popular dish) — we all shared the one short rib dish as an appetizer. It is topped with some. celery tasted vegetable (My friend kept repeating what it actually was. but I will never remember the name) along with chopped up olives. I smiled everytime I hit a fatty piece. The dish is $ 59, but it is sufficient for an appetizer for 6 people because it is some heavy duty stuff.
Cacio e Pepe — a lot of people wrote reviews about this… So…I hopped on the bandwagon and picked this dish. It was just… a-​ok. The first thing I noticed was that the pasta was too al dente. The noodles barely even bent. I could taste the authenticity in this dish, but I’d rather pick something else with a lot more flavor. As people say. it was too… basic.
Roasted gnocchi — this pasta came with roasted cauliflower — I love cauliflower, so I was happy to see that. It also came with some unique. looking broccoli. If I had to pick between the two dishes, I would get this.
Service — A+! The waiter misunderstood me when I asked him to pack my pasta, so the restaurant made me a new dish right away. That definitely did not go unnoticed!
Interior — I liked it — it’s has a GNO feel. Not too intimate. not too casual. Juuuuuust right.

Il Bucco… Une nourriture délicieuse, des serveurs adorables, une ambiance tellement conviviale.
Faute de retrouver le tartare de bœuf incroyable que j’avais goûté l’année dernière, j’ai pris en entrée le poulpe. Frais et goûteux, un bonheur. Pour la suite, j’ai pris la viande à partager (je n’ai plus le nom en tête): tendre et délicieuse, je n’ai pas les mots. Et pour finir, la meilleure pana cota de ma vie, avec une touché de vinaigre balsamique. Bref, repas parfait de A à Z, à accompagner avec du Spritz bien sur !