I feel sad writing this review as I went to Forsythia with relatively high hopes. I had read about them starting as a pop up and then settling down in a store front on Stanton Street in the Lower East Side. I was captivated by the idea of freshly made pastas with a farm to table emphasis. The place is small and quaint, with a nice ambience as you enter. Disrupting this calm was a rather loud thumping sound track emanating from the wall speakers. Service was fine, but we were immediately hit with the disappointing news that there was only one beer available (Peroni) and it was suggested that we might have better luck with a more extensive wine list. Starting things off, the pea, asparagus, fried mini artichoke, and fava bean salad was delicious, if needing perhaps a touch more acidity. The focaccia bread was okay, but a very small portion at $10. The agnolotti was also fine, but a rather also a rather smallish portion and nearly $40. The rigatoni in a carbonara style tasted off, with a bitterness on the palate. I don't think this astringency was intended and it raised questions for us about whether it was safe to eat. We did not finish it. Over all, this is an expensive restaurant especially for pasta dishes. There was a mandatory 22 percent tip which seemed unusual and an option was given to tip above that amount. I might have given Forsythia three stars if it wasn't for the problem with the rigatoni. I don't think we will be returning. read more

We came in excited to try this restaurant and, to be fair, the food delivered! Well-executed pasta, great ingredients, and a lively atmosphere. Unfortunately, the wine service was such a misstep that it overshadowed the entire experience. We were offered help selecting wine, and someone came over to guide us. The interaction was extremely casual, no discussion of budget, no mention of price points, and no clear confirmation before bottles were opened. The tone suggested we were being guided toward standard, mid-range options consistent with a restaurant where most dishes fall in the $25-$35 range. That assumption turned out to be very wrong. When the bill arrived, we discovered the wines selected for us were $200-$300 per bottle! So over $800 in just wine with no discussion! At no point were these prices communicated, nor were we asked for approval before the bottles were opened and served. This is particularly frustrating given that the wine list included 25+ options under $100 that were never presented or discussed. This isn't about avoiding higher-priced wine. It's about basic hospitality standards. Recommending and opening bottles at that price point without mentioning or explicitly confirming cost is deceptive. For a non-Michelin, neighborhood-style pasta restaurant, this is completely unprofessional and left a bad impression that overshadowed an otherwise enjoyable meal. Strong recommendation to future diners: ask for prices and confirm the bottle BEFORE it's opened. read more

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Cute Lower East Side restaurant churning out some serious pasta. Sometimes I get a little nervous going to a higher-end restaurant with a focus on pasta as I often leave underwhelmed, but Forsythia nails it. Quality of the food is fantastic. The carbonara could have came from Rome itself and I would not have known (and arguably was better than some versions I had in Rome). The suppli, a fried cacio e pepe risotto, was executed well. Service was warm and attentive. The servers seemed enthusiastic to be there and made the dinner fun. Easily recommend this spot for a date night or just if you're craving some perfectly executed pasta. read more

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A frosty night warmed by Forsythia. Host a bit tentative, but it was early in the evening. Restaurant Wk yet the room only half full. Server overheard our birthday toast and took action, which was greatly appreciated. (especially the Cynar!). Definitely a room for celebrations. Brazilian sound track and busy bar scene gives off happy hour vibes, which means we'll return for drinks. read more

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Exquisite and inviting. Every bite is meticulously crafted. Simply one of the best Italian restaurants in the city. It even surpasses many of my dining experiences in Italy... Blessed to have this experience, especially with my wonderful date. read more

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Late review but I came here for a Valentine's Day meal and it was a course meal where they started us off with a sardine salad that was so good! The pasta was fresh and even ended the night with a delicious dessert. I know they change up the menu every now and then but it's a very nice date night spot. They also have a wide selection of wine here too! read more

Forsythia - Sardine salad - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Fantastic service in a cute little restaurant. I came here with my mom to celebrate her birthday. We opted out of the pre fixed as the courses didn't seem as appealing to us. They started us off with the free focaccia and Olive oil (10/10) delicious and I kept the bread to dip in future sauces! Vignarola (10/10) my favorite thing of the night this was so refreshing and the peas had such a nice snap to them! Carciofi alla romana (4/10) the artichokes had a slightly odd aftertaste - I wouldn't order again Tagliolini (7/10) I thought the noodle type made the dish kind of mushy overall but my mom liked it more than I did! The lemon really popped out in the dish Agnolotti (8/10) delicious and somehow got better with each bite Then for dessert my mom ordered the dark chocolate sea salt gelato and I ordered the lemon curd gelato with the meringue on top. I'm not a huge fan of marshmallow/meringue but this was delicious!! They also gave my mom a complimentary stracciatella gelato with a candle which I didn't like but she enjoyed! Overall I could tell the meal was made with fresh ingredients even if I wasn't a huge fan of some of the dishes and I would definitely come back! read more

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One of the best Italian restaurants in NYC! Simple classy atmosphere, beautiful bathroom, delicious food. Best things we ate were the focaccia, suppli, angolotti and cream bun dessert. Everything was exceptional. Servers were kind of quirky but it didn't take away from the experience read more

Forsythia - Cacio e Pepe suppli - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Really cute ambiance but very small restaurant, we were seated at the bar/nook which wasnt noted when we made the reservation on resy. It was quite tight especially when more people were seated behind us but the server was extremely attentive so that was lovely. We ordered the complimentary focaccia (so soft and chewy) with the ricotta and butter. We got the misticanza salad which was so refreshing and balanced the suppli really well. The salad portion was pretty big and we each got one of the cacio e pepe balls. For pastas, we got the amatriciana and agnolotti. I didn't think the pastas blew me away but I did like the al dente texture of the agnolotti, and the short rib was soft and tender inside the little pillows. I liked the amatriciana because the texture of the pasta was perfectly cooked and it was the fat spaghetti noodles. For dessert, our server brought us a complimentary off menu tiramisu since it was my friends birthday and it was delicious! read more

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We walked by this place trying to find a cozy spot to have dinner. It was perfect. Small dining room. Authentic Italian. Sous chef went to the same pasta school as my old boss Chef Funke so I immediately KNEW the pasta was not going to disappoint. Wow! We were tight on time so we couldn't order the steak but were excited for the pastas. We had the Buccatini and Agnolotti. So so good! Everything about the dishes was perfection. Desserts were the perfect end to our meal. The Torta di mele with the Sweet Corn gelato was a crazy combination. We need to come back and do the same pastas, try new ones, try the steak, and other desserts. The staff here was so friendly and welcoming. Cannot wait to come back with friends. Shoutout to Charlotte who was able to squeeze us in as a walk in and was so accommodating. read more

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Very intimate and romantic. Great for date night. Made a reservation about 2 weeks before. We opted for the ala carte menu. The sourdough foccacia was beyond amazing. The suppli and the short rib agnolotti was also delicious. Yes, it is on the expensive side but we left feeling stuffed. My only complaint was the waiter forgot that we ordered the bucatini, and was about to give us the check. After I reminded him, it was clear he never put in the ticket so we waited quite a while for the dish to come out and it was definitely rushed because the noodles were still kind of hard and raw. Apart from that, we had a great meal. read more

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Food was good - just goods, not amazing. Service is great but they need to bring down the prices. I wouldn't go back simply because I think it's highly overpriced for what it is. read more

Yum! Highly recommend booking that res! The starter bread was incredible, and you need to add the ricotta & honey butter (they'll ask)! I'd pass on the truffle suppli next time. Pasta-wise, the short rib agnolotti was my favorite by far (amazing meaty flavor), then the Cacio e Pepe (amazing texture/bite), then the chestnut brown butter pasta (too thick and sweet for me - great first bite, but once I tried the agnolotti I was done with this one). Dark chocolate gelato (I think that's what it was) was a bit bitter, but the olive oil & sea salt helped. I'd try a different dessert next time. The free amaretto cookies they give you at the end were SO good though. Definitely will be back! & I recommend booking earlier than 8:45 pm bc they close at 10 and we were the last people there lol read more

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Consistently good but not the best Italian food in the city. The bread service is a nice touch but the calamari was an exceptionally small portion size for price. Was a little taken back by the automatic 22% service charge at the end of the night. read more

This is our second time at Forsyntia and we were not disappointed! Ironically both times we were here, it was pouring rain.... Anyhow, this is an adorable restaurant. It looks small but it is actually bigger than it appears. The servers are attentive without being overbearing. We had: - Focaccia with ricotta and Ramp Butter - delicious! The olive oil was delicious too. - Grilled Artichokes - very good - Pappardelle with Boar Ragout - delicious, the pasta was freshly made. - Tagliolini with Lemon, Pine Nuts & Stracchino - very good, if a bit heavy. - Brioche with Chantilly Cream - delicious and very light - Sweet Vermouth with Soda - very good Overall a great dining experience! read more

We chose Forsythia for a date night and went in with genuinely high expectations, particularly given its reputation and the way it presents itself. From the outside, it resembles a charming, intimate Italian pasta shop, which set a hopeful tone for the evening. Wanting to fully enjoy the meal, I hadn't eaten earlier that day. We ordered two appetizers and two pasta dishes, including the agnolotti and the bucatini. Unfortunately, none of the dishes stood out in a memorable way or justified the anticipation. The flavors felt muted, and overall, the food lacked the depth we were hoping for. Speaking of price, the cost of the meal felt high relative to the quality and portion sizes, and the automatic gratuity was unexpected and added to the sense that the experience didn't quite align. Unfortunately, the evening took a more troubling turn later that night. I woke up with intense chills and became violently ill. One of the appetizers had tasted slightly off when we ate it, which, in retrospect, raised concerns about food safety. The following 24 hours were extremely difficult and unlike anything I've experienced. I'm sharing this not to be inflammatory, but in the hope that the restaurant takes care to review its ingredient sourcing and food-handling practices so other diners don't have a similar experience. Given our recent experience from the underwhelming food to the health concerns, it is highly unlikely we would return or recommend it. read more

My wife and I chose Forsythia NYC for dinner on our wedding day, and it was absolutely perfect. The food was exceptional, the atmosphere felt special, and our server Harris went above and beyond to make the night memorable. Thoughtful, attentive, and genuinely kind, he made an already meaningful evening even better. We couldn't have picked a better place to celebrate. read more

Forsythia - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

I had a wonderful experience! The food is incredible! Each course was better than the last which was not fair because in the end they were all so good! The Agnolotti was by far my favorite. Such rich flavor! The restaurant itself was very cute. The staff was very kind, attentive and helped us choose the right amount of food. Highly recommend! read more

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Wow this place altered my brain chemistry . I CANNOT stop thinking about the spring salad with peas and fava beans. That was my single favorite dish in nyc all weekend on my trip. I'm already thinking about if there is somehow a way to make it back before it's off the menu (I overheard it's seasonal). And no surprise the ravioli is worth every single ounce of the hype. I truly wish we came here both nights of our trip because it was that good! Every single dish was a hit - I'm shocked this place isn't impossible to get into! read more

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loved our time here!! we were seated in the pasta room (separate entrance from check in). cute and intimate room, not too loud, cozy, and cute. freezing day but the curtain by the door did a good job of keeping the cold air out. the short rib agnolotti was literally to die for. i have tried similar dishes at a few other restaurants both in nyc and in sf, but this was by far the best. when i come back i am ordering this for myself instead of splitting dishes! not too salty and packed with flavor. the busiate was very unique. light yet flavorful--kind of zesty and the garlic was pretty strong in a good way! suppli was also delicious but not as good as both the pastas. loved the sauce it came with (scooped it all up to savor each bite). one of the best complimentary focaccias i have had in new york! the olive oil was just okay but the bread itself was divine. our server was so sweet! she gave great suggestions and was so friendly. didn't rush us and always made sure our water glasses were full. read more

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I came here with a large group. They were gracious enough to accommodate an additional guest who wasn't included in the initial reservation. We chose the 6 course tasting menu. They have options for vegetarians and pescatarians. The tasting started with focaccia bread and olive oil, which were delicious and perfectly salty. There were two pasta courses, which were generous portion sizes and quite filling. I was disappointed by the vegetarian final savory course. The root vegetables were undercooked and lacked flavor. They have an extensive Italian wine selection with most bottles starting at $60 and up. Service was excellent. However, only a couple of the dishes truly wowed me so not sure this is quite worth the price. read more

The food was fine, the room and atmosphere were lovely. Our complaint is about being summarily hustled out of the restaurant despite the fact that the pacing of the meal was beyond our control. Our party of two had a 6:15 reservation last Sunday, for which we showed up on time. We both had the four-course tasting menu, and my dining partner also had the wine pairing. We didn't dawdle over any course -- we ate and drank at a normal pace and there was quite a bit of time between most courses. In fact, we both commented on the long wait between our pasta course and the main course. We had barely received our pre-dessert palate cleanser when the desert itself arrived. Shortly after the dessert was delivered, when my dining partner was halfway through his dessert and had barely started his dessert pairing, we were presented with the bill, told to pay immediately, also told that the next party for our table had arrived, and that we had to leave. wth? The time was 8:05, at no point had we been told there was a time limit, and even if we had, the timing of the courses was not up to us. The pacing was entirely controlled by the kitchen and waitstaff. Our server practically threw the after-dinner chocolate espresso beans at us, didn't ask why I had barely touched the dessert, and their inquiry about how we like our meal was tossed over their shoulder without waiting for a response. They practically pulled our stools out from under us. We were stunned by this treatment. Poor form, and a sour ending to an evening out. read more

Mediocre. Nice ambience. Excellent service. Food, not so much. Meatball appetizer different and tasty. Clam pasta had a strange aftertaste that was not pleasant. Short rib paste: the sauce and the short ribs had a brief meeting in the kitchen, but the beef did not escape the kitchen. $100 bottle of wine was mediocre. No choice about the tip: 22% is added. read more

Haven't been heard of Forsythia until last month. I know I am bit late of the party. But it is always worth the wait. Food is great here. They offer chef's menu which lots of food is not on the menu or you can pick alar carte. We picked what we would like to try. We had special meat ball, truffle suffli, bone marrow and beef tartar. It was very good. Pasta is also exceptional. Service is great. It is a very intimate environment. So if you have a date, plz bring them here. read more

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fiori di zucca, agnolotti, fiori, and polpo. The octopus has this weird non-char to it. A bit mushy, would not recommend. Le French Dinner has a much better example at 2/3 of the cost. The fried zucchini didn't make much sense. The flavors were on point, but there was no crisp. The agnolotti was alright, but overrated. The pasta was a light red sauce was the best dish by far. Such a delightful chew. That is the only thing I recommend here. read more

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The location is small, but perfect. We were a walk in and lucky enough to snag two bar seats. We got cacio de Pepe and the carbonara and both were delicious. The service was excellent and the manager knew the wines like the back of their hand. I'm looking forward to going back. read more

I love this restaurant, they made one of the best meals I've had in a while. Get everything especially the agnolotti which is a pasta cooked with braised short rib, duck jus and chives. The suppli is also amazing similar to an arancini but stuffed with mozzarella cheese. read more

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This was a really great meal. We did the Prix fixe menu for a birthday dinner and it was so good. Every option was delicious and the portions were good. You don't realize how much you're eating throughout the courses but it's a lot of food! We all left full. All the food was so seasonal and fresh. The service was also top notch. The servers were knowledgeable and attentive but not overbearing. They paid attention to my friend whose birthday it was. The sommelier gave great recommendations. We were seated outside, which was fine because they had a great outdoor structure set up. It kept us warm and shielded enough from people on the sidewalks, and notably we still had great service outside. There was always someone close by. Definitely recommend for a special dinner. read more

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Forsythia has been on both my friend's and my hit list for quite some time and I'm glad that we finally aligned our schedules and got reservations to this place. Not a single thing fell flat (albeit we had preferences on our favorite dishes) and I think it definitely did justice to Italian food (and he concurs and is Italian). The only thing that I would say fell flat would be the drinks but I think the food being better matters a lot more. First, we got the cacio e pepe suppli to share and it was absolutely divine. It was obviously very rich but not too heavy. Pro tip- use the complimentary bread they give you to dip it in that sauce with a touch of olive oil...*chef's kiss.*. Oh yeah, that olive oil is fantastic. For our mains, my friend and I got the agnolotti, bucatini, and one of the specials that day (had a lot of pesto). Everything was delicious and different from the other one- literally had green sauce, red sauce, and white sauce pasta dishes (hint hint the Italy flag). My friend loved the agnolotti and I can't blame him- it was pillowy little pasta pieces from heaven, each of them full of braised short ribs. It was one of the most unique pasta dishes I've ever had. My favorite, however, had to be the classic bucatini. That red sauce was fantastic and the pasta was cooked to a perfect al dente. The pesto pasta was really great too but the other two stood out more IMHO. All in all, you cannot go wrong with any of the dishes at Forsythia. We had to wait for our table for roughly 15 minutes (not a huge deal) and they were nice enough to knock a drink off of the check. The service is also fantastic as well and I am glad I finally got the time to visit. read more

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I love this place! We came for a 9:15pm reservation and it was well worth the wait. We ordered all of the hits and they absolutely hit. We also ordered this wine that is no longer on the menu called, Ficomontina (?) that was absolutely delicious and I could drink all by myself. The agnolotti is incredible, the desserts phenomenal, and ramp butter and bread was breathtaking. The servers were helpful and they parsed out our food well. I'm coming back for my birthday and I absolutely cannot wait. Ambiance is also really lovely, dim lighting, soft yellow hues, and very intimate. Plenty of space between each group. read more

Forsythia cam highly recommended and mostly lived up to the billing. Visiting nyc and wanted to try the best pasta, and Forsythia delivered. A bit overpriced imo, justifying 4 stars. Pretty good food, service, and ambiance. read more

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Love this place! It's perfect for a date night. The interior is so small and cute but such a lovely ambiance. Service was also great and food came out so fast! Onto the food: -Complimentary focaccia (5/5): The bread was SO fluffy, airy and moist. The house made butter was delicious, and I also very much enjoyed the ricotta. -Cucumber salad with prosciutto (5/5): my favorite appetizer. Super refreshing with such a unique blend of flavors from the prosciutto, burrata, and the marcona almonds -Insalata (5/5): also lovely. Super refreshing juicy tomatoes with a delicious corn relish -Crudo (3/5): can probably pass on this one. Was my least favorite of the 3 apps. -Cavatelli (4.5/5): my favorite of the two pastas we got! It was light and creamy with a slightly sweet flavor from the sungold tomatoes and corn. Super delicious yet not heavy at all, and cavatelli are such a fun shape! -Short Rib Agnolotti (3.5/5): came here to try this, but was a little disappointed. The sauce was very nice and light, but I found the short rib itself to be rather dry and lacking in volume... was definitely more doughy than I would have liked read more

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This was my second time at Forsythia (last here back in 2020 when they first opened!). The agnolotti is the star of the show and the must get dish if you come here. The suppli is also what they are known for and does not disappoint. The white bean dish we got was also good however lacked flavor (we had to ask for salt on the side) so it's skippable. They also automatically added a 22% gratuity to our bill, which seemed a bit aggressive. I always tip well but was surprised to see this included especially since we sat at the bar. That said, if you're a short rib fan, love homemade pasta and like a quaint little restaurant vibe this is worth the stop in! read more

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TLDR: A great environment and fun ambiance for solid Italian fare! We started off with the bread and ricotta along with the Suppli- both appetizers were excellent and exactly what we were looking for. The flavors and quality were shining through. My pasta dish was served in a lovely sauce that made a generally heavy tortellini style pasta nice and light. The dessert was a bit underwhelming but overall the cheesecake was solid and the blueberry compote was a nice touch. read more

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$150 for two "appetizers" which was one fried meat ball and 2 arancini balls. And 2 pastas which I could count the number of noodles on two hands and mine tasted like it was made out of pure salt. And our waiter was simply inattentive. Sad read more

Tasteless. Unappetizing, warm but not hot food. Very expensive even if the dishes weren't tasteless. Fifteen dollars for four tiny unsalted anchovies. Crowded and noisy for a place with about 16 covers. Not easy to have a conversation. No flexibility with the menu. Most dishes based on pork. No pass-through between the dining room and kitchen, so dishes carried outside to reach table. Minimum 22% compulsory gratuity for all diners. read more

I heard about Forsythia because of its short rib agnolotti - if you have too, I'll cut to the chase. It DOES live up to the hype. We swung by with a reservation and sat outside to order a la carte. The interior of the seating was cute, but a little stuffy on a summer evening it's no fans. The server gave us some great recommendations, and we started with the suppli risotto ball. This was great with the cacio e pepe crème, which we dipped some of our extra bread into (but the bread itself comes with three great accoutrements as well. For pastas, we ordered the Agnolotti (short rib), Pici (artichokes and mint), and Bucatini (tomato and guanciale). The flavours of all the pasta were great (the artichoke and mint combo was super unique and refreshing for a hot summer day!) and were cooked to a perfect al denté. As I mentioned up at the top, the short rib Agnolotti is the star of the show. It was the favourite, and I'd eat it every day if I could. Definitely swing by and make sure you try this dish, whether you opt for the full experience or just the à la carte ordering! read more

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This place is absolute fire, I wish I could give it 6 stars. If you are missing Italy, this tasting menu will fix that for you. In my opinion, way better than a Michelin star pasta tasting menu that is popular in Manhattan and you can get a resy a week out here. Nomz: Menu changes, but you get to pick 4 courses and a dessert at the end. Had the Asparago, Suppli, Tortelli, cavatelli and Semifreddo. The asparago was literally the best I've ever had, the seasoning and the sauce, yum, I will be dreaming about this dish for a while. The suppli transports you back to Rome and is made for cacio e pepe lovers - flavorful, delicious. As a crab lover, the tortellini was everything I ever wanted, the pasta was exquisite - overall crab forward with an amazing sauce. The cavatelli was perfectly cooked with vibrant flavors and a sweetness you savored until the end. Semifreddo was light and delicious, a absolutely perfect ending to this fantastic meal. Drinks: We had the beverage pairing, highly recommend, it was amazing and the sommelier really framed the history and personality of each wine option. Service: Really good, everyone was attentive and really nice. Ambiance: Very minimalistic and modern and cute - felt like we were in Europe Nope or Dope: Dope dope dope, I want to try all the seasons, can't wait to go back!! My favorite pasta tasting in the city, fantastic! read more

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Amazing date night dinner spot. Stumbled upon this place on a Saturday night. We had to wait an hour or so. But the food was amazing and so was the service. Will definitely be back here. Must get the panzanella & the agnolloti read more

Forsythia - Agnolotti & Pesto - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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About a 2-2.5: Forsythia is described as a Roman trattoria offering a menu that highlights seasonal ingredients. They have a fixed menu for dinner, in which we were able to try: +asparago - asparagus with brown butter and preserved lemon; this was a great starter and an option for asparagus lovers +piselli - peas, ricotta salata, and pistachios +suppli - risotto with buffalo mozzarella and cacio e pepe crema; this was a bit too mushy for our taste +broccolo - with Calabrian chilis, herb aioli, and cured egg yolk +agnolotti - braised short ribs, duck jus, and chives; supposedly the most popular dish here +tortelli - with crab, mascarpone, and basil +pappardelle - with ramps, morels, and mushroom brodo +bucatini - with tomatoes, guanciale, and black pepper The interior is cute, with the exposed brick and the arched sills that held vases. Service was okay. +fixed menu offers +okay service read more