We were seated by the host and he was very rude and confrontational. We clarified our order with the waiter multiple times but were still brought the incorrect order. Generally would not care but we has been clear this was a dangerous allergy. Overall good food but this was clouded by terrible and rude service. read more

Ordered the Bucatini because it had cauliflower which is an interesting twist. Also got their small appetizer of burrata and red peppers and a peach salad. The salad was alright, peach isn't in season. Burrata dish was small and the peppers were okay. I did enjoy the bucatini. It was chewy and homemade. Ended the night with tiramisu but was a whopping $14! Double the price I'm used to. Nice place to try if you're craving Italian on the west side. read more

Saw on yelp this place was a wine bar.. was strolling in the neighborhood after seeing my doctor thought I'd give it a try!. I dropped in hoping to have a nice glass of wine and pasta! This place DOES NOT SERVE BEER OR WINE! The service was awesome- I really liked my server at the bar... I ordered the fried Brussels sprouts and the duck ravioli. Brussels sprouts were great... the ravioli not so great and the duck meat was still a bit cold in the center and not really all that great for $24.00 ravioli . I don't think I'll be coming back. read more

Pastai - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Very disappointed with my experience at this restaurant. My girlfriends and I planned a night out to welcome back a friend visiting from the UK. What a mess it turned out to be. When we got there, our table for eight was really a table for four with extra stools placed around it. So we were exceptionally cramped. We put in our order for wine, appetizers and main courses, and they a) forgot an appetizer, b) brought out three dishes approximately 10 minutes after everyone else got served and c) messed up our drink orders. Then they overcharged us for drinks and had an horrendous attitude when we asked them to adjust the bill. To add insult to injury, the food wasn't very good. Portions were WAY too small, especially for the price, the food was cold and the menu was very limited. read more

The place inside is cute and casual. They have that open kitchen thing going on and we were sat at a table right beside the opening of the kitchen so we had a direct view of our food being prepared. I saw our food being grabbed with bare hands and all of the staff, (front and back of the house) walking around and just hanging out directly next to the food preparation area, not wearing anything protective. We ended up getting sick shortly after eating and remained sick for the rest of the evening, both my husband and I. Yes, the pasta was good but the portions were crazy small. One pasta definitely wouldn't make a full meal if you were anything more than slightly hungry. Yes, my drink came after my food but I don't even mind that sorta thing too much. The lack of food safety concerns would be reason enough for us to never visit again. The management should really try to keep anyone not preparing the food away from it and require gloves/caps for those making it. read more

This place is very cute and I immediately wanted to love it but since service and food are an integral part of any dining experience this place does not deliver. My friend and I came here for dinner on a Thursday night, the place was relatively empty. One word to describe our waiter would be unbothered. He just simply appeared uninterested and was pretty much unavailable, again I would understand if the place was packed and he was running around but the place had at most 9 other customers. We ordered the cheese plate to start of and it was good. I like the overall presentation and the cheese selection was interesting. After looking at the menu I went with the Torchio Alla Genovese, the description of slow cooked 8 hour braised flank steak sounded delicious. My friend went with the lasagna. When our dishes arrived my food looked good but as soon as I took the first bite I was disappointed. There was no flavor, the pasta was beyond al dente to barely cooked. Not even the sprinkled cheese helped. At this point I basically took a few more bites and then my friend offered some of her lasagna which was really good. Our unbothered waiter never even came over to inquire if we liked our food throughout the meal. My friend had to find him on her way to the bathroom and ask him to bring me another glass of wine. At the end he comes over sees my full plate and asked if I wanted to take it, my immediate no didn't even phase him again because he was unbothered. read more

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Went there for a very early dinner - the waiters were super nice and the food was excellent!! Would definitely go there again!! Try the chocolate cake if you have time and some room left for dessert :) read more

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Absolutely always amazing! Flavors burst in your mouth... you oct cooked to perfection and accompanied with sliced almonds and cherry tomatoes and hummus is my stapl but the salads and Brussels and salmon are incredible. I have been here more than a dozen times in the past 3 years and when bringing new friends it's always a total hit! read more

Two tables on a Sunday Waitress doesn't speak English Ordered zucchini flowers really well done THE WINE IT SAYS THAT ON SUNDAY THEY DO HALF ON BOTTLES Over100. But they price all the wines t 98 except foe two INSULTING AND DECEITFUL PICTURE was the dipping sauce for the stale bread Lasagna. Good. Very well made bechamel Chef is Mexican and really good Restaurant is not well run I ame sure owner is going to call me names I WOULD SKIP LOTS IF BETTER OPTIONS read more

Pastai - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

I debated over to giving one star to a relatively new restaurant, but if 2 is "Meh, I've experienced better" and 1 is "Eek! Methinks not" then 1 star it is. I was walking to Cookshop for brunch and in a moment of wanting to sate my appetite I changed directions to the inviting awning at Pastai. After looking over their brunch menu: 6 savory dishes, 4 sweet. I ordered the eggs with the two chicken sausages which also came with artisanal Italian bread,. When the waitress turned the corner with a saucer size plate in her hands, I thought she was giving us a complimentary app. NO. Instead it was two eggs, and ground chicken that is equivalent to 1 quarter of a small breakfast sausage. It was about two tablespoons in size. Next to it were two 2" round pieces of toasted bread and a knob of butter. I have eaten all over Manhattan, but this is THE SMALLEST PORTION of food that I have ever laid my eyes on. This is no exaggeration. The taste test: while the portions were incredibly disappointing, the food itself warrants more 2 stars as it was "Meh, I've experienced better." Eggs were sunny side up and unseasoned, toast was toast, and the ground chicken ("sausage") was meh. There were no seasonings, garnishes, or sauces. The service was decent, and the decor was inviting but there far are better brunches in Chelsea to be had for ~$20. read more

I hate to give a one star review to a place that is just starting up...because everyone needs a little ramp-up time. But my meal here was officially the worst pasta I've ever had. I ordered their pasta grattata - WAY too salty and the grated pasta had the most awful texture...as if someone half chewed and spat it back on the plate. My husband ordered the torchio con salsiccia, and quite impossibly, it was even worse than mine. Such a shame because this place has a decent ambience going for it...and a really nice location. Please guys get a few pasta dishes right, it ain't that hard! read more

UGH! One of the few times I didn't yelp before going in. Damn it. Sadly, everyone is right about this place. So pricey for tiny portions of "artisanal" pasta ($19 for 1/2 - 2/3 cup servings) that are OK at best. And yes, I had the cauliflower one that everyone likes. Everything they served came up short taste wise, and seemed to be "missing something." The minimalist salt shakers' opening weren't big enough for the coarse salt crystals inside, so you had to shake pretty violently to get anything to come out. I'm not expecting Olive Garden portions, but if they are going to be so small, can't they at least taste good? Isn't that the point? Also, lukewarm, visibly dirty tap water jugs. Gross. :( Two stars for how cute the interior is. But who cares when you hate what you're eating, and wish you had never come? read more

Four of us came in, and all loved our meal here! Two wonderful fresh salads. Home-made pastas for three of us had perfect texture, loved all the sauces. Staff was very attentive - pointed me towards a really superb Italian white wine that perfectly complemented the meal. This was a few weeks back, so I don't remember all the details, but I really wanted to post. I'm surprised to see the disappointed reviews when we were so happy with everything about our meal! read more

A solid spot for a nice, reasonably priced meal. I came with coworkers and we were seated in the back room which was basically our own private area since it was one long table. The ambiance is casual and cozy. They have a great selection of homemade pastas including vegetarian dishes. I ordered the butternut squash gnocchi which was fantastic and a perfect portion. Amazing cream sauce! Service was OK- not extremely helpful (for example waiter did not mention specials-- we found the specials menu at the end of our table) but it was fine. The location is a very cute area of Chelsea. I would love to sit outside when weather is warmer. read more

Food is amazing and the decor is cool. Great service. Build your own pasta bowl by choosing the pasta, sauce, meat(s), and veggies. Salads are wonderful too! read more

I've lived in Chelsea for more than three years and one of the most surprising things is the complete lack of good NYC restaurants. Pastai is the only restaurant that I'd recommend people make the trip to Chelsea to eat at (that's saying A LOT). The restaurant does everything right: creative yet simple menu, delicious food, freshly made pasta, prompt but not overbearing service, awesome decor (rolling pin display!), good drinks, intimate environment. It's a shame that such an excellent restaurant has three stars, especially in an environment where that rating can do so much harm. I sat at the bar with the open kitchen in full view. The kitchen is impressive and inspired me to go home and make some freshmade pasta of my own. I'd highly recommend grabbing one of the bar seats if you can. Overall: Amazing place that I can't believe is in my neighborhood. Wildly underrated for the food, experience and quality. read more

Pastai - Gemelli Con Burrata: twisted lemon pasta with a broccoli raab pesto, roasted tomatoes & burrata - $15 - SO DELICIOUS - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Beautiful decor & great open kitchen. Smells great & the limited wine list was delicious. They are awaiting approval for outdoor seating in the back garden, which could be a game changer. Food descriptions sounded great on the menu and looked beautiful on the plate but just did not deliver on taste. We ordered the following: Warm octopus salad: well-cooked octopus, but not really seasoned. The salad seemed like a mishmash of things they couldn't use elsewhere. Arugula, celery, red peppers, olives, all raw. Seared sheep's milk ricotta with honey: Not seared, but actually grilled and grilled and grilled until it hardens and is hard to chew. Too salty not enough honey. Farro Pasta Dish & the Grated Pasta Dish: both meh. However, I would go back to get a glass of wine and a cheese plate before heading out to dinner! I really liked the set-up & decor. Lots of potential. read more

I had a hard time rating Pastai more than two stars because although the ambiance was really nice, lovely wooden tables and bar chairs and good lighting, the food was simply not exciting at all. Our servers were more attentive than others have noted, but we were a large group of 7 so they may have been more focused on us. We ordered the Olive Fritte, Crocche di Pate and antipasta for 5 to start. I must say, I was quite disappointed wth all of them, although the olive fritte was probably my favorite. The antipasta was mediocre and a poor smattering of veggies with some buffalo mozzarella and hot peppers and cabbage all oddly thrown together. Since all the appetizers were covered in olive oil, we ate everything, but it was rather disappointing. Everyone at my table had pasta small plates for their mains. I was pleasantly surprised by the size, definitely a normal portion of pasta and more than enough for me despite being labeled "small". I ordered the Torchio con Salisiccia because it sounded interesting with chicken and grapes and broccoli rabe. Total disappointment again, it was so bland I didn't even want to finish and the texture was bizarre. Basically everyone in my group had the same response, and we were just happy to have a good bottle of wine. No one tried dessert, but with Billy's Bakery literally next door, why would we. Needless to say, we all went next door and had cupcakes and treats after (and I noticed a fair number of other Pastai patrons doing the same).... read more

Surprised at the negative reviews. Service was a little slow but well worth the wait. The pasta was really good. Didn't have anything but pasta though. 3 different kinds! Maybe a bit pricey - it's billed and served as "small pasta plates." But it was delicious. The Gratatta was interesting and comforting. The giant beet tortellinis were so yummy we got 2 orders! Melenzane was good too. That pasta shape was new to me. I felt like it was "real Italian pasta." read more

Octopus starter was gummy.... Cardinal sin. The pasta was decent. But they don't seem to cook tomatoes very well. Not sure I would go back. Service was friendly. read more

I consider this to be a good spot to get an afternoon beverage with a friend. Their wine and beer selection is decent and they have four refreshing specialty cocktails to choose from their full bar menu. The inside ambiance is great. Reminds me of rustic West Village meets the hip, Florence backstreet-cafes. Additionally, the venue has a nice front patio area that can fit about 4-6 people on either side of the front door. It's complete with plants, umbrellas, and dark-wood tables. The yellow bench is my favorite. Didn't try the food. read more

How cute is this place? I stumbled across pastai in a thunderstorm, and ended coming back here the next day to do a group work session. The staff were friendly and accommodating, and very sweet. They helped me and my group with no complaints and really sped our afternoon up. We ordered a couple of glasses of rose and had the croquettes, antipasti platter and pasta. So so good! And the added benefit of being down the street from my office! I will definitely be coming back for happy hour :) read more

My favorite local spot in Chelsea! Open late, great wine and delicious specials nightly. Definitely a great local dinner spot and brunch menu every day which I love. Hip, discerning and unassuming crowd appreciates great Italian food! read more

I like this place. The food is not overly salty and the menu has things that are very unique. The dishes are creative and fun. Overall good experiences here. I must admit that I dislike the open kitchen. I came out of the restaurant smelling like food. They should have the vents getting the cooking smell out of the restaurant and outside to the open air. read more

Pastai - Squid ink spaghetti - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Wandered in after seeing a play in Chelsea. Best pasta I've had in a very long time. Friendly staff, great service, nice ambience! Great wine list, too. Crete brûlée was a fantastic ending to a great meal.y read more

Pastai - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

COCKROACH crawled across my shoulder towards my infant son in a carrier. Did not seem like the restaurant cared at all, I got one free glass of wine. Will never go back. read more

YELP HAS PULLED THIS REVIEW TWICE! Pastai is around the corner from us & we've tried it a few times. I'm not sure why. I want to like it, but the food is less than ok. Our recent dinner left me sick for a few days. My fish entrée was $38 and arrived in aluminum foil. That may be cute, but I don't think so. My two guests had out-of-the-can pasta dishes. As others have mentioned, the bread is atrocious. They call it focaccia but it is not. If you're just going for a drink, the atmosphere is fine and they're friendly, just lousy cooks. read more

Great pasta! We ordered several dishes across our table, and each one had their own special flavor and tasted very fresh. Our favorite was the burrata and pesto dish; definitely a must try. Service was also great, and it's a quaint/cute place for a Friday dinner. read more

Pastai has been on our list for a while given we live in the neighborhood. We decided to finally go for brunch on a sleepy weekend. The place was half full. Cute spot, we were on a cozy side table. One server appeared to be both host and server that morning. So things were a bit slow. Food was nothing special but enjoyable overall. read more

Good Italian restaurant located in Chelsea. We ate dinner here on a Sunday evening. The staff was friendly and helpful. The wine list had a good variety of Italian wines. We shared the fried olives as an appetizer, which we enjoyed. We both ordered pasta dishes. My wife asked if the kitchen could add some more seasoning to the dish and they did without question. read more

If you're anywhere near Chelsea you should definitely stop in - Italian food with a Sicilian slant. You won't get the standard made-for-Americans Italian dishes here but why would you want them. One of my favorites is an updated version of pasta con sarde. The servers are friendly and knowledgeable and there are lots of Southern Italian selections on the wine list (Sicily, Calabria, Campania). Some photos here - http://robertiulo.com/2017/03/pastai/ read more

Pastai - Zeppoles and coffee for dessert - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

I've only been here for happy hour and for most part it has been good. The wine selection is pretty standard, and they also have sangria! A lot of people mention gluten-free options, but there aren't any on the happy hour menu. The bartenders don't seem to be knowledgeable about what has gluten in it and what doesn't nor were they willing to accommodate. read more

Very low key underrated Italian restaurant in Chelsea! Everyone I was with loved their meal and it was pretty typical pricing for NYC. I got the pesto dish with burrata and it was perfect! Would really recommend. read more

Disappointed with the food and more disappointed with the service. I live very close to Pastai and decided to scope it out for a company party we are throwing in September. I ordered the lobster pasta and an artichoke appetizer. The appetizer was ok, but my main course was bland with the pasta and tiny portion of lobster being completely overcooked. I ate about 2/3 of the gummy pasta (because I was starving) but could not bring myself to finish the rubbery lobster so I left it. Our server (gentleman w/ glasses working on Sat night 8/21) checked in once, 2 min after our meals were served and didn't come back for over an hour. When I told him about the lobster and pasta, his only response was "Why did you eat it then?" I told him I ate 2/3 of the pasta because I was starving and about 1/2 of the lobster until I couldn't take it anymore. Instead of apologizing, he got defensive and argumentative. Ironically, I wasn't trying to get the item removed from our bill, I just asked that he tell the chef so it doesn't happen again. He walked away without clearing my plate (but completely cleared my friend's plates). Not only will I not be holding our company event at Pastai, I will never go back. It's too bad, because it's a small and charming space and around the corner from where I live. Lesson learned. read more

This is my go-to neighborhood italian place. Very fresh pasta, expertly cooked and complemented with delicious sauces. I love the eggplant and ricotta salata pasta dish. The beet and avocado salad is also fantastic. Everyone I bring here loves it. The space is cozy and cute too. read more

Stopped into this place on a whim. We just so happened to find parking spot outside and the menu enticed us to stop in for breakfast. The also advertised a free coffee or cappuccino with breakfast which was also a nice touch. We tried the poached eggs dishes and were pleasantly surprised. The toast which came with one of the dishes just seemed perfect. The waitress was very pleasant. She didn't speak much but I appreciated her attentiveness and willing to explain some of the menu items. Unbeknownst to the waitress, we were on a time crunch and everything was prepared in a timely manner. We loved the ambiance and I would definitely return! Finally thoughts: - quaint and intimate - friendly waitstaff read more

I was so excited when I learned that this new restaurant was opening in my neighborhood. In fact I couldn't wait for the day for it to open. I stalked the website and the restaurant on my walk to work every morning. I have to say my excitement was for something that was not what I thought. My first time there it was very crowded but luckily got table very quickly. The AC was not working, and the chairs are very uncomfortable. The menu itself I thought would be a little bit bigger with a bigger assortment. We ordered the meat plate , a salad, and 2 pasta dishes to share (3 people). The food came out in a strange order (basically all at once). I was not overly impressed by anything, but the pasta was very good. I've returned one more time, and felt the experience was the same, although this time less crowded. If you are interested in just going for pasta, I would say give it a try- however not on my top 10 list of places to go for italian. read more

Had a mixed experience. When we got there, it was crowded with no seats at the bar or otherwise. This was fine and we got seated at the bar about 15 minutes later. Took a good 10 minutes to get a drink order in and then another 5 to actually make our order. The food took forever (at least 40 minutes for our dinners, although an appetizer came in 15 minutes). The bartender apologized (without us complaining) which was nice although it didn't fix the issue, and more or less admitted that ticket time is an issue for them. Luckily, we were in no hurry and not starving to death or else we might have been pretty annoyed. Now, I thought the food was very good. Really enjoyed the octopus salad and a Gnocci dish was excellent. Also ordered a panini which was decent. The wine we ordered was excellent and very reasonably priced at $36. Prices overall were reasonable. The atmosphere of the place was nice. There was a B-list celebrity there (not that it matters) but I guess that slightly helped the vibe. Place has potential but they definitely have several issues to work out. I would probably try it one more time. read more

Lunch outside was awesome. Service was very nice and fast (saturday 1pm and not crowded at all). We got the cheese plate, the croquettes and arancini. We loved it! read more

Pastai - Outside lunch. - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Our night at Pastai was a total random drop in, but Damn are we glad we did! Appetizers were great... The arancini were meatball sized and swimming in marinara sauce... The pasta was also amazing too... I had the one where the sauce was the product of 8 hours of braising sweet onions and beef together into super tender yumminess. It was so good. Can't wait to come back! read more