Saraghina Caffe was built in the sacred tomb of the beloved Madiba restaurant. Many considered it sacrilege that anyone would dare attempt to breathe life back into that hallowed ground. But like the Lotus flower that emerges from the mud, a cathedral to culinary delights with the hipster vibe and sensibilities of a Milanese Café has stepped into the limelight of the DeKalb Ave foodie corridor. The Madiba ghosts have been set free by a successor that is proving worthy, and the proprietor, Eduardo Mantelli, has established that there's a new sheriff in town. A singular dining experience as my wife and I can attest. read more

Really terrific decor and ambiance. Doesn't feel like just another interchangeable Brooklyn restaurant. Our table wasn't ready on time but the host was very apologetic and comped us two glasses of Prosecco. Once we were seated the space felt cozy and bustling, but was still quiet enough that you could make easy conversation. Our waiter wasn't the friendliest guy in the world, and kept disappearing for long spells to chat to a table of girls about his budding career as an animator. And it took forever to get the bill...like 30 minutes. As for the food, the seafood risotto was delicious, though there's not a lot of it. The squid ink pasta with clams wasn't great. We finished with the chocolate soufflé, which was awesome. Oh and the salad we ordered cost $18 for some reason, which was very annoying. All-in-all, because I'm a sucker for atmosphere, I'll probably give this place one more chance. read more

I like Saraghina-- I've been here a few times, and it has some good points but also be prepared for some shortcomings. The decor is great but tables are very very close together. Service is pleasant but can be slow so just be prepared for a more euro timed dining experience. Food wise, I loved the ricotta/grape on toast and the lobster ravioli. I've tried the pizza a few times and wasn't impressed. read more

The Ostriche del Giorno and Amalfitana were amazing. To be honest, we actually ended up ordering another Amlfitana we thought it was that good. The Mondeghili (not pictured) was a tad dry but still very good, we especially enjoyed the sauce it came with. The Zucchine was under cooked and pieces varied in size substantially, the Cavoletti di Bruxelles was nothing special, and would not recommend the Ravioli Pere e Gorgonzola. Overall a nice vibe and would go back again for drinks and appetizers but less likely to eat a full dinner there. read more

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Walked in on a Monday without a reservation. Had been here previously a few months prior and was pleasantly surprised to see some seasonal changes to the menu. The trofie pesto pasta was outstanding and there was an lovely piedmonte red wine by the glass. The bar area inside is very cute read more

my husband and i dined at Saraghina last night and for the life of me, i don't understand where these 1-star reviews are coming from. we had a fabulous time and our experience exceeded our expectations! *nope, i'm not paid to write this, no one asked me to write this, and we are discerning diners* it was a 10/10 experience from the start! food and service were incredible! and cocktails are some of the best in the neighborhood! we got our money's worth, for sure, and are already looking forward to going back. yes, it's crowded inside. yes, it's loud. but you're in NYC. if you want quiet, large spaces, go to The Cheesecake Factory in the suburbs. dunno what to tell you. lol. anyway, we ordered the fluke crudo, the focaccia with peas and ricotta, the focaccia with veal, the wild boar pasta, the tiramisu, and four cocktails: the margarita Italiana, the Oaxacan Old Fashioned, and the Mezcal Negroni (twice). FIRE! seriously, everything was so delicious and the drinks were perfect. congratulations, Saraghina! keep doing your thing, and please ignore the haters. xoxo. read more

Saraghina Caffè - focaccia with peas and ricotta, fluke crudo, margarita italiana. GREAT way to start the meal. - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Second time here at the cafe. While the pizza is obviously good the coffee shop is magic. Today the barista is super busy on a hot 90 degree sunday but she is crushing it, slaying drinks left to right. She kindly explained what a Shakerato was and made the tastiest drink. Thank you! Also y'all better be tipping!!! read more

Saraghina Caffè - a poster on the wall - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Rhonda was very welcoming at the door. Greeted us right away as me and my partner walked in. Our server, Lizzie was very sweet,very personable with the drinks. We ordered the brussel sprouts, arancini and the ricotta stuffed raviolis. The brussel sprouts are a must of course if you've been to their other location. As for the arancini, I've had to order two more. That's how obsessed I was with them. Service was great from the moment I walked in. Can't wait to visit again. read more

Saraghina Caffè - Menu - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I seldom leave reviews; however, my experience was so poor that I felt it necessary to warn others. The service was laughable at how incompetent it was. Our server could not have been more apathetic about our table from the minute we were seated. Besides literally having to flag her down the entire evening, we were left neglected in an otherwise slow evening. On top of our long lost server, the wait in between drinks, food, and the check were ludicrous. Not to mention we had several dishes that never arrived to our table. Similar to our service, several entrees were cold and lackluster. If you're in this neighborhood, I'd advise to go elsewhere. The gall to price the food as it is, and to provide the service/product that it does is mind blowing. And to treat patrons the way that we were is not acceptable. This place is a joke. The neighborhood is lovely and has so many great options. I urge you to save yourself from this train wreck of an eatery, and go elsewhere. read more

The fact that this place is located in the area it is, is great. Easily accessible off the lirr and local metro. Ambiance itself is nice but it was a bit loud for my liking. Cute decor and design but the space was extremely cramped. We were seated right in front of the entrance into the back of the restaurant (where the bar was located) and people just kept running into our table. Table itself was also small. I was afraid of dropping anything if it moved an inch over. Service itself was fine. Nothing remarkable but our waitress was nice. Food was good. We ordered the funghi pizza which some areas were a tad bit extra burnt but still enjoyable. Got drinks as well (something with rosemary) and this fresh dish (pic attached). Did enjoy the food but felt like the portions were alright. Unless you ordered a 3 meal course you might leave hungry... for the price seemed a but less. Considering the comfort of the experience I would rather go elsewhere. read more

Saraghina Caffè - Fresh zucchini - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

TLDR: Awful service with decent but overpriced food. When we arrived for our lunch reservation, the table we were shown was literally 4 inches from the next table -- ridiculously close even by NYC standards. When we asked if there were any other tables, the hostess reluctantly cleared off a different table and took her sweet time doing it. Then we sat there for 10 minutes without menus until I got up to ask for them. Then we sat for another 10-20 minutes before a waiter came by. That's basically how the service went -- absent at best, indifferent at worst. The food was fine, but portions were small, the menu was very limited and the prices were quite high. read more

I enjoyed the ambiance and art deco vibes. I was a little disappointed in the food. We ordered a number of the veggie sides and they were overly greasy and the brussel sprouts felt over cooked and burned. The fava bean appetizer can be skipped completely. It's confusing and pricey. I asked for a vegetarian pasta as there were no options on the menu and they offered me spaghetti with tomato sauce. No vegetables could be added I was told. The mushroom pizza was pretty good I will say. Probably not coming back though, not vegan friendly. read more

Great service. Fantastic wine and help choosing it. The Uva e Ricotta was divine. Sat outside and the ambiance was comfortable.

Delicious food and cocktails. Space is tight and service is generally good. A bit expensive for what is offered but a beautiful interior space. read more

First, the good: lovely space, food is decent. My review is predicated on the fact that if I am going to spend myself somewhere- I expect some semblance of happiness in the transaction. Instead, I get quasi rude sceptics at every first contact. When I finally bypass this- (and I move to the org as a whole, now) the staff is irritatingly ill informed on product and product offerings. I have nowv traipsed all over Brooklyn based on bad information for what should be a simple item. The initial contempt combined with irritating crapshoot that is any information provided by broader staff means I'll certainly find another Italian eatery for my money. read more

Though I LOVE their bakery and pizzeria in Bedstuy (granola and bread are a MUST), we were very disappointed by their Fort Greene restaurant. On the plus side, they put a ton of work into renovating the former Madiba restaurant. It definitely has a European bistro vibe, and the music and drinks were good. However, both the food and service were lacking. All of the seafood wasn't fresh, and much of the food was very salty. At no point did the waitress check in and ask us how our meals were. Worse still, at one point, another server stormed down the aisle, bumping into my wife, who's rather petite and was just minding her business, eating her meal. He actually shot a glare back at us, as if it were her fault. At a fine dining establishment, you'd expect better service than that--who knows, maybe even an apology. read more

What's going on with this place? Always feels like nobody's in charge. It looks great but the staff are always stressed and disorganized. Also how hard can it be to decide on what the morning offering is? Selling coffee and pastries (which were good when they were doing it) can't be that challenging when there are 100 people in the Iine for Bittersweet half a block away. Come on guys, get a proper manager and sort it out. It must have cost a fortune to get this place open and fitted out. It's such a waste to have it run so badly. read more

Pricey and not the best tasting food. Great presentation fun location and eclectic Italian menu. But I have had better tasting food. The Tuna Tartar was overly salted and the other apps were ok not exceptional. My main was also ok. Thus the OK rating. read more

It took us a long time to try this restaurant because the Yelp reviews were so bad. We finally decided to try it tonight, and thought it was excellent in every way. Makes me wonder if someone is trying to sabotage them on Yelp. The ambiance was very nice. Our server Tommy was super friendly and helpful. We had the sourdough bread appetizer, cocktails, seafood risotto and branzino, with gelato for dessert. Everything we ate and drank was terrific. The scoops of gelato could have been more generous, but that's a minor quibble. We'll definitely go back. read more

One star for the baked goods. But oh man, what a horribly ran place. We came for brunch, went to the hostess inside, had a guy cut us in line so he gets his order in first, and when we finally get to the hostess she's like you're suppose to find a table outside first and then come order and pay before you get your meal. Thankfully we were in a group, as a single individual you're fucked with having to get a table (leave your backpack or phone exposed outside when you inevitably go back in to order...) So we have to go outside to try to find a table (they're all crusty and dirty af), sit down and a harried server comes by being like where's your number? And we're like what the fuck...go back to hostess to order, she instantly transforms from dour to pleasant when it comes for tipping, which by the way the minimum is 20% on the screen that she can clearly see... it seems like the waitstaff is poorly informed, the place is ran without a solid plan that cares about the customers comfort at all- how are you suppose to sustain a business this way? It's like they made this somewhat aesthetic place to draw in the customers, cram them all in like sardines, and squeeze the maximum amt of money out of them while providing the worst experience possible. Do come here if you're a masochist :). read more

I've been in the neighborhood for over a decade and this place does not reflect friendly, community and welcoming vibes at all. Stuffy, rude, over priced, okay food. Really disappointing especially for how much I love both the food and atmosphere at the BedStuy location. read more

It's been two weeks since I took my boyfriend here for his birthday and I'm still regretful. We were quoted a 1.5 hour wait which was reasonable considering it was wknd night. 2 hours later we were still waiting and approached the manager at the front desk. He was completely flippant, did not apologize and even said to us that there were no guarantee we would be given a spot. He suggested we sit outside in the pouring horizontal rain (it was about 50 degrees and there was not a single diner willing to brave this weather). We also overheard him berating the nice hostess and telling her not to honor another person's reservation. Finally three hours later, he sat us at the crudo bar which is the absolute worst seat in the entire restaurant. We were bumped into repeatedly by almost every person walking by and had a view of a grumpy staff member doing dishes. I could have dealt with the laughably bad interaction with the manager but the food did not redeem our negative experience. The focaccia was bland and tasted like regular bread. The fluke carpaccio tasted fishy and off. The Brussels sprouts were deep fried and char black (so don't get that if you're looking for a healthier side dish). What was supposed to be a special dinner was ruined. Save your money and visit one of the many other charming options in the neighborhood where you'll be treated respectfully and enjoy much better food. read more

Where to start? Almost every aspect of the experience was frustrating and awful. The manager was condescending, the service was bad, and most importantly the food was just not good. The Brussels sprouts were deep fried and black (don't expect an actual vegetable), the pasta was over cooked and flavorless, and the service was slow and disrespectful. There was also no hot water in the bathroom when I went in. I recommend looking elsewhere. read more

The food? not seasoned. The place? beyond cramped. Hello I don't want to sit shoulder to shoulder with strangers during a pandemic. The pizza would've been good but the crust had zero flavor. Salt is your friend if you eat here. After years of learning to cook at home since The Shutdown, there's nothing on this menu you can't make for much cheaper. It would probably taste better. Ridiculous Manhattan prices for bland food in Brooklyn. Seemed like a good mixology bar but our cocktails were all one-note too. Maybe they were having an off night but we were hit with a swinging door more than once and no one even said sorry. Way too loud and uncomfortable. Don't sit at the oyster bar! Weird place. read more

Data privacy issue. Gave cell number (not email) thinking it was for a table callback, email spam came immediately and unable to opt out.

Saraghina caffe' deserves 5 stars for many reasons. The beauty of the place, the quality of the food, the menu, the service. I had raw fish and an exquisite sea urchin pulp risotto. The prosciutto and melon and hot focaccia you could find in the best restaurants in Italy. Everything very fresh and beautifully cooked. Everything home made. For dessert I had the meringata, a mountain of fragrant strawberries, meringue and cream...delicious! The thing that really surprised me was the service, impeccable, worthy of the best restaurants. In short, there is a lot of work and experience behind this restaurant. Must try!!! read more

I wanted SO much to like this place because of the hype, but the experience was pretty "meh" to me. To start, they don't take reservations which is annoying in and of itself, but not entirely unusual for trendy spots like this. I went here for my birthday with 4 friends, so not a huge party by any means, but the staff seemed super annoyed to accommodate our party size for some reason? Most of my friends work in food service so we tried to be cool about the whole thing but the vibes felt off, for sure. I didn't really find the food or atmosphere all that exceptional, if I'm being honest. We each got pizzas which are apparently their staple but I felt they were underwhelming flavor-wise, and some were actually undercooked and gummy. The prices were also steep for what I felt was very run-of-the-mill Italian food. Definitely not worth the hefty price tag--maybe the Bed-Stuy location is better? read more

I have been quite a regular since they opened, I live in the neighborhood and I honestly love it. The food is great, always fresh and super tasty, the service is good, always polite and accommodating and I love their coffee in the morning when I have the luxury to enjoy the outdoor sitting. Even at night, the outdoor sitting is great. I think they are a great addition to the neighborhood I highly recommend it! read more

Been going to Saraghina in Bed-stuy since it opened and was very excited to try their new spot. They set the bar high. We were first sat a table right as you enter the main dining area. It's really close quarters and you're eye level with the raw bar so it's really awkward and uncomfortable and it feels like you're in a dark corner. I moved to the raw bar, which is a much better seat, but I was bumped into about 5-6 times by waitstaff. There's seating outdoors and on the Caffe side, if you want quiet. If you want loud and bustling, sit in the main dining hall. Drinks came out fast. We tried all of the four Negronis. Quite delicious. The Bianco was a bit too light for me, but would be great on a hot day. Had the drinks with some oysters that were delicious but TINY. Like almond sized. The carpaccio was a tad bland in my opinion, but had great flavor. Wish they'd top it with some rock salt. I'd get it again. The salmon tartar cones were just okay because the dominant flavor was the fried cone. I'd probably never get this again. The pasta was great and portions were surprisingly big. I expected 20-25% less. Lived up to the Saraghina name. Can't go wrong with the papparadelle or ravioli. read more

Lovely place, comfortable neighborhood vibe. Excellent cocktails and sea food. 5 stars!

Brought our whole family who traveled from out of town to see us to this neighborhood spot for dinner to celebrate New Years - there were tons of tables open on Resy day of, and I had dined here previously and had a decent meal. For starters, a fight broke out in front of our table between the employee at the pass and a chef, both were cursing and yelling making the dinner uncomfortable to say the least. Between that, and the extremely slow service with our waiter/waitress (waitress was unreliable and missing for most of the evening, so someone else had to step in), this place is incredibly unprofessional. The food, which is all egregiously overpriced in general, took forever to come out. It was good but some pasta dishes were cold, and we never got our 2 sides that we ordered. I would say that this may be a unique evening of chaos in the kitchen, but maybe there is a reason why this tiny restaurant always has reservations times no matter what. Really disappointing and a waste of valuable family time and money. There are so many amazing restaurants in Fort Greene - so choose elsewhere! read more

Great outdoor seating, loved the ambiance. Service was on point. I had the steak and it was delicious

Not worth your time or money. I went to the other location of Saraghina and had a decent experience so I thought this would be the perfect fit for a casual dinner on a Sunday. I got there and put our name down for a table of 3. The wait staff let me know that my wait way 5-15 mins, pointing out the table that they were going to give me, which was inside the restaurant. It's January so it was quite cold outside. Although they have heaters, some parts of the patio that weren't being used by the customers were quite cold. My friends arrived, and we proceeded to wait for 45 mins, only to be told that an "inside reservation" has arrived, and we will be placed outside. We did not make a single fuss neither when we are waiting, nor when we got placed in a dark and cold colder on the patio where they bus empty dishes. After we sat down, we wouldn't get any attention from waiters, nothing from our table was being bussed. We were told to wait "one second" in an incredibly dismissive way when we asked for water (and we were in no way being rude or impatient) The food was mediocre at best. Save yourself some money. Incredibly disappointed, but at least I was in good company and we kept our spirits up. read more

Coffees are delicious but what an odd place - we've been in this neighborhood over 20 years and this place's style, offerings and vibe feel like such an erasure of the history and life that was here before it. We tried to remain open and have come in a bunch of times - but every time I'm greeted with such cold service, changing menus, sometimes my drink is available and other times it's not, the hosts and waitstaff don't seem to know either. We appreciate the other Saraghina which has such a community vibe and solid offerings - hope they figure out how to be good neighbors and contribute to the life of the neighborhood. This seems to be a shared sentiment by most folks we talk to in the neighborhood. read more

I was excited to check out this place as I'm a fan of the Bedstuy location, but the experience was so bad that I won't be returning to either location. Food was just OKAY and not worth it for the price. The bartender was so rude and condescending and not to mention a flat out creep. The ambience wasn't even nice due to the cramped space. Don't waste your time with this place when there are so many great restaurants nearby (Evelina, Roman's, Walters...etc). read more

This place is perfection. Have been several times and every single time the food and service is phenomenal. The crappy reviews here make absolutely no sense whatsoever. If I lived in Fort Greene, I would be here a couple of times a week. read more

Ooof this place is disappointing. I was excited about this long awaited opening as it's very close to my apartment. I went once for dinner and once for breakfast and I doubt I will go back unless I hear that something has changed. Dinner- there were definitely some tasty dishes (steak tartare was the most memorable and a pizza with nduja) but the service was very slow, we were there for 3 hours not because we were lingering but because that's how long it took to put in our orders/for all our food to come out (including dessert, to be fair). We had ordered a focaccia with cocktails right away as a snack/important stomach liner for the booze, then we ordered apps and mains after we got our cocktails. The focaccia ended up not coming out until after the apps, when I asked our waitress about it she said she had decided to course it out that way for us so we could start with the lighter salad and salmon tartare. Super weird to just ignore the fact that we wanted a heavier snack with cocktails, maybe she was covering for a forgotten order or slow kitchen but honesty would have been 100x better if so. As others have noted it's SO crowded and loud in there, wait staff was bumping into our table constantly. The breakfast is truly awful, it's barely a step up from airplane food?! Really confusing. Dry rubbery overcooked eggs with no seasoning, steamed asparagus that literally tasted moldy with no seasoning, and dry toast. No oil/butter/salt on anything. Staff seemed annoyed and dazed (except for one really sweet, possibly Italian waiter). Overall very weird and sad. This is a pretty place to see and be seen, but not worth the weird vibe, uncomfortable experience and disappointing food. read more

I wanted to love this place as I've been happily dining at the Bed Stuy location for years but unfortunately I will not be back. Although the food was enjoyable the service left a lot to be desired. Food was forgotten, drinks were constantly left empty and the kitchen closed without our waiter asking if we wanted another item or dessert. read more

This place was horrific. I have never ever been so rudely treated. We waited for more than half an hour to be seated, which is even more ridiculous given that I was texted earlier that evening asking if I wanted to be seated early. Hostess told me, robot like, that she could not give me any information about the "situation." Wait staff could not remember any of our orders, which is concerning given that I have a sever shrimp allergy. Generally I do not understand how these people feel like it's okay to be so rude as a restaurant in nyc. read more

I'll just echo what allllll the other customers who had a mediocre experience have shared. The inside of the restaurant is pretty. Don't even bother with the patio, which is loud, filled with street noise, and honestly smells strange, like all the fumes from the kitchen exhaust fan are blown in there. Portions are small for egregious prices and meh food. My pasta was $30. It was supposed to have marjoram in it. Hand to god, I got down to the bottom of the bowl (quickly, as I was hungry and the portion is about 6 bites.) There was ONE leaf of marjoram in it. I could have made something better at home. We left hungry and went to the Dekalb food market after for dessert. Service was ok, but you are crammed with your back to the person seated behind you (at least outside.) It's shameful how expensive dining out has gotten all over New York, and even more shameful for this place to masquerade as worth what they're charging. For the money, Oma Grassa for pizza, or Provini in Park Slope, are far better experiences for food, atmosphere and service. read more