Sportello

Reviews 9

A

A Private User

During Restaurant Week you often expect to have good food at better than usual prices, but you know it wont be top par for the restaurant. My expectations for Restaurant Week have just been dramatically raised at Sportello. Immediately upon entering the restaurant youre struck by the unique counter seating and the crisp, yet simple modern design. The manager Peter, greeted us and was immediately approachable while doing everything he could to make us feel welcome. We did feel like long time customers as another reviewer said. Our server, Oscar, was tremendous and everyone works as a team so they were all making sure we were satisfied. All this and I havent even gotten to the food yet. It was spectacular! The food was unique, especially the Restaurant Week menu. It wasnt the usual smaller servings of the same old dishes on the regular menu. The menu was innovative and built on a foundation of local produce. I have never, ever had pasta cooked to such perfection. I cant write a review to do this place justice, but its worth every dime, and they are also open for breakfast and lunch. Sportello has become my new favorite place. I will definitely become a long time customer. You just dont get this kind of food, service and dedication to doing things right anywhere else.

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CA

Caitlin McGlynn

How I am so glad that I do not live closer to you. Sportello transports me to my favorite restaurants in Downtown New York. I love love the interior design, the staff is superb, classy and friendly. Its like two great food places in one. The takeout section full of delicious pastries, cupcakes, treats and sandwiches, salads. I love their cupcakes. The best meal here is brunch!!! All the dishes are so delicious with great variety plus yummy coffee. I have also been here for dinner twice and each time had a great meal. I am not the biggest pasta person but people tell me its amazing. I have had some really great fish dishes here and great salad and soup appetizers. Their menu is always appealing. The service has been great. Our server was great at explaining dishes to us and describing desserts. It seems like the perfect lunch date if you can snag a seat. At times, it can be quite busy. Its a great taste of Barbara Lynch for a smaller price tag.

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Ryan Wittig

This review is based just on our dessert experience. We came here for dessert after eating at Legal Harborside looking for a change of scenery. We were able to slide in between reservations just to have some dessert. We were kind of disappointed that they didnt have a liquor license so we couldnt have any grappa or cordials, so we all ended up getting espressos and cappuccinos which we pretty good. I got the chocolate silk tart, which was tasty but I wouldnt come back and have that again. I believe one other person had the coconut cake which was a similar experience to the chocolate tart, good enough to enjoy but nothing special. Given the amount of hype surrounding Barbara Lynch and this place, I was expecting a little more. Our server was awesome and treated us like good customers even though we were just there for a quick dessert. We will definitely have to come back to try their pasta and other Italian dishes as everything did look good.

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GR

Grace Rodriguez

A friend took a group of about 14 of us to Sportello, and not a single person was disappointed. The staff was able to accommodate half of us with a table, but the size of our party meant the rest had to sit at the ample counter...with a great view of the open kitchen! The restaurant has an upscale casual feel. Its set up like an elegant diner; and while the menu is on the higher end, you could easily strike up a conversation with the people sitting next to you at the counter. The service and food definitely live up to the "upscale" part: Both were great! The ingredients taste fresh (we even saw a just-delivered box of co-op vegetables outside the door), and the pasta was outstanding. I highly recommend the rabbit and the steak tartare. The wine list was good; but if you plan on making a night of it, Id recommend saving time for a classic cocktail downstairs at Drink -- its one of the best bars in the country.

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MA

margetheadvocate

Minimalist restaurant all the way including the portions. A bowl of delicious spicy tomato soup was $13. As a favor to us the waitress divided it up for us in 2 cups when I asked for 2 spoons. The glass of wine was only 3 oz in size. Decore was minimal too but not the prices ...that was high. Dinner for 2 with one small glass of wine and 2 pasta dishes and a shared soup came to $91 with tip. Flavor of the food was good but wait staff gave me a hard time about seating 2 people at a table while the restaurant was empty at 5:30... And insisted we sit at the counter. I was pissed as I made a reservation the day before. I stood my ground and got seated at a table. I expect more for my hard earned money. Tastey food is only part of the dining experience. That and the fast service were the only parts that we were satisfied with. Wont be going back!!!

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Cedric Hom

Im a big Barbara Lynch fan, so hopefully this doesnt become too biased of a review. The food was good, the service for the most part was good, and the serving sizes were inconsistent. I got a pasta that I demolished quickly, but my fiance had a short rib dish that had much more on the plate. In the end, the appetizer and two entrees (and dessert) between us was enough, but I would have wanted more of the pasta. It was quite good. It was fun to watch the kitchen at work, and the ambiance felt nice and casual. I would like to come back, but the setup of the place is not really conducive to groups bigger than 6, in my opinion. But you could always make it work. It was a little bit on the expensive side, but again, you could taste the quality.

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DA

Dan Baptiste

This is one of my favorite restaurants in the city so I write this review at my own peril since it is already difficult to get a reservation at Sportello. I have never had a bad meal here. I have never even had a good meal from Sportello. Every meal that I have eaten at Sportello has been excellent. My wife and I have tried restaurants throughout the city and most times leave those restaurants saying, "That food was really good, but it was no Sportello." The atmosphere is fun and casual. The food is spectacular. This is a destination I highly recommend if you are looking for a great meal, really good wine and prices that wont leave you feeling like you have just been robbed (most entrees are in the $23-$30 range).

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Joshua Berk

Casual, quirky (stark-white) counters swerve through this transcendent Fort Point neighborhood diner spot by Barbara Lynch -- but, it isnt for everyone; you sit next to strangers and its bright/noisy (supposedly a Kubrick-inspired interior). Talented staff/chefs prepare Italian food that never disappoints. Pro-Tip: Request half-portions of any pasta entrée for 1/2 price. Dont forget to order dessert from the bakery, then get a stiff cocktail from Drink (downstairs). Free Wi-Fi. Highlights: Roman Gnocchi, Corn/Spicy-Tomato Soup, Strozzapreti (w/Braised Rabbit + Picholine Olives + Rosemary), Tagliatelle w/Bolognese, Bigoli (w/Clams + Sea Urchin + Bottarga

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GR

Greg Strazzulla

I have never said no to this place! The décor is easy, and unlike so many other places in the city does not try to hard or default to the farm to table look. Now the food...My Gawd, the FOOD. Simply amazing. You really cannot go wrong with anything on the menu... and if you doubt anything, just watch them make it, there is an open kitchen so even if they wanted to cut corners they couldnt. They are also amazing about allergies, say it once and that is all, they will make sure that every dish they bring you is free of your allergen if possible...

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