Lunetta
Robin Raisfeld and Rob Patronite of New York magazine say that this casual Italian restaurant's interior is set with "red tufted-leather banquettes and antiqued sconces, and the garden seats 30 as long as the weather holds." Peter Mehan of the New York Times appreciates the "bold flavors of fresh herbs... emphasized in most of the best dishes," but he also notes that "The restaurant’s service, incredibly well-meaning and warm, was consistently incompetent."
A Brooklyn Life recounts a very positive experience at Lunetta, and highly recommends their meatballs: "The presence of what I think were currants definitely took these tender beauties over the top, as did the simple garlic-tomato sauce I enthusiastically sopped up with our table's extra bread."
However, some Chowhounds think that the food has gone downhill since Lunetta's chef, Adam Shephard, opened an outpost of the restaurant in Manhattan. Says Hungry Brooklyn Mike, "Lunetta used to get all the details right, but now it has slipped into mediocrity." But fellow 'Hound brooklynsavory disagrees: "Lunetta for me is the soul of Smith Street... it doesn't always runs like clockwork, sometime[s] we have to wait a bit for dishes. But when they arrive they truly satisfy. I think Lunetta has gotten better." What do you think?
Reviews (13)
gkw wrote a review on August 25, 2008 12:40 PM
wow I have never noticed this place or heard anyone mention it and have been living in the area and wandering up and down smith street for 8 years. strange.
BH76 wrote a review on August 25, 2008 12:41 PM
A great addition to the neigborhood. My only complaint is that some of my favorite dishes disappear too often (striped bass with leeks and olives -- who knew that combination could be so perfect for summer?). We have a wealth of Italian restaurants and yet each is unique -- you can't come here looking for big portions of red sauce. Service (and noise) gets a little crazy when they get one or more large groups (seems to be a 20-something birthday place).
goldie wrote a review on August 25, 2008 1:34 PM
the times i've been, thought the food was very acceptable, and the prices very fair. im blanking on the entree's i'd recommend, but do recall drooling over the deep-fried artichoke and affogato. our service was very good w/o being intrusive, but something about the accoustics makes noise just bounce around.
i disagree wrote a review on August 25, 2008 1:54 PM
lunetta hits the sweet spot for me - it is both casual but slightly upscale, so it's nice for date night or visiting family without requiring too much (or too little) effort. i've found the food to be uniformly well-prepared, seasonal and, above all, tasty! there are some unique dishes but none are overwrought. the price point is not for everyday dining but is fine. usually a few well-selected wines by the glass, which kicks it up a notch in my book.
pierre wrote a review on August 25, 2008 1:59 PM
Lunetta is great as a last minute stop for casual Italian fare - I recommend sitting by the kitchen to watch the chefs prepare the food - very fun to have a glass of wine and sample the goods, which are evenly fresh and delicous.
treehouse wrote a review on August 25, 2008 3:50 PM
The time I went my food was great but the dessert was disappointing. I seem the remember that my friend with whom I was dining and I were remarking on the unremarkable decor.
gardenenvy wrote a review on August 25, 2008 5:01 PM
Excellent food (and I don't think it has fallen off since they opened the Manhattan branch), especially the meatballs, crispy chicken and the fried artichokes. They do a really nice job on family-style meals for large groups. On the downside, the service can be a little iffy (slow taking orders, messed up drinks, etc) and the place is so loud it can be hard to talk to anyone not sitting directly across from you.
jackfrost wrote a review on August 25, 2008 5:52 PM
Yah-- love this place. The food was great both times we went. Had a fresh risotto with green peas, and another time had a pasta dish with shrimp, and both were delicious. I think we also had the artichoke appetizer both times and were very pleased. For very nice food at a decent price, in a charming atmosphere, you can't go wrong with this place. The atmosphere was casual but also really pleasant-- we got tables at a busy time without a wait, and the staff was friendly. The only downside from my point of view was that the space was somewhat small, and could feel cramped, but no more than many other restaurants.
brookjoo wrote a review on August 25, 2008 11:51 PM
I've eaten at Lunetta four times since it opened. The service was always pleasant and nothing ever went terribly wrong. There are certain stand-outs from the menu that are terrifically right: the gnocchi, the fried artichokes, and the wine list in general. I think it's a good neighborhood place, but nothing special, and not nearly special enough to merit the prices. I know this is not going for a checkered table cloth, red sauce effect, but given the prices, it's hard for me to justify going there that often. B'stoner has the average entree price listed at $15, but the size is more akin to small plates than real entree, and everything is a la carte. The salads I've had were generally not un-delicious, but were over-dressed and rather skimpy. I'm not saying this should be big American portions (nothing like Carmine's) but for the price, I'd like to know I can give a friend a taste of what I order and still have something left for myself.
In terms of the physical space: it's a tad too loud (something softer on the walls to balance the reflected noise would help), the bathroom is miniscule and doesn't get ventilation (read: it smells) and the open kitchen plan--a left-over from the Momofuku-esque place that used to inhabit the space--doesn't suit the rest of the space, or the cuisine. Again, just my opinion, YMMV.
Kara wrote a review on August 26, 2008 5:34 PM
brookjoo: You're right -- while the portions are larger than tapas-sized plates, they do serve smaller-than-average portions here. Part of the fun is to order a couple of vegetables sides for the table to round out the meaty options -- or build a customized meal by sharing some salad, cheese, veggies, and pasta.
Anyway, thanks for bringing this to our attention. I just made a note about the small plates-sized portions next to the median price listing.
BoerumGuy wrote a review on September 27, 2008 3:12 PM
I'm a pretty big fan of Lunetta. The steak is delicious, my wife loves the striped bass and there is a pretty decent selection of wines. It is a little overpriced but I don't mind since I've always enjoyed the food and service.
think wrote a review on September 27, 2008 10:04 PM
the food here is delicious and the staff is nice. the menu is inventive, but also includes things the most boring eater could enjoy. its definitely overlooked on many best-of lists.
bknyer wrote a review on March 3, 2009 1:34 PM
Quite good food and decent ambiance. Being a bit overpriced and slightly self-important keeps it from becoming a regular.
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