Restaurant Review: Locanda Vini & Olii
It’s fair to say that we don’t get out as much as we used to, what with kids and all. Sometimes a little creative scheduling can go a long way though. Take last Thursday for example: while Mrs. B talked the babysitter into staying half and hour later than usual, we ducked out of the…
It’s fair to say that we don’t get out as much as we used to, what with kids and all. Sometimes a little creative scheduling can go a long way though. Take last Thursday for example: while Mrs. B talked the babysitter into staying half and hour later than usual, we ducked out of the office a few minutes early. Our rendez-vous point: Locanda Vini & Olii on Gates and Cambridge. This Italian restaurant–our favorite in the borough–has been a Clinton Hill staple since long before its brownstones cleared the $1 million mark. We started with a bottle of the house white, a crisp 2004 Plozner Tocai Friulano, while Mrs. B ordered up a green salad and her usual branzini baked in parchment paper with organic spinach while we went for the sardines to start followed by the papardelle with braised rabbit. While sharing a dessert of flourless chocolate cake, we struck up a conversation with the pair at the next table, an artist from Toronto and a real estate developer from Gowanus, before rushing off to relieve the babysitter. Locanda Vini & Olii is located at 129 Gates Avenue in Clinton Hill; 718-622-9202.
I am so surprised to hear people rave about this place. I live a few doors away and would LOVE for this place to be great. I’ve come back several times hoping that it would have improved, but it never does. The food is decent and the atmosphere fantastic (I’ve never had problems with the service either), but the portions are WAY too small and overall it’s overpriced. None of my neighbors like it either. I haven’t actually heard one person I know say they liked it, except on this posting! It would be catty for me to point out how dorky the owner’s “signature” look is – puh-leeze, we saw that enough at our proms in the 80’s! Ooops.
over-priced, over-rated
over-priced, over-rated…
I’ve eaten there with friends and family numberous times and always thought it was fantastic. Friends have too, and these are true “foodies” that regularly eat out. I’m sorry if some have received subpar service, that would not be excusable. It has not happended to me.
Though I’m going to be controversial and say that I remember some neighbors saying they did not like it or thought it was sort of bland. When I asked them what their favorite restaurants in the area are, they mentioned Night of the Cookers and Chez Oscar. Nice places, sure, but if that is your definition of really nice food (i.e. bar/soul/non-descript french bistro fare) then you’re never going to go for a place like this (or any other higher end restaurant).
Rich–
I don’t think their portions have gotten bigger, but you can now get pasta in two sizes–app or entree. This may be the latter.
Actually the picture at the top of the page seems like their portions have gotten a little bigger. When I ate there I also ordered the rabbit pasta and I remember it only being 1/2 to 2/3 of what is on that plate above.
And I remember when the crack addicts and winos lived just down the street. My how Brooklyn has changed!
I LOVE Locanda. My boyfriend and I have been going there for years, and always have an excellent time. Catherine and Francois, the owners, are warm and jovial, and the food they serve is not only true to its piedmont roots, but consistently delicious and served with love.
how is this a review? you listed what you ate. wow. maybe talk about the decor (their charming interior isn’t even mentioned), the service, the taste, the presentation, the price, etc. i’ve been there once, and i’d go again, but just listing what you ordered gives me no real incentive to check it out. there aren’t even any adjectives to describe the food. if you’re gonna broaden your horizons from real estate, please step it up a notch or two.