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.
It’s ok for a local joint, but I wouldn’t rave
about it.
I haven’t been to this spot in two years, but was disappointed every time I went. I live around the corner, so waned it to be good, but the main courses universilly disappointed. I think Mr. and Mrs. B could have spent there babysitter time more fruitfully. (I agree Olea is great!)
I have to add a comment to the “unimpressed” column. The food was fine when I visited, but the service was downright rude (not European-style, just negative and apparently irritated, though we were friendly, undemanding customers). I’ve only been there once, so maybe it was a bad night, but I haven’t been inspired to go back and see either since I’ve heard from others that the service is often bad there.
There are too few restarants with respectable service in the Clinton Hill- Ft. Greene area in my experience. I’ll never go back to Lulu on DeKalb after my meal there Thursday (the owner was the one who gave us truly horrible customer service). Olea and Stonehome on Lafayette have both been consistently good for food and service, as have Sushi D and Luz. Things will improve if people expect good service, patronize the good places and complain about/ abandon the lame ones.
The bread is authentically Tuscan (i.e. it does not have salt). You may not like it, but it is what you get in Tuscany.
Wow, the steak we had there was among the best we’ve ever had.
i think the neg posters got bad nights. I’ve been there quite a few times and it’s always been great. the service is very european in that they don’t do backflips to make you like them. they believe in the food and I’ve always enjoyed it. I part. like the desserts. and the wine.
I totally agree with the poster who wondered what all the fuss is about this place – I had heard rave reviews from locals but was sorely disappointed when I dined at this restaurant for a friend’s birthday. The food was generally pretty bland and uninteresting, despite the colourful-sounding names of the dishes; poorly dressed salad; tasteless and overpriced steak; and as another poster had noted, the bread was stale…and the service sucked…
love the pricing method of measuring how much of the bottle was consumed too!
what a fantastic place. its tiny, delicious and yes, they do take their time, but you should do the same and savor your visit there. its always worth it.