Translation from English

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Osteria Laguna-- something more than a pizzeria ?

As we have seen, Manhattan is full of all these nice looking places often crowded with very happy looking people and then we get to the Yelp reviews and we find all kinds of naysaying...

Or just less than we might have hoped for..

Let's see about Osteria Laguna...Yelp'ers fussy as usual but not down on the place, really

Osteria Laguna Restaurant

3.5 star rating
102 reviews Rating Details
Category: Italian  [Edit]
209 E 42nd St
(between 3rd Ave & 2nd Ave)
New York, NY 10017
Neighborhoods: Midtown East, Murray Hill
(212) 557-0001
Explore the Menu
Make a Reservation
Nearest Transit Station:
Grand Central - 42 St. (7, 7X)
Grand Central - 42 St. (4, 5, 6, 6X)
Grand Central - 42 St. (S)
Good for Groups:
Yes
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Street
Attire:
Casual
Price Range:
$$
Good for Kids:
No
Takes Reservations:
Yes
Delivery:
No
Take-out:
Yes
Waiter Service:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
No
Wi-Fi:
No
Good For:
Dinner
Alcohol:
Full Bar
Noise Level:
Average
Ambience:
Casual, Classy
Has TV:
No
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes

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102 reviews in English

  • Review from

    Photo of Ron H.
    Philadelphia, PA
    4/18/2013 1 check-in here
    For lunch, this is a great combination of formal dinner like service but with a down to earth rustic feel with the farmhouse wood tables.

    Pasta is cooked perfectly, just al dente enough to bite into, with sauces well crafted and seasoned sticking to each piece.

    Service is quick and friendly, although no rush to the group to finish and move on.  My only complaint was the iced tea tasted mass produced and flavored from syrup.  Stick to wine and you'll be just fine.
    Was this review …?

  • Review from

    Photo of Glen F.
    • 33 friends
    • 64 reviews
    Woodcliff Lake, NJ
    8/16/2013 1 check-in here
    Headlines: the food is ok, the atmosphere is nice, the service was a bit inept.

    Go with modest expectations and you'll be fine.

    We stopped in for dinner before heading back to NJ at the end of the workday.

    Starting out, we decided to share an entree portion of the pappardelle with lamb ragu. Almost always when we do this, the kitchen splits it. Not so this time. When it arrived, the waitress set down two plates and the bowl of pappardelle and walked away. Fortunately, she returned quickly--affording me the opportunity to request serving utensils. Evidently, she expected us to fish it out with fork and knife?

    PS. The "lamb" was stringy and tasteless.

    My bride had the mixed grilled seafood. Enormous. We coulda woulda shoulda split that. A bit salty though, resulting in a bloticious after meal experience.

    I had a special. "Multi-grain" pasta with lobster and fava beans in a cream sauce. Strangely it was the fava beans that prompted me to order it. But I digress. Crustacean to pasta ratio was low. And very rich, yet bland. Oh, and multi-grain in quotes because it seemed like plain semolina to me.

    Pet peeve alert: when I order sparkling water, I like it to take my time with it. Why are servers obsessed with emptying the bottle in record time?  This one finished off the bottle by filling each glass to rim. Seriously, what am I supposed to do with that??

    Maybe again for an after-work drink, but not for dinner.
    Was this review …?

  • Review from

    Photo of Ari A.
    Manhattan, NY
    6/12/2013
    I wasn't overly impressed when I stumbled in to Osteria Laguna last week.
    Our waiter was pleasant, but not great at his job. The one time in my life I thought my food was a tad bland and actually wanted the freshly grated Parmesan the waiters offer, I wasn't offered.

    the perks? That would be watching a real life soap opera unfold before our eyes.
    Girl and Guy hug.
    Girl and Guy fight.
    Girl and Guy walk separate ways.
    Guy sprints back to Girl.
    Girl and Guy reconnect.
    And at the end, we weren't sure if they were still fighting or making out... but with antics like this, Osteria should be serving popcorn for those seated out doors.
    Was this review …?

  • Review from

    Photo of Perry T.
    Manhattan, NY
    8/16/2013 Seated via OpenTable
    This place serves reliable Italian food. My expectations were quite low since it is so close to Grand Central and I thought it would be touristy and not very good. Caesar salad is solid, lasagna was good but very very rich. Dessert is forgettable. Service a bit slow - we had to ask for cracked black pepper and parmesan cheese.
    Was this review …?

  • Review from

    Photo of Kc F.
    • 1 friend
    • 6 reviews
    Yorkville, Manhattan, NY
    7/16/2013 Seated via OpenTable
    Classy restaurant with good food and good atmosphere. I come here often for lunch and have always had a good time.
    Was this review …?

  • Review from

    Photo of Abby S.
    Brooklyn, NY
    12/23/2012
    This is a great spot for groups, as they have wonderful appetizers and incredible desserts to share. Lots of great seafood options and of course well done classics. The mozzarella in the caprese salad was pure creamy goodness.

    I had the mushroom risotto for my entre, and was pleasantly surprised. I would definitely get it again.

    But honestly, the chocolate panna cotta was the best part of the meal. So many amazing desserts! A gorgeous cake with a meringue topping, Tiramisu and more. But go with the panna cotta if you can only choose one. You will not be disappointed!
    Was this review …?

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