Friday, September 27, 2013

Fagiolini on East 40th Street

Next door to the entrance to the Bedford Hotel, Fagiolini on 40th gets much better ratings...in fact, a lot of very good ratings ( as well as some detractors of course).

They have warned us that Yelp restaurant reviews sometimes are not genuine, so again I suggest you read them all and look for clues to determine what to make of this place==oh yeah, and one annoying thing here is they have mixed in very old reviews (some of them bad) with more recent ones...the more recent ones are better

Fagiolini

3.5 star rating
26 reviews Rating Details
Category: Italian
120 E 40th St
(between Park Ave & Lexington Ave)
New York, NY 10016
Neighborhoods: Midtown East, Murray Hill
(212) 682-0310
Nearest Transit Station:
Grand Central - 42 St. (7, 7X)
Grand Central - 42 St. (4, 5, 6, 6X)
Grand Central - 42 St. (S)
Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 9:30 pm
Sat 4 pm - 9 pm
Parking:
Street
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Price Range:
$$
Attire:
Casual
Good for Groups:
Yes
Good for Kids:
No
Takes Reservations:
Yes
Delivery:
Yes
Take-out:
Yes
Waiter Service:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
No
Good For:
Dinner
Alcohol:
Full Bar
Noise Level:
Quiet
Ambience:
Casual, Romantic
Has TV:
Yes
Caters:
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible:
No

Review Highlights   What's this?

  • "It is off the beaten path near Grand Central Station." In 4 reviews
  • "This is the ONLY lasagna I've EVER had that I could eat out." In 4 reviews
  • "I had the Pollo Alla Florentina and really my only complaint was the..." In 3 reviews
Rating Distribution | Trend
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26 reviews in English

  • Review from

    Austin, TX
    7/24/2013 1 check-in here
    I am from Texas and I called this restaurant to inquire about Wedding Rates.

    I spoke with Helen. She is a great lady...super nice and helpful. She answered all my questions from the beginning to the end even giving me her personal cell phone number if I needed any assistance the day of my wedding.

    My wedding took place (7/20/13) and I have to say the menu that was put together for me was absolutely amazing!! The pasta, the salad, the wedding cake everything!!!!! Was absolutely stunning and tasty!!

    One perk...the party room is iPod/iPhone connected so you can play your own music...

    The location is great...off Park Avenue blocks from Grand Central
    Prices are affordable
    Accommodating of my party of 29 and looks great for smaller parties for dinner BUT if you want to reserve the party room, you will need a party of my size or bigger.

    I personally want to thank Helen, the Chef and the 2 waiters who came in to work for my wedding and my party. They were all so great, nice and wonderful. The restaurant was closed and was only open for us. It made my whole Ceremony and Reception extremely memorable and something that I will never forget.

    If you need a place for a wedding reception...this is a great place.
    If you need a place for a same-sex wedding...this is a great place.
    If you want a place that is VERY LGBT friendly...this is a GREAT Place.
  • Review from

    • 4 friends
    • 21 reviews
    San Francisco, CA
    6/26/2013
    We were planning a networking event / cocktail hour in Manhattan, with a surprisingly difficult set of requirements:

    - Within a few blocks of Grand Central
    - Toward the lower end of the price scale
    - Able to accommodate a relatively small group and yet still offer some degree of privacy
    - Preferably Italian cuisine

    The Fagiolini location on 40th met all of those criteria.  It's very close to the front of Grand Central, their private room (behind the main dining room) comfortably holds up to roughly 70 people but can be segmented down for fewer, and their catering manager is pretty creative with menu planning.

    Unfortunately, as we worked through the details, it turned out that the group would be much smaller than expected.  We changed the event to a more formal dinner with a round of drinks at the bar.

    No problem at all reserving us a table in the corner of the main dining room and the bar area was a great place for a quick round of drinks.  There was just enough space where we weren't a bother to the other diners yet cozy enough that we could all still hear each other.

    The food itself was better than expected.  I had the Pollo Alla Florentina and really my only complaint was the presentation.  Not at all creative; just a pile of food on a small white plate.  But the food itself was quite good.  Their house red wine is also very easy to drink.

    Overall, our group thought this restaurant was an excellent balance between location, quality, and price - and we're looking forward to returning later in the year to try the private event space.
  • Review from

    Hoboken, NJ
    6/21/2013
    I've been going around the corner to Fagiolini on 39th for probably 7 or 8 years and finally tried the other restaurant.  It's great for what it is...inexpensive Italian comfort food in a setting nicer than a pizza place but certainly not haute either.

    Awesome lunch price fixe; $13 gets for salad, pasta, and biscotti.  Service is friendly, the place works for a casual or business lunch or affordable dinner.  The front section of the main room (area with the bar) is nicer than the back of the room (side note, the whole place looks a bit nicer than 39th). Not fine dining, but a nice enough place with friendly service, and it's really a great value for what it is.
  • Review from

    • 6 friends
    • 41 reviews
    Red Bank, NJ
    1/28/2013
    Great little spot on a quiet street.

    Pros: quiet, calm, unpretentious, quartinos of wine rather than glasses,  house montepulciano, white linen tablecloths and napkins, good authentic Italian food without any hype or invasive gourmet ideas.

    Cons: the music was a little weird (classic rock?), and some of the furnishings could be freshened up.
  • Review from

    Brooklyn, NY
    10/31/2012
    MAJOR props to Fagiolini  for being open right after the hurricane!

    Like many people in Manhattan, we were plunged into darkness and woke up to a depressing silence of nothing. No power, no heat, no hot water.

    We went outside to walk around and saw many others scouring the streets for open stores, restaurants, shops,  ANYTHING that was open and sold food. Aside from the nearby wine shop, there were one deli packed with people grabbing stacks of ready-made dishes and snacks. That was it.

    We were lucky enough to walk past Fagiolini's and saw the light was on and people milling around. Aside from the customers dressed in sweats and looking tired, it was like any other day in this place. The staff was smiling and friendly, and they were able to serve their full menu.

    We ordered penne alla vodka with chicken and lasagna. I really enjoyed my penne and would definitely order it again another time. The lasagna was unusual..much more on the meaty/cheesy side than tomato. It was enjoyable, however. I really appreciated how they were able to operate quickly and efficiently even as more and more people began spilling in.

    It really made a difference, being able to sit in a nice comfortable place and order a hot and tasty meal.  Thanks Fagiolini!
  • Review from

    • 25 friends
    • 47 reviews
    Manhattan, NY
    3/31/2013
    I like the atmosphere here. It is a small quaint Italian place. They bring you free bread with olive oil. I had  $5 martini. I had really good lasagna. No pretention.
  • Review from

    • 20 friends
    • 27 reviews
    Derby, CT
    6/26/2012 1 check-in here
    I have mix reviews about this place  - the staff was great. Very friendly  as soon as you walked in. They greet you and help you get settle in a genuine way. The drinks was great - I had a french martini and have decided I like it.  I did ask for vegatables to be included with my dinner which I like that they catered to.

    However, the food was not the best. I was expecting great Italian food. I order clams with pasta... it was blah with no flavor....I did not enjoy at all. Very disappointed.
  • Review from

    Brooklyn, NY
    5/28/2011 1 photo
    Previously known as Domenico's and now called Fagiolini on 40th. Attended an event that was held in their private space towards the back of the restaurant and looks like it fits over 60+ people. Cozy classic European décor, dim lighting, makes this an intimate restaurant.

    Pass around hors d'oeuvres consist of:

    1. Shrimp & Salmon Skewers - Lightly flavored and yet so good.
    2. Spiedini Alla Romana - Mmm... cheesy goodness.
    3. Crudite with Gorgonzola dip - Lots of different raw vegetables on a platter.
    4. Mini Veal Parmigiana - Delizioso!
    5. Homemade Pizza - Perfetto! This was one of my favorites.
    6. Marinated Mozzarella - So so, least favorite of the bunch.

    Impeccable service, there was enough food going around in a nice pace along with unlimited beer, wine, & soda. It's a mature setting and an ideal place for business meetings and gatherings.
    • Fagiolini
  • Review from

    • 40 friends
    • 212 reviews
    New York, NY
    4/18/2006 3 photos First to Review
    Delicious traditional Italian fare with a flair.  Very extensive menu and lots of specials every day.  Comfortable, homey atmosphere.  I've been going there for years; it's perfect for meeting friends near Grand Central.  They have a nice bar up front.

    I've also planned cocktail parties and dinner parties in their private rooms; they do a great job working within budget and everyone has raved about their food and service.
  • Review from

    Brooklyn, NY
    12/10/2009
    Well, being from Brooklyn, I've had my share of Italian food. So, I expected that this would be a big snotty since it is Manhattan. I was pleasantly surprised...

    The staff was great as soon as you walked in. Everyone greeted you and while the coat check girl was on top of you, it was in a genuine way. There was no forced checking and the conversation i made with her seemed genuine.

    On to the food, we were here for a seminar, so the food was mostly selected for us. I got a simple ziti with meat sauce (forgot how to say in italian), along with some bread and butter (which i could eat all day long).

    The food was good enough (especially since I wasnt paying).

    I have no idea what the prices are, but I'd come here again (for free LOL).
  • Review from

    San Francisco, CA
    4/5/2010
    I've NEVER had Food Poisoning Before. Until 2 weeks ago when I had dinner here

    I threw up the whole night and came down with a fever the next day while I was traveling...in NYC! AWFUL.

    Summary:
    My group of 30++ descended on this place and was presented with a set menu of Salmon,Veal or Chicken.

    - I got the Veal in a thick, creamy sauce which really masked the taste of the veal (probably not a bad thing, now that i think about it)
    - Tiramisu- did Not taste like tiramisu. Just a bad cream cake

    I'm not sure what exactly caused my food poisoning at this place- but i KNOW it was something from here because I did not eat Before or After I was here. And it was definitely food poisoning. I threw up, had the runs, and could not eat all day Thursday and most of Friday.
    Gross.
    Will NEVER step into this place again
  • Review from

    • 5 friends
    • 149 reviews
    Bronx, NY
    11/4/2012
    Stopped here for quick dinner- the menu was very small- only about 10-12 items to choose from, it was some kind of special menu for the marathon. Salad/dressing was okay, opted for a simple spaghetti dish and it was pretty good. Biscotti after was well done also. Boyfriend enjoyed his lasagna. Quiet inside, service not bad but seemed to take a little long considering how uncrowded the place was.
  • Review from

    • 10 friends
    • 216 reviews
    New York, NY
    9/17/2007
    Thought this place was OK for Italian, but I have had better.  The service was terrific at this place - waiters in tuxedos who were helpful and don't rush you throughout the meal.

    The menu features a variety of pasta, chicken, steak and fish dishes.  Our table shared the cold asparagus and seafood salad appetizers - both were good.  The seafood salad had shrimp, squid, and octopus all served cold on a bed of lettuce.

    For the entree I had the home made tortelloni, which were a little undercooked and served with a tomato saucse that was too sweet for my liking.  The homemade pappardelle with meat sauce was much better, but again I have had better.  A friend of mine had the Tuscan hanger steak and he said it was delicious - cooked perfectly medium rare.  The chicken scarpariello was very good, as well.

    As far as the desserts, the tiramisu was excellent and the fruit tart good.

    Overall, it was a good meal, but I expect a little more for the price this place charges.
  • Review from

    • 39 friends
    • 6 reviews
    New York, NY
    5/25/2012
    i feel compelled to rate this spot.
    fagiolini is somewhat special.

    go and sit at the bar on a thursday night. maybe take that girl that you've had your eyes on for about a month -- make sure she's got a very good sense of humor.

    i am sorry that i know nothing about the food; i can definitely vouch for the authenticity of their jameson and the cuteness of the glass they are served in. i've gathered, however, that the food seems to be very traditional and delicious -- so there's that.

    also, they close early. awesomely so.

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