La MasseriaVery good but skip dessertWe were very pleased with our meals - we both had fish specials. The mozzarella appetizer and homemade breads were delicious. The only thing that was sub-par was dessert. We shared the apple tart and the crust was chewy when it should have been flaky. The apples were just okay - but I suppose that it really isn't apple season. Perhaps they shouldn't have apple tart on the menu when it isn't apple season.6/10/2013 12:00:00 AMVero italianoAs a Brazilian diplomat, grandson of Italian immigrants, I have always appreciated Italian food, and visited, innumerable times, most provinces and main cities of the Italian peninsula, including Sicily and some islands.
I cannot say that I like Italian food (not only cuisine, but also cheese and wines), because I love Italian gastronomy (and many other Italian things).
So, everywhere I look for a "vero italiano", whenever I want to have a good meal.
The problem, here in the USA, is that are too many American-Italian restaurants (which have a special "American" way to degenerate Italian cuisine), there are plenty of "Italian-American" restaurants, and perhaps to few italiani veri.
La Masseria is a vero italiano, so I intend to visit again.6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMService was EXCELLENT. OurService was EXCELLENT. Our waiter helped us through the menu to order appetizers, salad, pasta & entrée that went together and that we would be able to share. The food was EXCELLENT. The sauces were exquisite and the pounded veal chop was unbelievable. GREAT Chianti.6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMWhat a Find!I needed a place to bring my family to lunch as they were in town for a visit. My mother is hard to impress so I wasn't sure where to go. I chose this place on a friends' recommendation and I was pleasantly surprised. The interior is adorable althought seemed to be a bit on the loud side. We waited for outdoor seats. I don't think you can go wrong with this menu. We ordered several appetizers and I had a tasting of everyone's entree. Grilled fish was cooked to perfection. Gnocchi soft buttery pillows of delight. Whole wheat pasta dish was even impressive which can sometimes be lackluster. This place is amazing. My mother was impressed and I will be back for sure.6/5/2013 12:00:00 AMservice is being sacrificedI love the food at La Masseria and have always, previously, enjoyed the whole experience. But, after this Wednesday, I will not be back. First, I walked in at 10 minutes to 12 (with reservation for four at 12). I asked to be seated and was told to stand at the bar until the rest of my party arrived - I objected and was grudgingly shown to a table where I had to beg for water. BUT the worst was saved for later - we were four women with four credit cards and the waiter refused to take more than two per table. I complained to the manager and he said "OK, we'll take four this time but never again" (not very pleasant). I said not to worry - I am not coming back. This is a real attitude problem for a not inexpensive restaurant.6/5/2013 12:00:00 AMHomemade RavioliWith a yummy tomato cream sauce...simple but excellent!6/3/2013 12:00:00 AMLa Masseria is a "keeper"The only problem we hadt this time is that we were seated at a rather small table for two--the better tables for two are along the wall--since we were really "on top of" our neighbors at the tables on either side of us.
Otherwise, this is one of our favorites in the theater district.5/29/2013 12:00:00 AMI have dined at this restaurantI have dined at this restaurant many times and have always found the food to be very good and the service to be outstanding.5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMExceptional ServiceThe food was great, but the service was outstanding!5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMHas Everything Going For ItFood is fabulous. 4 of us recently had lunch here and we all raved about our dishes. Some of the dishes we tried were the salmon, the veal chop, and the prawns. We also had their own made mozzarella and their thinly sliced raw beef.
They have a nice wine list and we also had their limoncello which was the smoothest that I have ever had.
Desserts were equally wonderful. Between the ricotta cheese cake, the chocolate cake, and the berries with the passion fruit sorbet we enjoyed every bite and every drink of this neighborhood gem.
Service was superb too! We will return!5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMSpectacularSo enjoyed the variety of voices on the menu. The pasta was perfect and the sauces delightfully tasty without being over seasoned5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMA Cut Above Usual Times Square FareI was taken to lunch at La Masseria several months ago and knew I had found a "go to" place for the next time I found myself in the Times Square area again.
Last week a business colleague and I went to dinner at La Masseria and as I had expected, we were not disappointed.
The food was superb, the wine was excellent, the service was perfect. I strongly suggest you try some of their homemade pasta - be it fettuccine or ravioli, as part of your meal. But everything is delicious. We also shared a prosciutto/melon appetizer that was unbelievable. The prosciutto melted in your mouth. Not the salty stuff you find way too often at other restaurants.
Excellent meal. I highly recommend this restaurant for lunch or dinner.5/23/2013 12:00:00 AMNot a Very Well Kept Secret GemEvery table was spoken for, and I now see why. This is such a popular restaurant, there was a woman standing there begging for a table when I came in for my reservation . The Maitre d was trying so hard to be so nice to this woman who had missed her reservation that they were booked and COULDN'T seat her as she wished. They were able to accommodate her with a seat at the bar.
I had the bocconcini Del Pollo Ciabattino and would highly recommend it.5/22/2013 12:00:00 AMWe really love this place.We really love this place. Open later after theatre. Excellent Italian food and sonderful service. Everything is fresh. Good wine list. Al dente pasta.5/21/2013 12:00:00 AMA safe bet pre theatergood food, good service, nice ambiance- can't go wrong!5/19/2013 12:00:00 AMWhat a place!From the second we walked in the experience was top notch only seconded by the great food. I have already recommended it to friends.5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMConsistentLa Masseria never disappoints. Food is always high quality and service is attentive.5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat findFabulous lunch. Food was excellent. Wine was a good choice5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMBest Cheesecake ever!We love the food, but never miss the custard ricotta cheesecake!!!
Service is the best.5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent find!The are just west of Times Square has many restaurants that are built for the one-time visitor: tight quarters, fast service (to get you to the theater and/or turn tables), and barely mediocre food. While tables are very close and the menu prices are above market for the area, the food at La Masseria is very good and the service is attentive. This is one of few in the area that is worth returning to.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMMemorable Mother's DayWe were greeted immediately by our waiter with an energetic and sincere "Happy Mother's Day!" His service and that of auxiliary staff were impeccable from that point on. We enjoyed lovely spinach salads with pear and gorgonzola; the grilled salmon was cooked to perfection; linguini with clams also excellent; pasta with eggplant and smoked mozzarella very good, although heavy. Cappuccinos and delicate Italian cheesecake ended what was truly a memorable Mother's Day meal at LaMasseria. We will be back for sure, and as soon as possible!5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMOne the best in theater districtIts hard to find much better that is as close to theaters as this fine restaurant. It would be good anywhere in the city--bvut it is great in the theater district5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMHomemade pasta to die for!My husband and I went to La Masseria for dinner with our two adult daughters, who are both pasta junkies! We had the taglietelle bolognese, ravioli and fettucini with eggplant and smoked mozzarella, My husband ordered the chicken and sausage dish. Everyting was amazing! Prices were vere reasonable as well (except for the burrata, which was a special appetizer that night and we shared. It was $34 for one order ! Delicious, but holy smokes!!)
Our server didn't miss a thing, and was always there when we needed him. We have dined here before on Sunday, after the theater, and the restaurant was much quieter - it can get pretty loud on a Saturday night. This would not keep me from returning, and I look forward to our next visit!5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMGood pre-theater choice. LovelyGood pre-theater choice. Lovely service, ambience.5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food and service.Excellent food and service. Very attentive wait staff. Very positive after theatre dining experience. Not rushed at all.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent "countryside" ItalianWent before a show... Got there a few minutes before they opened (12) and was invited in and to the bar even though I was early. Everything was great.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfect Pre-Theatre LunchMy mother and I had lunch here before a Saturday matinee around the corner. I reserved this restaurant on Open Table read reviews on Tripadvisor. It's a beautifully designed open floor plan and we were greeted and seated immediately. The decor is slightly rustic but elegant. My partner ordered veal with artichokes and I had the special, which was sauteed soft shell crabs. Both dishes came with a spinach medley and potatoes. The food was absolutely delicious - we were both very happy. Since we had to get to the theatre, we didn't order dessert. Maybe next time. I will be returning to La Masseria on my next visit to the theatre and I reccomend that you try it. It's a bit pricey, but it's typical for New York. Well worth a visit.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat before or after a showThis is the second time we ate at La Masseria .Everything was great ,Food,Service etc .WE travel to NYC several times a month to see a show and have dinner or lunch .This restaurant is one of our favorites .
Mike and Naia Penik5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMTruly a great find!We had such a wonderful lunch experience at this lovely italian restaurant in the theater district. We were greated warmly and taken straight to a nicely set table. Our waiter was warm and engaging. The menu had so many nice choices, we decided to share 2 staters and share a main course. The kitchen split our orders for us and the presentation was equally nice. The food was delicious and very reasonably priced! Our experience was a total 10!!!5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMExtrodinary Tuscan FareA rare gem in the Theater District. Incredibly fresh and quality ingredients. Great service. Great wine selection. Consistent quality.
Probably the best choice for food in the Theatre district.4/29/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat restaurant in the heartGreat restaurant in the heart of the theater district. Food and service are all top notch and always wonderful.4/28/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food and serviceA friend recommended La Masseria to us. It is her favorite restaurant. We had a 7:45 reservation and got there at 7:30. Although the restaurant was crowded with theater goers we were able to be seated right away. From the moment we sat down we were treated like old friends. The staff was extremely attentive even though it was crowded. We never felt neglected. The food was very tatsty as well. Their pastas are homemade and you can taste the difference. We had a wonderful meal and will certainly be back and will recommend La Masseria to our friends.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMVery niceItalianWe were a group of 8, originally 6 but "crammed" two more around a six-topper at the last minute. I had a roasted whole sea bass. Was not a great entree, but a good one. Pricey. Whole grilled sea bream looked a lot more appealing. My s/o had salmon which she deemed excellent. An Antinori Peppoli was enjoyed by all, appropriate depth for the meals. Service was great, and they were very accommodating when we showed up as a group of eight. Good that we called ahead to change the number of diners.. Reservations are a must!4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had an excellent experience.We had an excellent experience. Everything from the service to the food to the ambiance was more than we could have asked for. The food was delicious! Nobody in our small group left hungry. Our waiter was prompt and very helpful.. The tiramisu was a great end to a lovely dinner.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent ItalianI've been here twice during my travels to NYC. The food never disappoints and although it is a small restaurant, I love the atmosphere.4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMI have always enjoyed ourI have always enjoyed our visits to this wonderful restaurant. The food is excellent along with the service. One point though and no big deal. When ordering the bronzini (probably spelled it wrong) fish it would be fun to see how they de-bone the fish. Have seen it done at the table before and it is interesting to watch.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMFood Service Ambiance gr8.Food Service Ambiance gr8. Definitely go back. Especially if @ theatre4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMWent after seeing a play onWent after seeing a play on broadway. We had a 10:30pm reservation, we arrived early and the restaurant was still crowded so we had a drink at the bar. The menu is wonderful and not the usual italian fare and the specials are equally as interesting. I had the Buratta app which is fantstic, possibly the best I have had outside Italy and the Chicken / Sausage Mushroom entree was rich and flavorful, both are regular menu items. Can't wait to go back. I have recommended this restaurant before and everyone that has gone has equally enjoyed it.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMI did not know what to expectI did not know what to expect but it was amazing. I was not disappointed with this restaurant. The food was fresh, the ambiance, lovely. I will definitely go back to this restaurant.4/17/2013 12:00:00 AMOpen table reservation wasn'tOpen table reservation wasn't on their system. Fortunately the concierge was able to see us. The food as usual was excellent.4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat all around...Great all around....We were seated quickly, waitstaff was knowledgeable and friendly and the food came out fast even though the place was packed... Only critique I can offer is to add a kids menu but I also must say that the kitchen and waitstaff are very accommodating and will make something kid friendly if they have the ingredients. They went out of their way and made us a great Chicken Parmesan dish that wasn't on the menu!4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMAGeFirst visit to NYC and this was a great find. Traditional Italian restaurant setting.4/15/2013 12:00:00 AMFantasticFelt like we were back in Italy! Fantastic food and our waiter was great.
Would go back again next time we're in the city.4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMNot to be missed dining experience!La Masseria was truly a special experience. Besides the food being outstanding, there was a sense of true caring about their customers. The staff was so accommodating and seemed genuinely proud of their restaurant.4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMvery nice menu and wine list.very nice menu and wine list. laid back and clam. an excellent choice for a leisurely lunch.4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMMy friends and I went hereMy friends and I went here for lunch before a matinee theater show and we weren't disappointed. The service was attentive yet not overbearing.The food was delicious and the portions were more than enough. Everything was fresh and homemade. The restaurant itself was rustic and welcoming and the decor was authentic and not overdone. Definitely will stop again when it's a little warmer so we can dine outside. Would highly recommend as a go to spot in the theater district.4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMFabulously fresh pasta.Fabulously fresh pasta. Loved the atmosphere.
Will definitely come back for after show dinner.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat choice for dinner!Great for pre-theater dinner when you are in the Broadway district. Very attentive wait staff and excellent bar tender.
Food was served hot and everything was delicious, especially the liver dish! Cannoli dessert was the weakest link. It was too frou - frou and not true to its Italian roots.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMMy favorite restaurant forMy favorite restaurant for before Theatre...The food is so fresh and delicious...The staff is so congenial and charming and efficient and this adds to the experience...And they do not rush you...they have perfect timing.
Love this place!!!!4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMOur waiter was very knowledgeableOur waiter was very knowledgeable and friendly. Food was served in a timely fashion and we were able to get to our show in plenty of time. We loved our pasta dishes and will definitely go back to eat there again.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AM