RafeleWe went to Rafele for theWe went to Rafele for the first time on Father's day for brunch and we had a wonderful time. The food was delicious. We especially liked that the menu for brunch was more than just your typical egg and french toast choices. They had a full menu with pastas and fish and chicken and steak. We are definitely going to go back again and bring our friends.6/16/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat for group of 6My group of 6 dined outside on a Friday evening. The service and food was spectacular. The appetizers came in waves which delighted the group. Their fried artichokes are to die for as are the gnocchi. I haven't had a bad item on the menu. Portions are nicely sized - you could easily order a few apps and an entree and have room for dessert. Overall great experience. I will be back.6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMwhat a nice surprise!!!tried this spot, a little out of the main scene......but well worth it!!!! Food, wine and atmosphere. they have a great patio as well. Can't wait to go back.6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMThe best Southern ItalianThe best Southern Italian cuisine with a flair in the West Village if not in all of Manhattan.6/12/2013 12:00:00 AMThe Noise Level is reallyThe Noise Level is really Intense. The food is great butter noise acoustics are deafening!!!6/12/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food & atmosphere!Second trip to New York in a month. Second trip to Rafele! The food is excellent. Great Italian gem.6/10/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfect place to eat west side NYCGreat food, atmosphere, and location. Loved everything. thanks.6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMThe ambiance is fantastic,The ambiance is fantastic, the restaurant is super cute. The food is good, nothing blow your mind amazing, but definitely a solid great meal.6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMHow is Rafele not completely packedRafele serves creative Italian dishes. Outstanding service with a welcoming atmosphere. The pasta is perfectly cooked and the vegetables very fresh. My wife and I ate here twice during our stay and it was wonderful both times.6/2/2013 12:00:00 AMAuthentic Italian at its bestRafele is one of the best restaurants to swing this way in NYC. The appetizers - Arancini, Burrata,Meatballs and Fried Artichoke are splendid. The homemade pastas are to die for and the Secondi items are mouth-watering. The service has always been good and we love sitting by the long kitchen bar. The best is the cheesecake! I don't like cheesecake but this is the best ever! Go for the food and you'll stay long for the pure joy of feeling good in the ambiance.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat timeI found the restaurant after doing a search for good italian restaurants in NYC. This one had good reviews and was in a fun area so thought we'd give it a try. We went with a group of people including a few clients. We all had a wonderful time. The food was exceptional as was the service. Our waiter was a gorgeous Italian man. He played along when we asked him to say our clients name just so she could hear it with his beautiful Italian accent. Ordered the cheesecake as per another reviewers recommendation and it did not disappoint. Would highly recommend.5/30/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful food, lovely peopleWonderful food, lovely people that work there. A true neighborhood gem for the West Village!5/28/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways a hitI took my best friend to Rafele for her birthday and the staff was wonderful! The entire meal was fantastic and we finished it off w a lovely piece of cheesecake (w candle of course) which they didn't even charge us for. I will be back again very soon.5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat restaurantWent there with a short notice and was pleasantly surprised. Delicious food served in friendly surroundings5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMfood like Grandma'sFast, efficient, service, and excellent, well seasoned quality dishes make this restaurant a real find. The open kitchen layout makes you feel like you're at Grandma"s house,with food to match. The prices seem reasonable for the quality.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMRafeleI had one of the best pasta dishes I've ever eaten at this restaurant. Service was impeccable - once our server found out we were out of towners he gave us complimentary dessert and after dinner wine. Can't wait to go back!5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMBravo Rafele!Second visit, the first producing a "meh" review a few months ago. This time, much different. I'm just back from Rome and Ravello, having had at least one daily ration of pasta at "the source". My Tuesday night pasta dish (with funghi, truffle infusion) at Rafele was clearly superior to anything I had over 9 days in any of several terrific Rome and Ravello restaurants, hands down. And, the calamari appetizer was outstanding as well. Bravo Rafele! Return visits are in order.5/21/2013 12:00:00 AMWhat a gemI found this restaurant through Trip Advisor for my birthday lunch while on holidays this month in NYC. We had such a nice time. The hosts were so friendly and hospitable, and the food is exceptional. The restaurant is very pleasant, with a terrific open kitchen. It is a relaxed vibe, which I prefer over stuffy venues, but the food is fine dining. The menu is not extensive, they focus on a few things and do them exceptionally well. We liked it so much we went back there the following two evenings, and so got to sample many items on the menu! We will be back when next in New York. Rafele's would suit everyone from small groups to couples, to families.5/19/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious Mom's Kitchen Italian!Rafele's dishes tasted like they came straight out of Mom's kitchen. The service was sub-par, but that didn't matter b/c the food was so darn good. Don't go if you are in a hurry, but GO if you want amazing italian food!5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMFantastic experienceWonderful find..from the moment we entered the service was top class. Excellent menu, all delicious, great atmosphere and extensive wine list. Would highly recommend. Prior to arriving I had advised them we would be celebrating my friends 40th birthday. The staff went out of their way to make this a special occasion for her5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfect in every way. FoodPerfect in every way. Food was fabulous, great wine list and wonderful service.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMMy Fav Restaurant in the W VillageAnother wonderful meal at Rafele! This has become my go to restaurant in the west village and all who I have brought rave about the food! I love everything but especially the carciofi (artichokes), arancini (rice balls), melanzana (eggplant parmigiana) and the pasta amatriciana....and let's not forget the AMAZING ricotta cheesecake!! Rafele is an authentic Italian restaurant and I have yet to go when I do not hear that lovely language being spoken by staff and patrons--a true sign that it's authentic! The staff are lovely and always make me feel special. Definitely give this place a try, you won't be disappointed!5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMgreat dinner!We came here for dinner on a friday night and were seated downstairs because we were a big group.
The food was great!
Everyone enjoyed their meal.
It's a little bit loud though.
margarita pizza was fantastic.
the roasted chicken was great too!5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat value in NYI've eaten at a lot of Italian restaurants all over the world, and I rate Rafele a 4. The food was excellent, but it wasn't outstanding. However, the prices were very reasonable for a NY restaurant....great value. Great atmosphere and location in Greenwich Village area.5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMHad to keep changing the timeHad to keep changing the time for a party of 7 because of flight delays for some guests. The staff was very accommodating and even stored some luggage since we didn't have time to get to the hotel before dinner. My husband accidently left his Visa card there and when we retrieved it the next day, the bartender refused to take any money. Dinner was great and we would definitely return5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat good in casual settingExcellent service, nice to split a pasta and entree so that we can try a few things without eating too much. Extremely loud though to the point of aost not being able to hold a conversation.5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMConsistenly GoodI love this restaurant and all the people who work here are genuinely friendly and helpful. They have a better than decent
house wine. Prices are excellent, and the value exceeds the prices. My fav is the appetizer grilled octopus.
Their grilled fish is excellent, the rice balls are amazing better than home made. The decor makes you feel like your in Italy.4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMHad an excellent lunch hereHad an excellent lunch here with a friend; Angelo the waiter was very attentive; food was superb!4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMAfter many visits the experienceAfter many visits the experience is still as good as ever.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMFantastic food, everythingFantastic food, everything we ordered was excellent, great service. Only problem is the acoustics: the place is awfully loud.4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful antipasti and pasta.Wonderful antipasti and pasta. The caponata that comes with the bread is to die for!4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat foodAlways happy to eat at Rafele. The pasta dishes are as good as anything in Italy.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMOur waiter was very attentiveOur waiter was very attentive to our selection which was Paleo based. Fun place, we had best spot inside in middle of Restuarant. We will be back.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food and Service.Excellent food and Service. Artichoke appetizer was great. The pasta was delicious.
The waiter was friendly. courteous and helpful.4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMWhat a nice surprise! GreatWhat a nice surprise! Great cocktails, delicious food in a relaxed atmosphere made comfortable by charming and attentive, but never overbearing, staff. Real Italians (as in, from Italy) always dining here -- a good sign. Will definitely go back.4/11/2013 12:00:00 AMThe West Village has manyThe West Village has many of the outstanding restaurants in a city of many outstanding restaurants and Rafele is among the top tier of these restaurants.4/8/2013 12:00:00 AMCheck it out.Great place in the West Village for groups or couples. Food was fantastic, great prices and servers are very knowledgeable and friendly. Definitely worth the visit. Also have a gluten free menu.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMOnce again a delicious dinner!Once again a delicious dinner! The tasting menu allowed me to try a number of dishes I wouldn't normally order and all were great. The roasted cauliflower salad and mussels and shrimp appetizer were surprise highlights! Our waiter Piero was wonderful and definitely made us feel most welcome. I will return with friends soon!4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMI loved the food, the atmosphere,I loved the food, the atmosphere, and the staff at Rafele. Our server was very helpful and the chef was welcoming and friendly as well! We had the tasting menu and could not pick a favorite dish, as everything was so delicious. Every course was wonderful - we will definitely return!4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMA Gem.Outstanding food, very good service.
Has a nice neighborhood feel with forward-looking, contemporary Italian cuisine.4/1/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat!What a wonderful place! We were a group of eight and had a round table in the corner. The food was super and service just as well. We weren't rushed either.
Wonderful experience!3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMTop 3 Italian food in all of NYCAbsolutely amazing. The food is easily top 3 Italian in all of Manhattan (right up there with Il Mulino). My girlfriend and I had the meatballs and fried artichokes for appetizers and then had 2 amaaaaaazing pasta dishes.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMI went to Bar RafeleIf you want to enjoy a reasonably priced meal at a downtown NYC Italian restaurant, Bar Rafele is an excellent choice. The food and overall settings were excellent. The service was a little slow – but that only seemed that way because we were very thirsty. I’ll be going back.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMA terrific addition to the hoodIf only for the fried zucchini, it's worth going. The Margarita pizza is as good as the one I had in Naples. The branzini and seafood stew are excellent. The place is nicely done with an open kitchen, feels friendly and is reasonably priced. We are happy to have it in the neighborhood and go often.3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMVery attractive, relativeVery attractive, relative newcomer in the West Village. Excellent fixed price lunch; service very good; attentive and friendly chef.3/25/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food, great wine, goodGreat food, great wine, good service. A liitle on the loud side but not that big of a deal.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMThis place was great and IThis place was great and I will definitely go back when I'm in the area again. I needed a good restaurant in this area to make a reservation for a group of 8 from out of town. I wanted to give them good food in a good ambiance where it wouldn't be too noisy so that we could have a good conversation. Rafele exceeded my expectations in all areas: the food was delicious, the service was great, and our party had an excellent time.3/19/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food! The calamariExcellent food! The calamari was the best I have ever had. Overall, interesting tastes and pleasant staff.3/13/2013 12:00:00 AMItaly n NYCGreat authentic Italain food in an attractive but unpretentious setting. Everything we ate was carefully prepared, well balanced and not overly salted or otherwise exaggerated. The food is very close to what I have had n food adventures in Italy. Raffaele, the chef, is there because it is an open kitchen, and he is very warm and friendly. This place is a find. Forgot to say we could hear each other talk, always a plus in a popular restaurant.1/16/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat service and foodThank you for the wonderful service! I meant to write a review sooner but I have been busy.1/1/0001 4:00:00 PM