Convivium Osteria

11/30/09

The Truth about Convivium

by etgiuliano at Citysearch

The homophobe comment made by another poster is ridiculous. I am gay and I have been going to Convivium with my boyfriend for years now. I have gotten to know the owners and many of the employees. They are the opposite of homophobes, if there's a word for that. Foodwise, Convivium is probably the best restaurant in Park Slope. They seem to really care about getting the highest quality organic ingrediants available.

11/24/09

Great food but poor service

by eugenek at Citysearch

Had a Sunday night dinner with a group of 6 of my friends. We didn’t have a reservation but the place wasn't crowded and we got a table set up for us in 10 minutes. The food was wonderful. Every single dish that we ordered was superb - and for a group of 6 we ordered half of the menu. We really liked the atmosphere and decor of the restaurant-- it was very well put together. Wine was excellent as well. Most of the patrons appeared to be in their mid 50's and 60's, hence I wouldn’t call this a trendy place. However, the age of the patrons is a clear testament to the great quality of the food. Service, however, left a lot to be desired. The waiter was so rude, as to outright laugh at the questions of some of my friends and acted as if he were doing us a favor by serving us. When our party chose to leave de-minimus gratuity in response to poor service, we were rudely accosted by the waiter. I honestly don't understand why do some people expect to be paid well if they do a poor job? I realize that its a tough job, but a huge part of it is CUSTOMER SERVICE (which is what deserves additional gratuity, in my view). Bottom line, we are unlikely to come back to Convivuum, because there are plenty of places in Brooklyn with comparably excellent quality of food but better service.

• Pros: amazing ambiance, great food, beautiful rustic decor
• Cons: aweful service

09/08/09

Awful service - homophobic?

by CSMobileUser at Citysearch

I have heard great things about this place from friends for years. I took my boyfriend there for dinner and was horrified by the extremely rude wait staff. I got a very strong homophobic vibe from the men working there. I asked several times when making a reservation and at the restaurant itself if they could give us a nicer table since it was my boyfriend's birthday. When we appeared they were even ruder than on the phone and shoved us in the corner at a table we had to share with others.

I could undestand if they were slammed but that did not excuse our rude and unhelpful waiter.

The food was indeed wonderful. but if you are gay, you would be wise to skip this spot. Not romantic in the least.

The people who rave about this place are straight. I wonder if any gay couples have had a good time there?

08/19/09

love, love, love

by QueenTBone77 at Citysearch

love it. miss living in park slope!

• Pros: great atmosphere - romantic, good food
• Cons: small

02/19/09

Wonderful Experience

by Gabriela1218 at Citysearch

There are few restaurants I can think of as enjoyable to dine in as Convivium Osteria. I have been eating here for quite some time and have had nothing but consistent, favorable experiences from the moment I walk in. Everything from the romantic ambience to the mouthwatering food to the excellent service make this restaurant unique and unforgettable. The grilled baby octopus appetizer, seafood tapas, and whole roasted sea bass are beyond delicious! The extensive wine list, with wine from Spain, Portugal, and Italy, is an added bonus, offering something for everyone. Even the music sets the right tone and makes you feel like you are far away from the hustle and bustle of urban living. This restaurant is in a class of its own, in my opinion. It is by far my favorite restaurant in NYC and never fails to delight me. Leave room for the delectable desserts!

• Pros: ambience, food
• Cons: there could be a wait

02/15/09

Awful Service, Lackluster Food

by MikeGevertz at Citysearch

The service at this restaurant is absolutely abominable!!! While the decor may be nice, do not expect the same from the staff. The food was equally horrible with poor timing. The entire meal made me uncomfortable.

• Pros: None
• Cons: Rude Service, Poor Food

11/03/08

best restaurant ever

by diankiny at Citysearch

amazing food, great decor, great service

cheese plate is great, wine selection and any entree and/or appetizer is simply wonderful. i highly recommend.

• Pros: great food, fresh and tasteful
• Cons: none... would be better if would be cheaper

10/26/08

If service with a smile is important to you, don't come here

by jpayres75 at Citysearch

Convivium Osteria has amazing decor and a natural neighborhood feel. The food is worth a trip, but unfortunately, the service overshadows anything positive the establishment has to offer. I wish I had his name, but the man (not too tall, thin, partially going bald) is rude, snobbish, and has ruined our past two experiences there. We won't be going back. I would suggest Ai Di La as an Italian alternative or Miriam as a Middle Eastern alternative, in the neighborhood.

• Pros: atmosphere
• Cons: service

03/22/08

Not sure about food, but . . .

by jomar72 at Citysearch

Just a quick comment: I have never been to this restaurant and am at the moment considering a visit partially based on the reviews posted here. Thank you to those who have stuck to the topic at hand: is the food good? for those who are using Citysearch restaurant reviews as forum to vent about a break-up over aloof italian waitstaff, that is what therapists are for. Seriously people, as a service to other readers, please try to write about something that is remotely relevant to the restaurant.

12/14/07

Perfetto!

by danlee1095 at Citysearch

After having lived 4 years in the Slope and recently (sadly) moved out, and never having dined at Convivium (the walk from 9th St. always brought us to Al di La when when felt like a special treat), I can honestly say that we really missed out on something special! I'm not intending to take away from Al di La by comparison, which remains a NY favorite, our dining experience last night was just perfect. As a group of 4 walk-ins, we were sat in the cellar, which at first seemed unnecessary; however, fate has a funny way of rewarding you. The setting was ethereal and brought us right back to Italy, Croatia, Spain, you name it (and I've now also become obsessed with turning my basement of our new home into a replica). I won't get into reviewing the food excessively b/c you can tell from other posts that it's incredible (and it was - each of us had a different entree - outstanding). What a great night! Grazie mille!

• Pros: Ambiance, Food, Wine List, Cellar-Seating
• Cons: There isn't one in Port Washington!