Aliseo Osteria del Borgo

03/19/09

What would the dining room at home feel like if you what wou

by CSMobileUser at Citysearch

When my wife, who is Italian is feeling homesick this where we head. Until the kitchen opened here going out to dinner for Italian food was not an option. Home cooking was available only in our own kitchen. Thanks to the staff here, and especially Albano, we can satify our spirits and our love of food at "Aliseo." You must try it, if only to satisfy your longing for authentic Italian food

11/22/08

i love this place!

by dabble at Citysearch

This place is so romantic. A true gem. the lighting and decor is charming, the food is wonderful. great recommendations and friendly waiter. i love the little grotto in the back.

• Pros: romantic, great food, friendly
• Cons: small space, not inexpensive

12/25/07

'special treat' dinner

by copinions at Citysearch

We love good food and cook very well and elaborate ourselves, but this is where we go for that special dinner every now and then. We love the atmosphere (like sitting in someones livingroom), always enjoy the service and expert advice on what to eat and drink with it and always leave feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.

The food is exceptional in taste and very well executed (love all those different vegetable flans). The wine selection is great, we have always relied on the suggestions and we have never once had a bad one.

The squid dishes are all lovely and you have to try the stinky cheese plate, if as appetizer or as desert.

Highly recommended. We'll keep on coming back.

Oh, and we came once without a reservation, were asked to return in 20 minutes and when we did, they served us prosecco on the house to make up for the inconvenience.

Lovely, one of a kind.

12/20/07

you'll swear you were in italy!

by withstrawberries at Citysearch

My boyfriend and I had been meaning to try this restaurant for some time because we now live in the neighborhood. When I walk down Vanderbilt Ave in the day, I'll peer through the window, and I regularly see the chef rolling fresh pasta. We'll, we went to dinner last week and I can say that it was the best italian food we've ever had in NY. We have traveled in Italy a couple of times, and have tried many of the italian restaurants in our neighborhood. We can confidently say that it is better than Al Di La, Franny's or Locanda. This restaurant is not just authetic, it is exceptional!

We started with a delicious parsnip soup with pancetta, as well as the freshest arugula and endive salad. We then shared a lasagna with duck ragu which was one of the most delicious dishes I've ever had. As our main courses, we had a roasted pork shank with rosemary potatoes, and Branzino with roasted fennel- both perfection. If you go, make sure to try the Zuppa Inglese for dessert and have your waitress recommend a dessert wine.

In addition, the service was warm and knowledgeable. Our waitress recommended a bottle of Rosso Conero (a region we weren't familiar with) that was perfect for our food and a good value too. (The wine list is extensive and is specific to the Marche region, so ask your server for recommendations)

The room is intimate and romantic, a perfect spot to take your date. There are eclectic lighting fixtures, lots of wine bottles and candles, and beautiful wall treatments and family heirlooms dotting the room. It is all complimented by italian music and a bilingual (english and italian) staff.

Many thanks to the owner for offering a culinary gem to the neighborhood!

• Pros: ambiance, service, food
• Cons: limited coffee selection

11/01/07

overrated food, arrogant "chef"

by the_visitor at Citysearch

we had reservations for 8 pm. showed up at 7:50, waited until 9 PM for our table, with NO apologies. we stood outside in the cold, and for compensation we were given wine in DIXIE CUPS. nothing was comped for our troubles, and to top it off, the owner insulted me when he found out my relatives were from southern italy, a standard "no no" for the northern italian snobs. shockingly bad, all around. the average food didn't make it any better.

09/22/07

Prospect Heights' Best Kept Secret

by rebkline at Citysearch

I'm a little hesitant to write this review, because by nature it reveals my best kept Prospect Heights secret; Aliseo. But alas, my commitment to its success trumps my urge to keep it mine forever. So without further ado, here is my review:

Aliseo for me resides on the same playing field as the revolutionary Chez Panisse and the attentive Per Se. Yet, what makes this restaurant special are two particular details: its prices and its size.

As a graduate student, I am able to experience royalty once per week without feeling as though I have just committed another year of my life to loans.

Aliseo also sits about 25 human beings at once, which means that intimacy comes with the territory.

The bottom line is that if you are looking for spectacular food, wine that tastes as though it were crafted for your plate specifically, while feeling as though you were at home at the same time, take a night out and dine at Aliseo.

Just don't tell anyone else!

:)

07/21/07

Very pretty place

by frescoto at Citysearch

Really liked this restaurant. From our pasta dishes to our sea food dishes to the homemade desserts, Aliseo was spot on throughout. We liked the wine selections as well and the waitstaff was very helpful and attentive.DO NOT leave without trying the pecorino cheese panacota with red wine cured figs

• Pros: Romantic

07/18/07

Best Restaurant Ever

by foodlover200707 at Citysearch

If you are looking for a "great" place this is it. The staff makes you feel comfortable as soon as you walk through the door. I went here last night to celebrate my birthday with my sister in law and loved the place as soon as we walked through the door, a lovely smell hits you, a great detail. we were seated immediately and had plate after plate of amazing food brought to us over the space of an hour and a half. The pastas are hearty and delicious, the salads are fresh and inventive we didn't feel rushed and the waiter was pleased to answer all our questions about each dish.Dinner at Aliseo was a nice, relaxing night out.Their food will melt in your mouth! It just might be the best Italian food without being in Italy!

• Pros: Fresh and Very tasty food
• Cons: Absolutely nothing

07/06/07

Expensive for a neighborhood Italian

by TravelGirl35 at Citysearch

My boyfriend and I had dinner there one night last month and initially received a lot of attention from the waiter (too much, he didn't know when to stop talking and was slightly arrogant), until it got busier - then we were left alone for a very long time! The bread was delicious, the salads were very fresh, our pasta dishes were good and the tiramisu was excellent - but none of it was worth the prices. At the end of our meal, the waiter told us we must try a certain dessert wine and rushed off to get it for us, which normally indicates it's on the house. However, he charged us for one glass. Other tables were also getting the dessert wine offered and we wondered if they were also charged. Overall, if it were less expensive, we'd return, but there are other as good, cheaper Italian restaurants in Brooklyn.

• Pros: fresh food, nice wine
• Cons: expensive for what it is, arrogant waiter

05/06/07

Real Italian, Daily made Pasta

by upth at Citysearch

This little place is spectacular, not only for the delicious food, spectacular choices of wine, but for the neighborhoods atmosphere. everybody seems to know the owner, and although crowded [reservations required] the place feel like someones home. thumbs up!

• Pros: romantic neighborly ambiance with inexpensive gormet dining. in manhattan this would cost three times the price!
• Cons: packed. tight but the friendly atmosphere makes it comfortable