Alessa Cucina & Bar Reviews

Our server Anna was a gem. She answered all our questions and made helpful and informed recommendations. Based on her suggestion I ordered the focaccia bread appetizer and the chickory salad. Both were incredible and I should have just stopped there. The salad came in a large bowl and despite my best efforts I couldn’t eat it all (although I wanted to!) The bread was equally delicious and I couldn’t eat all of that either (although I tried and that probably filled me up too much for the pasta course). The ambience was pleasant, the pace leisurely and the presentation of the excellent food pleasing.

The space was clean spacious & beautiful newly renovated restaurant with immaculate bathrooms . The food was surprisingly delicious with beautiful presentation. The appetizers and the main course were excellent . Not a stuffy place but had a cool vibe. The music choice could be better in my opinion. But I understand the younger crowd appreciates that genre of music. The espresso and cappuccino were hot and very attentive waiting staff. Sophie was fantastic as our server. Will definitely come back.

So good! Homemade pasta was delicious. Really great cocktail menu - I had a limoncello spritz that was great. The burrata appetizer with the figs and honey was amazing as was the salad (not sure how a salad could be so good but it had pearl couscous and the most delicious roasted chicken!). Space was beautiful and convenient to MSG. Service was great, too. Highly recommended if you’re looking for delicious food before a show at the Garden!

We needed a (very) early pre-theatre dinner and our expectations in the Garment District are, well, circumscribed. Alessa, however, greatly exceeded our expectations. The restaurant is very spacious — almost like an event space, with a noisier and brighter area up front near the bar with tables mostly for 2. Now this area is a legit dining area with a very wide floor space between two rows of tables, giving a sense of space that is the opposite of a usual at-the-bar dining experience. In the back there is a smaller, darker and quieter area mostly with 4 top tables. A lot of effort and money went into decor, and it works. Food was very good throughout. Foccacia — something I have come to dread in the hands of most restaurants, yet I keep trying and coming back for more — was done right here, in a quirky Hawaiian bread style. Olives were fresh. I had two specials, a very good vegetarian lentil soup and a generous double cut pork chop. I got to taste my wife’s pear/radicchio salad which was a standout. The wine list is 1/2 interesting without being very geeky, 1/2 name-recognition crap that sells. I don’t blame them for the latter, you have to offer what sells and what most people want. But it’s nice that there also is enough for geeks like me. Alessa exceeded our expectations, and if we are back in the area we’d go back.

An upscale venue with a warm welcome and very good service. We had a late afternoon meal with first class food. The restaurant was nearly empty as we wanted a meal before dinner time before heading to Penn Station. This was a welcome new find that needs more recognition. The menu is diverse and the wine selections sound. We enjoyed our meals. We will return.

Went to this restaurant/bar for a drink. Great atmosphere, beautiful interior, and good music. The waitress was super sweet and helpful. Would have loved to come back to try the food as well.