Da Marcella

I can not comment on the quality of the food or the noise level or the ambiance because the place was closed. I made my reservation through open table to dine at this restaurant on September 16, 2014. When I got there, I saw my wife and my friend who I was treating her dinner for her birthday standing outside of the restaurant. Wondering why they were outside, they told me it was closed. It would have been nice to receive a call.
I am sorry that the rating may drop the level of the restaurant if the food is good but please, the restaurant (if it is permanently closing) should not be taking reservations and leaving an automated message stating that they are still open. At least state that the restaurant is closed on repairs if you still want business to come through your doors.

Work down the block and was and was a great happy hour place. Had great drink specials especially the key lime pie. Bartender josh was great at his job and so personal. If you spend more than 20 dollars you would get a free tapa. Thwy also had great appetizers. Great deal.
However, they seem to have closed the doors with no sign or anything. Not sure why. Hopefully they will reopen

Would I go back here when I return to NYC — hell yeah! Into the basement we went for lunch and the first thing that struck me was that they were playing Sade’s music. Can’t go wrong with a restaurant that has good taste in music ;)
I had the Roquefort salad which was so delicious along with the Scottish salmon tartare — again very tasty. Both of those cost me $ 19.00. Hubs had a very good prosciutto panini for $ 8.00. We both had water because it was hot that day so our bill (for NYC) was cheap!
It was when we were walking out that I saw the picture of sangria on the bar and thought — damn! LOL

Pros:
* Charming basement venue conveniently located in
* Serves a wide selection of Italian & Mediterranean dishes.
* My friend and I enjoyed our Seafood Paella ($ 19) and ‘Carpaccio’ Di Rape Con Feta Greca (red and golden beets carpaccio, greek feta cheese, endive and arugula) $ 10. The salad is fresh and beets full of flavor. I like how the beets are thinly sliced.
* Fast and friendly service
Cons:
* We came for dinner at 7pm. It was very hard to maintain an intimate dining experience at Da Marcella because people get super rowdy and loud at the bar (which has no noise separation from the dining room) during Happy Hour. Most of the time our conversation was overcome by drunken shouts and gibberish. Because of this I wouldn’t come back again for dinner but would return for lunches.

The food here was great. Definitely one of my favorites. I’ll absolutely be going back.

The décor, ambiance, service and food were great! I had the soup of the day (vegetable soup) and my friend had tomato and mozzarella as appetizers. For the entrée, I had gnocci with shrimp and my friend had the salmon. For dessert we both had the ricotta cheesecake with cappuccinos. It wasn’t crowded or loud and the tables were spread out nicely. They even have a section where you can just have drinks and apps without the formal feeling of sitting at a table. The waiter was super pleasant and when we asked what region the restaurant mostly represents, he said a mix of Italian and Spain which explains the paella and pasta menu items. We will definitely be back!

Horrible service…
It’s a small restaurant with a decent amount of staff on hand; sadly they are not in tuned with customer needs.
Servers were not personable nor attentive.
No bartender was at the bar for happy hour.
Food was very average… servers had no recommendations nor knowledge of their menu. Waited over 20 minutes to get check, after flagging them down a server, any server!
2 stars for having a clean restaurant and clean restrooms. I don’t know what made this place even get above 3 star rating on Unilocal.honestly.
Not coming back because of lack of decent service.

Food was ok. Service needs polish.
We came here for dinner before going to see a Broadway show.
We had reservations and were seated right away. The host put down the menus and told us to inquire with our server about Happy Hour. When our server came over I asked about Happy Hour. He said it didn’t apply to the dinner tables. Ok, so why did the host mention it?
Next, my husband asked if a certain beer was a dark beer. Our server didn’t know (they don’t have a huge beer menu). My husband ordered it anyway. Our server came back, and said they were out of the beer and btw, it was a dark beer! Strike 2.
After we placed our order. The server said he’d bring us the Chef’s special to try. Our entrees came but my diet Coke didn’t. After 5 or so minutes the server brought out my Coke and the Chef’s Specialty which was paella. It was a nice gesture, but my husband and I don’t eat shellfish and calamari. Our son who was with us does. Well, the paella was fishy and kind of a funky grey color that even our son would’t eat it! I did try a piece of the chicken in the paella and had to agree– it was gross.
Our pasta entrees were good.
Next, we ordered dessert. My son ordered Affogato. A vanilla gelato with a shot of espresso. My husband ordered a cappuccino. Another server came to our table with the cappuccino and a shot of espresso. Since we technically hadn’t ordered just a shot of espresso, we and the coffee server were confused. Our original server said the was for the Affogato. Ok, so tell the coffee server that since clearly he didn’t know! Or bring the espresso WITH the Affogato to avoid confusion.
So, the bottom line is: decent pasta, but the staff needs more training.

I was recently invited to a press dinner at Da Marcella Mediterranean Taverna in midtown. This place has an Italian– and Spanish-​inspired menu that showcases high quality ingredients and expert preparation. Owner Manuel Moreno has two Da Marcella restaurants. The original taverna is in Greenwich Village, is small, and has a very comforting, mom & pop neighborhood feel with very affordable prices ($ 10 pastas). It’s been open for two years. The goal since the midtown opening in November is to recreate that atmosphere, despite the challenges of the area being less of a neighborhood.
Manuel also endeavored to bring his Spanish heritage to light as well in the midtown location, as he is half Italian (mom’s side) and half Spanish (dad’s side).
The downtown menu is fully Italian, but the midtown menu shows off some tapas, paella and other Spanish staples. All recipes were handed down from his grandmother (the restaurants’ namesake), so you know you are getting something authentic when you eat at his restaurants.
Our host for the evening was Ernesto, who is manager but also the wine expert. The downtown wine menu is Italian, but the midtown wine list is thoroughly Mediterranean, with choices from Spain and Greece a well as Italy. There are 18 wines by the glass, nine of which change frequently.
As you can see from the tasting menu, he picked some really great wines to pair with each dish, all of which seemed to get increasingly better as the meal went on.
So we started with the marinated octopus with caperberries, and Scottish salmon tartare with avocado. Both were absolutely amazing. The octopus was hands down the most tender I have ever eaten. The only thing that would have made it better is if it were grilled to give it a little char. The tartare was perfectly balanced between acidic, savory and even sweet. The wine paired here was a nice dry but floral white from Riax Baixas in the north part of Spain. I enjoyed it, and I typically don’t really like whites all that much.
Next were the veal and pork mini-​meatballs and a plate of burrata with prosciutto and truffle sauce. The truffle sauce was just the right amount of earthiness to bring out the other flavors and make them all pop. And the meatballs, well, they were soft and flavorful. It’s always tough to impress me with meatballs because I am spoiled by having good Italian mom and grandma meatballs, but these were excellent. The wine here was a really nice light Chainti. Well paired.
The tagliatelle pasta was perfect. Fresh made, al dente, properly sauced, and really delicious. The bolognese sauce is highly complex without being heavy, which in itself is a feat. It contains 18 ingredients, a few of which are meats. They really make grandma proud here, as this is clearly a signature item at the restaurant. With the pasta we had a Cabernet-​Montepulciano wine, which was my favorite of the night. Robust and flavorful, but not heavy or too acidic.
Next we had the seafood and chicken paella, which contained chicken (of course), clams, mussels, calamari, string beans and peas. I haven’t had many paellas in my day, as I tend to like Asian rice dishes better for the crisp texture, but this was pretty damned good. I was amazed at how they got each separate ingredient to be perfectly cooked. For example, I imagine they have to throw in the calamari at a different time than the clams, and at a different time than the chicken, string beans, etc. Each component was just right, so that must be a real challenge. The wine for this and the beef course (next) was a rich Temperanillo. Full bodied, well aged; a no bullshit kind of wine. Probably quite costly too had we been paying customers.
Our last savory course was the wine-​braised beef short rib with creamy polenta. This was awesome. The meat was a bit salty, but when you took a bite with the polenta (which was amazing on its own too) it really balanced it out nicely. I was a happy meat man when eating this. So tender, soft and flavorful.
For dessert we had a sampling of three items: pannacotta, tiramisu, and ricotta cheese cake. Owner Manuel is a baker by trade, so all desserts are made in house if not brought in from his personal Long Island City bakery called the Bakery of New York. The pannacotta was my favorite here. It was perfectly textured — creamy yet firm. It had herb notes of sage or tarragon as well. Very inventive. The tiramisu was very nice as well, but the consensus of others at the table was that the cheese cake was the big winner. Not too heavy, really nice flavors.
To sum it up; I really enjoyed the meal here, and I plan to go back soon, especially since it’s so close to my office. I’d also love to get down to the original location in the village to try out some of their very affordable and highly rated pastas (if I can get a table — the place is now generating big lines from what I understand, because there is a lot of demand).

I went there twice in the past month, one lunch and one dinner. The restaurant is in the basement, but easy to find. It was a bit noisy during dinner time, and I had to speak very loudly, but lunch time was ok.
The staff was very nice and attentive, but not overwhelming. Great food, not expensive at all, especially in the midtown area. I tried all three house specialties, and all of them are excellent. Don’t forget to get a free Tagliatelle Bolognese card from FB!

Wow!!! A Dear friend and I decided to give Da Marcella a try right before attending a show. We are so happy we did. The whole Dining experience was Awesome. Such nice atmosphere and The waiters are so attentive and also very jovial. I cannot wait to go back and try some more of their dishes. I also found the décor to be quaint and charming. I have been recommending Da Marcella to everyone because I know there will not be any disappointments. I will be heading there next week once again but this time will go for the Lunch menu I am sure that I will be once again one Satisfied Customer.

We went there last night, great food just like the one in West Village, but more comfortable, elegant & bigger space. Downloaded the free Tagliatelle Bolognese gift card from their FB page, it was so delicious, and it’s one gift card/​person, so if you have 5 people go there simply download 5 gift cards, and everyone gets a free Tagliatelle Bolognese.
They also offer free Paella too, just ask the waiter. We didn’t know this deal until we left the restaurant, will definitely go back there soon.
A good house gin martinis only $ 10 which is rare in Midtown Manhattan, wine price starts from around $ 27/​bottle; it’s a very relaxing casual Italian tavern, a great place for good & inexpensive food. Oh and service is good too; all in all my experience here is a 5-​star.

Went to Da Marcella for Saturday dinner with no reservation for 10 people. They were able to accommodate us at 2 separate tables at the corner. It was actually perfect because we had kids and at least they were at of the way of the crowds, but it wasn’t claustrophobic or anything. It’s at the basement of the Jewel facing Rockefeller center and I was happy that there was elevator access because the stairs were quite steep, especially for my husband who has mobility issues.
I was very happy with all that I ordered — the mussels, branzino and tiramisu. Light and easy on the salt, loved it.
Knocked a star off because as my husband, who is disabled, was coming out of the restroom, a kitchen staff came out of the other restroom as well. And instead of giving the way to my husband, he didn’t even care, and it destabilized my husband’s balance. Thankfully I was standing next to him to hold him back up.

From the calamari appetizer to the bolognase sauce that simmered for 8 hours, to the ricotta cheesecake (I think I died and went to heaven!) the tiramisu and espresso our meal was fantastico!!! Our waiter, Nelson, was amazing and added to our dining experience. The owner stopped by and greeted us. It couldn’t have been a better experience. Go go go go!!! You will NOT regret it! Salud!

I eat at Da Marcella almost every week. This is a great place. The atmosphere is nice. The food is excellent. The staff is very attentive, but not overwhelming. It is just outside the theater district, so the area is a little less crowded.
The restaurant is in the basement, so you will be surprised when you get downstairs. The décor is nice and comfortable. It is easy to have a conversation. I have had many of the dishes. I haven’t been disappointed once. It is also a very good value. I highly recommend Da Marcella.

I came here for lunch after reading all reviews, and for once the hype was justified. I ordered the red and golden beets carpaccio with feta for the first course and tagliatelle bolognese as my main course. With both dishes I cleaned my plate, not just because I was hungry but both dishes were extremely tasty. The bolognese sauce really does taste like its been simmering for 8 hrs! The waitstaff is also super nice, I didn’t feel rushed for a second, and they even gave me a card that allows me to get a free order of the tagliatelle bolognese upon my next visit ! Even without the freebie I planned to return, its just that delicious!

Fantastic value for Midtown Manhattan!
A friend gave me a card for a free entrée of Da Marcella’s Tagliatelle Bolognese, which is their house specialty. I went with an open mind and decided not to read any reviews in advance. It was a great evening and I’ve found a new favorite place to go.
We went last night during Happy Hour and a nice size glass of wine is $ 5. We started with the Fried Calamari which was so hot (temperature-​wise) that it must have come out seconds after plating. Delicious, fresh and great marinara sauce.
I had the Tagliatelle Bolognese, which deserves to be the house specialty and my wife had the Linguine Del Lavorante, which was creamy and delicious. The sausage in the Lavorante are tiny pieces, not slices or chunks, which we would have preferred.
The pasta was truly al dente and they were very generous with delicious Italian bread (and olive oil.)
We shared the Ricotta Cheesecake for dessert, which was creamy, light and very fresh.
The service was very attentive and caring by multiple servers. The atmosphere is relaxed and they play great music, too. Best of all, the prices are incredibly reasonable. The entire dinner for 2 was under $ 50 (before the free entrée was deducted.)
If you’re in the Rockefeller Center area, this is a great place to go!

Real time lunch review, y’all!
Today, I am RAVENOUS. So I ordered up the Burrata Cheese & San Daniele Prosciutto and Linguine del Lavorante (hot and sweet sausage, tomatoes, cream).
Order confirmed at 1:34 pm. Estimated delivery by 2:20pm.
Arrived on time. Patient delivery guy, as it took me a while to get to the Messenger Center in my building, and he gave me no attitude.
No utensils in my bag, though I didn’t check the box for them to omit this delivery option.
Burrata was fresh… though only half of a ball in an order… which is understandable, seeing as they give a good 2 – 3 slices of prosciutto… so I guess not horribly priced for the location and the product… you just lose out on that awesomeness of slicing into a fresh ball of this awesome cheese. Really lovely olive tapenade on the side, and hearty, very soft wheat bread for the dipping. Plus a large (full slice of toasted bread) crostini to support the app. Solid meal starter. Love to see the presentation in house.
The Linguini looked and smelled amazing the second the container was opened. Not a bad lunch portion for the price and location. Peas in the dish. Nice looking cream sauce. Great flavor, though arrived cold.
3.5 star review, pending dining in person, which I plan to do at some point!

Very Nice Restaurant!
Food is awesome, service is excellent.
Try Octopus, Tagliatelle Bolognese and Short Ribs.

Value: 5
Service: 4.5
Food: 3.5
Overall, food was pretty good, especially their bacon/​cheese pasta, and their beef short ribs were very good. Lacked a little refinement, just a little short of 4 stars tho.
This place shines in value. Large entrees for under $ 20, antipasti for $ 10, that’s incredible value in NYC.
Service was excellent, the maitre’d and waitresses were extremely friendly and attentive even on Sat night.
$ 5 happy hour cocktails, which are decent in quality and strength– YES PLEASE.
Will definitely return to the main branch in Chelsea.