Faustina

It was an inclement weekday afternoon in late August. Not the sticky kind, where the low-​hanging humidity and the feeling of sweat and city grime cling to your pores, but the calming kind, where the heathered grey clouds lay rolled out a respectable distance above the city skyline, leaving enough room for the buildings and people to breathe. The oppressive summer heat had, by then, relented into a faint, rippling breeze that hinted the beginning of autumn in the Village, and amidst the glass, steel, and black marble structure, no trace of summer’s vibrance was to be found. The day, like the building, was colorless, quiet, solitary, reflective.
Such was my mood as my mother and I left her hotel room there in the Cooper Square hotel
My mother was staying here at the hotel at the time, so for a quick lunch, we decided to venture no further than downstairs to the relatively young prodigy of Scott Conant, Faustina.
Well okay, the restaurant is closed now but all I have to say of the food was IT TASTED LIKE SALT, WAS REALLY EXPENSIVE FOR TASTING LIKE SALT, AND IF YOU NEVER CAME HERE YOU DIDN’T MISS OUT, GOOD RIDDANCE, JUST GO TO SCARPETTA ALREADY.

Just like everyone gushes, the grilled ciabatta and duck egg fonduta is great. Make sure to pick up the little scarpetta brochure in the front bc it has that recipe inside. This dish is perfect for dinner parties on the rooftop :)
Had the grilled octopus, thought the mint was a bit much. Loved the char taste. Not very memorable and wouldn’t order it again.
I tried the strazzopreti and pork ragu– bit too meaty and sweet for me. The peas tasted overcooked and slightly mealy.
But the best part is ordering OFF the menu. I am a huge conant’s pasta pomodoro fan. Scott has made the ultimate tomato sauce for me. A staple at scarpetta, the kitchen here can also do it.
So the ambiance is great for a first date — it’s full but not too noisy. A hum that disappears if the date is going well. The all floor to ceiling windows make the place very airy.
But because 2 out of the 4 dishes ordered weren’t amazing, this isn’t going to be a repeat offender for me

What a great surprise to find Faustina as my hotel restaurant! While we just had dinner and cocktails at the bar, both were great, and the place is slick and intimate. I kept seeing passersby stopping to galk at the location. Being that it’s all glass, it’s made for two-​way people-​watching. Dress downtown chic, and enjoy being and seeing the view.

Horrible, just horrible. We sat down on the most beautiful sunday of Labor Day weekend (outside in the garden) for brunch. Then we sat, and sat and sat… of note is that we were 1 of 2 tables in the WHOLE inside and outside. We watched as the other table got menu’s, ordered wine, had the wine poured and ordered their entrée’s before ANYONE even came to our table. When the waiter did come he didn’t even bring menus and asked us what we wanted to drink??? Um IDK whats on the ahem… MENU???
Service was so bad we left without eating and went to Gema at the Bowery Hotel 2 blocks south where there were smiling servers and excellent food.
Sorry Faustina, you may have a huge beautiful open courtyard, but your staff needs replacement and you’ve only been open for a few months. Its too bad because i hear the food is noteworthy

Sat on the patio… very attentive service. Exceedingly professional yet friendly and welcoming.
Got a personal greeting from Conant as he was leaving and we were arriving, nice touch.
Duck egg & fonduta was absolutely all it was cracked up to be.
Enjoyed everything, yet only thing keeping away a fifth star was that all three pastas we had were quite oversalted.
Otherwise, great experience.

Let me start by saying that I work in the hospitality industry. That being said, I am not overly critical or picky, however I do appreciate great service and am more inclined to notice when service leaves much to be desired And at Faustina, the service was nothing short of absent, neglectful and entirely disappointing. I have just returned from my sister’s birthday dinner. The best part? Being with my sister. The worst part? Being at Faustina.
The breakdowns:
1) I arrived, mentioned to the hostess which party I was joining, and was told that I was the first to arrive. I took a seat at the bar, ordered a cocktail and waited. She came over later and mentioned that they had actually already been seated by another hostess awhile earlier. Breakdown in communication #1.
2) We had to flag somebody down for a wine list (as it had not been offered) long after we had placed our order for dinner. Nobody checked to see if we would like a re-​fill on cocktails until we asked for the list. And after the glasses were empty and we still were working on dinner, nobody came by to see if we would have been interested in another bottle. Their loss.
3) It had been mentioned to the hostess (who seated my sister, brother and law and friend) that it was my sisters birthday. No candle, no happy birthday wishes, nothing. After we ordered dessert, I asked for a candle so that she could make a wish. The gentleman hurried off — never to be seen again. No candle arrived, no birthday wish was made, no service was received.
4) It took forever to even track down the bill. And nobody thought to ask how our meal was.
In short, we had to flag down somebody for every request from our seating to our departure, and our requests were only fulfilled 50% of the time. The food was alright. The service was atrocious. The person who deserves the biggest round of applause is the interior designer. The ambiance was the best part about this place.

I had read mixed reviews on Unilocal and was unsure whether or not to take a chance on this place. Granted, I have not been to Conant’s other places, (Scarpetta is on the list!) but Faustina blew me out of the water.
My long-​distance girlfriend was in town and we wanted a nice place for a romantic dinner. We don’t get to see each other that often so when we do, we like to make it a very special occasion. Faustina did not disappoint. The service was stellar from start to finish (except it did take the bar a longer-​than-​usual time to make our drinks). Our waiter was friendly and attentive without being overbearing and had no qualms moving our table (we were originally seated next to a group of loud women who were catching up together over several bottles of wine).
The ambiance was to die for. Dark enough to be romantic but with enough lighting that you could see your company and your food. We elected to eat inside; however, the outdoor tables also looked lovely.
Now for the food: Instead of ordering two big mains, we decided to get a variety of small dishes. We began with a Salume and Cheese plate (Speck, Cacciatorini (Wild Boar) and the Robiola due latte). Anyone who has not tried or does not know Speck should discover it immediately. It is smoked prosciutto and it is divine. We began with cocktails (my date had the Cocomero — a signature watermelon cocktail which was fruity and flavourful without being cloying; I was simple and had a dirty martini).
We then got a few antipasti — Spring Onion Agro-​Dolce golden raisins & organic goat cheese and Roasted Organic Beets with fennel pollen & feta cheese. The beets were quite good but not out of this world. The spring onion and garlic scapes were WONDERFUL. They were flavourful and had a nice roasted onion and garlic flavour, while the champagne glaze brought everything together quite nicely. Here, we ordered a glass of wine each off of their extensive list. I was impressed by the range, selection and price scale of their wine list. Some wines begin at 35 – 38, and others can stretch into the 400 – 500 dollar range.
We then moved onto some appetizers and enjoyed the Short Ribs Of Beef and Arugula & Endive Salad. The Arugula Endive salad was nice, some toasted pine nuts, parmesan shavings and radicchio with a light olive and lemon vinaigrette. The short ribs were the star of this meal. They were small slices of slow-​cooked beef which melted in one’s mouth served over a small bed of spaetzle (little noodles) seasoned with peas, carrots, parmesan and horseradish. The noodles were incredible — slightly tangy though simultaneously creamy and cheesy. Exactly the way good Italian food should be done: very very simple, something that even felt homemade, yet with a slight twist that rendered the dish into a masterpiece.
As our centerpiece we got the mushroom ravioli. Interesting plating (topped with a mushroom flavoured mousse, and tasty, but felt like it was lacking just a little something. Perhaps a touch of truffle or truffle oil would have brought out the porcini flavour. Nonetheless, the overall impression was earthy, cheesy and delicious.
We finished by asking for a cheese and fruit plate (chef’s selection). It ended up being rather pricey, however, it was a great way to cap off the meal.
Overall impression of Faustina: wonderful, great for special occasions. Portion size is somewhat small, but again, we only ordered antipasti and appetizers. Quality for price ratio is reasonable for NYC and the ambiance and excellent service are worth the extra few bucks. I would happily come back here.

Likes:
— Grilled ciabatta poached duck egg & fonduta
— Raw lobster concentrated tomatoes
— Spaghetti tomato and octopus
— Crème fraîche panna cotta
— Décor
— Outdoor seating
Dislike:
— Glazed Berkshire pork chop

Scott Conant does it right! We were a group of 12 and reserved the long communal table in the bar area. It was a great setting after a long day of work! We ordered a bunch of the anti-​pasta and breads and non of them were disappointing! The grilled shrimp was fantastic and poached duck egg & fonduta was out of control. I would have licked the bowl if I felt that would have not been embarrassing.
Service was ok. It was a little rough at first, but then she got in a groove and did a good job! The main courses were truly amazing. My co-​worker and I shared the glazed pork chop for two. Honestly, it was a large piece and cooked perfectly — not dry and great glaze! Also tasted the pasta and suckling pig (YUM!) and mushroom ravioli (YUM YUM)
Cocktails were not fantastic. Mojito was not prepared correctly nor was the Sapphire Collins. We switched to some great wine.
Go and enjoy!

I’m a sucker for patio seating, and Faustina had a great setup. A group of 3 of us went at 730 on Sunday and the place wasn’t crowded at all. The ambiance was cool. White table cloths, comfy seats, huge candles on the table. I was digging the vibe.
Service was top notch. The waiter was extremely laid back and very conversational, but too chatty to the point where you’re hoping they’ll just leave. He recommended a dish that they were offering on special that night, the infamous spaghetti that’s only on the menu at their sister restaurant, Scarpetta. I think he might’ve used ‘infamous’ incorrectly, but we were intrigued nonetheless that plain ol’ spaghetti could really be that good.
As some Unilocalers have commented, the portions are a little small. I went with the lobster risotto and was hard pressed to find anything than a few small chunks of lobster. My other two dining buddies took the bait and ordered the special. The spaghetti came in little teeny tiny bowls, but it definitely lived up to its «infamously» delicious reputation.
The ambiance, wine, and service was amazing. My dish didn’t rock my world, but I think it was a misorder on my part. Apparently they have an amazing off-​the-​menu burger that had my mouth watering at the description. Perfect outdoor spot to hit this summer with friends or a date.

Friday night my girl friend Sara and I wanted to try a nice restaurant in the neighborhood. I suggested we try Faustina’s since it was located in my favorite hotel, Cooper Square. We walk in around 7 and was seated immediately at a table near the bar. The patrons dining were young and fabulous. We had a nice server who was good at making suggestions.
We didn’t want to have an appetizer, because we were both going to order pasta. Instead we shared focaccia bread before our meal. When our mushroom ravioli and lobster risotto arrived, we were kind of shocked that it was such a small portion. I was expecting it to be much larger especially since we didnt order an appetizer! Both of the dishes were good, but I just feel like we could have been more satisfied if the potions were not so deceiving.
All in all the mixture of service, food, and ambiance will definitely bring me back here, maybe on a date when I don’t eat so much: D

Scott Conant is sexy! And so is his food! P. S. to my girl Buo, does anything ever please you!!! HAHA.
I thought Faustina was good– on the pricey side for the fact that the portions are teeny tiny; if I hadn’t ordered a shitton (which I shared with two people) then I wouldn’t haven’t been full. Maybe that’s not the foodie way but that’s certainly the way of the hard working woman, who doesn’t really appreciate her hard earned dollars going to itty bitty pieces of duck breast.
Now onto the duck breast– DELICIOUS but… always TOO chewy? This duck did not melt in my mouth. You could tell it was majorly juicy though, because it was so red and flavorful. It was a plain dish– I don’t remember what else came in terms of garnish. This dish beat the other main we ordered– the sturgeon. I had heard this was good but it was very tough and super.fishy. It had fishy smell and the texture of un-​fresh fish. Maybe that was just the taste of sturgeon– first time I had to be honest. Wouldn’t have it again. However, echo, the cauliflower underneath was really nicely cooked– in a good sauce with the perfect softness. Yummy!
To backtrack a little, about the appetizers– had the Grilled Ciabatta with Duck Egg. It came highly recommended; I did really like the Ciabatta– the full on butter didn’t do me any good later though, it had a great crunch to it. I thought it carried the dish instead of the duck egg fonduta. The duck egg didn’t taste like much, but I don’t know, maybe it’s kind of hard to share and get the yolk on top, butttt it did heavily taste like fonduta– very cheesy indeed. More bread and cheese-​esque, less on the egg. So I think the main player of the dish needs to be done up a bit.
Had the Oysters with the Mojito Gelee– great minty gelee, ok oysters. Have had way better oysters– but then again none of those places were in New York. This was neither here nor there– I think the gelee is special but the oysters are not. Actually, to me, the best oysters don’t need anything at all.
Also had the octopus/​potatoes– the potatoes were whatever but the olive oil was nicely seasoned. I though the octopus was great, very solid and chewy– only compliant is that it was bit too sour. Not really sure why, there must have been some citrus on that. I still prefer the octopus at Enoteca and Alta (mmm).
The Stromboli– as my friend Jeff C calls it, «crack bread», Crack bread indeed. I definitely loved it, I like things that are rich but I wish that there was more ham– just comes down to value again. There was like one spec of it. But regardless, it’s a dish you should order. So dense– and good quality bread. Like the Ciabatta (ps the free bread was NOT — it wasn’t even warm!- but I did like the pure French type of butter)
For the sweet tooth, I sampled most desserts– the carmellina had great nutty flavor due to the giudiana (sorry can’t spell– the nicer version of nutella), it was like a kit kat bar. I wasn’t into this because I don’t really like chocolate or kit kat bars. It was the most beautiful dessert though with a fancy caramel point as a garnish, and a chocolate ring! I had the panna cotta– I usually like my PC with a vanilla base– it really is my favorite dessert;this was ok.
I had the Vanilla-​Chocolate Parfait, this was good. I think it was a fun dessert, had 3 parts to make it interactive; had the parfait, the biscotti and the steamed milk.
Other things I looked at but didn’t try: the risotto (looove it) and the mushroom ravioli– all I have to see is that these dishes were a joke for $ 18+ dollars. You could have downed it on 2 bites.
All in all, a solid meal. Would I come back again? No. There are many other places to try with this kind of Italian fare — the décor and ambiance is gorgeous (it’s in the freaking Cooper Union!) — it’s sexy place with a hot bar scene and good looking people. Typical NY hot spot– I hear Scarpetta is better. The prices sort of put a thorn in my side– they’re not outrageous for NY but they are for the portions. A word of the wise.

This place has kind of a sexy vibe, with glass walls and tall wooden tables. It was, however, very cold in the restaurant so make sure to bring a sweater.
The food was slooooow to come out. We ordered:
— The Puzzle: Six different crudos on small white plates that fit together like a puzzle. My favorite was the chu-​toro with ricci di mare and the scallop crudo with citrus and caviar, followed by the lobster with concentrated tomatoes and the kanpachi with garlic chips. The other crudos were just ok.
— Lardo-​wrapped prawns: large, succulent prawns served on a bed of lentils. It kind of reminded me of the Shrimp Alinho at Aldea, except not quite as good
— Canneloni with burrata and tomatoes: Like the ricotta-​stuffed canneloni that you’re used to seeing, except better cheese stuffing and better topping of baby tomatoes instead of marinara.
— Sturgeon with capers: perfectly cooked fish with a lightly flavored broth. Somehow the flavor didn’t complete permeate the thick piece of fish but it was good, and the capers added the perfect burst of saltiness to the dish.
— Uni custard with caviar: ultra-​smooth with a very subtle uni flavor. It came with a dollop of what I think was parsnip purée, and some caviar. The caviar truly made the dish, which required some saltiness to bring out the flavors.
— Stewed eggplant and pork: warm and hearty, although not very memorable. We were too full to finish it so I brought it home and ate it the next day, and I actually kind of prefer it cold, right out of the fridge.
Service was very good. Our waiter gave us great recommendations and as an apology for the long wait for our food, he did give us each a complementary glass of a delicious sparkly, slightly sweet dessert wine that had an aroma of lychee.
Perhaps it was because I was cold and getting a little impatient so the discomfort may have made the meal less enjoyable, but I thought the food was good but not amazing, except for the spectacular crudos. At least on this visit. I’ll be back to give it another shot.

I really liked this place! I ate in the bar area. Scott Conant was at the host stand! I wanted to say — I think you are great on chopped. But I got so shy! I was all alone and they sat me at the big communal table. I would have liked my own table, but I understand they want to save the tables for a higher bill. The server was very nice. The food was GREAT. I had the bread/​cheese app. It was the server’s suggestion and I am so glad I took it. It was great. I also had the semolina dumplings. This was one of the best things I have ever eaten. So good. The meat was delightful. I also had the scallops. They were very good, although not amazing (a little gritty). (the chef might have complained about that on Chopped!). Oh, and Conant came by my table to wish me good eating.

I have to admit that I only nibbled on 5 things — two of which were seafood and i am not the biggest seafood fan.
The tuna was really good actually, but i could only handle 3 pieces. This was also my first time trying Clams — I didn’t like the texture but my friend, loved it!
I ordered the Cannelloni which quite well… didn’t fill me up at all. It was an entrée item and was 17 dollars. The size portion, it should’ve been listed as an appetizer for sure.
For dessert we ordered the date pudding and some pear pairing as well. both were very yummy!
Came for lunch so the space was very dead but i did like the décor. I don’t believe i would ever return however. no real fault of their own.
The server, Jesse, was amazing and very friendly. along with everyone else we came across!

I really do enjoy anything Scott Conant!
Ate dinner here last night with some colleagues. The bar and dining room are gorgeous, somewhat minimalist, but airy and elegant.
As we were a party of 6, and the general idea with most of the dishes is to share, we got to try a ton of stuff. We also had some delicious wine, so I will do my best to remember all the dishes!
We began with the puzzle, a cleverly presented assortment from the raw bar. 6 different plates (that all matched up together in a puzzle like way) were brought out and included the Scallop Carpaccio (light and refreshing served with grapefruit), the spot prawn crudo (which had interesting texture, and a little bit of kick), The Kanpachi with Garlic Chips (one of my favorites!), the orata rossa with pink peppercorns (a little fishy for my taste but interesting flavor pairing), the lobster susci with concentrated tomatoes and a tuna toro plate which I can’t remember what the pairing was.
We then moved on to the cheese, salumi and bread course, We had mortadella, salami and procuitto (sliced perfectly!) and a pecorino with aged balsamic, a ricotta paired with another cheese and a blackberry (I think) jam. There was some olive oil foccaccia, a stromboli (a rolled up piece of bread with procuitto and cheese inside) and a grilled cibatta served with a poached duck egg for dipping. As a lover of all things bread and cheese, this course was awesome :)
The next course, the entrees and meats, included the rock shrimp (really good, and the breading wasn’t too heavy at all!), The pork belly with fingerling potato slices, which was surprisingly less fatty tasting than most pork belly I have had, the short rib of beef (not as good as mom’s but whose is? :) The semolina dumplings with ox tail and bone marrow was absolutely my favorite cooked item and I didn’t even know I liked ox tail and bone marrow! We also enjoyed the black truffle risotto with sea urchin which had an interesting flavor, the asparagus beans which tasted like green beans and the cauliflower which was perfectly caramelized (and would make any child actually eat his veggies!) We also had a yummy pasta, Tajarin, Tomato & Ricci di Mare which I think was also made with sea urchin.
For dessert we split the chocolate dessert (not sure what it was but it was chocolate, hazelnuts and crunch, and reminded me of a gourmet kit kat), the apple strudel which was good and the panna cotta which also had hints of hazelnuts and was very tasty.
We will definitely be back!

I heart Faustina. And I hate it when people ‘heart’ anything. But my dinner at Faustina was GREAT. And so I heart the place.
Even though we booked a table, we ended up having a great meal at the bar. At a very good looking bar.
The staff is very friendly, knowledgeable and attentive. Mr. Conant is there making his rounds, making sure everything is going well — very nice.
We had the prosciutto San Daniele, pecorino and the focacchia — very tasty, small portions but very rich.
Then we had the lobster susci, lardo wrapped prawns and the balsamic glazed pork spare ribs. I loved the ribs — definitely my favorite out of the three.
We then had the spaghetti with octopus ragu and mushroom ravioli while picking on the side of truffled cabbage. The ravioli dish was surreal — I am not huge on pasta but will eat ravioli and these were amazing. I loved his duck foie gras ravioli at Scarpetta but these were light and earthy and full of flavor putting them right up there with the ones from 14. I cannot wait to have them again. I surprised myself for not loving the truffled cabbage but my boyfriend loved it so it’s all good.
I had three cosmos and was ready to get some air so we skipped dessert and walked out into the cold streets — back with the mortals…
… and cabbed it to Le Crêpe on Spring, ha!
Highly recommended…

Proprietor/​Chef — Scott Conant
First of all, I felt like a dumb ass, as I walked down and traced the glass walls of the hotel with my fingers… where the HELL was the entrance? Alas, a hotel staff indicated that I had to go inside the hotel to get to the restaurant’s entrance. Ok, my dumb ass didn’t feel so retarded anymore! I was quickly fostered by the quaint, well-​mannered host… to my delight, Scott was standing by the door as he warmly introduced himself to me… I didn’t need the intro, I already knew who he was… so I kindly gave him my kudos to Scarpetta. With a humble, befitting smile he thanked me once again before I disappeared off to the bar. It was just the perfect intimate touch, appropriate for it’s grandeur opening. (second night may I add). On to what can explicitly be deemed as the best part of the night… the food that paired well with the lovely, elegant yet hip ambiance. It is not too stuffy, as I felt relaxed, due to the atmosphere and good company.
Modern day Italian fare, with a definite nuance of Japanese flair. Maybe I was inspired by his raw bar, but he definitely had a handful of dishes that I would never deem to be traditional Italian. So here is our fun share of list of eats– As the waiter suggested, get a few cold plates, hot plates and share EVERYTHING. :) I’m going to have to critique each dish. one at a time.
Arugula, pignoli nuts & endive — fresh, well seasoned, but would try something new for next time… like the beets. There was nothing that screamed special about this salad… especially when we skipped on the formaggi, bread and olives. A salad with two plates from the raw bar doesn’t exactly whet the palate if you know what I mean.
Chu-​Toro w/​sea urchin ~ One of my favorites for the night… absolutely delicate, heavenly devine. I devoured it as slowly and gracefully as I could. The sauce that was drizzled on top was most memorable.
Lobster susci — good, not as good as the toro… Found a bone in one of the meats, but I properly excused that on my plate… I’ll let that one slide.
Fried Chicken — This was the most interesting dish, that did not leave such an impression. One I wasn’t exactly thrilled about, but it did turn out tasty. If you know me, you know I don’t like fried food and this my friend was FRIED. sure enough it was still pleasant.
Seared Dive Scallops — Beautifully executed, well seasoned. Nothing mind blowing. I think I’d want to try the scallop carpaccio for next time.
Black Truffle Risotto with ricci di mare — My absolute favorite of the night… anytime you combine sea urchin and truffle. you’ve got yourself a killer combo that can’t be beat. I don’t know if it’s a fad, but sea urchin and pasta go so well together, expect that this dish will be popping up more in Italian fares.
Truffled cabbage — There was so much truffle in this thing, it was pure bliss. (BTW, there is no such thing as too much truffle…) It paired perfectly with the cabbage. Just thinking about about it, the scent still lingers on my lips. Absolutely savory… yet so simple! I would definitely get this again, devour it to my lone self. It’s that good by itself…
Ended with a bang with the light & refined pear fredo. i was in a chocolate kick, but who was I kidding with this bearing guilt dessert? not guilt-​free if i was in the slightest trying to kid myself.
Highly victorious, and a warm welcome addition to the East Village. A remarkable experience… and I cannot wait to come back!

When you least expect it… expect it.
That was the line that came from my childhood friend’s brother whenever he was threatening to torture us. I didn’t mind Table 8. Dare I say, that I thought it was a well priced eatery with a lot more merit than other places that have somehow managed to stay open longer.
But apparently all was not right in the kitchen, and we all know that NOTHING was right in the bar, and thus Table 8 is now Faustina. You can see Joleen’s review for all the necessary history on the name and restaurant’s vision.
First… the awful bar scene and even worse service in the bar area are a thing of the past. The bar area has been filled with tall somewhat long 2-​tops as unreserved seating. The service is spot on… «That’s what two weeks of intense training will do,» said Adam, our server.
The water glass never even got to ²⁄₃ full, never mind empty. Aaah! Optimism.
The menu has gentle nods to the Italian fare for which Scott Conant is known. My stomach (and my thighs) were not up for the delicious pasta with ricci di mare (that’s sea urchin and tomato apparently, to the rest of us) or the risotto. I’ve always been a fan of his raw dishes and the Kanpachi with garlic purée and fried porcini slice was a match made in some sort of fish-​root-​fungus heaven. Nothing overpowered the other. The tuna and avocado salad, however, was a tad bland. The tuna was good. The avocado was good. The olive oil was subtle. The chives were beautiful but did not seem to contribute. But the coarse salt on top was the only hint of flavor I thought this beautiful dish had.
There was also (since we are still at the beginning of 2010 and my resolutions are to quote Monty Python «not dead yet».) a salad of arugula, endive, toasted pignoli nuts and shaved parmesan. This too was perfect and when I’m feeling inspired I may try to make this.
On to the pork ribs (there are also beef ribs on the menu which did not quite make it onto the table and therefore onto my thighs)… which were easy to eat since the flavorful but subtle meat just feel off the bone. I thought they were quite good, and my friend… well it was 10 minutes of silence as he ate his ribs with the deference and respect that only another pork worshipper could.
As one of my quirks, I order any form of eggplant that makes it onto a menu and therefore the eggplant with pork shoulder (contorni) was a must-​have. It had the slightly soft texture with occasional pieces of pork shoulder and cherry tomato. I loved it. Flavorful but you could not quite put your finger on what was responsible for all the eggplant-​y goodness. And to finish… the pear semi-​freddo. I’m not a dessert person, but the pistachio cream and pear in its multiple incarnations was quite good.
Overall 4.5 stars (one day Unilocal… please get star halves!). An overall huge upgrade from Table 8 (with the requisite increase in check price as well).

Unforgettable experience from start to finish.
Friendly hostesses met us in the front and politely took our jackets and walked us to our table. The restaurant was only half full during the time we were there but the service made us feel like celebrities.
The décor is very modern and cool looking, from the tables, to the lights, to the pillows on the benches.
On to the food…
We had the Tuna & Avocado salad + Scallop Corpaccio citrus & caviar to start. Delicious, perfect balance of flavors and and awesome presentation.
We ordered Focaccia bread with ricotta + Olive oil on a side. Freshly baked with delicious butter it was a side treat of its own.
We then moved on to the pasta. We split Mushroom Ravioli and Tajarin (pasta with sea urchin + tomato sauce). Both were spectacular and delicious. A bit on the small side, compared to Scarpetta’s dish sizes. The waiter did tell us that they recommend that we order a hot dish to go along with the starters and the pastas.
We got the King Crab and Egg Custard. Very interesting dish although it reminded me more of a soup than an entrée. Nevertheless we really enjoyed the flavors and originality of the dish.
Being so impressed with our dishes we decided to order more :)
We got the Pasta with Octopus and a side order of french fries. The pasta was yummy but not as spectacular as the previous two dishes. The french fries hit the spot though. Perfectly fried with just the right amount of salt, they were cooked with rosemary and some other greens. Having been fried the greens basically fell apart inside my mouth and added a perfect flavor to the fries.
We shared two desserts, some chocolate cake with ice cream and some kind of chocolate mouse/​vanilla ice cream+ berries thingy.
Both were delicious and looked amazing when they were brought to our table.
The icing on the cake was the fact that Scott was walking around the restaurant and talking to the customers. He came over to us and asked about the food and the service. He thanked us for the compliments and it looked like he was very genuine with his statements.
The total for two with 3 drinks and lots of food came to $ 197. Not too cheap but considering how much we ate and drank it was well worth the price.
I highly recommend this place, it did not disappoint.

Scott Conant’s latest and greatest. Faustina, named after a Roman empress whose monument is the only building inside the Roman Forum dedicated to a woman. This makes sense because Conant pairs elegance with a refined yet casual experience.
Apparently, the restaurant is inspired by the chef’s appreciation for how different cultures approach Italian food. The menu is divided into several sections including pane, formaggi & affettati, insalate, raw, pasta & risotto, caldo, piatti grande and contorni. Dare I say this early in the game I may love this gem more than Scarpetta? The grilled ciabatta with poached duck egg… well let’s just say the dish had me at ciabatta…
More to come when I go back during a non-​tasting, but they open tonight to the public… and it will be utter bliss and another reason to love the Cooper Square Hotel. As if it wasn’t so much fun to begin with…
Totally foodie and libation oasis, all in one!