376 W. Broadway (bet. Broome & Spring St.)
Phone: 212-343-0999
Website: http://www.cipriani.com/
By Angela Skeete Davis
OK, so you live in New York and you want to impress your boss. He or she wants a place to sit outside and people watch while he or she dines. Try Cipriani Downtown. Cipriani is an ultra chic Italian restaurant. It is incredibly overpriced, but the service is decent, the drinks delicious, the food is good, and you can people watch (or so I have been told). Just make sure you have enough money. I am not kidding. I have been to many expensive restaurants, but here the lunch prices were more than expected. While I found my portions to be ample, I have heard others complain that the portions are only sufficient if you are a small eater; that if you have a hearty appetite, you will not be satisfied.
OK, so you live in New York and you want to impress your boss. He or she wants a place to sit outside and people watch while he or she dines. Try Cipriani Downtown. Cipriani is an ultra chic Italian restaurant. It is incredibly overpriced, but the service is decent, the drinks delicious, the food is good, and you can people watch (or so I have been told). Just make sure you have enough money. I am not kidding. I have been to many expensive restaurants, but here the lunch prices were more than expected. While I found my portions to be ample, I have heard others complain that the portions are only sufficient if you are a small eater; that if you have a hearty appetite, you will not be satisfied.
We were very lucky on the day we went, the place was not crowded and we did not have to wait for a table. I understand that normally you either need a reservation or should expect to wait upwards of thirty minutes for a table. We were seated immediately, but we were seated inside. Outside tables were full or (indeed) reserved.
You don���t go to Cipriani���s downtown for the decor. While I do like white linen table cloths and lots of sparkling glass, I did not enjoy the very masculine art (however famous the artist might be). Also, the tables are soooooooo close together, a waiter actually had to push tables aside to let one woman out of her seat to go to the bathroom and then back to her seat when she was finished ���. just ridiculous! Not great if you want to impress a female with an
intimate setting or ambiance. The waiters were nicely clothed in black and white, and were polite and helpful. But I understand, from others, service can be a bit dicey - more along the lines of the luck of the draw.
A selling point for me was the bread basket. It was filled with warm from the oven (not the microwave) bread and slightly salted bread sticks. Also, my drink, the Sweet Mary, made with with mint and a Bellini base was very good. It was citrusy and refreshing. My meal consisted of a beet, asparagus and goat cheese salad and a lobster salad with green beans and tomatoes. Both were very good. While there was not enough goat cheese, the beets and asparagus were nice and crisp and the lobster salad was actually full of lobster. But it should have been for the price I paid.
My friend had a mixed garden salad and spinach and ricotta ravioli. She found the salad filling and said the ravioli was delicate and delicious. She said that though the serving looked small, it was just enough for her. Meaning there was room enough for her favorite dessert.
For dessert, we ordered and shared their homemade chocolate cake. It was creamy, rich, smooth and chocolaty. I liked it. My girlfriend said, and I quote, ���isn���t it like a little bit of heaven. Isn���t it orgasmic���. Clearly, she really liked it.
So, take your boss to Cipriani. You will spend a lot of money, but the food will be good, the service decent, and maybe you will see people worth watching.
Things you should know if you are interested in checking out this spot:
3.5 stars; $$$$
They open everyday from noon until midnight
There is indoor and outdoor seating
Reservations are not required, but recommended
There is an exclusive, members-only area upstairs
You don���t go to Cipriani���s downtown for the decor. While I do like white linen table cloths and lots of sparkling glass, I did not enjoy the very masculine art (however famous the artist might be). Also, the tables are soooooooo close together, a waiter actually had to push tables aside to let one woman out of her seat to go to the bathroom and then back to her seat when she was finished ���. just ridiculous! Not great if you want to impress a female with an
intimate setting or ambiance. The waiters were nicely clothed in black and white, and were polite and helpful. But I understand, from others, service can be a bit dicey - more along the lines of the luck of the draw.A selling point for me was the bread basket. It was filled with warm from the oven (not the microwave) bread and slightly salted bread sticks. Also, my drink, the Sweet Mary, made with with mint and a Bellini base was very good. It was citrusy and refreshing. My meal consisted of a beet, asparagus and goat cheese salad and a lobster salad with green beans and tomatoes. Both were very good. While there was not enough goat cheese, the beets and asparagus were nice and crisp and the lobster salad was actually full of lobster. But it should have been for the price I paid.
My friend had a mixed garden salad and spinach and ricotta ravioli. She found the salad filling and said the ravioli was delicate and delicious. She said that though the serving looked small, it was just enough for her. Meaning there was room enough for her favorite dessert.
For dessert, we ordered and shared their homemade chocolate cake. It was creamy, rich, smooth and chocolaty. I liked it. My girlfriend said, and I quote, ���isn���t it like a little bit of heaven. Isn���t it orgasmic���. Clearly, she really liked it.
So, take your boss to Cipriani. You will spend a lot of money, but the food will be good, the service decent, and maybe you will see people worth watching.
Things you should know if you are interested in checking out this spot:
3.5 stars; $$$$
They open everyday from noon until midnight
There is indoor and outdoor seating
Reservations are not required, but recommended
There is an exclusive, members-only area upstairs
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