Gerbasi Ristorante
“Forget everything you know about Little Italy in Manhattan on Mulberry Street.”
“Everything was ridiculously good, the calamari was light and crisp and the grilled octopus was perfect one of the best I ever had.”
“We shared a mozzarella caprese which was decent, but will be much better when tomatoes come into season; we also had a salad of pear, gorgonzola and arugula which was very nice.”
Gerbasi Ristorante
Takes Reservations: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Outdoor Seating: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
6 reviews
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So after a long day at the zoo everyone was starving. Arthur Avenue was closest, so we ended up here (in no small part to many restaurants being closed on Sunday). Decor was nice, the garden seating is beautiful. Service was prompt and courteous. So why 2 stars only? The food, the food, the food. My papardelle pasta was ok but the texture was grainy. Sauce was also a little watery. The wife's risotto special had good flavor and 7 large shrimp but was dry. The kids pasta dishes were decent enough. The star was my mother in law's grilled octopus. That was fantastic and highly recommended. The food was subpar from what I expected given that it's on Arthur Avenue. I've had better Italian but I'm willing to give it another shot.
RECOMMENDED
My thoughtful lovely sprung an early birthday surprise on me on 1/9/16 when she set the GPS for Arthur Avenue as a tasty prelude to an ultra-secret visit to the fabulous Train Exhibit at the Bronx Botanical Gardens. She suggested Gerbasi Ristorante because she knew I love Veal Osso Buco, a dish which Long Island Italian restaurants are abandoning in favor of the less desirable Pork Shank version due to the former's high price tag. Gerbasi Ristorante features Veal Osso Buco ($29.95) not as a special, but on its regular menu.
The restaurant is small,dark and intimate, the perfect setting for a date or special occasion.It got loud as the restaurant filled up, but conversation was still possible without yelling. Service was excellent. The manager, Tony, as well as the staff, worked very hard as they ran through the place, to ensure that customers were satisfied.
Upon arrival, we ordered Expresso Martinis. They were just like I like them, strong and with a nice rich coffee flavor. Why do Expresso Martinis always taste better on Arthur Avenue?
I ordered the Baked Clams Oreganata ($9.95) as a starter, and my lovely the Grilled Octopus
($13.95). The clams, seven to the order, were good. There was a nice ratio of bread to clam and plenty of moist sauce to sop the restaurant's fresh Italian bread. The clams were well-seasoned and cooked perfectly. Interestingly,the breading contained baby squid and baby artichokes, a nice touch.I actually preferred my taste of Grilled Octopus. They do this dish very well, just about the best version I ever tasted.
On to the entrees: My Veal Osso Buco was set atop a pile of creamy and delicious Mushroom Risotto. It was meaty,falling off the shank and terrific!!!!! My lovely enjoyed the tripe. I cannot comment further because I don't eat tripe and I won't eat tripe. As the restaurant's side dish was peas and carrots(???)(Escarole or Broccoli Rabe Please!!!), she chose the red sauce pasta which my late Italian grandmother called "sewer pipes". The accompanying tomato sauce was good. We were too full for dessert or even coffee.
I recommend Gerbasi Ristorante, particularly if you enjoy well executed and presented traditional Italian food and terrific Veal Osso Buco.
The main dining room is very simple. I really like the outdoor seating in the back though. Eventhough there's no view, the draping makes for a nice ambiance. We tried a mixed appetizer platter as well as a special margarita. It's not even on the drink menu but it tastes delicious. I think it has champagne in it, YUMMY! I would be back for a quick bite and drinks again.
Another visit and better than first. Fried zucchini blossoms are the best I've had (including Grandmas!), grilled octopus was as good as it can get – grilled whole segment, perfect. Lamb chops fantastic, orange and fennel salad fresh, simple and very good. Fresh porcini with freshly made pasta was ok but chef should pass on cooking it with wine – bit soggy and with plain Olive oil only and all the other goodies on it now it would he 1st rate. Nice selection inexpensive wines in bottle and the best outdoor dining area out back – just like families back yard city dining. Doesn't get better. I'll be back !
I get it's Arthur Ave and there are way too many Italian restaurants in the area and it's becoming touristy. Therefor, I came in this place with ultra low expectations. However, I was pleasantly surprised. The inside was nice, dimly lit and pleasant. Ordered chicken Marsala and it was delicious as was the side of penne marinara. Equally good was the tagliolini with shrimp because the pasta tasted like it was freshly made. Service was pretty good and prices were cheaper than going to what's left of Little Italy in Manhattan. This is a wonderful place to come for dinner.
Forget everything you know about Little Italy in Manhattan on Mulberry Street. Arthur Ave is legitimate Italian! We had a group of 8 (most of whom speak Italian) and after attending a day game at Yankee Stadium, we decided to dine here on the recommendation of one of our group members.
From the time we stepped into the patio oasis that looks like a Mediterranean bistro, to the time we walked out the front door, service, food, and atmosphere couldn't have been better! We got to chat with the owner, Maurizio, who was absolutely a class act! He was genuine and caring and took the time to socialize and ask us about our dinners!
The grilled octopus tentacle was delicious and the figs wrapped with prosciutto and stuffed with goat cheese were otherworldly! Calamari was crisp, light and cooked perfectly and the gnocchi that a few of my group had was fabulous. I had the veal ossobuco over risotto with 3 kinds of mushrooms including porcini mushrooms that they import from Italy. The risotto was a touch watery but the veal was flavorful and tendor. The marrow was heavenly as expected.
Desert was a meal unto itself. We had tiramisu with cocoa elements and cannoli's with a pour of sambuca and a double espresso.