Malatesta Trattoria
“Try the homemade spinach gnocchi in gorgonzola sauce, it's exquisite, and remember, cash only!”
“I had the Fusili with tomatoes, olives and calamari, and the one my date had was to die for – a tortellini in a creamy sauce with Pancetta.”
“Then the homemade spinach gnocchi a la Gorgonzola sauce and the spaghetti a la chitarra and it was divine!”
Malatesta Trattoria
Takes Reservations: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Outdoor Seating: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
PokéStop Nearby: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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My 700th review and I saved it for a special restaurant…and it doesn't get more special than Malatesta Trattoria.
A+++ for ambiance! If you're in the Village and pass by this place, you'll likely want to stay and dine here. Such energy and warmth resonates from this tiny and overcrowded space. You'll likely find the interior a bit cramped and hot, so if you're lucky to score an outdoor table, you can enjoy a bit more space and a summer night breeze.
The food was delicious. My Tagliatelle Al Ragu was divine and a hearty portion too. I had a taste of my friend's spinach gnocchi and it was heavenly…and that's saying a lot because I don't usually like gnocchi. Such a magical night…good food and friends, sitting outside.
My only complaint was the slow and disorganized service. We weren't sure who our waiter was as different people came to our table. Took forever to get water and bread and to finally flag down our server to take our order. They brought the bread, but took another 5-10 minutes to bring the olive oil, by then we had just eaten dry bread. That should've been brought out together.
Best part about dining here is that it's dirt cheap! Definitely by NY standards…my glass of wine and pasta was less than $20! Amazing Italian food that is affordable…I'm in LOVE.
Food 5 stars for sure. Ugh but the service!! I will never go back. Absolutely awful
We were asked every two minutes if we were ready to order. The waiters were rude. We were put in a corner when the restaurant was empty. And once one person from our party was finished eating, they would take the plate away while everyone else was eating. SO RUDE!! They gave us the check the second the last person finished eating and several different employees kept checking up on us every few minutes to see if we had paid. So we could tell we didnt just have a bad waiter, it was the strategy of the whole restaurant. The whole time, we felt as if we were being pushed out and the restaurant was EMPTY!!
Again, the food is good but skip the dessert and the calamari. It's not fried and it tastes like nothing, just chewing a texture.
But when I go out to eat, I expect a good experience. If I wanted just good food, I'd do take out
The restaurant is in prime location, nearby to the streets of Sheridan square and among a group of perfectly lit spaces. Very quaint with open doors facing the streets as many other restaurants neighboring it does. Typical candle lights pitched a top tables for capturing the perfect moment…
And then the moment stops short. Now, I'm not saying that the food isn't good. It is good. The tagliatelle al ragu, seafood spaghetti, mussels, and the vino I shared were good. But nothing more than good. The food wasn't memorable and special and unbelievably remarkable. The service was even more underwhelming, as it was so difficult to get our waiter's attention for more bread, water, and the bill. He seemed pretty out of it and made eye contact with me several times before actually addressing me.
I have my favorite Italian places & this one just didn't live up to the hype. Maybe I'll be able to return one day for better dishes and better judgement.
Came here after work on a Wednesday night with colleagues, all longing to escape the heat of the Midtown crowd. First off, the location of the restaurant was just perfect, a block away from Hudson, yet minutes walk from heart of West Village. We were also fortunate enough to be seated outside, which was not at all crowded and had a great atmosphere.
But down-to-earth Italian cooking and freshly made pasta were the real stars of the night. The Spanish gnocchi with sprinkled bits of fresh mozzarella was light, chewy, and flavorful, a must try in my opinion. The chunky tomato sauce that gave life to the gnocchi also adds to the fine touch, leaving you with a balanced experience at the end. This last note sums up the night as i was extremely pleased with the food, and not to mention the classic tiramisu and creme brûlée that gave the meal a delightful closing touch. Malatesta certainly reminds me of a simpler time, where cooking does not need to be complicated, yet can be tasty at the same time!
With the in-laws in town, one must locate an amazing Italian meal to share with them, que Malatesta Trattoria. After hours and hours of searching for a specific vibe and all together kick ass food, this is where I landed.
I called to reserve our table about three weeks prior to the date, so be advised. No Open Table here folks!
Upon arrival we were given an amazing table. It was a warm night and all the windows were open and while most tables were inside some were outside on the side walk, barely covered from the elements of dreary rain, but our view and seats were perfect!
Our table overall ordered 3 carafes of Cabernet and one glass of Pinot Grigio. My MIL loved the Pinot and well my FIL, husband, and myself had no problem drinking three glasses of cab. Also, the prices weren't really that bad at all.
Each table is given some bread to start, a small amount but it is chewy, salty, and a nice starter to set you up for your meal.
Appetizers: Crostini which came with four different types one prosciutto (best), one mushroom (second best), one bruschetta, and one more that I can't remember. Basically, I loved the first two but there others were just fine but the bread was crispy and delicious. We also split Piadina con Prosciutto which it apparently special to the restaurant but the easiest way to describe it is like an Italian quesadilla. This was was FABULOUS!
Entrees: My FIL got the Spaghetti alla Chitarra which came with homemade spaghetti noodles and he had basically ate without speaking, always a good sign. My husband got the Tagliatelle al Ragu which came with homemade tagliatelle noodles and an all beef 3 hour cooked ragu. This one would have been the best dish if not for the Spinach Gnocchi. My MIL and I both both the Spinach Gnocchi! O-M-G!!!!! A generous helping of spinach gnocchi in a gorgonzola cream sauce. I wanted more bread to soak up all of the saucy goodness. I would simply go back entirely alone or a Monday to eat this dish. It was SPECTACULAR!!!!
No dessert was ordered but I'm sure it would have been just as awe-inspiring!
Staff: It should be noted that our waiter was amazing and the entire staff helped one another. No pretentious attitudes and recommendations at every corner if you required these.
Pricing: Now that we've established the food is amazing, let's go over the fact that this CASH ONLY restaurant has INCREDIBLE prices. We spent I believe $130 dollars (without tip) for 7 glasses of wine, two appetizers, and four pasta dishes. Good deal in my opinion.
Would I go back? You bet! In fact I would like to eat it for dinner right now. Oh, you're reading this at 8 AM/1:30 PM, it doesn't matter the Spinach Gnocchi would hit the spot any time, day or night!!!!!!
Birthday Dinner!
Tagliatelle Al Ragu – This was absolutely a taste of Italian heaven. The rich, mouthfeel of the sauce was perfectly balanced with fat and flavor of the meat, but the real star was the pasta – homemade, fresh, and cooked PERFECTLY AL DENTE. It was beautiful. I want it again!
They have very good mussels as well! The Costoletto di Pollo is a very thin crisp fried chicken cutlet, very tasty!
Make a reservation. Very small place. Our party of 20 had a 20min delay even with a reservation, so be wary if you have a large party. Very friendly waiters and waitresses!
Recommended: Tagliatelle Al Ragu, Costoletto di Pollo
Located on a great corner in the Village so sit outside if you can. Order the chicken milanese–may be the best milanese I've ever had. It's light and crispy with a fresh salad on top. If you want to add spice, request fresh pepper. Do not order the fried Diablo spicy sauce bc there is nothing special about it–it tastes like tomato sauce. Also, the artichoke salad is a hit!
And don't forget to go to the ATM. Cash only.
The spaghetti alla chitara was just like the one they make at Spaghetti Incident (sister restaurant). Tasty bright red-orange tomato sauce, buffalo mozzarella, and a little bit of basil. I would have liked more mozzarella in the dish but overall the flavor was good.
The artichoke ravioli was a light greenish color, and had a chewy and mouth filling texture. You couldn't really tell it was artichoke by the taste though.
This restaurant is one large room, very noisy and tables all filled up on a Friday night. Good place to go dine with a group.