Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Location
Rubirosa Risotrante is located just in the Nolita (north of Little Italy) neighborhood of Manhattan and is easily one of my favorite in the city. Featured by Food & Wine, Michelin previously and countless publications, they have cultivated a large fanbase. There’s generally some form of construction going on around Mulberry street, but never anything that isn’t typical for NYC. You can easily walk to the restuarant from the SoHo, Chinatown, Little Italy or Lower East side neighborhoods. This restuaurant is also within a 2 minute walking distance of the 6 train at Spring Street, which is what I usualy take if I am coming from a different neighborhood. The community is cozy and feels safe. There are several boutiques and cafes around the restaurant which is nice when there is a wait for seating, since customers must wait outside of the restaurant.
Ambience
Rubirosa is a narrow restaurant with seating for about 50 guests at a time. The restaurant is warmly lit and intimate, but still provides the charm of a bustling, unpretentious, cozy café. Upon entrance, you’re welcomed by the unmistakable aroma of Italian herbs and spices. To your right you’ll find a long full-service bar, while the left wall features low and high-top tables with seating for smaller groups (2-4 people). The tables for larger groups are situated towards the back of the restaurant’s dining space.
Service
I have dined at Rubirosa three times; once for lunch and twice for dinner. The hostess that greeted me during my lunch visit was friendly and calm. Since I arrived outside of the lunch rush, I was immediately shown to a high-top table for two. During my dinner visits, I did have to wait 25-45 minutes for a seat. I was added to a waitlist where my phone was texted when my table was ready. Once seated, I was always propmtply visited by my server. Food and drinks were delivered in a timely manner and comfortable pace. Once I asked for the check, the checkout process was quick and smooth.
Menu Variety
The menus at Rubirosa were well crafted with an assortment of pastas, pizzas, insalatas, antipastis, and fried dining options. It was not over the top in quantity of menu items, but they hit all of the staples and a few extras. Flavors seem well paired in the menu item descriptions, and they even had a dedicated gluten-free menu that was lengthier than I imagined. It’s hard to find gluten-free mozzarella sticks anywhere, so that was a lovely surprise to see.
Presentation
The table setting was simple and clean. There was a vase with fresh flowers to my right which instantly added a touch of elegance without feeling formal or pretentious. The pizza was served on a sturdy metal pizza stand and was delivered fresh and hot from the oven. The pizza condiments were served in an adorable topping organizer that was quite sturdy and the portion sizes were plentiful. Glassware and silverware were clean and felt heavy, indicating high quality. The menus was well-kept. The tables, seating, and walls were also extremelely clean.
My order on the table, Rubirosa | NYC, USA • Photo by Travel with LéRie
Food
AMAZINGGGGGGGGGG! The pizza was packed with so much flavor! The crust was not too thick, not too thin, and was crispy on the edges (the way I like it). The menu claims that the GF pizzas are 12 inches but it seemed larger. Guests are allowed to order their pizzas “half & half” so I definitely had to try it. I chose to combine the Bianca (mozzarella, ricotta, roasted garlic, and oregano) with the Rubirosa Supreme (fresh mozzarella, pepperoni, meatballs, roasted garlic, and basil). On the Rubirosa Supreme half, I chose to incorporate their famous vodka sauce underneath instead of the tomato sauce. Hands down the best gluten-free pizza I have ever eaten. The Parmesan, oregano, and chili flakes were a lovely addition to the meal and I used all three.
Pricing and Value
Food only 1 item: $20-$45 per person
Food only 2 items: $40- $60 per person
Food and Drinks $50-$80+ per person
Slightly pricey but completely acceptable given the quality and the experience. WORTH IT EVERY SINGLE TIME.
In Three Words
Iconic. Unpretentious. Craveable.
