Café Altro Paradiso

I can't remember the last time I've been rushed out of a restaurant in this manner. I get that they're still a Hot New Thing and are trying to exploit that with as much turnover as possible before they're considered passe, but this bordered on the comical. We were seated at exactly 6:15, and our checks clocked at 7;41. Apps arrived barely before we'd put in the order, entrees on top of those, in all cases we were repeatedly badgered about whether half eaten plates could be cleared: we had to cling to them. Given the "dainty' portion sizes, that was a necessary fight. Though they were nice enough to spare us two extra pieces of bread for wiping up the plates.

With that said: pretty space, caters very much to its neighborhood scenester glammabes crowd. My guess is, not being in that demographic, they wanted us gone as soon as possible. Food is good, overpriced for both portion-size and overall quality, but given what they must be paying in staff and rent that didn't surprise me. Three small plates, two entrees, a dessert, and a bottle of wine came to $120 / person with tip. I wouldn't return and wouldn't recommend a seated experience: if you were in the hood and wanted a something at the bar in between things, this is an option.

The Estela crew moves west to a larger, and noisier, deco bistro for a wider menu and bigger scene. The lighting will remind you of Keith McNally's French bistros, though the food is decidedly Italian. The pastas offer a solid mix of classic and creative, though similar to Estela, the real excitement is on the shareable starter menu. Aim for the bar, as the sunken dining room is no less noisy.

Very attentive waiter which was the best part of the experience. Friend was under the weather and he brought out hot water and lemon, which was exceptionally thoughtful. Food was certainly quite good, though not jaw dropping. The octopus and chickpea salad was fantastic. Would give 4.5 stars if it was an option.

I have been a long-time Estela fan so I was naturally anxious to get in at Paradiso. I made a very early reservation--5:30, and the restaurant filled up almost immediately. The hostess was very bubbly and on the ball-- which was refreshing as so many hostesses can leave a bad taste in your mouth. I had a glass of the Zweigelt at the bar, which I highly recommend, as I waited for my date. We were seated at a nice booth two top; the space is definitely far larger than Estela, however you are still dining in close proximity to other guests (we're in NY, folks). Our server, Ian, was lovely. His service was laid back yet proactive, he made suggestions but wasn't overbearing. I appreciated his input, as my date was celiac. We were pleasantly surprised when he informed us that we could still have pasta dishes and went with his suggestions with confidence. I particularly appreciated that Ian did not hover, but rather let us eat at our own pace--he paced our food perfectly and was very on top of keeping our drinks refreshed.
Now, the food...I was a tad nervous as I've heard mixed reviews, but I have to say we were really blown away.
Food breakdown:
Fish Crudo: I loved this. It was packed with flavor and the texture was just right.
Burrata: Delicious, yes, but not the most flavorful dish.
Octopus: I was hesitant when I saw this was accompanied by chickpeas, but they were not overbearing, and they added an interesting texture to exquisitely cooked pulpo!
Tagliateli: We had the gluten free version and it was still absolutely delicious!
Swordfish: Estela's swordfish is one of my favorites, and still beats out this version for me, but it was still a delight!
Panacotta: How could we not try it? Delicious and savory, just as hoped!

Yes, Altro Paradiso is pricy, but you know that going in. I did see a couple seated at a less desirable table who seemed to be enjoying themselves less and jostled at times, but my experience was excellent and ultimately I can only speak for myself! I will be recommending and I will be back!

It's difficult to rate City Winery because there are aspects that are four stars or so and others that are two stars or less.

The good: Great performers, stylish space, and the food is better than average, particularly for a performance venue.

The bad: Concerts here tend to be more expensive than a lot of other venues featuring similar styles of performers (such as Joe's Pub, Subculture, Rockwood, etc.)

The awful: Considering the premium pricing of most shows, the uncomfortable, crowded seating is inexcusable. The tiny tables aren't even wide enough to accommodate the two chairs on each side, and then they line up tables into narrow rows until there isn't enough room for people to sit and eat, much less swivel chairs to watch the show. On top of that, the HVAC seems to be lacking, as tonight's show (the second I've seen at City Winery) was sweltering hot (even though the temps were in the mid 40s.) Plus, the servers were loud in the kitchen (which competed with the performance) and kept bumping into the chairs (I guess that may be unavoidable given the density of seating). It all makes for a significantly unpleasant concert experience.

Tonight, as my thigh was smashed against a stranger's and I was sweating through my clothes and my back was hurting because my legs, shoulders and neck were at three different angles trying to see the stage and I wanted to visit the restroom but realized I couldn't without asking six people to move, I decided I would rather see the performer at any other spot in NYC than The City Winery.

Five-star performers; four-star food; one-star comfort.