Scalini Osteria

Failed to properly manage reservations, resulting in several tables waiting over an hour past their reservation time to be seated. We waited 1 hr and 23 mins PAST our reservation time before we were seated. I am wondering why we actually waited so long. There is hardly any room to wait in the cramped vestibule. An old lady with a cane was waiting near us and they didn't offer her a stool for 20 minutes. The menu is predictable and the food was mediocre at best and certainly not worth the wait. I might have given 2 stars had we not waited so long despite having a reservation.

Creative menu.

Maybe the pasta is ok. The grilled octopus would have been ok had it been hot. As for the saltimbocca I don't know why I ate any of it as it was obviously made days before because it was all dried out. The wine is grossly overpriced but the gelato was pretty good. Note all the 4 star reviews are 4 years old.

One of the best options for dinning in the Bronxville area. Charming and secluded little patio. Good brunch in the weekend.

A few positive reviews brought us to Scalini Osteria, but our experience last night, on Sat., did not match those reviews.

A good waiter can enhance or detract from a dining experience, and ours did the latter. First, when first pouring from the bottle of Sicilian red wine we had ordered, he left a big red splotch on the white tablecloth. We expected a profuse apology; he gave us a terse, "Sorry."

Although the restaurant had many vacant tables on a Sat. night after 7 p.m.,the waiter did not return frequently to inquire about our food; did not ask if we' d like black pepper or later, more coffee. He was also not particularly pleasant. When my husband asked if the coffee would be strong and hot, the waiter responded, "It' s American coffee. Would you like espresso?" That was not the response we wanted.

Now, the food. The salad of arugula, beets, almonds, and parmesan cheese consisted of a generous mound of beets and three decent sized thinly shaved cheese triangles, but only three or four almonds, and perhaps, three or four very tiny, scroungy pieces of arugula: we had to hunt for the arugula.

The margharita pizza appetizer was decent. The crust was very scanty, but the sauce had good tomato flavor, enhanced by a generous amount of basil.

The cod special had minimal seasoning. It tasted bland and poached, rather than pan seared, as listed.

The gnocci was mushy, rather than al dente, but the pomodoro sauce was flavorful.

After our coffee was served, we were not offered a refill, and we had a very long wait before we caught a bus boy's eye, so we could request our check.

I would assign two-and one-half stars and would be unlikely to return.