Rosemary’s in the West Village has been around so long, I think that I’ve visited it in three separate decades of my life. I have to admit that when friends made a reservation on my recent last visit, I suggested at least six other places I thought were a better choice. It’s not that I haven’t had a good time at Rosemary’s on previous visits, but NYC is competitive in the food scene. There’s always something new to try, so I had categorized Rosemary’s as a place for more fun than food. I’m glad my friends stood their ground though, as it gave me a chance to refresh our review of Rosemary’s NYC in the OG on Greenwich Avenue in the West Village.

Atmosphere

Rosemary’s has always been high on scene; in my late twenties it was a fun place for singles. On all subsequent visits the restaurant is consistently full of attractive diners who trended towards the twenty, maybe thirty-something age. Anyone outside of this bandwidth was an outlier in the old days.  On my recent visit however, Rosemary’s had the whole gamut of ages, and everyone was having a good time. There was much less of the pick up vibe from when I was I was in my twenties. In its place were groups of friends and couples on date night enjoying conversation and easy food. Rosemary’s has become the perfect go-to neighborhood spot, even if you don’t live in the neighborhood.

The crowd notwithstanding, Rosemary’s NYC is a cheerful, rustic farm to table restaurant. Farmhouse vibes runs through the DNA of Rosemary’s through the decor of the tables, wooden beams and floors. The restaurant buzzes all the way from brunch to the last seating for dinner around 10:30/45 on a weekend night.

Food + Wine

I will say that Rosemary’s NYC is one of the best values I’ve had in a long time. Where the entry point nowadays feels like $150/$175 per person for an entry-level meal, Rosemary’s charges what food used to cost. In fact when our bill arrived and it was around $100/per person with appetizers, main dishes  a dessert and two drinks a piece, I had to do a double take. The quality of the food way exceeds its pricing.

Rosemary’s is where you go for simple farm-to-table Italian dishes. The pastas are always a solid choice. The orcchiette with homemade sausage and broccoli is a classic. The pastas are actually mostly classic dishes for what Italian food used to be, before Italian got all complex and fancy. If I want a spaghetti in garlic oil, this is where to go. Straightforward antipasti with parmesan cheese, eggplant caponata and the mussels were all perfectly executed. The Milanese was big enough to share, and everything that comfort food should be. Chocolate cake was also solid. The food is exactly who it presents itself to be on the menu, which is why Rosemary’s, after all these years, is still going strong.

Service

What surprised me the most about Rosemary’s after all these years was the level of service. I expected waitstaff to casually not really care, but that is the furthest from reality. While waiting at stand-up bar table to be seated, our waiter immediately offered us still or sparkling water and took a drink order. Our table was ready before they had a chance to bring out drinks, and the check was transferred to the table with no drama.

For our actual dinner service, the waitstaff were efficient and attentive. Food came out perfectly timed and drinks were seamlessly refilled. The experience was above average professional. What’s also notable is that the kitchen, waiters, bartenders and hosts all were clearly playing on the same team. It was no mystery after this last visit why Rosemary’s has been around forever, especially in NYC restaurant terms.

Overall: 7.2/10

The next time I get invited to Rosemary’s I’m going to be a lot more excited. Rosemary’s NYC is a solid neighborhood spot and is clearly doing something right.

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FAQs

Q: What are Rosemary’s hours of operation?

A: Rosemary’s NYC’s hours of operation are as follows:

Q: Does Rosemary’s NYC have multiple locations?

A: Yes, Rosemary’s has the original on Greenwich, Rosemary’s East, at 350 First Avenue and soon to open Rosemary’s in Midtown.

Q: Do you need a reservation at Rosemary’s?

A: Technically you can walk into Rosemary’s, but it’s a popular spot. To be on the safe side make a reservation.