Overview

After a string of successful restaurants over the past few decades, which include Butter, the Darby, and now private dinner club Bond Street, Scott Sartiano’s latest move is a restaurant named after himself. Although, this restaurant hits a different note than the other ventures which relied more on the scene rather than food. Sartiano’s NYC is in the old Mercer Kitchen space at the Mercer Hotel in Soho. In other words, it has big shoes to fill. This is our review of Sartiano’s.

Atmosphere

Admittedly I had not been to Mercer Kitchen for ages before it closed, but the space looks for all intents and purposes, the same. It does make sense though, because why fix something that isn’t broken? After all, it wasn’t that Mercer Kitchen wasn’t good but only that after over 20 years, it had run its course. The atmosphere and the food were always solid, so Sartiano’s builds upon that. The cafe upstairs is bright and cheery, with some updates to the color palates. Downstairs it’s the same dark mood lighting with brick walls and updated contemporary furniture.

With how difficult it is to get a reservation here, as long as you aren’t anywhere near the bar, it was a nice volume throughout the dining room. However, when you are at the bar, there is absolute riff-raff amongst the chic crowd. So, essentially you have people who look like they belong at Aman Club and Sartiano’s Bond Street, and people who do not. It’s been a while since I’ve been to a bar where there were that many obnoxious loud talkers. However, the bar, should you want to have a more social evening, is a good spot to grab a bite. It’s also all first-come, first-served, so that’s a way around the challenging reservations.

For brunch and daytime dining upstairs, Sartiano’s takes on a more chill yet still fun vibe. Either way, the people-watching is good. With Sartiano involved, you have the likes of Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton, and Lauren Sanchez in the house. And on one particular night, they were there all together. It’s no surprise that Sartiano’s NYC brings the scene.

Food + Drink

For a place that’s this cool right now, the food and beverage are much better than they need to be. I would say that the quality level of the food conveys that they take hospitality seriously, and aren’t resting on their laurels. It shouldn’t be a surprise though, because the Chef behind the food is Alfred Portale. If his name sounds familiar, it’s because he’s of the gamed Gotham days, and now has his own restaurant in Chelsea. Think of him as the Elder Statesman of the food scene, where they just don’t make gentlemen like him anymore.

So, with Portale helming the kitchen, the menu at Sartiano’s NYC creatively elevates standard Italian fare. For starters, they have caviar cannolis, which at a relatively reasonable $48. The yellowtail crudo was generous in serving and clocked in at $28 or so. Pastas, which include a lobster bucatini and a classic vongole, range from around $30-$60 or so. On my next visit, I plan to get the spaghetti with the lemon from Sorrento and caviar, which the couple next to me ordered twice. Granted there is a $425 steak on the menu, to let you know you’re dealing with a Sartiano-backed project. With how expensive food is nowadays, I was more than happy to pay the relatively reasonable nut of the check at Sartiano’s.

Service

Like the food and beverage, for a place this scene-y, the service is much nicer than it needs to be. In fact, it’s down to earth, with no attitude, even if you don’t have a reservation. The bar team is friendly to the point where you could imagine becoming a regular. Service runs as it should, with food, beverage, and the right amount of checking in through your meal. It’s also not chaotic although on a weekend night, every table is packed. This shouldn’t be too surprising as this isn’t Sartiano’s or Alfred Portale’s first rodeo.

Overall: 7.3/10

If you want a good scene with solid modern Italian food, this is a restaurant where you want to become a regular.

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FAQs

Q: Where is Sartiano’s located?

A: Sartiano’s NYC is located in The Mercer Hotel in Soho at 99 Prince St, New York, NY 10012.

Q: What are Sartiano’s hours of operation?

A; Sartiano NYC’s hours of operation are:

Q: Do you need reservations at Sartiano’s NYC?

A: Reservations are highly recommended, though difficult to get at dinnertime. For brunch or lunch, there’s no issue and the restaurant is relatively calm. At dinnertime though Sartiano’s NYC is quite the scene. If you want a table you’ll need to have the reservations line or a contact as ressies aren’t available on Resy for dinner. That of course can change. However, if you want to drop into the bar, it’s first-come, first-served.