La Follia Osteria

This restaurant waa sooo fast at seating us, so fast withe food and the food was AMAZING. Plus excellent customer service and reasonable prices. Awesome and cute place to eat!

Overpriced. Small portions. Not particularly good.

This place was a great find and so close to union Square. Honestly the best meal that I have had in the city. Service was great and the ambiance was very relaxing. Italian food was done justice and I don’t really like italian as much but I cleaned my plate and was very satisfied. I definitely recommend this place!

We used Unilocal and decided to try this place mainly because of the 4 star reviews. The service staff was friendly but busy. I took the recommendation of the waiter on the salt and Pepper Ribs and they were very dry and all end pieces; it was very disappointing. I also order the chicken and it was dry as well. Maybe the chef had an off day or it was my bad luck but just want to share my experience as this was definitely not a 4 star place.

Good food (reasonable portions), cheery servers, nice atmosphere. Bathroom situation was less than optimal (1 single toilet room for both the dining room AND the bar), but I’d definitely come here again. Spaghetti pomodoro was delicious, as was the broccoli rabe. (Asparagus and snap peas were «eh” – the snap peas had the strings and the asparagus was a bit tough.)

Consistently great food, vegetarian friendly and easy going service. This has easily become my go-​to Italian place.

This is such a lovely restaurant in Gramercy — totally a neighborhood gem! The first time I came, I popped in for Saturday brunch on a whim without knowing much about the place and I was so pleasantly surprised. They serve these incredible biscuits a variety of different ways and they just melt in your mouth. They really should update their menu online to reflect the newer options. I had the biscuits and gravy and the other member of my party had an eggs benedict on an biscuit — both of which were really tasty. I wasn’t in the mood to drink that day, but if I was the bottomless brunch would have been a great value. There weren’t many other groups in for brunch while I was there so this probably isn’t the place for you if you’re trying to get rowdy, but otherwise would be a pretty solid bottomless brunch option.
Given that the place was so quiet at brunch time I figured it wouldn’t be an issue to stop by for dinner around 8pm on a Wednesday without a reservation but the place was packed. It was only a 10 minute wait for a table, but I certainly wasn’t expecting such a large crowd during the week. Nonetheless it was a great weekday dinner option. Everything is reasonably priced (pastas ~$ 16, entrees ~$ 19) and the wine and beer selections are good. I had the arugula salad which was light and delicious and the arancini which were nice and cheesy. Everything I’ve eaten here has been really good so far. I would definitely recommend stopping in if you’re in the area.

Great antipasti, sides, and especially pappardelle with pork ragu!
Though they are moving, happy La Follia will still be in the nabe!

I made reservations here for dinner after browsing through pictures and, by first glance, got a very high impression. Another plus was that it was a good walking distance from my hotel. When we arrived, the place was very open and the entire atmosphere was very soothing and laid back. That was probably the highlight-​the quaint atmosphere. My other guests were quite hungry so we decided to start with the fried calamari. I tried some and thought it lacked flavor. Luckily, sprinkling salt was the trick. I have to say this place would be great to meet up with a pal for a glass of wine because they offer a very large selection… but on to the food. It’s definitely average and nothing phenomenal. I still have yet to try a mind blowing Italian place in NY. For my meal, I had the baked eggplant parmigiana. Honestly, it was disappointing. Maybe I imagine my eggplant parm a different way but this parm was almost like layered breaded lasagna. My other two guests ordered the trout and salmon and thought it was just good. I have to deduct another star because the service was disappointing too. The server never came to the table and just acted like he wanted us in and out. By the end of our meal, we were kinda disappointed. I guess we expect a lot out of NY Italian food. Also, not to mention, the bill came up to $ 88 (without tip) and the meal just wasn’t that great for that much money…

Went here for bottomless brunch, great deal!
The staff was super sweet and kept the drinks coming for the full two hours
I got the Eggs Benedict on a biscuit instead of an English muffin, it was amazing. I would highly suggest going here for Boozy brunch, we had six people and there were no issues showing up with a semi large group

Came here last night for a romantic dinner. Loved the atmosphere– very intimate, perfect for date night or an after work dinner with a few friends. We had a very attentive server who gave great recommendations– my boyfriend had the pappardelle with pork and I had the eggplant ravioli. Both were very tasty and came out very fast. Average price for a dish is around $ 16, and they have $ 7 glasses of wine and $ 3-​$ 5 appetizers during happy hour. We will definitely be back!

I am enamored with this neighborhood gem! La Follia is a great place to catch up with old friends in their relaxed, wine bar room, or grab a lovely dinner in the dining area.
The atmosphere is great — quaint and intimate. Everything we ordered was fantastic, and the prices were right, too! Nothing above $ 25 I believe.
We began our experience with some wine and cheese. Our waitress kindly recommended the Robiola and the Pecorino cheese — both of which were fantastic, and served with bread of course. I ordered the arugula salad which was lovely, and for my main the house-​made agnolotti.
The service was fantastic, and very accommodating of my friend with a nut allergy. I really enjoyed my experience, and this will certainly be one of my go-​to spots in my neighborhood!

We made it here finally after saying «wow, we must try that place!». Walking in we were so surprised to see how full and cosy it was the eve of snowmageddon. There is a bar area and a dining room. We had a wonderful seat in the bar area by the window. Décor and lighting was romantic.
Our server was lovely and helped us order. We had the egg truffle crostini and brussel sprouts to start. The crustini was good but the egg was sparing, and the brussel sprouts lacked the panchetta flavor it promised. But we were still hopeful for dinner.
My partner ordered a pesto pasta with fennel sausage and I ordered the clams linguini. Pesto was full of flavor however mine was disappointing — no sauce and lacked flavor. I had to fill my plate with parmigiana and pepper and it came good. I’m sure I’ll return and order differently and I’ll love it.
Will be back to try again.

I have been here a handful of times now, mainly for dinner but this last time for brunch. The atmosphere in here is always welcoming and comfortable whether you sit in the restaurant or the wine bar. In the summertime, I believe the windows slide open to give it a more open feel.
This time around for food, we started with the arancini (came in 3 and were creamy and good) and the crositini with ricotta/​mascarpone and pesto, honey, truffled eggs (all which were good and had unique flavors). For our mains, we did a mix of the hanger steak and eggs with truffled fries (cooked perfectly and had good flavors), the eggs benedict (eggs cooked nicely), the eggs with polenta (good balance and hearty for a cold day) and the chicken panini (fresh and simple). For a sweet, we did some gelato that wasn’t anything to write home about.
Overall, the service was friendly, atmosphere inviting and the food was good. For what we ordered after a drink each, everything was fairly priced and I would recommend if you are in the area.
Buon appetito.

My mom wanted italian food, so I quickly Unilocaled some italian restaurants near my apartment. Luckily we found this one, and I mainly chose it because they did online reservations. It was a sunday night, and we were able to make a reservation for 4 at 7:15pm. We arrived a little before 7pm but was seated immediately. The hostess was very polite and the server was very attentive.
Food came out within 15 minutes and was great! Burrata salad was lacking a little, but the pasta here is delicious! We ordered the meatballs side dish, and those were amazing as well. Orecchiette, spaghetti alle vongole, and house-​made pappardelle, and meatballs were delicious! I especially recommend the orecchiette.
For dessert we got the Maple Budino. SOOOO GOOD. I recommend with a cup of coffee.
Our bill came out to $ 107 including tips. Not bad for a party of 4!
Will definitely be coming back!

Great food and atmosphere! Everyone was so friendly! Pasta is delicious and Tiramisu is something you could die for… MIght be a little loud when crowded.

Came here for a date with my husband based on the extremely positive reviews, but I don’t understand the hype AT ALL. We were starving when we got here (nothing new there), so we started with the tapenade crostini and parmesan cheese plate. Firstly each of these cost $ 6 – 7 and they served two tiny pieces of crostini with the smallest amount of tapenade spread and ONE PIECE of parmesan cheese with some preserves; no exaggeration. We also got an argula salad, which tasted good but not memorable. We also tried to order fried calamari but the waitress said we weren’t allowed to have rings only when I requested that (we don’t eat the wigglies and I really cannot stand when restaurants require that be served… there’s no reason for that at all), and they would not accommodate us so we didn’t order it. I found the hostesses were very sweet, but our young waitress had a decent-​sized attitude that she didn’t share with the two single boys at dinner to our left.
My husband got the hanger steak, which he enjoyed. I ordered the vegetarian/​eggplant sandwich. It was literally disgusting. It tasted like absolutely nothing despite many vegetables and spread listed. Really bad. I also ordered a glass of riesling which was good. I was so unimpressed by the meal that I opted out of dessert and walked to Eataly a few blocks down.
Maybe I ordered poorly, but I would never come back unless I was just drinking with friends.

I first came to La Follia for dinner last winter, and found it to be such a warm, inviting little italian restaurant.
The space is divided into two sections: one more dining-​oriented, the other featuring a small, rustic bar and hightops for drinks and lighter bites. Both areas have their own charm, but we chose the dining room. The candlelit tables, dark wood and dim lighting made for a very cozy atmosphere.
While their wine can be a bit pricey, the white wine we were served was light, crisp and complimented our pasta dishes well. I ordered a usual favorite — orecciette with sweet sausage and pesto. The dish was good and generously-​sized, but not the best version I have had. Our service was attentive, prompt and seemed knowledgable about the wine selection.
I wouldn’t put La Follia at the top of my list, but it is certainly a solid choice for a substantial italian meal in a wonderful environment. The surrounding neighborhood of Gramercy Park is beautiful, too!

There are two sides to the restaurant: a dining room, and a more casual area with high tables and the bar. The wait is normally longer for the dining room but I much prefer the casual seating. The room is open to outside seating and the lighting is much softer.
The food was fantastic. The Caprese is served with fresh mozzarella and a perfectly sweet balsamic glaze. My entrée was the Cavatappi, which needed a little salt, but was very light for a pasta.

I had the endive salad and the mascarpone and clover honey crostini. I loved the crostini. I could eat it all day… But not so sure about 7 $ for two little pieces (at least 3 would be nice — the platter looked so empty). The salad was good too — walnuts and gorgonzola go really well together (esp with the crostini!)

You don’t need me to tell you that there are enough quality brunch spots in Manhattan to drive an indecisive person into a padded cell, but you might need me to tell you that there are better brunch options than La Follia Osteria.
Star 1: How were the service and atmosphere?
Admittedly, La Follia Osteria delivers when it comes to service and atmosphere. The quaint indoor/​outdoor seating arrangement and authentic décor was perfect for my brunch party of three, and I was shocked that the place wasn’t packed on what turned out to be a beautiful Saturday morning. Service was fast and friendly, and honestly there wasn’t much more I could have asked for. Star Granted.
Star 2: How were the portions relative to the cost?
Plain and simple, brunch, even a Manhattan brunch, should arrive in the ballpark of $ 20 before tax and tip, and that should include some drinks. Fortunately, La Follia Osteria hovered right around that metric, and my $ 15.00 Hanger Steak, eggs, and fries was a suitable portion that could have easily been combo’d with a drink order without breaking the bank. Good value. Star Granted.
Stars 3 and 4: How was the food?
Outside of my three Fried Fontina Risotto Balls ($ 7.00) that I ordered to share with the table, brunch was honestly just a bit meh. The hanger steak? Meh, could have used some better flavor although it was cooked to perfection as the picture might hint at. The eggs? Double meh — overcooked and without any creativity or imagination. The truffle fries? mediocre fries (a bit soft) with hardly a hint of recognizable truffle flair or flavor. More often than not you can identify truffle fries vs. standard fries with a picture alone, but look at my picture below — do those look like anything incremental over some pretty standard fries? I’ll let you decide.
I’ll take a quick pause to point out here that my aforementioned risotto balls were damn near life changing, with wonderful consistency and texture that had me wishing I’d put my $ 15.00 towards two more orders of them. Unfortunately, they weren’t enough to have me raving about my brunch experience. No Stars Granted.
Star 5: Would you eat here every day if you could?
I’ve purely reviewed the brunch here at La Follia Osteria, and my guess is (based on the risotto balls) that they likely dish up some amazing standard lunch and dinner dishes that I’m eager to try out. I’ll be back, but until that time, there are better brunch option nearby. No Star Granted.