Sneakeater Posted November 20, 2014 Share Posted November 20, 2014 This is the new rustic Italian place opened on Grove Street (right off Seventh Ave.) in the West Village by Rita Sodi and Jody Williams, whom we now all know (if we didn't know before -- as I didn't) are a couple. It marks Chef Williams's return to Italian, after her French detour at Buvette. It marks Chef Sodi's venturing beyond Tuscany, the region whose food she serves at I Sodi. I went opening night (Monday). I admit that's stupid. The service was almost touchingly discombobulated. But everyone was so sweet about everything. The bartender -- I think his name is Colm? -- was incredibly nice. OK, the food. There's nothing left to say about rustic Italian in New York. It's among the most comforting comfort food there is. But if you're not eating it in rustic Italy, there's a limit to how much it can thrill you -- a limit that had been reached even before the top of Pete Wells's head blew off at Il Buco AV. So while everything I had was cooked more than correctly -- almost perfectly -- and I liked it all very much, I don't have much to say about it. Here are some of the things they do right here: Technique. My backed pizzoccheri were perfect, crusty on top, moist beneath. Seasoning. The rosemary (I think) liberally sprinkled on the fried rabbit set it off perfectly. Very nice wine list. Very good Negroni. I personally find strictly regional Italian more interesting than the kind of generic pan-Italian they do here, so I'd still give I Sodi a slight edge. But this place is really good. Not a destination, because rustic Italian can't be, by definition. But very much worth dropping into. Can anyone remember what was here before? 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sneakeater Posted November 20, 2014 Author Share Posted November 20, 2014 I was going to say this isn't quite as good as Marco's. But now, what's the point? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wilfrid Posted November 20, 2014 Share Posted November 20, 2014 Betel. It sounds like exactly the restaurant which will do very good business in that location. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wilfrid Posted November 20, 2014 Share Posted November 20, 2014 You do still eat out quite a lot, don't you? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sneakeater Posted November 20, 2014 Author Share Posted November 20, 2014 Just lately. I think having a birthday made me feel too lazy to cook. I'll get over that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LiquidNY Posted November 20, 2014 Share Posted November 20, 2014 You should have stashed the truffle in your pocket. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sneakeater Posted November 20, 2014 Author Share Posted November 20, 2014 My cooking needs it a lot more than theirs does. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nathan Posted November 21, 2014 Share Posted November 21, 2014 I've always liked her food. Happy to hear about this. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sneakeater Posted November 21, 2014 Author Share Posted November 21, 2014 Yeah. Anyone who's a fan of either of the chefs will like this fine. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
StephanieL Posted November 21, 2014 Share Posted November 21, 2014 Can anyone remember what was here before? A pan-Asian place called Betel. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steve R. Posted November 21, 2014 Share Posted November 21, 2014 Can anyone remember what was here before? A pan-Asian place called Betel. Wilf's gonna tell you that he's already said that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sneakeater Posted November 21, 2014 Author Share Posted November 21, 2014 And it isn't easy to get Wilf to say "betel" without sneering. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
greenspace Posted November 21, 2014 Share Posted November 21, 2014 And it has what NY Mag says "may well be New York’s best new burger." So if you're feeling really dumbed down or cant decide between here and brindle room*, well... http://www.grubstreet.com/2014/11/what-to-eat-at-via-carota.html did brindle room ever fix the burger????? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
johannabanana Posted November 22, 2014 Share Posted November 22, 2014 Has anyone written much here about I Sodi? I've had one very average dinner there but it was late on a Saturday night so maybe not a fair way to judge. We were told to wait for our table at Buvette, which was a real scene. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wilfrid Posted November 22, 2014 Share Posted November 22, 2014 I liked the food at Buvette but the whole experience was wearing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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