Great atmosphere and service. Some very unique options which were very good. The ravioli with spinach and squash with pears sage and cookie crumble was very good but was swimming in olive oil. The veal ravioli in Alfredo mushroom sauce was lacking some taste. Kids portions were good and reasonably priced.
(4)
Quinn A.
Looking for a place to dine with out of town friends, I came across some very good reviews for this nice Italian restaurant. I called the same day, crossing my fingers, and a table for four at seven o'clock was no problem. I asked about that, and the general manager told me that the regular crowd is mostly early diners. You can get in after six thirty easy. We were worried that Santa Fe would have the sidewalks rolled up by the time we were finished - have you noticed how this town shuts down at night? It was nice, though, walking out in the cold night, the promise of snow in the air, with nobody around. Very nice. We had three appetizers. The calamari, the burrata caprese with prosciutto, and something else that Bob had and didn't share. Nobody but Bob got a bite of that. Thanks, Bob. The calamari did not please - over breaded, but not rubbery, just not great. The burrata caprese was lovely with balsamic and cheese and fresh tomato. I held that one at my end of the table as long as I could. After scotches, we ordered a bottle of Prunotto Barolo, a solid red that went with everything. With mains we had a bottle of Ruffino Riserva Ducace Oro Chianti, not your usual Ruffino, a step up, and it was bold and awesome. I'll be looking for some more of that down at Total Wine this week. We had the lamb, the oso buco, the pumpkin butternut squash ravioli, and the veal scaloppini. The veal is something I never order, and since Bob hoarded it on his side of the table I wasn't put in the awkward position of trying it. He ate every bite, so I would have to conclude that it was pretty good. The lamb was tender and perfectly cooked, medium rare, with a blueberry reduction. The oso buco had a perfect bed of rice and sauce and fell apart on the fork. My ravioli, while waver thin, had a flavor I find myself craving again today - all fall spices and soft sweet pear. I won the desert round with the romanov - a sweet, crunchy, crumbly shell they made right there in the restaurant, with a bed of cheesy sweet goodness, some grapes, some gelato, some whipped cream - heaven in every bite. I had to engage in a fork war to fend off too much poaching from the rest of the table. Tony had the salted caramel gelato, delicious, and Jeff and Bob had the tiramisu, which was balanced and not over soaked. It's a good thing Jeff had the tiramisu, or we never would have had a chance to try it, because again, Bob barricaded himself on his side of the table with his food. What else? The atmosphere was great, there is a fire place in the dining room (try to not get seated in the bar area), and once the early diners headed out we pretty much had the place with some other couples. Special shout out to the two ladies at a nearby table who talked and laughed and ordered everything on the menu and then had long conversations about the food with the manager. Next time I eat out I want to go with them. It was a wonderful meal with dear friends. This is living.
(4)
Clare M.
Had not been here in years because had a less than great experience many moons ago. Came for a business lunch recently and was delightfully surprised and delighted by the lasagna. Absolutely the best lasagna in town!
(5)
Anne W.
We were fortunate to sit at Pietro's table and had unbelievably good food. Some of our party had fresh halibut. We had steak stuffed with herbs and sausage with wild-harvested mushrooms. The oysters were sweet. The fried squash blossoms were served with an out of this world sauce. We had a fantastic Dante Cabernet Sauvignon. It was a lovely, lovely dinner with perfect service.
(5)
bob s.
If you knew how this place operated, you would not eat here. Raw chicken dripping on top of vegetables, rotten food in their walk in, shellfish/oysters not kept on ice and they shuck the oysters yesterday, never fresh. Lasagna wrapped in plastic wrap and heated in a microwave. Hot food "cooling" on the floor by the garbage can. No bleach buckets or sanitation in their kitchen. The hand washing station doesn't get used, even by those who touch the garbage dumpsters outside. The owner thinks it is perfectly acceptable to keep raw meat uncovered and touching other food if it is refrigerated. It is a miracle that no one has been linked to this establishment for a food borne death.
(1)
Bill S.
Nice food - beautiful outside patio dining - great northern Italian food - love the fresh garlic smell and flavors - give it a try
(4)
Jim M.
The ambience is exceptional! The food extraordinary,. The wait staff and owner are like a family that adopts you as their most favorite client that has ever walked into the Resturant. The lineage of the owners goes back nearly 40 years beginning at the once famous Bull Ring when it was on the Old Santa Fe Trail next to the State Capitol and the once beautiful Palace Resturant on Palace Avenue (both of these icon restaurants dismally vanished but the essence of character, service and excellence retained by Lino & Pietro). If you want the charm of Santa Fe and a great eatery - you won't regret it!
(5)
Gwynedd D.
We had a basic meal here for two, with three glasses of wine. It works out to about 30 per person--average in a big city or resort town such as Santa Fe. The service was fine, though I thought the hostess was a bit unwelcoming. The waitperson was several people--so it's hard to judge the service because a different person delivered the entree, refilled the wine. I thought the by-the-glass list was scant, and I wasn't delighted with my pinot. The pasta was well cooked and sauced just right--no lake of cream and the dish was properly hot, a rarity in the US these days. However, the pasta was not salted and though I rarely salt things at home, it was noticeable. My dining companion's ravioli with sage, butter and squash was bland and tasteless. The espresso was good. This place does a good job but it's not extraordinary.
(3)
Steve S.
Had dinner 5/29/14 while in town for a medical conference. Service by Brittney was excellent. The two specials (a chicken and a fish) sounded intriguing, but she said (when asked) that the osso bucco was not to be missed, and indeed, it was very good. Served with a risotto; very filling. I also had the beet salad, which was also very good. The place filled-up as I was leaving, so they seem to be doing something right. Prices were high, but so is everything else in Santa Fe. If given the opportunity, I would return.
(4)
Jazmine V.
This place has great food! We went after the Santa Fe Wine Festival and enjoyed a salad, lasagna, and the halibut special. The salad was good. It featured beats, watermelon, and greens. They were happy to split all of our food before bringing it out to us. I liked the lasagna, but other people in the party felt that the spices were too strong. I thought that the flowers worked well together. The halibut was the highlight of our night, though. It had some sort of sauce on it, along with capers. It was served with some large shrimp and muscles, along with sauteed zucchini. The flavors were fantastic. We enjoyed every bite of that dish. We also had a really nice red wine with dinner. The only thing I didn't like was the dessert. It was a key lime pie. It was very condensed, not fluffy, and I could taste the sugar granules. Bleh. The service was really good. I had Brittany as my server, and she knows her stuff. She was friendly, professional, and knowledgeable. Sit out on the patio. The ambiance is nice. Be prepared to spend a pretty penny, but the food is delicious and a nice treat.
(4)
Michou O.
Came here to celebrate a job promotion, was hoping for a nice meal with my family and unfortunately, did not get that. First off, we ordered two appetizers, Calamari, and Mozzarella sticks, and they BOTH, had the same dipping sauce... Why? Next, my Wife and I both ordered Lasagne, and when it arrived, my Wife's plate had a chunk of microwaved plastic in it. Needless to say, I pretty much lost my appetite for my Lasagne, and opted for a Peroni instead... I remember this place being amazing, like super stellar. Hopefully they can work it out, so we can come back and have an excellent meal again soon.
(2)
Sean N.
Corked wine, steak severely undercooked steak, recooked steak came out 30 min after rest of party finished meal, no bread service, no drink refills, poor service. Bottom line-overpriced for what you get. There are better places for Italian in Santa Fe.
(1)
Stan L.
We celebrated our 50th here on our last night in Santa Fe and it very very good. We had a smoked cheese/proscuitto appetizer. It was very good. Sarah had the Lasagna and I had Halibut covered with a cold remoulade of tomatoes, shrimp, crab, broccoli, cavier and zucchini all chopped into a sauce. It also was very good. For dessert we shared three truffles, which were also very good. Brittany was our waitress and she was as good as I have seen. Full of energy and made us feel at home. The furnishings and decor was nice and they had very good coffee. A great place for a special meal.
(5)
Ceci C.
Brittany was our server, she was great! We received wonderful service from her. Food was good, but Brittany made it 5 stars. Food was amazing as well. We had calamari, beef carpaccio and the special - oyster rocketfeller as appetizers, we loved them except for the calamari, it was just average and didn't stand out. Entree was delicious, I went with the eggplant parm, it doesn't come with pasta, which you'll have to order it on the side. They do have home made pasta, it's really good. We enjoyed this place very much.
(5)
Tina R.
What a disappointment that place was!! Instead of "authentic Italian", we got served cold 'Wellington beef' as a nights special - what does an english dish have to do in an italian restaurant?? The beef AND the sauce were cold and flavorless. I had the 'homemade pasta with shrimp' - which came out of a freezer bag, the sauce was just blah and not even the parmesan was fresh shredded... If you call yourself 'authentic italian' I expect at least that! I usually LOVE Tiramisu, if it's done right - it was the so called 'house specialty'. Instead of 'authentic' it was more like a slice of tasteless cake with chocolate sauce on top...what the heck??? I thought I can trust what I read on the restaurants website, but that's obviously a mistake!! Totally overrated, if you are really into good food and authentic italian, this place is a HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT!
(1)
Reed H.
Very authentic and tasty northern Italian cuisine. Had pizza bianca. Was baked in stone oven. Tasted just like the ones I had in Tuscany. Yum! Very nice service too.
(4)
Russ L.
One of the better Italian places in Santa Fe. If you are looking for southern Italian food, head somewhere else, this is mostly Northern Italian. Very good wine list, but somewhat pricey.
(4)
Darrell D.
Outstanding dishes and excellent service. The special carrot and coconut soup was one of the most excellent dishes we have had, ever. Very unexpected flavor combination, and delicious. We also had the bresaola/arugula appetizer with capers and parmigiano reggiano. The combination of the soup and the bresaola would have made an excellent meal, but we split them and then had two excellent entrees, a mushroom ravioli and a fusilil bolognese. Service was prompt and very professional, the server had excellent recommendations for making our menu choices. This was the first time to this restaurant in Santa Fe, but it compares very well with other outstanding Italiian restaurants in town. Definitely would go back.
(5)
Trent S.
Good service, great bread, pasta below average for a med priced Italian restaurant , was disappointing.
(2)
A B C.
Wonderful food! The Thanksgiving Dinner was the best Turkey I have ever had. And the seafood Ravioli was to die for. You can't go wrong with this place!
(5)
Bryan C.
The staff was friendly. The food was ok.
(3)
Michael B.
Poor quality food, poor ownership, sad wait staff and not one Italian in the kitchen!
(1)
Whit R.
We were looking for a place that was a little off the beaten path (hard to do in Santa Fe). A quick consultation of the Restaurant Guide led us to Osteria D'assisi. We arrived towards the tail end of lunch, about 2 PM, and there were only four other tables. We were seated right away and enjoyed a very tasty and pleasant lunch. I had an eggplant and peperoni panini. It was just the right size, which was a nice change of pace. My wife had spinach ravioli and they were very good as well. I supped on one of the local brews, Santa Fe Pale Ale, while we ate. Good but not great. All in all, this is a very pleasant little place tucked away a few blocks from the main drag. They have nice outdoor seating as well.
(4)
Morton S.
My wife and I split salmon with pasta on the side under a tomato sauce. Delicious. The bread is always fresh and tasty. Then we had lemon sorbet for dessert. The service was very good and the environment lovely.
(4)
Christine P.
When you get your meal and take a bite and both people say WOW! you know it's good! The steak marsala was amazing, one of the best marsala sauces I have had. The eggplant rolled with ricotta cheese was very yummy. The appetizer with all the italian meats and cheeses was great, very fresh. Great little place, neat atmosphere, the server was excellent. The bread was also very fresh. Can't wait to go back. Great find!
(5)
Chicagoa N.
Sorry, no. Not a chance. My party of 4 were seated and were immediately presented with a basket of stale bread. It cracked when you broke it in half. Two of us had the house special that night, ravioli stuffed with lobster and mushrooms. Neither of us could taste lobster, and the ravioli itself was thick and overcooked, probably came from Costco. If you ask for cheese, they bring Kraft's pre-grated, out of the can. They're a tourist trap and don't pretend to be anything else. Cut the menu prices in half and the food is still overpriced. The waitress did a good job, but with the other problems, good service at Osteria D'Assisi is llike putting perfume on a pig.
(1)
Nicki S.
The ambiance was nice but the food was completely lackluster. We had the baked polenta with bolognese for an appetizer which I thought was fairly good but my husband said was bland. He ordered the veal special, which also lacked flavor. I ordered the chicken and spinach fettuccine and it had absolutely no flavor, plus the little chunks of chicken were sparse. The meal was ridiculously overpriced for what we got. I love Italian food and was extremely disappointed in this meal, which was one of only two dinners out while in Santa Fe.
(2)
Gretchen J.
Wonderful small italian restaurant that has an impressive wine selection and great food selections that are prepared fresh ( including pasta that they make on premises ). The service was very attentive and friendly. I f I live here I would frequent this place !
(5)
Steve N.
I made a reservation for a party of two for 8:00PM dinner on Wednesday; December 26'th. We arrived on time and were promptly led to a table in the front room and seated. The restaurant was full. We were given menus and water and that's where the good service stopped. We waited for someone to come to our table as tables around us were quickly being tended to by staff. The owner appeared several times at a table next to us to chat with the party, help take away finished plates, bring a slice of birthday cake and then a glass of brandy. He appeared a number of times at that table while we continued to wait. A young staff woman appeared near our table and we waved her over. She said that she would not be serving us but would let our server know. We waited. Finally a young man appeared and apologized. He took our order and we waited and watched as the owner continued to personally cater to the table next to us. Bread arrived! Yes! Something to eat!!!! We waited and our dinners eventually appeared. The dinners were tasty although the lasagna was a little too cheesy for my tastes. We cleaned our plates and waited. The server came back, offered deserts that we declined and we asked for our check. The owner brought the check to the neighboring table and returned their credit card receipt promptly for signature and again chatted with the party. A new party arrived at another empty table and our server quickly tended to them .. offering them a list of specials that he never offered to us. We each commented "There were specials!!! .. wish we had known!!". We received our check and I put my credit card in the check folder and waited. By now .. the restaurant was nearly empty as it was after 9:00PM. We waited. No one came back to retrieve the credit card! We each searched our wallets for cash and replaced my credit card with cash and left the table. The young woman who initially sent our server to our table waved to us as we left! That was it!!! As we left we saw our server at another table in another room. During our visit we noticed that staff were working extremely hard. My comments are directed more to the owner who catered to one table while ignoring the fact that the restaurant was under staffed based on the large crowd that we observed. Perhaps the large day after Christmas crowd caught the restaurant management unprepared!
(2)
Jamie W.
By far the best Italian restaurant in Santa Fe. They have great service, good music and a nice patio. The menu isn't huge, but it is very creative and excuted well. My only complaints are the small portion sizes and the sub-par turimisu.
(4)
Nick S.
I think that it is still a pretty good stop to eat like a local here. The food has been fairly consistent, but am finding a bit of a disconnect in service. While very nice, and engaging, completely un attentive, then very cordially showing up like your best friend. We wait far too long between ordering , anything, wine, food...and when it comes. It's okay, it's lost a star to me for this, and also the dinner menu far less enjoyable than lunch choice.
(3)
Leahi M.
Amy was our server, we had the Veal Scallopini and the Torta which was excellent. The service was absolutely amazing! She was very accommodating to all our needs, I have a craving for caffeine and Amy made sure the gal, Erica, who served them were perfect! All in all, if you come in here be sure to request these two customer service beauties. Best experience in Santa Fe...EVER!
(5)
Erik E.
Night #3 of New Mexico Restaurant Week. Saturday night in fact, so the place was pretty busy. NM Restaurant Week features a three course prix fixe menu for $25. Good place, but (cutting to the chase now) there is better Italian in Santa Fe, and not that much more expensive. My favorite would be Il Piatto (just one street over). I was seated on the second floor (at my request --- good of them to accommodate me!) beside a very fake fireplace and a window from which I could see the Santa Fe Mountains. So atmosphere is kind of a mixed bag here. Some parts of the restaurant are more elegant than others. Downstairs is a little nicer. Upstairs looked a little unfinished. The bartender was also my waitress. I requested a flatliner martini which is not too common in the Southwest, so I also provided her with a recipe (equal parts espresso, Bailey's, creme de'cacao, and Lemon Hart 151 rum; shake with ice; strain into glass; garnish with whole espresso beans). It's more of a Pacific NW drink. It hit the spot and I was ready for dinner! The bread basket came out a little late (see pics). The bartender was very helpful with the wine selection. Brought out a couple for me to taste and I went with an Italian vintage that she had suggested. Good suggestion! It went great with the Osso Buco! But first there was the appetizer. The appetizer was a breaded and roasted cylinder of polenta with a light taste of garlic and plenty of cheese! (see pics). There was a cream and olive oil sauce with mushrooms and a garnish of sage. This was awesome! But then, who doesn't love starch. 8*) On to the Osso Buco. Actually, this was the first time I'd ever had Osso Buco. It's about damn time! What can I say, it was very good veal! Falling off the bone tender with sweet carrots, celery, and onion. Flavorful broth, and served with (again in cylindrical form) some risotto with shaved Parmesan cheese. The string beans (haricot verts?) were perfectly cooked. Dinner concluded with a dense chocolate mousse (pics) garnished with whipped cream and strawberries. Very good! So overall very good. Nothing incredibly creative, but a good solid Italian dinner. I would love to have a place like this in Albuquerque, but in Santa Fe, there is better. I could see coming back here, but I wouldn't be expecting anything more than good standard Italian.
(3)
Juan Carlos U.
Our group of 3 went there for a New Year's Eve dinner and the quality of what was offered certainly spoiled the mood of the festivity. It lacked any creativity. The food at a greasy diner could have been more flavory. Besides the atmosphere was lame. Do yourself a favor with so many good restaurants in Santa Fe avoid this one.
(2)
Claire C.
We had a very good dinner here on 9/4/11. Atmosphere was low lights, quiet and intimate with some good people-watching. Service was good although our wine order took a fairly long time to arrive. But the wine was good so not a big deal and we were not in any hurry. Our antipasti salad was divine - tomato, red onion, fresh basil, and gorgonzola dressed in olive oil and basalmic vinegar. So good we are going to make it at home tonight! Lots of bread and olive oil for dipping. Both of our pasta dishes were very tasty: Spinach fettucine with chicken in a cream sauce Seafood linguine with a delectable wine, tomato/garlic sauce For dessert we had tiramisu which was also good. Definitely will return to this restaurant in the future.
(4)
Debbie L.
Went on recommendation to this restaurant. I have to say, we were very disappointed. Service was not the greatest, but not really bad either. The waiter brought us bread that was cold and with no butter, however he did have olive oil by itself to pour out ourselves. This was a party of three. Two of us got the special that was halibut. My friend liked it okay-I didn't care for it at all-had no taste. Another friend got veal and didn't care for it. We will not be going back. Very pricey for what we received. They are in a great location downtown.
(3)
Heather W.
My husband and I went to this restaurant on a whim whilst walking around downtown Santa Fe on our honeymoon. It was mother's day, and as such, almost every restaurant we came across was packed. Not so with Osteria. That should have been our first clue. Our waitress at the restaurant was incredibly unfriendly and inattentive. She had one other table, but couldn't seem to make it around to ours very often. The food was incredibly mediocre, especially for the price attached. My husband had the lamb, which turned out to be mostly fat and he ended up not eating most of his meal. I had salmon, which was ok, but it wasn't anything to write home about, and it was definitely NOT worth $20. We really regret dining at this restaurant and wish we had our money back, but alas. The very least we can do is make sure other people know to avoid this place.
(1)
Brian H.
Great location, a couple of blocks north of the Plaza across from the Court House. It was cool the evening we dined so no one was being seated on the patio. When the weather warms up, the patio will be a very nice place to dine. The food was very good, the only complaint being the large portions. The food is authentic Italian as the owner is from Lago di Como in northern Italy. Good selection of Italian wines by the glass
(4)
Denise V.
This was one of my least favorite dining experiences in Sante Fe. Not bad, but nothing special. My mother and I ate here with a last minute reservation in November 2011. The hostess sat us in an upstairs room with only one other couple. It was a quiet awkward space. Our pasta dishes and salads were average, but not stand outs. The beet salad and butternut squash ravioli were the best dishes were ordered. We found the wines by the glass to be a bit pricey.
(3)
Grumpy G.
Expected quite a bit and was let down in the end. We went for the Wine & Chile Fiesta so we were working with a fixed menu and wine pairings. First course appetizers were really basic. Second and third courses were very good. Veal entree was so tough I simply could not cut the meat!. Wine pairings were pretty good. Maybe they will get it together better next year.
(2)
Rachel S.
One of my favorite restaurants in Santa Fe-- I used to go here every year for my birthday!! The menu is seasonal and all of the pastas are homemade in house-- delicious!! The butternut squash ravioli is amazing! They also have a great wine selection. It's not an overly fancy place but they have a great patio for sitting outside in the summer. They are always busy so plan on making reservations.
(4)
Carolyn H.
This is possibly the worst italian meal I have had. It was industrial grade at best. Olive garden could have served a better clam garlic pasta dish. What a disappointment. (?)
(1)
David S.
Had a LOVELY dinner here! Excellent, attentive service without trying to push you out immediately after eating. Great wine list; outside tables with view across street into lovely park a big plus. Great menu with broad range of choices from modestly priced ($15) to upscale ($30). Strongly recommend. We would return.
(5)
Sam A.
Not a big fan of this place. It's conveniently located near my work, so I've tried the place out a few times. I always order something really basic, and am continually astounded at the small portions I get for the amount of money I'm paying. The staff is friendly enough, but I think this is geared more to the visiting tourists in the downtown area than a casual dining person like myself.
(2)
Jessica G.
I have been to this restaurant a couple times and have had nothing short of an outstanding experience, from the food to the ambiance. This dining experience ruined my respect for this restaurant. I usually specify in the special recommendations section that I want a pleasant and romantic ambiance, but because of the late reservation time, didn't think it would be necessary. Even though most of the downstairs was empty, we were seated in a dark, dingy upstairs area. 3/4 of the area was dark and the other tables had upturned chairs. One other obnoxious table was finishing their meal when we sat down. The waitress was barely seen. The food was more than excellent, but the ambiance and treatment ruined my experience. I will never return.
(2)
Bonita G.
Food was marvelous. Waitress helped find an entree that I would like. The eggplant dish was wonderful and I would not have ordered it without her suggestion.My husband's veal was wonderful. The atmosphere was lovely. Service excellent. I highly recommend this lovely place.
(4)
john b.
Wow what to say...if it wasn't real it would be kind of funny. Bottom line. Food acceptable, service horrible. We waited for 15 minutes for menus, water, bread...anything. Then when someone came up and asked us if we wanted anything immediately (after menus arrived) we ordered the calamari -- and it was a total no show. After we ordered our food and wine the waitress came back after 10 minutes to ask if we wanted wine -- and yest it was the same waitress too. Food seemed very slow in arriving, especially as most tables had either emptied by then or had already gotten their meals, even though they arrived after we did. Service was slow and inattentive, food average at best. NOT a place to go back to if you care about service. We have experienced much better in Santa Fe...as someone else noted, their ability to seat us after only a 20 minute wait should have been a clue.
(2)
Rachel W.
I was with my boyfriend who doesn't like the majority of food in this country, when we spotted this place late in the evening. It looked like ke 1) he might actually eat there, 2) they might have food beyond the standard pasta fair, 3) they were open and I was starving. We both ordered the tomato bisque and braised lamb shank with a bottle of wine recommended by the server. Both were excellent...the lamb was so tender, and it was served with tasty green beans. The wine was also delish and not terribly expensive (at least by DC standards). So why only 3 stars? The service was kind of sucky...I realize that we walked in late, but similar restaurants in DC offer the same service to their late customers as their regular dinner hour customers. We waited forever to be seated and it wasn't that busy. The hostess was visably annoyed that we she had to get us a table. And our waitress, while very friendly, was a little bumbly and forgot bread, wine glasses, and a knife among other things. Perhaps this is a good place to visit with an expense account at an early hour. There seems to be a number of good restaurants in the area that are a little cheaper and probably just as good. However if you go, the food is great.
(3)
Todd V.
This place is fantastic if you have the money. Our dinner for three was about $300 but worth every penny. One bottle of Italian white and one red added a lot to the bill. The carpaccio was great, the calamari was delicious and the veal scallopine was phenomenal. My brother has had it 7 times there. It comes out perfect every time. I had the New York Strip special most recently. It was incredible. I enjoyed it more than my filet at The Bullring. The tiramisu was a fantastic end to the meal. I have eaten here more than 5 times with no complaints.
(5)
Jennifer C.
Overall, not a good experience. We went here for lunch. We had two kids with us, and it's not really a kid friendly place, but we were hungry and the place was empty, so we figured, what the heck? We asked for a table for 5, and it took him 20 minutes to set it? Again, the place was empty, you would think he could have been setting tables BEFORE the guests arrived. The food was really not very good, plates were small, and it was expensive. The antipasto was really good though. The waiter seemed snobby.
(2)
Kat C.
Beer on tap = classy? No, tacky. Beer goes with German food and spare ribs. This is an Italian restaurant and therefore wine, not beer, should be chosen with care and enjoyed. I do have to admit that the 3 glasses of red of the by-the-glass list was not my favorite, but I did enjoy the white. Later we ordered a pricey but absolutely memorable bottle of red off their serious wine drinkers menu. The carpacio was absolutely delicious. The stuffed veal and the duckling were amazing. I also liked the vegetarian lasagna. My salad was perfectly prepared and not too overdressed which would have indicated a careless chef. I did not enjoy my lobster ravioli as much, but the rest of the food was amazing. I particularly enjoyed the friendly wait staff and as the owner of the restaurant was our waiter it was nice to know the owner and his family are keeping abreast of any problems that might arise. There was definitely the air of the personal touch. While I dislike Italian dessert (Germanic dessert is so much better), the pumpkin mouse pie on Christmas eve was excellent. And the Tirumisu which is so often too soggy was perfect.
(4)
Amy B.
We had just arrived in Santa Fe with no dinner reservations, after a very long day of traveling. We decided to walk up the street from the Hotel Plaza Real, and found this lovely restaurant. Hostess was very friendly, and seated 4 of us immediately. We arrived in jeans and it was not a problem, nor did we feel out of place...most people (tourists?) were dressed casually, but a few more dress/casual...maybe for a business dinner? Restaurant was 3/4 full, but still had a few open tables. Waitress was very enthusiastic and friendly...but did not hover around our table. All 4 of us loved our dinner selections. I had the housemade ravioli with lobster, crab and shrimp and it was DELICIOUS! The Autumn salad was excellent as well. I split this with my sister, and they brought us 2 plates (no issue w/splitting app/entrees). The price was $$, but not an issue, as the quality of the food was excellent. Ambiance was very nice. Music was a bit loud as the speaker was above our table. Since it was difficult for us to hear each other, we asked if it could be turned down, and they turned it off for us immediately. Would definitely go again...It was a great way to start our dining tour of Santa Fe trip ...nice alternative if you don't want to eat New Mexican cuisine every night!!
(4)
David D.
I used to think this place was the bomb, until my good friend started working as a bartender there (he was fired after 2 months for giving out free drinks, to myself included, but oh well). The food comes out and it's amazing. But the actual prep that goes into it is surprisingly lacking. Combine that with a very high price tag, the best I could give this place is 3 stars. One of the only places in town you'll find italian beer like peroni, but lack of beer on tap for a classy santa fe establishment makes this place well out of first place.
(3)
Jennifer N.
the power went out the evening i visited because of a snow storm. but, the waiters made the most of it. it's a nice restaurant, but it's really crowded & noisy. the food was good.
(3)
Suburban R.
except for the big-haired texan women that would come out to smoke their pall malls [there's a seasonal migration that happens during summers, am told-- droves of texans that want to escape the heat in houston and dallas]. also overheard their little discussions of shaving- and characteristics therof subsequent growths of hair on their lips and chin in the twang that only texan women can tawk, osteria d'assisi is pretty decent. though i would have rather not heard details about hair and shaving while gulping a glass of an abruzzan red. and i don't know if it's worth the drive from albuquerque. in better company, the place is cozy and charming-- adobe and umbrella covered outdoor seatings witha view of a plaza and the pink scottish rites building to the west. but the calamari appetizer was done right enough- fried with light tempura batter, it was succulent and tender dipped in a tomato based sauce. the mains were the pesce + frutti di mare over linguini, which evoked a little bit of the meal had in murano or the alla madonna in venezia minus the respective settings. the tiramisu was sufficient to cap the evening, a right sweet send off to the long drive to albuquerque.
(3)
Revathi S.
We had a nice meal here when visiting. Our waitress, Elaine did not tell us the specials, I read them later . I am a vegetarian and there was an interesting veg pasta which I saw later . The food was fabulous . I enjoyed the burrata and the margarita pizza was delicious. Even at dessert time she failed to tell us about the chocolate cake which I would have ordered. Good food but poor attitude .
(3)
Hoya S.
Wow! After a few years of mediocre fare, This place has turned around!! The new chef, Christian, is doing wonders with fresh ingredients and innovative ideas. Traditional dishes are still on the menu (but now better than ever), but the new ones are amazing!!
(5)
Keith B.
Great Change from all the Mexican Menus We had been traveling in New Mexico for a couple of weeks and we were getting pretty tired of eating Mexican food. So Italian was a welcomed change and Osteria d'Assisi was an excellent choice. The restaurant is located just outside the busiest part of downtown Santa Fe, yet is a just a very few blocks from almost anywhere. If coming from further away, it is nice that they have an adjacent parking lot. The staff members are all very welcoming and quite pleasant and knowledgeable about the menu. There is comfortable seating either inside or out, which is very nice. The food was all delicious. There were 5 of us and every dish we had was extremely flavorful and nicely presented. We didn't have a single item that was mediocre. For a nice change from the Southwest/Tex-Mex/New-Mex/Mex-Mex menus of just about everywhere else in Santa Fe, I would highly recommend Osteria d'Assisi.
(5)
Ellen G.
My sister made a reservation for her bachelorette party for a private room for the 9 of us to have dinner before we went out "on the town". We called to let them know we were running a bit late and they informed us that the owners had come and we couldn't have our room. Very disappointing for my sister who made the reservation 6 months in advance. We went to the Bull Ring instead.
(1)
M S.
As NY/LA italian food snobs, we feel we know our stuff. Osteria Assisi was very good, especially for an italian place in New Mexico! Everything we ordered was as good as could be made. Pasta was perfectly al dente, wine selection, especially the Chiantis , was very nice, I even got a pizza which, for a New Yorker, was as good as could be. The crust was well cooked and sweet! Excellent! Our salads were very well done (Caesar was nice...with anchovies like I expect) So the service was professional, certainly better than Little Italy in NY, about as good as our servers in Sorrento , Italy. Great. GO THERE, you won't be sorry!
(4)
MK A.
The service was great, but both our dishes lasagna and the house ravioli lacked flavor/seasoning...
(2)
MW B.
Recently ate here on the day before the menu changed (which happens every six months, evidently). Had a wonderful meal and the service was excellent. Fish served perfectly moist and flaky with an excellent Topiko caviar sauce (tiny fish eggs marinated in wasabi that pop in your mouth--I know it sounds a bit gimicky, but the flavors in the sauce were delicious and well balanced). Their house-made egg fettucini was excellent, slightly chewy but still light, and the sauce was savory-rich puttanesca-like. Their Caesar is very good, but not out of this world, and the desserts were both scrumptious, decadent, but not too cloyingly sweet. Our waiter, Collin, was knowledgeable, entertaining-great sense of humour, timely and also respectful, not overdoing it with interruptions regarding how our food was/etc when we were clearing immersed in conversation. His right hand man, Calvin (or Kelvin?) also was attentive and thoughtful with his service. Highly recommended.
(5)
Wendy Z.
Have eaten here so many times, but just recently Collin was my server and made me a special caprese salad which was fabulous! Lino always has such great people working for him and they always seem how to make their customers happy! That goes for the Pizzeria too!!!
(4)
Steven R.
My parents ate here a couple of times last summer -- once with me -- and were disappointed both times. Service was slow and indifferent and the food was nice but nothing special. There was so much promise that we felt that we needed to give it another shot for my father's 80th birthday. There were 18 of us and the new management were superb to work with both before and during the event. The service was courteous, attentive, knowledgeable, and invisible unless you needed them. In other words, exactly as they should be. The food was excellent. The menu was quite similar to what it was a year ago but this time it was well executed. Interesting options, choices for all types of tastes and dietary issues, no pushback at all from the server or kitchen about one person's need to eliminate all dairy from a menu item and replace it with oil, etc. To me the highest praise for a restaurant is that you plan to go back. We do. We all do.
(5)
Tracy P.
We drove over 30 min just to have dinner here and it didn't disappoint! Ambience: It was an interesting combo of New Mexican and Italian. I wasn't sure how I felt about it so I let the food do the talking. Bread: The bread on the table was so fresh and delicious! I could eat it all day!!!! I think I had about 7 pieces! Salad: I ordered the Caprese "salad." It was a bit outside of my salad comfort zone but after having the bread, I knew it would be fresh. I was right! It was a fresh ripe tomato sliced next to a piece of fresh burrata mozzarella all drizzled with balsamic. It was needlessly topped with capers but whatever. I was in heaven with the first bite! OMG!!!! Main course: I ordered the Fettucine Carolina. It's like fettucine alfredo but with a tomato cream sauce. The sun dried tomatoes and house-made noodles made it delicious! It was pretty good overall...... Dessert: I was way too full (probably of bread!) so I opted out of dessert but my friend's lemon pie looked delicious. It had a caramel swirl on the plate which looked unique. This restaurant is not on the cheap side at all......it is a tad overpriced but the food is good.
(5)
Lindy B.
Our first night in Santa Fe and we chose Osteria D'Assisi as our place to go. What a great way to kick off our week. Italian in New Mexico. When we first arrived, they took us to a table inside; but being such a nice night we opted for a smaller table outside. Melissa was our server, and she was excellent. After our cocktails we had the Shrimp Ceviche. Not really "ceviche" more like a caldo. It was ... unusual ... with black olives and a tomato sauce ($14.00). I'm not sure I would have it again, although the seafood was perfectly done. DH had the Linguine Di Mare ($21.95). It was very tasty and all the seafood was done perfectly. I had the Lasagna ($15.95) so rich, so much, so good. We shared a bottle of Chianti and it was like a little bit of Italy. As it was my birthday, they brought me a lovely desert. With a candle. But no singing. Good that. I'm too old for the singing part ... in a restaurant anyway :-) LindySez: A most enjoyable evening.
(4)
Deb L.
Dinner with friends after hearing Santa Fe Orchestra. Last minute reservations were no problem. Excellent service, delicious food, great clean ambiance with live piano music. But best of all? Gluten free home made pasta and pizza dough! Could not be happier! Hope they end up making some gluten free bread in the future. Yes, pricey, but oh-so worthy! Highly recommend.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Romantic Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Gil A.
Great atmosphere and service. Some very unique options which were very good. The ravioli with spinach and squash with pears sage and cookie crumble was very good but was swimming in olive oil. The veal ravioli in Alfredo mushroom sauce was lacking some taste. Kids portions were good and reasonably priced.
(4)Quinn A.
Looking for a place to dine with out of town friends, I came across some very good reviews for this nice Italian restaurant. I called the same day, crossing my fingers, and a table for four at seven o'clock was no problem. I asked about that, and the general manager told me that the regular crowd is mostly early diners. You can get in after six thirty easy. We were worried that Santa Fe would have the sidewalks rolled up by the time we were finished - have you noticed how this town shuts down at night? It was nice, though, walking out in the cold night, the promise of snow in the air, with nobody around. Very nice. We had three appetizers. The calamari, the burrata caprese with prosciutto, and something else that Bob had and didn't share. Nobody but Bob got a bite of that. Thanks, Bob. The calamari did not please - over breaded, but not rubbery, just not great. The burrata caprese was lovely with balsamic and cheese and fresh tomato. I held that one at my end of the table as long as I could. After scotches, we ordered a bottle of Prunotto Barolo, a solid red that went with everything. With mains we had a bottle of Ruffino Riserva Ducace Oro Chianti, not your usual Ruffino, a step up, and it was bold and awesome. I'll be looking for some more of that down at Total Wine this week. We had the lamb, the oso buco, the pumpkin butternut squash ravioli, and the veal scaloppini. The veal is something I never order, and since Bob hoarded it on his side of the table I wasn't put in the awkward position of trying it. He ate every bite, so I would have to conclude that it was pretty good. The lamb was tender and perfectly cooked, medium rare, with a blueberry reduction. The oso buco had a perfect bed of rice and sauce and fell apart on the fork. My ravioli, while waver thin, had a flavor I find myself craving again today - all fall spices and soft sweet pear. I won the desert round with the romanov - a sweet, crunchy, crumbly shell they made right there in the restaurant, with a bed of cheesy sweet goodness, some grapes, some gelato, some whipped cream - heaven in every bite. I had to engage in a fork war to fend off too much poaching from the rest of the table. Tony had the salted caramel gelato, delicious, and Jeff and Bob had the tiramisu, which was balanced and not over soaked. It's a good thing Jeff had the tiramisu, or we never would have had a chance to try it, because again, Bob barricaded himself on his side of the table with his food. What else? The atmosphere was great, there is a fire place in the dining room (try to not get seated in the bar area), and once the early diners headed out we pretty much had the place with some other couples. Special shout out to the two ladies at a nearby table who talked and laughed and ordered everything on the menu and then had long conversations about the food with the manager. Next time I eat out I want to go with them. It was a wonderful meal with dear friends. This is living.
(4)Clare M.
Had not been here in years because had a less than great experience many moons ago. Came for a business lunch recently and was delightfully surprised and delighted by the lasagna. Absolutely the best lasagna in town!
(5)Anne W.
We were fortunate to sit at Pietro's table and had unbelievably good food. Some of our party had fresh halibut. We had steak stuffed with herbs and sausage with wild-harvested mushrooms. The oysters were sweet. The fried squash blossoms were served with an out of this world sauce. We had a fantastic Dante Cabernet Sauvignon. It was a lovely, lovely dinner with perfect service.
(5)bob s.
If you knew how this place operated, you would not eat here. Raw chicken dripping on top of vegetables, rotten food in their walk in, shellfish/oysters not kept on ice and they shuck the oysters yesterday, never fresh. Lasagna wrapped in plastic wrap and heated in a microwave. Hot food "cooling" on the floor by the garbage can. No bleach buckets or sanitation in their kitchen. The hand washing station doesn't get used, even by those who touch the garbage dumpsters outside. The owner thinks it is perfectly acceptable to keep raw meat uncovered and touching other food if it is refrigerated. It is a miracle that no one has been linked to this establishment for a food borne death.
(1)Bill S.
Nice food - beautiful outside patio dining - great northern Italian food - love the fresh garlic smell and flavors - give it a try
(4)Jim M.
The ambience is exceptional! The food extraordinary,. The wait staff and owner are like a family that adopts you as their most favorite client that has ever walked into the Resturant. The lineage of the owners goes back nearly 40 years beginning at the once famous Bull Ring when it was on the Old Santa Fe Trail next to the State Capitol and the once beautiful Palace Resturant on Palace Avenue (both of these icon restaurants dismally vanished but the essence of character, service and excellence retained by Lino & Pietro). If you want the charm of Santa Fe and a great eatery - you won't regret it!
(5)Gwynedd D.
We had a basic meal here for two, with three glasses of wine. It works out to about 30 per person--average in a big city or resort town such as Santa Fe. The service was fine, though I thought the hostess was a bit unwelcoming. The waitperson was several people--so it's hard to judge the service because a different person delivered the entree, refilled the wine. I thought the by-the-glass list was scant, and I wasn't delighted with my pinot. The pasta was well cooked and sauced just right--no lake of cream and the dish was properly hot, a rarity in the US these days. However, the pasta was not salted and though I rarely salt things at home, it was noticeable. My dining companion's ravioli with sage, butter and squash was bland and tasteless. The espresso was good. This place does a good job but it's not extraordinary.
(3)Steve S.
Had dinner 5/29/14 while in town for a medical conference. Service by Brittney was excellent. The two specials (a chicken and a fish) sounded intriguing, but she said (when asked) that the osso bucco was not to be missed, and indeed, it was very good. Served with a risotto; very filling. I also had the beet salad, which was also very good. The place filled-up as I was leaving, so they seem to be doing something right. Prices were high, but so is everything else in Santa Fe. If given the opportunity, I would return.
(4)Jazmine V.
This place has great food! We went after the Santa Fe Wine Festival and enjoyed a salad, lasagna, and the halibut special. The salad was good. It featured beats, watermelon, and greens. They were happy to split all of our food before bringing it out to us. I liked the lasagna, but other people in the party felt that the spices were too strong. I thought that the flowers worked well together. The halibut was the highlight of our night, though. It had some sort of sauce on it, along with capers. It was served with some large shrimp and muscles, along with sauteed zucchini. The flavors were fantastic. We enjoyed every bite of that dish. We also had a really nice red wine with dinner. The only thing I didn't like was the dessert. It was a key lime pie. It was very condensed, not fluffy, and I could taste the sugar granules. Bleh. The service was really good. I had Brittany as my server, and she knows her stuff. She was friendly, professional, and knowledgeable. Sit out on the patio. The ambiance is nice. Be prepared to spend a pretty penny, but the food is delicious and a nice treat.
(4)Michou O.
Came here to celebrate a job promotion, was hoping for a nice meal with my family and unfortunately, did not get that. First off, we ordered two appetizers, Calamari, and Mozzarella sticks, and they BOTH, had the same dipping sauce... Why? Next, my Wife and I both ordered Lasagne, and when it arrived, my Wife's plate had a chunk of microwaved plastic in it. Needless to say, I pretty much lost my appetite for my Lasagne, and opted for a Peroni instead... I remember this place being amazing, like super stellar. Hopefully they can work it out, so we can come back and have an excellent meal again soon.
(2)Sean N.
Corked wine, steak severely undercooked steak, recooked steak came out 30 min after rest of party finished meal, no bread service, no drink refills, poor service. Bottom line-overpriced for what you get. There are better places for Italian in Santa Fe.
(1)Stan L.
We celebrated our 50th here on our last night in Santa Fe and it very very good. We had a smoked cheese/proscuitto appetizer. It was very good. Sarah had the Lasagna and I had Halibut covered with a cold remoulade of tomatoes, shrimp, crab, broccoli, cavier and zucchini all chopped into a sauce. It also was very good. For dessert we shared three truffles, which were also very good. Brittany was our waitress and she was as good as I have seen. Full of energy and made us feel at home. The furnishings and decor was nice and they had very good coffee. A great place for a special meal.
(5)Ceci C.
Brittany was our server, she was great! We received wonderful service from her. Food was good, but Brittany made it 5 stars. Food was amazing as well. We had calamari, beef carpaccio and the special - oyster rocketfeller as appetizers, we loved them except for the calamari, it was just average and didn't stand out. Entree was delicious, I went with the eggplant parm, it doesn't come with pasta, which you'll have to order it on the side. They do have home made pasta, it's really good. We enjoyed this place very much.
(5)Tina R.
What a disappointment that place was!! Instead of "authentic Italian", we got served cold 'Wellington beef' as a nights special - what does an english dish have to do in an italian restaurant?? The beef AND the sauce were cold and flavorless. I had the 'homemade pasta with shrimp' - which came out of a freezer bag, the sauce was just blah and not even the parmesan was fresh shredded... If you call yourself 'authentic italian' I expect at least that! I usually LOVE Tiramisu, if it's done right - it was the so called 'house specialty'. Instead of 'authentic' it was more like a slice of tasteless cake with chocolate sauce on top...what the heck??? I thought I can trust what I read on the restaurants website, but that's obviously a mistake!! Totally overrated, if you are really into good food and authentic italian, this place is a HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT!
(1)Reed H.
Very authentic and tasty northern Italian cuisine. Had pizza bianca. Was baked in stone oven. Tasted just like the ones I had in Tuscany. Yum! Very nice service too.
(4)Russ L.
One of the better Italian places in Santa Fe. If you are looking for southern Italian food, head somewhere else, this is mostly Northern Italian. Very good wine list, but somewhat pricey.
(4)Darrell D.
Outstanding dishes and excellent service. The special carrot and coconut soup was one of the most excellent dishes we have had, ever. Very unexpected flavor combination, and delicious. We also had the bresaola/arugula appetizer with capers and parmigiano reggiano. The combination of the soup and the bresaola would have made an excellent meal, but we split them and then had two excellent entrees, a mushroom ravioli and a fusilil bolognese. Service was prompt and very professional, the server had excellent recommendations for making our menu choices. This was the first time to this restaurant in Santa Fe, but it compares very well with other outstanding Italiian restaurants in town. Definitely would go back.
(5)Trent S.
Good service, great bread, pasta below average for a med priced Italian restaurant , was disappointing.
(2)A B C.
Wonderful food! The Thanksgiving Dinner was the best Turkey I have ever had. And the seafood Ravioli was to die for. You can't go wrong with this place!
(5)Bryan C.
The staff was friendly. The food was ok.
(3)Michael B.
Poor quality food, poor ownership, sad wait staff and not one Italian in the kitchen!
(1)Whit R.
We were looking for a place that was a little off the beaten path (hard to do in Santa Fe). A quick consultation of the Restaurant Guide led us to Osteria D'assisi. We arrived towards the tail end of lunch, about 2 PM, and there were only four other tables. We were seated right away and enjoyed a very tasty and pleasant lunch. I had an eggplant and peperoni panini. It was just the right size, which was a nice change of pace. My wife had spinach ravioli and they were very good as well. I supped on one of the local brews, Santa Fe Pale Ale, while we ate. Good but not great. All in all, this is a very pleasant little place tucked away a few blocks from the main drag. They have nice outdoor seating as well.
(4)Morton S.
My wife and I split salmon with pasta on the side under a tomato sauce. Delicious. The bread is always fresh and tasty. Then we had lemon sorbet for dessert. The service was very good and the environment lovely.
(4)Christine P.
When you get your meal and take a bite and both people say WOW! you know it's good! The steak marsala was amazing, one of the best marsala sauces I have had. The eggplant rolled with ricotta cheese was very yummy. The appetizer with all the italian meats and cheeses was great, very fresh. Great little place, neat atmosphere, the server was excellent. The bread was also very fresh. Can't wait to go back. Great find!
(5)Chicagoa N.
Sorry, no. Not a chance. My party of 4 were seated and were immediately presented with a basket of stale bread. It cracked when you broke it in half. Two of us had the house special that night, ravioli stuffed with lobster and mushrooms. Neither of us could taste lobster, and the ravioli itself was thick and overcooked, probably came from Costco. If you ask for cheese, they bring Kraft's pre-grated, out of the can. They're a tourist trap and don't pretend to be anything else. Cut the menu prices in half and the food is still overpriced. The waitress did a good job, but with the other problems, good service at Osteria D'Assisi is llike putting perfume on a pig.
(1)Nicki S.
The ambiance was nice but the food was completely lackluster. We had the baked polenta with bolognese for an appetizer which I thought was fairly good but my husband said was bland. He ordered the veal special, which also lacked flavor. I ordered the chicken and spinach fettuccine and it had absolutely no flavor, plus the little chunks of chicken were sparse. The meal was ridiculously overpriced for what we got. I love Italian food and was extremely disappointed in this meal, which was one of only two dinners out while in Santa Fe.
(2)Gretchen J.
Wonderful small italian restaurant that has an impressive wine selection and great food selections that are prepared fresh ( including pasta that they make on premises ). The service was very attentive and friendly. I f I live here I would frequent this place !
(5)Steve N.
I made a reservation for a party of two for 8:00PM dinner on Wednesday; December 26'th. We arrived on time and were promptly led to a table in the front room and seated. The restaurant was full. We were given menus and water and that's where the good service stopped. We waited for someone to come to our table as tables around us were quickly being tended to by staff. The owner appeared several times at a table next to us to chat with the party, help take away finished plates, bring a slice of birthday cake and then a glass of brandy. He appeared a number of times at that table while we continued to wait. A young staff woman appeared near our table and we waved her over. She said that she would not be serving us but would let our server know. We waited. Finally a young man appeared and apologized. He took our order and we waited and watched as the owner continued to personally cater to the table next to us. Bread arrived! Yes! Something to eat!!!! We waited and our dinners eventually appeared. The dinners were tasty although the lasagna was a little too cheesy for my tastes. We cleaned our plates and waited. The server came back, offered deserts that we declined and we asked for our check. The owner brought the check to the neighboring table and returned their credit card receipt promptly for signature and again chatted with the party. A new party arrived at another empty table and our server quickly tended to them .. offering them a list of specials that he never offered to us. We each commented "There were specials!!! .. wish we had known!!". We received our check and I put my credit card in the check folder and waited. By now .. the restaurant was nearly empty as it was after 9:00PM. We waited. No one came back to retrieve the credit card! We each searched our wallets for cash and replaced my credit card with cash and left the table. The young woman who initially sent our server to our table waved to us as we left! That was it!!! As we left we saw our server at another table in another room. During our visit we noticed that staff were working extremely hard. My comments are directed more to the owner who catered to one table while ignoring the fact that the restaurant was under staffed based on the large crowd that we observed. Perhaps the large day after Christmas crowd caught the restaurant management unprepared!
(2)Jamie W.
By far the best Italian restaurant in Santa Fe. They have great service, good music and a nice patio. The menu isn't huge, but it is very creative and excuted well. My only complaints are the small portion sizes and the sub-par turimisu.
(4)Nick S.
I think that it is still a pretty good stop to eat like a local here. The food has been fairly consistent, but am finding a bit of a disconnect in service. While very nice, and engaging, completely un attentive, then very cordially showing up like your best friend. We wait far too long between ordering , anything, wine, food...and when it comes. It's okay, it's lost a star to me for this, and also the dinner menu far less enjoyable than lunch choice.
(3)Leahi M.
Amy was our server, we had the Veal Scallopini and the Torta which was excellent. The service was absolutely amazing! She was very accommodating to all our needs, I have a craving for caffeine and Amy made sure the gal, Erica, who served them were perfect! All in all, if you come in here be sure to request these two customer service beauties. Best experience in Santa Fe...EVER!
(5)Erik E.
Night #3 of New Mexico Restaurant Week. Saturday night in fact, so the place was pretty busy. NM Restaurant Week features a three course prix fixe menu for $25. Good place, but (cutting to the chase now) there is better Italian in Santa Fe, and not that much more expensive. My favorite would be Il Piatto (just one street over). I was seated on the second floor (at my request --- good of them to accommodate me!) beside a very fake fireplace and a window from which I could see the Santa Fe Mountains. So atmosphere is kind of a mixed bag here. Some parts of the restaurant are more elegant than others. Downstairs is a little nicer. Upstairs looked a little unfinished. The bartender was also my waitress. I requested a flatliner martini which is not too common in the Southwest, so I also provided her with a recipe (equal parts espresso, Bailey's, creme de'cacao, and Lemon Hart 151 rum; shake with ice; strain into glass; garnish with whole espresso beans). It's more of a Pacific NW drink. It hit the spot and I was ready for dinner! The bread basket came out a little late (see pics). The bartender was very helpful with the wine selection. Brought out a couple for me to taste and I went with an Italian vintage that she had suggested. Good suggestion! It went great with the Osso Buco! But first there was the appetizer. The appetizer was a breaded and roasted cylinder of polenta with a light taste of garlic and plenty of cheese! (see pics). There was a cream and olive oil sauce with mushrooms and a garnish of sage. This was awesome! But then, who doesn't love starch. 8*) On to the Osso Buco. Actually, this was the first time I'd ever had Osso Buco. It's about damn time! What can I say, it was very good veal! Falling off the bone tender with sweet carrots, celery, and onion. Flavorful broth, and served with (again in cylindrical form) some risotto with shaved Parmesan cheese. The string beans (haricot verts?) were perfectly cooked. Dinner concluded with a dense chocolate mousse (pics) garnished with whipped cream and strawberries. Very good! So overall very good. Nothing incredibly creative, but a good solid Italian dinner. I would love to have a place like this in Albuquerque, but in Santa Fe, there is better. I could see coming back here, but I wouldn't be expecting anything more than good standard Italian.
(3)Juan Carlos U.
Our group of 3 went there for a New Year's Eve dinner and the quality of what was offered certainly spoiled the mood of the festivity. It lacked any creativity. The food at a greasy diner could have been more flavory. Besides the atmosphere was lame. Do yourself a favor with so many good restaurants in Santa Fe avoid this one.
(2)Claire C.
We had a very good dinner here on 9/4/11. Atmosphere was low lights, quiet and intimate with some good people-watching. Service was good although our wine order took a fairly long time to arrive. But the wine was good so not a big deal and we were not in any hurry. Our antipasti salad was divine - tomato, red onion, fresh basil, and gorgonzola dressed in olive oil and basalmic vinegar. So good we are going to make it at home tonight! Lots of bread and olive oil for dipping. Both of our pasta dishes were very tasty: Spinach fettucine with chicken in a cream sauce Seafood linguine with a delectable wine, tomato/garlic sauce For dessert we had tiramisu which was also good. Definitely will return to this restaurant in the future.
(4)Debbie L.
Went on recommendation to this restaurant. I have to say, we were very disappointed. Service was not the greatest, but not really bad either. The waiter brought us bread that was cold and with no butter, however he did have olive oil by itself to pour out ourselves. This was a party of three. Two of us got the special that was halibut. My friend liked it okay-I didn't care for it at all-had no taste. Another friend got veal and didn't care for it. We will not be going back. Very pricey for what we received. They are in a great location downtown.
(3)Heather W.
My husband and I went to this restaurant on a whim whilst walking around downtown Santa Fe on our honeymoon. It was mother's day, and as such, almost every restaurant we came across was packed. Not so with Osteria. That should have been our first clue. Our waitress at the restaurant was incredibly unfriendly and inattentive. She had one other table, but couldn't seem to make it around to ours very often. The food was incredibly mediocre, especially for the price attached. My husband had the lamb, which turned out to be mostly fat and he ended up not eating most of his meal. I had salmon, which was ok, but it wasn't anything to write home about, and it was definitely NOT worth $20. We really regret dining at this restaurant and wish we had our money back, but alas. The very least we can do is make sure other people know to avoid this place.
(1)Brian H.
Great location, a couple of blocks north of the Plaza across from the Court House. It was cool the evening we dined so no one was being seated on the patio. When the weather warms up, the patio will be a very nice place to dine. The food was very good, the only complaint being the large portions. The food is authentic Italian as the owner is from Lago di Como in northern Italy. Good selection of Italian wines by the glass
(4)Denise V.
This was one of my least favorite dining experiences in Sante Fe. Not bad, but nothing special. My mother and I ate here with a last minute reservation in November 2011. The hostess sat us in an upstairs room with only one other couple. It was a quiet awkward space. Our pasta dishes and salads were average, but not stand outs. The beet salad and butternut squash ravioli were the best dishes were ordered. We found the wines by the glass to be a bit pricey.
(3)Grumpy G.
Expected quite a bit and was let down in the end. We went for the Wine & Chile Fiesta so we were working with a fixed menu and wine pairings. First course appetizers were really basic. Second and third courses were very good. Veal entree was so tough I simply could not cut the meat!. Wine pairings were pretty good. Maybe they will get it together better next year.
(2)Rachel S.
One of my favorite restaurants in Santa Fe-- I used to go here every year for my birthday!! The menu is seasonal and all of the pastas are homemade in house-- delicious!! The butternut squash ravioli is amazing! They also have a great wine selection. It's not an overly fancy place but they have a great patio for sitting outside in the summer. They are always busy so plan on making reservations.
(4)Carolyn H.
This is possibly the worst italian meal I have had. It was industrial grade at best. Olive garden could have served a better clam garlic pasta dish. What a disappointment. (?)
(1)David S.
Had a LOVELY dinner here! Excellent, attentive service without trying to push you out immediately after eating. Great wine list; outside tables with view across street into lovely park a big plus. Great menu with broad range of choices from modestly priced ($15) to upscale ($30). Strongly recommend. We would return.
(5)Sam A.
Not a big fan of this place. It's conveniently located near my work, so I've tried the place out a few times. I always order something really basic, and am continually astounded at the small portions I get for the amount of money I'm paying. The staff is friendly enough, but I think this is geared more to the visiting tourists in the downtown area than a casual dining person like myself.
(2)Jessica G.
I have been to this restaurant a couple times and have had nothing short of an outstanding experience, from the food to the ambiance. This dining experience ruined my respect for this restaurant. I usually specify in the special recommendations section that I want a pleasant and romantic ambiance, but because of the late reservation time, didn't think it would be necessary. Even though most of the downstairs was empty, we were seated in a dark, dingy upstairs area. 3/4 of the area was dark and the other tables had upturned chairs. One other obnoxious table was finishing their meal when we sat down. The waitress was barely seen. The food was more than excellent, but the ambiance and treatment ruined my experience. I will never return.
(2)Bonita G.
Food was marvelous. Waitress helped find an entree that I would like. The eggplant dish was wonderful and I would not have ordered it without her suggestion.My husband's veal was wonderful. The atmosphere was lovely. Service excellent. I highly recommend this lovely place.
(4)john b.
Wow what to say...if it wasn't real it would be kind of funny. Bottom line. Food acceptable, service horrible. We waited for 15 minutes for menus, water, bread...anything. Then when someone came up and asked us if we wanted anything immediately (after menus arrived) we ordered the calamari -- and it was a total no show. After we ordered our food and wine the waitress came back after 10 minutes to ask if we wanted wine -- and yest it was the same waitress too. Food seemed very slow in arriving, especially as most tables had either emptied by then or had already gotten their meals, even though they arrived after we did. Service was slow and inattentive, food average at best. NOT a place to go back to if you care about service. We have experienced much better in Santa Fe...as someone else noted, their ability to seat us after only a 20 minute wait should have been a clue.
(2)Rachel W.
I was with my boyfriend who doesn't like the majority of food in this country, when we spotted this place late in the evening. It looked like ke 1) he might actually eat there, 2) they might have food beyond the standard pasta fair, 3) they were open and I was starving. We both ordered the tomato bisque and braised lamb shank with a bottle of wine recommended by the server. Both were excellent...the lamb was so tender, and it was served with tasty green beans. The wine was also delish and not terribly expensive (at least by DC standards). So why only 3 stars? The service was kind of sucky...I realize that we walked in late, but similar restaurants in DC offer the same service to their late customers as their regular dinner hour customers. We waited forever to be seated and it wasn't that busy. The hostess was visably annoyed that we she had to get us a table. And our waitress, while very friendly, was a little bumbly and forgot bread, wine glasses, and a knife among other things. Perhaps this is a good place to visit with an expense account at an early hour. There seems to be a number of good restaurants in the area that are a little cheaper and probably just as good. However if you go, the food is great.
(3)Todd V.
This place is fantastic if you have the money. Our dinner for three was about $300 but worth every penny. One bottle of Italian white and one red added a lot to the bill. The carpaccio was great, the calamari was delicious and the veal scallopine was phenomenal. My brother has had it 7 times there. It comes out perfect every time. I had the New York Strip special most recently. It was incredible. I enjoyed it more than my filet at The Bullring. The tiramisu was a fantastic end to the meal. I have eaten here more than 5 times with no complaints.
(5)Jennifer C.
Overall, not a good experience. We went here for lunch. We had two kids with us, and it's not really a kid friendly place, but we were hungry and the place was empty, so we figured, what the heck? We asked for a table for 5, and it took him 20 minutes to set it? Again, the place was empty, you would think he could have been setting tables BEFORE the guests arrived. The food was really not very good, plates were small, and it was expensive. The antipasto was really good though. The waiter seemed snobby.
(2)Kat C.
Beer on tap = classy? No, tacky. Beer goes with German food and spare ribs. This is an Italian restaurant and therefore wine, not beer, should be chosen with care and enjoyed. I do have to admit that the 3 glasses of red of the by-the-glass list was not my favorite, but I did enjoy the white. Later we ordered a pricey but absolutely memorable bottle of red off their serious wine drinkers menu. The carpacio was absolutely delicious. The stuffed veal and the duckling were amazing. I also liked the vegetarian lasagna. My salad was perfectly prepared and not too overdressed which would have indicated a careless chef. I did not enjoy my lobster ravioli as much, but the rest of the food was amazing. I particularly enjoyed the friendly wait staff and as the owner of the restaurant was our waiter it was nice to know the owner and his family are keeping abreast of any problems that might arise. There was definitely the air of the personal touch. While I dislike Italian dessert (Germanic dessert is so much better), the pumpkin mouse pie on Christmas eve was excellent. And the Tirumisu which is so often too soggy was perfect.
(4)Amy B.
We had just arrived in Santa Fe with no dinner reservations, after a very long day of traveling. We decided to walk up the street from the Hotel Plaza Real, and found this lovely restaurant. Hostess was very friendly, and seated 4 of us immediately. We arrived in jeans and it was not a problem, nor did we feel out of place...most people (tourists?) were dressed casually, but a few more dress/casual...maybe for a business dinner? Restaurant was 3/4 full, but still had a few open tables. Waitress was very enthusiastic and friendly...but did not hover around our table. All 4 of us loved our dinner selections. I had the housemade ravioli with lobster, crab and shrimp and it was DELICIOUS! The Autumn salad was excellent as well. I split this with my sister, and they brought us 2 plates (no issue w/splitting app/entrees). The price was $$, but not an issue, as the quality of the food was excellent. Ambiance was very nice. Music was a bit loud as the speaker was above our table. Since it was difficult for us to hear each other, we asked if it could be turned down, and they turned it off for us immediately. Would definitely go again...It was a great way to start our dining tour of Santa Fe trip ...nice alternative if you don't want to eat New Mexican cuisine every night!!
(4)David D.
I used to think this place was the bomb, until my good friend started working as a bartender there (he was fired after 2 months for giving out free drinks, to myself included, but oh well). The food comes out and it's amazing. But the actual prep that goes into it is surprisingly lacking. Combine that with a very high price tag, the best I could give this place is 3 stars. One of the only places in town you'll find italian beer like peroni, but lack of beer on tap for a classy santa fe establishment makes this place well out of first place.
(3)Jennifer N.
the power went out the evening i visited because of a snow storm. but, the waiters made the most of it. it's a nice restaurant, but it's really crowded & noisy. the food was good.
(3)Suburban R.
except for the big-haired texan women that would come out to smoke their pall malls [there's a seasonal migration that happens during summers, am told-- droves of texans that want to escape the heat in houston and dallas]. also overheard their little discussions of shaving- and characteristics therof subsequent growths of hair on their lips and chin in the twang that only texan women can tawk, osteria d'assisi is pretty decent. though i would have rather not heard details about hair and shaving while gulping a glass of an abruzzan red. and i don't know if it's worth the drive from albuquerque. in better company, the place is cozy and charming-- adobe and umbrella covered outdoor seatings witha view of a plaza and the pink scottish rites building to the west. but the calamari appetizer was done right enough- fried with light tempura batter, it was succulent and tender dipped in a tomato based sauce. the mains were the pesce + frutti di mare over linguini, which evoked a little bit of the meal had in murano or the alla madonna in venezia minus the respective settings. the tiramisu was sufficient to cap the evening, a right sweet send off to the long drive to albuquerque.
(3)Revathi S.
We had a nice meal here when visiting. Our waitress, Elaine did not tell us the specials, I read them later . I am a vegetarian and there was an interesting veg pasta which I saw later . The food was fabulous . I enjoyed the burrata and the margarita pizza was delicious. Even at dessert time she failed to tell us about the chocolate cake which I would have ordered. Good food but poor attitude .
(3)Hoya S.
Wow! After a few years of mediocre fare, This place has turned around!! The new chef, Christian, is doing wonders with fresh ingredients and innovative ideas. Traditional dishes are still on the menu (but now better than ever), but the new ones are amazing!!
(5)Keith B.
Great Change from all the Mexican Menus We had been traveling in New Mexico for a couple of weeks and we were getting pretty tired of eating Mexican food. So Italian was a welcomed change and Osteria d'Assisi was an excellent choice. The restaurant is located just outside the busiest part of downtown Santa Fe, yet is a just a very few blocks from almost anywhere. If coming from further away, it is nice that they have an adjacent parking lot. The staff members are all very welcoming and quite pleasant and knowledgeable about the menu. There is comfortable seating either inside or out, which is very nice. The food was all delicious. There were 5 of us and every dish we had was extremely flavorful and nicely presented. We didn't have a single item that was mediocre. For a nice change from the Southwest/Tex-Mex/New-Mex/Mex-Mex menus of just about everywhere else in Santa Fe, I would highly recommend Osteria d'Assisi.
(5)Ellen G.
My sister made a reservation for her bachelorette party for a private room for the 9 of us to have dinner before we went out "on the town". We called to let them know we were running a bit late and they informed us that the owners had come and we couldn't have our room. Very disappointing for my sister who made the reservation 6 months in advance. We went to the Bull Ring instead.
(1)M S.
As NY/LA italian food snobs, we feel we know our stuff. Osteria Assisi was very good, especially for an italian place in New Mexico! Everything we ordered was as good as could be made. Pasta was perfectly al dente, wine selection, especially the Chiantis , was very nice, I even got a pizza which, for a New Yorker, was as good as could be. The crust was well cooked and sweet! Excellent! Our salads were very well done (Caesar was nice...with anchovies like I expect) So the service was professional, certainly better than Little Italy in NY, about as good as our servers in Sorrento , Italy. Great. GO THERE, you won't be sorry!
(4)MK A.
The service was great, but both our dishes lasagna and the house ravioli lacked flavor/seasoning...
(2)MW B.
Recently ate here on the day before the menu changed (which happens every six months, evidently). Had a wonderful meal and the service was excellent. Fish served perfectly moist and flaky with an excellent Topiko caviar sauce (tiny fish eggs marinated in wasabi that pop in your mouth--I know it sounds a bit gimicky, but the flavors in the sauce were delicious and well balanced). Their house-made egg fettucini was excellent, slightly chewy but still light, and the sauce was savory-rich puttanesca-like. Their Caesar is very good, but not out of this world, and the desserts were both scrumptious, decadent, but not too cloyingly sweet. Our waiter, Collin, was knowledgeable, entertaining-great sense of humour, timely and also respectful, not overdoing it with interruptions regarding how our food was/etc when we were clearing immersed in conversation. His right hand man, Calvin (or Kelvin?) also was attentive and thoughtful with his service. Highly recommended.
(5)Wendy Z.
Have eaten here so many times, but just recently Collin was my server and made me a special caprese salad which was fabulous! Lino always has such great people working for him and they always seem how to make their customers happy! That goes for the Pizzeria too!!!
(4)Steven R.
My parents ate here a couple of times last summer -- once with me -- and were disappointed both times. Service was slow and indifferent and the food was nice but nothing special. There was so much promise that we felt that we needed to give it another shot for my father's 80th birthday. There were 18 of us and the new management were superb to work with both before and during the event. The service was courteous, attentive, knowledgeable, and invisible unless you needed them. In other words, exactly as they should be. The food was excellent. The menu was quite similar to what it was a year ago but this time it was well executed. Interesting options, choices for all types of tastes and dietary issues, no pushback at all from the server or kitchen about one person's need to eliminate all dairy from a menu item and replace it with oil, etc. To me the highest praise for a restaurant is that you plan to go back. We do. We all do.
(5)Tracy P.
We drove over 30 min just to have dinner here and it didn't disappoint! Ambience: It was an interesting combo of New Mexican and Italian. I wasn't sure how I felt about it so I let the food do the talking. Bread: The bread on the table was so fresh and delicious! I could eat it all day!!!! I think I had about 7 pieces! Salad: I ordered the Caprese "salad." It was a bit outside of my salad comfort zone but after having the bread, I knew it would be fresh. I was right! It was a fresh ripe tomato sliced next to a piece of fresh burrata mozzarella all drizzled with balsamic. It was needlessly topped with capers but whatever. I was in heaven with the first bite! OMG!!!! Main course: I ordered the Fettucine Carolina. It's like fettucine alfredo but with a tomato cream sauce. The sun dried tomatoes and house-made noodles made it delicious! It was pretty good overall...... Dessert: I was way too full (probably of bread!) so I opted out of dessert but my friend's lemon pie looked delicious. It had a caramel swirl on the plate which looked unique. This restaurant is not on the cheap side at all......it is a tad overpriced but the food is good.
(5)Lindy B.
Our first night in Santa Fe and we chose Osteria D'Assisi as our place to go. What a great way to kick off our week. Italian in New Mexico. When we first arrived, they took us to a table inside; but being such a nice night we opted for a smaller table outside. Melissa was our server, and she was excellent. After our cocktails we had the Shrimp Ceviche. Not really "ceviche" more like a caldo. It was ... unusual ... with black olives and a tomato sauce ($14.00). I'm not sure I would have it again, although the seafood was perfectly done. DH had the Linguine Di Mare ($21.95). It was very tasty and all the seafood was done perfectly. I had the Lasagna ($15.95) so rich, so much, so good. We shared a bottle of Chianti and it was like a little bit of Italy. As it was my birthday, they brought me a lovely desert. With a candle. But no singing. Good that. I'm too old for the singing part ... in a restaurant anyway :-) LindySez: A most enjoyable evening.
(4)Deb L.
Dinner with friends after hearing Santa Fe Orchestra. Last minute reservations were no problem. Excellent service, delicious food, great clean ambiance with live piano music. But best of all? Gluten free home made pasta and pizza dough! Could not be happier! Hope they end up making some gluten free bread in the future. Yes, pricey, but oh-so worthy! Highly recommend.
(5)