Adventurous Italian w/ killer wine list & unique dishes like offal; cozy vibes but can be pricey.
Amber Sutherland-Namako reviews Foul Witch, an East Village Italian restaurant with connections to Roberta's, noting its rustic charm but small portions for the price.
This East Village gem, from the teams behind Roberta's and Blanca, offers a cozy, rustic ambiance with a contemporary Italian-influenced menu. Diners can expect creative dishes, standout pastas, and a notable wine list, though some find the portions small for the price.
The food at Foul Witch is Italian-influenced, with a focus on creative and sometimes adventurous dishes. Standouts include their pasta, house-made 'nduja, and unique appetizers like polenta with sea urchin. However, some diners have found certain dishes to be bland or overpriced, and portion sizes, particularly for pasta, have been noted as small. The wine list is frequently mentioned as a strong point.
"The 'fire and ice' appetizer, pasta dishes (like veal tortellini and spaccatelli), and polenta with sea urchin are frequently recommended. The natural wine list is also a strong draw."
Customer opinions are divided, with some praising the adventurous dishes, excellent wine list, and overall vibe, while others find the food bland, overpriced, and portions too small, with some experiencing disappointing service.
Important Note
Some diners have found the portion sizes to be small relative to the price point.
"This commenter recommends Foul Witch for more off-the-beaten-path Italian, noting it has an excellent wine list and good value."
Positive"Foul Witch was listed as one of several restaurant suggestions for a birthday dinner in NYC."
Neutral"This user was considering Foul Witch but canceled their reservation after hearing negative feedback."
Neutral"This commenter strongly disagrees with negative feedback, stating the restaurant is very good and the service is excellent."
Positive"This diner last visited about two years ago and found the experience enjoyable but not exceptional. The service was deemed adequate, but they expressed uncertainty about returning given the abundance of other dining options."
Neutral"One commenter disliked the restaurant's name."
Negative"A diner had a positive experience once and would return, though they didn't feel it warranted difficulty in securing a reservation."
Positive"This commenter's experience six months prior involved poor service. They also cited a concerning Google review about the staff serving alcohol to someone who had requested a mocktail, inadvertently breaking their sobriety."
Negative"This individual has dined at the restaurant multiple times and finds it fantastic, using it to impress out-of-town guests. They praised the friendly service, including personalized attention and complimentary items for wait times or popular dishes."
Positive"This commenter felt the restaurant was overhyped and has since settled into being considered mediocre with terrible service. They also noted that the quality does not match the high price point."
Negative"The commenter's recent visit was disappointing, with lacking service and uninspired food. They noted the restaurant was unexpectedly empty on a Friday night, which they considered a warning sign."
Negative"This commenter had a positive experience at Foul Witch, the opposite of the previous commenter, enjoying the food, incredible service, and playful vibe, despite hearing negative things beforehand."
Positive"This commenter found Foul Witch to be a tremendous disappointment, citing bad and expensive food, and disinterested service, contradicting the hype from food media."
Negative"This commenter also recommended Foul Witch for their pancakes, suggesting they are currently a sneaky good option."
Positive"This user recommends Foul Witch as a great Italian option in the city, disagreeing with some other suggestions."
Positive"This user noted that Foul Witch provides delicious free bread and butter, even for those just having a drink at the bar."
Positive"This user stated that the bread and butter at Foul Witch is excellent."
Positive"The user agreed that Foul Witch is solid but questioned if it truly fits the "past its hype" criteria."
Neutral"The user included Foul Witch in a list of recommended restaurants."
Positive"The user notes Foul Witch is different from Lord's, describing it as younger, kitchier, and probably more fun. They suggest choosing based on menu preference."
Positive
