Acclaimed Californian transplant with standout vegetable dishes and a lauded dry-aged ribeye, though NYC location doesn't quite match LA's legendary status.
Willa Moore reviews Gjelina NYC, an American and Italian restaurant in Noho, noting its pleasant but ultimately unremarkable vegetarian dishes and pizzas, which fail to live up to the legacy of its LA counterpart.
This American and Italian eatery offers a taste of California with a focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients, particularly its acclaimed vegetable dishes. Standouts include the grilled blue oyster mushrooms and a well-balanced lemon buckwheat ricotta pancake. While praised for its quality ingredients and some successful dishes like the dry-aged ribeye, its New York location is noted as not quite reaching the heights of its Los Angeles predecessor, with some pizzas and certain vegetable preparations falling short of expectations.
The restaurant is praised for its fresh ingredients, particularly its vegetable dishes, with the grilled blue oyster mushrooms being a standout. However, some pizzas are considered disappointing, and while dishes like the dry-aged ribeye and saffron spaghetti are mentioned positively, one article notes the latter is a basic spaghetti dish. The Berkshire Pork Chop received mixed reviews due to fattiness, while the Heirloom Carrot dish was criticized for undercooked carrots. The menu features American and Italian influences, with a focus on seasonal ingredients.
"The grilled blue oyster mushrooms with tarragon butter are highly recommended as a star dish. The dry-aged ribeye and saffron spaghetti are also mentioned as favorites."
Customers generally find the food to be good, with particular praise for the vegetable dishes and certain pizzas. However, some reviews suggest it doesn't quite live up to the hype of its West Coast counterpart, with one article describing the overall experience as merely
Important Note
The New York location of this restaurant, while featuring excellent vegetable dishes and some well-executed main courses, does not entirely replicate the success or impact of its Los Angeles original. Some pizzas are considered a letdown, and the overall ambiance has been described as too quiet and beige. It's suggested as a good option for breakfast or if other nearby restaurants are unavailable.
"Gjelina features an excellent 'vegetables' section on its menu that can constitute a full meal."
Positive"A commenter reiterated that classifying a restaurant as a 'chain' simply because it has another location in a different city is an imprecise definition, implying Gjelina should not be categorized as such."
Neutral"A commenter disagreed with Gjelina being called a 'chain', noting it has a location in LA and mentioning 'Gjusta' as a related, positive establishment."
Neutral"A commenter viewed Gjelina as a decent option on the list but noted it is a chain and suggested its original incarnation (likely in LA) is superior."
Neutral
