Polished Italian-French bistro with standout house-made bread, creative pastas, and a stellar roast chicken. Don't miss the desserts!
Amber Sutherland-Namako reviews Raf's, a new Italian and French-influenced restaurant in Noho, highlighting its polished ambiance and standout dishes like beef tartare and roast chicken, while noting some issues with table spacing and pricing.
Raf's offers a polished bistro experience with a blend of Italian and French influences, lauded for its exceptional house-made breads, creative pastas, and expertly prepared mains like roast chicken and wood-fired dorade. While the ambiance is charming, some patrons note cramped seating. The dessert menu, especially the white chocolate budino, is a must-try, making reservations highly recommended for this sought-after spot.
Raf's serves a European-inspired menu with Italian and French influences. The bread basket, featuring focaccia, sourdough, and milk buns with butter, is a standout. Highly recommended dishes include the beef tartare, mafaldine with lamb ragu, and the whole dorade and half-chicken mains. The roast chicken is frequently cited as a must-try. Desserts, particularly the white chocolate budino and pistachio rhubarb cake, are also highly praised. While most dishes are well-executed, some found the ricotta appetizer bland and overpriced, and the escargot to be just 'mid'.
"Standout dishes include the roast chicken, beef tartare, mafaldine with lamb ragu, and the pistachio rhubarb cake for dessert. The bread basket is also highly recommended."
Customers generally praise the food, particularly the bread, roast chicken, and pasta dishes, and find the ambiance charming. However, some reviewers mention that the seating can feel cramped.
Important Note
Some diners find the seating area to be too tightly packed, and a few specific dishes have received mixed reviews.
"Commenter listed Raf’s as a restaurant to visit."
Neutral"Raf's is described as fantastic."
Positive"Raf's was recommended as a dining option for a celebration."
Positive"Raoul's (likely a typo for Raf's or a separate mention of Raoul's) is mentioned as a potential option."
Neutral"Raf's is suggested as an option with beautiful candlelit ambiance and more approachable price and food."
Neutral"This user has heard great things about the espresso martini at RAF's but has not tried it themselves."
Neutral"Raf's is included in a list of recommendations for splurging on a meal in NYC, with links to articles about fancy dining."
Positive"Raf's was included in a list of NYC restaurants that provide matchbooks."
Positive"This user visits Raf's primarily for their pastries and sweets."
Positive"Includes Raf's in a list of recommendations for places that might match the desired vibe."
Neutral"Suggests Raf's as a potentially good option."
Neutral"The pork chop was phenomenal, but the escargot is often ordered and considered overrated."
Positive"The roast chicken at Raf's is very good, especially the bread soaking up the jus. The escargots were also considered 'mid'. The reviewer agreed that the seating area can feel claustrophobic with people brushing past."
Neutral"The roast chicken at Raf's was outstanding, and all the vegetable dishes were also loved. However, the space felt claustrophobic with poor energy. Despite the ambiance, the food was excellent, prompting a desire to return."
Positive"Raf's was great about a year ago, with excellent atmosphere and service, feeling like a hidden gem. While the food was good, it wasn't super memorable. It's definitely worth going to, though it's now harder to get a reservation."
Positive"While the food at Raf's isn't exceptionally memorable, it is well-executed. The service and ambiance were terrific, leading to a great solo dining experience at the bar."
Positive"This is a suggested dining spot for visitors, particularly for those with a flexible budget, offering a range of options."
Neutral"Rafs is recommended for its restaurant week lunch deal, offering two meals for $30."
Positive"Raf's is recommended and is participating in restaurant week."
Positive
