TLDR
Elegant European-bistro with wood-fired mains and house-made breads. A polished, candlelit spot perfect for celebrations and upscale dining.
Instagram Posts References
Raf's is enthusiastically recommended for its burger, with a strong endorsement stating, 'if you love pickles you will LOVE this burger,' indicating a particularly flavorful and well-prepared burger with a notable pickle presence.
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.
Details
A polished Noho destination, this European-inspired bistro offers a charming, classic atmosphere featuring unique tulip-shaped chandeliers and a painted sky ceiling [2]. The kitchen excels at well-executed, soulful dishes such as wood-fired mains and exceptional house-made breads, earning it a reputation as a fantastic choice for celebrations [1], [2]. While the space can feel somewhat claustrophobic due to tightly packed seating, the high quality of the food and attentive service consistently encourage repeat visits [1], [3].
Food Overview
The menu focuses on Italian and French-influenced cuisine, with high praise for the house-made bread basket, roast chicken, and beef tartare [1], [2]. Diners consistently love the pork chop and vegetable dishes, though some recommend skipping the escargot and the overpriced warm fresh ricotta [1], [3].
Highlights / Recommended
"The roast chicken is widely celebrated for its quality, and the bread basket—featuring focaccia, sourdough, and milk buns—is considered a compulsory treat [1], [2]."
Mentioned Dishes:
- •burger(4)
- •chicken(2)
- •pork chop(2)
- •escargot(2)
- •roast chicken(2)
Customer Sentiment
Overall feedback is lean positive, with diners praising the well-executed food and terrific service [1], [3]. While some find the seating arrangements cramped and occasionally describe certain appetizers as bland, most visitors consider it a fantastic and reliable dining destination [1], [3], [4].
Caveats
The seating area can feel claustrophobic with guests brushing past one another, and some appetizers like the warm fresh ricotta may be considered bland or overpriced for the portion size [1].
Reddit Opinions & Reviews
Top Reddit Posts About RAF'S
Recent Reddit Mentions
From post: Help Brunch Spots For After Courthouse Wedding In
"Suggested as an option if willing to travel slightly north."
NeutralFrom post: How Is Crownshy I Am Trying Out New Restaurants
"Recommended as a better alternative to Crown Shy, particularly for their chicken."
PositiveFrom post: Im Bored Of Italian Food Italian Restaurant For
"Raf's is suggested as another Italian/French fusion option."
PositiveFrom post: The Unemployment Dining Tour
"Commenter listed Raf’s as a restaurant to visit."
NeutralFrom post: Lower East Side Dinner Before Attaboy
"Raf's is described as fantastic."
PositiveFrom post: Postelopement Dinner
"Raf's was recommended as a dining option for a celebration."
PositiveFrom post: Alternative To Le Coucou After Proposal
"Raoul's (likely a typo for Raf's or a separate mention of Raoul's) is mentioned as a potential option."
NeutralFrom post: Alternative To Le Coucou After Proposal
"Raf's is suggested as an option with beautiful candlelit ambiance and more approachable price and food."
NeutralFrom post: Espresso Martini
"This user has heard great things about the espresso martini at RAF's but has not tried it themselves."
NeutralFrom post: Recommendations For Where To Splash Out A Bit
"Raf's is included in a list of recommendations for splurging on a meal in NYC, with links to articles about fancy dining."
PositiveFrom post: Restaurants Cafes Bars That Give Matchbooks
"Raf's was included in a list of NYC restaurants that provide matchbooks."
PositiveFrom post: Rafs
"This user visits Raf's primarily for their pastries and sweets."
PositiveFrom post: Is There A Restaurant With A Similar Vibe To Polo
"Includes Raf's in a list of recommendations for places that might match the desired vibe."
NeutralFrom post: Is There A Restaurant With A Similar Vibe To Polo
"Suggests Raf's as a potentially good option."
NeutralFrom post: Rafs
"The pork chop was phenomenal, but the escargot is often ordered and considered overrated."
PositiveFrom post: Rafs
"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."
NeutralFrom post: Rafs
"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."
PositiveFrom post: Rafs
"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."
PositiveFrom post: Rafs
"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