Osteria Morini in New York City

Although one of the busiest areas in Manhattan, Soho is also one that cannot be missed on a trip to NYC. Whether you live in the city and avoid Soho on the weekend, or rush there as a tourist, it is filled with life, incredible fashion, and great food! People can be seen lining up as early as 6 am to get a “cronut” at one of the nearby bakeries.

Luckily to visit Osteria Morini you do not need to wake up at the crack of dawn. Osteria Morini is only a 7-minute walk from the rush of Soho and is a bit quieter in Nolita. On the weekend I recommend a reservation, but it is not always necessary.

Fill My Cup

Getting started, they have a great cocktail list. It changes seasonally, but I got the regular margarita and it was great, especially for only $7 on Happy Hour (Monday-Thursday 5-630!). During holiday times they offer an amazing mezcal cocktail called the “Rose Marry Me”. It is made with Giffard Pamplemousse, cinnamon, rosemary, apple, and grapefruit. Yum! If you prefer gin I recommend the “Fall Remedy” made with Ford’s gin, Aperol, clove, cinnamon, honey, lemon, chili, and smoked salt. Like a hot toddy but with gin. You also cannot go wrong with anything on their wine list.

Bring on the Apps

For the charcuterie board lover, there are a few different options, either $17 for three, $24 for five, or $30 for seven, which is actually very reasonably priced for New York City. I prefer to do only cheese, but they have a good selection of meats as well. Comes with grilled bread which is so tasty and buttery. 

The burrata is always good, you cannot go wrong. The last time I went it was somewhat holiday-themed with pomegranate, squash, pumpkin seeds, and smoked salt. It sounds like it would be sweet but it was still savory and had a good balance of flavors. 

The fried artichoke hearts are probably my favorite thing on the menu. They melt in your mouth while also being crunchy and I dream of this salty dish often.

Half Portion Pasta

I love pasta but sometimes an entire portion can be a lot. If you want pasta but also want to enjoy other things on the menu you can get a half portion of pasta. This is usually around $12 and is a perfect way to try the housemade pasta. I recommend sharing a salad, half pasta, and pizza for two! 

Sirved must try pasta edition:

  • Tagliatelle: For the meat lover, the homemade tagliatelle with ragu bolognese is amazing. They top it off with creamy, yet salty, Parmigiano Reggiano for a perfect balance of rich and salty.
  • Cappelletti: My favorite pasta is something that is stuffed, and this cappelletti satisfies that need. At Osteria Morini, they stuff their cappelletti with truffle ricotta, and cover it with prosciutto di parma and melted butter. You can also ask for this to be vegetarian if you wish.
  • Spaghetti: Don’t miss this seafood spaghetti, made with alla chitarra, lobster, shrimp Pomodoro, chili, and garlic. The seafood is fresh and the garlic combined with the chili is really tasty. 

Pro-Tip

If you are looking to save money, or get something special, then the daily specials are a great place to look. Mondays they have meatball dishes anywhere from $8 to $12, and Thursdays they offer no corkage fee (this means you can bring your own wine bottle for free!). My favorite special is Friday when they offer shrimp scampi for only $26. It is a classic scampi in a white wine sauce with lemon and garlic (I always want to lick the plate).

Find Osteria Morini’s menu here