I couldn’t wait to eat at the Italian restaurant Noidue, (as everyone seemed to be raving about it, but I had to SEE the place for myself) and once I did, I have been back several times. The entrance is a bit misleading, as you have to walk down some stairs to gain access to the door. Noidue is still a fairly new establishment, so I’m ok with the fact that their sign is still a hanging banner. Once inside you clearly feel like you are in a unique underground space. Small arches with interspersed bricks and wooden planks line the ceiling towards the back wall. A gorgeous stone back wall with a wood burning oven is the focal point of the restaurant. The remaining walls are painted a soft lime green.
Noi Due
However, paying attention to the details when you first walk in the door, a decadent dessert cabinet catches your eye! The coffee bar takes up a large space on the right side of the restaurant and it’s wrapped in brick and wood. You are able to stop in and order an espresso drink, without having to sit down. While waiting for our table we were served a lemon spice tea. I thought that was such a nice touch to the ambiance and spoke volumes about the hospitality, since we had not been seated yet.
I happened to be there for dinner and noticed dim lighting, with candles lit on each table. There are mostly tables for two, but they are flexible to move tables together for larger parties. I really liked the lamps that extended from the ceilings. They seemed to be handpicked from the artist themselves. I instantly imagined myself taking over a table in the middle of the day here with my laptop. Seemed like it would be a nice place to just order coffee and get some work done. The restaurant is always full at night (not sure what type of patronage frequents during the day).
Being the graphic designer that I am, I was impressed with the layout of the menu and the logo of the restaurant. By the way, Noidue means (two of us) and Poco Ma Buono (means a little bit good) – I asked the waiter since they wear black t-shirts with the name and logo screen printed on them. The pictures on the back wall are of Italian scenes, but could also resemble Tzfat, which I thought was very interesting.
The wait staff is extremely friendly and may I add good looking. Their eagerness to please each patron adds a positive element to the ambiance of this restaurant. There is a definite buzz to this place, as it is usually full and everyone is chatting away at their tables. I usually don’t talk about the food, but there is no question how good everything tastes and is presented. My brother (a hospitality management major) accompanied me on one of my most recent meals and noted how impressed he was with this restaurant. Enough said.
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Whenever I am downtown in the Nolita area I enjoy stopping by Wild Ginger. A cozy spot tucked away on bustling Broome Street. It’s a Pan-Asian Vegetarian café. On this particular visit a vase of sunflowers greeted us as we walked through the doorway’s fabric curtains, which are tasteful and inviting. Exposed brick surrounds you on two of the three walls and the back wall is painted a lime green. Lamps hang from the ceiling and at night the soft glow really intensifies the coziness of this place. It’s a quiet place to sit with friends or on a date. The music is atmospheric and adds a background layer to your dining experience. The restaurant boasts thirteen wooden tables with a long bench running alongside the right wall. Small pillows are spread out over the bench seating and tables can easily be pushed together for larger parties. It’s the clean, laid back, friendly attentive service that really makes my visit a memorable one. I was very impressed with the food presentation and I took some culinary visual observations to use during my own hospitality.
