Following the success of the original, il Buco on Bond Street, il Buco Alimentari e Vineria has been opened to offer a casual dining experience in Noho. Alimentari e Vineria specializes in house-cured meats and home baked breads. Original site of the Great Jones Lumber Supply provides a unique location and you can see recuperated joists from the original structure are incorporated into the design; from bar paneling and tables to banquette benches, and even the cutting boards used to serve the salumi platters.
Brass ceiling was definitely our favorite interior detail. Its color and embossed design was matching brick walls and the plain table setup very well.Traces of the original lumber yard graffiti are still visible on the brick walls and accentuates the casual ambiance. There are some Italian antique furniture, tiles and ceramic ware that have been added to the design for contrast. Even though, understand the ‘logic’ behind it, still we felt it didn’t add much to the whole picture, even reduced the impact of its uniqueness.Bar provides a good alternative for small parties also completes the casual atmosphere.At the ‘Alimentari’ section, it’s possible to get some super fresh, top quality Italian specialties or to stop by to sip on some really good coffee. I’m not a coffee expert but the espresso I had at il Buco was one of the best that I have ever had.As a starter, we decided to do an olive-oil tasting. It’s a good option to try out a few selections of olive oil with different textures. Selection from the Umbria region was the spiciest and the richest of them all and was our favorite. Olive oil tasting also allows trying il Buco’s specialty home-made breads.Second starter, Crispy Artichokes, was our favorite of the whole meal. From the way it was presented until the zest of its lemon finish, all was perfect. Definitely recommended.First pasta we’ve ordered was the Spaghetti (with Bottarga di Muggine, Dried Roe) had very good balance. Saltiness of the Bottarga and smoothness of the sauce complimented each other very nicely.Second pasta was Bucatini Cacio e Pepe (with Pecorino Romano, and black pepper). I have a tendency to go for complex tastes when I’m trying out new restaurants but couldn’t be happier with this choice of cheese and black pepper pasta. Another dish to strongly recommend.Total bill was a reasonable 100 dollars for two. Our decision to go a little high-end on the wines boosted the total a little up but absolutely no regrets there.
Address: 53 Great Jones St New York, NY 10012
Phone: +1 212-837-2622
