Outdoor seating
Yes
Gemma in New York
Categories
Location on the map
New York, New York County, New York, US
Service options
Delivery
Yes
Takeaway
Yes
Dine-in
Yes
Health and safety
Staff wear masks
Yes
Staff required to disinfect surfaces between visits
Yes
Highlights
Great coffee
Yes
Great dessert
Yes
Popular for
Breakfast
Yes
Lunch
Yes
Dinner
Yes
Solo dining
Yes
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible seating
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Yes
Offerings
Coffee
Yes
Comfort food
Yes
Late-night food
Yes
Small plates
Yes
Dining options
Breakfast
Yes
Lunch
Yes
Dinner
Yes
Dessert
Yes
Amenities
High chairs
Yes
Toilets
Yes
Atmosphere
Casual
Yes
Cosy
Yes
Romantic
Yes
Upmarket
Yes
Crowd
Groups
Yes
Tourists
Yes
Planning
Lunch reservations recommended
Yes
Dinner reservations recommended
Yes
Accepts reservations
Yes
Gemma in other cities:
Comments (199)
Really awesome ambiance and killer food. Menu looks like it got smaller but it doesnt disappoint and the prices are the most reasonable Ive seen in months in NYC. The pasta tastes homemade, and the pizza is fantastic, really any of them. Try the Nutella calzone! Love the drink selection, Negroni makes me feel like a real Italian
Fantastic restaurant, beautiful building. The salad (cannot remember the name but it had pears and gorgonzola) was perfect. This was the best cacio e pepe Ive ever had. Nice wine and grappa recommendations. Great tiramisu. Attentive and helpful service.The only odd thing was two diners were basically in sweats and hats. This does not seem like a place I would think that is ok to wear. Not my restaurant, not my problem, but the food and staff quality were too high to just wear whatever to dinner IMO.
I came here on a recommendation and was super disappointed. I made a reservation a month in advance and was underwhelmed when we were sat crammed into a small table between two large groups. I ordered the cacio e pepe, it was so peppery I couldn’t eat it, I sent it back. Zero presentation on the food. Our server, (based on the check I beleive his name was Perez) was extremely rude and gave us a hard time about taking the pasta off of our bill. My husband wants me to add that his sea bass (it was the special) was good. I also enjoyed the overal environment of the restaurant, just thought the food was mediocre and the service rude. Disappointed and wouldn’t recommend!
Love this place!! The service was phenomenal and extremely attentive. I also appreciated the separated outdoor dining setup for covid; each table was separated via a full-length barrier and had a heater 🔥 (which attributed to that pinkish light in these photos!). I also really loved the lights and general vibe.
We were looking for a local place to get a quick brunch in the East Village @ 10am. This place was open, so we tried it! Service was nice & quick. We had the choice to eat indoors or out. We chose out to be on the safe side. All the outdoor tables had a heat source and they can sit more than two comfortably! The food was scrumptious!! I ordered the avocado toast with egg & an almond milk latte. They were delicious! The portion sz was ample as well! I will try this restaurant again.
Stumbled onto this cute Italian place while walking around the area. While service could have been more attentive (I waited 20 minutes after finishing and had to ask for my check...the place was not busy) my fritatte was excellent but it should be served with toast. I had to ask for an order.The sangria was very good as was the banana or zucchini bread that was served as a starter. Cute place, Id go back.
Great outdoor space. Good Italian food but is outshined by several others south of 14th. Fine service.
We Had A Group Of 10 people for a birthday Party we sat Inside. The Scenery was beautiful, the indoor space was failry empty and the music was great. It was a beautiful night! OH AND THE COMPLIMENTARY BREAD! Im still craving more . amazing.
Great location, the place is calm, the servers are very nice. The ambiance is very relaxing. My only reason for not giving a 5th star is the seating. It’s very crammed in there. Keeping in mind that it was not busy when we went. Not sure if there’s too many tables for the place or what. Otherwise everything is awesome. The bathrooms could definitely be updated.
Went here after seeing a delicious photo of a rigatoni dish on Instagram. Was disappointed when told it was no longer available but the waiter recommended the pappardelle al ragout dish and was not disappointed. We also had the paesana pizza which was also delish! Would love to come back and try more off the menu.
The food was fantastic! We had a good time sitting outside and watching the world go by. My pasta with pesto was to die for. The host seemed annoyed that we had our dog on the patio and mentioned several times to make sure he didnt bite - understandable if he was a high energy dog, but ours is a trained therapy dog who just lays down and stays quiet. Regardless, our server was great and the food delicious! Good place for real Italian food.
Really love the vibe and the place inside. The food is great Italian with a definite authentic Italian experience. Have to try the heirloom tomatoes and the short rib pasta!
Walking into Gemma is like stepping back in time and walking into an old, vintage Italian restaurant. It doesn’t get more authentic than that. When you’re approaching the restaurant, you notice a unique, black metal door. As you get seated, be warned that if you like your space these tables are small and very close to one another. The waiter was friendly and knowledgeable, especially about wine and wine pairings. He paired an interesting selection of wines for each of our meals, and both wines paired nicely. As for the food, the gnocchi had a spicy twist to it, but tasted delicious. The Nutella calzone was so filling, so make sure you have room if you order that for dessert.***Reviewer: Mina Ibrahim
Despite being a fancy place, it has a relaxed atmosphere, cozy decor, friendly wait staffs and courteous host/hostess. The food is served fast, which signify a well-run kitchen system. Its also located at the heart of the trendy part of the Bowery.
Bustling atmosphere, kinda romantic with low light and lots of candles. Food is great though slightly pricier. Service is great and most importantly I have a great time :)Tiramisu is huge and delicious, pasta ragout and grilled octopus 🐙
The servers and ambiance were great. The food very disappointing. We ordered a prosciutto pizza, it was dry and chewy and the cheese on it tasted off. Would not eat there again
I just had the most disappointing brunch at Gemma. The company, atmosphere, and decor was great. It was the food that was subpar. For an upscale, trendy establishment with upscale prices I’d expect better quality food. I ordered the Gemma which was poached eggs on brioche toast with ham. The brioche was EXTREMELY dry and not fresh, the hollandaise sauce was sooo skimpy, and the ham was just ok. Honestly, I’ve had better at regular diners, which wasn’t the point of paying $21 for this. The cappuccino was terrible. It tasted like burnt grounds, very bitter and I’ve seen better sweetener selection at Starbucks. Sweet and low, Splenda, and Diamond brand sugar? Seriously?
I love my experience here! The food was delicious and the Waiters are very friendly.
Add a wedding reception at this restaurant. The staff and the food were extremely good. Would highly recommend this place for an event.
I think food was alright. I liked atmosphere but I didn’t like the stuff. First of all, they weren’t welcoming, no smiling and made me feel they weren’t open yet like they don’t want you to be there. And the waitress, no smile whatsoever. She made food taste non delicious. I noticed people’s attitude can make the moment beautiful or not.
The staff were very friendly, and attentive. The food was really delicious and the portions were just right. We were surprised at the prices because google says it’s price wise it’s $$ but it’s seems more like $$$
We chose this place for our final dinner of a month-long trip along the East Coast of the U.S. New York was my home for 20 years (and still is my secondary home and center for business), but I had never seen the inside of the Bowery Hotel, nor this restaurant or the other one on the corner. The other one was way too crowded for us, but Gemma had a perfectly spread out outdoor eating area (covid times) which was covered and had individual hanging heat lamps (hence the redness of the food picture).I actually dont remember my main course, but I remember REALLY enjoying the appetizers (pictured below). Arancini - beet risotto croquettes with a goat cheese filling and Wood Oven Roasted Eggplant, topped with tomato, ricotta, parmigiano, basil, and breadcrumbs. Delicious! Good wines too.And Id highly recommend (when possible), especially on a rainy or snowy day, to enjoy a post-dinner drink in the Bowery Hotel lobby. Such a cool, dark, cozy vibe. A bit pretentious at times, but bring some good unpretentious people and all is fixed. Ha! But seriously, such a beautiful fireplace, and on a nicer day, theres a gorgeous back garden area as well. Hope to return there on my next NYC visit!
Great pasta, good service and atmosphere
I didnt get to try the food. Was there 01-15-22. And we left after being ignored for 60 minutes. (And i was actually there with an Oscar nominee) You would think this pretentious dump would know who to treat right.
Super cool place. Delicious food and great service. Svaka cast Nikola ;)
Pretty disappointing. Me and my fiance walked in on a Wednesday at 615. The restaurant was completely empty. Maybe there were 5 tables taken. I asked the host who was a heavy set man for a table and he tells me he cant seat us because the entire restaurant was reserved. I looked around... No line to get in... More than 3/4 of the place was empty. I actually thought he was joking. I asked him if he was serious and he said that people were coming and that he couldnt seat us because no tables were available. I was completely shocked because its a Wednesday and again there was no one in the restaurant. I asked him if he had any seating outside and he said that he could seat us outside and there was one table available which was a small little table. We sat there for a total of 45 minutes had a glass of wine split an appetizer and I kid you not, not one person came into that restaurant the entire time. I dont know what his deal was but it was completely rude and made us feel like something was wrong with us. Im not one of play the victim but it left a really bad taste in my mouth. As someone who works for a restaurant group, rule number one, your host sets the vibe of your experience. The food wasnt that good to erase the nasty attitude of this guy. Such a shame.
Servers are very rude and presumptuous. The servers made it obvious that other tables were being treated better than we were and ignored us every chance they could. We ordered drinks appetizers and a meal but servers still treated us like second class citizens.
We had my birthday party there and it was amazing, from the delicious food to the gorgeous atmosphere, we felt really welcomed! Great job to the chef and the staff! Highly recommend.
Carpaccio was not appetizing. Everything else was good.. Ask questions before your order.
See my review of the Bowery hotel! This restaurant is the spot to go for breakfast, brunch, lunch, & dinner! The drink selection is great, the food is delicious, and the rustic, old New York style, combined with the candles, really adds a charm to your time there. The food is damn near perfect. Texture, flavours, presentation; Ive seen many a chef pass through this hotel, each one carrying their own unique style to the menu, which keeps this place in a league of its own.
I don’t recommend for anybody give orders from the phone or online they given you different food from the food you order so in the end they want to just give you whatever they have for the end of the day and the artist too expenses.
Thoroughly enjoyed the food and service at Gemma!
Went for an event in their wine room. Excellent food from antipasto to dessert. Of course the wine was excellent as well. Service was super attentive and great ambiance. Definitely would return.
Nice restaurant with ok service.But food...This is the reason why you going there4 people- 4 small pieces of bread warmed up in microwave,forget about olive oil.Two personal size pizza slightly warmed upOf course they changed it and made fresh.But WHY.Second weekend we are visiting City and choose restaurant by Google reviews 4+ stars.Last weekend in well reviewed restaurant wewere served with cold pasta and seafood.I guess we got spoiled with a good restaurants in LI
Loved this Italian restaurant starting with the decor, wonderful wait staff, and delicious food.
Abysmal service. EVERYONE ignored me for over 20 minutes, but as soon as some other business guy came in, he was served immediately. No apologies or anything either. I had to wave the hostess over to order. If I wasnt so exhausted from travelling, I would have left. Its a shame, since it is a very romantic place with all of the candles and the food was decent, but I would not wish this place on my worse enemy due to the service.
Everything was perfect, the food, the staff and the place. Also they have one of the best burrata in NYC. And the dessert was on point 👌🏻
On of my favorite places in many years. Have been coming here for at least 10 years. There were good experiences and, sometimes, not so good. But now, with all the restrictions, they are doing a great job. The menu is limited, but all the “favorites” are still there. Love their pizzas, especially Focaccia Robiola. Pastas are always delicious as well. Would definitely recommend this place.
Had a party here and a breakfast a year later. Nice place, nice menu, nice food. They have Glutenfree option too but be sure they do not mix the plates has they did with me
Was sitting for 30 min before I got my drinkTook 15 to get my order and the restaurant wasn’t a bit crowdedHad to ask for bread after ordering since I noticed other tables getting it before meApp and entree came at the same time?Entree was incorrectFood was good and so was my drink but I am disappointed in the service and experience.
Pancakes and coffee both excellent. Came back a second time. Great value for New York 👌🏼
Its great Italian food!the atmosphere of the place is very cosmopolitan
Great service. Great food. Beautiful space!
Great atmosphere, food and service. Bartender (Aldo) too friendly and do a great service, pizza are the best pizza even try on my life , congrats to all staffBack and front ! Honestly waiting for come back very soon !
I should have went with my first instinct when going here.Let me just start off by saying the restaurant Service is excellent. From the host to the waiter everyone was so polite and accommodating.However, the food was awful. Specifically the margarita pizza was bland & had a horrible taste.I truly don’t understand what people see this place.Again, excellent service. Horrible food.
Love this place!!! Super nice waiters/waitresses who give you their honest opinions about the food and what to order. The cacio e pepe is delicious as is the salmon. They have a lovely wine selection to boot.Great music and energy here- a bowery staple!!
Great brunch spot. Live in the hood and haven’t been to Gemma in a few years because we got sick of the lousy service and mediocre food. This weekend, we had some friends in town and decided to drop in for brunch as we had a party of 7 and it was pretty open. Not sure what’s happened, but Had a great experience today. Hostess was very polite and set us up a great table outside. Menu looked great and really reasonable prices for the atmosphere. Brunch entrees $11-18. Wife and another guest had the poached egg and polenta dish which wad really tasty. Two of us had pizzas, both of which were excellent, thin crispy crust and fresh buffalo mozzarella. One of the kids had French toast which was really good as well. All in all this is a great spot for brunch and will def be back soon. We live in the ‘hood and have tried them all numerous times. I can happily say that Gemma has got it right.
I saw how great the food looked as I drove by and noticed there were about 7 empty heated outdoor tables available, very much available, yet when I got to the door and asked for a table for 2, I was turned away since I didn’t have a reservation and said I can only sit at the tables that had no heat and she said there was no availability for the heated seats and would have to wait 30 mins to see if I could get a seat, with 7 empty heated tables. Horrible experience.
I live right around the corner from here and have passed by many, many times. Stopped here on a random Saturday and had a delicious pizza and a margarita....or two. Service and food great.
Great dinner with family and friends celebrating a wedding... friendly staff. Could have had larger portions, delicious.
The service was great and informative!The food was great and the overhead heater was a plus for outside dining
This restaurant was recommended to me and it did not disappoint. I went in for lunch as I was passing through The Bowery. I had a delicious salad and risotto balls (arancini). Was delicious. The menu is great and very authentically Italian. I feel I need to go back again with a bigger group and make a night of it. Either for dinner or apparently their breakfast / brunches are meant to be excellent. Staff were great. Welcoming and attentive.
Unbelievable service. Food was incredible. Setting us romantic and fun.
It is a great little joint for some nice pasta bites. Sitting outdoors is always my thang so yeah its a Vic Stah Milien hit for sure.
Very good food. The price-point for this restaurant is much lower than most of its neighborhood competitors, which is surprising because of the homey, elegant atmosphere. Granted it was Mother’s Day yesterday when we visited, so a little delayed service was expected, but it was a bit too slow. Otherwise very excellent!
If I could give 0 stars, I certainly would. I am usually not one to write reviews of restaurants, let alone bad ones. But this just stood out as by far one of the poorest dining experiences ever.It was late and cold, and my friends and I wanted to find a nice place to sit down and grab some food. A quick google search led me to this place: nice interior, 4.3 stars, 500 reviews, etc. Seemed like a good move.We got a table fairly quickly, and took in the great decorations and ambiance. We each ordered the soup, which came quickly. When we tried it, however, we were quite shocked at how ridiculously bad it tasted. It was so sour and bitter, the onions were droopy, and the bread tasteless.We sent it back, and the staff was incredibly nice about it, and asked if we want anything else. So we gave it another try and ordered a pizza (cant go wrong?) Again, the pizza came, and it was probably the worst tasting pizza each of us have ever tried.This was, hands down, one of the poorest dining experiences we have ever had. However, I would like to point out that the staff was indeed nice about it. The food was just awful.
Great ambiance. Loved the melted candles and lighting. We were a table of six and did a family style meal. They did a great job of spacing out the various dishes. Wine was good and they had several affordable options in the 40 to 60 range. Pasta dishes were great, Short rib ragout and truffle oil pasta. The magarita pizza was my favorite dish.
You cant not love this place! Ya gotta sit at the bar. Bartenders are amazing. The antipasto plate is amazing and the misto fritti is delicious. Cacio e pepe is top notch.
Delicious meal! Very cute restaurant.
Nice to see it open and still going strong...well, as strong as can be with NYC under its unsustainable restrictions. Tight menu keeps things fresh and delicious. Always friendly service. Try the burrata, arancini, pizzas and cacio e pepe!
This place is incredible for brunch. The prices are more than fair for NYC (such a good deal for the quality of food), they give you complimentary banana bread with Apple butter, the servers are so nice, and the ambiance is a fun French vibe. Will come back again asap! This will be a brunch staple for me in the neighborhood and there was no wait!
Been here quite a few times over the years and have always like the atmosphere. Tonight was no exception — except the food was really terrible. The bartenders were all super nice but haven’t had a meal this bad in ages - starting with the focaccia that felt and tasted like it was days old. Continued with the burrata salad that was literally as hard a rock. Very disappointing especially since was meeting a friend for a birthday drink/dinner - what a letdown.
Salmon dish was gross. Salmon ontop of a puree of beets with a side of beets. Dish description should have been Beets with a side of Salmon. Zero seasoning. Literally could only taste beets. Its like they gave up on trying to give the dish any flavor dimension. LAZY. Two stars because apps were good.
Such a good surprise, my new best Italian restaurant in the neighborhood! We had pasta and pizza and both were very tasty, made of fresh ingredients while we enjoyed the nice weather on the terrasse. On top of that, it’s not overpriced at all.
The food was delicious but the service was the absolute worst I have ever encountered. There was five adults in my party and we were there for about an hour and paid our bill. We were finishing up our conversations and the waiter came over and said Guys, we really need this table, please can you leave. It was the most offensive comment anyone in the restaurant industry has ever said to me.As mentioned, the food was good, however, there are plenty of restaurants in NYC that serve great food and the wait staff arent completely rude, discourteous and curt.
It was my first time coming here and I admit it was a bit intimidating but the atmosphere is great the servers are very cool and accommodating and the food was phenomenal. My wife had a pasta and I had a steak and it was awesome. Id go again but its a bit pricey for my pocket so for now it will be a one time deal but I really loved it, great place.
Sara 3stars. U tired go home. Food was excellent
Weve dined at Gemma several times now and will continue to return. Gemma is a gorgeous restaurant with a beautiful atmosphere (at any time of the day - weve had lovely brunches there, too). The service is outstanding, the food - every item we ordered - was delicious. I would return for the atmosphere alone - so lovely - but the food is worth the visit if you dont care about atmosphere. Dining at Gemma makes me want to stay at The Bowery Hotel! Weve dined at Gemma several times for various meals though the I was unable to indicate so in this review format. I highly recommend Gemma!
I go there often and its nice. One of the rare places that can accommodate up to 15 people under short notice, yet its still quite decent. Im giving maximum grade because I think he does well its purpose. They make pizzas so you see well all the ingredients that are fresh and tasty.
I was highly impressed with Gemma. The food and dessert were both even better than I expected. Love the atmosphere inside with wood and chandeliers. All the staff were so nice and friendly. Will definitely go back sometime!
It’s busy and a little pretentious.The food is fine but nothing special.The prices are high and not really worth it.This is one of those places to see and be seen. Great if you are young and eager to be part of that crowd.I was simply hungry and wanted to eat.
New York gem eatery GEMMA, just added an amazing restaurant manager!!!! His name is Lesor Moreno!!!!Besides deliciously fun dinners , Gemma is ready to service one’s breakfast earlier that any places in NY during this time( make a note of that!!) Clearly food is outstanding!!! But person who d greeting customer is master of “ issues solving”. Lesor is able to satisfy any “morninggggg challenged “ customer, bring smile to any grim face and make it not too chatty but cheerful enough.Great professional, special addition to Gemma s teamThank youuuuu , for serving New Yorkers and guests during difficult times!
Gemma is a part of Bowery Hotel. Beautiful old style with high class services. Great location in Noho.
The pasta is excellent & the atmosphere is, too! I had the raviolini. The cocktails leaned a little on the sweet side for me, but the server and bartender were kind enough to adjust to my taste.
Solid Italian food, nice decor, large size, accomodating to walk-ins. An excellent go-to place in the neighborhood when you cant quite remember what else there is right here. Plus open later than other places in the neighborhood. But not sure its the spot to make a special trip for.The fish dish (branzino if I remember correctly) is good but small, youll want an appetizer to go with it, even if you arent that hungry. Focaccia pizza is good, although I wish Id ordered actual pizza. Stracetelli pasta felt a bit too cheesy but bland. All in all, everything was good, not amazing.Again, solid, good food, decor and service. You cant go wrong picking this place, and I continue to suggest it when we are looking for places in E. Vil area.
An exceedingly well put together restaurant, the staff are kind and the food was very fine. The pricing seemed to be about correct for what we got, so no qualms there. Overall its a very nice restaurant with a good atmosphere.
Great food ( Chef Andrea is outstanding ! ) , great service with a great Manager as well (Samir ) . Was my first time eating outside in Manhattan since February and was real nice . Very very limited Wine list .
Very elegant cadre, helpful staff, great food.
Gemma is a reliably good Italian bistro. Great range of food across various Italian styles. Great wine selection. I also got to say hello to Bruce Willis here, we shot the breeze about that time in Nakatomi Plaza and saving the world and all that...
Patio seating is excellent for people watching. Fills up quickly. Nice selection of apertives and wine. Shared a burrata, pizza and pasta. All great flavor and decent portions.Would like the bread to be more interesting. It was very plain.
Had been going to this place for quick bites and namely their puntarelle salad. Beware portions size may vary according to unknown variables. Appetizers are generally average just like the pastas. Devoted more to keep the kitchen rolling than clients returning
My wife and I both got fish and the food was so good we cleaned our plates. The inside of the restaurant was very comfortable and inviting. It almost felt like we were in an old European city. It was a little pricey but that was expected. Since we were guests of the hotel we were able to make a reservation but I think they do not usually make reservations otherwise.
The classic tavern-looking atmosphere and numerous outdoor patrons draw you in. But the food and service were below average. Our pizza and pasta tasted like microwave food. The server could not understand menu questions I was asking him in plain English. We also asked him to split up the check and he didnt.
Great food (try the chicken club sandwich!), great outdoor atmosphere, but so-so service keeps me from giving five stars.
Attentive service, great pastas, fair prices!
Absolutely terrible and overpriced. Dont eat here unless you want to get ripped off.
Lively trattoria with some very delicious dishes that excel in simplicity and just-right flavors. Service is well above what I experienced in similar places. The place feels welcoming to those of all ages and it is actually possible to have a conversation something that isnt always the cases in nearby places. As a photographer, I highly recommend the nearby ICP museum for its excellent photo exhibits.
Great food, lovely wine. Loved the atmosphere. The service was a bit slow but other than that had an amazing time for late dinner with a big group
The service was great the food very tasty. Its what à classic and classy Italian restaurant should be. Our waiter help us with some questions. The staff are very effecient. We will recommend this place to our friends when they go to New York.
One of our favorite Italian restaurants in Bowery. The Arancinis are just like in Rome 👌
We loved the ambiance, libations and the dinner itself and highly recommend Gemma. The Pappardelle - short rib ragout, rosemary, parmigiano was similar to a dish I had in Venice, Italy 2 years ago and had been craving ever since while most Ive tried missed the mark, Gemmas was delicious.
Went here with a NYC local who really rated the food but I must have ordered the wrong thing. I got the margherita pizza and it was one of the worst pizza bases I have ever had. It was so dry that it cracked as you were cutting it. There was no sauce (and if there was I couldnt find it) which meant that I ended up just eating the toppings and leaving the base.Everyone else in the group seemed to enjoy their food so as I said I may have just gotten the wrong thing but either way I definitely left disappointed.
Always good food here. Nice to sit outside when the weather is good.
My favorite Italian restaurant restaurant in Italy. An experience that will transport you from NYC to a soothing romantic night on the town. From the cheese plates to the pastas, you cant go wrong. Very accommodating staff. I especially recommend dining in the wine room if possible.
Entrée portions are small, though are nice. The apps/small plates were better, I felt, in portion/freshness/price (not that its expensive overall).They also have gluten free bread and pasta, if thats your thing.
My gf and I love this place. Reasonably priced with a great rustic atmosphere. You can go dressed up and feel in place or chill with flip-flops and a t-shirt and not feel out of place.The food is amazing and I cannot recommend this place enough.GO!
One star too many! This place is overrated. Pizza was undercooked, espresso was COLD and hostess had an attitude. We asked to be seated in the booth area and were told by the HOSTESS it didn’t open until 6. At 545 she preceded to sit people in the area we requested. Reservations are not taken here so how is that possible??? Gemma needs to go.
Delicious food, lovely atmosphere, wonderful service!!! What else can you ask for in our current state of affairs. I highly recommend Gemma!!
Ive been eating at Gemma for YEARS. Ive celebrated birthdays here & its the first place I bring visiting guests. Situated on a lovely corner in the Bowery, attached to The Bowery Hotel, Gemma has phenomenal outdoor seating. Inside, the restaurant looks like a pirate ship. The entire experience is classy and transporting. This is one of my favorite places in the city, highly recommended. If you go, GET THE POLENTA FRIES. Theyre amazing.
The restaurant itself is nice, but the service and the food were not that great. Also, the drinks and food are over priced and not that tasty.
Very cozy, chill, and perfect winter brunch experience. I would skip on the bloody mary, its very overpriced for the more than generic bloody Mary mixture. Poached eggs could use a new name. Because they are hard boiled. The Blueberry Pancakes dont have blueberrys evenly spread throughout them. That being said, the overall service, provided an enjoyable New York eating experience.
Ive only been to Gemma once and it is a chill spot for a drink in the afternoon or on the weekend, so I guess I would go back. The cocktail list is interesting, but not well done (I had a mezcal cocktail and a prosecco mixed drink). Me and a girlfriend also shared a small plate that was not good but not bad either.The decor is interesting, huge space, but looking around it just seemed like a lot of people visiting from New Jersey or post-graduation groups. Not really my atmosphere, but the actual hotel next door is fantastic.. not sure if Gemma is affiliated or not.I agree good people watching and decent prices, but not an interesting menu at all.
Meals are just not good, even bad. Pasta were over-cooked and super salty. I actually never taste such bad pasta, seems like high schools cafeteria. However, service was great and kindfull.
Yeah, best best freakin low-key brunch in New York City--meaning: Best brunch on the planet! Lived in the area and for years this was an easy, regular destination for us. Been some time since we lived in the Noho are--Gemma is among the things we miss...the most! Hope to see you soon...!!!
Can we all please start demanding better when it comes to chocolate soufflé/“warm chocolate cake” and not accept microwaved desserts from restaurants? Anyone who cares about food, flavor and texture will wait for the oven version. Espresso tasted like bustelo. Really burnt and sour flavor. No créma.Tiramisu was beautiful and ambience and music are 5 stars.
Great food and atmosphere. Super professional staff. Fun menu. Cant go wrong. Great for brunch. Be sure to check out the amazing lobby of the Bowery Hotel next door.
Went here for a quick lunch. Service was decent and food was delicious. Pasta was cooked to perfection and flavours were on point. Nothing exceptional, but a really meal.
Gemma, located on Bowery and 3rd Street is part of the new Bowery Hotel, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner and accepting no reservations (for the exception of hotel guests). What first strikes you about Gemma is the wood-heavy, trattoria-meets-bistro design thats gives the restaurant a sort of romantic country-chic quality. The restaurant also features a large outside area, overlooking Bowery Street, with about 15 tables perfect for people watching or a warm day. The menu focuses on Italian food staples and while it lacks any originality, it provides varied choice including crudi, antipasti, pastas and mains. Cheeses and crude meats are featured prominently in the menu with a good variety of classic cuts. Upon seating we were offered a complementary jug of tap water and a basket with olive oil soaked bread which was tasty. We ordered two mains (the steak and veal which were cooked perfectly although the veg was overdone), two desserts (ice cream and tiramisu, which was very good), one extra side (the white asparagus), a glass of wine and a cranberry juice. The grand total cost came to USD 120 which is reasonable for the area. While I wouldnt describe Gemma as a culinary experience it succeeds at delivering a combination of great ambience, fantastic service, quality location, hearty Italian classics at a reasonable price. Highly recommended for couples and large groups looking for a relaxed and fun restaurant with ambience serving classic Italian dishes.
Gemma has a cool look & some good appetizers but I wont be returning for a meal. At my recent visit our entrees were mediocre to poor. Out of five dishes only one - the tortellini was adequate. The roast chicken was not just over cooked it was actually burned. The Cod ( sort of a cassoulet style) was drowned in red sauce & the Char waa ok but uninteresting, The shrimp entree is served with heads on & not much else if anything on the plate - so with the heads removed it is an inadequate portion. More importantly the shrimp were also overcooked (destroyed actually) & entirely unseasoned. I had invited family because I had been to Gemma for n the past for cocktails & small plates and the location & look were well suited to our other plans that evening. It would up being quite embarrassing to have made the suggestion & I found myself apologizing over & over for the poor meal.
Great for brunch - I especially enjoy their smoked salmon on a bagel. Very simple, but a classic choice. The patrons are hip and well-dressed. And the location is perfect - right near the border of East Village, Lower East Side, and SoHo. A great spot to work into your routine.
They have the most comfortable outdoor dining even though it was really cold i was toasty warm the food was scrumptious and the staff was great and treated us like family
Brunch here is very lovely and the food is nice. its a good back up to five points if the wait is too long. the best thing to do at gemma is really have a drink at the bar. the drink list is extensive and well appointed and that room is breaktaking with millions of candles at night!
Really good restaurant. Great service, great wine. All you can ask. Definitely an amazing place for an Italian experience. I recommend the arantini for appetizers and the risotto for main course. The Nutella calzone was really good.
Underwhelming: bread to the table tasted like it was cut two days prior and on the verge of going stale; Pappardelle Bolognese was heavy handed with nutmeg and sugar with the short rib meat over cooked; Tortellini in Brodo was under cooked and tasted like frozen pasta compared to handmade fresh pasta with the hen sauce was bland and more likee litely flavored water. atmosphere nice; drinks good; service average
Service was lacking in attentiveness. Whenever we needed something, more food, drinks, check, we had to flag down our waiter. The food was quite good but will not wow you. Although, I really enjoyed my Saltibocca (particularly the mushrooms in it). The burrata salad special was disappointing (the burrata wasnt creamy enough). We ordered a bunch of appetizers to start, nothing in particular stands out but it was all good. What I will say was amazing was their Old Fashion! Best old fashion Ive had to date!
The food was excellent! The menu was light and flavorful. The service was attentive engaging, the best.The steak cooked to perfection.
The food was really good and fresh. The decor was really nice and it seems to be a lively place. However, it took forever to get the check and the restaurant would not split the bill.
The food was delicious! The plater at the beginning was delicious! The staff was very friendly. Would definitely go here again!
Gemma is the Restaurant connected to the Bowery Hotel. Beautiful high class. My review of this place is the same as what i said about the Bowery Hotel.I must be fair and say that this place is absolutely beautiful. But bring money and a lot of it. This is where a lot of celebrities stay when they are passing through New York City. Now !!! I have to tell the truth as a New York City Local Guide. You will be treated like royalty here. But Local Guide aside. This is one of the many places that moved to the Bowery and changed its Artistic & Musical reputation and ruined it. The Bowery used to be a thriving Art & Music scene. It was gritty and Punk Rockers walked by.. CBGBS is even a high end store now. And the Bowery is Spotless and little by little the Art & Music People were pushed out. Sad...
Wonderful. Solid meal, great wine list and consistent.
Great ambiance. We had reservations down the street, however, the restaurant was closed. We walked over to Gemma and had a great experience. Food is always delicious there.
Always a good time at the Gemma for either brunch, drinks, and dinner. There ambiance is warm and trendy too. Its an absolute NYC favorite and a must visit.
Primo experience on my NYC visit. Great ambiance and service and food. Thank you MUMU for making it so special! Love the live music and the coffee is to die for!!! Go on a warm summer night and sit outside. Awesome!
My friends & I visited Gemma one Saturday afternoon. The place was busy but we all found seats at the bar. The bartender was friendly & attentive. Im a fan of Gemmas addictive bread-sticks & delicious marghertia pizza.While charmingly appointed, there are only two stalls in the Ladies Room. Space is tight. Keep a wary eye on door in order to avoid getting hit when another female enters.
The decor here is a caricature of the stereotypical romantic italian restaurant. however, if you can manage to look past that, you will find surprising decent italian fare at a price that is well below that of your average restaurant-in-a-trendy-hotel. rounded off with a nice, classic drinks menu and relatively good service, this place is definitely worth a look
Wow! The poorest service weve ever experienced, ever! We cant even get into the details from the lack of quality. What a disappointment.
Great food and service. I was asked for proof of vaccination and showing proof on Excelsior app was accepted.
Ever since the chef/menu changed its been ok.Definitely not my go-to anymore but I will go of its convenient.Instagram @jarnold45 for live adventures and jokes
Best hotel restaurant in NYC. No gluten, so Polenta fries, brussel sprouts and liver pate without the breading. Sides. Yummy.
Great food! Friendly & attentive staff! The food was flavorful & unique.
Awesome atmosphere and decor. Excellent service and food. Nice and open seating. Not a the typical cramped italian restaurant.
I usually stop here for a late snack or a nightcap, and usually sit at the bar. The atmosphere inside is great and is a little more open than the typical Bowery restaurant or pub.
One of my favorite restaurants in the city. Intimate and affordable. Perfect for date night!Go ahead and get the sorbet at the end of the night. Youll feel so fancy
This restaurant never disappoints us! It opens early plus it’s always quiet in the morning time during the week. Perfect for kids and big group gathering!
Delicious meal. Wonderful dining experience. As usual.
Had a few.mwals here. Sitting outside in good weather is great. The waiter advised in the specials, which were amazing. Beers and wines were good too.
Love the food, dramatic ambiance and service. The sommelier is always on point and wine selection is superb. Pizzas, pastas, and truffle polenta fries are delicious.
Food was excellent, great cheese, the NY steak perfect, pasta arrabiata spicy and delicious, tiramisu and apple pie wonderful. One one of my favorite places to eat in NY.
Sometimes hit or miss for me but the quality is great all around when they nail it. Beautiful wood interior and good service from seasoned staff. Not exactly cheap but its worth it.
So elegant and classy and at the same time cozy and warm, with charming decorations and fireplaces, sofas where to enjoy a cup of tea, or a great cocktail. The food is tasty and high scale
Solid spot. Had an amazing dinner with a larger group in the back. Great wine selection and the decor was excellent
Amazing food and kind service!
Enjoy people watching on a warm evening & dine al fresco. The service is a bit slow but we love the Watermelon & Ricotta Salata and the Linguini Frutti Di Mare. Reservations for hotel guests only.
Great time, Great food, professional very polite servers & hosts
Very standard. Olive oil could have been better. Not bad definitely not worth the price. Extra star for decoration
Everything was very tasty. Service was phenomenal. Dim lighting, good for groups or a date. Lovely aesthetic.
Inventive cocktails and nice food. Warm, fun ambiance. Can be a bit of a scene at night and get loud, but most tables have a bit of privacy.
Beautiful building and interior. Service was subpar. Several orders were messed up, and extra item was added for no reason and service was generally very slow. Food was not impressive at all. Not what expected
Great food and atmosphere, but everything is old and worn. Needs some TLC. Prices are also a bit high. Staff is warm and helpful.
Sitting outside is nearly impossible but inside is lovely. Went for brunch with a girlfriend awhile ago and the food was extremely fresh. Definitely recommend to anyone.
Authentic Italian food at its best with nice service. Fit us right in on a busy evening without a reservation.
Food was good. Atmosphere nice. Drinks interesting.
Home made pasta , Beautiful Environment. Cozy, Private. Fresh bread, Crispy mouthwatering salad, delightful waiters all at your beck and call.
I love too the place is a proper candle family super cute and very good service excellent food, and a waiter we asked people in the area of the entrance if someone belonged to a lens, I think are the friend of yours, phone and ask the security area were delivered to the front inn are maybe yours
Beautiful ambience. Great food. Reasonably priced. Has wifi. It a good place for a work meeting or a date.
Make sure that the guy take the correct amount on your credit cardHe tried to scam us today and promised that the taken amount will be refund in two days after getting us understanding his playHope to get back the money on my account !!
Great ambiance. Pizza was average at best but we still had a good time nonetheless.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner here are great. They take no reservations but Ive never had to wait more than ten minutes for table!
Love this place both for lunch and dinner. I have had a staff party here too and it was great I love the ambiance too. Great for people watching too.
Food was good, service was good. The bread is very dangerous! You might overeat it before you get your main course. Would recommend.
For the price, quality and amount of food this place is simply amazing. As a bonus the restaurant is beautiful and the staff are extremely attentive.
Awesome job by the microwave to reheat our food. Gemmalmangé
Small brunch menu at NYC prices, but everything we ordered was delicious and service is very friendly
Brilliant breakfast with excellent coffee and large pot of hot chocolate. Interior was wonderful. Great service.
BLAH pizza.. way below NYC standard for a pizza. I’m only giving it two stars instead of one because they offer a solid local IPA beer.
Food was amazing and our server was completely on top of everything. My water never went below half full. Must try for sure.
Great coffee, fast service and yummy food! Try the baked eggs and avocado or polenta and mushrooms... so good!
Mediocre food and a predictable menu. Servers are distracted. However the celebrity sightings are abundant and the restaurant has great ambiance.
Great Italian restaurant with an amazing burrata with favas and mint, great pasta and incredible drinks all packaged in a very cozy and family environment ... As a plus the prices are really good for NY
Came for a friends party. Food was good atmosphere was fun
If you want a scene you might want give it a try to Gemma. If you want good food, its probably better to look somewhere else. The food is average, but pricy.
Great food and atmosphere. Service is a little slow, but worth the wait.
Lovely atmosphere and fabulous staff. I wouldnt say my oatmeal was the best, was bland. Overall however it was great.
Excellent coffee (Im a Melbournian who has spent time in Italy...good coffee is important!!) delicious brunch fare, great service.
It is very popular for the amazing seafood and attentive service. It does get loud, so be prepared!
Eaten here a dozen or so times.. consistently great
Tourist trap alert! Mediocre, overpriced food in an an extremely loud atmosphere. Unsettling experience all around.
Beautiful detail and decor. Absolutely delicious breakfast with such attentive service. LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!
Nice place. Cold food though - no fun when its eggs...
Great lounge at the bottom of the Bowery Hotel
Never disappoints. Beautiful atmosphere and excellent food
Amazing ambiance and the food was delicious. Service was great. Highly recommend!
Butternut squash pasta was the best. Great food overall and vegetarian options available.
Great food. Great service. Love this place.
Its been a while since Ive been here and it is a hotel restaurant but for me dining alone and getting some work done it was a relaxing experience.
Best service ever! Perfect Italian coffee ☕
Fun to catch-up with friend couples on a date night out
Good food for good price. Unfortunately the menu is shrinking every time I go there...
Good food, excellent vibe indoors but not worth the price in my opinion.
Total reviews rating
199 Reviews for Gemma 2023:
Review №1
2022-05-18Ample indoor and outdoor seating.Freshly prepared cuisine. Located attached to the famed Bowery Hotel. Large portion sizes so meals can be eaten tapas style, plus brunch all day long. Friendly and professional wait staff and fairly quick service despite the busyness. Private room for large parties/meetings.
Review №2
2022-02-23I love this place. It is definitely underrated. The food here is amazing and the staff is always so nice. The options on the menu is great for sharing with group of 4-5 or you can share with another person. I’ve done both, but I would recommend sharing so that you can try more of their delicious plates. The truffle focaccia bread is so good creamy and the pasta was perfectly cooked. Loved this place.
Review №3
2021-12-21Great Italian food and friendly service in warm and cozy environment. The cocktails were well made. The prosciutto pizza with greens was delicious. The Malfatti was flavorful and fantastic! Bonus for heated outdoor seating to enjoy your meal outside during the apacolypse.
Review №4
2021-10-19Not worth it imo. Although the servers are nice and their service was good, the food wasnt to my liking. The pasta I got wasnt great, I didnt end up finishing it. My sister did not like that her medium rare steak showed up burnt on the top. Maybe thats just how they do it here but she said the burnt taste covered the entire steak. The champagne was decent. I did make a mistake where my bag accidentally tipped over a glass and the servers were very kind about the whole ordeal. The bread wasnt that good.
Review №5
2022-02-21We had a wonderful dinner at Gemma.The highlight was the atmosphere. We spent a relaxed two and a half hours and we were able to totally unwind. Lovely decor feels like stepping back in time at a classic NY Italian restaurant.Service was outstanding, the sommelier very charming. Highly recommend getting his input if you order wine. He came up with a delicious pick for us, the Canapone Santa Vittoria.Ordered the risotto (scrumptious) and the truffle gnocchi (daily special… also scrumptious).Got sticker shock at the bill, but I suppose that’s NY…
Review №6
2022-01-20One of my favorite place for breakfast! Came back today for breakfast and it was delicious and a wonderful welcoming staff. Highly recommend for breakfast or brunch.
Review №7
2022-03-27Had a wonderful meal and great service late at night ( 10pm) after getting off a flight from the uk.Lovely atmosphere. Prices were good. Price of wine in Manhattan can be a bit of a shock for a Brit but they had a really good list.Recommended
Review №8
2022-06-07Stale and hard bread. Broccoli rabe wasn’t cooked right, far too bitter and almost inedible. Rushed, slightly careless service. Was brought the wrong drink once and felt sped through. Just kind of a tacky place
Review №9
2022-03-20„The eggs anystyle“ with sausage is amazing.It costs 18 dollar. The staff is very friendly and helpfull. The location seems old fashioned in a beautiful kind of way.
Review №10
2022-03-28Foood was soo good 🙌🙌Our waitress super nice, good wine, best atmosphere 👏👏from now on one of my top restaurant to visit 😻