Provini is open.....FINALLY!

thanks for posting...I'm excited to try it!

Vidro, did you really just go in and use the bathroom without having a drink and a snack? Booo.

My wife and I managed to go there twice last week during the "soft opening" when we were looking for a place for a quick drink before concerts at the bandshell. I really like it, the place looks great and the service staff is really nice. Next time we'll plan more time for a proper dinner.

I'd have to shoot myself if I was lactose intolerant.

what taps they have?

Flexichick wrote: I'd have to shoot myself if I was lactose intolerant.

Flexie... I am inviting you over to my house to shoot me.

Flexi.... Last Fall I had a bout with a parasite (Giardia). It is a long story but the outcome was fine and I am way over it. I saw a major Nutritionist at the time. Heck.. here comes the plug.. Corrine Furnari ( any questions pm me) and she was so clear that after that I could expect to be lactose intolerant for a time and it has come to pass.

I need to be careful.Hard cheeses seem ok but Brie or a rich ricotta and I got a problem. The problem seems to be drifting away but drifting is the word. I love all cheese and am a bit of an expert on cheese and where to get them in NYC and that has been put on my back burner.

Flexi.. I trust you. TRUE, FOREVER lactose intolerance and I go back to what I originally said.. Shoot ME ..Come on over.. but does not seem to be the case.

That is an agreement Flexi.

And if anyone thinks that Flexi and I are having a pm conversation .. out in the open..
I am huge fan of both Bar Tano and Bar Toto and will definitely try the culmination of this trifecta!

Saturday night WAS the perfection of a summer evening. It was a hot day and and breezey cooler evening and we wandered over to Bar Toto and ate outside. There were 3 of us and one fish dish, one pasta and I was simple and had grilled chicken over greens. No big review since I have done that before but.... The food was lovely. The wait staff was the right amount of attentive vs. intrusive and a good time was had by all.

My only complaint... We were right at the corner of 6th ave outside and this couple tied up this magnificent dog outside and went INSIDE to eat. There were outside tables and it is possible to leash the dog outside the railing and eat dinner with your dog lying right there by you. Why they ignored the option.. I have no idea.

I admit I am a dog person. This beautiful dog was so unhappy and a mere few feet from me. I know I irked my dinner companions by getting up every 6 minutes and going to the curb and sitting down on the sidewalk to re- assure him that his owners would finish dinner and return. Ok.. I know I am a dog nut but someone reading this has got to identify with the feeling..

The dog was not barking or yelping but actually quietly crying throughout our meal. One of the waiters went out with a bowl of water. the dog's "family"checked on the dog ONE time in 45 minutes that we sat there. Keep in mind there WERE outside tables they could have chosen to sit at which would have included the dog in their outting. What more do I have to say?... nothing.. other than I am 60 years old and still have no understanding about why some people do the things they do.... especially when there was such a clear cut dog-friendly alternative.

Long live Provoni... gotta try it.

I know what you mean. It's too bad people do that if they are not going to sit outside, to at least check on the dog. They probably thought checking once was a big deal. But esp if the dog was crying...

It's nice that you looked out for him and maybe (???) they noticed and learned something. Perhaps?

veets wrote: That is an agreement Flexi.

And if anyone thinks that Flexi and I are having a pm conversation .. out in the open..
I am huge fan of both Bar Tano and Bar Toto and will definitely try the culmination of this trifecta!

Saturday night WAS the perfection of a summer evening. It was a hot day and and breezey cooler evening and we wandered over to Bar Toto and ate outside. There were 3 of us and one fish dish, one pasta and I was simple and had grilled chicken over greens. No big review since I have done that before but.... The food was lovely. The wait staff was the right amount of attentive vs. intrusive and a good time was had by all.

My only complaint... We were right at the corner of 6th ave outside and this couple tied up this magnificent dog outside and went INSIDE to eat. There were outside tables and it is possible to leash the dog outside the railing and eat dinner with your dog lying right there by you. Why they ignored the option.. I have no idea.

I admit I am a dog person. This beautiful dog was so unhappy and a mere few feet from me. I know I irked my dinner companions by getting up every 6 minutes and going to the curb and sitting down on the sidewalk to re- assure him that his owners would finish dinner and return. Ok.. I know I am a dog nut but someone reading this has got to identify with the feeling..

The dog was not barking or yelping but actually quietly crying throughout our meal. One of the waiters went out with a bowl of water. the dog's "family"checked on the dog ONE time in 45 minutes that we sat there. Keep in mind there WERE outside tables they could have chosen to sit at which would have included the dog in their outting. What more do I have to say?... nothing.. other than I am 60 years old and still have no understanding about why some people do the things they do.... especially when there was such a clear cut dog-friendly alternative.

Long live Provoni... gotta try it.

There are so few restaurants you can take your dog to...why, when you find one, would you just tie it up outside and leave it? People suck.

we ate at provini last night. it was wonderful. the food was very good, and the service was outstanding. not that we had any special requests or the like, but it was refreshing to have everyone from the people who met us at the door to the bartender to the waitress all be great, seem happy to see us, not rush us, etc.

for instance, we waited at the bar for a table, in a somewhat inaccessible corner, as the place was full. rather than crane around to take our order, the bartender walked out from behind the bar and down the length of the room to talk to us. just...nice.

we shared a (fresh) tagliatelle with lamb ragu, the filet mignon, and the salmon. all were delicious -- the tagliatelle was the big winner. primi/pastas were $8-$14; secondi were all $18. (there were also antipasti and salads.) the menu is small, but it seems they've chosen all things they can actually do really well.

we didn't have dessert, as they were out of everything but the panna cotta by the time we finished (a bit late, and they had been full the whole time we'd been there). (full disclosure: i knew we had excellent pie at home.)

the decor is very nice -- marble bar, classy light fixtures. it's all hard surfaces, so a bit loud, but we didn't have trouble hearing each other talk.

not a super-cheapie, though if we went back i bet we'd spend a bit less as i'd probably get a salad and the tagliatelle -- it's not a huge portion, but it's probably about what i'd eat at home, so it's enough. on the other hand, if more desserts were available....

A few random thoughts:

1) am dying to go
2) blogger's post doesn't really seem to jive with what he states his mission in in his blog
3) am I incorrect about remembering that one of the reasons the owners opened in this spot was to take advantage of the PS107 crowd?
4) Why would people assume Provini to be non kid-friendly since Bar Toto is so kid friendly?
5) IMO, dinner out before a certain time means kids (well-behaved, non-destructive, etc.) are perfectly appropriate. Would love to know what time he was there.

Agreed - in fact adults can be way worse! I think it is more a matter of knowing the right combination of time and place.

Of course, if the kids are being rowdy and breaking stuff...I go back to the whole concept of maybe the parents should learn their kids aren't quite ready for that kind of atmosphere and perhaps should head to one of the other more kid-friendly neighborhood restaurants.

I can recall 2 separate occasions in the past couple of months were I quickly finished up my meal/drink to leave due to annoying adults near by, but I really don't have any recent memory of making haste due to annoying kids...maybe I have just gotten batter at avoiding the underage crowd?

Anyway - so excited about this place - walked by it the other night with DH and we can't wait to pop in for a meal.

Kids in restaurants are annoying, but anyone of any age can be annoying by flapping their mouth loudly whether it be on a phone or to another person in a public space, is annoying.

The problem with kids is their parents who don't keep eyes on their kids in public. Many kids that I've unwillingly interacted with in public were not loud, but their parents weren't watching them as the kids touched me or my stuff. You'd think that parents would not want their kids touching strangers. Aren't parents worried about kidnappers and sicko pervs?

Went in last night around 8:30. The tables and barstools were all full and at least ten people were waiting for seats. I snagged a menu while I waited for a friend to go somewhere else and was wishing we could stay for the yummy wines they have both by the glass and affordable bottles. The menu was similar to Bar Toto with starters and salads and mains, but pricier. Can't wait to go back.