Vespa Cibobuono, Great Neck, NY

When you walk into the artsy lair of Vespa in Great Neck, you are warmly greeted by the immaculately suited owner, who fits right in with the vibrantly warm decor. This restaurant is rather an anomaly for a rather staid neighborhood. I think it really brings some much needed zing, to this neck of the woods.

I love the bright red vespa that is parked right outside the restaurant to announce ” We are here!!!”

“Cibobuono” in Italian means good food – but unfortunately that is something I did not experience much off at Vespa. I loved the digs but the food just did not follow suit.

Still – it’s great place to go to for a quick bite, during which you can be transported to Tuscany, even if – only for a short while.


 

Here is some of what we ate:


 

CARPACCIO “CLASSICO”

This classic appetizer with paper thin slices of beef fillet topped with rugola, parmigiana and fresh artichoke hearts was decent – not great.


ROLLATINI

I didn’t care much for their eggplant rollatini. Just looking at the dish submerged in sauce turned me off.


PAPPARDELLE FUNGHI

This pappardelle came with a porcini mushroom sauce. The homemade pasta was pretty good but the sauce was unimpressive.


LINGUINE ORTO

This linguine, which came with chopped fresh vegetables in a light tomato sauce was rather mediocre. It just didn’t have the fresh, robust flavors I expected from a place like this.


DESSERTS

FONDENTE AL CIOCCOLATO

Vespa’s Warm dark chocolate cake was terrible and their presentation was even worse. They could have thrown a few strawberries on the platter to at least make the dessert look a little appetizing. It seems like at Vespa – what you see is what you get!


FRUTTI DI BOSCO

This dessert which had fresh strawberries with zabaglione sauce was inedible. Again, the presentation made it look so unappetizing and thats exactly what it was – inedible!


MY RATINGS FOR THIS MEAL

Food: ☆☆

Service: ☆☆ 1/2

Ambiance: ☆☆☆ 1/2

Cost:$$

I recommend: Pappardelle Funghi


 

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