Updated February 4, 2024
Check out my honest River Deli review!
Looking for a spot for date night? Look no further.
Nestled in Brooklyn Heights, River Deli offers fresh, house-made Sardinian pastas in an unassuming but highly romantic venue.
Sure, there’s a lot of amazing Italian spots in NYC, but the freshness and uniqueness of the pasta at River Deli truly set them apart!
River Deli Review
The Food
Tagliatelle al ragu’ d’agnello ($17)
Menu Description: Papardelle with lamb ragu, orange cinnamon cannonau wine sauce, pecorino cheese
I’m not normally a huge fan of lamb, but the lamb ragu in this tagliatelle delivered. The ragu tasted so fresh in scent and in texture. The distinctive scent that makes lamb so special was ever-present, but I liked that it lacked the gamey flavor which I think can overpower a dish.
The subtle orange and cinnamon scent was a pleasant surprise and deliciously rounded out the dish. My friend described it as tasting “almost like a dessert!” Although the dish didn’t taste explicitly sweet, the orange aroma was definitely present and noticeable, even in the company of the lamb ragu.
The strands of the flat and wide tagliatelle were chewy yet melted into the delicious mix of the ragu. It was cooked perfectly al dente.
Malloreddus alla Campidanese ($16)
Menu Description: Sardinian malloreddus with tomato sauce and sausage
I was drawn to this dish because I was attracted to the ribbed shell shape of malloreddus, which is a common pasta in Sardinia. I loved the satisfaction of biting into the thick and round pasta.
The tomato sauce was bright in color and I loved its simplicity. It made for a vibrant contrast against the many small sausage meatballs in the dish. There were so many sausage bites, I was able to fit in multiple in each bite of pasta.
The large basil leaves added a refreshing touch to the dish.
The malloreddus was a little overcooked for my liking, but I graciously wolfed down both dishes.
Ricotta Cheesecake with Orange Glaze ($10)
Yummm. I’ve never tried a cheesecake made of ricotta before! The texture was just as you would expect (grounds of ricotta). To be honest, I wasn’t entirely a fan of the grounded texture, but I still found the cake very delicious.
Like the rest of the dishes I tried, the ricotta cheesecake was rich but still felt fresh and light. I think it’s because since ricotta is more airy than a typical block of cheese, each bite of the cake was lighter than what I was expecting in a cheesecake.
I like the orange theme going on in River Deli’s menu. Overall, eating the ricotta cheesecake was a whole gastronomical experience, from the unique texture of the cake, to the scents of orange paired with the fresh ricotta.
The Venue
Ahhhh…. The venue was so unexpectedly romantic. I loved the old-school patterned flooring, the retro light fixtures above the bar, and the small rustic decorations (even present in the bathroom!).
There’s a lot of seating along the large glass windows at the entrance of River Deli. I would recommend you grab a table there, because you’ll be able to enjoy views of the peaceful and beautiful brick houses that give Brooklyn Heights its charm (and its hefty property prices!).
The romantic charm of River Deli and its reasonable prices make it a great spot for dates, including first dates (definitely spotted a couple or two who had just met!).
Plus, after filling up your tummy with delicious food, you can walk straight ahead to the piers of Brooklyn Bridge Park, where you can enjoy incredible views of Manhattan.
My friend and I didn’t have a reservation at River Deli, but we didn’t have a problem getting seated for an earlier Friday night dinner. Note that River Deli only takes reservations for groups of 4 or more.
Another incredible spot for dates is Jacob’s Pickles. Check out my honest review here!
The Rating
I would rate River Deli 8.5 out of 10!
I loved that the menu was unique but unpretentious, and delivered in terms of freshness and quality. In addition, the venue was so charming and felt like a hidden gem in NYC, compared to the often hectic eateries in Manhattan. I would definitely go back!
However, I personally found the pasta portions a bit small, although dessert certainly filled me up.
Do note that River Deli is cash only!
Thanks for checking out my honest River Deli review!
If you love Italian food, then check out the amazing pizza at Song E Napule Soho! Here’s my honest review.
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