Review: 50 Carmine

January 21, 2004 As the Japanese housing boom of the 1980's taught us so eloquently, it is best not to purchase real estate in Japan. Also, diversification is good. With that thought in mind, we're making it a Q1 goal of Below 14th to eat out on the west side with greater frequency. Our first stop: 50 Carmine, a newish Italian place on... hmmm, Carmine Street (@ Bedford/Bleecker) that's been drawing raves since it opened last fall. The chef, Sara Jenkins, is an old hand at East Village Italians including the overpriced/overcute I Coppi, the always-terrific Il Buco and what was, under her hand, the underrated baked pasta majesty of Patio Dining (which has, unbeknownst to the good folks at Citysearch, been rebranded). Anyway. Heading west to 50 Carmine proved worth the trip: readers, a list of pastas has not excited us this much in eons. We opted for a special pasta with sea urchin, while our dining companion tried the ballyhooed pasta dyed with red wine. Both were fascinatingly weird, the kind of food you think you dislike after the first few tastes but which keeps you plunging your fork in for more. Bonus: For a small restaurant, they do an exceptional job pumping heat into the place so drafts from the door never become a bother. Good times!

Nice piece on Sara Jenkins in the Times magazine yesterday.

Posted by: Lock at January 26, 2004 05:02 PM

I went to 50 Carmine last weekend, based on another friend's high praise, and was sorely disappointed. While the food was good, it was after being told our first and second options were unavailable. And though the service wasn't terrible, it was a bit off. And the scene was a mix of plastic-surgeried Upper East Side ladies with dyed blonde hair and bratty 12 year olds demanding biscotti. I am tempted to give the mom and pop Italian up the street my business for a more pleasant atmosphere.

Posted by: Jen at March 18, 2004 04:03 PM

It does seem to be a hit-or-miss experience. Speaking of mom, I dragged mine here on her visit to NYC last month and I don't think she enjoyed it much. My advice: avoid on weekends. Too rushed, too loud.

Posted by: Lock at March 18, 2004 04:42 PM

i would kill for that toasted pasta to be back in my life. it's a real travesty that mugsy's chow chow morphed into a passable but uncomfortable bar, and now into a Friends-style crashpad for NYU boozing.

Posted by: lara at April 6, 2004 12:33 PM