Rubirosa

I cannot count how many times I've hit up this joint. Yes, I do admit that it was partially due to its locality while I was living in the neighborhood but more importantly due to its reliability. Rubirosa has never failed. I have even had a fresh Rubirosa pie at a food fair last week, made in a portable brick oven, and it was still good quality. At the actual restaurant the staff were friendly and the food is always light and fresh.

Food

Pizza/Pasta/Italiano

I'll get right to it!

Their salads are all great. I always go for the fennel salad that has thin shavings of the tastiest pecorino cheese. The Rubirosa and all their other salads are just as good although I'd go for anything with parmesan (or pecorino) shavings. The mozerella sticks are to die for and so unbelievably fresh! The cheese literally oozes out of the freshly fried stick, you just cannot get enough! The pastas are made fresh and the whole wheat fettuccine is my #1 rec. Rubirosa tomato sauce (served with the mozz sticks, on the pizza and with the pastas) is unique to their establishment. It's fresh, flavorful, so light and so airy. It's one of the things that keeps me coming back for more.

And of course, we can't forget about the pizzas. I must preface by saying that we are currently living in a city busting with specialty pizza joints and no, Rubirosa is not the top of the line pizza out there, and it is not the place to seek out if you are a pizza connoisseur who only stands for the best. However, if you are looking for more of a good night out with friends/family or whoever and good food to go along with that then the pizzas will serve their purpose. No one will be dissatisfied. The pizzas are good, tasty and nothing to complain about. They are all thin crust (they've progressively gotten thinner since their opening) and I am a big fan of the Margareta and the Pesto pies. (you can also do a splitsky of half marg and half pesto).

Ambiance

Dark lighting and pretty cool scene. No one is ever over dressed but everyone looks good and is, for the most part, pretty cool. I've gone in jeans and simple heels and I've showed up straight from work. I've come here with my parents, with friends, with cousins and on a date. Every single time it has never failed me and there were positive and some raving (my extremely food-pretentious dad) feedback along with it.

Wait Time & Resos

You need resos for the evening but early dinner is usually ok without. There is no need for a lunch resos either. Just dinner.

Good for: Dinner, Lunch, Cool and Casual, Trendy, Picky Eaters, Intimate Date, Not Too Fancy,

Rubirosa

235 Mulberry St

(212) 965-0500 http://rubirosanyc.com