Alta Linea

If you’re a New Yorker then by now you must have gone over to check out the High Line Park in Chelsea. Opened in June 2009, this elevated 1.45 mile long linear promenade is a beautiful addition to Manhattan’s parks. But do you know the history behind it? In 1847, the City of New York authorized street-​level railroad tracks down Manhattan’s West Side to ship freight. For safety, the railroads hired men called the ‘West Side Cowboys’ to ride horses and wave flags in front of the trains. However, so many accidents occurred between freight trains and other traffic that Tenth Avenue became known as ‘Death Avenue’. After years of public debate about the hazard, in 1929 the city, the state of New York, and the New York Central Railroad agreed on the West Side Improvement Project, a large project conceived by Robert Moses that also included the construction of the West Side Elevated Highway. The 13-​mile project eliminated 105 street-​level railroad crossings and added 32 acres to Riverside Park.
The High Line viaduct opened to trains in 1934. Originally it ran from West 34^th Street to St. John’s Park Terminal at Spring Street, and was designed to go through the center of blocks rather than over the avenue. It connected directly to factories and warehouses, allowing trains to load and unload their cargo inside buildings. Milk, meat, produce, and raw and manufactured goods could be transported and unloaded without disturbing traffic on the streets. The growth of interstate trucking in the 1950s brought about the eventual demise of the High Line viaduct, which, until the early 90s, lay dormant and in fell into dire disrepair. In the mid-​90s it was slated for demolition by former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani, but thankfully in 1999 the nonprofit group Friends of the High Line was formed and now, because of their efforts, you can walk the entire elevated train line in the beautifully maintained gardens of the High Line Park.
But what does this have to do with the Alta Linea, the newest Italian-​inspired seasonal outdoor restaurant from Epicurean Group, located in the picturesque courtyard garden of the historic The High Line Hotel? Nothing I suppose, but it’s neat to know. If Italian aperitivi and al fresco dining peak your interest (how could they not?), you’ll definitely wanna check this place out.
But just what IS aperitivi? It’s the Italian tradition of pre-​dinner drinks accompanied by small bites which dates back to the late 1700s. ‘Aperitivo’ is derived from the Latin word meaning ‘to open’ and aperitivi are designed to open your appetite so that you can enjoy your upcoming meal. Today, aperitivi can still be enjoyed at leisure in cosmopolitan Italian cities such as Milano, Torino, and Roma, and now, lucky for us, New York! Beverage Director Joe Campanale brings you a vibrant list of aperitivi cocktails such as spritzes and negronis (frozen and otherwise), along with a full dinner menu by the team behind other popular Italian neighborhood spots dell’anima, L’Artusi, Anfora, and L’Apicio.
My girlfriend and I started off with their signature frozen Negronis. Absolutely Perfect for a warm summer day. Next we tried the Pomello Punch, made with Belvedere Vodka, St. Germain, Aperol, and grapefruit. Light with a bite of tart, it was another winner. Moving on to some non-​liquid fuel, we sampled the Crispy Artichokes and Pork Meatball Polentas (bacon, tomato, and Parmesan). Both warmed our stomachs nicely. To follow we tried the Charred Shishito Peppers and Funghi Misti Bruschetta. Delicious! We ended our aperitivo with a Rye Sharona (NY Distilling Rock and Rye, Nonino Amaro, and Manzanilla Sherry, with an orange twist) and Aperol Spritz (sparkling water, Prosecco, and Aperol, again with an orange twist).
Sufficiently liquored-​up, we decided to take a walk around the beautiful courtyard garden of the The High Line Hotel. The majestic grounds, once Clement Clarke Moore’s 17^th-​century apple orchard (he wrote ‘A Visit from St. Nicholas’, better known today as ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’), are a piece of New York City history. The inside is warm, friendly, and inviting. With rustically simple yet visually appealing décor, we felt like we were transported back to the roaring 20s. The hotel bar is cozy and quaint, definitely worth visiting for a drink. Next time you’re up walking the High Line drop down and check out Alta Linea at the High Line Hotel. You won’t be disappointed.

Alta Linea has a really enjoyable atmosphere for al fresco dining overlooking the High Line area. We came here for drinks and a bite while waiting for our table to open up at a nearby brunch spot. The prosciutto with melon and balsamic vinaigrette was perfect for sharing, and the flavors complemented each other well. I would come back to try other small plates and the frozen negroni once they open up again.

Cool outdoor space. Flatbread appetizer was excellent. I enjoyed my burger. Frozen negronis in the summer are a must. Nice location also to walk the high line or along the water after dinner. Very dog friendly if you are dating a girl with a «furbaby»…

Awful service. Sat for fifteen minutes. Couldn’t get the waiter to take our order so we left.

One of the nicest outdoor dining experiences I’ve ever had in New York. Great atmosphere (slightly interrupted by 10^th ave but walled off), with gas lamps, cushioned seats, and out door umbrellas that make you feel like you’re not in the city anymore. I came on a Friday around 9 and was seated immediately. We had the fried artichokes which were great, very lightly fried. Also had the flat breads, we loved the eggplant and red pepper dip, not really a ricotta fan but it did taste like straight butter if that’s what you’re into. For our main course my girlfriend and I split the trout, it was grilled and had a great smoky flavor with a lovely cous cous and tomato salad underneath.
Very good food and great atmosphere, highly recommend as a date spot.

This week’s fashionplate takes place at Alta Linea, a cute coastal Italian spot at the Highline Hotel. My dining companion and I both were having a rough week/​day and needed to decompress from all the stress. We decided to eat outside on this sunny day. I rocked our abstract silk print Joan romper to keep cool. The outdoor area is super cute and we both started with Dorothy’s Basil gimlet which was über refreshing on a humid day. We then proceeded to split the frito misto, grilled flatbread, burrata with heirloom tomatoes and fries. I know a ton of carbs and fried stuff but we were commiserating so it’s all good. Everything was tasty. I loved all the dips that came with the flatbread. I didn’t eat the bread that came with the burrata and tomatoes but it was amazing and fresh. We ended up switching to a Sauvignon half way through our food which was also delish. It definitely was a great pick me up meal followed by the nice leisurely walk to burn of all those calories.
Now on to the fashion part of the fashionplate. The service was a little slow, but our waiter was nice and informative and we weren’t in a rush. The crowd skewed between trendy Chelsea/​Flatiron/​Village locals and hotel guests. Everyone was dressed pretty chic.

KenScale: 7.5÷10
Alta Linea is a new restaurant opened at the High Line Hotel behind the team from dell’anima and L’Artusi. It is a strictly outdoor space, so on a perfect summer idea, there is probably not a better place to have a meal. On the other hand, I felt the food overall was solid but not particularly memorable.
The food at Alta Linea is classic, rustic Italian, but I was puzzled why there was no pasta. Instead, you see a selection of appetizers, sandwiches, salads and main dishes. Crispy artichokes that came with salsa verde unfortunately were too salty, although I did like pork meatball polenta that came with bacon, tomato and parmesan. The balance between meatball and the smooth polenta was quite nice without being overseasoned. The «borough market» grilled cheese sandwich with white cheddar was alright, but I was expecting a grilled cheese with a twist, which I couldn’t find any. The winner of my meal was grilled trout fillet that came with olives, charred tomato, fregola and fennel. The fish was well-​cooked and the flavor was modest without being salty. For dessert, we had strawberry shortcake ice cream sandwiches, a refreshing but again not particularly memorable dish.
The restaurant doesn’t seem to take reservations, and I had no problem walking in on a Tuesday night. The restaurant has a full bar, and I do recommend trying a glass of frozen negroni, which was absolutely refreshing and perfect for the summer. Alta Linea is probably best for day drinking with some bites after you explore the High Line area.

Beautiful outside seating!
We started with the flatbreads, fried artichokes, and meatball polenta appetizers. All were delicious!
Unfortunately, a very Limited selection for dinner– burger, chicken, trout. We had the burger. It was great.

Who doesn’t love dining al fresco! The frozen negroni was perfect for a hot evening like tonight. Nice outdoor space and we got seated right away on a Wednesday night.
We had the arancini, flatbread with spreads, and summer market salad. All delicious! Portions were larger than I expected and was plenty for 2 girls.

I am with 2 others on a Tuesday night to try the frozen negroni. We went on a Tuesday because we figured it wouldn’t be as crazy, and we were able to get a standing table in the patio by the bar immediately. And about 10 minutes after we arrived, the hostess alerted us that spots at the bar had opened up, so we moved over there. The frozen negronis lived up to their reputation — delicious and strong. All the food we saw looked great, so I look forward to going back and having dinner.

Honestly the atmosphere is so much lovelier than earlier photos suggest. Candles, lovely green, intimate tables. Our waitstaff was phenomenal, albeit very very busy. I had made a reservation for 8:30pm and was seated about 10 minutes later. My friend was running pretty late, but the staff didn’t really bother me– they were happy for me to sit alone drinking my wine. This was a luxury, since many restaurants in NYC won’t seat you unless your party is complete.
We had a lovely rose, and in true «when in Rome» style, my date ordered us a frozen Negroni to share. It was every bit as decadent and yummy as you’d hope on a summer night.
We tried the Crispy Artichokes and the Funghi Misi Bruschetta (because fried egg). So delicious!
Definitely romantic, sharing kind of meal. You pay for the atmosphere, but I think it’s worth it to be guaranteed al fresco seating in a garden in Manhattan.

Pros: Great ambience, especially for dates. Perfect place to get a couple of drinks and snack on a few appetizers.
Cons: Really long wait for dinner, I’d recommend just going to the bar area. Waitstaff was also a bit slow.

I tried out Alta Linea on a Tuesday night for drinks and apps with coworkers. There were 3 of us and we didn’t have a reservation but it was totally fine. We got there around 6:30 and sat in the «garden» area (opposite side of where the bar is).
We Drank…
— Pomello Punch with Kettle One: this was the most refreshing drink I’ve had in a long time! It was delicious! A large grapefruit slice is also put into the drink. Highly recommend! Would love to try with tequila, too!
— San Giovanni Rose: we shared a bottle of this and it was also just as good. This rose has become a favorite of mine thanks to Alta Linea and its neighbor, Cook Shop
We Ate…
— Frito Misto (Calamari, Rock Shrimp, Lemon Aioli): The portion of this fried calamari was much smaller than you’d normally get. There also were minimal calamaris with the tentacles, which are my favorite. Overall it was good though!
— Grilled Flatbread & Spreads: So good! Perfect for sharing because they give you so much bread. The dips were amazing, too. You could honestly just have had this to share because it was so filling!
— Burrata: This burrata was unreal!!! I could eat this everyday. It was a mix of mozzarella and ricotta and it was amazing. It came with heavily buttered bread, too. Amping up the fat! The waiter also dropped some of our bread when she was bringing it out and promptly brought us over a tray of more bread. Just what I needed… :)
— Arancini: Whenever Arancini is on the menu I have to order this. This didn’t disappoint. Came with 5 of them.
Complaints…
My only very small complaint was when the wind started to pick up the dust from the garden sitting area blew all over. The table was really wobbly, too and I almost knocked my drink over a few times. It looked like it was going to rain by the end of the night and we were wondering where we’d go if that happened?!
Overall, a great spot to try for HH in the summer!

Docking off two stars for lack of service, and for exorbitant prices/​small portions.
If you are looking for a place for after-​work drinks and snacks with friends, this is perfect!!! The ambiance is awesome, especially since it’s all outdoors in a modern NYC garden sanctuary type setting. I went yesterday with my BF for a small 1.5yr celebration on a nice sunny and breezy day, and I was really looking forward to enjoying the food there.
While we were waiting by the bar area, we ordered some drinks — their most popular drinks are the frozen negroni ($ 14) and the Pomello Punch ($ 15 — Choice of Vodka or Tequila, St. Germain, Aperol, Grapefruit). Both were SUPER refreshing, but I would definitely go with just the frozen negroni if I had to choose! They often times run out of these as there are only two slushie machines haha.
They don’t take reservations, so we had to wait about an hour to get seated (which wasn’t too bad at the bar). Again, keep in mind that ALL tables are outdoors… so if you are sensitive to the heat, I’d probably come here at the end of the summer. A lot of their menu is made for sharing, so we just selected a few for us to split — Here are the items we picked:
Grilled Summer Beans | $ 13 | Preserved Lemon Vinaigrette, Chilies, Feta, Pine Nuts, Mint
This was definitely one of the highlights of our dinner. A friend recommended it and I’m sure glad we got it. I never would have picked this out to order on my own!!! There were so many layers of flavors and textures; loved the fact that there were pine nuts sprinkled throughout. Once you reach the bottom of the plate, it tends to get a little too salty and acidic, but I didn’t mind that as much as the plate of summer beans was huge.
Arancini | $ 9 | Salumi, Fontina, Fried Sage
I love anything that has a crispy exterior and soft interior. SOLD :).
This had a nice crunch to it, and a creamy cheese and risotto center that wasn’t too heavy. They also deep fried some basil to accompany it.
Burrata | $ 20 | Tomato, Roasted Garlic, Basil
This was also a nice plate!!! Pretty simple burrata in the center, and four pieces of garlic spread toast… which definitely made the dish. That garlic spread was to die for. What I hated about this dish was the $ 20 price tag. Didn’t understand it.
Grilled Flatbread | $ 17 served with housemade spreads (Romesco, Housemade Ricotta, Roasted Eggplant, Cannellini)
This was another dish that had a crazy price tag. This dish was literally pieces of grilled flatbread (didn’t even have anything in the flatbread like… onions, zucchini, or whatnot), with 4 simple spreads. Good, but nothing to rave about, and definitely NOT something I would ever pay $ 17 again for. If it was $ 10, I’d think it’s reasonable.
Pork Meatball Polenta | $ 18 | Bacon, Tomato, Parmesan
I’m pretty sure they forgot about this dish because it came maybe 40 minutes after our last dish came out… sadly, I was super disappointed by this dish. Not only was the portion super small, the meatballs were tough on the outside, and the polenta was pretty bland. And again, with the $ 18 price tag, it’s really not worth it. Since it took so long, they were nice enough to comp this dish.
Service in general was really slow and splotchy, it was pretty hard to track down our waitress most of the time — I’m not sure if this is because the food comes from inside the high line hotel or what. Our waitress had a small section to cover, and every time after she’d help out the table next to us, she’d leave without asking us if we needed anything (happened maybe 4 times). We had also asked about the frozen negroni since they ran out earlier — if I were working there, I’d probably inform the customers when they were available again. But we had to basically ask again ourselves after we saw some being served to others.
Later on, a waiter came by to help us out who was much more attentive! But if you are only coming for drinks by the bar area, I’m sure that won’t really be a problem — frozen drinks are difficult to down real fast anyways :).

Expect nothing less from the L’Artusi family. The mushroom bruschetta was amazing. Loved the grilled flatbreads with dips and the pork meatball in polenta was also real good. The string beans topped feta and crispy artichokes– we combined them– amazing light salad. Sitting outside there sipping on those Frozen Negronis– can’t wait to go back for a happy hour or early evening on a weekend.

From the team that brought you L’Artusi, L’Apicio and dell’Anima, comes their latest venture, Alta Linea on the High Line. This is a much more casual restaurant and occupies the area right outside the High Line Hotel. My friend and I ducked in here on a Tuesday evening and sat in the bar area, but they serve the entire menu there and this way we were seated pretty immediately!
Shockingly…there were no pastas on the menu, but what we did order was very good. We shared the Grilled Flatbreads which was amazing, especially the ricotta spread, along with an order of the Pork Meatball Polenta and Frito Misto. I would probably skip the Frito Misto but I’m generally not a huge fan of fried calamari so perhaps that’s why. Service was a bit slow, but we were in no rush so not a problem. I had a fly die in my glass of wine too (that’s the risk with an outdoor space I guess) and they were more than happy to replace my glass in its entirety!
This is a great spot for a first date, or for catching up with friends. No reservations though so do be prepared to wait!

I am usually one to give positive reviews but sadly this one isn’t that positive.
Old friends and I decided to meet here after work for classic drinks and dinner; it was a long day so obviously I was excited.
I was happy to be seated at the beautiful outside patio with one of my three expecting guests; I appreciated that they seated the two of us long before the other two guests arrived.
Our server was funny and served my friend and I our first drink, the frozen negroni. The drink was very good. Then the other guests arrived and we ordered and our food came– the portions were minuscule compared to the skyrocket prices. My friend ordered the fish which was $ 26 and it was a guppy with no substance for the cost. My eggplant sandwich was subpar but filled me. It was a decent meal.
After we all paid, we were idling and enjoying our company and the ambiance. Around 10 minutes later, our server put new place settings onto our table. Jokingly, one of my friends asked if we were being kicked out to which our waiter replied that his boss was giving him a hard time for us still being there. Annoyed, we decided to leave because that was uncomfortable.
The manager came after us as we were leaving to apologize, but for the price I paid and the right to idle at a restaurant for 15 minutes AT MOST after paying it was still extremely rude and uncomfortable. I can honestly say I will not be retuning.

My friends and I checked out Alta Linea last Saturday night. The ambiance was great and we enjoyed sitting outside. It’s the perfect summer night spot. The food was very good, but a little pricey for the portion size. They also close on the earlier side so beware of last call around 10:30.

Fantastic place for outdoor drinks and food. The rye sherona is a must have cocktail while the branzino makes this place a standout in Chelsea.

The area in front of the High Line Hotel behind those brick walls has been turned into an outdoor restaurant by the team behind a bunch of other great Italian places: Dell’anima, L’Apicio and L’Artusi.
The food here is just as good as you would expect, and as it is enclosed and not directly adjacent to the sidewalk, is one of the nicest outdoor dining options in the city (except for all the dogs, unless you like dogs sitting next to most of the tables).
The menu is pretty small, with the bulk of it actually coming in the appetizer/​small plate section. We tried something from every section, and it was all quite good:
— Romaine Salad ($ 15)
This was a delicious rendition of a caesar salad, so a good choice if you want something lighter to start.
— «Borough Market» Grilled Cheese ($ 14)
This a really awesome, tiny grilled cheese. It wasn’t overly cheesy, but the bread was grilled perfectly crispy, and it was another very satisfying appetizer-​portion choice.
— Pork Meatball Polenta ($ 18)
Prepared differently, but reminiscent of the excellent and famous Meatball Polenta from L’Apicio, this is a great starter, but kind of tiny for the price. Served in a very small bowl, there are 6 mini meatballs on top of some of that delicious polenta, this time along with some bacon, which is an awesome addition.
— Alta Linea Burger ($ 18)
Our choice for the main course, this burger was excellent. With cheddar and bacon and a pretty thick patty, it’s up there with the best fancy-​pants burgers around town. Unfortunately, the hand cut fries were pretty awful. I am not a fan of this style of giant steak fry, that is closer to mashed potatoes with skin on than it is to a french fry. If only they fixed these fries, this dish would be a true must try.
— Cookies ($ 8)
These were not great. They bring you 2 of each of 3 different flavors: Sea Salt Fudge, Pignoli and Jam Thumbprint. The Fudge were quite good, but they all tasted like they could have/​may have been store-​bought. I was pretty furious that they didn’t have the desserts from the menu they posted online, which was probably the main reason I wanted to come: they are supposed to have a gelato cart, including some amazing-​looking ice cream sandwiches. Major disappointment.
Most of the items are quite pricey, which is to be expected with a nice place like this, especially as it is part of the High Line Hotel. The service was pretty absent, which started to get a bit frustrating. I feel like I need to come back to try those ice cream sandwiches, but there isn’t that much more on the menu that seems too compelling. Perhaps when they inevitably start brunch with some new items.