VERSO

Cute place, not bad service but our waitress was very strange and did not do a very good job a listening. I got our appetizer as a main course and when I reminded her that I had ordered something else for dinner she seemed shocked. When we were done with our main course she immediately asked if we wanted dessert — we asked a couple of questions and then said we had just ordered another round of drinks so we would wait a while on dessert — 5 mins later we had dessert in front of us — the one we had asked about but NOT ordered. Not sure I would go back for dinner. Maybe for drinks and appetizers.

I came to Verso this past Saturday for my fiancé’s friend’s birthday. The bartenders were great but the dinner service was a bit slow. The food there isn’t exactly note worthy but it’s nothing to complain about either.
There was an issue with food at someone at our table’s food but they took care it and comped her food as well as a drink. They even comped the dessert for the birthday girl.
While the wait service leave something to be desired, the customer service, in general, was great.

Place was decent for dinner, however for brunch, when it was offered in Fall 2012, it was underwhelming. Also had a lot of hornets flying around, even though I was seated inside. Maybe a hornets nest nearby? I would say their complimentary bread is good. With so many east village choices, I would go somewhere else, but if you’re in a rush to grab dinner and catch a show, you should go here.

I went here for brunch and I was disappointed at best. My roommate and I wanted a changed up from what we normally do, and saw the $ 11 brunch special.
We both ended up ordering the Salmon Benedict. The salmon was really the only good part of it. The bread was oddly spongy and untoasted, and the egg was terrible. The yolk was cooked all the way through and a bit crumbly, and they left half the egg shell in my roommate’s egg. We were spitting out pieces of eggshell the whole time.
They paired it with a pitiful amount of home fries (1 baby potato quartered with bits of pepper and onion), and a fresh green salad.
After picking out the inedible bits, there really wasn’t much remaining. I left still hungry and $ 15 poorer. Despite decent service and a cute location, I don’t think I’ll be coming back.

I’ve been going to this restaurant since it opened and I absolutely love it! To start, the food is wonderful, and if you want something that happens to NOT be on the menu, they’ll make it for you. The owner (L) is one of the best guys around and will make sure you’re taken care of. The atmosphere is superb, especially after the Sandy redo. I can’t recommend this place highly enough, to be honest. They make me feel like a part of their little Italian family and I love that.

Came here for brunch a couple weeks ago. WHAT a disappointment on all accounts. This place is almost always empty, and I can see why. They have a great sounding brunch deal– $ 11 for a dish + coffee OR cocktail. I went for the eggs benedict and coffee. The coffee was fine, but the eggs benedict was the worst I’ve ever had. The english muffin was untoasted or toasted incorrectly (seriously, I mastered the toaster at age 5), the hollandaise sauce was extremely bland and not creamy, the poached egg was way over (no oozing yolk here), and the egg itself seemed to be low quality… it had an extremely thick white area and almost no yolk. Overall it was a bland unsatisfying mess. My friend also ordered an orange juice that tasted like minute maid, no fresh squeezed here.
They’re always playing club/​house/​trance music super super loud and it just doesn’t suit the vibe of an italian bistro? Am I correct in the assumption it’s supposed to be an italian bistro? They’ve been having a 50% off deal for what seems like forever now. My advice is to just put out some better food and maybe you’d fill some tables. The icing on the cake was walking by today, some d-​bags standing outside yelling at me as I pass: «50% off! Tonight only! Cause you’re wearing jesus sandals!»
These are flip flops, get it right brah.

I finally tried out brunch here and have to say it was quite an odd experience. The place opens for brunch at noon, and being as hungry as I was after a night of drinking, my friends and I got here right at 12. The place was empty except the waiter, who told us the chef wasnt in yet and he encouraged us to go somewhere else for brunch. We were feeling lazy, so said we would wait it out if we could order our drinks.
Verso has a $ 11.95 deal, that comes with an entrée and a drink. The drink can be coffee OR a cocktail. I thought that was weird, coffee and a cocktail are on equal footing now? i had the coffee because i desperately needed it. The waiter made the coffee in some fancy espresso machine. It was good and I am glad he didnt charge us for refills.
One of my friends ordered a screw driver, which was listed on the menu as one of the brunch drink choices. The waiter said they were out of orange juice and suggested pineapple juice instead. How can you not have orange juice at brunch? He made her the pineapple vodka drink and then ran across the street to a deli about bought a bottle of orange juice. Why didnt he just buy the orange juice before?
The chef arrived some 10 minutes later, and the waiter took our order. The food took about 30 minutes to come out. We were the only people in the restaurant, so I am not sure why it took so long. The food was good though. We each got omelets, which were fluffy and delicious. The potatoes were good too. We all wanted toast, which cost $ 2 extra and they only had white bread.
It then took forever to get the check, but we werent in a big hurry.
I also recommend that someone at Verso learn how to spell check. The french toast comes with «male syrup,» according to the menu, and if you check in on Unilocal,you get $ 5 off your «desert» (not dessert!)

I wanted a quiet place with excellent food and
Service to celebrate a family occasion and this
Was perfect. I read several positive reviews and
Wasn’t disappointed. Very attentive, profession
Staff, perfectly prepared pasta, and comfortably
Intimate surrounding, made it memorable.

Was debating about number of stars to give, but after reading GarGuPi’s below I’m going with 2 stars because I feel peeved that on the SAME DAY that they were allowed to use their (assumed) ScoutMob deal, it was refused to me and my party.
I had organized a girls’ night and thought it’d be fun to check out an area that I typically never make it out to. I keep an (admittedly slightly OCD) excel sheet of restaurants I’d like to check out along with if there is a deal/​coupon available with it and when that deal is set to expire. Verso was listed on my doc and set to expire 6÷7÷12. Awesome. I convinced SIX of my friends to join me (none of which live in the area), with the incentive of my ScoutMob deal to share on the evening of 6÷2÷12.
The place is nice, with lots of outdoor seating. Italian food was yummy, if a bit on the pricey side given the smaller portions. At the end of the meal, I could no long find the deal on my ScoutMob phone app and asked the waiter about it. The manager came over to me and said that «ScoutMob had made a mistake and had the deal expire a month after the restaurant wanted it to expire, so it was no longer available.» This seems so silly to me because the whole point of them being featured on ScoutMob is to attract new business, which they were doing that night. Come on. It’s not even like $ 20 off a meal for SEVEN girls would make or break anyone.
The manager then said that he’d give us some dessert on the house — one slice of cheesecake and one serving of panna cotta. They were both good, but we’d actually already made dessert plans afterwards (fondue) so not something we could fully appreciate. Given that that same morning they honored the ScoutMob deal with another patron I think it would have been much appreciated had they honored the coupon anyways. Also, it was to their benefit that ScoutMob encouraged our party of 7 to come out to their restaurant (a very far walk from the nearest subway stop). If I’d known that they were no longer accepting the ScoutMob, I would have taken our party to Cafecito a half block away instead, who WERE taking their deal. It’s just the principle of it that has me annoyed. Also, I saw from other Unilocaler reviews that they give free dessert often, so the fact that they were passing it off as their way of making it up to us also rubbed me the wrong way.
It’s just my experience, but putting it out there for others who use deals with them to exercise caution.

4 stars for foods, but 2 stars for my overall experience at Verso. Why? Because I do not like dishonesty, especially if you break a promise. Verso is a quaint, rustic Italian restaurant in the border of East Village. It looks like a place that welcome regulars, though the dinner price tags are not so ‘figure-​friendly’. However, if you come for brunch, you will be greeted with a great deal for an entrée (egg-​centric though) with a choice of drink for $ 11. Not bad, especially with the breezy sidewalk seating. I opted to sit inside because I was not feeling well and needed to stay away from the sun, though the open doors still allowed fresh air to freshen up the space. I really adore the wooden décor. The down to earth furnishing encourages one to linger long after a meal is finished. That is a plus in my book.
Before I started to order, I informed the waiter that I have a discount code. Understanding that it is not valid for the brunch menu, I wanted to order from the dinner menu instead, but received a hard time that the owner does not permit the use of the discount code in any case. How is that so if I was going to order from the dinner section anyway? Should not make a huge difference. The waiter ‘checked’ in with the manager (over the phone perhaps???) and said he would work something out. Relieved that we could stay, we ordered a plenty. The fettuccine with mushroom and truffle cream sauce was full of umami flavor. It arrived in an «European’ portion, so we also decided to splurge for a tiramisu. At $ 9, it is quite pricey, but we enjoyed how authentic it was — not too sweet, not too heavy from the mascarpone, with a light sprinkle of cocoa powder. The grilled octopus left much to be desired. The cephalopod mollusk was all chopped up instead of presented as its entire limb. It was also too charred and the dressing was too lemony. Another plate of homemade pasta would’ve been a better choice.
Alright, so everything went swell. Tummies filled and ready to check out. Out came the check and we only received $ 10 off instead of the promised $ 20. Apparently, the waiter said the manager claimed that the code is not warranted anymore (albeit the expiration date is next week) and it just seems that they are doing us a favor by offering a halved discount to us. By this time, I was not going to argue anymore. It was just pointless. I understand the waiter was just doing his job, but if I KNEW I could not get the full discount, I probably would not order the dessert. Could have walked a few blocks to to get myself a ‘Gay’ ice cream (:P) I just wished that the waiter told me beforehand and not postponed the information. Us as patrons need information. The entire meal came out more than I asked for; luckily, the food and ambience were tasteful and we received attentive service. I would still recommend this restaurant for brunch, just not for the use of a discount code.

Amazing service, great atmosphere, CLEAN, and great food. I went for
Brunch today and had their white omelette which was served with home fries and greens. The omelette was perfectly prepare, hot and fluffy! Oh and the complimentary mimosa was refreshing. I’m definitely going back to see how their dinner menu compares. But for brunch, it’s a nice place that’s not over crowded.

I’ve walked by Verso several times when looking for a place to eat, and have always shot it down for one reason or another. Yesterday, my boyfriend and I decided to try them out since we both had off for Presidents Day and there was a Scoutmob deal for the restaurant. All I can say is I’ve made a huge mistake by not eating there before. We got there at 3:30, just as they were opening, and had the entire restaurant to ourselves for the next hour and a half. It was intimate and romantic inside. I’m a sucker for exposed brick.
The server, who I suspect was the owner or manager, was attentive without being overbearing. We ordered white asparagus wrapped in prosciutto, and insalata caprese for appetizers and were not disappointed. It was all delicious. For our main course my boyfriend ordered the seafood special: clams, mussels, calamari, and shrimp in a light cream sauce that was just slightly sweet. I ordered the Spaghetti Granchio, also spectacular, though I did prefer my boyfriend’s dish. Their wine list is extensive, but not absurdly long and our server recommended an exceptional bottle of white wine– crisp and light and perfect for our seafood entrees; I wish I could remember the name! I also wish I’d had room for dessert since I’m sure their desserts are fantastic, but I’m looking forward to returning to do that.
We were so impressed by the food and service that we’re going to book our engagement dinner there. I’m glad we live so close so we can return as often as possible. Highly recommend!

Came here on a Tuesday night in December with a Scoutmob deal. Pretty far over on avenue C but it’s a cute place decked out in christmas lights. Good bread, OK meals, tomatoes in the caprese salad were spongy, hate that… but free biscotti at the end balanced the meal out. Overall probably wouldn’t go back without a deal — if you’re in that hood and jonesing for italian you’re better off walking over an ave to Barbone.

I’m sorry, but I have to say this.
If you open an Italian restaurant and the menu is filled (I repeat FILLED) with misspellings, it’s laughable. I find misspellings on the menus of 90% of Italian restaurants in the city, but when you misspell #3 («tre» in Italian… they misspelled it «trei») it’s just too much to bear. As you can easily tell from my writing «skills», English is not my first language, but at least I don’t go around pretending I’m American. Please, «Italian» owners… do the same.
Ok, now that I got this out of my chest, I can continue my review.
I ordered the duck special with eggplant. The duck was too chewy and the eggplant too hard. I admit it: I’m a tough critic when it comes to Italian food, and since I can cook, I expect the best. This wasn’t even close. My gf had the fettuccine (they brought tagliatelle instead) with shrimp… one of the night specials. They were actually not bad, but charging $ 25 for a tiny dish of pasta is outrageous. All we ordered was the duck, the pasta and 2 glasses of wine. The total bill was $ 83. I was happy to use my scoutmob coupon, but I would never go back: you really don’t get what you pay for.

I love Alphabet City. It’s full of small cafes, stores and restaurants, and free of commercial businesses. I feel that it’s the Brooklyn of Manhattan. The streets aren’t as crowded and people seem a little more laid back.
Verso was exactly what I wanted in an Italian restaurant in Alphabet City. Very welcoming, intimate, romantic and adorable. It’s dim inside, and they have lots of candles all over the restaurant. All the workers are male and wearing black button-​down shirts and black pants… nice!
Their bread comes with some kind of tomato spread, and that was delicious! I’ve never had anything like it before! I always make the mistake of filling up on bread, and of course I did the same thing here. They were too good!
My friend and I shared the INSALATA ARUGULA, which includes arugula, roasted pear, carmelized walnuts and shaved pecorino with lemon vinaigrette dressing. The dressing was rather subtle and not overpowering, which always gets brownie points in my book. Also, the roasted pear was insane! It was by far the most delicious pieces of pear I’ve ever eaten. I don’t really understand it, but somehow it went really well with the salad.
For my entrée, I got the SALMONE NORVEGESE ALLA GRIGLIA (grilled norwegian salmon over romanesque sauce and grilled vegetables). The big piece of salmon was super tender and went so well with the romanesque sauce. I even ate a few more pieces of bread, dipping it in the sauce. The grilled vegetables were amazing too, although I can only recall the red peppers and carrots.
Not only was the food perfect, but the service was exceptional as well. Our waiter was perfectly attentive and kept refilling our waters without us having to ask. Also, another thing I loved about the service is that when my friend got up to use the bathroom, he took her napkin and rolled it up nicely and placed it on our table. He did the same when I was in the bathroom too. I really appreciated the little things he did for us! As we were leaving, he thanked us with a smile. He just seemed like a very genuine person. TIP HIM WELL EVERYBODY!

So I’m conflicted on how to rate a spot like this… they displayed their flaws, but it’s also in an area that’s desolate of many food options.
Came here for brunch and it was completely empty. We ordered their white omelette and the eggs benedict. The omelette was good, but weird since it seemed like the filling wasn’t really encased in egg, but just sitting underneath a layer of egg. Does that make sense? Probably not.
The eggs benedict were pretty weak. The English muffins were burned… I mean, you can’t just throw a new one in the toaster? The poached eggs were overcooked, they weren’t runny when you cut into them.
So I’d put this spot at 2.5 stars. I’ll be generous tonight and bump it up to three since it is in a food oasis and is a passable option if you don’t want to cross a couple of avenues for something better.

This is a welcome addition to the neighborhood. We came for brunch and sat at a great outdoor table. The place was 90% empty. The deal is $ 15 for brunch and a free mimosa. I asked to switch the mimosa to a Bloody Mary, and they agreed. The guy in the next table asked to do the same, and they refused. Interesting.
I got potato pancakes with smoked salmon, sour cream, and capers vinaigrette. Phenomenal. It was all different and better than expected. The smoked salmon was pink and delicate, not orange and gross. I bet it’s house-​cured. The potato pancakes were fluffy and soft. It was truly awesome. My girlfriend loved her meal too. The omelet was excellent.
There seemed to be some issues with us waiting during the non-​waiting times of the meal. Like waiting for them to take our order and for them to bring the check.

I visited Verso with my boyfriend because of a Buywithme voucher which they gladly accepted and gave me no grief over. That already adds points in my book!
I’d recently moved into the area so wanted to try this place out. For 8pm on a Monday night the restaurant was relatively quiet and we sat outdoors. The ambiance was nice though we sat on the 8^th St side so felt sort of distant from the restaurant. I would recommend sitting closer, especially at nighttime, or inside the restaurant itself.
The waitress served us 3 extra servings of the bread with a tomato gel type spread — so generous! It was very good though my boyfriend felt the bread was a bit stale. It was a bit crusty but I really enjoyed it. To each his own.
I was pleased that they had so many specials available! There were at least 2 appetizer, pasta and entrée specials. I love ordering off of the specials menu since I find those dishes typically to be the most unique and tasty, and they had a wide variety available. Surprisingly we didn’t order off it it this time.
I ordered the Spaghetti Granchio with crab, lemon zest, asparagus and cherry tomatoes. The dish was reasonably sized. I felt everything was seasoned well though there wasn’t much crab in there and I found myself searching for it a lot, often confusing it with the asparagus root. The sauce at the bottom of the dish was delicious though I wish the server had brought me a spoon so that I could have absorbed more of it with each bite.
My boyfriend ordered the filet mignon with potatoes and grilled veggies. It was probably about 6 – 7 ounces and cooked pretty well. I wouldn’t say Verso is the kind of place you order a steak though, unless you have a huge craving for one regardless of where you are dining. Seems like they skimped a bit on the potatoes and veggies but there was definitely enough food.
Presentation of food was very nice and I liked that since it made it feel more special. I wish they had put a candle on our table to keep up a romantic feel, but maybe this is because we sat outside. You can dress up or be more casual at Verso, it’s really up to you.
Service was also very attentive. We were pleased with this since we sat kind of in the middle of nowhere, but they were always around attending to us.
Will I visit again? Possibly. The location is convenient for my apartment but I also think there are hundreds of comparable options available at much lower prices in the area. Verso has a lot to offer though I would have to give it another shot to see what makes it special and worth the price.

I would say it’s 4.5 but closer to a 5 than a 4!
Great laid back atmosphere. The wine is very reasonable and the food is great! The lentil salad with goats cheese was delicious, steak was great, I felt the salmon and mussels linguine was good, but great once I added lemon. Cheesecake is worth having, and is free once you check-​in — do it!
Service is also great, very friendly and they know their stuff!

Had a really great time here for brunch this morning with a little dog in tow. We were set up with a shady outside table, and two different people asked us if we’d like any water for the dog (we’d brought some along with her). The service was so kind and friendly, without being obtrusive, that I’d come back just for that. For brunch, I think atmosphere and service is more important than food. There are only so many different things you can do with an egg, after all.
The food was solid though not exceptional, and the $ 15 prix fixe price is pretty standard. I appreciated that there was a little bit of salad with every dish — that’s so often overlooked. Nice, fluffy, non-​greasy omelettes.