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Convivium Osteria
Categories: Restaurants Spanish Restaurants Italian Restaurants Portuguese Spanish, Italian, Portuguese [Edit]
68 5th Ave(between Bergen St & Prospect Pl)
Brooklyn, NY 11217
Neighbourhood: Park Slope
(718) 857-1833
- Nearest Transit:
-
Bergen St (2, 3, 4)
Atlantic Av - Pacific St (D, N, R)
Atlantic Av (2, 3, 4, 5)
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
172 reviews for Convivium Osteria
Review Highlights
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"I had the apple ravioli with duck ragu again and bf had the..." In 22 reviews -
"The wine cellar is tres romantique and chic." In 23 reviews -
"Food - extremely good, but not quite as good as Al Di La." In 7 reviews
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172 reviews in English
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Review from Tanya T.
4/24/2012
Holy frack it was good.
I'm a sucker for lamb, and it was everything I'd dreamed of and more. I'm also a huge fan of pine nuts, so the crushed pine nut crust on it made me even happier. My husband had the rabbit, but really, it was no lamb. In fact, my meals are always superior to his because I always order the lamb.
We also had a nice bottle of rioja that didn't break the bank (we left that up to our fancy entrees) and a delicious arugula salad that had the perfect amount of dressing on it.
But I think the real reason I will go back is the bread, olives, and olive oil they give you. Nicely baked and very tasty.
And the moral of the story is: Always order the lamb. Oh and bring cash. Because, really, who has Amex? -
Review from Jason C.
Brooklyn, NY
3/7/2012
Really 2.5 stars, but I want this message to get through.
This place is a Park Slope institution and the food is very good, but they make it difficult to love because the front of the house just can't seem to stagger their tables well.
I've been a number of times, admittedly mostly on weekends, and each time I've come with a reservation. The first time we had to wait 30 minutes for our table. The second time we had to wait 40+ mins for our table. Sigh.
Most recently however, with a reservation of 8:15pm on a Saturday night they had us wait 80 minutes!!! Yes, an hour and twenty minutes.
I know it's popular, but how does one so grossly miscalculate your reservation book such that a party of 4 is left waiting for 80 minutes?!? It boggles the mind.
They must opportunistically be taking walk-ins - how else can you explain such consistent waits for reserved tables?
Like I said though, the food is good, the table service responsive and attentive and the decor is very enjoyable.
If only they could get their reservation system up to speed. It consistently mars an otherwise excellent restaurant experience. -
Review from Ray W.
Brooklyn, NY
3/5/2012
Absolutely amazing. Went there for a birthday dinner. Everyone had a great meal. I had the prawn special. Huge prawns very fresh. Lamb chops were also amazing very tender perfectly cooked. I will be going back for sure.
They do accept credit cards. Amex only. -
Review from Olena P.
2/25/2012 Seated via OpenTable
What a great little place... totally unexpected in that part of the slope.
Ordered the olives, lamb and gnocchi.
Everything was fantastic. Great bottle of wine as well.
Little on the pricey side, but the food was great so well worth it.. Btw very romantic. great date spot! -
Review from ArtOf B.
Brooklyn, NY
4/20/2012
We went here for our anniversary and sat in the wine cellar. It was romantic and gluttonous. Each component of our meal was delectable, and the wine was also delicious. We think it is really 4.5 stars, and the withholding of top marks is due to several factors: cash only and they close on the early side for NYC. We basically got asked to leave politely. We hadn't realized that they closed so early. Minor things, really, in the scope of our fantastic, memorable meal. We still dream of the apple ravioli!
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Review from Daniela T.
Brooklyn, NY
4/12/2012
All I have to say is THIS PLACE IS AMAZING IN ALL WAYS TAT A RESTAURANT CAN BE ...
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Review from Jennifer S.
Brooklyn, NY
4/8/2012
RAVIOLI with DUCK RAGU... sooooo good.. the ravioli are filled with apple, and this combo of sweet apple with savory duck ragu is literally one of the best things i have ever tasted.
i come here for almost every special occasion; the atmosphere is extremely romantic, feels like you are in spain.
the menu changes from time to time, but the ravioli has never moved..
the spinach and ricotta gnocchi are also delicious and in this creamy Parmesan sauce
the grilled octopus also not to be missed; its over beans, red onion, and cherry tomatoes..
the rabbit is also very good.
extensive wine selection..
again, ravioli.. DO IT -
Review from Lauren G.
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place was a perfect date place, we came in on a Saturday night and it was dimly lit, they brought us to the back area where we sat at a corner table and enjoyed delicious wine, fresh ingredients and great service.
My husband started with prawns roasted with 'flor de sal' sea salt' and I tried the artichoke. Then we shared one of their specials as well as the pappardelle with oxtail ragu. Both were great. Will be back soon! -
Review from Tony M.
Brooklyn, NY
2/22/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Well done convivium!
I had a lovely dinner last saturday...very attentive staff, intimate place but not crowded...they sat the 2 of us at a table for 4 (love it),,,fantastistic wine list (I went with the lower priced tempranillo- you can never go wrong!)...we had a red meat craving and ordered the steak for 2 ...that take a while so we ordered some apps...the grilled octopus was perfectly cooked, not tough...olives, bread, all just wonderful.
steak was good...not a place you would go for or know for an amazing steak, but this was good...i would order it again...the salad was too bitter and over dressed.
we were not rushed and had a lovely night out. -
Review from Christine G.
Brooklyn, NY
12/6/2011
Delicioso! Esquito! Delicious! (No really, I just babelfish'd to make sure I was covering how to say delicious in Spanish, Italian and Portugese.)
This quaint little restaurant really delivers on the flavor. You walk in and immediately you are transplanted into an ancient little restaurant in the middle of Park Slope. It's rustic. It's romantic. It's got mood lighting....
Apps:
Grilled artichokes: Oddly crisp still while drowning in good EVOO. Perfectly done.
Quail with figs: I liked the quail but not as much as I liked the figs. The port wine reduction was awesome.
Olives: I'm told these were Albanian olives. These were të shijëshme!
Main:
Roasted rack of lamb with cauliflower: Really yummy. I cleaned my plate, soaking up that yummy port wine sauce with cauliflower and the crusty bread. I don't even like cauliflower that much but any bit of that sauce transformed it into sweet candy goodness. The lamb was so tender and flavorful yet had this crunchy, spicy, savory shell.
Oven-roasted sea bass: You'd think this was the lighter choice, except this sea bass is whole and huge. Very tasty.
Others at the table ordered the baby back ribs on polenta, spiced cornish hens, and the spinach gnocchi. I'm assuming those were all delicious since I never even got a bite. No one offered, as we selfishly chowed down our meals. The next thing I knew, there was nothing left to try... so by default it must've been good.
Desserts:
Definitely get the pannacotta with fresh berries. It was a perfect custardy consistency and far more refreshing than the flourless chocolate cake and the figgy nutty dense cake.
Great service and ultra friendly staff.
This may be one of the best little Italian places especially in the Slope. -
Review from Leanna G.
3/17/2012 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
When I saw that they had apple ravioli and duck ragu on the menu, I got on the first train to Park Slope. And I really did enjoy the experience of eating it, but it just didn't come together the way I wanted it to. The incredibly delicate flavor of the apple ravioli got crushed under the duck ragu, and I'm just not sure they paired well. I do think that if I came back and tried something different, I might like it better, so don't count Convivium out on my review alone.
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Review from Tim H.
Brooklyn, NY
12/20/2011
This is the best Italian restaraunt in Park Slope peeps if you did not already know. Low lit very intimate mediterranean decor. It is italian /mediterranean ie portuguese etc. SO lets get to the good stuff...
Bonkers wine list with some really great finds under $40 I found a portugues bottle that was second to none! Food is great! The cuisine is lighter and more modern than its tuscan decor. The braised artichoke has an almost mousse like consistency. The kale soup was modern and forward thinking and the cinnamon ravioli was devine....Run dont walk it won't dissapoint! -
Review from Anju R.
11/6/2011
The mark of a good restaurant for me is if they can produce good meals on 3 separate times I'm there.
Twice so far C-O has really hit the mark. A reliable wine list along, fantastic atmosphere and really solid food makes it a place we'll be going back to complete the trifecta. The two best dishes are definitely the home made pasta and the grilled octopus appetizer. -
Review from Pamela B.
11/2/2011
A perfect Italian restaurant, Brooklyn style.
Let's start with the most important part: the food. Convivium's dishes are flawless, and this is one of the few places where I have only ever ordered whatever's on offer as the daily special. You won't go wrong ordering from the menu, but the daily specials are just so above and beyond what's printed on the page. Both times I've dined here, I've had variations on a flat pasta with a meat ragu (rabbit the first time, pheasant the second). There's something about the sauces here that fill your mouth. That's kind of a gross way of describing the full flavor, but there's just...something. Anyway, Convivium's food: above reproach.
Onto the space: this restaurant is a labyrinth. You wouldn't know it from the front room, but through another door is another dining room, and out the back door is another dining room, and down the stairs is another dining room, and...each room is better than the last. The first time I ate here was to celebrate my husband's work (or promotion? I can't remember these things), and we were taken to the very last room, which had the ambiance of a dark, candlelit cave for two. But even the front room can be fun--that's where I sat on my second visit, and Steven Spielberg was at the next table!
Lastly, the wine. It's possible I can't be issuing grand statements based on two bottles of wine consumed on the premises, but both experiences have been life-changing. Or at least...wine-consumption-changing. It was here that I first had a rioja, and here that I first had a delicious friuli (Campo de Something). Both varietals are becoming favorites of mine.
ALL IN ALL, this is where you want to be bringing your significant other or maybe your parents. -
Review from Amy S.
Brooklyn, NY
12/2/2011
Food is amazing! This is a very small restaurant. There are not very many tables. Reservations need to be made if you want to get a good table. I didn't make a reservation but was able to be seated within 30mins. Well worth the wait. Prices are great for this type of restaurant. It is said this is the best Italian restaurant in Brooklyn. I just may have to agree with that. Staff is very attentive and kind. The vibe is really warm set with low lights and country farm décor. You will feel like your eating on a old farm somewhere in Italy!
I have only been here once but my experience was so great that I am defiantly going back!
Great place for food lovers! -
Review from Megan S.
Brooklyn, NY
11/12/2011
My experience could not have been better! I was looking for a place to celebrate my anniversary with my boyfriend and Convivium Osteria was exactly the right place. It had a lovely romantic ambiance, the place was full but it wasn't frustratingly loud, and the staff was incredibly friendly...
I can't eat gluten and mentioned that when I made the reservation. Not only was the chef very accommodating, he actually called me two days before to discuss my options. Whhhattt? I ended up getting the braised rabbit and my boyfriend got the pappardelle. Both us could not have been more pleased! Everything was a little pricey (the food is phenomenal, and definitely worth it) so I wouldn't come here every day but it's a great place for a special occasion.
I definitely recommend making a reservation, you can walk in to get a table but the place was full to the brim, all night. -
Review from Anne E.
New York, NY
10/28/2011
I came here with a friend for her birthday dinner and we love this place. The decor is rustic.. it almost feels as though we were transported to somewhere right by the Mediterranean during dusk.
We had the Grilled baby octopus with judiones de la granja beans
as an appetizer which was amazing and left salivating for more food. For entrees, we had the Green apple and cinnamon ravioli with duck ragu and the Oven roasted "whole" mediterranean seabass with asparagus and new potatoes. The duck ravioli was good but I felt the flavor was a bit off and I must have missed the word "whole" for the seabass because what came out was an entire fish (with the head and tail). It had a very fishy smell and fortunately, it did not taste that way. It fish was soft but slightly overcooked. For dessert, we had the chocolate cake which was a bit dense for my taste. We each also had wine by the glass, but I would recommend skipping out on that. I do not think the options were great.
Overall, I would come back again. -
Review from Kreperie F.
New York, NY
10/15/2011
The dining experience was excellent. The rustic look blows your away (to the Mediterrean) and the fusion of the foods is simply awesome. I want to keep this review short, so all I'll say is that the flavors danced in my mouth and twirled around several times.
This restaurant is very deserving of the great ratings and I highly suggest anyone to come to witness firsthand the reason why this is so. -
Review from Dina V.
Updated - 9/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
There I did it, I gave this place an additional star. I finally paid a second visit and had an even more enjoyable experience. It may have been the company, my lovely boyfriend.
I had the apple ravioli with duck ragu again and bf had the braised rabbit. Both dishes presented beautifully and tasted absolutely scrumptious. Bf really liked the decor and feel of this place. After our meal we still had room for dessert, bf got flourless chocolate cake and I got the pignoli tart. Best pignoli tart EVER. Moist and sweet with honey. OMG.
Can't wait for an excuse to come here again.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/8/2009
I walked in here with a date at 11:30 because every other place in the vicinity was no longer… Read more »
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Review from Annie Y.
Los Angeles, CA
7/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
I thought long and hard about which location out of the 20 or so reviews I have pending deserved the distinction of being my 100th Yelp review. After a while, I decided on Convivium Osteria because it was responsible for one of the best nights I've had in a long time.
My boyfriend took me here when I visited him in New York because he knew I loved Mediterranean food. The place is listed as Spanish, but it's really just European fusion, in my opinion. The rustic decor here is gorgeous, the perfect setting for a date.
We were half an hour early for our reservation, but they were too full to seat us in the wine cellar, which is what we were hoping for. Instead, they graciously offered to let us taste their newest bottle of wine while we waited for a table to open up elsewhere. We ended up getting a cosy, romantic spot in the corner of the covered patio behind the restaurant, which was more than okay with me.
We ordered the quail, the ravioli with duck ragu, and the gnocchi. The quail was absolutely amazing -- tiny, but so perfectly cooked and paired with the fig sauce. I was hesitant about how the apple and cinnamon in the ravioli would taste with the duck ragu, but I was pleasantly surprised by the combination. I tried a little of the gnocchi, but it was too heavy, though the wine our server recommended lightened the load of the cream sauce. Overall, portions were a little small for the price.
Service was fantastic throughout the night, and even though we stayed past closing, no one rushed us. Thanks for a perfect evening, Convivium Osteria! -
Review from Amy G.
Brooklyn, NY
6/29/2011
Last weekend, the Boyfriend and I celebrated our anniversary at Convivium Osteria. We just moved to Brooklyn, and wanted to find a special place to have our first nicer dinner in town. To get right to the point, Convivium totally exceeded our expectations.
To elaborate...
I noted on my OpenTable reservation that it was an anniversary dinner, thinking there was a pretty good chance that the comment wouldn't be read. We were seated immediately, and as we were looking over the menu and debating starting the evening off with something sparkly, a waiter swooped down and gave us each a complimentary glass of Prosecco and wished us a Happy Anniversary. Um, yes please!
Our next step was to order wine, which was from a decent list, but admittedly the Boyfriend and I are hardly wine connoisseurs, so we asked the waiter for some advice. I was a little wary as some of the negative reviews implied that the staff didn't take kindly to cheap dates, but I forged ahead and asked him to recommend a good summery red, under a certain price point. If he was annoyed, he hid it well. He graciously listed 3 options, and explained each bottle in detail, noting which was a "current staff favorite." He definitely took our request seriously, and it was nice to not feel judged about not wanting/needing to order a $100 bottle. The bottle we chose was brought out moments later, and our orders were taken.
We went for an indulgent dinner of marinated olives, octopus AND prawns for appetizers, with the much revered ravioli and braised rabbit for dinner. Everything...and I mean EVERYTHING was just what you'd expect from an Italian/Portuguese restaurant. Succulent, flavorful, hearty but not overtly so, and very nicely portioned. We may not be snobs in the wine department, but we're pretty intense about food. Convivium did not disappoint flavor-wise or on execution at all.
Naturally, we were stuffed at the end, and we declined dessert. But Convivium was not going to let a happy couple walk out on their special day without something sweet. So after we asked for the check, they brought us out a complimentary slice of their flourless chocolate cake, and once again wished us a Happy Anniversary. Heck yeah, we ate it! I was actually really surprised at how delicious it was, as many restaurants with "chocolate cake" on the menu clearly get theirs from "Restaurant Depot" Not so much with these guys, especially if the home made whipped cream had anything to say about it.
Finally we were presented with the check, and we made sure to show our appreciation for the evening. The service (once we asked for something) was by no means slow, but we were definitely left in private for long stretches to enjoy our meal, which was fine by us. I can't promise that the complimentary goods will be given to everyone who makes a res for a special occasion there, but our experience was incredible, and we're thinking of making this our go-to anniversary place....and a few times in between, of course. -
Review from Artem F.
Brooklyn, NY
2/5/2012
Rustic and inviting atmosphere. Food is clean, unpretentious and cooked with best ingredients. I had grilled baby octopus and roasted pinenut crusted rack of lamb in port wine sauce ... both were delicious.
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Review from gary m.
Brooklyn, NY
1/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
From the beginning, we were off to a good start. The hostess greeted us and said they were preparing a table for my special reservation. He asked for a more secluded table for my gf's birthday and he did provide. The service there was excellent with waiters paying attention to your very needs. The bread was soft with a crunchy crunch. I recommend the grilled octopus appetizer. My girlfriend loved the braised rabbit minus all the stuff it came with and I enjoyed my whole grilled sea bass. This place is a romantic candle light spot with everyone drinking wine everywhere. The only downfall of this place is the fact they only accept Amex.
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Review from C L P.
Manhattan, NY
2/10/2012
I'm only giving 2 stars STRICTLY for the hideous waiter on a very slow, early Tuesday evening. I met my date at 6:30pm and there might have been 9 other people in the restaurant, so it certainly couldn't have been because he was busy.
We asked to start with a cheese platter, his reply - the waiter needs the whole order.
Then I ordered prawns. I do know they come with the shell and the heads on, and I thought I would be fine, until they arrived. I apologized to the waiter, made fun of myself, and asked if the chef could de-head/shell the prawns. He gave a pissed look and said that's not something the chef does and it could take 5 minutes. I said thank you, take your time, despite how rude he was to me.
I wish I could write a better review, as the food on the table was very good, but there are too many restaurants that have very good food AND good service, this just wasn't one of them. -
Review from D R.
Brooklyn, NY
4/2/2012
I cannot express how much I love the vintage Spanish decorum. Throughout my meal, I felt as I was in Barcelona. I thought the food was incredibly fresh, but I could have used a little more pizazz on my Seabass. I would visit again, but only to try a different item on the menu.
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Review from Andrew W.
New York, NY
5/15/2011
Convivium Osteria is as much a love story as a proprietorship for Michelle and Carlo Pulixi. As documented by Edible Brooklyn, they opened the restaurant as significant others, eventually marrying and raising their children in this fabulous and homey Spanish/Portuguese/Italian restaurant in Park Slope. in the 10 years since opening, they have also expanded out back and into the basement, hand-masoned by Carlo himself.
I could go on about the vibe (rustic, romantic), the food (on another level of home-cooked amazing--if this place were in Manhattan you'ld never be able to get a table) and the service (all the people here are warm and wonderful), but it's been pretty well covered in this space. In my particular case however I will always have a special connection in that my wife and I chose to have our rehearsal dinner here. It was extremely reasonable allowing us to take the back section for a dinner for 30. Michelle was super helpful assisting us with putting together the menu, allowing us to offer all of our favorite dishes to our guests and their sommelier provided us with a complementary tasting to choose the wines to pair.
The night of our rehearsal dinner, the staff led by our favorite waiter Lucca were fantastic at making the night go smoothly, starting the group with boards of cured meats and cheeses, and never letting anyone see the bottom of their wine glasses. Though their menu turns over quite a bit by season, many of their standards got raves from all diners whether it be the polenta with hen of the woods mushrooms to start, the green apple ravioli with duck ragu (my wife's favorite pasta of all time), the lamb chops or the steak for two (they say it's a 48 oz. ribeye but it's basically half a cow and delicious for every bite).
Thank you to Michelle, Carlo and Lucca for one of the most special dinners of our lives. We'll see you on our anniversary and hopefully many nights in between!!!
AMEX only.Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Evmorfea M.
North Brunswick Township, NJ
7/12/2011
This is by far the best mediterannean fusion restaurant in Brooklyn. My BF and I stumbled in from looking at review after review of restaurant in the Slope. We decided to drive down 5th and see where there was parking, and just so happened right in front of Convivium. Boy... were we lucky.
When we walked in, without a reservation, we sat at the bar and were told it was a 30-40 minute wait. We decided we'd order some wine and relax before eating. The host was very gracious and kept updating us on our table status, and then gave us a wink ... he was to seat us in the front all by ourselves! How romantic! We were super happy about that.
We ordered the olives and Prawns for apps. The olives were good, but I'm greek and i'm used to a certain olive. The prawns though..... the best prawns i've eaten outside of Europe. AMZING!!!
We ordered the gnocchi and the lamb ... both were fantastic.
This place is in general, amazing, and we both can't wait to go back! -
Review from Rachel L.
Brooklyn, NY
7/15/2011
Homestyle Mediterranean fusion at its finest
Expertly crafted Italian cuisine is not difficult to come by in New York. A remarkable fusion of Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish cooking, a slightly more difficult feat to discover. Osteria Convivium, tucked quietly into the Brooklyn neighborhood of Park Slope does just that. The craft of old world culinary tradition is executed by chef and owners Carlo and Michelle Pulixi where they opened the three dining room experience in 2000. The space boasts a rustic intimate setting suited for a romantic date or a spontaneous gathering.
Upon entering the main dining room, visitors are instantly transported to the likes of an old Spanish kitchen circa 1850 with old oak-carved communal tables and antique copper pots lining the walls. Eccentric knick-knacks from a travelers excursions are scattered about. Soft roman candles are flickery along the quaint wooden bar creating a warm cozy atmosphere. Maybe the almost museum-like decor is a bit over the top, but that's just part of the fun isn't it? Besides any wavering thoughts can be discarded as soon as the plates start arriving.
The food can be compared to the creation of a genuine home-cooked meal, except it's made with only the most carefully chosen components and seasoned with just the right amount of spices. Maybe it's the ambience, but if the imagination allowed for an escape from reality, the mind might just bring you to a small villa, in a farm village outside Barcelona, where one talented grandmother combines only the finest ingredients to satisfy her loved ones appetites.
Any non-foodie would be able to tell the difference between Barilla and the restaurants' delicious house made pastas. The meat is sourced from only all natural and free-range farms, and the local produce plays homage to any classic Mediterranean style in that it is fresh, in season, and ripened to its utmost perfection. The authentic and delicately prepared food is skillfully presented without being too fussy.
The rotating menu includes a list of tapas-like appetizers such as the subtly savory braised artichoke in olive oil and mint, seasonal grilled seafood entrees, pastas, and also an extravagant steak for two. The wine list, appropriately curated, incorporates wines from Italy, Spain, and Portugal with acceptable prices to match. Whether opting for the delightful combination of apple and cinnamon ravioli duck ragu' or the berkshire baby-back pork ribs mounted atop a creamy layer of polenta and pecorino that smoothly slip off the bone, any choice will be satisfactory. Portions might not suit every diners' need but it is safe to say the richness of the food and robust flavor succumb to this demand. -
Review from Lindsey C.
Brooklyn, NY
7/5/2011
Well, as soon as we walked in, an impression was made.The place itself is beautiful, clean, and rustic, and looks like it's pulled straight out of Tuscany or somewhere. I had been there once before with an out of town friend, and it was great, but this time I *had* to share my experience. We had no reservations, but were seated rather quickly, and though it could have been easy to forget about the foursome in the corner, we were very well attended to. The waiters actually cared about what we were drinking, and when one of our party noticed that the second glass of wine was slightly different than the first, the servers made it top priority to get it right. Needless to say, we.... (how shall I term this?) compensated the hell out of them. And it was well deserved.
Oh right. Then there was the FOOD. I got the tonarelli, which was amazing, and the one friend's gnocchi was also fantastic, as was the lamb. But the dish that won was the green apple and cinnamon ravioli. I am not that big a fan of sweet/savory combinations, nor do I like cinnamon in anything but oatmeal cookies, but at the end of our meal we ordered another dish to split at the table it was that. good.
Service, ambiance, food, wine was all a 10, and I look forward to coming back. -
Review from Jeff c.
Brooklyn, NY
4/18/2011
Great Date Spot! But if you don't carry AmEx or a healthy amount of cash, get ready to excuse yourself for a moment while you go to the atm across the street.
Once again: American Express or cash only.
Besides their ridiculous stance on payment for one of the more expensive and well regarded restaurants in Park Slope, the service is excellent. The layout and lighting of the restaurant are impressive as well. So if you've screwed up big time with the lady, the atmosphere here could be your first step to getting out of the dog house.
And you don't need to pretend to be the wine connoisseur that you're not but keep telling yourself you will be either. The staff has excellent knowledge of their various and expansive wine list, and will break down the region and aromas of each wine. Just give them a country and a color (when in doubt, always go for a red from the north region of Spain).
When you order the $16 scallops for an appetizer, don't be shocked when the portion contains only 3 of them. Yes, actually, they were that good. And don't order the fish unless you want to spend the night picking small bones out of it. Yes, despite the setbacks, I'll still be returning here. This place is worth it.
Did I mention you should bring cash or AmEx? -
Review from Mary Alice H.
Brooklyn, NY
2/20/2012 Seated via OpenTable
This place was fantastic. The food was incredible and the service was excellent. Had the ricotta ewe gnocchi for dinner, and my boyfriend had the duck ragu. Both were delicious. The dessert was by far the best though, they had fig-almond-chocolate cake and pine nut torte, both incredible, and dairy free, a bonus because my boyfriend is lactose-intolerant and almost no restaurant in Park Slope offers dairy-free desserts.
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Review from ilya k.
Brooklyn, NY
11/16/2011
I took my parents here for their anniversary and I must say the best part of the experience was the decor - definitely very cool, cozy, and stylish at the same time. The food was ok. Special were good didn't really make me want to come back. I had seabass with vegetables and the description was much better than the implementation. However, the waiter picked a perfect wine for me. One thing that left a negative impression was that they only accept AMEX, which is what many of the much more expensive and exclusive places do, which I didn't consider this one to be. Just my opinion.
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Review from INESSA M.
Brooklyn, NY
12/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Rustic decor which waves of souther Spain. Menu is not too log. We took the special: grilled octopus, which we very nice. The rabbit is pretty good. I like the place, great for a quite dinner or a romantic date. Out waiter was a big eccentric, but that added to the european feel.
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Review from Peter S.
Brooklyn, NY
8/8/2011
Having lived in Park Slope for over a year and walking past Bogota, Blue Ribbon Grill, and the other million or so restaurants lining 5th Avenue on a daily basis, I was surprised to hear about a uniquely named restaurant Convivium Osteria. Waiting for an overdue birthday present from my sister, when she suggested this restaurant I could hardly believe it existed, but there it was on 5th avenue and Bergen.
Walking in feels like travelling to another country. Immediately you are hit by candle light, aged wood, and antique European kitchen equipment hanging from the walls and that's when you know this is going to be good.
Thankfully the food and wine do not disappoint. Although a bit pricey, the quality and preparation of everything were exceptional. The grilled baby octopus was seasoned perfectly, the buffalo mozzarella and tomato salad were generous and fresh, and the entrees really brought it home with large prawns in sherry beer sauce and fresh gnocchi in a thick cream sauce.
To top it all off the pignioli tort at the end was like a pecan pie with pine nuts, which makes you rethink the original entirely.
If you're looking for a perfect date spot this is it, just make sure it's not the first date, because you'll have nowhere to go from here! -
Review from Ellen D.
Brooklyn, NY
1/20/2011
Oh how I wish I went here on a date!
The atmosphere is ripe for cuddled-up couples and passionate kisses with it's low lighting and rustic interior.
However, I went to Convivium Osteria with family (le sigh).
But this fact did not take away from how wonderful the food was! We ordered the marinated olives and the grilled baby octopus. They were both absolutely delicious! For my entree, I ordered the green apple and cinnamon ravioli with duck ragout. I was intrigued just by the seemingly incongruous ingredients, but I'm glad I took a leap of faith. Oh, how wonderfully they came together on the plate! The ravioli were sweet and just a little bit tart and tangy. The duck ragout was savory (although a tad bit salty) and hearty. The two flavors melded in a wonderfully delicious way.
I intend to go back to C.O. in the future, but definitely on a date. ;-) -
Review from Liz C.
11/2/2010
What Briana M. said. Mostly.
The romantic lighting and rustic mise en scène at CO were quite enchanting - and luckily so, because we had some fifty minutes' wait past our reservation time* to take them in.
"Everything tasted good. Nothing was bad." Truth! We nibbled from an herby olive montage while awaiting my olive-oil-puddled, braised artichoke ($13: equal parts tasty and awkward to eat) and my companion's spot-on-delicious, fig-garnished roast quail ($14).
"Both were very good, but again, nothing transcendent." I second it! Our entrees featured creatures - his, a pine-nut-crusted rack of lamb, and mine, an unassuming duck dujour. The meats can most accurately be described as "solid", though the warmth of the wine and the ambiance together hoisted the meal en total to a four-star affair.
*Normally, I would have departed in blaze of You've Been Yelped cards in the face of this indignity -but. I'd just come from The Social Network, which was so good that I felt generous enough to nurse a glass of wine with my date while the dining room got its act together.Listed in: Posh Noshin', The Ace In The Hole
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Review from Sergio T.
Long Island City, Queens, NY
6/28/2011
I had dinner at Convivium a few times and without any doubt it's my favorite restaurant in Brooklyn and one of my favorites in New York.
I think I tried most of the menu and what I like the most are the apple ravioli with duck ragu'. I'm from Italy and I think I had a lot of good pasta in my life but those ravioli are just amazing.. It's not really the pasta itself, but the great balance of flavors in the dish.
I also really like the quail figs port appetizer.. Which I tried replicating at home once.. with only decent results! What else? The owner seems really knowledgeable about wines, decor/ambience are really nice.. And service is also good (not perfect though).
Overall.. 5 stars.. With only a note: I think I would go more often if the menu changed from time to time.. But.. Still 5 stars. -
Review from Raoul C.
Boston, MA
12/15/2010
I wanted to take the girlfriend out to dinner, but stay somewhat local (she's in Park Slope). We'd never tried Basque cooking, so made a reservation at C.O. The manager was nice enough to point out their cash/amex policy up front, to prevent any kind of embarrassment on the night.
The ambiance was exactly what we were looking for: cozy, low lighting (but enough to see the food/each other), and a pleasant level of chatter around us. Food was superb, you absolutely have to try the cinnamon/apple/rabbit ravioli, a real treat and one-of-a-kind dish, never had something like that anywhere else.
The waitstaff were polite, smiling and attentive, but gave us our (snuggling) space while we ate. What? It was our anniversary! -
Review from pete r.
12/13/2010 2 photos
I ate the first time in 2004 and had not returned until 2010, I have been 4 times since then in the last couple months. This is becoming my favorite restaurant in the Park Slope.
I don't know how I forgot how good this place is. It is a warm intimate space that feels like you have stepped into a European restaurant off the beaten track.
The starters are amazing. The Pasta is incredible. And every entree I have had there has been superb.
If that is not enough the reason to go the Steak for 2 is. Locally sourced Pine Hill 48oz ribeye that is cooked so perfect I can taste while I type and my mouth waters. The steak is served with rosemary roast potatoes and a arugula salad making it a steal! Now this is all you need to order, but I suggest having a pasta dish and taking some of the steak home. If we go on Friday we eat the steak all weekend. And it tastes good to the end.
Last the staff is the incredible. They are some of the nicest and friendly people I have meet at a restaurant. It makes the experince so much more enjoyable.
Couple of side notes, they take reservations and suggest you make one, they only accept cash so if you plan one enjoying there excellent wine list and a great meal bring some cash and last they only have wine and champagne (maybe port)... So have your martini's at home or before you arrive.Listed in: Best Park Slope Grub
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Review from Jordan D.
9/29/2011
After my trip to Portugal, I'd like to think of myself as more informed than most when it comes to Portuguese cuisine. Being that my gf is part Portuguese as well, we decided to head here for a weekend date night and see if this place can compare to the motherland. It definitely did and then some.
You wak in and between the low lighting, the rustic decor and general homey vibe - it's just a nice overall setup to dine. We take out seats and start off with some vino verdhe, which is Portugal's best sparkling wine. Not to bubbly, not too dry, slight hints of fruitiness; perfect for a Mediterranean style meal. The bottle of vino verdhe they gave us was definitely up to snuff. For appetizers, we went with the braised artichokes and seared octopus. Win and win. I'm NOT a fan of artichokes, but their rendition is worth a try. The octopus was seared perfectly as well. For our main courses, we both went with fish; I chose the whole grilled sea bass and my gf decided on the grilled sardines. I thought the sardines would be the make it or break it dish. I've had grilled sardines stateside that SUCKED, but the ones I had outside of Portugal can't be beat. The ones my gf had here were definitely up there - I wouldn't say they beat the ones from Portugal, but it was close. I tore up my whole sea bass - I'm one of those people that demolish a whole fish; I eat with my hands and get all the meat off of it. The sea bass was definitely fresh and tasty.
I'd go out on a limb and say (I know this place is Meditteraenean, not just Portuguese) that this place could go toe to toe with some of the better and swankier spots we went to in and around Lisbon. A must stop if you're hanging around 5th Ave.
