Mozzarella & Vino review: A taste of authentic Italy in the heart of Manhattan

New York City has one too many Italian restaurants, but finding one that stays true to its roots is a different story.

Tucked away on West 54th Street, directly across from the Museum of Modern Art, Mozzarella & Vino brings traditional Italian cuisine to Midtown Manhattan, complete with freshly imported cheeses, regional dishes, and an impressive selection of Italian wines.

The restaurant is the more casual sister of Il Gattopardo, a fine-dining Italian establishment just down the block. But despite its more relaxed approach, Mozzarella & Vino doesn't compromise on quality or authenticity.

We stopped by on a chilly Monday evening, to try the menu and chat with managing partner Paula Bolla Sorrentino about the restaurant's history and her approach to Italian cuisine.

First impressions of Mozzarella & Vino

Walking into Mozzarella & Vino, it's bery easy to forget that you're in the heart of Manhattan.

The restaurant strikes a balance between New York charm and Italian elegance, with exposed brick walls, intimate dining areas, and a beautifully renovated upstairs loft.

It's chic without feeling overly formal, making it a comfortable choice for everything from a leisurely lunch to a dinner date.

Across the restaurant, you see families, solo diners, and couples relaxing over a glass of wine. Echoes of laughter and the clinking of silverware fill the room.

And while the setting might be casual, there's a considerable amount of history behind the restaurant.

Sorrentino and her late husband opened their first restaurant, Il Gattopardo, in September 2001, the same week as the September 11 attacks.

"9/11 happened in the same week that we opened the restaurant, and we got married on that very same week," she recalls.

After navigating the difficult first year, the couple gradually established the restaurant as a destination for authentic Italian cuisine.

When Il Gattopardo eventually relocated to a larger townhouse nearby, the original space became Mozzarella & Vino, a more laid-back concept built around the same philosophy.

"The same authentic ingredients, but it's a more casual thinking, more casual brand," Sorrentino explains.

Starting with mozzarella, of course

You can't visit a restaurant called Mozzarella & Vino without trying the mozzarella.

In fact, it's one of the reasons the restaurant exists in the first place.

Sorrentino explains that her late husband was from Naples, while the restaurant's chef hails from Cilento, two areas in southern Italy with strong ties to mozzarella production.

"Mozzarella [has] always been a staple in our restaurants," she tells us.

But what makes the mozzarella here particularly special is its freshness.

The restaurant receives shipments from Italy twice a week, with Sorrentino emphasizing the importance of serving the cheese as close to its production date as possible.

"The mozzarella we are eating now was made yesterday," she tells us.

We started with the M&V Tasting platter for two, which came with fresh burrata, mozzarella di bufala, and my personal favorite, smoked provola.

Everything tasted fresh, and because the cheese itself held so much flavor, it needed no additional seasonings. I ate bite after bite of the smoked cheese before smearing the fresh burrata onto the accompanying toast for a crunchier, more satisfying finish.

That said, mozzarella isn't the only appetizer worth considering.

We also had the opportunity to try some of the restaurant's other starters, including its arancini cacio e pepe.

The thick arancini was crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside, the perfect contrast in every bite. I love cacio e pepe, and this filling appetizer brought all the flavors of my favorite pasta into a few delicious bites.

We also had a chance to try the fresh calamari, where each piece of seafood was lightly breaded and packed a satisfying crunch. Not to mention, there was no unpleasant fishy flavor, and every bite tasted fresh and well-seasoned.

A multi-course meal at Mozzarella & Vino

While mozzarella might be the star of the restaurant's name, the rest of the menu deserves attention, too.

Rather than focusing on one particular region, Mozzarella & Vino brings together flavors from different parts of Italy.

And as Sorrentino explains, those regional distinctions are an essential part of Italian cooking.

"Everybody thinks their mother and grandmother make the best," she jokes when we discuss the differences between northern and southern Italian cuisine.

"There is no agreement on that."

Staying traditional is at the very core of the restaurant's menu, with its dishes steering clear of some of the Americanized interpretations diners might be more familiar with.

According to Sorrentino, Italian-American cooking evolved as immigrants adapted traditional recipes to the ingredients available in the United States.

At Mozzarella & Vino, the menu aims to reflect the dishes and preparations you'd encounter in Italy itself.

For pasta, Sorrentino recommends the ragù napoletano, while her main-course suggestions include the branzino, pan-seared salmon, and braised beef served over buckwheat polenta.

When we ask her to choose a favorite dish, she laughs.

"It will be like choosing my kids."

Still, the braised beef is one she particularly enjoys during the cooler months, while the meatballs also earn a resounding "yes."

The main courses

That said, we went down a slightly less traveled path when it came to our order, especially with one of the dishes.

We couldn't shy away from the braised beef on a bed of polenta, but we also gave the pumpkin and speck crespelle a chance.

The braised beef was succulent and fell apart the second my fork met the meat. The bed of creamy polenta felt like the right choice, which I lightly coated the beef with before devouring the entire plate.

The portion was quite large and filling, leaving me with that warm feeling you get after having Christmas dinner. On a chilly night in New York City, the braised beef is what I'm reaching for.

The crespelle, on the other hand, was something entirely different from anything we've ever tried before, and that's exactly why it's worth ordering.

Filled with pumpkin, savory speck, and mushrooms, this decadent dish had all our favorite notes: crispy, savory, and creamy on the inside.

Each bite felt like it packed more flavor than the last, with the béchamel sauce being one of the best I've ever tasted.

Some of the most unique wine I've ever tasted

Of course, no visit to Mozzarella & Vino would be complete without a glass of wine.

The restaurant focuses on Italian wines, including lesser-known varieties that guests might not ordinarily encounter.

Sorrentino tells us that she enjoys introducing diners to native Italian grapes rather than limiting the selection to familiar names.

"We want to explore more varieties that are less known to the public at large," she explains.

During our visit, she recommended one of her favorite Italian whites.

She chose a crisp white wine that felt refreshing from the first sip. It was the perfect combination of tangy and sweet, refreshing my palate like a glass of water on a hot day. It was a good start to the meal.

Further on, my partner went with a chilled red while I settled for a rosé.

I had an indulgent glass of the 2025 Terre Siciliane Pét-Nat Rosato "Nocera," which packed fruity cherry flavors, with notes of red currant and wild strawberry shining through.

Needless to say, it was a refreshing contrast to all the heavy food we were eating.

It was also a wine I'd never heard of before, and that's what made it all the more special for me. Trying a new wine I probably wouldn't have picked for myself was part of the experience.

Something for the sweet tooth

We were running out of space for dessert but still had to indulge in some tiramisu.

The creamy layers packed just enough booziness without feeling too overwhelming, with each bite quickly dissolving into nothingness in our mouths.

It was a dreamy dessert, with little notes of coffee and mascarpone taking turns dominating our palates.

Is Mozzarella & Vino worth visiting?

By the time the meal was over, our bellies were full, and we had wide smiles on our faces. Now, that's the knowing look of a good meal.

When I first entered the restaurant, little did I know I'd be leaving with a new New York favorite on my list.

Not only is each dish fresh and carefully made, but the inviting service and large portions mean you'll never leave disappointed or hungry.

If you're looking to save a few extra bucks on your meal, the restaurant also offers a daily happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m., where you can try the classic M&V Tasting for a fraction of the regular price, along with arancini and select cocktails.

Happy-hour food options include the $12 M&V Tasting and $8 arancini, making this one of the more appealing happy-hour menus I've come across in Midtown Manhattan.

All in all, the restaurant's relaxed atmosphere and commitment to traditional Italian ingredients make Mozzarella & Vino a must-visit for those living near and far.

It's also a restaurant with a story, one that began more than two decades ago and one that will last for decades to come.

If you're looking for a spot to grab a plate of delicious, traditional Italian food and a glass of wine, it doesn't get much better than Mozzarella & Vino.

Pro tip: Don't forget to get the M&V Tasting, at least once.

Mozzarella & Vino

33 West 54th Street, New York, NY

Website: mozzarellaevino.com