Visit #1 ·
★★★★★First visit, so I'm still building the picture here. Walked into Nonna's on West 3rd on a Saturday afternoon, which is already a test — weekend lunch crowds will expose a kitchen fast.
I went wide on the order. That's my move on visit one: cast a broad net, see what comes back. Hit a few of the classic beef, one chicken, and grabbed a spinach and cheese because I wanted to see how they handled a filling that can go wet and sad real quick if the kitchen isn't paying attention. Also got a side of their chimichurri because the quality of the house sauce tells you everything about how serious a place takes its fundamentals.
The beef was the standout. Good crust on the fold, which means someone is sealing these properly and not rushing the crimp. The filling had actual seasoning depth — cumin present but not shouting, a little heat in the back. The chicken was fine. Nothing wrong, nothing memorable. The spinach and cheese held together better than I expected, which I'll credit.
The chimichurri was loose. Not bad, just thin — more oil than herb, like they stretched a batch. That's the kind of thing I'll be watching on the next visit.
Service was fast, order was right, the place was louder than it looks from outside.
Here's my honest read after visit one: the beef empanada alone gives me a reason to come back, and that's not nothing. Plenty of spots can't clear that bar. But I need visit two — different day, maybe a weekday — before I can tell you if the crust consistency is real or if I just caught a good afternoon. Third visit is where I'll actually trust what I think I know.
Receipt is filed. Clock is running.