It seems that La Spiga was the talk of the town when it opened in its current location, with patrons raving about the beautiful space. But just as quickly, people started complaining about poor service.

The chef got great recognition when she appeared as a contestant on Iron Chef America, and while that star quality flashes itself from time to time at La Spiga, it’s of course harder to shine so brightly on a day-to-day basis, and perhaps almost impossible to live up to the expectations that television creates. Sometimes the food sparkles, as in insalata mista della casa, pastas with truffle butter sauce, and gnocchi al pomodoro. But small portions and poor service sometimes take the shine off.

The bar is a fine place for a friendly chat and an apéritif. We also like the courtyard area, especially if you can enjoy it at one of the restaurant’s special events, such as its annual Ferragosto party. If immediate expectations can be a curse, they certainly do not prevent longevity and consistency from emerging over time, and we still have high hopes for the potential of this Italian kitchen.