It was the Saturday after Thanksgiving, so many restaurants seemed pretty empty, My usual Greek place was still closed, so we decided to check a new place around East Village. I was in the mood for some nice seafood risotto, and this place was nearby. The interior is really cute with a variety of promo posters about the Melotti rice farm along with a TV show about the family and the farm. The decor is rustic and charming, but the tables are really close together. Fortunately, there was only one other table at that time. We ordered an arugula salad, simple but tasty with lots of parmesan cheese shavings. We also ordered an app off the special menu which was a burrata with pumpkin cake that was topped with some kind of cheese sauce. It was topped with little puffy rice crackers. That dish was so good and decadent. I don't know how many calories that burrata pumpkin cake packed, but we finished that dish with no regrets. And I'm not much of a cheese lover! As for the risotto, the closest seafood risotto dish they had was octopus and shrimp risotto in tomato sauce but with black rice. The server thankfully warned me that the black rice would be quite al dente and they can't make it any softer, so I went with regular risotto rice. I have to say, I would have much preferred saffron type of sauce, as I wasn't too crazy about the tomato sauce. The risotto was cooked perfectly as well as the octopus and shrimp, but it wasn't what I was hoping for. My husband got the special which was the veal meatballs risotto. It was pretty good, but I wouldn't order that again especially considering it was $40! I don't think I'll be in the mood for a risotto anytime soon, but if I do return, I plan to try the wild mushroom risotto or the truffle risotto. Hopefully they will have some interesting dishes on their specials menu next time.

Went for dinner on Saturday night, place was packed, reservations are highly recommended. Inside is very small dining room with open kitchen. Typical for many NYC eateries, space is tight, you can hardly move between tables. Young lady whose chair was on the back of our table, was constantly shaking her long hair near our plates, we had to move further but couldn't. As for food, it was delicious, service was great too.

Wonderfully cozy Italian spot with fantastic gluten free options. Italian ownership and servers make the experience even more lovely. The staff is super accommodating and kind, and the food is comforting. We started off with some rather impressive gluten free focaccia (table bread) which was pretty decent-- it also comes in a basket with halved rice cakes which I got a kick out of. My dining partner and I shared the avocado cucumber salad, and had the pesto risotto (vegan) and salmon for entrees. Salad was crisp and fresh, and lots of chunky avocado. The risotto was perfectly al dente with luscious roasted tomatoes. The preparation was dairy free so I bet this would be even better as it comes with the straciatella if you can eat it. The salmon was grilled with care and minimal oil (that's rare!!). Super fresh and satiating. I loved the texture of the crispy rice and salad below the filet. The meal is on the pricier side, but for a fabulous and filling Sunday dinner where you're likely to have tasty leftovers, it was delicious and would recommend.

The staffs are friendly. The service was great. We loved all the dishes we ordered. Their risotto is why we come back here. Chef really knows how to make delicious food with love.

Oh, my god! I feel there is so great. This is what I started and when I finished! I finished them all! And I don't see a lot of places only for risottoin New York. This is more family cozy style, not super high end, but do feel good. They are not a lot tables available. So maybe it's better to go there early.

Coming back here again each time and the Risotto is perfect. We tried the spinach, speck, and mushroom Risottos. Each were savory and had their own unique flavor profiles. I'm surprised this restaurant is never busy when we are here. Excellent food !

We tried Risotteria Melotti in Manhattan today before we had to catch the train to MD. Two of the people in my party were gluten free so they were in Heaven. It is a Risotto and traditional Italian rice-based cuisine 100% gluten free. Besides the wonderful Risotto choices, they had the most extensive gluten free desert menu I've ever seen. I ended up getting the Caesar salad with kale , chicken and gluten free croutons. Decor was lovely but space is small.

Can't believe I never heard of this place when I lived in the East Village. They specialize in risotto here and it really shows because the risotto is absolutely delicious. There's about a dozen different varieties to choose from and they seem to accommodate all sorts of different diets as well. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the risottos on their menu. There's a decent selection of appetizers too though the entree portions are generous enough and there's complimentary (rice) bread service that I don't feel the need to order appetizers. The Valpolicella-focused wine list deserves some praise too. I've not seen a wine by the glass list that has such a good variety of wines from a single region and all from a lesser known wine region at that. And because Valpolicella has such a great range from the light-bodied, easy drinking classicos to the full-bodied, more serious amarone, you're likely to find a glass that pairs well with whatever risotto you order (whether that's a light vegetable-forward risotto or a heavier risotto powered with red meat).

It's very rare that I get to order off an exclusively gluten free menu, so having the option to eat anything was very exciting! I loved being able to share bread which is a rarity for me. The place was understandably packed and the service was fast and attentive. The waiter was knowledgeable with wine pairings and helped me pick out an excellent merlot that paired perfectly with my mushroom risotto which was very good. I also enjoyed the peach cobbler which made for a very satisfying meal.