Noodle Pudding

Happy New Year! What a way to end 2024, at this charming restaurant with amazing service, tucked away in the nooks of Brooklyn Heights.Food was great, I've seen others call it "soprano's style dining" that is very very accurate. They don't take credit card so cash is king, so make sure to bring the dough because you'll be running across the street to the nearest ATM.

Noodle Pudding is the restaurant we all wish we had on the corner.They don't take reservations, but you usually have a decent chance of sitting down, especially if you roll in early. The staff is friendly. The martinis are filled to the absolute brim (you have to sip before you pick it up). They have glasses of house wine for $5, and it actually tastes decent. Think about that for a second. Can you get a glass of wine anywhere in Brooklyn for $5 right now? That isn't absolute swill? This is something that only happens in Europe now. They are adorably decorated for the holidays. They wrap their vegetables in cheese (see the excellent frico d'asparagi). They sell their excellent calabrian chili oil by the jar. Their lasagna never disappoints. In fact, just about everything is excellent, but some items definitely shine more than others.Oddly enough, the noodle pudding that accompanies the braised shortribs (excellent flavor) is one of my least favorite things I've eaten here, despite it being the namesake. It was fine, just underseasoned, and too close to noodle kugel for my liking. Basically, I like it here, and wish I lived closer.

Walking home from solidcore one evening, I stumbled upon this gorgeous, cozy looking restaurant that was absolutely packed. There was no signage around and I was pretty cold, so I made a mental note to figure out what the place was called the next day. To my surprise, it was an old-school, classic red-sauce joint that is cash-only and has been serving the neighborhood for the past 25 years. I don't think it's much of a secret spot at this point but I love that there is no signage or website and the restaurant is actually quite intimate and welcoming despite the mystery. I came in for a late dinner service around 9pm on a Saturday evening, and even then the crowds and vibes at Noodle Pudding were still going strong. The string lights and fake cobwebs were a cute touch to the space which very much feels quaint and homey, with the classic red and white checkered tablecloths and dark wood paneling. The windows were opened so that everyone could enjoy the balmy and unseasonably warm October evening breeze. We ordered the fritto misto ($24) and the Caesar salad ($18) to start with, which were both excellent and had us excited for the rest of our meal. The calamari was lightly breaded so each bite was crispy, but more importantly, actually full of squid. The fried shishito peppers were also a nice touch-- we got a couple of hot ones too. The Caesar dressing was rich and creamy, and not too briny and I loved the homemade croutons too as they were super crispy and had a lovely olive oil flavor. Unfortunately the two mains that I wanted to try, the osso buco and the braised beef cheeks, were both sold out, so we settled for the mushroom risotto ($30), linguine with clams ($29), grilled lamb sausage ($28), and an off the menu gnocchi with a sage butter sauce ($24). My favorite of the evening was the risotto which was mushroom heavy and finished off with umami-rich porcini butter. The hand-cut linguine had a beautiful toothsome texture that only fresh pasta can have, but I did think it was a little dry and needed some more sauce. The cherry tomatoes were soft and offered a nice acidity to every bite, but I didn't get that sweet seafood taste I was hoping for. The gnocchi were so soft and pillowy-- possibly the best iteration I've ever had. I am really glad we decided to inquire about this because it wasn't on the menu. The sage butter sauce was the perfect complement to the gnocchi though I am curious about the pomodoro sauce too. The lamb sausage was really the outlier of our meal, though it looked magnificent all coiled with grill marks, resting atop a bed of mashed fava beans and dandelion greens. To be fair, the fava bean purée was thick and hearty and the greens were surprisingly sweet and tender. However, the lamb sausage had a strangely bitter aftertaste that no one at our table could identify. It was a little dry, but not gamey and had all the seasonings and spices that make it distinctly Italian including fennel seed and oregano. The bitter aftertaste was quite jarring so we ended up sending it back. Our server, Amy, and the owner/manager, Anthony, were very accommodating and understanding and even brought us a skate wing, which was such a thoughtful gesture. I love a good mild flat fish, and the skate was flaky and delicate. The accompanying broccoli rabe was an appropriate amount of bitter this time around, and we were all pleasantly surprised by how delicious and simple the fish was. When we got the bill, I was surprised to find out that not only was the sausage taken off, but also that we were not charged the skate either. This was so generous of Noodle Pudding and the fact that they went to lengths to provide the best experience and food for us made us feel so appreciated and cared for. Five stars for the service and management-- I will absolutely be back very soon for my braised beef cheeks and osso buco!

We were in town for a conference and were told to go here by a local, and it did not disappoint! The ambiance was old school Italian vibe with a home-y feel. The staff were all super welcoming and informative. We ordered wine and an aperol spritz, and both were great. We also got the garlic bread, and I highly recommend. I ordered the lasagna and it was HUGE. Everything we tried was delicious, and you could tell the pasta was fresh. We got in with no wait, but it's a smaller place so you might need to wait if you have a bigger party! Also it is CASH ONLY so know that before going!!

**CASH ONLY**The food was so delicious! We ordered octopus carpaccio, garlic bread with homemade chili oil and olives for appetizers. The olives were soaked in fragrant extra virgin olive oil. The octopus was savory and topped with chopped pistachio. I ordered the pappardelle with mushroom, spinach and a generous amount of parmesan for my entree. We ended the night with tiramisu that melted in your mouth.The staff was very friendly but service was on the slower side because of how busy the restaurant was on a Thursday night. We tried a few times to flag down the waiter. They turn off the music and sing happy birthday to the tables that were celebrating. Everyone in the restaurant participated and the moments were adorable.

The server was so rude we left 20 minutes after sitting down. Went next door to eat. Not accommodating to dietary restrictions.

Once again even after years, Noodle Pudding never disappoints. Get here early for a table with no wait and expect great service and delicious food at reasonable prices. $5 house wine. And it's good. Wonderful focaccia with soppresata and mozzarella. The bread is crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. Ask for a bit of olive oil!! Pastas all look good but we chose the salmon with escarole and beans (always my absolute favorite) and chicken scarpariello that was very good in a brown sauce with potatoes. Dessert was affogatto with a biscotti and what more could you want ? Cash only. And we'll be back.

Food is pretty good but definitely for the price point ... like average $30 per plate ... The atmosphere is really cozy and it's hormonal inside when it's cold outside. The bathrooms are very clean and very adorable.

Food is amazing. At the bar, literally everything that could go wrong with good service and drinks went wrong. The food was excellent though.

Excellent service and food was excellent! Noodle pudding was excellent as well as all our pasta and braised ribs. What a wonderful place and service. Lovely atmosphere. Felt like we were family. Highly recommend! Waiter was as so attentive and friendly.