My boyfriend and I went here about 2 weeks ago for our anniversary. The food and service were both great. We started with the eggplant parm appetizer which was very unique and delicious-would definitely recommend. For dinner, I had the pappardelle al Ragu di manzo and my boyfriend had the veal special. Both were great. For dessert we had a Nutella creme brûlée/tiramisu combination which was one of the best things I have ever ate. We also each had a drink. When my boyfriend made the reservation he mentioned we would be celebrating our anniversary. Once we were seated, the waiter offered us a glass of prosecco which we assumed was complimentary as the glasses were already on our table and no other guests were offered a glass. However when we got the bill we saw we were charged $13 a glass. This put me off a little which is the reason I took a star off their review. I would still recommend 83 and 1/2 as it's a great neighborhood spot but just be aware that you may be charged for things that are implied to be complimentary. read more

Some of the best Italian cuisine in NYC. Intimate atmosphere, fantastic wine selection, delicious food. A must.

I have been trying many restaurants in the Upper East side and this one is one to at least try out. The prices are pretty normal for the area as well as the portions. I just wish they had more variety in their menu options, so there was a reason to come again. read more

Small, personal,good food, and basically reasonable (insofar as an upper east side venue can be termed "reasonable "!) service was good but not extraordinary, however we went earlier in the evening and the place was very busy. An interesting restaurant, I would definitely recommend. read more

Had reservations for 830 on a Saturday. Place was packed. Bar was full too. Had to wait outside (in the cold) as the hostess was apologetic that it would be only a few minutes. Thirty minutes later, we wandered back in to check if the table had freed up. Nope. But the hostess was apologetic again and this time offered us a glass of wine to compensate for the wait. I hate waiting. Let alone waiting outside. But.... All in, the forty minutes was worth it. The appetizers we had gnocchi and burrata was spot on. The duck was prepared perfectly, salty, seared crispy, cooked perfectly medium. The fettucine with meat sauce was amazing as well. And to top it off it was the most amazing tiramisu I've had in my life. My life. The nutella panna cotta was good. But the tiramisu stole the show... In short, long wait even with reservations. Friendly hostess and waiter. Amazing food. Did I mention the tiramisu ;o) read more

This new Italian spot is perfect for an intimate dinner with friends. The ambiance is dim lit and cozy. The food was great, a few things were outstanding, between the eggplant parmigiana appetizer and the four cheese pasta in a cream sauce I'm not sure I've had a better pasta in a while. They also had a great wine selection and service. I will def be coming back here :). read more

My boyfriend made an 8:00p.m. reservation at 83 1/2 this past Friday, and we were both excited to try a new place on the UES. The restaurant itself is small, but it had a nice ambiance with the open kitchen and waiting bar area. The restaurant was completely full when we arrived, and the crowd did not die down the entire time we were there. We were both impressed by the food. We shared the red snapper crudo, mushroom spaetzle, pappardelle with chicken, 4 story hill chicken, and a selection of 3 cheeses for dessert. We both agreed that the pappardelle was the standout dish of the evening. As other reviewers have noted, the wine selection is also very nice and reasonably priced - I had a lovely pear cider at the start of the meal. Our server was very helpful, outgoing, and had a great attitude. The one minor complaint I have is that it took a while before our first course arrived. As a local to the area, I would recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a more sophisticated dining experience on the UES. read more

I have been to 83 1/2 a few times now and the only thing that keeps me going back is the food. This past weekend I took my family there to celebrate and occasion and I have to say that if I don't write a review it is a disservice to a potentially great neighborhood gem. First of all, I made the reservation a week in advance. I called, had a lengthy discussion with the hostess and then called again a few days later to update the date of the reservation. It was for 7 people so thank goodness when I went in about 5 min before the party arrived there was a table available because my name was not in the system. I'm not sure what happened but I would expect that once a reservation is made, especially if you have an electronic system, it would mean something. That being said there seems to be 2 hostesses (in a restaurant with no coat check and very small in size) which made me further why my reservation was not in the system. We sat down as we came in and the attention was very sparse to say the least. There is only one waiter in the entire restuarant and the odd ball hostess out seems to be a runner when she feels like it. We ordered a ton of food and wine (7 people, appitizers, entress, dessert and 6 bottles of win) and as our bill was increasing in potential the attenion to our table (to my surprise) didn't get better. I felt bad for the waiter but at the same time - the restaurant needs to staff this place MUCH better. Service issues aside -- the food is great. My complaints are 2 fold though....1) The food took forever to get to the table. Instead of acknowledging it and apologizing in that "appropriate" window of time though the waiter let it go until we were visably craning our necks. 2) the Octopus appitizer had about 1 piece of octopus in it, it was all potatoes. Sorry - I didn't want potatoes, I wanted Octopus. 3) They ran out of Branzino on a Friday night - a menu staple. They had about 6 specials though.... 4) After a noticably horrendous service, nothing was taken off the bill. You are a neighborhood spot, you gave poor service - try to reatin your business by acknowledging it in some way. Overall this place has great potential as thier food is great. If they could only get out of their own way that is. I would in no way go there with a big party or on the weekend ever again. I was actually embarrassed that I suggested the place as my family was not happy after the mean. I won't write it off completely though. I would recommend going in when it has the potential to be dead - this is probably when they have the items on the menu that I want to eat and their staff isn't overwhelmed by patrons. I just hope that this review helps them to correct the things that are wrong and assess what will help their business because like I said the food is really good when they get it right (octopus aside). read more

Amazing food! Head Chef always comes out to make sure the dishes were prepared to perfection. This has been one of my favorite restaurants on the UES since its opening. Great spot for anything from a Sat night dinner with friends to a Holiday or celebration. I highly recommend. read more

Hosted a birthday dinner for myself and 9 guests here last night and then I promptly created a Yelp account to give this review. It was truly a seamless evening with great service and awesome food. I reached out the restaurant a month prior to my birthday to ask about their specials/menus for larger parties and received an almost immediate response saying not only could they create a three course pre-fixe meal at $35 pp, but that on Wednesday nights they host a BYOB (corkage fee $25 for as many bottles as we wanted to bring)! I was sold. A few days later I received a mocked up menu. I made one request - change the salmon dish to a chicken dish - and they totally accommodated, sending me a revised menu for confirmation. The night of the party, some guests arrived up to an hour late, but the staff let us sit at our table, open our wine and hang out until we were ready. Then, once we were all there, our food came out fast and HOT. And it was GOOD. Seriously, go here. Small place, great atmosphere. Excellent service. Go on a date here, throw a party here, just go. Tonight. read more

Will not survive, and it's too bad. The problem here is not the food, it's the service. Keep the chefs, lose the front-of-the-house staff. The wait staff are among the most insufferable that I have experienced in many years of fine dining. The waiter suggested to a diner (who unbeknownst to him was a sommelier) that the waiter knew more about wine than anyone who walked in, and pressed repeatedly to allow him to make a recommendation. The same waiter blanched when a diner requested no mushrooms to be included in a dish (of which they were a largely inconsequential component). The host had a dress shirt untucked and looked positively sloppy. Ok - so the food? It was quite good. I would not go back, however, until they can everyone that isn't in the kitchen. read more

My girlfriend and I had a wonderful time celebrating her new job offer at 83 1/2. The staff were all extremely warm and gracious and while the menu was a little detailed for my taste our food was amazing! Excited to finally have a destination restaurant so close to home on the UES. read more

Wow! Food was incredible! Nothing like it on the UES. Recommend the chicken or the lamb. Great service and space!

The food, atmosphere, and service in this restaurant is wonderful. Definitely one of my favorite restaurants in the neighborhood

Going downhill. First trip to 83 1/2 was a few months back when it just opened. Then, though the service was horrid (they comp-ed our wine as they realized it was terrible), the food was spectacular that first time. Second trip (2/15) in and I just have to say....I feel like the plating was from the 90s and the food was just mediocre. Maybe they changed chefs??? The filet mignon was served with a disc-typed ball of cooked rice that looked JUST like the filet (imagine getting served 2 brown puck shaped items)!!! Eeks. Sauce on filet was too sweet for my liking. Burrata was fine but nothing great. Lamb ragu pasta was bland and overcooked. Wine just mediocre but definitely overpriced. Not sure we'll ever be back, unfortunately. We cook better at home. read more

Been there twice. Both times delicious. Love the appetizers. Had kale and octopus and liege and pigs ear salad. The chicken and pork and beans mains were very good as well. The people I was with liked the restaurant very much as well. The wines are well chosen and gently priced. The prices on the food are more than fair. The service was professional and warm. The restaurant needs more deserts, so no four stars. It also needs more diners. Please hurry over and help this place thrive. read more

Still a great place and reasonably priced. Home made pasta is the winner. Linguine frutti mare was a bit bland for my taste. Had Really nice Valpolicella Superio. Keep it up guys and gals! read more

Nice atmosphere. Excellent service. Appetizers were delicious. Wine was excellent. Branzino and Soft Shell Crabs absolutely terrific !!!! read more

Love this place! Always great food and service! I have been 3 or 4 times and get the Fiocchi 4 Formaggi - beggars purse every timeit is soooooo good! Must try when you go. Every time we go the staff is very kind and attentive. Always so accommodating even if we show up a little late. read more

This place is consistently disappointing to me- oversalted food, fishy calamari, and overcooked lava cake to cite a few examples. Yet I keep returning because my friend likes it here. They are extremely nice- I think they mean well. But my own experience just hasn't been great. I have taken bites of other people's food that has been decent. But...still never great. Don't go out of your way to come here. read more

We had a fantastic experience with 10 guests for a birthday dinner. The app dishes were all delicious especially the octopus salad. The main courses that stood out were the Branzino, the pappardelle, and the pork chop special. The lava cake was the perfect ending. I always gain respect for a restaurant when you ask for a wine recommendation and they come back with a great wine that was on the lower cost end of the wine list. But, what makes this place special was not just the attentive service, It was the feel as soon as you arrived with a warm welcome. 83 1/2 has the feel of the small intimate restaurants we enjoyed in Milan. Perfect overall experience. read more

Excellent service and delicious food. I wasn't familiar with the venue until I worked with them on a private dinner. I wish I'd known them before. A+ highly recommended. read more

83 1/2 is delicious! Everything we ate was fresh and tasty. I highly recommend the Brussel sprouts and the pasta with the short ribs cause they were amazing. The only problem was that the restaurant is very small and the waiters kept brushing past me all night. Definitely good for 2 people but probably not more than that. read more

Unfortunately we never got to try the food here .. first restaurant I've ever had to walk out of Bc I felt our business was unwanted . Shortly greeted by who I think was the only server there, no welcome or hello. Just 'do you have a reservation? ' we didn't , but didn't matter since the Restaurant was totally empty.He pointed to the table we could sit at and service only went downhill from there . He seemed annoyed by our presence, no hospitality or friendliness at all. We were hungry so we stuck around, ordered drinks.. then Tried to order some calamari as a starter .but he said we weren't allowed to make partial orders (we had to order appetizers and entrees , everything all at once ) that would've made some sense had the restaurant been busy at all, but it was EMPTY. When I questioned that, he said if I'm hungry he'll bring bread . Isn't everyone hungry when they go out to dinner ? I was upset by that point , it seemed like he was doing us a favor by letting us dine there . I complained about his attitude , he got defensive. I said I was leaving , he said it was fine . Then i mentioned finding them on yelp and he insisted on us staying. But no thanks , too many good spots to spend our money on, places that actually want your business . I love supporting small business and don't like writing negative reviews , but I had to. Someone has to train this guy and give him some basic tips on how to treat guests . If he has any training at all- it's as a bouncer , not a server read more

I loooove this little Upper East Side Italian restaurant. The food is DELICIOUS. We ordered Nutella french toast, warm shrimp salad and lamb pasta and all somewhat ate off each other's plates and everything was scrumptious and presented beautifully on the plate. Compliments to the chef! Plus with the 4 people brunch for $60 deal on groupon, it was a great deal. The service is on-point. The staff was attentive and didn't leave us waiting and came back to check on us several times during the meal. I hope they're around for a long time. read more

Pick through the construction sites and find this cool spot~~ 83 1/2 doesn't look like your typical Italian restaurant, with its kitchen-industrial-chic décor. And with Italian takes on power ballads, Latin jazz, and dancehall reggae on the soundtrack, it doesn't sound like it either. To make this work, the taste has to match the sight and the sound for innovation...and it does. Crusty rustic bread with oil and sun-dried tomato puree, chicken polpetti (meatballs) with a nutty texture outside and a melt-in-the-mouth inside, fresh garlic pesto pasta, meaty short ribs with grilled polenta, Nutella crème brulee. Serious portions--I dined there after a mile-and-a-half walk and still couldn't put a dent in this meal. Chef David (watch him through the panel) and waiter David are professional and charming. This is the first time I was ever tempted to sneak out a meat knife! (Thanks to Living Social for turning me on to this gem.) read more

This is one of the best and most reasonably priced restaurants in the UES. The charcuterie was super generous, the chicken meatballs had a great texture and taste, and the pork with truffle mashed potatoes was delicious. read more

My family and I have had some amazing meals, and others were just pretty good. When the restaurant is on, the experience is really exceptional. Sometimes, however, the quality of the food is not always consistent. All in all, a nice place with very high potential. Overall, I am very satisfied with my experience here. read more

The food here was excellent!!! We had reservations but opted to sit at the bar. Which was awesome because you can watch the chef prepare the food. Very intimate. We had four courses and all were excellent. My favorite was probably the eggplant meatballs. Very reasonably priced. For two people we were able to get out for under $150. Including drinks. We will definitely go here again. read more

Absolutely delicious. The parmesan balls were excellent. The pasta was perfectly seasoned, and the atmosphere was great

We walked by this restaurant and often talked about going there. We are glad we went. Their pasta was home made and delicious. Their desert was also great. Pretty lively, tight seating, and attentive enough service. read more

83 1/2 is a wonderful restaurant with outstanding food, service and wine. Also, if you are considering a private event space in NYC or on the UES (birthday parties, bridal showers, baby showers, anniversary party, etc.) I would highly recommend it. I have visited the restaurant for dinner but most recently, I had my daughter's 1st birthday party lunch here for a group of 25. We had the entire restaurant (because they don't currently serve lunch) and the staff couldn't have been more accommodating or easier to work with. Everything was seamless, and Daniel and Adel (the managers) really made the party fantastic. Unlike many venues in NYC, 83 1/2 is super flexible and accommodating with food requests and they make organizing a private event as easy as possible. I met with them a few times ahead of the party and they were always super responsive when I had questions from time to time. They are real professionals and helped to make the day as perfect as possible. Oh, and obviously the food was outstanding!! We had a few options for appetizers and entrees as well as drinks. The space is wonderful, and I can't rave enough about it. TAKE MY WORD FOR IT - VISIT 83 1/2 FOR DINNER & DEFINITELY BOOK YOUR NEXT PRIVATE PARTY HERE! *They also offer gluten free options which is nice if you have anyone with an allergy. :) read more

I'm so glad I found eighty three and a half. The food was excellent, some of the best Italian I've ever had! The waitstaff was awesome, and owner was super welcoming. Nice wine list as well. We had the bolognese (seriously one of the best in nyc), the seafood pasta special (outstanding), and two salads to start. Both salads were great, but the real star was the pasta. My goodness! Will be back, and will bring everyone I know! Don't miss this great local spot! Can't wait to try every thing on the menu! So wonderful! read more

I usually don't write restaurant reviews but had such a wonderful experience, I just had to share. I went to this restaurant with a groupon I purchased. My boyfriend and I started with the salmon carpacchio which was one of the specials. It had cubed avocado and burrata on it with olive oil and lemon. I then had the stiped bass in a lemon/butter sauce which was moist with a crispy skin. I tasted the duck too, which was over a mashed potatoes with pistacchios. The food was outrageous! The service was excellent. I think it is a wonderful addition to the neighborhood and will definitely go back again. read more

Alll was terrific, delicious. Great pumpkin gnocchis- forgot to take picture. Service, atmosphere and food- excellent. Will definitely return soon. read more

Excellent renditions of Italian standards. Well flavored and well presented. Casual and fun place.

An UES MUST. This place is incredible. Everything is handmade and out of this world. Don't pass this place up!!

Excellent food (especially the truffle ravioli) but the quantity and price simply did not add up.

Had a delightful meal at this neighborhood spot. Great pasta -- yes, al dente, the way we like it ;-) Arrived at 6:30 on a Saturday when only a few tables were taken; it was packed within the next half-hour so plan accordingly. Small restaurant with open kitchen. Enjoyed a Sidecar and had the artichokes to start plus the Brussel sprouts which were *the best* Lemony and so well-browned, could have eaten a couple of orders and gone home happy. Our group had several of the homemade pasta dishes -- all good. The "beggar's purses" filled with pear and cheese were delicious, also the paccheri alla vodka and the others we tried. The tiramisu was yummy, too. Will definitely return. read more

Fantastic restaurant,The place is very cozy despite a great number of tables,we've been there,many times and it never disappoints.The food and service are excellent. I would highly recommend read more