Attentive service, delicious food with fresh ingredients, comfortable dining space. I wouldn't say there's anything super unique about it... it's pretty standard... but it's a reliable go-to for Italian and they seem to have reservations available. It's good, just don't expect some magical/rare experience.

Katie K.

We came upon this spot while walking back from the Met and are very glad we stopped in. The food was delicious and we liked all of the menu choices. They also were able to adjust and add gluten-free pasta, which we really appreciated! You can also tell they've put a lot of thought/effort into the ambiance of the place, and it looks great. The only downsides were that the service was a little slow (our waiter was very kind though, I don't think it's his fault by any means) and it was a tad pricey for the portion sizes.

Anitha K.

A few of my friends were excited to try this place out because of the truffle pasta options. We tried the white truffle special and unfortunately had to send the dish back twice - there was hardly any sauce/butter/flavor on it and it was very watery. My friend ended up switching to the vodka pasta which was significantly better. they still charged my friend $90 for this dish when it wasn't eaten which I found very odd. They did give us dessert to make up for it but it would have been more fair to remove the $90 charge without anything additional. I'd give 4 stars for their spicy vodka pasta though! Similar to Carbone but not as tangy. We also tried the carbonara 3/5, bucatini di pulpo 3/5, black truffle pizza3/5 and the meatballs in their Sunday sauce 4/5. The black truffle options definitely stood out over the more expensive white truffle If you are in the area, I'd stop by for the Vodka pasta and anything else the their Sunday sauce!!

R. C.

Honestly not sure why this place doesn't have a higher review. It's fabulous. Perfect ambiance, location, lighting, service, and food is exceptional. Even the bathrooms are lovely. I hesitated going in because of the other, not so kind, reviews, but I always like to judge for myself. We went out on a Friday evening to just have a few cocktails and a few apps. We stumbled upon this place, and couldn't have been happier with the find. The place is sexy. Perfect for a date night. The bar seating is inviting, with plush velvet seats and a nice back, and hooks under the counter, which is always appreciated. There is a dining area on the first floor and then another upstairs. Seems the place is pretty hopping for dinner; so a reservation is probably best. I saw many walk ins and plenty of bar seating, though the bar got full fast while we were there. Lots of nice cocktails. Francisco and Frennie at the bar are excellent bartenders and worked together so well. Watching them was an art. They gave great recommendations, were pleasant and worked with speed. We had a margarita pizza to start. I kept my expectations low but was blown away. Very thin crunchy crust, sauce was fresh and rich with flavor, and fresh mozarella cheese. The basil drizzle on top gave it a burst of flavor. We also ordered the meatballs. Flavor bombs! I wished I had a little ricotta to layer on them, but that's just my inner fat girl fighting for more cheese. They were perfect the way they were. Tonight we are back again. Just 2 days later and got the pizza again. Tastes even better today! That basil drizzle - muahhhh! I ordered the vodka pasta. The pasta is homemade!!! Super rich and just a hint of spice. The portion was perfect for me. My husband had the 24 ounce prime NY strip, which was on special. He's a steak guy and always has a critique. He was very pleased! The steak came with roasted potatoes. All was cooked to perfection. Also, love there dishes. Very cute and simple table setting. Nice little candle and flowers. Five stars. Loved every single bite, and service was great again. Francisco remembered us and made sure to say hello - so kind. I love when I find new delicious places with great staff. Love that for me!

Elaine M.

Overall I do recommend Amarena, as it's such a cute restaurant with amazing friendly service and delicious cocktails. The vibes of the restaurant definitely emanate the upper east side. The carrots were an absolute star of the show for me. They were soft, salty-sweet, and perfectly cooked. The pastas were good (and they offer a gluten free pasta shape which is perfect) but the portions were a bit too small for the price we paid. I sadly left feeling pretty hungry.

Alicia C.

We live right next door, so it's always great to have a solid spot so close to home. Dan, Matthew, and Megan make you feel right at him. The cocktails are great - Matthew behind the bar can get inventive too which is nice to see what he will whip up to tickle your fancy. Love the Sunday Sauce pasta with the meaty ragu, their stuffed agnolotti, panna cotta, and often their special salads are all delicious. While the food is solid, though I will say, it doesn't feel a tad bit pricey for what some of the items are. I think everything feels like $3-5 over. We have this in our rotation. Even if it's for sharing a dish or two and couple cocktails. Glad it's in the neighborhood

Shannon F.

LOVE this place so so much. It's in an UES townhouse and is so charming with great cocktails and really yummy Italian food. Sopressata picante pizza is a must get, loved the peaches on it. If amarena was in the west village it would be ALLLLLL over TikTok

Dani L.

Delicious food and presentation. A little on the louder side but the ambiance is cool because it's so lively. The service is great and the food is amazing. Good prices too. Definitely recommend will be coming back!

Sandy Y.

Quaint Italian spot that new to UES. Cozy vibes in a revamped townhouse, their traditional Italian fare isn't groundbreaking but comforting and good. Kept it light with a cocktail (Calabrese), complimentary house-made bread (tomato & olive focaccia), and two dishes: Every Day Sunday Gravy (pasta) & Pollo alla Parmigana (Chicken Parm). Cocktail: smokey from the mezcal, sour and tart from the lime and pineapple, kick of spice from the chili. Think of it as a less sweet and more sophisticated cousin to the spicy margarita. Complimentary Bread: Tomato & Olive House-made Focaccia & a crispy bread. Paired with a good quality olive oil. The focaccia was a bit dough-y but good, nonetheless. The crispy bread was like a cracker (a well-seasoned salt and pepper water cracker). Every Day Sunday Gravy: This pasta is worth ordering. The tomato base was subtle and did not overpower the main focus of the sauce - braised beef cheek. The sauce was fantastic - the braised beef cheek was flavorful, meaty, and hearty; it fell apart at the slightest bite but was able to keep its integrity. The pappardelle noodles were chewy (but not too chewy) and broken up into bite-sized pieces. Would 100% order again. Pollo alla Parmigiana: Chicken Parmesan was good but predictable. It is exactly what you expect from it. Nothing new or special about this dish but it is safe, comforting, and basic. The cooked cherry tomatoes were a nice touch. I wouldn't order it again. All in all, I think this restaurant is worth a visit. It's dark, moody, and aesthetically pleasing. The ground floor, with the bar, booths, and limited seating, felt intimate. Upstairs, on the second floor, felt cozy, comforting, and contemporary. I wouldn't say the menu had anything remarkable or out-of-the-norm. But, if you're looking for a good Italian restaurant in the neighborhood for a date night, this is the spot for you.

Sarah E.

I was so excited to try Amarena and had high hopes knowing the restaurant group. Unfortunately I had a very different experience. I educated the staff on our parties food allergies prior to our visit, when we arrived, they were not addressed so we again shared this with our waiter. The waiter allowed three separate entrées to be brought to the table that contained nuts after communicating this multiple times. Do not come here if you have any type of food allergies. I was so disappointed in our experience I won't be returning. Other notes: The lighting upstairs and downstairs was quite bright for the environment The noise level was extremely high. It was hard to focus on personal conversations with the overwhelming noise. The rap music was very loud for the ambients and did not match the environment

Evan N.

Honestly everything that we got was really good but nothing blew me away for the price you have to pay. I left saying everything was good but still was looking for something a little bit more for the price. The service and ambiance were impeccable and have 0 complaints about it. The Sunday sauce was easily the best thing we got and I would 100% go back and get this! Come try this place out!

Drew L.

Beautiful restaurant in the first and second floor on a brownstone on a residential street. The service is amazing. We didn't have a reservation on a Wednesday and Anthony (I believe) was able to squeeze us in. The hostesses were both great as well! The drinks were amazing -- perfect extra dirty martini. And the bartenders are very fast. The bread service was a big cracker and focaccia which were both SO good. The mushroom pasta was the standout dish, but the ragu was also amazing and filling. Skip the squash blossoms and the cake which were both just fine. I can't wait to come back!