Came for the "vibrant yet cozy" vibes, stayed because I physically cannot move after eating my body weight in carbs. ​Hit up Amata on E 56th for lunch today. The place is class personified--white linen service, a lively bar, and a sidewalk café where you can sit and judge people walking by in true New York fashion. ​I crushed the Orecchiette Della Nonna (peas, sweet Italian sausage, mushrooms, and a cream sauce that deserves its own fan club). Absolutely incredible. The service was top-tier too, which is great because they didn't judge the look of pure euphoria on my face while I was eating. ​Because I have zero self-control, I also ordered the Rigatoni Bolognese to go. Tasted it as soon as I got back--home-style beef ragout, fresh herbs, pure perfection. 10/10. ​The Verdict: If you see me wandering around Midtown looking like a python that just swallowed a deer, mind your business. I'm just digesting. Worth it. read more

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Rating: 3.5 Stars I came to Amata on a Tuesday night for a private event in their back room. When I arrived, the front of the restaurant was pretty empty and when I left it was also a bit quiet as well. The space we were given in the back was very festive and cozy. There was a very nice view of their beautiful wine cellar as well as some great holidays decorations. Service throughout the event was wonderful. The servers were very friendly. Because we were a private event, we got a small buffet of items. The primavera and salad were delicious. There were also some vegetables that were ok. The proteins (IE salmon and chicken) were fine as well. They ended the dinner with some tasty berries and cute holiday cookies. Additionally, I do want to add that the bathroom, though well designed, was quite dirty. There was toilet paper everywhere including on the toilet seats themselves when I went to one of the stalls. All in all though, still a nice space for a private event. Though the food was just ok, the service was great. read more

Amata - Cute holiday cookie! - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

I came here for dinner with a large group and we collectively thought the food was just okay. I got the veal piccata and found the meat to be very tough (1 star off). The garlic asparagus was better. The chocolate cake was good. The main reason for a 1-star review is because we had a weird (and sometimes creepy) experience with our waiter. These interactions included: * 1 star off: I asked for something non-alcoholic, and he said they do not have non-alcoholic drinks. I pointed to ginger beer as one of the ingredients for a cocktail on their cocktail menu, and he argued with me that ginger beer is beer. Most commercial ginger beer is non-alcoholic...but whatever. * 1 star off: My friend got the burrata with basalmic glaze and asked for more basalmic glaze. The waiter brought her a bottle of basalmic vinegar. She had to explain to him the difference between basalmic glaze and vinegar. * 1 star off: He kept rubbing the backs of the women in our group when talking with us. He also leaned over and talked to me very closely. It made us very uncomfortable. The restaurant was mostly empty except for our group. Maybe the waiter felt lonely. Still does not make it okay though. read more

It's just a creepy experience. I don't know, but our waiter gave us the impression that he was looking down his nose at us like we were not really his type of customer. I was looking forward to some of their specialties, including the octopus, which did not at all taste good or muscular, which is what I am used to in other Mediterranean restaurants. Only the sorbet at the end was worth it. It was definitely a miss for me. read more

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If you're looking for authentic Italian food, this is where you need to go. Some of the best gnocchis I've ever had. The service was impeccable! Recommend making a reservation. read more

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The food, service and neighborhood vibe is consistently great . A real treat in Midtown East .

Came here for dinner on a weekday. The restaurant was pretty empty and we were seated quickly. The staff were super friendly and helpful in helping us choose what to order. The food was pretty average - not the best I've had in the city. Everything was slightly on the saltier side, so I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. If you want any alcohol, I would recommend getting wine instead of any of their cocktails. read more

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We had a great experience at Amata. The service was very friendly, the food was excellent, and the drinks were delicious. A large wedding was taking up the back space, and the owner offered us free desserts for their private event causing us a delay in our service that was hardly noticed. They care about the small things, serve great food, and are a great time. read more

Amata - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

I came here for dinner with a few friends and don't think I'd go again. I'd recommend going to another Italian restaurant. Food = 3/5 : Overall the food isn't bad but also isn't materially better than the average place you walk into in Little Italy despite prices being materially higher. The flat bread was the best dish I had. Ambience = 3/5: demographic skews older and very white. When we came for dinner we were the only minorities in the restaurant. Service = 3/5 : while not bad, the service wasn't great. I ordered a wine bottle and they brought a cheaper vintage back and were about to open it before I stopped them. Only then did they informed me that they ran out of the vintage I ordered. read more

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The food was not as good as Portofino in Queens. The endive and artichoke salad was not as crisp, tasty or plentiful, and I was charged $10/$14, unlike the $7 half-price for half the salad I was charged at Portofino. The home-made pasta was good. The shrimp were not cooked enough. My own shrimp, baked then stir-fried with oregano and thyme at home are better. The profiterole was good enough, although none can beat Café Dante in the East Village, now closed. The atmosphere is good and the server was professional and polite. The restroom was clean. read more

Great airy space with an upscale vibe. The servers were really kind and attentive -- taking their time to explain different menu offerings. We came for team lunch and it good came out sooner than we're used to and hottttt! The focaccia they bring to start is also quite delicious. Ordered the shrimps fra diavola over house-made papardelle. The sauce was good -- you could tell it was home made with whole chunks of garlic and plum tomatoes. But the shrimp just tasted old -- gummy with little flavor. One colleague ordered the chicken breast and enjoyed it the another ordered spaghetti with seafood from the lunch menu but said it wasn't great... All in all, I think it's worth it to give this place another shot . read more

Amata - Shrimp fra Diavola with papardelle - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Fabulous, delicious food, warm welcoming staff. Beyond clean, homemade pasta, best desserts in town. Hidden gem!!! read more

Dont go if you are hungry. Ordered the salmon which was a very small piece, one very small roasted potato cut in half and one fork of veggies, think it was broccoli rabe. Also ordered eggplant parm that came with pasta. $5 extra for meat sauce which was ok except it only had 8 strands of pasta. eggplant was paper thin and had a pre sliced square of cheese. eggplant was so thin,I am not sure there was eggplant in the dish. when asked the waiter for a small side of plain pasta to add to the sauce they said no. had to get the manager who tried to explain 8 strands is considered a side order, but did come back with a small bowl of undercooked (not al dente) pasta. I can't say there was even a 16th of a box of pasta on the plate and 1/20th of an eggplant. Not worth the money. Tony's Dinapoli so much better read more

The food was great here. We got the veal ravioli and the cavatelli. Paired with a great wine and service, it was a wonderful first dinner in NYC. read more

I really enjoyed almost everything I had here. I started off with the burrata, which was okay, but not the best I've had. It would have been better if there was more balsamic on the plate. I then tried the cavatelli with sausage and broccoli rabe and penne alla vodka. The cavatelli was one of the best pastas I've had in a long time. It tasted so fresh and almost as soft as gnocchi. The penne alla vodka was also really good and I really liked the sauce. I also had the shrimp francese, which I did not enjoy. The shrimp did not taste fresh and I wouldn't get it again. The espresso martinis were also very good! read more

Amata - Espresso martini - very good - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Amata is an excellent Italian Restaurant in Midtown East. I highly recommend all of the pasta dishes. Last night I asked about a "Bone In" veal chop parmigiana, they were happy to accommodate me with an amazing high quality veal chop prepared perfectly. I'm can't wait to go back for another soon !! read more

Amata - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

I went here with my mom for a fancy pre-theater lunch. The service was very attentive. She found some of her veal marsala tough, and I wasn't particularly pleased with the vegetarian options, but overall, the food was tasty. Especially her marsala sauce. The desserts were lovely, we shared a tiramisu and profiteroles. Both were delicious! read more

We came on a weeknight around the holidays, so it was fairly quiet. We got a nice seat in the window and had a really lovely time. Our waiter was professional and friendly and the food was amazing. I had the cavatelli with sausage and broccoli rabe and my fiancé had the gnocchi. My martini was the right size--the kind you can sip for like an hour. I was so excited. We received warm "good nights" on our exit and I really think this is everything a neighborhood restaurant should be. Also, bathrooms huge and very clean. read more

So my mother and her friend went here for lunch Saturday. My mom is 84 and her friend is 95. My mother has some physical issues where she throws up and faints, it comes on suddenly without warning, but it hasn't happened for years. Unfortunatley yesturday out of the blue she had an attack at Amata's. The reason I am telling this story is because I am in the food industry business and the kindness and helpfulness they showed my mom and her friend was amazing. The waiter got ice in a napkin and rubbed her neck for 15 minutes to help the sick feeling pass, Unbelievable! The elderly are just not treated kindly anymore. From the manager to the staff the compassion and service at this resturaunt is off the charts, not to mention exceptional food. I thank you so much for taking care of my mom till I could get there. If there were 10 STAR'S you would get that from me. Warmest Alicia read more

Good service , enjoyable . especially with the walls opened up to the outside in nice weather. food solid. waiters friendly will be back read more

This place is my husband and I's Italian neighborhood staple. Usually drop in on week days around 8pm and we've never had trouble getting a seat. In fact we've brought his mother here who could be rather selective, and she had a great time. Phew! Menu is pretty diverse. Usually get the Caesar salad, and I've had the chicken martini which comes with parmesan crusted medallions, lemon, butter & martini wine. My husband usually opts for pasta and is always impressed. If you order coffee, the staff usually brings little biscotti, which is always appreciated. Great wine list, great service, great time. So glad to have a place like this nearby! read more

Had a great business lunch here today. My very close friend Al is now the GM here. We go back a long way, and his new place does not disappoint. I started with a few Merlots at the bar. Full bodied and mellow. Once at the table, myself and my colleague had a bowl of Pasta Fagiole. Perfecto! The chef himself came out and told us about the dish as my colleague is a big fan of it. I believe the chef knew we were coming. I had the Vitello Romana as my main dish. Fantastic. Veal cutlets encrusted with prociutto served in a light brown sauce with capers, olives and artichokes hearts. Also, perfectly done roasted potatoes as well as a bed of sautéed spinach. All the flavor profiles were there and reminded me of my trip to southern Italy. Great lunch size portion as well. I closed with a port and expresso, and even had a pistachio gelato. A nice touch was the small cookies that came out almost as we ordered dessert. Stop by if you are in Sutton Place, or make a special trip. The room itself is classic yet with a modern feel. Large, with a special private room in the back. Va Bene! read more

Amata - Va Bene! - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Too pricey for what you get. Three of us had lunch on a weekday and it was nearly empty. The service was fine. We were tired from an early flight, so ate quickly with little chatter; however, it seemed to take a while for the server to stop by and get the check. The food was also fine. I had the Meatball Burger (or something along those lines) and it was ok; served too hot and hard to eat. Maybe we went on an off day or maybe it's better for dinner? read more

Amata - Italian Burger - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Terrible, not worth the dollars. Food was mediocre at best, portions were small. Example pasta side had literally 10 strands of under cooked not aldente pasta, eggplant was so thin not sure there was eggplant in the dish and the mozzarella was a sliced square cheap all for $28 because I added meat sauce. Other dishes has one pice of broccoli and one potato about the size of a tablespoon cut in half. Much better restaurants around read more

Loved our 2 visits to this restaurant. We stumbled upon this place because we had a reservation for the 7 pm lips show but we got there a little early so we walked next door to this place. We ended up having one really strong martini and thought the food looked good online. We ended up coming back the next night for dinner. The manager remembered us from the previous night and welcomed us back. The service was great, our first feeling of appreciation for our patronage in a New York restaurant. The food was fresh and wonderful. I would highly recommend. read more

Met a friend for dinner tonight to catch up. Sandwiched in between 2 other tables. Our pasta and chicken entrees very good and service was attentive. But we were screaming over others to be heard. No carpeting to dampen noise. Not a very a relaxing evening. Sorry but I don't like to dine out under these conditions no matter how good the cuisine is. read more

The food couldn't be better. The cooks can do NO wrong. As always the owner Chris, is a nice guy! Adore this restaurant read more

Amata - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Great Italian food. Salmon was delicious. Love the Endive salad etc. good service too.

Amata has become a neighborhood favorite. The staff is super friendly, professional, and fun. The food is consistent and delicious. It is great for private dining events. The crab salad and the veal martini are my favorites. read more

Almost did not return due to the rude attitude of " manager. " After two tedious phone calls to make a reservation, since he hung up on me, my friend had to call, finally got through and had to repeat her phone number several times and spell her very short last name twice and then he asked for her to spell her first name. Ridiculous! Are they doing credit checks? I understand the reservation process, but most places are able to book in less than 1 minute! His station is located near the front door but also very close to a noisy bar. It's not the customer's fault that he's taking reservations in the loudest section of the restaurant. And the customer should not be reprimanded, ever! ( except in unsafe circumstances)Hence, my negative review focuses on the badly trained greeter, Jerome. Upon entering he asked my name and after what he put me through on the phone, I pointed to my friend, who told him, he checked and said her name, she said, yes, and by the way, we had trouble booking this reservation! Oh, it was you! He said pointing at me! I then let him have it about how he hung up on me and instead of him apologizing, he debated with me angrily. I was about to walk out, my friend stepped in and said where's our table, he wanted to continue this unpleasant exchange with me even as he took our coats! The actual owner manager just walked by and I said," this guy, take care of him!" I never had to do this before, and it was very stressful for me. We were seated, our usual waiter was a dream after all that. Then we were "checked" on by both the owner & angry Jerome with smiles and warmth several times. They tried to smooth things over,but I'm hesitant about returning there or I just won't bother to call for a reservation! Veal Osso Bucco & salmon were superb. The adjacent bar gets loud but the tables are not affected. UPDATE: rude manager is gone! Ricotta gnocchi is back! Happy to return. read more

I stopped here for a quick drink and was pleasantly surprised. Great atmosphere! The staff was very professional and friendly. The owner was aware that it was a friends birthday and surprised us. The picture is priceless. That is what I call excellent customer service. read more

Amata - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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What a great find. Amata is delicious. The menu has a number of things on it which are unusual, which makes it a fun evening. If you don't see what you like, they will make it for you. The tables are well spaced so that the noise level is low (despite the dining room being full) and conversations are private. Prices are fair, especially for mid-town Manhattan. Service can get busy, but not so much as to be annoying. I am in a wheelchair and there is ample room to maneuver around. I am looking forward to my next visit. read more

I have never in my life felt as uncomfortable in a restaurant as I did in Amata. I'm an Asian American female who grew up outside Detroit, Michigan and I felt more judged for my race and attire here than I ever have, anywhere, ever (even in the Midwest). Let's start at the beginning. My friend and I found this place on Yelp having just watched a food centric show and were craving some good Italian. We came here due to the good reviews. I made a reservation and when we walk in, the man who I assume is the manager gives us an awkward once over and looks at me funny when I say my name is Emilee. It was one of those looks that says, "your face doesn't match the name you just gave me." He then asks me if he can take my coat. I say I'd prefer to keep it with me since my wallet and phone were in the pockets and he looks at me like I'd just slapped him across the face. It's really not that big of a deal, man. Our waiter couldn't have cared less. He forcefully threw things about and pushed plates and glasses out of the way with about as much grace as a rhinocerous in glassware section at Crate & Barrel. He was harsh, impatient, and acted like he was doing us the biggest favor by even showing up to take our order. I watched him flit around to other tables and really turn on the charm. Seconds later turning to face us, the joy he displayed at the other tables melted off his face instantly. It took about 10 minutes to even get a menu. While we were sitting there awkwardly waiting the host booth and the same manager who I "offended" by keeping my coat kept looking at us, snickering, and laughing. They could not have been more obvious. It was extremely apparent that it was at us they were talking about. This was something I expected least of all in New York City and it continued throughout the time we were there. I feel like I can now empathize with how animals in the zoo must feel being stared and pointed at in their cages. Upon looking around we also noticed that we were the youngest people in the place by about 30-40 years. Are all these good reviews by the older clientele who have lost their tastebuds because let's talk about the "food"! My friend ordered the tagliatelle and they weren't even tagliatelle noodles. The noodles were the width of spaghetti but the thickness of fettuccine and severely undercooked. The butternut squash sauce that the "pasta" was in was the only redeeming quality of the dish. He didn't even finish 1/2 of his plate. I had the cavatelli; also severely undercooked. I can only assume that this was because it was actually frozen, dumped into boiling water, and then served masquerading around as "fresh pasta". It was supposed to be served in a garlic butter sauce with broccoli rabe and sausage. The sausage was in three huge clumps and the broccoli rabe was wilted, sad, and looked like it had also been defrosted and thrown in at the last minute. The "sauce" was nothing more than starchy pasta water that everything was drowning in. I didn't finish even a fifth of it. It then took them 25 minutes (I literally timed it on my phone) to take our plates away. We left having paid our $70 bill to not one person extending a "thank you" or a "have a great night". I swear I heard the entire restaurant let out a collective sigh having "finally" gotten rid of that jeans and street shoes adorned interracial table. If you're in the market for eating the shittiest "Italian" food in New York City under a microscope then by all means, head here straight away. I actually want to give Open Table the 100 points I earned for dining here back. I will quote Taylor Swift here when I say that we are never ever ever (going back to this f'ing restaurant), like ever. read more

We only ordered drinks and appetizers so full reviews may be more valuable. A Manhattan from the bar was average at best (still pricey though); it's my drink of choice and I was not impressed. We had a portobello salad -- OK, nothing special. Shrimp with cannellini beans: 2 jumbo shrimp were great but the beans were mushy. Bill with tip was a bit over $80 which was certainly high for what we had and for the quality. read more

Came here for the first time on a Saturday night. Restaurant was dimly lit, but in a casual, warm way. Just right. Greeted and seated quickly at a nice table. Became obvious that there were many regulars there, and we soon figured out why. Service was meticulous and friendly without being in our faces. Maitre'de and manager came by to chat and discuss the menu, offering suggestions and answering questions. Menu was perfect: expansive but not overwhelming. Something for everyone. Wife started out with butternut squash soup and I had a half order of the rigatoni bolognese. Both were well portioned and delicious. Soup had a nice dollop of ricotta and flecks of pancetta. Spectacular. The rigatoni was al dente and the meat sauce was great without being too heavy. I had their double thick pork chop with hot peppers. Best pork chop I've ever had. I'd come back just for this. Wife had branzino. Large portion with three shrimp on top. We were stuffed but shared a cappuccino tartufo to cap the night. Delicious. Will be back soon! read more

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The food was amazing, staff went above and beyond for our bachelorette party, and Chris the owner visited our table with free desserts. Chris was so helpful and kept up great conversation, the most hospitable restaurant owner we were lucky enough to come across! The whole menu made it difficult to decide what to pick but our group couldn't stop raving about how good it was! Not a bad thing on the menu!!! Highly highly recommend read more

Good atmosphere (semi-elegant) and very roomy plus competent service by attentive but semi-snooty staff. Decent sandwich and salad for 12 bucks (errr, make that 17 bucks, see below), but not great by any standard. Amata is an ok choice for slightly upscale, authentic Italian for a lingering lunch, but with a couple notable exceptions: First, my sandwich should have been 12 bucks, without the tip. Unfortunately, when I asked for some hot peppers added to my meatball panini, I was charged an additional 5 bucks without informing me. The waiter brought me a large bowl of grilled hot peppers but there were way too many to eat, even had there been 2 people at my table. Second, the attitude of the waitstaff was just a bit much. They acted as though they were doing all the patrons a major favor by gracing us with their presence. It was pervasive and I still don't get it. I mean, it's ok to be a bit reserved but these dudes were acting out as an entire group. Odd attitude displayed by all of them, and completely unnecessary. Might go back next time in midtown to try something other than the meatball sammy. Mmmmm, doubtful though. read more

Fantastic find and great service. No shortage of Italian restaurants in Manhattan, but disappointed many times. This was not a disappointment. read more

Combo of 3 guys from the palm, dorians and enzos of Arthur Ave, a must try! The mussels with marinara sauce was incredible. Try this as a starter and you can't lose. Tip: They will make you any dish you want. Just ask for it! read more

Went to this place before out reservations to lips. Super accommodating and the food was incredible. I recommend the octopus!! Jerome was wonderful and made sure we were able to get to our dinner on time. Great date spot! read more