Ambassador Restaurant

Went in for a nice lunch with a friend today and we were both happy we finally tried it out! We…read morewent right when they opened for lunch on a Saturday and found we had the place to ourselves. You can tell there is a huge amount of pride of ownership by the way everything is set; there are also really cool pictures on the wall of many famous people, some who have visited (many Yankees!). Our server was really nice and attentive. I got fettuccine alfredo and my friend got the tortellini alfredo. I was a big fan of the sauce and my friend felt the same. The bread was the best part for me. I got a slice of cheesecake to go and it was delicious! We would love to come back in some night for dinner to check it out the evening vibes and try some other items on the menu.

First time patrons. 6 of us, we ordered everything from…read morepizza & shrimp, to veal & stuffed shells. EXCELLENT Service, Atmosphere, Food, Drinks & Desserts!!! I can't wait to return! We loved sitting at the round table, it definitely made our dining experience more pleasurable. Thankyou to all Ventura staff for the EXCELLENT time we had.

Tortellini alfredo

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Trattoria Calabria

4.9(35 reviews)

1.0 mi

The chef is amazing. The food is beyond anything I have ever had. Especially the soup. This was…read morean eight course 5 star meal. I also like that you BYOB, so we brough a couple bottles of wine from home. This can really help you save a lot of money. The food was endless. It was like you are having Sunday dinner at your Italian grand mother's house. You need to make reservations a few weeks in advance. He is only open on Friday and Saturday. I really can't say enough. If you're in the Utica area consider yourself lucky to be able eat here. Great food in a unique setting.

Talk about hitting the Italian Food Lottery...in Utica!!! One seating at 6PM, no menu, byob, cash…read moreonly. You eat what Dan serves...and what a character. Seven courses, 35 US Dollars! The food is amazing!

Like walking into someone's living room.

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Joe's Restaurant

4.8(28 reviews)

0.4 mi

Joes is a classic bar restaurant right out of the 1930s. It a bar that serves wonderful food in a…read morerelaxed comfortable atmosphere. Service is friendly and casual and good. The food is great old school red sauce Italian. We had the vodka Reggie's and spaghetti and meatballs. We had a meatball and sausage with our bread. The portions are generous and the food is simply delicious. A couple of cautionn they are open Tuesday and Saturday. The open in the morning and the food flys out the door. Get there asap. I missed the last chicken parmigiana by minutes and we walked in at 4 " when they open".it a sure thing if you like traditional Italian. I was tempted to give it four stars because they are open only two days a week.

I have not been to this restaurant in over 20 years. The atmosphere was just as I remembered. Same…read morebar, decor, same menus on wall. I literally felt like I stepped back in time in the best possible way. They are only open Tuesdays & Saturdays. I went with a coworker for lunch and the place was packed. Not a spot at the bar and only a couple tables open lucky for us. Everyone was the NICEST! Service could t have been better. We ordered the spaghetti & meatball which comes with a whole loaf of breads with 2 cokes for $24. Sauce was outstanding and we ate most of the bread. Can't wait to go back to try the vodka riggies & eggplant parm!!

Front

Meatball and sausage with fresh bread

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Eggplant Parmesan

Delmonico's Italian Steakhouse

3.8(358 reviews)

0.9 mi

Not just a good meal but a real fun experience for our group of nine people. We came here for our…read morefinal night in Utica after taking the wonderful Adirondack Train Tour. The restaurant has plenty of parking in their lot and was close to the train station and also our hotel. (right in the middle. This is a very hometown feel restaurant loaded with regulars and visitors to the area alike. Our goup came in to wonderful hellos and we were brought to the "Tony Bennett Room." What a great setting... Plenty of the America Songbook being played at the restaurant which included Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin singing many tunes. Our room also had plenty of photos of Tony at all stages of his career. Our wonderful server came over to our table moments after we sat down, introduced herself and immediately took drinks orders and followed up with menus and water. She was great throughout the entire eating experience and deserves a whole lot of Kudos! What did we all eat? Without going through each item, here is a list of appetizers and main meals. Appetizers: - Mozzarella Fritta - Fried Mozzarella hand breaded to order with fresh Marinara Sauce. - Calamari - Golden, crisp, fried Calamari served with Marinara & Honey Dijon, enough to. share. - Zuppa Di Stracciatella - Chicken, Escarole, Meatballs & Ditalini in a homemade Chicken Broth. - Roma Tomato & Mozzarella Salad - Fresh Buffalo Mozzarella, Vine Ripened Tomatoes, Red Onions, Basil & Balsamic Vinaigrette. Entreès - Sliced Sirloin Steak 14oz of Choice or Better Sirloin with Cabernet Mushroom Sauce & garlic Mashed Potatoes. - Chicken Parmigiana Thin breasts of chicken with Italian Breadcrumbs, topped with marinara Sauce & Provolone Cheese over Angel Hair Pasta. - Fettuccine Delmonico Fettuccine Alfredo Tossed with Grilled Chicken, Mushrooms, Broccoli & finished with A Touch of Marinara. Everything was perfect. Calamari, crisp coating tender fish - Chicken Cutlets were thin crunchy with tender meat and delicious marinara sauce - slight steak was tender, cooked well and a delicious sauce. Everyone was extremely happy with their choices... Service was excellent and they monitored us throughout the night. It was a pleasure to be here and I look forward to my next visit KUDOs to the team at Delmonico's Italian Steakhouse

Best lil Italian joint with the Sinatra/Dean Martin vibe The…read morestaff have the old time clothes on. Food is mind blowing!!!

Fried mozzarella- delicious !

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Chesterfield’s Tavolo

3.7(206 reviews)

0.9 mi

I chose this place due to it being open on a Monday, but apparently it's the place that invented…read moreUtica Greens??? In any case, I've wanted to try Utica Greens for years. I'm not sure if my 4* rather than 5* is for the preparation or for what the dis his--I wasn't expecting a dish called "greens" to be, basically, junk food. There's escarole in there and the ingredients were super fresh, sure, but the pile of oversalted bread crumbs was really most of the texture here. Is it a way to disguise a green vegetable under a mountain of fat and carbs? Probably, and they do a good job of that, but the salt and fat did get a bit overwhelming for me.

The food was sub par: the cheese sauce for Alfredo and pasta purses had a funny taste, the rigatoni…read moreand broccoli was straight oil and we ordered a side of fries, never got them. Unfortunately, the food wasn't the worst part of our experience. There were two ladies working, our server and the other. Because we had 3 crying babies we were trying to respect others and attempted to pay up at the hostess stand. We received LOADS of attitude from the other server and was told to go back to our table. Then as another member of our party was leaving overheard the other server talking shit about us to our server. Not the first run in we've had with this lady and quite frankly she's just a bitch. Luckily we won't be having another encounter with her as we won't be returning.

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Bathroom

Joey’s 307

4.6(31 reviews)

0.2 mi

Came for lunch. Waitress was delightful, smart, pretty,…read moreefficient. Ordered the Italian lunch special with Meatballs, sausage, pasta. Out of sausage? Came with a huge antipasto. Unfortunately the cold cuts tasted past their prime. Dressing was some jarred vinaigrette...no olive oil, or vinegar. The pasta was delicious. Cavatelli swimming in marinara. (also certain sauce came from a jar ) Meatballs??! Criminal. Hard shell on outside... obviously not dropped in sauce. Abysmal. ALSO tasted past their prime! Beautiful loaf of bread. My wife had "hats and broccoli" and loved it. Ambiance... looks tired. Somebody is giving up.

I had never checked out Joey's 307 so today we decided to try it out for lunch. It wasn't busy so…read morewe had no problem getting a table. Our server was very friendly and attentive. Inside, it's pretty small but cozy. We got the rice balls as a starter and they were absolutely delicious. I'm pretty sure they use ricotta inside, which was genius. I got the fried bologna sandwich but put the long hots on the side, and it was still great. My friend got the Ciro sandwich and liked it as well. We both thought the fries were great, too. The prices really can't be beat, so there's honestly no reason to not try this place out! I'm looking forward to my next trip back!

Upside down pie

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Meatballs

O'Scugnizzo Pizzeria

3.9(197 reviews)

0.2 mi

On my way into Syracuse International Airport while picking up my rental car, a very friendly…read moreEnterprise manager recommended a pizzeria called O'scugnizzo. He mentioned it is the second oldest pizzeria in America, so I had to check it out. I'm so glad I did. This is a really cute, community-oriented spot with a warm and welcoming feel. I ordered a small pizza, but "small" definitely does not feel small here. It was actually a great size. More importantly, the pizza was super fresh and extremely delicious. What stood out just as much as the food was how kind everyone was. As someone visiting from out of town, I really appreciated how warm and friendly the people were. It also felt like the kind of place that would be great for hosting a casual party or gathering. Highly recommend. If you're in Utica, this is definitely a place you need to try.

This pizzeria is a quintessential pizza parlor and is the second oldest pizzeria in the country…read more This is not your typical pizza and they are the originator of the upside down pizza. I have been coming to this establishment for far too many years to admit to and it never disappoints. Not much has changed here over the years other than the prices. They have been around for over a 110 years. The restaurant is nothing fancy and most of their business is take out but to me nothing beats one of their fresh out of the oven pies with their gooey cheese on the bottom and crispy crust. On a warm summer night you can find me sitting outside at their picnic table enjoying a fresh hot pie.

Large pepperoni

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Bella Regina

3.6(171 reviews)

1.3 mi

Delicious delicious food. Classic riggies with just enough kick....antipasto salad that has a…read moredelicious dressing....and meatballs I am still thinking about. The sauces were exactly what I was hoping they would taste like! The staff was amazing and helpful too. Next time I will try the lunch buffet.

It was a good experience. I had their Rome staple Chicken Riggie and a tomato pie…read more The Riggie was ok. Way too much sauce. It could have been 4 star wo all the sauce. The tomato pie was tasty. The service was very good. Server was responsive, friendly, and balance of attentive but not overly bothersome. The vibe is very familial. Most people were here in groups of 4+ and just enjoyed themselves. Fam friendly place. I recommend

Jacquie, Elvis and Connie

FraDiavlo

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Hours of operation

Daniele’s Deli

4.7(30 reviews)

1.2 mi

Always the best and must authentic Italian food east of the Mississippi. Cozy atmosphere with…read moredelicious food. One of Uticas finest!

Wow! Amazing service and terrific food. The Chicken Daniele, gnocchi with vodka sauce and fusilli…read morewith red sauce and a meatball were all delicious. We will definitely be back next time we are in Utica.

Florintina Panini

Daniele's Blue

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Georgio's Village Cafe

4.0(187 reviews)

4.0 mi

Delicious! From the garlic bread to the salad and dinner,…read morethe whole experience was great! Our daughter loved the cheese pizza so much that she wanted us both to try it. The Chicken Riggies is spicy, so I didn't try it but my husband loved this local specialty.

They do NOT take reservations and there was a half hour wait already at 5:30 on a Friday night…read more However, there are tables in the bar area that make for a comfortable place to sit and wait. We came here specifically because another reviewer mentioned the calamari being gluten free and amazing. Turns out, it's one of the only things they don't do gluten free. Went with some basic gluten free pasta and it was OK. Would try something else next time. Hubby said the bread before the meal was amazing.

Inside seating

Garlic bread served pre- dinner

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Outside of restaurant with small patio area

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7 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Chris D.

0

15

3

1 year ago

We went for a second visit to this restaurant and it was not the WOW factor from the first time. I think it was my choice off the menu that disappointed me. I had The Ambassador Chicken and I wasn't impressed with it. You would think that a restaurant's signature namesake dish would be the best one. It wasn't. We will definitely go back again, but I won't eat this item again. read more

Carm C.

0

1

0

13 years ago

We ended up at the Ambassador because we were unable to get into other restaurants...the best thing that could have happened!! The meals, appetizers, drinks were out of this world; the wait staff was probably the best ever and the owner made a personal appearance to each and every table throughout the night!! I would HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend this restaurant!! read more

Linda M.

0

1

0

7 months ago

This is our favorite place to go for dinner. It's quiet with a nice atmosphere; truly an old-school Italian restaurant. Food is absolutely delicious and the owner, Fadil, and his staff couldn't be more welcoming. read more

J Mark F.

0

8

0

7 years ago

Very quiet restaurant. Attentive staff. Food was out quickly and cooked correctly. Steak filet riggies were great. Calamari appetizer was not too heavy on the breading. Highly recommended!!! read more

Cynthia G.

0

11

0

13 years ago

A long hair was in my food, the owner did not offer anything. Too high of prices. read more

Katya C.

4

12

0

13 years ago

the best restaraunt in the area. have a very good atmosphere, excellent food.

Marc B.

35

1

0

9 years ago

Great service,great food .pleasant atmosphere .tasty menu

Ambassador Restaurant - italian - Updated September 2026

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The chef is amazing. The food is beyond anything I have ever had. Especially the soup. This was…read morean eight course 5 star meal. I also like that you BYOB, so we brough a couple bottles of wine from home. This can really help you save a lot of money. The food was endless. It was like you are having Sunday dinner at your Italian grand mother's house. You need to make reservations a few weeks in advance. He is only open on Friday and Saturday. I really can't say enough. If you're in the Utica area consider yourself lucky to be able eat here. Great food in a unique setting.

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A solid 5 star restaurant in a small town. Coming from the bustling Bay Area, I knew this would be…read morea whole different vibe which it was. The place was quite full, so I'm glad we made reservations and were seated promptly. Now I'll be honest, the drinks were good, but the wines were lackluster, but that's ok. The food! OMG the food! Started with the garlic bread with cheese and stuffed my face. It was so great, crunchy, garlicky-everything you could imagine. For the main course I had the chicken riggie, as I've heard it's a local specialty. It was AMAZING. I even when to a different place on Monday and theirs was not as great. But this place...I'm drooling. Having Pat there to sing made it even better!

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It was my first time visiting Bella Vista. They serve Italian food, and I believe during lunch…read morehours, they serve burgers and fries. During Xmas month, they serve a drink called Tom and Jerry, which consists of eggnog batter, Rum, and Brandy. That drink was delicious. I had the Seafood Linguine, and that was pretty good, but I've had better. I would order something else on the menu next time. My coworker ordered a Delmonico steak, and it came with a baked potato. She said the steak was cooked right and very tender. All dinners came with roasted peppers, bread, and salad. The salad was mediocre (Iceberg lettuce, black olives, onions, tomatoes). In my opinion, I do think their dishes are overpriced compared to other good Italian restaurants in the area. The service was good. If you're in a hurry, it is not the place for you because our food took an hour or longer to come out. They have a big dining area and a tiny bar area. It is cute with the Xmas decorations, but overall, I think they should update their dining areas. They also should have a well-lit parking lot for safety reasons.

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