Came here for Christmas dinner on Thursday. I searched for a restaurant semi-close to me that had…read moregreat reviews and was Italian. This was high up on my search, and with reviews like what they have, we decided to give them a shot. Its very easy to get to with a decent amount of street parking. Seems a bit out of place next to a deli on a residential block. You can kind of miss it if youre not paying attention. We were a party of 6 and had a 5 PM reservation. You have to pass through this dark curtain and go to the middle of the bar where the host will greet you and bring you to your seats. We were seated promptly with no wait. The restaurant is VERY small. So much so that at our table, all I had to do was reach my hand out and I would have been touching the kitchen counter. It does get a little crammed/crowded, but not in an annoying or unbearable kind of way. The vibe is actually really cozy and rustic. Very dim lighting so either whip out the flashlight on your phone or hold up one of the real candles they have on the table to read the menu. The food menu is straightforward and simple. They have an extensive wine list. I love how on the food menu, next to each dish, they tell you the region of Italy that dish gets its roots from. They have lovely dinnerware here. They brought out a foccacia bread for the table with a tomato dipping sauce. Absolutely delicious foccacia. The sauce was a tad too salty for me. I started off with the mocktail Luisa. It was passion fruit, lemon, agave, ginger beer, and mint. It was $10 and very fresh and mouthwatering! For my appetizer I had the Calamari alla griglia. Grilled calamari with guacamole and carasau bread. I've never had grilled calamari before. Only either marinara or fried. I also thought pairing it with guacamole was an interesting twist. I was so pleasantly surprised by this dish. The calamari were perfectly fork tender grilled. The guacamole went well with it. The carasau bread was more like a tortilla chip. They give you a decent amount for $24.95. That app slid down my throat effortlessly! For my entree I had the Maccheroncini alla Norma. Maccheroni with eggplant in tomato sauce with ricotta cheese. The pasta was so fresh and perfectly cooked. The sauce reminded me so much of my Calabrian grandmother's. The ricotta made it rich and creamy. Filling as well. So much so that, even though it wasn't a huge portion, I had to take home half of it because I was verging on being stuffed! My mother had the Cotoletta alla milanese. Keep in mind that if you get this chicken cutlet dish that it serves about four people, even though its for 1! HUGE portion. About 4 enormous cutlets that gave my mom 3 days of leftovers! All of the desserts were $12.95. A nice selection to choose from, but I had the classic Tiramisu. They make it here tableside. He made it with such care. Loved watching him put it all together. Let me tell you, that was the BEST Tiramisu that I've EVER had! Wow, just amazing. Very balanced, quality ingredients. The marscapone was so decadent, creamy and fresh. I could have easily taken down 2 of them! I tried some of my mother's chocolate cake. Delicious and decadent. Service throughout our dinner was above and beyond. Attentive, kind, concise and our waiter was such a cutie! Smooth sailing throughout the entire meal. We barely had to wait for anything. Amazing restaurant and staff. Prices are just fine and the quality goes way beyond. Can't wait to come back. Highly impressed and recommend!

Charming Italian restaurant with a rustic vibe. Came here for dinner one night, and was lucky…read moreenough to be able to sit outside on this not too busy street. This place does get busy so recommend making reservations if you can. They have a pretty nice wine list to choose from along with different cocktail options. From the start, the food was delicious starting with the house bread which was warm and soft but still felt light. For dinner, I ordered the special for the night which was cacio pepe ravioli, while my husband got the tagliatelle verdi con ragu. Both of our pasta dishes felt extremely fresh. The ravioli was unlike anything Ive had before, with flavorful cacio pepe filling and a butter sauce with pancetta complementing the flavor. The tagliatelle was also delicious in a more ragu centric way, still offering a good balance of flavor. Both dishes were pretty filling and so neither of us could finish it. We ended the night with cannolis, which was a pleasant surprise to find 3 came in 1 order. One side is pistachio while the other had a coco dusting. These were again delicious but pretty filling and sweet so we could only eat one. The staff here was also very friendly and service was quick with food coming out much faster than I expected. Overall I would come back and try even more on their menu.

When your hear, your family . Come experience Sicily right here in Brooklyn . Get it all Fish…read more Pasta Wine Meats The options are endless

So the rice ball the best I ever had The meatballs as welll…read morebut I'd keep the pine nuts out of it. The marinara was really basic / the sardine pasta was to el dente for me/ lacked all the flavors other then sardine itself The chicken parm was tough and sauce also lacked flavors not have been out the can. And the fried chicks squares were really good but nothing special in the end . Service wasn't bad seemed as though the food was all ready from the hot table possible except the pasta it came out way to fast less then 4 minutes . I'd come back for meatballs and rice balls only

Authentic Sicilian food that tastes like the food my grandparents used to make for me. The…read morerestaurant has indoor and outdoor seating. It's not too loud either -- you can talk to others without yelling. The insalata verde is delicious. It's nice and simple, like many Sicilian foods, containing arugula, pistachios, caciocavallo cheese, olive oil, and maybe a hint of lemon. Everything is made fresh, including the sauce, which is tangy and authentic. I have ordered a side of sauce before and the owner gave me a nice portion. I think he should add it to the menu as I'm sure I'm not the only one who would buy a big container of it. We also love the arancinette (rice balls with cheese). They are crispy on the outside while still tasting light. We have also tried various pasta options, which have been great. The owner even brought out frozen grapes in the summer one time, which was a nostalgic treat.

I wish I could uproot this gem to Carroll Gardens. I love it. I found out on Instagram that Amuni…read morewould be serving some specials at the Bay Ridge 3rd Avenue Festival which was held today. I was set on going and immediately knew I would head straight to Amuni upon arrival for a good lunch. The street fair was fun and I walked many steps, but my highlight was the food at Amuni. Mini Panelle Sandwiches, Sfingione (with or without anchovies), Octopus, Arancini and fresh Limonata were some of the specials. I had a mini Panelle Sandwich, Sfingione with Anchovies and a fresh Limonate (lemonade). If these foods sound foreign, it's because this is authentic Sicilian food. Delicious and comforting. Everything was excellent--- I didn't expect otherwise. I had the pleasure of seeing chef/owner Vincent again who is always so pleasant and welcoming. We ate indoors in the cozy space. Since I am half Sicilian, I am appreciative to enjoy food that brings back memories of my childhood. Amuni accomplishes that for me. Solid gold.

FYI: This restaurant does the catering in Heaven. If you need a better reference, I will light a…read morecandle for you next time I visit the Holy See. For me, I only eat the square pie. I can still remember the first time I saw the sauce on top; I was curious until I ate my first piece. Then I knew that a Master Pie Chef was in the kitchen and that I was spoiled for life. Eggplant Rollatine. One of the greatest inventions in culinary history. At L&B, they pay tribute to this dish of Kings in a way that does not surprise me, after all, this is L&B! Parm. Sammies. Oh wow, especially the chicken! Oh wow! OK, I am stuck. Just eat one. You will thank me. This ain't no fancy joint. You come here for the heavenly food. Don't be a gagootz. Yes I am Italian-American and yes I travel to Italy and eat amazing food. I am also a cook and experienced Gelato maker. May you live a long healthy life filled with the finest Italian cuisine!

Summer means..beach, feeling carefree and EATING OUT! Those hazy, crazy days of lounging, kissed by…read morethe sun and PIZZA! Gravesendians, Bay Ridgians and Bensonhurstians consider themselves lucky to live near the one and only L and B Spumoni Gardens. As we all know, L and B are famous for their king of all kings, Sicilian Square slice. This little square of perfection has delighted and mesmerized foodies who travel from far distant highways to devour this little slice of heaven. The Sicilian square "features a crispy crust, pillow-soft dough in the center, and is uniquely assembled with mozzarella cheese on the bottom and a rich tomato sauce on top". We call it the inverted pizza slice because sauce ideally is on the bottom and mozzarella cheese bubbling on top. I visited L and B for my pizza cheat on a really sunny summer like day last week and waited on line, yes, on a Wednesday afternoon there was a line.. I went up to the window and placed my order and waited ten minutes more for a fresh out of the oven pie to come out. I was asked which corner of this gorgeous pizza universe I wanted. " The slightly charred corner, please". I found my table and devoured two squares. I was getting my summer groove on. The slices were fresh, bubbly sauce, the melted mozzarella on the focaccia bread.. made my day! Is it possible for pizza to deliver this warm and fuzzy feelings? You better believe it! Ready to get your summer groove on? Then take the N train to 86th Street and get your PIZZA GROOVE on! L and B Spumoni Gardens 2725 86th Street Also, there is a DUMBO location in Brooklyn Heights close to the waterfront

This place is great and just so easy. You don't have to guess if you're going to get rejected or…read morenot like so many other italian joints in NYC. Indoor is cute and they have a great backyard patio. Waiter had an italian accent so felt very authentic. Split the Margherita & Diavola pizzas and Rucola e Parmigiano salad with 4 people and it was a perfect amount of food. Loved the salad (must get) & both pizzas, but my fave was the Diavola. Paired with a crisp white wine, which the waiter recommended. Funny though - the one glass of wine was the same price as the Margherita pizza, but that's NYC for ya!

Came here for a quick dinner. Four of us. Restaurant was very busy but accommodated us nicely…read more Staff was attentive and knowledgeable, good and not obtrusive service. Sicilian theme with selection of wines to match. Nice ambiance and good people in and out We were served some bread and olive oil poured table side - nice show....and tasty olive oil. I had the pasta pommodoro and it was super. Pasta cooked aldente and the sauce had good acidity but balanced with sweetness and the salt from the parmesan. Worked well...it was a small portion but I shared some and the others loved it. Pizzas were the other mains and an arugula salad was the starter. The arugula was OK...standard fare. Good pizza with thin crust and really nice sauce and cheese well balanced. Anchovies were a little scarce but tasty... Overall a great experience. I highly recommend this place.

Overall rating: 4.6…read more I stumbled by this place when I was in the area. I got the burrata & a cappuccino, because I wasn't expecting to come in. I liked the space and the service was so friendly. I went last summer so things could have changed. But it was a bit awkward that they had an empty stage and they haven't had any live music in awhile. They also had something on the menu that I wanted to buy & they said they stopped selling because of covid. It was just kind of a let down. An updated menu or signs would have been helpful. Covid was 5 years ago... The owners were really nice though and I would visit again if I lived in the area.

Super lovely people, delicious food this restaurant! Colorful and greenery good atmosphere inside…read more It was rainy day but Candice delighted us with awesome service. She is so friendly and talked to us their special of the day. We had couple beers and ordered Napoli pizza and Fried artichoke! It was really tasty and great potions. Would love to come back and try another!

We had an amazing meal! The shrimp scampi and the pasta in a spicy shrimp sauce were both…read moreabsolutely delicious. The homemade cheesecake was to die for, and the sangria was perfect. It was a wonderful experience all around. Our waitress was lovely, and we even had the pleasure of meeting the owners--very nice young men. Wishing them much success! Looking forward to coming back again soon.

Have been dining at Cavatappi since it opened and have not had a bad meal yet! Every time whether…read morewe're a big group or small, we have had a phenomenal experience. The price and the portions are perfect, we sometimes even leave with leftovers! Each pasta is better than the next. The linguine with clams and the "cavatappi" with pesto are favorites and must tries. The Calamari agro dolce (not on the menu anymore but sometimes available if you ask) is the best of the best and I will literally make it my meal it is so so so good! Keep up the amazing work, so glad you're still going strong! Can't wait for our next meal there!

Overall: I went here with my wife on a friday night. I tried to make a reservation but mistakenly…read moremade it for the wrong day. Even though it was peak time on a friday, the host found a way to seat us. The food was awesome, especially the green tagliatelle. Would definitely go back! Food: 5 Service: 5 Value: 4 Atmosphere: 4 Food: We ordered the bruschetta, lasagna, and green tagliatelle with boar ragu. The bread for the table was a single focaccia about 5" in diameter and maybe 1.5" tall. It wasn't the dense, oily focaccia you typically see, but a moist and fluffy bread almost like a dinner roll. The bruschetta was very flavorful, but slightly disappointing because it used the same foccacia. The lasagna had great flavor and texture. The tagliatelle was the highlight of the meal - the pasta was cooked perfectly and truffle oil and shavings shone through. Service: Service was awesome. In addition to helping resolve our reservation issue, the staff were helpful in suggesting dishes and were prompt and communicative Value: The pastas are in the $25-$30 range and the bruschetta was $22. Thats pretty standard for the area for good pasta, but maybe a little much for the bread. Atmosphere: Even considering we were here the night before valentines day, the place was surprisingly subdued and laid back. Tables were a little crowded but not on top of each other and the noise level was reasonable.

The menu seemed to be a little confused and not at all the authentic Sicilian fare I was expecting…read more Guac and shrimp is definitely not a local staple. Neither is the hummus with feta cheese, although props to the Greek influence in that area for hundreds of years. Our server was lovely at making great suggestions and helping us pick out a good red to enjoy with our meal. The music and crowd made it hard to hear and chat with my friend, but I don't blame people for turning out in droves given the amazing weather. I may try their other location in midtown to compare, but this was not at all what I expected given the reviews.

I feel like I have a hard time finding great spots uptown and I was honestly thrilled with this…read moreplace. The atmosphere is warm and inviting with a cozy Italian atmosphere. We ended up transferring our table reservation to the bar because we found the sweetest bartender, Juan Carlos. The house wine was lovely and I enjoyed several glasses. The tagliatelle with the wild boar was insane. The pasta was so fresh with just the perfect amount of truffle. The portion was generous and enough to take home for a lunch bite today. I plan to return soon when I am extra hungry so I can enjoy more menu items. Side note, we struck up conversation with a couple of others at the bar and they expressed that they eat there on a regular basis, and that to me is a huge indication that it's one to keep on the short list.

Would overall give Piccola a 3.5 and solid spot for an Italian-style dinner! Lovely ambience -…read moredimly lit with warm lighting and great service - our server was really sweet. I'd recommend sharing mains together and trying out the different pastas! Calamari (3/5): the squid was cooked to a nice tenderness, but imo I don't think calamari goes too well with guacamole, there was also a bit of a bitter aftertaste with the squid. Bucatini cacio e pepe (3/5): The pasta was very al dente, maybe a little too al dente, but in general it could have benefited from something else because its doused in cream and cheese with some black pepper which can get very heavy and redundant. Tagliatelle verdi (4/5): ragu was a lil salty but I liked the pasta, it tasted healthy because they def put a vegetable in there, but personally the truffle didn't need to be there, changed the whole flavor profile of the pasta and overpowered the ragu. Pistachio pesto (5/5): I've never had pistachio pesto but loved the sweetness of the nuts that complemented the savoriness of the sauce and salmon. I liked the creaminess of it, and the choice of pasta was fun.

Sandwiches are insanely good! I absolutely love this place. The composition of the sandwiches are…read moremade the perfection. Definitely a place to travel to. The pastas are made fresh and the sauce is amazing. They never fail.

We stopped into Carmenta's and tried a little bit of everything: vodka pasta, the spicy eggplant…read moreparm sandwich on garlic bread, and the rice balls. We overall had such a great experience. They accidentally charged me for a side of garlic bread and made the sandwich incorrectly at first, but the staff was incredibly kind and proactive about fixing it. They remade the sandwich, refunded the extra charge even though I had already paid, and really went out of their way to make it right. I sincerely appreciated that & don't think most places would go that extra mile. The garlic bread deserves its own shoutout...some of the best I've ever had. Perfectly seasoned, crispy, buttery... just amazing. The rice balls were also a star of the table: super flavorful, cheesy, and garlicky. My brother loved the vodka pasta, and while I was a little bummed there's no vegetarian option for it, he said it was delicious. I got the spicy eggplant parm sandwich and really enjoyed it. The flavors were bold and had a nice kick. There were a few bites where the eggplant breading got a bit soggy, but overall it was satisfying and unique. Affordable, flavorful dishes, great people, and a cozy vibe. Despite the small hiccup, I appreciated how attentive they were. I'll definitely be back to try the pesto pasta!