Following a stroll through Central Park Zoo, we planned to walk clear across the park to a coffee shop on the upper west side, but just when we though we experienced all the weather that the city had to offer, we felt a couple of raindrops as we began our trek into the park and fortunately we turned our butts right around up E 66th Street looking for cover and serendipitously found ourselves in one of our trip's most memorable moments. Under an awning, escaping the downpour, the weather app told us we had at least another hour of rain ahead, so we knew we needed to tuck in somewhere. At the end of the street, beautiful window displays and designer corner flagships spilled out of repurposed late-19th-century limestone mansions - Madison Avenue. You don't have to be a local to know that ducking in for cover around here, especially near dinner time, doesn't exactly scream affordable or accessible. Still, everything seemed to pull us toward the warm, dry red awning across the street. Bar Italia's white tablecloths, extra-long stone bar, and fresh arrangements of flowers created an elegance that made us quietly wonder if we were in over our heads - especially rolling in with a stroller. Those concerns faded almost instantly thanks to the big, beaming smile and perfectly tailored suit of Hassan El Garrahy, who greeted us by high-fiving our son and rearranging tables to make space. As our son giggled and goofed around, Hassan shared how he'd come over from Egypt all those years ago, had us guess his age - an impressive 68, fueled by good eating, marathon running, and chasing his four kids - and encouraged us, with a grin, to have a few more of our own. That same spirit and energy from Bar Italia's owner and operating partner carries through every detail that makes the place special: the rain tapping softly against the accordion windows that open wide on warmer afternoons; the attentive server who brought calamari with homemade tartar sauce and thoughtfully split our single order of what may be the best spaghetti carbonara we've ever had - more than enough for both of us. By the time the rain cleared and the air cooled, we stepped back onto Madison Avenue full, grateful, and newly aware that the city still has a way of surprising you with its quiet treasures. read more

Bar Italia Madison - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Great place with nice, clean and classy ambience. It's a bit small and can get noisy when crowded. Came here for the first time, food was better than good but not great and a bit pricey. Service was decent overall, though it got noticeably slower once the place filled up. We went with Indivia and Rape rose salads for the start. Both appetizers were fresh and flavorful. Then, for main we tried pappardelle pasta and salmon with sautéed spinach and both dishes were just mediocre. For dessert we had affogato and tiramisu. The tiramisu was very delicious and the highlight of our dinner. Overall, the food was solid but not memorable, the service was fine, and the atmosphere was warm and inviting. Worth trying once, but I probably wouldn't return for dinner, as there are many Italian spots in the city with better food. I might stop by again just for drinks though, we really enjoyed the wine and the Aperol Spritz :) read more

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Food was very good, fresh with perfect portions. The appetizer of prosciutto and melon was so fresh and light we enjoyed that. We also had the watermelon, feta salad. Delicious and refreshing. For my main I had the rigatoni bolognese, perfect portion and the sauce was very good. I had a lychee Martini, made very well. We were all very pleased with our meal. And I am a big critic when it comes to espresso, I like a flavored but strong bean. And the espresso was very good. I almost forgot to mention service was top notch! And the restaurant is very bright and clean. read more

Really nice Italian place steps away from the Central Park. Loved the white interior inside and inviting atmosphere. We order some appetizers (polenta, beet salad, tuna) + pizza + some pastas and everything was great. Their carbonara is absolutely delicious - could have ordered two plates to be honest. Our servers and the restaurant manager were all very attentive and friendly - definitely returning. read more

Bar Italia has a magical European feeling and flair. We stopped in here between bridal fittings. We didn't have a reservation, but fortunately they could assist us. We were in a celebratory mood, so we got a bottle of Sancerre. It paired beautifully with the velvety warm squash soup and the cool burrata salad. I would love to come back for a full dinner service. read more

This place is such a great Italian spot serving DOC ingredients. The dishes are always very fresh and you can taste the quality. Real Parmesan cheese, delicious ragu sauces, best tuna carpaccio, amazing steak and branzino - everything is truly delicious. They have a great wine selection and cappuccinos that take me back to Italy. Service is great and Hassan will make you feel like you own the place. Also, love the outdoor seating on Madison - great people watching!! read more

We needed a spot to get a drink and a bite before an evening event around the corner, and this spot was almost perfect! The burrata and grilled squash were delicious with the latter firm enough and thin enough to be the vehicle for the cheese. The Lychee Martini was incredibly smooth and not too sweet. The wait staff is attentive and suggested the burrata- excellent advice. The downside? Although the outdoor seating has a cover and is spacious, the chair with its back to the restaurant is precariously near the lip of the outdoor seating deck. One small seat adjustment and I would be on my back in the street. With that observation, pushing the table back a bit was a suitable remedy. I will definitely be back for another pre-evening taste or a full meal. read more

Bar Italia Madison - Lychee martini - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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My friend and I wanted a place for dinner in midtown East and we decided to come here. The place has both indoor and outdoor seating. The place is pretty spacious and the staff were very friendly. The menu was not huge but there is a good amount of pasta, pizza and sandwich options. We got the calamari which was delicious - we wished it came with marinara sauce but it just came with tartar sauce. My friend got the pesto pasta which she said was decent. I got the pasta carbonara- it was alright - slightly too heavy and salty. Overall not a bad restaurant, slightly on the more expensive side but I have definitely had better Italian food. read more

Bar Italia Madison - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

We also love stopping by always enjoyable. The service and the food are always good. Enjoy

We decided to stop by Bar Italia on a whim because we wanted to grab a drink outside. They have a nice covered outdoor dining area and we were promptly seated. We ended up ordering a margherita pizza to split as well and it was solid! Nothing special, but the tasty, thin crust, cheese pizza hit the spot. Not sure we'd come out of our way to dine here again but it was good for a quick bite and a few drinks! read more

Bar Italia Madison - Margherita Pizza - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Cute Italian restaurant in the upper east side. Pastas were reasonably priced for the area. I got the orcchiette which was the highlight of the meal. The onto disappointing item was the steak. We ordered a medium temperature but it came out nearly well done. It was tough to chew and cost $72. The drinks - Il verde and the espresso martini were tasty. What made the place special was the cozy vibe. The service was great and everyone was very friendly. The chef even came out to ask how everything was. I'd come back for more pasta but probably avoid the steak. read more

Bar Italia Madison - Orcchiette - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

My husband & I had lunch today with two friends. Although I already dined before at this restaurant, today was very disappointing. Mediocre food although very expensive, even for NYC. Main courses all served with same bland and unappetizing white rice (no vegetables). We spoke to a manager who didn't care less. We just returned from Italy, Switzerland & France. Great food, good service, nothing to do with Bar Italia. read more

Wonderful dining experience with lovely Italian cuisine!! We were welcomed in by such friendly staff who took great care of us during our lunch! The gnocchi was pillowy and melted in your mouth and was to die for with the gooey cheese sauce! Would def come here again. Very classy and elegant decor and ambiance. read more

Bar Italia Madison - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

If this were just about the food, I'd give the place 3/12 or 4 stars: tasty, fresh, if somewhat overpriced Italian fare. But here's what happened. As we were eating, a big 'ol roach skittered across the table, pausing in our oil dish before continuing on its death march. And it *was* a death march -- because while my friend pretty jumped into the lap of her scowling next-door neighbor on the banquette, I grabbed the corner of the white tablecloth and squished the sucker. Fortunately, the restaurant is so loud at lunchtime you couldn't hear our screams. Without missing a beat (was this a regular occurence??) , the silent, grim waitstaff came over and moved all our stuff to the adjacent table , while changing the roachy tablecloth and quickly seating the next poor diner in our seats. (Incidentally, this is something that's always bothered me at this restaurant...the serverN seem kind of miserable.) And then...nothing. Nobody said a word. My friend , who is a regular here, was really annoyed. I wished she hadn't done what she did next, because I wanted to see what the restaurant would do on its own. She called over the manager. He joked, "Well, *he* didn't make a reservation" (Ha Ha HA). My friend asked how he planned to make it up to us...would he comp, well, something? He muttered, "Well, if it would make you happy". Uhhh, kinda! Now It's not like we spent 1000 dollars here. Considering we only ordered 2 salads, one drink and 2 cappucinos between us, it was a fairly modest bill, about $120.00. He took 20 percent off. You can decide for yourself whether grudgingly taking 20 percent off a 120 dollar bill was an appropriate response. Now, roaches happen. It's NYC. But I've lived here 40-ish years, eaten in some fabulously skeevy places, and have never had a roach perp-walk through my food. Would I have gone back if the meal was comped and we'd had an apology to begin with? Yeah, I think so, because although I don't love this place, my friend does. Or did. But as it is...sheesh. read more

At best 3*. Steak is awful. Chewy. Tough. Likely pre cooked and re heated. Pasta is over cooked and soggy. Affogato ice cream is icy and altogether very expensive for what it is. The kind of restaurant that is always trying to upsell. Here are the specials and no prices etc. Kids pasta is full price adult portion but no sauce etc. Just be wise to it read more

10/10 place. My mom and I stumbled in here just for a drink, after talking with the owner Hassan we cancelled our other dinner reservations and were excited to stay here for dinner. We were wined and dined by both Hassan and his Partner and Head Chef, Dennis. They treated us like family and made it difficult to leave, from their amazing cocktails to the most delicious Italian food I've ever had. We will be back and can't wait to try other menu items. read more

The ambience here was very nice... Not too loud and not too formal but with an air of elegance. We were accommodated with indoor seating right away which was wonderful. If I owned it I would add more protein to the menu to balance out the extra carbs. My pasta was perfect in every way but the meat portion was small and I was still hungry when I got back to my hotel:) read more

Great ambiance, good food and prompt service. Nice place for a date or to catch up with a friend. The food is so good, we keep going back for more. Definitely recommend read more

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Started off with the Bellini which I ended up having three of yummy. Spaghetti Carbonara my mom loved and my daughter loved the Penne Bolognese. I had the daily special with black pasta and shrimp. Great service, friendly and attentive. Quality of food is excellent so worth the price they charge. Enjoyed the opportunity to chat with owners as they made us feel at home. Looking forward to going back again. read more

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Just had such a great experience here! It's a small, cozy spot with a warm and welcoming vibe. The veal ragu was fantastic - rich, flavorful, and they were able to substitute with gluten free penne (thank you!!). The simple, classic caprese appetizer was fresh and delicious. Great affogato too. But what really made me want to write a review: this place has 5-star hospitality. I've lived in NYC for several years and the staff here were some of the friendliest, most wonderful I've ever come across. First, the host didn't bat an eye when our party showed up way too early for our reservation and sat us right away anyway. Our waiter was attentive and funny, and the owner came over a couple of times, spent time chatting and sharing stories with us, and kept making sure we were happy. I'll gladly head uptown to visit again soon! read more

Four of us were seared at a 2-top and even with those close quarters, we could not hear a thing. All the while we were being dripped on by A/C condensate. Food was just OK, but the prices were top shelf. I will never return. read more

The food was excellent, and the service matched it. A cozy restaurant on the Upper East Side. read more

Bar Italia Madison - Pasta Penne Bolognese - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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We spontaneously decided to have lunch outdoors. Diego was setting up outdoor seating when we arrived at 1:30pm. We were accommodated with a 2pm reservation, enjoyed a glass of rosé and a Cosmopolitan (very Sex & the City) Manolo Blanik across the street on Madison Avenue. We started with fried calamari...fried and salted perfectly! We shared the Roasted chicken with vegetables and Salmon with sautéed spinach with a side of French fries. The service as well as the food was superb. Thank you soo much for the wonderful dining experience and look forward to dining again soon. read more

Bar Italia Madison - 3 friends enjoying a fabulous lunch at Bar Italia. - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

They really have outdone themselves and the service was outstanding. There appeared to only be one waitress and she was working hard with a great attitude. The food and drinks were wonderful. We ate outside and they have a good heating system plus ventilation with open windows. There are partitions and space between tables and masks are required inside and all staff was wearing masks. They also offered us blankets but we didn't need them. Really top notch experience. read more

Bar Italia Madison - New outside dining. - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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The food and the service in this place is great. The atmosphere is cozy. Never disappoints. read more

Went today with my group of friends, after a trip to the central park zoo, for one of my friends daughters 3rd birthday. It was such a lovely day so we sat outside. The food was delicious, the drinks were great, and so were the cappuccinos. The owner was very nice. He would make sure we had everything we needed. He was polite and friendly. The waiter was also very attentive. We will definitely come back whenever in the area! read more

This restaurant is perfect. Great location on Madison avenue,great service and most importantly the food. We started with a great Barolo wine and shared three appetizers. Fried calamari,yellow tail sashimi and grilled octopus I passed and only had 1 calamari too salty for me and would have been great with a dipping sauce. For my main course I had the grilled shrimp dish it was delicious regrettably I could not finish. We all shared an order of risotto as well. The table you couldn't imagine it could fit all our dishes but our servers were trained professionals. Now on to the most important course dessert. We were given a plate of biscotti that had just a touch of powdered sugar sprinkled on them. Before I knew it they brought us another plate. We also ordered two desserts to be shared a chocolate cake as well as a meringue cake that was light as a feather. To top it off a Frangelico neat as well as a glass of Limoncello which I passed on. Would definitely return for another memorable meal. read more

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Ive eaten at this restaurant for years, recently the food has gone down hill and the service is snooty. Unfortunately I won't be returning here. read more

Excellent food and service. A perfect lunch. I was seated without a reservation and didn't wait.

Really good food, but expensive. We had the following: -prosciutto crudo with Stracchino cheese: we really enjoyed this. The prosciutto was sliced thin and the baguette slices that came with this dish were crispy and went well with the cheese and prosciutto. The cheese tasted a little like cream cheese and I think I would have preferred a Burrata to go with this dish. -fried calamari: this dish was perfect. The calamari was very tender and we asked for tomato sauce on the side which had great flavor. -Rigatoni with Veal Ragu: my husband loved this and it had great flavor. The pasta was fresh and the sauce wasn't too heavy. -gnocchi: the actual gnocchi was so fluffy. They were out of the cheese sauce so I got pink sauce. I really enjoyed this dish. -veal chop: my husband really enjoyed this dish and the sage butter sauce was very good. Although not sure I would recommend for $62. I also got the IL verde drink and the strawberry caipiroska. I liked the strawberry drink better. My husband got an old fashioned which was pretty small and a glass of red wine. $20 for a normal glass of red wine is pretty expensive even for NYC. read more

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I was looking forward to my lunch at Bar Italia on Madison. I was so disappointed. The service was about the same as a diner. I had to ask for water and bread. Sorry, no it was a bit better than a diner because they waited until we both had finished to take our plates. But most disappointing was the food. I asked if the salads were an entree size or a starter size. I was told that they were entrees. I ordered the salad with tuna. When it was served it looked like (and tasted like) someone had scooped an avocado, corn, cut asparagus, tomato, canned tuna mush from a pot-luck picnic offering into a simple small bowl. Not only NOT entree size but there was no effort to create anything attractive. A composed salad is not in this chef's wheelhouse. For $38 it was a supreme disappointment. read more

Very nice restaurant on Madison. I walked in thinking they had some connection with the one in London. They have really good seafood and very sweet staff. Open 11-10pm for food. Drinks until 11pm. Such a cute & cozy escape from a day of shopping. I will check it out again soon. read more

Bar Italia Madison - Beautiful cozy bar - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

I love this place and highly recommend it! There is an outdoor seating option, without freezing. Spaghetti Carbonara is one the best carbonara I had in the City. We also tried the daily special (pasta with shrimp) and polenta with mushrooms. All tasted good. Another time, I wanted to try something different (pasta w/ pesto) but I was also craving for carbonara, they offered to make half sizes of both so that I can enjoy them all. In short, they offer a great service, friendly and attentive. read more

Salmon was super fishy. They took it off the bill. Yellowfin was nice. She had the Cavatelli. Zero flavor. Also ordered mushrooms. Asked twice. Never came. Paid for those. Latte was very good. read more

The food was fantastic. It is truly my favorite Italian restaurant in the city. Small and intimate. Good for conversation. Wait staff was very professional. The chef, Danny, is tops. Came out to greet us. I would highly recommend Bar Italia for an exquisite dining experience. read more

An amazing Italian find, with all the elegance of an upper east side establishment with the local vibes and coziness of a west village trattoria. After shopping or site seeing you won't be better treated for a drink and a bite to eat than by stopping in at this gem off Madison. If you're lucky, the charming and gregarious owner will ply you with story and snacks . read more

Bar Italia Madison - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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If you like a traditional old school Italian vibe this place is for you. There's nothing wrong with this place but to me it lacked soul. Service was attentive and food was tasty. I had a burger without bread bun and salad instead of fries and my friends enjoyed mushroom pasta and a salad with extra prosciutto. Overall a pleasant experience but nothing memorable about it. Do go by all means if you have nothing more exciting to pick from. read more

The service here is outstanding. The staff is knowledgeable of the entire menu and very caring when it comes to dietary restrictions. Everything was cooked perfectly and full of flavor. I love the veggie based soups here they are amazing. The pasta is always perfect. I also enjoyed the salads, we had the beet salad and artichoke which were great. Their outdoor situation is nice they have heat and it's separated nicely. Only negative is that its pricey but that is the ues. I also had a lunch here a few weeks ago with friends it was also such a great experience and we ordered half of the menu. The food was also great. read more

I rarely give low ratings but in my opinion this place was awful. We went to the museum nearby and were looking for a quick, small bite to eat. Stumbled upon this place and it was jam packed. Decided to walk in and try it out. We were approached by the manager (maybe?). When we asked for a table for two he asked if we were prepared to 'spend a million dollars?' Hmm, ok? We just figured he had a really odd sense of humor. We were seated at the tiniest table ever and back to back with our neighbors. The restaurant is super small and so tightly packed I couldn't even cross my legs under the table. On to the meals. My friend had a salad with grilled chicken ($24). It was iceberg lettuce, with some tomatos and half a chicken breast. It was super salty and really sad. I had the beet salad ($18). It had maybe one red beet and one yellow beet and some goat cheese. Thank god they gave us bread because when we said we wanted small meals we didn't expect this. Service was pretty much non existent. We had to waive down a waiter just to get our order taken. The customers were also strange. Really uppity UES residents mixed with overly touchy Europeans. The one nice thing was the complimentary champagne. read more

Bar Italia Madison - Beet salad - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Average Italian food. Noisy. Good servers. I've been several times now, hoping for a better experience as it's in my neighborhood and easy to get to and reserve. But 3 strikes and you're out. read more