Fiorello's is an icon across from Lincoln Center. We have enjoyed the excellent dishes and the superior service for twenty years and counting. The entire experience is warm and inviting, and the food is presented with the same care as a work of art. Try the avocado quinoa dish, Dover sole, and a mini freshly baked loaf of garlic bread. We will continue visiting for the best authentic Italian food! read more

Good food, interesting service experience. We came here for Christmas Dinner, so it was very busy as expected. We were seated right at our reservation time. Our waiter greeted us but was very short with us the entire night. Walking away before we got our full order in. Not very friendly but it could've just been a long night and it didn't take away from the experience too much. Both glasses of wine we ordered were delicious! He garlic loaf was good, as was the Italian sausage and calamari for appetizers! The chicken parm was delicious but HUGE!! The bolognese was okay. Noodles were good and definitely fresh but the sauce was pretty lackluster. For dessert, the highlight was the cannoli with the blueberry sauce! One of the best cannolis I've ever had although the tiramisu was good as well!! I would recommend this place just don't be surprised if the waiter isn't the friendliest! read more

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This is my favorite restaurant to go to before or after Lincoln Center. I love sitting at the bar and chatting with the staff and patrons. The antipasto bar is incredible and can serve as a full meal but the pizza, chicken parm, and pasta are all worth saving room for. Their summer outdoor dining is lovely. They make the best cosmo in the city. read more

Convenient location to Lincoln Center. Loads of "outdoor" space that's in an enclosed structure with heaters, so should be easy to grab a table "outside" without a reservation. Be sure to step inside to view the antipasto bar to get a better idea of what you'd like to start with. Sicilian Eggplant Caponata: Smoky skin and tender soft insides. Some nice flavors originating from the tomato sauce. Stuffed Peppers: Kinda small peppers, but yummy little meat inside. I ate through these very quickly. Ricotta Cheese Balls: These are like stuffed shells, but without the shells. Huge chunks of ricotta in a nice tomato sauce. These felt like the best value of the antipasto. Chicken Pepperoni Parmigiana: This looks like a pizza, but it's actually a huge chicken cutlet with cheese, tomato sauce and crispy pepperoni cups. Feels like some sort of hybrid creation KFC and Pizza Hut would collab on. I made the mistake of ordering this for one person when it's really sized for two people or more if you order the pasta side. But it did mean a good amount of leftovers. The thinly pounded chicken didn't taste as chicken-y as some thicker chicken parms I've had. But still fun it's own way. Lemon Pie: Creamy lemon curd with a little bit of brûlée on top and a buttery crust. Hard to eat after all that food though. read more

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Had an amazing brunch. Fresh ingredients. Delicious. Cool menu. Want to go back again

Great ambiance if you sit up front. Very cute little Italian place. Took my parents and they said it was the best veal parm they have ever had and we eat ALOT of Italian. Service was great too and very friendly staff. Even good spot for a date up at the bar. Free shots and good drinks when I sat at the bar. read more

Cafe Fiorello is one of the best, classic Italian restaurants on the Upper East Side. The bright lights and wood-paneling cultivate an ambiance of charming sophistication. Our waiter came promptly to seat us and checked on us at appropriate intervals during the meal. Most of all, I was impressed by the food. I expected the dishes to be really heavy, but each of our orders were appropriately sized and delectable. I initially thought the menu was limited for such an established place, but even the simplest dishes are satisfying and delicious. Fiorello's Calamari is one of the best variations of this classic Italian appetizer. The squid was lightly battered with rosemary and cuts easily in your mouth. It was even more tasty with the sauce which had a kick of spice -- an unique twist. It's easy to overlook the vegetable dishes, but it's essential that you order them! They were all really delicious, with the potato gratin and stuffed peppers tying first! I'm excited to come back here in the future. I know I won't be disappointed :) read more

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Came here on a Saturday for a late lunch and the place was still a little busy, making it a bit livelier than we expected. There were still a ton of empty tables though due to it being such a huge space and we were seated in a quiet area of the restaurant. Their menu was pretty diverse and we eventually settled on splitting a pizza with a few vegetables as we were seated near the vegetable bar. Our waitress very much seemed like they didn't want to be there though and wasn't very friendly, more of a just get the job done type of server. The prices here were really steep - the pizza we got, while tasty, was a little small in my opinion for the price. It was delicious nonetheless. The vegetable antipasto bar on the other hand was a horrible deal - we got one sausage in total and the pastry was cold/soggy. The mushrooms tasted good though. Overall, I'd say that the pizza was the best thing we got, but even that wasn't quite worth it. I don't think I would return here, but if you're looking for Italian food, this place would probably satisfy your craving. read more

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Came to Cafe Fiorello to grab a bite to eat with some family after seeing a show at Lincoln Center. It felt like I was transported back to Italy! While the restaurant is large (more of a ristorante vs cafe), it was packed and am glad we had made a reservation. Food-wise - pretty much everything we had was delicious! We had three of the antipasto to start (best was the zucchini parm-ish one), a couple of starters (caprese Americano & mussels - pictured), and two pizzas (four seasons and meatball). While a little on the pricier side, would definitely come back again! read more

Cafe Fiorello - Mussels - delicious! - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Wow! The lasagna was twice the size of my head. Veal Parmigiana was also large and delicious. Good could have been a bit warmer. I definitely would return with 2 friends to share this lasagne. read more

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Okay - why the 5 stars...I mean the restaurant will never get a Michelin star? I've been going to the cafe for 35+ years and I've never had a bad meal and never suffered bad service. Now, that is consistency! I am not vegan but I love their vegetable antipasto. The 5 choice platter is very shareable as an app - I recommend the squash lasagna, brussel sprouts, asparagus, cauliflower milanese, eggplant caponatta - forget it - all the choices are great. Perfectly cooked, not greasy, lots of vegetable flavors but still feeling somehow a bit decadent. I usually get a soup as well - my current fave is the wedding soup. It is like a main course - with a deeply delicious broth. Somehow, I never get past the apps and the salads, so I can't speak to their main courses. But everyone looks very happy with their meals. If you are alone, the apps - esp. the meatballs - can be a main course. The service is always surprisingly good - given that many of the waiters are aspiring actors or musicians. It makes me feel good about over-tipping. read more

Cafe Fiorello was a close restaurant to the Lincoln Center so we came over after watching a movie. The food is decent but I think the worst was the service. There was a bit of a wait, around 20 minutes or so, and then we sat down. We were told to wait for the waitress, but she didn't come for quite some time and we sat with no menus or water for a couple of minutes. After we were able to get our menus and water, we weren't able to flag the waitress down to take our order as we sat in a tucked away space from her view and couldn't get her attention. Throughout the dinner, the waitress also mistakenly asked if we ordered two types of drinks that we didn't order, which made it seem like she didn't have awareness of what our table ordered. I provide 3 stars because the food is actually fairly decent and was good, the service was the limiting factor of a higher star review for a slow service. read more

Cafe Fiorello - Chicken Parmigiana Alla Vodka - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Cafe Fiorello is so beautiful, with gorgeous flower decorations all around the place. I had an omelette and my friend ordered their pecan pancakes. The food was great--the only thing I was surprised by was getting charged for ordering hot water . Definitely would t stop me from going again though :) read more

Cafe Fiorello - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Bustling Italian restaurant with outdoor seating near Lincoln Harbor. I've been to Cafe Fiorello a bunch of times for brunch and dinner. The food is always solid. I've never had a problem making a reservation, even with a large group. The service is nice and accommodating. I've been a few times with my friend who is in a wheelchair and they've always found her an ideal spot. One time I went with my cousin and her family who are regulars and they greeted them warmly and gave home made chocolate chip cookies before we even ordered. The restaurant is fairly large and has a nice energy. I'll definitely be back-- highly recommended! read more

Old school Italian spot that is always packed so finally decided to check it out. We ordered family style for the table. The chicken parm and ravioli were excellent choices. But the thin crust pizza and meatballs were mediocre. Good spot for the vibes but there are definitely better spots in the city that has better Italian food. read more

We had a pleasant brunch here on Saturday -- an omelette for me, and the oh-so-trendy avocado toast for my wife, who had never had it before. Only regret is that the pasta and pizza's were not available until noon. I enjoyed the plaque saying that the table was reserved for Eva Hanks -- a law professor I knew many years ago, and Ivana Trump of all people! read more

Cafe Fiorello - Plaques re Ivana Trump et al - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

READ YOUR RECEIPTS! Go somewhere else. This place is all hype. I usually don't write negative reviews, but this experience has stayed with me for over a year--and that says something. I was dining with my aunt, who's over 80 and has been coming here for years. She's a regular, truly loyal to this place. So it was especially disheartening to have such a poor experience. The pizza wasn't served hot and ended up chewy. But what really made it worse was how we were treated. When I politely asked to speak with the manager, hoping for some resolution, I was met with rudeness and zero willingness to accommodate. It felt like they just didn't care. To top it off, we were overcharged--something on the bill that didn't add up, possibly an extra charge added to the pizza that shouldn't have been there. I didn't want to escalate it further at the time because I didn't want to stress out my aunt, but diners: check your receipts.They don't make it obvious, and it felt sneaky. It's sad to see a neighborhood spot treat loyal, longtime customers this way. Complacency and arrogance shouldn't replace hospitality and care. We won't be returning. read more

Go here often. Never had bad service before last night. Food hit the table before we got our drinks. Got our appetizer when we were already halfway done with the meal. Waited the entire meal to order a second drink because we were ignored by the waiter most of the time we were there. Reminded why we only drink wine here because the cocktails were not good. Place was busy but not full. Extremely disappointed. read more

I LOVEEE Cafe Fiorello!!! I've been there quite a few times but have never written a review. I usually visit Cafe Fiorello before or after a show, but this time I celebrated a friend's graduation there. Our waiter, Lionel, was amazing--attentive, funny, and kind! Every time I've gone to Cafe Fiorello, it has been packed, but the service during this visit was extraordinary. The food is always incredible. Since I typically go before or after a show, I never truly have the chance to relax and enjoy the meal. This time, I really appreciated it. The food is absolutely AMAZINGGG!!! It's fresh, and I can tell the ingredients are imported from Italy, as I've vacationed there many times. The meal is an authentic New York Italian experience. We ordered the vodka chicken parmigiana, vodka rigatoni, and cacio e pepe, and everything was absolutely delicious with generous portion sizes. The service was consistently spectacular. If you visit before a show, let your waiter know and they will make sure you get out in time to make the show. I HIGHLY recommend Cafe Fiorello; it's worth every penny, and I will always be a loyal patron, looking forward to my next visit! read more

Cafe Fiorello - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

I've been coming for years . Was really disappointed to discover that the famous lasagne was changed . Cost cutting obviously- price was reduced slightly as well as the ingredients. Feels/ tastes cheap . Really disappointed read more

First time here and highly recommend especially after watching at Lincoln Center! It's right across. We had chicken scallopine marsala, chicken parmigiano alla vodka with burrata and mozz, cheese ravioli with burrata mozz and alfredo, bronzini! They were soo good! Didnt have time for dessert but next time. The only thing was while waiting and hungry, they didnt serve bread w olive oil. But we'll definitely come back! read more

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Tasty food. Tourist attraction. Overpriced, but most tourists don't care. The service was spotty. They're so busy , it seems not easy to manage. The room is large and they offer outdoor seating. read more

Haven't been here in eons but had an event at Lincoln center and this restaurant is across the street and had last minute availability. It was extremely busy , close, and noisy. Maybe due to Lincoln center. Had to order bread because I don't think they give it. However the garlic loaf was delicious My spaghetti and ragu meatballs were exceptional. You can tell a good restaurant when their food is tasty without being salty. I have to say the tartuffo was the best I've ever had in my LIFE!!! Shaved bits of chocolate ribbon covering the entire ball. Heaven !!! Excellent service. Moderate prices. Varied menu. read more

Cafe Fiorello - Tartuffo - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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I feel like the people who complain that Cafe Fiorello is too expensive are doing it wrong. Yes. The lasagna is a jaw dropping $39. But it feeds a family of four. No joke. That thing is enormous, and its rich as all get out. When we ordered that for the table, and told the waiter that we planned to share it with the table and have a family style meal, he didn't blink. Total professional. No snobbery or standoffishness. Presumably, he too knows how much food is on that plate. It's insane. But because we were sharing, we got a couple extra meatballs on the side. And since one probably should get some vegetables in addition to all that meaty, cheesy, carb deliciousness, we also split the five vegetable platter from the antipasto bar. Next time, and most definitely there will be a next time, I will do a fly by of the massive antipasto bar to see what looks the best at the moment. I love being able to eat with my eyes, and this can be a real feast for all the senses. Even splitting everything, not being able to finish the "modest" amount of food we ordered, and even after a day of walking, we were still too stuffed for dessert. All the same, that lasagna is amazing and I do not see how I could return to Fiorello without ordering it again. Dessert be damned. read more

This place is highly recommended on here, and we decided to give it a go. There is indoor and outdoor seating. On this particular day, the outdoor dining was very dirty. Birds were flying around, and you could clearly see their dropping. Also, dust balls and such. However, NYC isn't known for its cleanliness; surprisingly, this was the worst we saw during our trip. However dirty the decor is adorable. We decided to sit outside and enjoy the busyness of life, and it wasn't until you sat that you started to notice the mess. Most other outdoor sitting is covered, and this one was partially covered. Food We loved all our appetizers, and for the main meal ordered a chicken, something very oily and deep fried, not our favorite. Jumbo Lump Crab Fork & Knife Bruschetta, and octopus. Picture included in the review. I loved these items and wish we had just ordered appetizers. My husband loved them as well, except for the octopus, but most people wouldn't care for it. Prices & Bill The prices are typical for NYC so that didn't shock us. What did was the overcharge in our bank statement. Three out of the five restaurants we ate at charged us over what we signed for. So, keep your receipts and double-check your statements. read more

Cafe Fiorello - Jumbo Lump Crab Fork & Knife Bruschetta - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Seated outside, in the enclosure on the sidewalk was very pleasant. The food was exquisite. The service was very good. Great location for a very pleasant dining experience. read more

Nice interior, service was good. We started with the Italian load with gorgonzola and 2 meatballs. Bread was very good but meatballs were pretty average. I had the linguine with clams and my husband had the chicken parm. Linguine was good - had alot of clams. My husband liked the chicken parm. We had chocolate mousse for dessert which came in a big quenelle shape and definitely had the texture of a mousse with another large quenelle of cream. The dessert was the star of this meal. Overall, it was a nice meal. I would come back if we were in the area. read more

Food is bad tasting and either over seasoned or undercooked. Drink tasted nothing like you'd expect from reading the menu and service is ok. Save yourself the money and disappointment. read more

Cafe Fiorello - Medium-rare (raw meat) burger and overly salty fries. - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Excellent food! Best service ever! Branzino and the four seasons thin crust pizza were out of this world!! Thank you, Juan, our server, and thanks to the entire team! A night to be remembered!! read more

Cafe Fiorello - Deserts: mango sorbet, chocolate strawberry gelato - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

If you're eating around lincoln center there aren't too many options in the immediate vicinity. Arguably the best, is Cafe Fiorellos. Great italian food that comes out incredibly fast. Note it is on the pricier side but it's expected for the area. The space inside can be a little crammed for large groups, unless you get one of the nice booth tables. Either way this is the preferred restaurant of choice over The Smith and Bar Boulud read more

Despite living on the Upper Best Side for a decade and frequently hitting up performances at Lincoln Center, my wife and I had never, until very recently, found ourselves at Fiorello (which may or may not take its name from the legendary NYC mayor). This is pretty embarrassing and basically indefensible, especially because much of the menu is devoted to pizza, a personal passion/obsession/addiction of mine. I will say that Fiorello tends to draw an older crowd (and has apparently existed for longer than my wife and I have been alive), and that it's rarely mentioned in our circle of friends or any of the food blogs we read. As a result, I had always assumed it was an overpriced anachronism running on inertia, with the same longtime customers eating the same red-sauce entrees after seeing the same ballet or opera for the umpteenth time. But we finally wandered inside after a show ("The Coast Starlight," really good!), and within 15 minutes of being led past lots of dark cherry wood paneling, and being seated in a big red leather booth, and reading big menus illuminated by brass lamps, and perusing lots of decadesold brass plaques with the names of regulars, we were kinda falling in love with the joint. Crucially, it wasn't just the charming old-school ambiance that had us swooning, but also the menus. For drinks, the wine list is full of bottles I recognized from the esteemed Amsterdam Wine Co., and the cocktails feature quality ingredients like Carpano Antica and Basil Hayden, and heck, they even have one of Athletic Brewing's fantastic non-alcoholic beers. My wife ordered a Cosmopolitan, and it was strong and delicious, not neon pink and cloying. For the food, a standout is the antipasto bar (a literal huge bar, visible from the sidewalk). You can get basic stuff, such as olives and cheese, but there are also elaborate items, such as butternut lasagna, puff pastry tarts, ricotta balls and potato pies. As for the pizza, it's really distinctive, basically a hubcap-size cracker adorned unabashedly with vast amounts of cheese, veggies, etc. Service is stellar; our waiter had great advice and humor, and when we declined dessert, he dropped off free limoncello shots. Prices are high, but certainly no higher than what you'll pay at the flashier restaurants on the same block (The Smith, Bar Boulud, Boulud Sud). And I should be clear that the place is sparkling clean, despite being far from new. My wife and I have philharmonic tickets later this month, and there's a very good chance we'll return to Fiorello afterward, because it's a surprisingly enjoyable spot, and we definitely need to make up for lots of lost time. read more

Cafe Fiorello - 5 Vegetable Antipasto Plate, terrific. - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Always perfect service and good food. The clam sauce and pasta was fine but nothing to write home about but the veggie antipasto was wonderful! read more

This is my favorite pre-Metropolitan Opera place. The sausage and peppers pizza is amazing, and their lasagna is extremely special. They make a mean martini! And the anti-pasta bar is to die for read more

Thank you Lyndon for making our first dining experience in NYC a benchmark. Between service, attentiveness, engagement, and pure enthusiasm he 100% made this visit amazing. Food was good, as we expected from a well rated restaurant but Lyndon made the experience special. Outdoor seating is also a huge plus and a different experience from what we're used to on the other coast. read more

Cafe Fiorello - The last time I had anything as good as this was in 2001 at the Migros cold bar in Geneva, Switzerland. This took me back home! - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Charcuterie board was the best part I'd say, with the meatball being the highlight. Linguine with clams had too strong of a fishy flavor to it, and the chicken parm looked better than it tasted unfortunately. Overall this place is good enough for a neighborhood spot but overpriced for what it is read more

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This is one of our local favorites. In spite of their size they always remember us and are extremely welcoming. The food is great and we love it. read more

While I had planned to meet a friend at the bar, I was so impressed by the Antipasto Salad Bar that I felt I needed to share how this might be one of the greatest secrets of where to eat a very satisfying dinner. Here's the deal : three choices of salads for $25 or five salads for $35! Even if you don't want to eat anything, the bar at Cafe Fiorello is beautiful and given my own experience, I'm confident that you'll be seduced by their wonderful menu and will most likely end up dining there too! read more

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December 26th, 2020 - Outdoor Dinning Perfect outdoor setup! They have a tent (it's open on the non-windy side) with heaters. You can actually sit comfortably out there (with you coat) and enjoy your dinner. The decorations are super cute and they even have chandeliers! Food: Delicious! We ordered the meatballs, mushrooms, and Prosciutto Di Parma Pizza. They do have gluten free pizza and gluten free pasta options. Drinks: My husband ordered and Old Fashion and I ordered the Sangiovese Red Wine. The wine reminded me our trip in Italy. Tips for outdoor dinning: Buy foot or hand warmers and stuff them into your shoes and gloves. Wear a coat and winter hat. I've been wearing ski pants for our outdoor dinning.... lol. Stay home if you're sick!!!! read more

Cafe Fiorello - Outdoor dinning is open! - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Food was great Service impeccable Ambiance excellent Jeff (our waiter) was one in a million. Old style NY service with attention to every detail read more

Cafe Fiorello - Pre-fixe $37 and an extra pizza! I had the Rigatoni Vodka sauce my husband had the Chicken Parm. Came with appetizers and dessert! - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Delicious Italian food! Love their pizzas, so thin but tasty. Their spaghetti and meatballs is really good too! read more

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