Ate here for my mom's birthday June 21, and I have to say that the food here is really good. It's the only Italian restaurant local to Dyker Heights, so when my mom wanted to come here last year, we were delighted by their food. Since then business seemed to boom for them, as they had a full service June 21. We had gotten the calamari as our appetizer, and it was very crispy but not drudged in oil like some places make it. The marinara sauce it came with was not too acidic and not too sweet. It was so good with the calamari. Next, I personally got the branzino (although memory slips as to the name of the dish). The fish on its own was a little bland, I cannot lie, but when eaten with the sautéed onions and sauce, it was delicious. I ate all of it. Also, the portion sizes here are quite generous, thank you! Our waiter was a nice guy. Attentive and checking in on us every now and then, even with a full dining room. The restaurant itself is small, but it's very nice. You can peer a little into the kitchen through an archway which is nice. And they have some tvs if you want to chill here, drink, and eat for a while. It has a nice modern atmosphere in it. Overall, definitely will be coming back for a third time. read more

Cavatappi NYC - Calamari - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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I had mentioned that I would be back based on my last review. I am so happy that I brought my friends here today. We all had a great experience. The staff and owners are very nice and professional! The owners actually took my constructive criticism from my last review very seriously. That shows that they care about their customers and want to have a successful business. I honestly wish you all the best of luck! My second experience here was absolutely amazing! The food and service was on point! Everything was timed perfectly and the food was fresh and delicious! The chef even gave us complimentary bruschetta and limoncello shots. Definitely coming back! It's so nice to have an amazing restaurant right in the neighborhood. You should also make reservations. read more

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Was surprise of the near perfect rating around the neighborhood but finally had the chance to try this place. I am not impressed and not sure if its the takeout but one dish had minimal flavor & dry asf. The other bolognese was good thought. So overall it was worse than other neighboring Italian venues read more

This restaurant was so cute and the staff were amazing! Everything on the menu looked so good. For an appetizer we split the stuff peppers. Delicious!!! For dinner I had the cherry pepper chicken parm. It was spicer than I thought it would be, which I didn't mind. It was incredible. The portion sizes were huge, I could only eat a quarter of my chicken and took the rest home with me. Can't wait to have the leftovers tomorrow! The staff were amazing, super friendly!! We had my 10 month old nephew with us, the waitress offer us so many different things throughout the meal for my nephew. We said yes to the fruit. She list off what they and then came out with a nice plate of orange slices and lemon slices (he loves lemons) for him. And packed up the left over fruit for the ride home. My nephew was getting tired and fussy at the end of the meal but then One of the workers played peekaboo with him for a few minutes, my nephew loved it and was all smiles after! Thank you to the amazing staff for their kindness and wonderful service, delicious food! read more

Love the story of this place - seems to be two brothers, one of whom is the chef, who say they cook their grandmother's recipes from Palermo. Our appetizers were as good as it gets. Their calamari is big and bountiful, lightly fried perfectly and with a marinara. Then the meatballs, which are some of the best I think I've had. Fluffy meaty and substantial. Nice. The pastas were all cooked perfectly, but the gravy lacked. I got the bolognese which looked terrific but didn't taste like a bolognese - it was more like a solid 'meat sauce'. The chicken parm was solid, if not pounded evenly, but the red sauce on the accompanying pasta didn't have a whole lot of flavor. So everything was really good except the most important. But the small place was full and they're doing just fine, and judging by the other reviews I think we're the anomaly. But I wanted it to be better than it was. read more

Cavatappi NYC - The chicken parm - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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My son took me there the other night for dinner. Not a big menu but the items they have are really nice choices. We had the burrata appetizer and rice balls. Excellent both of them . My son had the pesto pasta though they were out of cavatappi pasta and I had the rigatoni bolognese . Must say both of them were delicious. One of the owners came over to chat with us and he was so very nice . Finished off a wonderful dinner with cappuccino and a piece of cheesecake. This place is a little neighborhood gem I definitely recommend and look forward to going back. read more

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My girlfriend and I came to eat at cavatappi and thoroughly enjoyed the food that the chef carefully curated. The ingredients in their burrata caprese was fresh and paired well with the rest of the dish (arugula, heirloom tomato, prosciutto). And obviously, the burrata itself was perfect, creamy and light finished with a balsamic glaze. Great starter dish! It was our first time having a pork dish at any capacity and this Kansas City Pork Chop was tender, juicy, savory, and fragrant! The seasonal vegetables gave the pork something to fall back on in case the meat was too rich. The cavatappi was earthy, a little bitter, and fragrant. Along with the sweet cherry tomatoes, and mozzerella, this fresh main pasta dish paired well with the rich and savory pork dish. The staff was attentive and kind. It's a shame I don't speak Italian, otherwise, I would tell the chef how amazing the dining experience was. Thank you cavatappi for serving us. We will be back again! read more

Cavatappi NYC - a close up of a pasta dish - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Service was attentive and good, ambiance was family comforts, food was delish, will be going there again to try other dishes.

Amazing!!!!!! Great addition to the neighborhood. Went to Cavatappi with friends for dinner felt like I was at home. The place is spotless. I recommend this new restaurant to anyone. Food was unbelievably fresh and full of flavor. Will definitely be coming back read more

Cavatappi NYC - Pastaaaaa - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Good food and service! Clean small-medium place which has nice decor. I recommend making a reservation the place seemed to pack out quick. Tried a whole bunch of dishes and desserts everything was good. Had the fried mozz for app so good. For dinner, we had Penne vodka, pesto pasta, chicken milenasa,eggplant Parmesan and spinach ravs. For dessert we have crème brûlée,tiamasu and tartufo. Everything was good! read more

Food and service are great is this cute restaurant. Will definitely come back. Linguini with white clam sauce Burrata Grilled octopus Chicken cutlet read more

Upon entering you can feel this is a cleaning and bright neighbourhood restaurant. The waiter was very informative giving us great recommendations. Best meatballs in Brooklyn! Big and fluffy meatballs in a great marinara cheese sauce. The star of the show was the Kansas City pork chop that melts in your mouth. Flavourful! And the sauce on the side was to die for!! The chef even stopped by our table to see if everything was Ok. Will definitely be back to try their other dishes! read more

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The food was delicious. Service was warm and friendly. Very nice dining experience. Will definitely be back.

A great neighborhood spot for Italian. I was pleasantly surprised by this place. It's a small place with an open kitchen concept. The waitress is super friendly, and the owner Dave came up to us to chat for a little bit. He is very nice and you can tell he pours his soul into this place. Pastas were perfectly done, but somehow didn't leave you feeling sluggish and heavy like some do. The salmon was amazing, cooked to perfection. And their Polpettine - meatballs is probably one of the best I've ever had. A must try! The house salad I was most impressed with because it tasted so fresh, it doesn't taste like one of those usual restaurant salads that came out of a bag and onto a plate for you. I would definitely come again to try more items on their menu. It can be a little pricey for the specials, but portions are pretty decent. read more

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We came to eat dinner looking for Italian cuisine. After our favorite Italian eatery closed down, we were looking for a new Italian restaurant to frequent. This restaurant had a high rating on yelp so we decided to give it a try. The atmosphere is fine, but the place itself is not that big. When fully booked, it feels cramped. One positive thing that I can say is that the service was really nice and the staff was friendly. Now on to the negative. We weren't really impressed with the food. We ordered a bunch of appetizers and they were really mediocre. I know it's not fair to compare how a chef prepares the food, but when you're comparing similar dishes and you kind of know what to expect and that dish doesn't live up to that expectation, it leaves a bad taste in your mouth. My husband's branzino was too oily and tasted bland. The same can be said for my pork chop. It was too salty and greasy. I took one bite and I couldn't eat anymore. That was the overall theme, the food was either over-fried or too greasy. On top of that, I asked to take my meal, the pork chop to go, only to discover the next day that they didn't even pack it. There is no way for me to prove it. So there goes $32 down the drain. I'm really surprised and disappointed at the same time. Usually Yelp reviews are spot on. Not only was the food lackluster, but I paid for the meal which I barely touched and wasn't packed to go. We'll keep looking for another Italian restaurant read more

Been meaning to check this place out for a while now, glad I finally did! Great service and food! The guys that run the restaurant are just incredible, super sweet and gracious. They made room for us even though a party was going on. The portions were great and the food was delicious. I highly suggest the arancini and polpo dishes. read more

Cavatappi NYC - a plate of fried squids and a bowl of tomato sauce - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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5 stars all around. The food was fantastic, the service was great (everyone very nice), and it's also not super expensive. I hope this becomes a neighborhood staple! Would highly recommend. Dined multiple times already. read more

We saw this new restaurant in the neighborhood and spoke briefly with the owner who showed us his website and the menu on Instagram So we decided to go and give it a try a party of 5; I must say this place is not only cute and cozy but the service was impeccable the food taste Great (the chef is from Sicily) and our whole experience was Amazing so good that I returned for a second time last night. read more

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Months later and I have returned twice since and Cavatappi never fails to impress from their generous portions to their specials and great service. Cavatappi is definitely a standout in Brooklyn. The chef is Italian and takes pride in his art as do the entire team in producing quality plates with great flavors. It is a hidden gem and one worth my trek from Queens. They have a repeat customer in me forsure. read more

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Had a reservation for a party of 5 here on NY Eve for my grandmothers birthday. The staff was friendly & the food was great. Thanks for the lovely evening. read more

Cavatappi NYC - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

The restaurant - is excellent, delicious and the service is Suburb. I don't normally eat Italian food out because I make it home in my own kitchen but this place puts me to shame! Oh my God you have to try it and you will know what I'm talking about. 5 stars is nothing they deserve 10!!!! read more

Went to cavatappi for the first time with my girlfriend and a few friends to try. The staff is super friendly and attentive and quick even when it's packed, they don't rush you at all. The food comes in huge portions , for the price it's well worth it. Although, i must say some of the pasta we had, like my girlfriend's signature cavatappi pasta, lacked a little seasoning, everything else we ordered was relatively good. Another neighborhood spot I'd def recommend if you're in the area! read more

Ordered delivery via Uber Eats and the order came super quick. Sadly, the pasta gummy (undercooked) and swimming in sauce. The meal was prepared in a rush. Even the mozarella is not fully melted. It was also full on sauce. The quality of this meal was not worth the proce and I wish I could get a refund.Skip this place and go elsewhere. read more

Cavatappi NYC - Chicken parm - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Excellent! Afraid to let you know how good it is because I won't be able to get a table anymore. We go out all the time and my wife was born in Italy. Place is a gem ......period. Should be in Manhattan. Everything was incredible. read more

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I had my husband's retirement dinner last night at this fabulous hidden gem of a restaurant: Cavatappi Italian Restaurant on the corner of 81st Street and 13th Avenue. I want to give them a huge shoutout and thank you. The food was amazing and the staff was phenomenal. Everyone raved about the food, the service, and the ambiance. I highly recommend this family owned treasure. read more

3 of us stopped in for dinner Saturday night because of their Yelp rating. Menu's, water and bread came to the table in under a minute. Our appetizer was the Fried Calamari. The portion was plenty for the 3 of us. The batter had a perfect crispness and exactly the right amount of seasoning. The calamari inside was melt in your mouth awesome! Not one piece had even a hint of that rubbery-ness you sometimes get at other places. It's no exaggeration when I say it's the best I've had in DECADES! Each of the 3 main courses were outstanding! Rigatoni w/ meatballs - Perfect Al Dente HOMEMADE pasta, delicious thick sauce, and the meatballs were a total throwback to how my Grandmother used to make for Sunday dinners. Penne Vodka - Again, fresh pasta, deliciously balanced vodka sauce, prosciutto and peas were top shelf. Linguini Di Mare - The portion was VERY generous and they did not skimp on the amount of clams, mussels, calamari and shrimp that topped the homemade linguini. Worth every penny. This is one of those places that even if you're full, you just can't stop eating. Every member of the waitstaff were pleasant and looked happy to be there. They were very attentive, neatly dressed, well spoken and made you feel comfortable and welcomed. The kitchen staff definitely take pride in the presentation and authentic old school Italian flavor of their food. If I could give this place 10 stars, I would. Absolutely the BEST dining experience the 3 of us have had in many years! We were raving about it the whole ride home, and that's something we just never do. read more

My boyfriend and I ordered the calamari, rigatoni bolognese and the penne vodka. The calamari was crispy and well seasoned. The rigatoni was cooked perfectly and the sauce was delicious. The penne was al dente and the prosciutto added a nice flavor to the meal. The portions were filling but we still saved some room for dessert. We ordered the tartufo and the chocolate was very rich. The staff was friendly and accommodating to make sure our experience here went well. read more

Cavatappi NYC - Rigatoni bolognese - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Went here when they opened on a Saturday. We got the meatballs, mussels and penne vodka. Everything was delicious but we really loved the meatballs the most. Didn't get a picture of them before we ate them. Highly recommend. read more

The food was delicious and the portions were huge. I like the tiramisu and cheesecake. The atmosphere was comfortable and the service was excellent. read more

Honestly great food, great value and amazing service. The servers were both so kind and actually provided amazing hospitality which is extremely rare now a days. They always had a great smile, and they were never intrusive but were always there when you needed something. The atmosphere was definitely very calm, warm, and just overall had a great homely feeling. When they brought out a cake with a candle the other tables joined in as well. I just don't have enough great things to say about this place. I believe the chef also came out just to check on each tables which was a great touch as well. read more

We chose this place out of location convenience. I am so glad we did! The owner was the nicest person even though we didn't have a reservation. The service was flawless and the food was amazing. The fried burrata was delicious and the pork chop was spectacular. The best part of the meal was the homemade cheesecake, truly the best I've ever had. I highly recommend stopping in whenever you get the chance! We will definitely be back! read more

Friendly staff, pleasant ambiance, walnut beet salad excellent, house pasta with pesto was excellent.

WOW. A five star five diamond experience in my neighborhood of Dyker Heights I was so happy that my godmother was able to get a reservation here because they treat everyone like family and they never over book. Highly recommend you dine here for the classic and phenomenal service and next level delicious food. I ordered the ravioli, spinach, ricotta in the brown sage sauce, butter, and my mom had the wild salmon entree. we finish the night with some crème brûlée and cheesecake. definitely will return. Very satisfied. read more

Cavatappi NYC - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

My husband and I came in on a Friday around 4pm, which is a really awkward time i know for restaurants (sorry!), but they were open and had customers at that time so that was great! We came for an early dinner so the restaurant wasn't crowded. It was cute and chic, not extravagantly large like some older Italian restaurants. The waitress was so attentive. We had tap and I asked for room temp, and she provided us a cup of hot water in case the tap was too cold for us on a chilly day! That is sooo sweet! To start, we had calamari and it was YUM! The calamari was so tender and the bowl of marinara was delish. Somehow we ended up finishing the sauce before we finished the calamari haha. I had the special Rigatoni with sweet/spicy Italian sausage. It was steaming HOT (temperature wise) which is great, and had a dollop of cool ricotta on top to balance it. It was delicious and the pasta was cooked very nicely. My husband had the seafood linguine in red sauce. He said the pasta and sauce were quite good, just a little heavy on the olive oil. The shellfish quality could be better, but that's just the batch of the mussels so does not detract from the chef's sauce/pasta! Overall we really enjoyed our dinner. read more

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This was a delicious meal with a perfect combination of dishes you'd expect on an Italian menu but also some more inventive, special feeling dishes and a lot of attention to detail. Of the appetizers, the fried calamari, burrata and meatballs were excellent. The meatballs were particularly delicious. Everything tasty, fresh and well seasoned. They were very busy when we went and it seemed like a reservation would be useful (even though we didn't have one, we went on the earlier side) The space feels comfortable but still small enough that eating there feels like you get personalized attention and an experience that's just for you. Additionally, there are very few options for an enjoyable, sit down meal in this immediate area. This one stands out as both nice (for atmosphere) and a place where everyone would find and enjoy something they'd love on the menu. Really worth trying and we're looking forward to going back again to try the rest of the menu. read more

This was our second time at Cavatappi. First time was back in July 2022. Believe that they opened around May 2022. Anyway, the 2nd time around around was even better than the first. They've added specials to the menu. If you like calamari, and they have the calamari special, which is spicy and sweet, then you have to try it. It was really good. They also had a few pasta specials. I had one that had cut up tuna in it. It was excellent. I live in Queens, but it's definitely worth the trip. read more

If I had to use one word to describe this restaurant. Awesome. The quality of food is top shelf. Delicious. The menu has a great selection of appetizers and entrees. Service was great and it felt very casual inside. read more

Delicious! Definitely make a reservation. It's small n crowded. We shared the burrata app, so good!! Fresh delicious, the prosciutto n balsamic. A great choice! For dinner we had the Kansas City pork chop n linguine di mare. Both very good. Pork chop was too salty but not enough to take away from the review. Linguine was really good in the white sauce. Shared the homemade tiramisu in a cup for desert . It was not overpriced. Everyone was so friendly. It was a great dinner. I'd def recommend. read more

We ordered delivery for Father's day, Rigatoni Bolognese is excellent could use a little more sauce, Penne Vodka with Peas and Prosciutto was excellent as well. Pasta is house made, Chicken Parmesan was good although I wish there were two or three smaller cutlets than one big one. And season the bread crumbs. For dessert we had the homemade Cheesecake which was delicious! Will order again. read more

Food tasted clean and homemade, portion were good sized. Service was impeccable. Ambiance was perfect...no annoyingly loud music & lighting wasn't too bright nor too dim. Definitely will return. read more