Ordered the Quatro Pizza... the picture looked better than it tasted. It was good, but nothing special. My gf ordered the filet Mignon, which she enjoyed (the dish looks like grilled roast beef with potato). The fried artichoke appetizer was pretty good, but needed some acid to help bring out the flavors. We went on a Sunday night, and it was packed. I can see this place being good for take out, in as much as you are given about 1 square foot of space to eat in. The food is good, but their service is hindered by the fact that the restaurant is small and gets packed incredibly fast. You will get solid Italian food at an affordable price, but if your going to dine there expect a European and claustrophobic feel. We also ordered a pasta dish... I was still hungry after the pizza, it was pretty good. They have nice noodles, but just like all of the other dishes, the pasta was missing something... everything looked better than it tasted, I am not sure why. I don't think you'll be disappointed. It's not the best italian food in the city... but it's certainly affordable, tasty, and presentable. read more

This is my favorite Italian Restaurant , anywhere in the US. I used to eat here 3 times a week when I lived in Manhattan. It's been 9 years since this blonde has eaten this amazing food! Tonight, I am visiting NYC and will bring my husband for the very first time to eat at the most authentic, splendid AUTHENTIC Italian food in the USA. I am only sorry the owner will be off tonight (I called) as I miss him telling me how to eat my food and hearing about the astonishing cheeses and where they come from. Cash Only? WHO CARES! Come prepared. lt's worth it! read more

Amazing food. An essential Italian spot on the UWS.

CASH ONLY! Is this place tiny? Yes. Can it get packed? Yes. Is it worth eating at a table the size of your school desk in elementary school? Yes! I tried this place on a whim as I was Yelping on my walk back to my apartment. After perusing the menu, I decided to try the tagliatelle con gamberi e verza. At this price, it has to be the one of the best pastas I've had. The staff was polite and friendly. My water glass never got empty even though I was sitting in what felt like a cubby hole in the corner by myself on a surprisingly busy Wednesday night. The tables are so close that I felt like I should join my neighbors conversation, but it still didn't bother me. I can understand putting that many tables in when a place is consistently busy. Now I was overhearing a discussion, if you will, between a patron and the manager (owner?). She wanted a table for 5 or 6, but she was by herself. He told her that it would be a 15 minute wait and that the entire party needs to be present. She walks back in and says that everyone is there, but maybe someone else is coming. He tells her the same thing again. She comes back and asks why he can't tell a couple to pay and leave, so she can sit and eat. He tells her that they are customers just like she is, and if they wish to linger and finish their wine, they can. I have been in restaurants where they have rushed me or dropped the check as soon as they bring the food like "hurry up", and it makes you feel unwelcomed. I was glad to see him stick up for those of us who like to sit for a minute and sip an espresso then leave. When someone wanted to go out to eat a few days later, I told him to take me here. The owner remembered me and sat me right away. What can I say? It feels like family. read more

Good, small, neighborhood go-to restaurant. We tried the lentil soup - good but easy to do at home - and the margherita pizza - nice, crispy, chewy crust but the toppings were not otherworldly and seemed borderline over-salted. The wines are mostly italian and the Sicilian wine I tried was decent but nothing special. Great expressos! The ambiance is relaxed and comforting with a wall of someone's china on one side. The servers were friendly but we came in at 10 on a Sunday and before we had finished the staff were eagerly making their way out the door - understandable but disconcerting all the same. We've had better pizza in the city but if you're looking for a bite to eat in the neighborhood you can't go wrong at Celeste. read more

I have a thing for tall dark men yelling in Italian. Celeste's maitre d' is exactly that. Barking orders to his waiters, calling out names for people in line to sit, the guy is smooth. Michael Corleone smooth. Usually a wait, but when he says it's 30 min, it's really 10-15 min. My girlfriend and I went across the street to get drinks at Jacob Pickles, came back and he had already called our name. We waited like 2 min after and we were seated. The place is cramped. Tables are so close that I could hear the rude patron slurping his noodles. I'm Asian and Asians do that (he was Asian). But they gotta know that it's only polite to slurp in Asian culture and it's very rude in Western culture. Call me snobby. Anyways, I digress, the restaurant still has a romantic/casual feel. Wine is awesomely priced, they even have a 1/2 wine deal on Mondays (fact check that). My girlfriend and I started with the mussels in the white wine and garlic broth (Saute Di Cozze) and it was delicious. For $9.50, best mussels in the city and they were fresh. The broth was light and not too heavy/buttery at all. Well seasoned. For entrees, she had the spaghetti with clams (Spaghetti Alla Vongole) which was also light, broth was nice and the clams were fresh. Put some red pepper flakes and it's probably the most addicting thing there. I had the veal special which came with 3 veal loins lightly breaded and covered in a butter sauce, sauteed greens and potatoes fried in the veal fat. Heavy? Yes. Freaking best meal in a while? Hell yes. Only for the veal lovers. For dessert we had the standard tiramisu which was delicious and light again, so weird, they do everything perfectly in terms of balance. I will be back for sure. Fresh seafood, great deals and overall balance. Bring cash. I did see an ATM in there if you need it. read more

Celeste is one of those restaurants that if someone from the neighborhood doesn't talk to you about it, you wouldn't know about it's existence. Luckily for me, I heard about this place back in 2007 and keep going back since then. The food here is as authentic as it gets, simple ingredients but super well made and tasty Italian food, just the way it's supposed to be, like Nonna's house! The owner is always present, conversation between him and the servers in Italian only, which to me it's a good sign. Place is small but super cozy, tables for two are often super close to each other, but if you are opened to conversations it can be fun. Bottom line is that here it should be all about the food, and I can promise you that you will leave happy! read more

I walked by this place and decided to dine there. Food was OK at best. Service was very slow considering there was not many people dinning there. When server brought check and I pulled out my CC to pay, she quickly informed me that they did not accept CC's. I pointed out that they should inform patrons of this before ordering. No one informed me. Server coped and attitude because I was a bit annoyed about not being informed beforehand. They conveniently had an ATM in the back and just by mere coincidence I had my debit card (which I usually do not carry) with me). Once I paid I asked for the owner to explain what had happened and point out again how important it is to inform patron of their cash only policy prior to anyone ordering. The owner seemed very uninterested in what had happened. He was forcefully polite (at best) but really did not care and showed it. I would not recommend this place to eat at even if I had known beforehand about the cash only policy. It just was not that good. read more

Good solid food, never been disappointed. Especially love the fried artichoke and the artichoke salad. For the price, 4 .5 stars, service is 2.5 stars, but unfortunately, as other reviewers have posted, the service can be very rushed, they don't force you out but they really stand over you and wait for you to leave, so that's a little uncomfortable and can sometimes leave a bad taste in your mouth! Other than that, worth it. read more

Wow, this place was really good and just the type of great Italian cuisine I was looking for. I came in with 2 girlfriends for dinner. 1 ordered the margherita pizza, 1 ordered the fried vegetables, and I ordered a pasta dish with spaghetti in an oil and garlic sauce with clams. My meal was so delicious and the perfect portion size. I left feeling so content and can't wait to return! -1 star for the no credit card policy. read more

A quiet and cozy place to eat. The food is great and affordable. My only complaint is that you are a little close to the people eating next to you. Menu is a little hard to decipher, wished they more pictures. But since you are soo close to the people next to you, you can just tell the waiter you want what they are having. Great place to go to eat and the owner is super nice and friendly. read more

The first time I walked in here, a tall man in a leather jacket walked over to me, and I was unsure whether he worked there or was just trying to get out the cramped entryway. He ended up being the sommelier, owner, something high up, and he teased me for looking so flabbergasted. This sort of anecdote describes the atmosphere of the place--very outgoing Italian. The owners regularly pour too much wine for the regulars-there was a couple sitting next to me who'd been there every week-and are very informal and welcoming while still being very classy. The ambiance and friendliness is what makes this place so fantastic. The food is good, but not amazing. It is, however, very inexpensive for what is essentially a classy relaxed, nice without being stuffy dinner. Their wines aren't great, but they are paired well if you ask the waiter, and are ~$7 glass. Their handmade pasta is very good, as is the pizza, and their fish is excellently cooked. You could get better Italian at a number of places on the island, but not necessarily a better experience. Great place, love it, and I aspire to become a regular. WARNING-cash only. I always forget this and have to dash out to the atm. read more

I love this place so hard it should be illegal. Seriously, my best friend I went here every night for our Sunday night date for over a year, and it never got old. The food is fantastic. The price is cheap (bring cash). The ambiance is beautiful. Come. Here. The owner is the one in the vest. (always) read more

This is one of the best Italian restaurants in NYC and maybe anywhere. The food is excellent, delicious, fresh and just wonderful. The wine list is extensive and broad and fits every meal and every price range. I have brought clients and friends and family and everyone has always said that I have found a gem. I also come alone and have a glass of red wine and Bolognese or fish or lasagna and a green salad. Things that I love are the scallops or salmon carpaccio or burrata for appetizers. Mains that are great are the lamb chops, fresh fish, anything pesto anything with red sauce and sometimes a pizza as an appetizer when you are with a few people. The lasagna is better than mine (which is tough) the pasta dishes are just too good to be true and the tiramisu is yummy. I love going to Celeste. It feels like home and I love to share this place with my favorite people. read more

Excellent wine list and fresh pasta raviolis were delicious. We loved the small intimate setting and our server. Although the salmon was a little dry, everything else was cooked to perfection. My eggplant zucchini dish was the best I've ever had. read more

My favorite local spot in the UWS! Be prepared for a wait and bring cash. But this small cozy Italian joint is well worth the effort. Reasonably priced with entrees ranging from $10-20. Always fresh perfectly cooked pasta. My favorite is the penne mo mo - delicious tomato sauce with fresh chunks of mozzarella. So fresh, so simple, sooooo amazingly tasty! Save room for the tiramisu - it's the best! read more

There's something wrong about queuing for a restaurant table on the UWS. Funny how I'm happy to wait an hour or more for a table downtown, but waiting 15 minutes on the UWS seems too long. I've been to Celeste a few times now. And its ok. Not mind-blowing. Most recently I had the buratta special appetiser. Hard to screw that one up. Good fresh ingredients etc. J had the veal - she seemed fairly happy. I had pasta with a ricotta and tomato sauce. All decent but nothing that leaves me with a burning desire to go back. Honestly, this is a decent neighbourhood spot that's not too expensive - you are not going to have anything spectacular or life changing here. The down side is that it is generally absolutely packed, requires a wait and only takes cash. They are also the type of place that likes to rush you out of there. No lingering over your espresso. This would make a terrible spot for a first date, in my opinion. read more

I came here with a small group of friends for dinner on a weekday. We got there at around 7pm and got seated immediately. I got their gnocchi alla sorrentino, which was pretty decent. All my friends were satisfied with their pastas too. That being said, there are some downsides to this place. The ambiance is alright, but it gets very crowded during dinner time. Because the place is fairly small and there are a lot of tables cramped together, it gets quite loud and hectic past 7:30ish. Another downside is that the service is rather slow and unresponsive. We had to ask for parmesan cheese and pepper for our pasta at least five times until we finally got it. The service felt quite rushed the whole time, although it was somewhat understandable given the number of people that were waiting for a table outside. Also, as other reviewers have mentioned, this place is CASH ONLY, so you should prepare accordingly. Overall, this is a solid Italian place in UWS, but given the small size, huge crowd and slow service, I don't think it would be an ideal place for a date or special occasion. read more

What a blast! Before you go, read the reviews - they're almost all spot on. Food is good, portions are normal and not bigger than your head, prices are fantastic. Service is slow at times but well meaning, the owner is lovable and yes he will stop and talk to you. It is hot. It is crowded. Order the cheese plate. This is not the place to go if you want fancy food or a quiet scene. This is the place to come when you want to let the wine keep coming and not think about how much it costs, when you want a dish of something tasty not separated out into quadrants with accompanying garnishes, and when you want an experience and a wonderful memory, not just a dinner. Seriously. Order the cheese plate. read more

It is crowded. It is loud. The air conditioner did drip condensation right on our table. But I love it despite (and perhaps partially because of) these attributes. To me this is a place that exemplifies what a new york restaurant should be. Owned by an Italian man with huge personality, and staffed by an Italian speaking waitstaff, this place is bursting with authenticity. You must order the cheese plate for dessert. Not only is it delicious, but the owner is very enthusiastic about it and he will bring it to your table and then describe each of the cheeses, in what order you should eat them, and which jelly or honey should accompany them. Even if you can't understand his thick accent over the noise of people enjoying themselves around you it definitely caps off the evening. read more

I came here for dinner because I was in the area and it had gotten fantastic Yelp reviews. It was about 830 on a Tuesday night and the place was popping. I thought we were going to have to wait awhile, but they immediately directed us to a table wedged between a pole and the table next to us. It was certainly tight quarters, but then again the whole restaurant is cramped, which is not uncommon for good, popular restaurants in Manhattan (see my review on The Meatball Shop). Anyway, the food was delicious. I had some pasta dish that I couldn't pronounce which was good but my fiancé had this spinach and ricotta stuffed ravioli drenched in butter which was out of this world. Like I found myself constantly picking at her plate and neglecting my food because the ravioli was that good. A couple of things to note: Price- VERY reasonable. You definitely get your money's worth. Service- While the servers aren't rude, they aren't exactly warm and fuzzy either. They move around quickly (bc the place is packed) and when we asked for refills, they came promptly without complaing. Payment- CASH ONLY.....We had that awkward moment when one of us had to find a deli to get cash to pay for our food bc they do not have an ATM in the restaurant. I would certainly recommend this place and I would love to try it again too. read more

Now that it's getting cold, I REALLY want to go back. I'm craving their Spaghetti Alle Vongole (they're generous with their clams). But can't wait to try other stuff. And, can't go without the cheese plate... though, the stinky, young cheeses, as tasty as they are, are not so good for a lactoid like me. (Thank you Michelle R. for so graciously introducing us to this joint... now when are we going back!?) read more

My ravioli (I believe with ricotta, butter, and spinach) was pretty tasty but the portion was rather small for the price of $9.50. My friend ordered the fried artichoke and I was tempted to order that dish since it came with a good amount and smelled absolutely amazing. The service was alright, nothing to phone home and squeal about to my mother. read more

I go to New York about once a year. Celeste is my only "must go" place. In fact, I've been known to go twice in four days--it's that good. No sign with the restaurant's name on the exterior, so take a look at the yelp photos so you know what to look for! If you get here by 6pm, you should have no trouble getting a table. All the pastas are great, and the specials are reliable. However, after due experimentation, I now only order one dish--the spaghetti vongole. I can't explain it, but the pasta is al dente and the sauce is just the right balance of rich buttery goodness and clams. Other places make their vongole sauce kind of brothy, but Celeste's is a bit thicker. Yum! On our last visit, my son ordered the veal which was good and lemony. Unexpectedly, it's served with big chunks of deep fried potatoes. Crispy on the outside. Not a bad accompaniment to the veal. About halfway through, he took a bite of my vongole. His eyes bugged out and I knew I was done. A couple bites later, I pretended to be tired of my vongole (as if!) and offered to swap with him. He eagerly agreed and slurped down the rest of my beloved dish. Mom of the year? I think so. My waiter suggested the artichoke salad so we tried it. It was basically raw, slivered artichoke in dressing. Not our cup of tea. For dessert, we normally walk two blocks down Amsterdam to get grasshopper pie ice cream at Emack and Bolio. Can't wait to go back in August! read more

Ah Celeste, such a pretty lady with your wood burning oven and exposed brick. Your delicious al dente pastas and tart artichoke and lemon salad. But alas your servers are impatient, lack training and are occasionally rude. I may retun, but wish you would enroll in a nice finishing school, or at least take a quick seminar. read more

Let me start off with saying the food was delicious, and well deserving of five stars, that is if you can stand the terrible service. Even with a reservation we had to stand 20 minutes out in the cold. When we went to buy hot tea to pass the time, we were told to throw it away once we were allowed in, citing a "no outside food and beverage" rule... seriously? It's 35° outside. Our waiter was extremely disinterested in us the entire night and besides taking our order and clearing the table, had zero interaction. Portions were smaller than expected, but extremely tasty. The chefs must care a whole lot more than the front of the house does. Their pizza was spot on and the calamari was the highlight of the night, light and airy, not flash frozen tasting. I would absolutely return, maybe not on a Saturday night, simply for the food, knowing service will be subpar. As many have mentioned this is a CASH ONLY restaurant. read more

DO NOT GO HERE. I have lived in New York for all of my life and I have never eaten at a worse restaurant. Everything from the food to the service to the decor and ambience was absolutely atrocious. First off, the owner and his family that run the restaurant were incredibly rude and incompetent. They did not know how to properly remove the plates and were uninformed about several item menus. Now the food, I HAVE HAD BETTER PASTA ON AIRPLANES. I cannot understand how someone can ruin pasta like they ruined my pasta. It was improperly cooked, the sauce disgusting and tasted old. The restaurant itself was quite dirty and looked like it had not been updated in centuries. read more

Great local (UWS) place. the food is good & fresh, the place has a homemade feel and a good wine list. service is good and the owner is usually there to tell stories of how he hand carries cheeses in from italy. seating is tight, as is the rest of manhattan. drink lots of good red wine and be merry... at least thats how i've always left the place. read more

Great pricing on everything. The best Italian I have had so far in NYC. You will have to wait in line because they don't take reservations and the place is very small, but it is all worth it because of the food. We went with a group of 6 and the tables are small, but final bill was $165 with beers, wine, dinner and appetizers. read more

The place was empty at 6;15 on a Monday night. I asked if I could get a table and order wine while I waited for my mom and they said no. I could understand if they were busy and it was a Friday night but it's not. Plus I wanted to order wine. Well never again now. Food wasn't good enough to make up for their terrible service read more

Celeste isn't bad at all... but... it left me frustrated. I went with a group of ten, and we all ordered various dishes. We noted that the portions were not uniform. Meaning, some people who ordered one dish got a heaping plate of pasta, while me and some others had five raviolis and a hungry stomach. I guess I should probably blame it on the fact that I'm used to Bronx Italian restaurants, where everything is drenched in marinara and mozzarella, and deep fried. Service was tolerable, but I do admit I LOVED the atmosphere. It's cozy and romantic. read more

Maybe it was my high expectations that spoiled the experience but I wasn't that impressed. I live in the neighborhood and pass Celeste multiple times a day. Every time, there is always a wait out the door. I always thought, "Wow this place must be amazing!" I came here with my family for dinner, their experience was much like mine. It was good, but nothing amazing. The settings are cramped, so don't expect a fancy night out. The napkins looked like dish towels and the decor resembled a diner more than that of a restaurant that Zagat rates a 24 on food. If the meal is incredible, who cares right?! The bread....crispy, the wine....large selection, calamari....fresh, pasta...al dente, sauce....homemade, chocolate mousse....rich, management.... authentic and personable. Yes it was all fine and well but I wouldn't wait an hour to eat there. I also wouldn't want to go out to a nice dinner there. It's more of a no frills type place that you go to for good food at decent prices. Expect to bump elbows with your neighbor here. read more

Good italian fare for reasonable prices always draws crowds to this cash-only joint on the Upper West Side that doesn't take reservations. While living downtown, I often frequented Bianca, which has the same owner, but the feeling just isn't as good at Celeste. Unlike Bianca, where waiting guests hang out at Von, the winebar next door, everyone just waits like a herd of cattle outside. The staff here is friendly enough, but doesn't have that "I'm your neighbor" kind of charm and seems more interested in getting as many people in and out as possible. The food is still good and I'd recommend it as an option for a date on a budget or casual option for a small number of friends or family, but nothing really stands out here. read more

Celeste is celestial! This is a great UWS local Italian place. The environment is really open despite being a small place. Large windows, and large mirrors help create the "open" illusion. It's a really great atmosphere and a hopping place, expect a wait. The owner is really attentive, he walks around and speaks Italian. Such a great guy. He'll give you advice on pasta and tell you the true Italian way to eat it. Also, it seems that all the waiters speak Italian. It really gives this place an authentic vibe. My favorite thing about this restaurant is the mozzarella cheese! It's flat out delicious, soft, bouncy, and melt in your mouth juicy. I usually get the penne mo' mo' which is essentially marinara sauce w/ mozz. Simple, just the way Italian is meant to be. The freshness of the pasta and the cheese really stood out to me. I can't get enough of the mozzarella here. Rumor has it - the owner flies out to Italy every month to select and bring back fresh cheeses! Don't know if it's true, but the Celeste sure serves up some of the best cheese in NYC. read more

Pretty awesome pasta place in a breezy upper west side location. To be honest I think the reviews here are a bit overrated because while the pasta is good, it's not all THAT amazing; moreover given the portion size the prices are decent. Service is pretty good, place gives unlimited bread and butter/olive oil which is also awesome. Atmosphere on a sunny day is amazing. The place has wooden doors that open that let all the breeze and sunshine pour in. read more

Cash only!! One of my top 5 restaurants in NYC. Super fresh pasta, and everyone who works here is Italian. Pretty cheap too if you order off the menu and not the specials. My favorite dish (I've had a lot of them!) is the ravioli. Absolutely melts in your mouth. Once I went with a friend... We shared the small cheese plate, each got a pasta, a glass of wine, shared a dessert, and then got coffee, and we each paid $25 for the meal. Wow!! There is always a wait, so go earlier. Also, if you order the small cheese plate, prepare to be shamed into ordering the large one next time. :) read more

Small, cozy, cash-only place. I was really excited because it seemed like a nice little mom-and-pop joint and I couldn't wait to try their handmade pasta. I had the Tagliatelle Con Gamberi E Verza (egg noodles with cabbage shrimp and pecorino cheese) and it was meh. It really sounded good and I expected something better. However, I also had their special pizza of the day and that was nice. It had a tiny crust and lots of cheese- just how I like it. Service was quick though which was important as we wanted to catch a movie playing at the AMC on 84th Street. Without telling them, we were still able to get in and out in less than 40 minutes. Impressive! All in all, nice place but I probably wouldn't revist. read more

I had a so-so impression of this place. The waiter was very rude ( one of the examples: "only a pizza and a caprese???" he asked, visibly annoyed that we weren't ordering more food), the place is kind of tight, the menu is very limited and they didn't have the salad I wanted to order originally (when why have it on the menu?). Luckily they partially redeemed themselves once our food arrived.Being Italian, I am VERY picky with pizza, and this was the best pizza I have tasted on this side of the Atlantic. Thin, not too salty, all toppings clearly made with fresh, good quality ingredients. Ditto for the caprese: although the tomatoes were - like most Winter tomatoes - somewhat tasteless, the mozzarella was fantastic. Also, the olive oil was fruity and delicious, none of that watery, cheap stuff you get served at many restaurants. And the prices were VERY affordable. All in all, a pretty good experience. I might go back if I'm in the area, but definitely NOT with children, even if they are as well-behaved as my daughters - because they are clearly not welcome here. read more

I am basing my 4 stars off of my meal: The Halibut, because it was absolutely delicious. My fish was cooked perfectly and it was tender and very meaty... I loved it. There was a caper white wine sauce on top to add a little umph to the dish and it was great. The spinach and potatoes on the side were both great. My potatoes were on the crispy side and they were really yummy. The table I was with was a table of 4: - one person had a salad - it was an app size but she had it as an entree. - anchovy pizza - looked yummy! but no cheese? - another pizza that looked yummy. It had artichokes, cheese, and prosciutto. Also looked good. All in All my fish was great. I will say that! read more

Thanks to my Head Cheesemonger friend, I was able to taste 40 cheeses here! It was amazing, and Carmine gave us the info and how he made some of the cheeses. It was an amazing experience - GET THE CHEESE PLATE. Also the food is delicious, I got the grilled eggplant, my boyfriend got the gnocci, my friends got the pizza, and penne - each one was delicious. BUT, get a cheese plate - you won't regret it. read more