Adorable little place on the UWS! I came with a couple who come often and it's always great when the people recognize their regulars. We ordered a few of their appetizers -- some eggplant stuffed with cheese and a meat plate. Both were superb! My hubs and I each got a pizza and those were also very light and tasted very authentic Italian. You can tell that all the workers were very Italian. The red sauce was fantastic. I'm all about the red sauce so it was hit the spot. They have this pasta with clams and white sauce, very subtle yet tastey and unique! It's not very expensive but the place is packed. You couldn't turn around without elbowing someone next to you, so this isn't a great place for groups larger than 4. Service was excellent and quick! I can see how people would love coming here all the time. read more

Went to Celeste with a group of 5. They won't sit you until your entire party is there, so don't go there with your perpetually late friends. Cash only, but the prices are reasonable so you won't need that much cash. We tried a couple of appetizers that were specials, the fried zuccini flower and veal with mayo. The veal was great. I had spaghetti with clams, it was a good dish that became great when the owner added spicy oil. Sea bass dish was good as were the pasta with mushroom dish. We didn't try the pizza, but the pasta dishes were great. The portions aren't huge, so you can each try an appetizer. read more

This place is a true gem. Unfortunately, it's also a very discovered gem, meaning if you're coming here on a Friday or Saturday, good luck getting a table. That being said, the food is phenomenal and extremely well priced. As is the wine. Every single time I've been here the owner has been wandering around the restaurant offering pieces of advice of which wine or which dish or even what parts of Italy you should visit. Maybe it's because of him or because of the small space, but Celeste feels very homey and welcoming. I haven't tried any of the meat entrees, but every pasta dish I've had has been simply delicious. Last night I had the butter, sage ravioli ($11, that would easily be $20 anywhere else. The pasta was the perfect combination of chewy and soft; the sauce buttery but not too much; and the sage added the perfect kick to what could have otherwise been a bland dish. The tirimisu was equally yummy and only $6. Honestly, the place is small and can get packed, but if you go with only one other person on a week night you will have no problem getting in (or drinking a whole bottle of wine with dinner - so well priced!) and you'll have a wonderful evening. read more

I've been to Celeste at least 10-15 times in the past 3 years. I have come to expect long waits, lackluster service, crowded dining experience but FANTASTIC food for very little $$. My life has now changed when we realized we can pick up our order. Fantastic! My most favorite dish that I get almost every time is the Spaghetti Alle Vongole. I order this dish at Italian restaurants all over the city and Celeste is THE BEST for at least half the cost. read more

There is no question that Celeste is authentic Italian, so I would definitely recommend it for quick, casual dining with capitals Q & C. I had a dorade with string beans and crispy fingerling potatoes. This entree special was balanced, tasty, and included a generous portion of fish. The chardonnay which accompanied it was not bad. The lemon limoncello sorbet dessert was refreshing and light, although not world changing (as I have found some Italian desserts to be). I think Celeste is good for the value. However, my recommendation comes with some caveats: 1) If you are a party of 1 +, be sure that your dining companions arrive at the same time, or the waiter will refuse to seat you and you will have to freeze outside (as I did!). 2) Celeste is a cash only institution (seriously?!), so come prepared, or you'll have to spend part of your evening running to the bank. 3) The pace of the dining is fast, and the surroundings while cozy are tight, so not ideal for a date. I was rather annoyed that the waitress snapped the bill onto the table as I was taking my first bite of the dessert (always a sacred moment in my dining experience)! I guess this behaviour is justified (and probably encouraged by their manager) because of their low prices and the high turnover necessary to pay rent for a resto such as this on the upper west side. However, I don't eat out every day, so when I do, I don't like feeling rushed - even if that means paying an extra few dollars to be given the peace to savour the meal. read more

I am in LOVE with this place! I ordered the tagliatelle gamberi verza pecorino and found the dish to be neither too heavy nor too salty like pasta in the States. Nevertheless, the sauce was very flavorful and the noodles tasted homemade. The hosts and servers were very sweet and attentive. This would be a great place to bring one's parents, a good friend, or even a date. Nothing crazy pretentious or fancy, but not necessarily a family restaurant either. 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.

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

The food is excellent. Everything tastes fresh and authentic. The menu is small, which means they do a few things and do them right. Prices are unbeatable...I hate overpaying for pasta. A few things that keep it from a 5-star rating in my book: 1. Charismatic owner guy: Your experience at Celeste will be better if you're a woman and if you allow this guy to schmooze you a bit. Just a fact. He's Italian, and has lots of stories about his sheep farm and cheese cave in Tuscany or whatever, and how he smuggles cheese through customs to get it to the restaurant. I don't know how true any of his stories are, but if you pretend to listen and be impressed (and, as mentioned, are a girl), chances are you'll get a table quicker, get better service, and maybe a comp dessert or cheese plate or something. Good for groups of girls, less good for groups of dudes. 2. Cash only. Always a pain in my ass, but some people appreciate cash-only establishments, for reasons I cannot comprehend. 3. Small, no reservations accepted, long wait is likely. This doesn't bother me, but diners more fussy than I may have a problem with it. read more

Not only is this the best restaurant on the UWS, or the best Italian restaurant in NYC .... it may very well be the best restaurant in NYC, period. It's always consistent, the price is right, and the wait staff is likable. Heart and soul is put into the food along with amazingly fresh ingredients and hand-made pasta. The ravioli dish is the best plate on the menu, and one of the best Italian dishes I've ever had. The Margarita pizza is phenomenal. Highly recommended. Do NOT skip dessert. The Lemoncello ball (can't remember the name) is to die for. So tasty. read more

Great neighborhood spot! Authentic Italian food and remarkably affordable prizes. The pizza is so-so, but you can never go wrong with the pasta! Go also for the entertaining factor offered by the owner, who likes to cruise through the room, colorfully greet customers, and paternalistically reprimand the staff. Remarks: cash only; the wait can be long, but (depending on the mood of the owner) sometimes you can leave your name and come back after a beer in the neighborhood. read more

I think this place is a solid 4 stars. Good food, home style cooking, small authentic ambiance - what you would expect in this part of town. The pasta was seasoned perfectly and yes our elbows were hitting the table next to us, but hey, that's what we came for! read more

This place is pretty good. The fried zucchini blossoms were delicious and the homemade gnocchi had great texture, even though the accompanying sauce was rather plain (simmered tomatoes and a little basil). The tiramisu was very creamy; not too cakey or dry from the lady fingers. The tables are pretty small and the menu is a bit bare, so keep that in mind. Celeste is a good, casual neighborhood spot. read more

What can I say....my fav italian in NYC is well....not the same restaurant of 10 years ago when I first "discovered" it. What I loved about Celeste's was that it was quite authentic northern italian cuisine. Fresh and simple goodness. This time, I ordered the pasta with bolognese sauce and was disappointed with the sauce which was very heavy on the tomato and lacking the "meatiness'. If I want a tomato based pasta, I would've ordered something else. For the appetizer, we ordered fried zucchini blossoms which was a bit greasy and oddly pared with seared shrimp. Same friendly owner so not sure what has changed? I would still recommend....but it may be time to look for another local joint. 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

It's tiny and warm and if you don't time it correctly, you'll have to wait, but the food & the experience is worth it for this neighborhood eatery. Watch out for the fireworks exploding above your head when the owner angrily directs his family members in rapid fire Italian. read more

I went here with a Blackboard Eats coupon for a free bottle of wine with dinner, but I will definitely come back. We came on a Tuesday at 6:30 and the place was almost full already, which is always a good sign. The prices were really reasonable and the presentation was lovely. My friend got ravioli that came in this really pretty square, and I don't even remember what I ordered but it had fresh mozzarella cheese in it that was really creamy and wonderful. The bottle of wine we got was so good that we would have ordered another but we didn't want to make the crowd outside wait any longer. It's a little out of the way for where I usually hang out, but if I'm ever in the mood for Italian I will definitely take a trip back up here. Lurve. read more

EXCELLENT value - I had dinner for two WITH appetizers for $40 here - as in, AFTER tax and tip it was $40. That's pretty amazing for the UWS. Their wine prices aren't bad, either. I usually go with the pasta fatta en casa (homemade pasta), either the ravioli in sage butter or sometimes in red sauce, and we almost always end with their delicious, well-chosen cheese plate, which includes a bit of fruit and honey. They are generous with the cheese, too, which I appreciate. Celeste has very high-quality food and good portion control - I always leave fulfilled but not stuffed, which I like. Clearly a very Italian place - the waiters, bus boy, owner, bartender, everyone speaks it, which makes for an entertaining dining experience in addition to delicious food. Note that it is cash only and does NOT take reservations, which means you're in for a wait. However, it's worth that wait and it's also nice to feel like they are justified in doing the cash-only thing because clearly they a) hire illegal but very outgoing and inspired Italians (it's just a hunch), and b) they charge extremely reasonable prices for the food, so it's OK for them to duck that 2-3% rip-off fee that credit cards charge establishments. Overall, HIGHLY recommended. read more

Terrible service! I arrived the restaurant earlier than my friend, and the waitress insisted that according to their rules (even with no waiting line outside!), if you come in later you can only order salads or desserts. That is, the waitress prohibited my friend from ordering entrees. Furthermore, her attitude is like a shit, she thinks everyone should follow their ridiculous rules. When comes to food, we ordered the pasta with garlic and clams. The noodle tasted soso. I am not sure other pasta. But for our order, I have to say, the reputation is over than it deserves. Overall, the service is like a shit. The food is not that good as I thought. I recommend that do not expect good service here. read more

My YELP review of the week: I think this place is a bit overrated. I was curious to eat here because I often saw a line at the entrance of patrons waiting to dine even when the (very small/overly congested) restaurant was completely filled. To attract do many customers, I thought the food must be CRACK because there's nothing stellar going on with the decor. lol. Seriously, it really looks pretty low-budget in there. My assessment was correct (for the most part). The food is pretty good. I had the egg plant rolls, which I definitely recommend. I also had the Margherita pizza, which was on-point as well. However, as a person with a sweet tooth, these folks get a big FAIL for the ricotta cheese cake on their menu. I love ricotta cheesecake, and there's simply wasn't good. It wasn't fresh; it tasted as if it had been refrigerated for 2 weeks. Outta heah! I would have given this place 4 stars if the dessert worked and 5 stars if the ambiance was better. But as the owner pointed out to me, he just doesn't care for reviews, so it's not like he's reading this. read more

Unassuming, unpretentious, but excellent Italian quisine. You might forget you're in New York, not Italy!! Try the artichoke salad appetizer. It can get crowded, so prepare for a half-hour wait on evenings. Also, the margherita pizza is great. But don't be surprised if it takes a while for them to serve it to you- it takes a long time to make a pizza! The place is a bit squishy, but overall, it's a great place to eat. read more

Food is above average for sure. But cramped tables create a pressure to order and finish in a speedy mode. I happened to spill my wine but when my friend asked for another napkin, it seemed waiter couldn't be careless and didn't say anything as a cordial gesture "are you okay?" Not even expected to get a new glass of wine but it was not an amicable dining experience at all. We all know this place does not accept reservation and only cash so be with it but if you want to take it slow, I think you need to go other Italian restaurant in the neighborhood or travel a bit to Paola's 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

This is definatly worth your money! I ordered a spinach & apple salad with walnuts as a starter and then decided to listen to a previous review and try the chicken liver. If your willing to try chicken liver this is the place to try it at...seriously delicious! My bill came out to $20 with tax and tip included! The service is pretty good if you can understand english with a thick italian accent...me & my friend could not and when we asked the waiter to repeat himself he decided to slow down and talk to us like we were 5. The restaraunt it very loud and you are sitting with random people next to you... but if your a fan of food...go for it! read more

Celeste is a dimly lit Italian restaurant with a semi-authentic Italian feel. The tables are quite close together and it gets a little loud at the busy hours. My party ordered a variety of dinner items: mussels, rigatoni bolognese, breaded chicken, and eggplant. All of us were very impressed with the quality and unique flavors from each dish. We started with 2 bottles of wine and ended with some delicious Italian gelato. If you're in the UWS and looking for a quality Italian meal, check this place out. Just expect to wait at the busy times. read more

Unbelievably good Italian food! From bread to spinach salad to veal medallions to Panna cotta dessert. We're in nyc for only three days this trip. Probably will plan another meal here before we leave... it's that good! It it were in my neighborhood I'd be here at least once a week. 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

I would give 4 stars for the food, but 1 for the service. My boyfriend and I had dinner at Celeste during our first stay in NYC in 2008 and had great memories. As we were in UWS, we thought we would try the place again. We both love Italian food and know it very well as I lived in Italy for several months and being from Switzerland, we get to enjoy the huge choice of fantastic Italian restaurants there. Service: Firstly, we learned about the cash only policy once we had the menu, so we had to order according to what we had in our wallet. Literally one minute after we were seated, a waiter came to ask if we were ready. The main waiter (maybe the owner?) never smiled and was even a bit aggressive when my boyfriend tried to stabilize the wobbly table. We had a constant feeling of being rushed and we later understood that the service was soon over. Food: I had a quattro stagioni pizza and my boyfriend ordered the ravioli al burro e salvia. We then shared a tiramisu. All 3 dishes were delicious. The pizza had a thin and crispy crust, the ingredients were tasty. The tiramisu had bits of black chocolate sprinkled on top, a very good twist on the classic recipe. Even if the food was really good, I wouldn't go back there as the bad service ruined the experience. read more

This place is fairly a bad place. I've had authentic Italian food, there is nothing authentic about this place.there's more flavor in chef boyardi. The food was absolutely flavorless. If I cooked some pasta and poured some sauce on it, it would've been the same. The wait staff were supremely rude. I highly don't recommend this spot! By a can of pasta instead it's the same food! read more

Came here after we learned the wait for Jacob's Pickles was going to be too long. There were a bunch of people outside Celeste, but the manager said it was only going to be 15 minutes. Sure enough, 15 minutes later we were squished at a table. Now, I don't mind the tight space, but I was sitting on the outside, where servers were walking by, and whenever the manager, or the man who brought out the food would talk to us, they would grab on to my bare upper arms and lean down. I live in Manhattan, but I still like my personal space. Our food didn't take long to come out, but I guess to the waiters, it took too long, because we were asked after 5 minutes, what we had ordered, and it was resent to the kitchen. The tables on either side of us got their food in about 5 minutes. We got ours probably after 10 minutes. The food was good. I had the spaghetti with clams in oil and garlic sauce. My friend had the rigatoni bolognese. We both ate all of our food, but it didn't terribly impress either of us. At one point the manager came over and asked if we wanted anything. I asked for cheese, and he told me, he would not get it for me, but perhaps someone else could "indulge" me. Now, I understand that people are protective and territorial about their food, but he wasn't the one cooking it, and usually if a customer requests something simple (cheese, in an Italian restaurant), just give it to them! Never got it, as no one else came to our table besides to drop off the check. We were probably in and out in under 40 minutes. No wonder the wait was so short. Unless someone makes me meet them at this restaurant, I will not be going back. read more

We didn't encounter any of the negative criticisms: the food was very good, service friendly and attentive (though had to wade through a heavy Italian accent). Because of a cash-only policy, everything was very reasonably priced, especially the wine. It does get a bit crowded and the tables are very close, but it has the feel of an authentic neighborhood joint, which is getting to be an increasing rarity in NYNY. A solid "A-". 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

The place was full, unlikely I had a server with an attitude that spoiled my dinner. First he was speaking so loud for no reason, so I asked for a glass of pino Nero, I must tell you vinaigre is a better taste.so asked him to show me the bottle, so he brought it to me and aggressively to my face, I had to back up one foot to read it cause of my poor sight, and his face turned yellow. I guess customers never asked him previously to do that. Understand !!!! The pizza was very good and the salad was ok. The owner a hunter looking man, nice!!! but seems not care much, because it's always busy I guess cause of the low price menu. Now I'm not trying to be negative but lucky for the owner to be busy in this bad economy and cash only. His servers should respect customers. The boos is the image of his employees. Will never go back, but it's good to try it. read more

So good! Homemade pasta rules. :) The girls loved their butter pasta. I had spinach ravioli and fried vegetables. Also, the service was great! read more

Truce. The pizza is excellent, the ingredients are fresh, the pasta is home made, simple authentic italian food. Been back for dinner a couple of times and will be back. I would venture to say the best pizza in in the UWS (fare enough Fornarina has good pizzas but they are about 50% more expensive - why?) I can live with cash only policy I guess, if in return I get a good pizza. For the record I do not approve. read more

Saturday night around 9:00 = 20 minute wait, which actually turned out to be around 10 = win! Pasta's something I rarely crave, but after eating here, I've been seeking any excuse to go back. LOVED the pasta alla vongole, which was basically noodles with clams and garlic (do opt for the spicy oil when the owner comes around with the bottle). Surprisingly, the pizza was also very good. We ordered the four tastes pizza, which came with a quarter of prosciutto, mushrooms, artichoke, and plain cheese. Prices are incredible for the quantity and quality, and the service is warm if a little frenzied (can't blame them -- the place is popular!). So Celeste is a sister restaurant of my much loved Bianca downtown. Will have to check out Fiore (another restaurant in the family) in Brooklyn next! Simple, no frills food that's all about taste. I'll totally be back. read more

This is a little spot on Amsterdam which doesn't have fancy surroundings nor did it strike me that it was uptight--- it has a local neighborhood place to sit down and have dinner-- or do takeaway. There were 5 of us that decided to do take away and ordered many things on the menu. Well, let me start by saying their were no leftovers. The portion size was fair. The quality was great because the flavors made sense. The gnocchi was first rate an would clearly get the veal with lemon-- if not for the veal do it for the spinach and potatoes. Make sure to order a Margarita pizza. Everything was cooked excellently and starting materials first rate. Do make sure to get some wine to go with the meal. Prices consistent with NYC. Cash is needed--do not be surprised. We will return. 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