Civitello's reopened under its new owner Mark Novak on July 31, 2025 after renovations which included new plumbing and wiring. The new owner promised to keep the shop looking the same, and it appears he succeeded. Very nice! Booths were reupholstered in the same dark green color. Photos of Civitello family lined the wall. The ceiling was replaced with an embossed metal one that looks appropriate and like the original ceiling. I went to Civitello's at 10:30 am on Tuesday, August 5. The Co-Manager (owner's son) was pleasant and welcoming. I ordered a small Lemon Ice and bought a quart to drop off to my grandchildren. I have been enjoying the Lemon Ice regularly at Civitello's since my childhood. I have even eaten Lemon Ice in Italy. I sat in my car eating the Lemon Ice I had just bought; I ate slowly and with no distractions. The Lemon Ice definitely did not taste the like it did in the past. The texture was the same, but the pure lemon flavor was much less noticeable. Also, there were more tiny pieces of lemon zest in it. This zest did not taste fresh; it tasted prepackaged. I heard many of the family recipes were included in the purchase of the shop. However, I think the Lemon Ice recipe was not given to the new owner. Food-- Pizza (Tomato Pie) was not out yet, and I am eager to return soon see if it is as amazing as I remember it.. After looking at the menu, I asked if Eggplant Sandwiches were going to be available everyday, and he responded yes because the Fryer is now located in the kitchen. Previously, they were served only on Wed. and Fridays because the fryer was outside. Looking forward to having an Eggplant Sandwich, a favorite of mine as well as of many customers. Will it taste the same? Will it be on homemade bread sliced thin? Bakery-- Eclairs looked great. Guy ahead of me bought six. However, I noticed the Butter Cookies did not look as nicely cut out/shaped as before. I did not taste or buy any on this visit. I did not see any almond paste cookies; maybe I overlooked them. The shop was closed on Sunday because they were sold out after the grand reopening, so they may need to restock more of the classic cookies Civitello's is famous for. I plan on updating this review after I taste the Eggplant Sandwich and the Pizza/Tomato Pie. read more

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Lovely Italian bakery in Schenectady's Little Italy neighborhood. Delicious pastries, an excellent tomato pie, soups, sandwiches, salads. I had an excellent time browsing all the desserts, I wanted them all! I ended up with a great choice for Cinco De Mayo, a chocolate "taco" of cake folded around butter cream topped with M&Ms read more

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Walked over here on my lunch break to try. Large cases of freshly cooked bread, cookies and cupcakes. Prices were reasonable, $6 each cupcake. Delicious I might add, perfectly cooked. It was hard to read their hanging menu but they do have printed ones near the counter. The service was excellent, fast and pleasant girls who were knowledgeable about the items and menu. The sandwiches were on regular Italian bread no choice, no sub rolls either. The sandwich traveled well in the Togo box, it was served with a bag of chips, no pickle though. I would definitely recommend for anyone to try if you like a good old fashioned bakery. read more

Civitello's Italian Pastry Shoppe - Turkey - Civitello's - Italian Near Me - Schenectady, New York

Excellent! Such a cute little shop in the Little Italy area of Schenectady! The shop was opened in 1921 by Rose Mastrianni and her husband Raffaelo Civitello. As they tell you on their website, friends gathered here to play cards for pastries, cookies, and spumoni. You feel like you walked back in time with the "old-time charm". Check out the scale where they weigh your cookies! There are ads from the early 1900s. You can park in front for free, sit inside, and enjoy cappuccino or their cookies and desserts. Service was excellent! I had their cookies, and they were amazing. So soft with almond paste center! Fresh sugar cookies, raspberry cookies, pistachio cookies, lemon cookies, spumoni, shortbread. They're made with real butter and you can taste it. They also taste and smell freshly baked. Kelsey H the manager took care of me, and she was warm and welcoming! There's nothing like good service! Cookies are $4.25 for a quarter pound. Highly recommend! read more

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I love their cookies and pastries! Not too sweet so that you don't feel like you're eating a sugar cube. Just perfect! Going to try their sandwiches next. Can't wait! The service is friendly and knowledgeable. And the way they restored it to that retro feel is fantastic! read more

I try and make it here at least once a week for the incredible pastries found here. The selection is a bit limited, however if given the choice between quality over quantity, I'll take quality every time and Civitello"s is just the place for that. Love the old school style and look forward to trying the pizza soon. My "go to" is always the eclairs which are always fresh and the assorted cupcakes for $6 which to me is a good deal. Highly recommended. Support your local businesses, especially in the 518. read more

Great pastry, service and atmosphere. The tomato pie needs work. The sauce drags this iconic staple down. The topping is bland in the way it was not originally. I've been making pizza and tomato pie for many years always wanting to perfect mine to the level of Civitello's at my home. The sauce was the last bit... The combo of tomatoes, olive oil,parmigiano and romano made Civitello's stand apart. The sauce now is bland, everything else is right...but the sauce is bland. Please fix it. read more

Been going to Civitello's since the early 70's and am not going to stop now! The new owner Mark is working hard to keep the Civitello's legacy alive. Since it reopened I've been going weekly on Friday's. The food is EXCELLENT and the pastries and desserts are numerous and SUPERB. It's a phenomenal chance for me to get away and fill up on an exquisite meal every single time. A complete and gorgeous remodel of the inside is the icing on the cake. Civitello's remains one of the BEST TREASURES of the northeast, and their famous pizza is as good as ever! Peter Z read more

This local business clearly makes mean desserts! First off, I love that they've been around for decades. Then there's one of the best tiramisu I've ever had. It looked simpler and more plain than many I've had in the past so I had my reservations, but it had all the elements you'd expect from tiramisu, except perhaps that there's a tad more focus on the creamy filing than the sponge. And the coolness really brought out the flavour. Speaking of which, the cool cream puff had a thicker, fuller filing than usual and was a perfect appetizer for the tiramisu. They have the ambience of a 100-year-old local diner and have a variety of Italian biscuits and gelato, which means we will be back. read more

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I had 20 minutes to kill between events downtown, and decided to take a stroll through Little Italy for a snack. I remembered seeing a note about Civitello's gelato on IG recently, and decided it was worth a shot. What a delight the small cup of pistachio was for a lunchtime treat. Four stars, but only for now. I've only visited once so I can't justify the 5-stars yet, but by the non-stop entrance of locals who entered after I sat down, requesting their favorite pastries and desserts, and time after time asking if there were any pizza slices left - I have a feeling this spot is only a few more visits away from nearing the top of my favorite local spots list. I will, no doubt, bring out-of-town visitors here in the future. While visiting I read wall postings of newpaper articles boasting of Civitello's Italian Ice speciality. It seems like an A+, family-run spot with A LOT to offer. Will be visiting again to experience more myself very soon. read more

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So happy Civitello's finally reopened. However, after waiting in line for 25 minutes , (at 12:30 in the afternoon) staff announced that they were no longer taking any orders. The people sitting in the booths said they had been waiting 30 minutes for sandwiches. My husband had a similar experience the day before. He went for lemon ice and was told it wasn't ready and to come back later. The staff is clearly inexperienced and overwhelmed. I hope the new owner reads reviews and rectifies the issues with staff and food supply. So far , Civitellos reopening is mostly giving more business to Perecca's. read more

overpriced for what you get, I should have returned the lettuce sandwich. $34 for 2 sandwiches and 2 waters. Its not NYC, it's Schenectady. I don't mind paying for a good sandwich but I haven't had su an empty sandwich in a long time. What a disappointment after the long wait. A good lesson on how to kill a business tradition. read more

The pastries are so delicious! As with most small original businesses in Schenectady not really ADA accessible

I met my cousin, Cheryl W. & her husband Cliff at this historic pastry shop in Schenectady's Little Italy neighborhood on N. Jay St. Thursday August 10, 2023. This shop has been serving the public for 100 years. On May 8, 1922 Rose Mastrianni and Raffaelo Civitello married and together built the family business he founded in 1921: Civitello's Spumoni Shoppe." Presently owned & operated by Roie & Angela Angerami. When I was a young man I was tasked with picking up the huge cookie & pastry trays for family weddings, baptisms, graduations, showers, etc. It's been a ritual for Italian-American family celebrations. I can't explain how these two women could turn out hundreds of these delicious bites every day. They must be Befana (In Italian folklore, the Befana (pronounced [befana]) is an old woman who delivers gifts to children throughout Italy on Epiphany Eve (the night of January 5) in a similar way to Santa Claus or the Three Magi Kings.). Myth or Magic? I heartily recommend the pignoli cookies or the Sfogliatelle pastry. These are must tries for newcomers. Always a freshly baked assortment of cookies & pastries are on display Tue-Sat 9am-4pm. They also offer the classic red tomato pie style of pizza, soups & sandwiches for lunch. And just the best Italian ices around. And they are always busy through the lunch time. Special thanks to Cheryl's lifetime friend, Bea who waited on our table and made a good visit great. Grazie mille Bea. p.s. The Little Italy Street Fest is always held on the 2nd Sat in Sept and Civitello's is front and center of this event. Stop in for a treat. Ciao. Nicola Parisi, Albany, NY read more

It's been hot outside, and I hate the heat. But, I do love Spumoni. It's the perfect blend of layered chocolate, cherry, and pistachio ice cream studded with cherries and nuts. Yum, I am nearly drooling just thinking about it! However, I avoided coming here because they always closed on weeknights at 5PM and I was always busy on Saturday. Or... I should say... the incorrect times are listed as such on Yelp. When I checked Civitello's actual website I discovered they are open much later on weeknights so we drove over after work. The place was empty, but they had a couple of good things in the case. First, the Spumoni. It is $8 for a pint and they make it on premises. When they run out, they make more. You might want to call in advance to ensure that they have some. It is offered with and without pistachio (but always with cherry, if I understood the woman correctly). They also have some Italian cookies and cakes and such that looked great. Tomato pie is one of their specialties and it is different from a lot of the other neighboring bakeries. Sadly, when we arrived we were told that their pizza maker was out this week and next. Bummer! They list sandwiches on their website but we didn't see any deli meats or cheese displayed. Maybe they are in the back? They are a small store in a charming way. As they are the only place in town where I can get Spumoni I am sure I will be back, though I will wait until their pizza maker is back on duty. read more

Temporarily closed for renovations but planning to reopen in Fall 2024. Amazing breads and Italian pastries.

The sweetest, most hardworking staff!! You can taste the love they put into every single item on their menu. Their homemade italian ice is top tier, the gelato is really good too, but THEIR PIZZA!! Incredible. The massive chunks of garlic on there are my fav! I would eat here everyday if my figure would allow! read more

If I'm not mistaken, the Civitello family started their business in the early 1920s, and it really shows in their quality. Not only is it my favorite place to get the best eclairs in the capital region, but they're also well known for their Italian ice, cookies, and sandwiches. But if you're going to swing by, do yourself a favor and pick up a couple of eclairs for dessert. They're so large, you'll probably have to cut them in half. And make sure you have a lot of napkins handy, because they're ooey, gooey, and oh so chocolatey! read more

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Civitello's is an old school place with a lot going for it: a nice assortment of gelato in the freezer tubs, fresh made Italian pastries, terrific tomato pie (I did a comparison and I like it better than Perecca's due to a lighter, crisp crust) and a cute seating area to enjoy it all. Unfortunately, the main purpose of my visit was to order a sub, and that fell drastically short of the mark. Take a look at my photo and you'll see why. First of all, it's served on sliced Italian bread. Maybe a miscommunication? I doubt it. Who would take the classic components of a sub and not put them on a sub roll? Second, look at the sloppy assembly. (I'm getting riled up and will post a second, deconstructed photo.) Haphazard, minimal dressing on the bread. Torn leaf lettuce instead of shredded. Too-thick, randomly distributed pieces of cheese. (Incidentally, they use Fontina, not Provolone.) Uneven, sloppy distribution of meats. To top it all off, it's a poor value at $10, though you do get a bag of chips. Close to five stars without the sub, three stars with. read more

Civitello's Italian Pastry Shoppe - Italian mix "sub" served on sliced bread - Italian Near Me - Schenectady, New York

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Great everything!!! Prices reasonable. Feels like a NYC joint. Currently being redone and can't wait to see the updates.

This bakery makes the best Italian cookies in the entire area. They never disappoint!

Roommate stop by and picked me up some watermelon ice it was in a nice big cup. It was so scrumptious and it even had watermelon pieces in it. They only serve it periodically so call ahead of time. read more

I'm a fan of this Jay Street institution, but the truth is that it's hit and miss. Some things are delicious. Others, not so much. If I lived closer, I would surely eat here more often and probably be so familiar with the menu that I would be able to offer better guidance on how to make it a five star experience. Hands down, Civitello's makes my favorite tomato pie on the block. It's an entirely different style that the one available across the street. Instead of being soft and doughy, it's thin and crisp. I do love things crispy. If you do too, then this is a big winner. The special eggplant sandwich? Not so much. Their cookies have never done it for me either. But Civitello is famous for its lemon ice, which is great. And spumoni is in the shop's name. My trusted friends are fans of this, but it's never been that appealing to me. Especially when their stracciatella gelato is so good. Not all the gelato flavors are created equal, but this one that's simply ribbons of chocolate in a milk base is one of the best versions I've had of the flavor in the area. Surely, there is other great stuff on the menu, and I'm looking forward to working my way through the bakery's offerings. Perhaps by the time I'm done, it will rise to the level of five stars. It's tempting to give it that last bonus star on just character alone. Civatello's is a great place. We're lucky to have it. If you haven't been, you should definitely go. And don't leave without trying a piece of the tomato pie. read more

Civitello's Italian Pastry Shoppe - The not-worth-the-calories eggplant sandwich. - Italian Near Me - Schenectady, New York

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Incredible people + incredible, authentic Italian food. Will always be one of my favorite pizza's of all time. Their baked goods are ALWAYS fresh!!! The Italian ice and Gelato -- MUST TRY!!! I have never had a bad experience here, been going for over 10 years read more

Called today to place an order for Easter and was denied. This is the second year I've been closed out and Easter is still 5 1/2 weeks away. So I asked when they open for Easter orders, for future reference, and she put the phone down to ask someone else and I heard the woman respond "I don't need to tell anyone that". Wow! So much for customer service! Since they aren't the only game in town, I suggest taking your business where it's appreciated. Clearly Civitello's believes they have all the business they need. Good thing, too, because they will never have mine again. read more

Absolutely my favorite place in Schenectady for tomato pie. Yea yea yea, I know I am splitting hairs here with the name and may insight a debate, but it is what it is. Bottom line is that the tomato pie here rocks. But the best thing about this place is that they also serve excellent sandwiches, pastries, cookies and soups. Every time I step through the doors I feel as though I am walking into my Grandmothers house. Totally welcoming and friendly. The service and staff rival the quality of food. You need to venture to Schenectady's little Italy and order some tomato pie, but be warned they run out quickly. read more

Remember when every neighborhood had a place for lunch where the food was great and the locals frequented? This is that kind of place. Small and unassuming with wooden booths Civitello's is a gem. Sandwiches are good and the specials are, well, special. But where this place shines is the yummy pastries, gelato and cookies. The tomato pie is second to none and the lemon ice is to die for. read more

OMG!! This place is amazing. I felt like I went back in time. The sandwiches were so good, the cannoli was beautiful too. We ordered a pound of cookies and box was tied with the red & white string. I almost cried. read more

The pastries never disappoint. But you have to get there early before they sell out. The custard filled tarts are not too sweet, with a nice semi cake, semi pie texture for the crust. I like the vanilla better than the chocolate (a mild chocolate, not sweet enough for my taste). The pink custard filled cakes with the cherry on top are super sweet & addicting. Key lime cheese cakes are a nice palate cleaner. Cappuccinos are large sized only. The best surprise were these pyramid shaped mousse cakes she has. Inside there is a base of chocolate cake with a little molten chocolate, unexpected coffee? Crunch, and topped with light as air chocolate mousse. Everything is covered with dusted cocoa on the outside & little dots of condensed milk. My new birthday request please! read more

Civitello's Italian Pastry Shoppe - Italian Near Me - Schenectady, New York

The best tomato pie and eclairs in the area. Been a staple in my life since I was a little girl. I've tried others but you don't need to because I'm telling you this place is a true local gem. Everything is delicious. Best eggplant too besides grandmas! read more

They should be ashamed to call themselves Italian! At the festival this weekend they charged 8 bucks for an eggplant sandwich which consisted of 1 and a half pieces of thinly sliced eggplant. What a ripoff! read more

Went there today for the soup stroll. The Pasta fagioli was amazing. Followed it up with a small dish of coffee gelato. Delicious!! Need to get my butt over here for one of their sandwiches. They are the best!!! Eggplant is my personal favorite and you must follow that up with a lemon ice. read more

Italian mix on homemade bread was excellent! Staff was sweet and accommodating. Wide assortment of fresh homemade bakery items. Extremely clean, small little hole in the wall. Also had an excellent selection of coffee / cappuccino items. read more

Civitello's Italian Pastry Shoppe - Italian mix on homemade bread was excellent! - Italian Near Me - Schenectady, New York

I love little mom and pop shops that deliver. There's nothing special about the inside, but the service and the food are great. We got a slice of the tomato pie that had just red sauce, a sprinkling of some sort of hard cheese, and roasted garlic cloves. The corn chowder was served hot and had a good creamy hardiness to it. We also ordered a full Italian mix sandwich. The flavors were good and the bread on the sandwich was delicious. The break was chewy/crispy on the outside crust and the inner white part was soft and chewy. So good! And affordable! The ladies who worked behind the counter were super sweet as well. Our food was served on white styrofoam plates, which maybe was my least favorite part, but not enough to keep me from coming back. The almond cookies are a must have at the end of your meal! read more

I was visiting Schenectady from Florida when I discovered this gem in the little Italy section. I have never experienced food this delicious at any Italian place in my life. Their Pizza and cannolis are exceptional! The girls make you feel like family. Do yourself a favor and stop in, you won't be disappointed. read more

N. Jay Street in Schenectady has street signs promoting the area as "little Italy". This part of town was a Little Italy back during the depression and even on into the 60's and 70's. Now, the area is struggling economically, and many of the old time businesses are gone. But Civitellos is still there - it's been there for nearly 80 years, and they're still making gelato, pastries and other sweets just the way they used to. They also have a tomato pie (that looks a lot like the one sold at Perecca's across the street) and sandwiches, although I haven' tried them. (Yet.) Their custard tarts are delicious. The biscotti are traditional and handmade and they're just perfect - delicious, the right consistency and texture. I would go there just for the biscotti. I haven't tried their ice cream yet - I've only been there in the winter and haven't been in the mood. But I'm looking forward to a warm day to go there and finally try some. They only downside to Civitello's is their hours. They're open from 8:30 am (I think) to about 3 pm, Tuesday - Saturday. So you can't drop in for dessert after dinner. That's a shame. But Saturday is still a perfect day to pay a visit. And if you go, walk across the street to Perecca's and grab some bread and salumi, as long as you're in the neigborhood. read more

Ah, Civitello's. Let me paint you a little picture of a perfect summer day in downtown Schenectady. 1.Go to Perecca's (across the street from Civitello's) for lunch. Get some tomato pie. 2. Die of pleasure. 3. After you've recovered from said pleasure head to Civitello's and get some Italian ice. 4. Die of pleasure for the 2nd time of the day. (I guess it could be for the 3rd or 4th or 20th time of the day...I have no idea what you did before this) 5. Head on a walk to Jay Street or the library or The Stockade for some quality outdoor time and excitement. Seriously. This street is Little Italy. There may only be a few places on it but they are all spectacular. Get some Italian cookies at Civitello's too...get everything. But especially get Italian ice. Yum. read more

Met a friend here recently for lunch. We walked and I must say, I LOVE the location. It is off the beaten path, right in the cutest area of Schenectady's Little Italy. I called ahead to reserve two of their famous eggplant sandwiches (available only Weds & Fri, they only have a limited amount). Luckily, they had 1.5 left (who only eats half a sandwich?!). Anyway, the eggplant and sauce were AMAZING. These taste buds have never been to Italy, but my friend (who has) said these flavors were legit! I wish they would have used a different bread (it was just sliced white bread). But hey, I'm sure that's the American "put everything on an enormous roll" kinda girl I am. Oh, I browsed their dessert case...and W-O-W...I will definitely be back to indulge! read more

Civitello's is an old school type of lunch place in the unassuming Little Italy section of Schenectady, and certainly worth the visit. I've come here mostly for their tomato pie, which is both delicious and inexpensive (at $1.50 a slice), but I've also been known to fancy their gelato. They also have sandwiches (haven't ordered a sandwich from here yet) and pastries (I've heard raving reviews about their cannolis, for instance). During the summer, they also have an outdoor seating area in the side of the building (behind a fence) with some grilled favorites, such as Italian sausage. This place has been around a long time, just like Perreca's across the street, and is certainly worth the visit. read more

Fresh made everything- Sandwiches, Italian coffees, pastries - smiles and sincere conversation.