Some of the best calamari and pasta I've had since leaving Italy. The service is superb, ambiance is very intimate and romantic, and the drinks are great. I love love this place. I have been here a few times and the food quality is always the same *chefs kiss. I'd recommend the trio pasta which is not listed on the menu, it's my favorite thing there. My read more

You like high quality Tuscan at a cozy old school restaurant? If so, this place is for you. This restaurant has an old school 80's decor to it. Food was great...fresh and cooked to perfection. Started out with a rustic bread and an Italian olive oil...just a great way to start. Our appetizer was the grilled calamari alla griglia (lighted breads) and finished with the homemade paparadelle with bolognese sauce with burrata. The pasta was perfect and servings were large...I actually took the paparadelle home and it was even better the second day. We skipped dessert but they looked amazing. Service was excellent and there were many locals being 'seated' at their favorite table La which means this restaurant has a local following which is a great sign...no wonder it's been around since 1983. This is a classic New York must...no pictures as I didn't think I would be reviewing this but it's too good not to. I will go back and try this restaurant again..it's that good. read more

Consistently great service from a professional staff. The food is also amazing (the best veal parmesan I've ever had). We look forward to dining here as much as we can. read more

Il Cantinori - Veal Parmesan and Spaghetti - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Came here with a friend and tried a few dishes. The farfalle alla checca--bowtie pasta with chopped tomatoes, basil, and fresh mozzarella--was my favorite. Simple, subtle, flavorful, and perfectly salted. We also had the filetto tutto pepe, a grilled filet mignon with peppercorn cream sauce--rich and well-cooked. The segato di carciofi, a raw artichoke salad with lemon, pepper, and cheese, was bright and refreshing. The bread was just okay, but the service was warm--and at the end, they surprised us with a flower to take home. A thoughtful touch. Ill definitely be back for the bowtie pasta, ambiance, and to try more dishes read more

Il Cantinori - Farfalle checca - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

I don't think I have ever been to a restaurant I love more than this place. I've never written a yelp review, this is my first time, this place rocked my socks off. My sweet waiter from Geneva Italy was amazing read more

We had reservations here on a Sunday night. The restaurant was moderately busy, and we were seated upon arrival. Service was good and efficient. Ambiance was very pretty with dim, soft lighting. Dress code was very relaxed. We enjoyed the calamari appetizer, not breaded but grilled. I enjoyed the paparelle dish with sausage...large size and very flavorful. My husband's swordfish was, unfortunately, overcooked and a little dry. Overall, a good experience. Would definitely recommend. read more

Lovely restaurant with delicious pastas and meats. Fortunate to try a variety here but really, the pasta stuck out the most. Everything was delicious. The veal parmesan was outstanding and a huge cut too. Quick, attentive service with formal dining vibes. I thoroughly enjoyed everything. Highly recommend for a nice dinner outing. It's fancy here and not like your local pasta shop. read more

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The best service that I have ever had at a restaurant in New York City. There were a few quirks, like that they don't have a drink menu and a lot of what they serve isn't listed on the menu at all. And they wouldn't give us physical menus until the whole party was there even though nine of 10 of us were seated. But the experience was amazing. Wonderful service. Incredibly kind staff. They sang the loudest and most beautiful happy birthday. We brought our own cake and the playing was done so nicely and for no extra cost. Pricy but huge portion sizes. I definitely recommend coming here for any celebration you may have. read more

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A first class Italian restaurant, with a large selection of wonderfully prepared dishes. Exemplary service, a pleasant decor, and great drinks and wine list. A good spot for celebrity sightings, and a great place for a great meal. read more

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Wow I think I just had one of the best dinners in a really long time. This place was nothing short of perfect. Gabriel, our server, was so nice and helpful and gave us a great run down of different dishes on and off the menu. The warm, house made marinara served with the bread was a great start to the meal. For dinner I got the pasta trio and the chicken parm and I dont think I could have picked anything better! The chicken parm was thin and crispy and Gabriel gave us the option to have it made with vodka sauce which went perfect with the pasta trio. After being too full for dessert they still brought out a small dessert sampler to finish off. Service 10/10. Ambiance 10/10. Food 10/10. Overall experience was 10/10. I don't like to repeat too many places when I come to New York but I will certainly be back here. read more

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Il Cantinori feels like stepping into a little corner of Italy in the middle of Greenwich Village. The atmosphere is warm, intimate, and timeless -- white tablecloths, roses on the table, and soft lighting that makes every meal feel like a special occasion. I ordered the chicken with green beans, and it was simple yet beautifully done -- tender, flavorful, and balanced. The bread basket and salami starter were great touches that made the meal feel complete. Drinks were crisp and refreshing, especially with the lemon garnish. The service was professional and attentive without being overbearing, and everything moved at an easy, unhurried pace -- perfect for conversation. Prices are on the higher side, but the experience matches the value. A wonderful spot for a date night or a quiet evening with friends. Classic, elegant, and worth coming back to. read more

Il Cantinori - Pollo Lemongiano - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Food was phenomenal - Service was criminal. Pasta was definitely homemade and fresh, and the espresso martini was one of the best I've ever had. The menu is fairly small and you basically have to argue with the staff to be given a menu. The food saves this place with stars because the service really needs to be improved. The busser was beyond rude. I first sat down and he asked if I wanted anything else to drink besides water and I said "do you have a drink menu" and he goes "we have a full bar." I said "ok do you have a wine list", and he then starts asking what kind of wine I would want, red or white, then what type of wine I want. Meanwhile in this convo I asked for a wine list 3 times and he kept avoiding the question. He then was asking glass or bottle. At this point the conversation was just becoming awkward so I was very direct back to him (which was deserved) and said "I'm sorry do you not have a wine list?!" And he said "oh yeah we do let me go grab it for you." It honestly was very uncomfortable. Then later the same thing happened with the food menu. Extremely strange. I can understand the "this is a locals vibe people don't need a menu here they just KNOW", if you maybe ask if we've been there before? The whole encounter was just so strange and nothing I've ever experienced before as someone who eats out very often. This all being said, once our actual waiter came to the table he was very very nice and personable. read more

Il Cantinori - Ravioli - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Superb pasta. I'm not even an Italian fan, but loved the variety plate we got. The eggplant parmesan was good, different and crispier. The drinks weren't bad either, and nothing like good old sambuca to accompany. Classic looking Italian place, friendly staff. read more

First off, this place is insanely overpriced and I say that from a person who eats out all the time. $27 for a basic salad and $47 for average pasta is out of line. There are so many better Italian restaurants in NYC for the same price and even cheaper that it is not even worth talking about this place anymore. Head over to the original Il Mulino, Emilio Ballato, I Sodi, l'artusi for starters. read more

Been eating here since 1987. Fantastic tasting food. The calamari the way they make it may be the tastiest in the world as never found any better. Very nice rear room which would be the place to enjoy lunch or dinner. My favorite restaurant in NYC when I lived there and for visits. For many years Phillip the host made sure I always had a great dining experience.... read more

Aggressive service, not gracious. Over crowded tables. No space to move. Food was satisfactory, but overpriced. Skip this place now. It's not what it was. read more

Heard lots of great things about Il Cantinori and all are true. Old school Italian with great drinks, amazing food and really good service. We were in the back room which was very nice. Cool touch -- everyone gets their own personal small dish of tomato sauce to dunk hot crispy bread into. Pastas were delicious as were the fish and meat mains. read more

The service was abysmal. Not just rude. At one point a server knocked into me while I was seated at the table and never acknowledged it. The management didn't care. The food was not worth the otherwise miserable experience. read more

Il Cantinori is super delicious! This is my aunt's favorite Italian restaurant in NYC, so we went here for her birthday. Although they have very FEW vegan options, they were super accommodating and made a pasta primavera. It was pretty good! For dessert, I had a passionfruit sorbet which was AMAZING! I also love the ambiance. The fresh flowers and candle lighting is perfect for an intimate get together. Overall, I really enjoyed this place and look forward to returning! read more

Il Cantinori - Passionfruit Sorbet - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Didn't get many pictures, but the food vibe and service was excellent. Pasta dishes were tasty and comforting read more

Il Cantinori - Tiramisu - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Great food and ambiance! We went for a birthday celebration and were not disappointed. The server recommended multiple dishes and explained each of them well. The spinach ravioli was among the best I've had. read more

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I live accross the street and have eaten here 100 times. It's so good. It's a bit expensive - but anything good is. Every dish is great, service is impeccable. read more

I'm not entirely sure how this place is rated 3.9 stars?!?! That is a crashing shame, because it is amazing!! First of all, it's in the West Village (which is a cool vibe all the way around), has a really cool vibe and the service...off the hook. Fantastic food, good wine selection and come prepared to leave full, satisfied and ready for bed!! 5 star all the way...don't skip this place!!! read more

Il Cantinori is one of the great Italian restaurants of New York City. Situated in NoHo, near Union Square, this restaurant is on a quiet street, tucked into the middle of the block. From the moment you enter you are in a cozy but classy place, with tables lit by candle light and the amazing smell of Italian herbs coming from the kitchen. You just know that the meal will be good. That sets the tone for the entire meal. Our server greeted us almost immediately and took our drink order. An assortment of italian breads can shortly after the server left to fill the drink order. They served this amazing pomodoro tomato sauce on a dish to each of us. It was not like a bruschetta topping but more like a very savory chunky tomato sauce with parmesan cheese. The temptation was to ask for more bread and more tomato sauce, but we resisted. For the appetizer we ordered the Calamari Alla Griglia. It had a light dusting of Italian breadcrumbs and cooked to perfection and topped with cherry tomatoes. It was lighter than most calamari that I've had. It was not chewy, which is a red flag for me. It was fresh and crisp. Two of us ordered the Tagliolini Neri Alle Vongole E Carciofi (Black squid ink pasta with clams), one with red sauce (special order) and one with white wine sauce. The white wine version was a bit flat. The red sauce version exploded with flavor. It was absolutely delicious. One of us ordered the Mediterranean fish special. I can't recall the name, but it was mild, not fishy, and was really tasty. The person in my party that ordered this said they would definitely order it again. For dessert we shared a cheesecake round with raspberry sauce. It was the perfect size to end the meal along with a snifter of sambuca. The glass came with 3 coffee beans, as all GOOD Italian restaurants will serve it. 3 is good luck and we certainly had good luck with this meal. I'm giving Il Cantinori 5 stars and adding it to my NY favorite restaurant list. read more

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The service just wasn't good or friendly, especially given the price tag. We had a reservation. They weren't busy. Yet, we stood waiting for someone to acknowledge us. I wouldn't go back. read more

We ordered the Cavatelli Al Tonno and the Petto di Pollo. Both were shockingly bad. There was not even a little bit of salt in the Cavatelli and the fish was bland and tough. The chicken was dry and also not at all seasoned. It was served with just plain steamed green beans. Not at all worth the $40-$50 per plate. read more

Service was impeccable, our waiter brought a freshly made spicy sauce to us just because he thought we would like it and send us home with a container of it read more

I was here for my Christmas company luncheon. This place was amazing. The food, service and ambiance were excellent! I will definitely come back. read more

Probably my favorite Italian restaurant in Manhattan, especially if you love amazing pasta. From the moment you walk in you are greeted by the friendly and charming Maitre D who makes you feel welcome immediately, and are in a dark and moody environment which created the perfect dinner vibe. The food was amazing, and the service spectacular. Even the bread basket was delicious, as well as the amuse bouche our waiter brought us. I got the "Pappardelle Alla Buttera" but subbed the pappardelle with a rigatoni noodle. This pasta dish was 5 stars, cooked perfectly with a creamy pink sauce w sausage and peas. We also got the pistachio tartufo dessert which was divine, and the perfect way to end the meal. Next time I'm in Manhattan I'll definitely be heading back to Il Cantinori for another 5 star dining experience. read more

The food was exceptional, the service impeccable, and the ambiance compares to no one else in the city. A restaurant that truly has the best flowers and homemade pasta. However, my friends and I were shocked when we were sitting by the kitchen and could hear the tall manager in a suit (I'm assuming Italian) screaming at a server or busboy in the kitchen. I have never seen anything like it and it's sad that such a beautiful restaurant treats their staff like that. What should have been a beautiful evening sadly was ruined and it was the conversation piece with my friends the whole evening instead of the delicious food and flowers. read more

The food and service was amazing cannot give enough praise , excellent quality , presentation , wine, drinks , and dessert

Came here for my birthday dinner this year - the food was good! Definitely feels like an authentic Italian restaurant. I recommend the pasta sampler which was not on the menu but it allows you to try their 3 different pastas instead of just one. Great for someone like me who gets tired of eating the same thing! read more

Il Cantinori - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Always excellent Food and Service. Superb ambiance. To eat at Il Cantinori is a huge treat. We no longer live in the neighborhood and don't have the option to eat there as often as we would like . read more

Il Cantinori is an excellent Italian restaurant off of University Place. Unlike many other Italian places the menu is not huge, which is fine since everything is delicious. The stars thought are the pastas and the risotto. read more

Soooo great-the restaurant is fairly crowded up front in terms of spacing but the service was great! Had a great server who was attentive to our needs and it was two peoples' birthdays at dinner too. The Pappardelle was exquisite! I initially thought it was a small serving when it came out and it didn't seem like it would fill me or taste so good but it was delightful. The sauce, the pasta, even the peas were a nice addition which I generally dislike. The dessert was great as well, with pistachio ice cream to really bring in a nice mix of flavors. This is definitely a more romantic/expensive restaurant so I'd advise a good reason to celebrate or date night if you were to come. read more

Il Cantinori - Pappardelle Alla Buttera - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Delicious food. Great service. Calamari 10/10. Rotolo al Tartufo was phenomenal. Yummers girl! read more

Il Cantinori - ROTOLO AL TARTUFO - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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I had really high hopes for Il Cantinori, but unfortunately it fell a bit short of my expectations. My party of six had a late dinner seating here on a Saturday night. It was easy to make a reservation and our table was ready upon arrival, however, once seated it took quite awhile for us to even get any menus to look at. Once we finally got the menus, our server came over to tell us the "specials", & there ended up being more dishes there than was even offered on the menu. It was a bit frustrating to not be able to see the details of the dishes or how much they cost. We ended up blind ordering the calamari and trio pasta dishes. The food was mediocre -- calamari was a bit chewy & pasta was room temperature. It's not bad by any means, but definitely not at all worth the price you're paying. You're better off dining somewhere cheaper & getting the same (or even better food). Nonetheless, our server was great & ambiance was nice with complimentary bread & salami/cheese offerings at the start of the meal & biscottis at the end. read more

This a beautiful restaurant with very attentive service. You can tell the people who work here not only enjoy what they do, but enjoy bringing joy to the people they serve! The atmosphere is very low light, soft music so if you're looking for a party go elsewhere-- and I mean this is good way. This is the kind of restaurant that you hold hands in and stare into the eyes of your significant other lol. While you're staring, ORDER THE PASTA! Some of the best pasta I've ever tasted. Which pasta, you ask? Any of it. I sincerely mean that. The chef definitely knows what he's doing. Flavorful, light, delicious. Amazing wine selection as well. Fellas if you're in the doghouse, this is the way out. Will certainly recommend to our friends! read more

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Went with friends over the weekend. Seated quickly but there were a lot of open tables at the time. No drink menu but full bar; drinks were expensive and not that good. Waiter was not the friendliest and seemed to push the specials. Limited menu, esp for appetizers. A few salads - beet salad was nothing special. Chicken parm was good and should be shared - far too much for one person to finish - does NOT come with anything (no side of pasta). Pasta trio special was relatively small, especially for the price, and again nothing to write home about. Overall, Service was not good and food was average at best and grossly overpriced. Would not recommend and will not return. There are many other Italian restaurants in the area with better choices, better food, lower prices, and better service. read more

I cannot say enough good things about this place. We were walking up from Washington Square this popped up on yelp and came highly recommended - and it should be rated 5 starts not 4. Let's start with service - flawless. The server explained everything off the menu (which we ordered). Our drinks were never empty either and the Maitre d' was phenomenal. He even gave us fresh flowers to take to the friends we are meeting. The food was amazing. We split the 16oz rib eye with pasta and two weeks later and we're still tallying about the meal. It's truly that good. Cozy, classic, romantic, intimate...a true gem in West Village read more