From the wait staff to the chef, this is Manhattan East. The proprietor, Mario orchestrates the menu like a classical musician. The offerings are truly Italian gourmet, the well balanced sauces and meat offering are prepared to perfection. If something goes awry, they're quick to correct it. From the appetizers to desserts you won't be disappointed!!!!! Give it a try. read more

Went for lunch today to celebrate a friend's birthday. Very pleasant afternoon. Decor was simple, which added to the aesthetic. It was very quiet and only a few other tables in use when we got there but was filling up by the time we left. Food was delicious! I got the fish special and it was amazing. Cappuccino was great, no sugar needed. Waitstaff were very attentive and friendly read more

If I was rating the food on taste alone I'd rate this restaurant 4 stars. I have to take a star off because the portions were way too small, and we all left hungry. For that alone it wasn't worth coming here, and we will not come back even through the food was good. None of the appetizers were shareable either. The beet salad we had was very good, but not shareable. We also had the ravioli and the gnocchi in Gorgonzola. Both were very good, but not filling at all. The gnocchi dish especially was a very small portion! The food in the pics I took look a lot larger than the food that was in front of us. We also ordered 4 desserts those were a decent portion except the soufflé which was disappointing in size and in taste. All the desserts were fresh and homemade, but they were just ok in taste. If you are ok with very small portions and good food than you may like this restaurant. read more

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This restaurant was a wonderful spot for a nice Italian dinner. Their menu was fairly large and offered a number of options. The staff was attentive and ensured that all of our food came out correctly. It's a very small and intimate space, I wouldn't bring a large family unless you have a reservation. The food was good, some dishes could've used a bit more flavor but overall it was a satisfying dinner. I think because everything is made so fresh, the flavor is not able to marinate. read more

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Small, comfortable restaurant, seating indoors and out, with many well-dressed, helpful, very busy servers. Recently redesigned, and very modern looking. Small bar in the rear. Food was very expensive, but very good. Although my chicken did not come with a vegetable. And my wife's zucchini flower was served on an otherwise empty plate. Poor presentation. The worse part was the cocktails. If you're gonna charge $17 apiece, serve them in the correct glasses. With the proper garnishment. And be sure they taste like the drink that is ordered; ours did not. A very disappointing meal. read more

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Phenomenal!! I cannot believe we hadn't come until now! My husband and I came for dinner on Saturday for date night and had a marvelous time from beginning to end. The interior is beautiful - bright, tastefully decorated and I love that the bathroom was equally beautiful! The food was delicious- I got the Cavatelli and my husband got the Mediterranean grilled fish. We split half and half each and were so pleased with both dishes - 10000% the best pasta spot in all of forest hills but beyond forest hills, one of my new favorite Italian spots overall - especially with their more affordable price points. You get what you pay for here - EXCELLENT food, beautiful ambiance, great service. I feel like most restaurants rarely get all three these days, especially in forest hills. I loved the grilled fish and the grilled veggies too! Just the right amount of burnt-ness to give that perfect charcoal smoky flavor. Nutella mascarpone soufflé was too good to be true! We were kind of floored by this dessert honestly - it was so light, airy and not overly sweet, we regretted sharing one only. Coming back for sure soon - still thinking about how good the food is! read more

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Sadly, no longer a place that I would go out of my for. DECOR: Once upon a time, Il Poeta had unique decor... Santa Fe meets New Orleans is the way I would describe it. The walls were Southwest in Color and decorated with unique artifacts. It was very "artsy" and very Forest Hills. Now, with a recent re-do of the decor, I can best describe it as "Generic Long Island Restaurant". Gone is the uniqueness and in its place are generic white tablecloths and a conservative color scheme. SERVICE; i recognize that finding servers is difficult these days, but the service here didn't even reach diner standards. First, the wrong mixed drink was brought to the table. Then, the mixed drink that was brought as a replacement, which at least looked correct, didn't taste correct. Other reviewers have noted this issue as well, and for $17.00 it should have been exemplary! The server seemed to be limited to a dialogue of "cheese or pepper?". DISHES: We had the tuna tartar and Tagliatelli specials as well as the Apple Salad and the Penne with Asparagus "a la vodka". The tuna tartar had an "off taste". The Tagliatelli was OK. The two pasta dishes were served in round plates that looked unique but weren't appropriate for the pasta. The Apple Salad was way overly dressed and the dressing overpowered any flavor that the ingredients may have had. There were very few Apple Slices as well. Dessert was the Cream Brulee which was OK but, again served in a plate that was more appropriate for Flan. Overall, Il Poeta is worth visiting if you plan to be in area but I would no longer go out of my way to dine there. read more

This place has homemade Pasta dishes, I had the Lasagna, flavorful, with sausage as an ingredient, it was spicy, in a very good way, they served this dish, in a bowl, which is awkward to eat out of.. plated is better.. the portion was just right, but could have been a bit more generous.. , calamari as an appetizer was perfectly done, and not a disappointing treat.. served also was some crusty bread slices, with a dish of olive oil, and lentils, for dipping the bread.. ambience is bright and soft comfortable table seats makes the dinner experience pleasant.. our Waiter was attentive, and explained questions about the menu .. ! read more

Updating my review following the restaurant's renovation and happy to confirm that everything is still top notch - the service, the apps, the pastas, and the desserts (highlights include the Nutella & Mascarpone Soufflé & Crème Brûlée). Happy to continue patronizing this neighborhood gem for many years to come :) read more

Il Poeta - Updated dining room - Italian Near Me - Forest Hills, New York

First time going to ll Poeta after passing by it so many times. Went for a late lunch/early dinner. Service was great and food was great and nicely served. Definitely will be going more often. read more

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Love this Place Finally returned to this spot moving to Long Island ! Food is amazing all pasta dishes and Pan seared calamari delicious, The waiter Hector is The best ! Bring back memories eating with my parents ! Recommend this place and Highly recommend!! read more

I came in with my younger cousin for a taste of something different. I feel like I have eaten Italian for such a long time so I am glad I had a chance to visit this restaurant. It was late on a Saturday evening which was pretty packed but we were seated quickly. Make sure to call before you go. It is a small petite restaurant which is intimate. I don't believe they can accommodate a large crowd. The drink I order "lady in passion," was really good. I order the seafood and fish spicy tomato stew. It wasn't spicy at all but it was really good. The staff was pretty good, our waiter was missing most of the time so it was annoying during our visit. All in all I would definitely return. read more

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Wow!!! This place exceeded my expectation! Service was great and the food was excellent and ambiance was perfect. We ordered the crab cakes and grilled octopus from today's special. The octopus melted in our mouth. I ordered the Pan seared breast of the duck with balsamic sauce with strawberries and spinach mashed potatoes. My husband ordered the 1/2 Roasted free range chicken served with roasted potatoes. Both were delicious! We were visited by the owner/chef as we were enjoying our meal. He was so personable and we enjoyed talking to him. We will definitely return soon and highly recommend this place!! read more

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Loved it. Re model looks great Food still awesome. Chef Mike still a pleasure and always grateful. read more

My family and I went to Il Poeta on Mother's Day. We were a party of 5 (4 adults, 1 child), and our reservation was for 3:30 pm. We arrived on time and were seated immediately. The restaurant is sort of small and was very busy, which we liked. The ambiance was upbeat. Our primary server, Hector, was absolutely lovely. He was very attentive and patiently detailed all of the specials to us. The food came quickly and was delicious. Even the bread for the table was good! We ordered appetizers... crab cakes and baked clams - lots of flavor. Our main courses were the Parmesan crusted chicken breast, the steak, and my kid ordered the penne Alfredo with grilled chicken. Honestly, everything was perfectly cooked and flavorful. We were all pleased. We also ordered cocktails, and they were awesome (on the strong side, which we didn't complain about)! Try the Lady Passion or the Espresso Martini. The Chocolate Martini and the Peach Martini were also nice. Dessert was lovely. We tried the apple tart, the vanilla gelato, and my personal favorite, which was a nut crusted amaretto ice cream. We'll definitely return. It wasn't cheap, but we all agreed that it was well worth it! read more

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Terrible service. Never fails. We have been to this restaurant numerous times in the last 9 years since we moved to the area. Food is not bad. Drinks are not bad. But the service is slow as molasses. And if you are not a regular don't expect a warm welcome. My husband, two sons and I have been going for NYE dinner here for the last 4 years. We made a reservation for this year 4 days in advance, and it was later than we wanted, but we made it anyway. I was then called and told to come in even later because someone else changed the number in their party. I said that was too late and they basically told me "oh well then cancel". Thanks. Two days before NYE. We have brought friends from out of town and always recommend this place despite the terrible service because it's a cute neighborhood Italian restaurant. The wait staff needs training ASAP, including whoever takes reservations. WILL NEVER BE BACK ! read more

I've had this spot bookmarked, so I've been wanting to check it out. It feels like a place where everyone knows your name if you're a local or where customers go to for some causal Italian food. There is no need to dress up here. The service was spot on as they cleaned up after you, such as the crumbs left over, plus your dishes and crumbs from the appetizers and bread with lentils, too. The waiter was great except for when he tossed a piece of paper with the specials on it for us to read. It was literally crumpled up before you can tell. That was the only thing that was strange. Food wise, it was good. They bring out a complimentary bread basket with lentils, which I've never had as a combo before anywhere. Also, they ask if you want more bread, too, if you've consumed it all. For appetizers, we got the burrata, which goes great with the bread. For my entree, I got the linguine with clams, which they made just right. Last but not least, the dessert, the Napolean with Chantilly Creamwith strawberries in it, not only tasted delicious, but it looked just as how it would taste. I would recommend this place if you're in the area. read more

My wife Shirley and I have come to Il Poeta for years, before heading into the city to go to theatre. It's a romantic, intimate place to eat where the food is always made to the highest Northern Italian standards with homemade pasta and gnocchi. Chef Mario hails from both Cipriani Restaurant in Venice Italy as well as NYC where he worked alongside his Papa Luigi who taught him everything. We've had their calamari, mussels and clams, Caprese, croquette di eggplant, and Linguini with clam sauce with zucchini. Chicken breast parmesan crust white wine and lemon sauce, veal scallopine with mushroom and bacon (to die for) and Salmon in a mustard pistachio crust and spinach. I do want to try the pork tenderloins with wild mushrooms next. Put it this way, after reviewing and eating at multiple restaurants up and down Metropolitan ave we chose to celebrate our 17th wedding anniversary here with a party of 25 people. Everybody loved the food, and the service was excellent. Mario provided me a choice party menu at a price we were happy with. I wouldn't change a thing. The family raved about the menu and we all plan to come back again. Thanks Il Poeta read more

I finally tried this restaurant after passing by multiple times. It's fancier dining compared to other restaurants in the area but no pressure to dress up. Tablecloth, ambiance, mood lighting, you name it. Fairly kid-friendly so we felt comfortable eating here with our little ones. They have a good kids menu ($10). We opted to try all adult dishes instead and the kids really enjoyed it. Eggplant and ricotta croquettes - usually a fan of anything fried with cheese for an appetizer and this was surprisingly good. My oldest daughter really enjoyed this. It comes on top of a flavorful tomato sauce and bed of spinach. Penne pasta with salmon and asparagus - great option for those who want a protein and vegetable all in one. This was the main reason I selected this dish. Great to share and kid approved. Chicken breast in parmesan crust and white wine, lemon sauce - delicious. Loved the texture of the chicken, flavor, portion and taste. The mashed potatoes were soft and silky. I really enjoyed this dish! Roast chicken - not bad! Baked potatoes served with the roast chicken. Good sharing dish. Panna cotta - not sure what really good panna cotta is supposed to taste like but this seemed good to us! Firm, good texture, taste and presentation. The strawberry and raspberry decoration boosted the flavor profile. The food took a while to come out but it was an enjoyable atmosphere. Certainly didn't feel like we were on Metropolitan Avenue. After our meal, they gave a plate of bite-sized cookies. Adorable and friendly gesture. Also a nice way to wrap up our meal. Il Poeta is a great choice for celebrations, special occasions or just a way to treat yourself. read more

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Il Poeta is an extraordinary dining experience. Superior Italian cuisine and a newly redecorated, romantic dining room make Il Poeta extra special. read more

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WILL NEVER SET FOOT IN THIS RESTAURANT AGAIN!! This place deserves no stars! Made a reservation on Wednesday for Saturday at 7:30 for 2. We decided to give this place a chance again after we were there a couple of summers ago and sat outside and were treated beyond rude. Arrived on time. There were 3 tables open we were seated at a table situated by the door and on top of a chair from a table behind ours. Foot traffic was endless in this area as the waiters needed to get through to serve the tables around and behind ours. Each time a waiter had to pass behind me where I was sitting my chair was constantly being hit! There were 2 other open tables. We asked the waiter if we could be seated at the table on the side of ours and was told it was set for a party of 3. There was another table a couple of tables down and asked him if we could sit there and was told that that table was for a party of 4. When the "so called" table of 3 came in 2 people were seated at it. We said to the waiter you said 3 people were going to sit at that table and he said the "3rd" person did not come. We decided to try and make the best of it. We were going to order a bottle of wine and asked if we could have a taste to see if we liked it and was rudely told no! At that point between being constantly banged into and being so uncomfortable we told the waiter we would not sit where we were placed. He told us another table in the back of the restaurant was opening up and we would be able to sit there. We left the table and sat at the bench by the window. More people were coming into the restaurant and getting attention and we were left at the window for 15 minutes being ignored! Not one waiter asked if we wanted a drink or come and let us know the status of the so called table in the back. After seeing more people come in and being paid attention too we decided to leave and wound up having a lovely dinner at Radici down the block. Il Poeta may think they are a classy restaurant but they are totally CLASSLESS!! read more

Amazing. Local Italian restaurant with excellent flavors. Simple and good. Tried the: - eggplant croquette (good) - octopus (amazing) - il poeta truffle pasta (must get) - bolognese (good red sauce) - ribeye (good) Service top, would stop by again. There is a corkage fee, heads up read more

Delicious food, service and ambience. The wait staff was attentive in a true European style and the food terrific. Thursday nights no corkage fee. Best Italian food in the area. I highly recommend! read more

We came here for a birthday celebration. Omg. The truffle taglettele was amazing! The other pastas were just okay. The braised sorry ribs were good, nothing super outstanding. The tiramasu was awesome! Service was great, although they are not sommeliers... so, know your own wine! The decor was standard Italian restaurant. read more

The food was delicious, the service was great and the ambiance was charming. We were also with the best company.

I just moved to the neighborhood and this restaurant was such a great find! The seafood dishes were delicious--so many options, and everything was super fresh. Our server, Brans, was the best! He was super friendly and made us feel right at home (caracas wohooo). His recommendations were on point! I'll definitely be back to try more of the menu! This spot is a new favorite for sure! read more

To keep it short and simple: absolutely amazing Italian food. read more

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Booked a Friday night 7:30 for 3. Place was packed waiters were overwhelmed. Starters- Shared Octopus and salad. Good. Mains- Me- Lasagna special- plop of Bolognese sauce with very little pasta. Bad Wife-Cannelloni di Vitello-defrosted cheese and bechamel sauce sour. Bad Son -( orders the most expensive as usual). Ribeye. BAD I sample tastes like Liver(which is on the menu)Clean the pans between courses! We are to kind to send back and leave. Just posting to let them know they need to up their game. read more

First time visitors to Il Poeta last night after passing by so many times. We are sorry we did not stop in sooner. We had an exquisite meal with each of us choosing from the specials for the night, one lovely risotto and the me freshly fileted orata, topped off by desert and grappa. Owner/chef Mario di Chiara comes out and walks the floor and spent some time at our table speaking with us as well. It's such a revelation when you sit down for a meal and have such outstanding service (thanks Luis) along with delicious food and wine. read more

Il Poeta - Italian Near Me - Forest Hills, New York

We were very disappointed in this restaurant. We ordered at 7:00 PM and didn't get out check until 9:50 PM. The tables are very small and very cramped together. You literally have no room to eat. When you pull your chair out you actually hit the chair at the table next to your table. The food was just so so and nothing to write home about. There are too many other great choices then this venue. Waitstaff is not friendly and only wanting to refill your drinks the minute you finish. Not a good experience and we will not be coming back. read more

By far one of the best Italian restaurants on Metropolitan Ave. They just redid the inside and it's really nice. Their food is always great and their service even better. One complaint is the music, but that's just me. Wish they would play a nicer mix of music instead of Eros Ramazotti on loop. read more

Spent the evening with Mario and his staff to celebrate my daughter's graduation. I've been to Il Poeta a few times in the past and have always enjoyed our food, drinks and service. If you are looking for authentic Italian food (not Olive Garden) this is by far best place in queens. The space is beautifully designed and intimate, we were a party of 10 and they were able to accommodate quickly. I would suggest making a reservation for a large party. Mario and his staff are very attentive with every aspect of the visit. Highly recommend if you are looking to grab a quick bite in the neighborhood. read more

This was the perfect setting for our anniversary dinner. SInce it was a Monday night, not many restaurants are open in the area we were looking to go to. We took a chance on Il Poeta since we wanted a quiet, and elegant place and this restaurant looked like it fit "the bill". Everything was exceptional from the drinks, warm bread, appetizers to the entrees. Desserts looked amazing but we were too full to make a selection. Hector, who waited on us, was helpful, courteous, and accommodated our meal requests. You could tell that it is important for staff to make sure that patrons feel well served. Il Poeta is definitely a restaurant that I would not hesitate to recommend to anyone looking for a fantastic dining experience. read more

Place is absolutely unbelievable. Couldn't believe how good the homemade pasta was. Blew my world away. read more

Il Poeta is a very fine restaurant. The food is delicious, the wait staff is friendly and professional. The ambience is inviting, crisp, clean and comfortable. The owner/ chef, Mario, is a real nice man, very genuine. He likes people. read more

I didn't enjoy this place at all. The seafood was an absolute disaster. The clams were so fishy and inedible I spit one out in my napkin. And then I was like oh no I ordered pasta with seafood as my main I hope it's not the same thing, it was too late at that point to change my order and the same thing happened in my entree. I was scared to eat any of the clams or the mussels out of fear of getting sick. The lentils on the table with the bread is the best part of this place. Much better options around the area read more

I've been coming to Il Poeta for years, and it never disappoints. There's a reason Il Poeta has such amazing reviews. The owner and chef is incredibly kind and welcoming. Born and raised in Italy, he is a second-generation chef. Each meal is skillfully prepared, generously portioned and authentic tasting. With almost all of their ingredients imported from Italy, you're guaranteed an authentic dining experience at Il Poeta. The service is superb. The staff is kind and attentive, ensuring that everyone at the table is satisfied. read more

This was our second time here. The first pre Covid and we had a very nice experience. Post Covid... guess a reservation would help but we chose to sit outdoors. The food was ok. Prices fair. read more

Il Poeta - Italian Near Me - Forest Hills, New York

Super cute place. Service was great. Food was amazing. The owner walked around and checked on everyone.

My family and I have been coming here for years. We are Queens natives who love good Italian food. Years ago, Chef Mario absolutely killed it --the tagliatelle alla bolognese has been a favorite prior to the pandemic (as well as the cavatelli, which is handmade). We are recently getting back into going to our local haunts, and had a 7:30 PM reservation this evening for my father's birthday. We got there a little early (at 7:15 PM) and we're seated by the waitstaff. And then we waited. And waited. And finally got up and left at 7:45 PM. No one had come over to us to even take a drink order. We never heard the specials, even after asking one of the waiters if she could read them to us. That waiter in question went to find someone who could, and neither that waiter or whoever she went to find came back. Honestly, we were disappointed because we were looking forward to the eats, but it is what it is! Not sure if we'll be coming back, but I hope the service starts to change a little - every restaurant is working towards bouncing back from COVID-19, but it's been a minute for Il Poeta! read more