On April 3rd, my family and I had the pleasure of dining at Il Tinello. We found the establishment lovely, the staff exceptionally well-presented, and the overall ambiance top-notch. We especially want to recognize Ray, who provided excellent service and took great care of us throughout the evening. The food was equally impressive: the jumbo sea scallops were perfectly prepared, the spaghetti carbonara was incredible, and the chicken portobello was delicious. From beginning to end, the attention we received made for a memorable dinner experience. Thank you to Ray and the rest of the staff for a wonderful evening. Grazie! read more

This is our friend's favorite Italian spot, so I was super excited to join them for a meal at Il Tinello. Service is VERY attentive and the food is outstanding. The thing about Italian food is that when the ingredients are fresh and simple, THAT'S IT!! Every dish was beautifully prepared and the portions aren't stupid. They're smart, actually. Just the right amount and nothing is over salted. The Caesar salad is prepared table side..which is awesome. My friend said that he dreams about this salad and was doing a happy dance as he was eating. I had the branzino special and the fish was amazing. Others at the table had the pappardelle bolognese special, linguine with clams and bucatini. Everyone was happy. The tiramisu was fabulous; as was the cappuccino. The vibe is dark wood, white tablecloth classic Italian restaurant without being pretentious. read more

See all

I've been here many times and it never disappoints. Best authentic Italian in the city. Everything is 5 star and worth a taste.

Small, romantic atmosphere. We had a group of 15 and they handled us very well. They picked the food for the table and if we want anything additional they accommodated us. They served us family style, but I would like to go back and try the dishes that were not served. read more

Want to travel back to the 60's and dine in a dark atmospheric restaurant where servers are, for the most part, older gentleman wearing tuxedos? I found the place for you! Stuffy place - not at all. More formal than where we usually go, yes. Did we enjoy it, absolutely. When we were seated the Maitre D (?) asked if we would like wine - we said yes. He came back with 2 glasses and a bottle of red wine. At this point we hadn't seen the menu and didn't know whether we were going with red or white. I asked how much it was and he said $20 a glass or $90 a bottle. Kind of an odd start to our meal and I said we would like to see the wine list. We picked a white! We shared a delicious beef carpaccio salad for our appetizer. Both entree's were also delicious and very generous portions. The Grilled Scallops with lemon butter and capers was "the winner". The Mushroom Risotto was cooked perfectly and very enjoyable. We shared a Tartufo for dessert. It was very very good along with a cappuccino. We enjoyed 2 glasses of Limoncello on the house. All the servers were friendly. The place itself was packed all night and on the noisy side but a fun step back in time. read more

See all

Received this as a recommendation from a local and it was so good! It's a small place, so we had to wait for a table but the bartender was really friendly. Once we sat, the servers were attentive and gave great suggestions. I tried the gnocchi Bolognese and it was exactly what I wanted and needed! Finished up the meal with some amazing dessert, the tiramisu was sooo good! read more

See all

Tremendous dinner with outstanding service! Loved it and will return. Everything we had was excellent!

I found myself at Il Tinello for an educational dinner. While I'm a little numb to Italian restaurants in NYC, it was refreshing to find out we were coming here since the norm for these dinners are steakhouses. My standards for Italian food are pretty high, but regardless I was looking forward to checking it out in addition to learning a thing or two. Il Tinello actually has two locations, one on the west side and this one here in Midtown East. Walking in, I was immediately greeted by the bar area which was a little busy - it gives way to the dining area which isn't large and was just as bustling as the bar area; overall it was a little loud a slightly cramped. The interior had a dark color scheme with upscale-ish finishes. We were provided with several complimentary starters - namely some bread that came with tapenade on the side, and some roasted peppers. The bread was nice and soft and the tapenade was very flavorful. The menu itself was separated into the standard sections of apps, soups, salads, pasta, chicken, (other) meats, and seafood. We decided to bypass starters and go straight for mains - I decided on the Milanese which was a breaded cutlet topped with arugula and cherry tomatoes, drizzled with some balsamic - very similar to a capricciosa. The dish was fine - the chicken was a smidge overdone and contrasted well with the fresh greens. We opted for dessert and went with the tiramisu. This was pretty good as well, it didn't really stand out but also wasn't bad. Food came out fast - almost too fast, I wanna say less than 10 minutes which was a little off-putting if I'm being honest. Service was good however, everyone was friendly. Overall, Il Tinello was fine, but nothing too noteworthy in my opinion; there are more exciting Italian spots in the city. I would be open to returning, but I'm not running back. read more

We wanted to go to Il Tinello for Valentine's Day and they had no availability. We finally got around to trying it out on very rainy Saturday and this has become one of our favorite spots. The food was great and service exceptional. Mr.Ray made sure we were well taken care of. We had fried calamari and trecolore salad to start and both dishes were very tasty. For main we had shrimp risotto (cooked to perfection) and seafood spaghetti. Simple, old school Italian American style dishes, not often found these days. They did a great show with cacio e pepe with the cheese wheel & fire for the family across the way,and Milanese the table next to is ordered looked amazing (the guests gushed they were delicious). We will return soon to try other dishes-they also have osso bucco which is hard to find in NY. If you are looking for a romantic evening out with good food and service, Il Tinello is to be recommended for your consideration. read more

Traveled to NY and expected high prices but these were ridiculous. Caesar salad for two prepared at table was $39! They literally made it behind our backs! One person had zero croutons, which seemed store bought. Veal parm served with potatoes instead of pasta. The portion sizes were small and not outstanding in taste. We left disenchanted. read more

Il Tinello is such a gem. The food was excellent, and the whole place has this cozy, welcoming feel that makes you want to stay all night. The staff was incredibly attentive and Ray came by with great recommendations that did not miss. Definitely get the Martini Chicken. Definitely going back! read more

- Food was served very quickly - I got Larry's Pasta. It was a spicy penne vodka with Chicken and green peas and it was delicious - Calming environment - Friendly staff - Give you bread and shishito peppers when you walk in - Give you a nice pastry after you finish your meal read more

Il Tinello - Larry's Pasta - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

We wanted to find a nice Italian restaurant near the hotel and this looked really good. It was great seeing the staff dressed formally, and it set the tone for the terrific service that ensued. We had the Caesar salad prepared at table, and also a calamari appetizer. Both were excellent. The calamari didn't have that typical rubber taste and texture, and it tasted more breaded than fried. The Caesar salad dressing was excellent, and it wasn't too garlicky. I had a lobster ravioli special, which was excellent, and my trusty companion had the gnocchi. For dessert, we had the pistachio cheesecake and the tartufo. Everything was fantastic and next time I'm in this part of the city, I would definitely stop back again. It's a nice intimate setting. read more

We visit this restaurant during Christmas holidays. After shopping we have a late lunch here. The food is the best, the drinks are delicious and the service is impeccable. Is a must to dine here. read more

I've been coming to Il Tinello east side over a year and everything is delicious. The owner Benny and staff makes you feel like home. read more

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

This was my first time there and I will definitely be back. Atmosphere was classic old school Italian we were in a group of 10 and the waiters were awesome. They picked the dishes and we ate them. Family style was the easiest for us and them. I highly recommend. read more

We had a wonderful extended lunch today at Il Tinello. The restaurant is a beautiful little gem. White table cloths and doting service. The owner does his utmost to make you feel welcome. Before even ordering, we were presented with delicious bruschetta, Italian hot peppers and bread and tapenade. We started with the pear salad, which was simple, but perfectly balanced and delicious. Secondly, we shared the bucatini almatriciana. We would have preferred slightly more spice, but the pasta was perfectly cooked and the sauce exhibited the expected richness. Thirdly, I lavished in their perfectly prepared special veal osso buco. In a rich, delicious sauce the meat tenderly fell off the bone into a lovely side portion of risotto. With our luncheon, we enjoyed a well curated bottle of Amarone and then capped our afternoon with Albanian grappa, limoncello, coffee and conversation with the owner and his team. This visit to Il Tinello was our first but will by no means be our last. My companion, had the veal monte bianco, which was also sumptuously delicious!! read more

At my friend's request for a long overdue catch up at an Italian restaurant, I recommend that we visit Il Tinello since it was on my to visit list. I made a reservation on the website, arrived at exactly 6:30pm, was well greeted and quickly sat down at our table. Within few minutes the waiter was at the table taking our drink order and brought us fresh bread, on the house a portion of bruschetta and a plate of marinated eggplant & hot peppers. The place is quaint, modern, clean and fairly classic Italian decor. The atmosphere was quiet which was nice to talk but it did get lost as the night went on (almost too loud). My friend & I decided to share everything because we wanted the table made cacio e pepe pasta but also protein which we ended deciding on veal parm. The atmosphere was vibrant and we just enjoyed our conversation as we watch the waiter prepare our pasta then served us. I would admit that it is not your typical cacio e pepe, it has a lot more ingredients and richer than your typical version, but very tasty and creamy. The veal parm was up to the standard! Very tender and light. I do confess that I had to add salt and ask for black pepper to add more flavor. All in all, a very delightful and delicious experience. Definitely would go back! read more

See all

Date night...celebration night...family time...ANYtime. A magnificent dinner with Old-World service and attentiveness. A lost art and Il Tinello has it in spades. Benny is the BEST maitre-d. Warm, engaging, social and generous. We were checked in and seated immediately. The cocktails we ordered were perfectly made and generous. A Manhattan and a Bombay Sapphire martini-dry - up with olives. The Manhattan was served with Luxardo cherries. Yum. The complimentary bruschetta and peppers were house made and a great treat. We started with the burrata antipasti special. So fresh and beautifully plated. The roasted pineapple was fantastic with the cheese. I ordered the ravioli stuffed with veal and spinach and herbs. The handmade pasta was whisper-thin and delicate. The sauce was expertly made, subtle and sumptuous. Complex and elusive reminiscent of European fine dining. My husband had the rigatoni stuffed with lobster. The rigatoni was handmade also. Each rigatoni stuffing had a tablespoon of lobster which was so fresh and sweet. Lobster essence was in the sauce which was exquisite. These are not "ginormous " rigatoni but balanced and bite-sized. Sauce napped the rigatoni. The homemade cannoli were the best. We scarfed them down even though we could hardly eat another bite. Irresistible! We both had an espresso and it was classic. Benny came by to offer us a limoncello which is fragrant, tart, slightly bitter but not too sweet. House made! I want those lemons. We finished with a house made grappa which was the best ever. I am returning with my whole family next time. The joyful table of eight near us spanned several generations and is a testament to what a treasure Il Tinello-East is. read more

See all

One of the absolute best dining experiences I've had in a life of great dining experiences. Food, service, ambience, staff (including the owner, Benny) all were on point. Prices very reasonable for some amazing food. read more

Food was great, but the service was unbelievable. Best service I've ever experienced.

We dined here on a Saturday night, 4 adults and 2 youngsters. I would call this an old school Italian restaurant, which is fine. The food was very good, albeit a tad overpriced. Consider though that they provide Shiseido peppers, bruschetta, and tapenade plus biscotti and lemongello at dessert. There was an attempt to upsell the wine chosen which I refused. Service was fine although they really wanted us to order quickly and came back several times for orders even though we clearly needed more time. It was the first time two families met so it was a feeling out process. It's important for restaurants to read the room - I finally told the captain/waiter that we hadn't seen our friends in a very long time and were catching up (not true). I also asked about their Monday hours for my tennis group celebrations and although they are open until 10pm they made it very clear that they want orders in by 9:45pm sharp. That won't work for the tennis group. .....Desserts were good- Lemongello cake and cheesecake. read more

I've been going to Tinello for years, one of my favorite restaurants. Unfortunately, yesterday I had a bad experience with one of the specials, Fradiabolo pasta with lobster. Apparently, they changed suppliers because the linguine was undercooked; according to the Floor's manager, it was al dente. I sent it back to be cooked more, but they returned it almost the same. The pasta isn't the same as before; taste awful. I didn't enjoy my dinner; management should pay attention to this minor complaint, because it could damage their reputation. Best of luck! 12/06/2025 read more

Had a great dinner here this evening! Appetizers included bruschetta and some peppers (which were quite spicy but good). Got the carpaccio and it was great - loved the simple lemon flavor with the arugula and cheese. I got the rigatoni, and thought it was great!! It's like an eggplant parmesan flavor but in pasta form, 7.5/10 (just wish there was more!). My partner got the mushroom risotto and also loved it, rating it 8/10. Ambiance was great, service was amazing! House Montepulciano was great, and they make good cocktails too! read more

See all

The service was 11/10 The food was absolutely delicious. The Burrata was what we ordered for an appetizer. It was so creamy and that night it's came with sweet pineapple slices. That mixture of sweet and cream truly made it unique and spectacular. The vibe is classy. Great for anything from a family dinner, date night, or dinner with clients. The Cacio e Pepe was made in front of you and was a 9/10 read more

Il Tinello - Cacio E Pepe - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

A tase of the new with a little old.Very clean very cozy place theambience is spectacular.I love the service with the bowtie uniform it reminds you what excellence is. The food was super delicious we had Caesar salad for two & black Angus steak with spinach with the chef made medium rare on point. A a desert we had Panna cotta & tiramisu which is still one of my favorite .They have a great selection of wine red and white we had red wine .The manger is very friendly he remembered our names as soon as we walked on top of the stairs we felt welcome .Good food and grate service Ray and Javier they made our night Special grate service .I will recommend reservation since the place is busy . read more

See all

Absolutely the best! Tony took the best care of us at the bar. Best Friday afternoon spent! Impeccable service... amazing food. Visit this gem!!! read more

This is your typical dark, New York Italian restaurant with moderate to high prices with mediocre food. The Restaurant was recommended to us and therefore we went. It was rather crowded in extremely loud. The server was rather hard to understand and I'm not sure that I would go back for another meal as it wasn't really memorable. read more

had dinner with my wife and another couple the service was unbelieveable and the food was excellent we had an excellent experience and would definitely revisit the ambiance was romantico read more

You'll never be disappointed here. 10/10 meal, 10/10 staff & fabulous vibes. Don't forget to order amazing wine... & I'm obsessed with all their pasta dishes! read more

See all

I made a reservation 2 weeks prior through their website which needed approval for my wife's birthday. I received an email confirmation for my reservation and then the approval of the reservation a couple hours later. The reservation was for a Saturday lunch. When I arrived, the doors were locked down and we found online they were only open for dinner after 5pm that day. I was incredibly frustrated about how they have an approval reservation process and approved a time slot where the restaurant wasn't even open. Even if they didn't have enough slots reserved to warrant an opening, they didn't communicate the cancellation of the reservation. Very upset about the situation. read more

Service was decent, but it felt very confusing being waited on by multiple people. Complimentary appetizers were meh. Bread was not very fresh. No butter offered. We ordered another appetizer that was a *special*- burrata with peaches. They were literally syrupy canned peaches. It was nothing else, no balsamic, EVOO, salt, not even a sprig of mint. No extra bread served with it. $27 for that. I was then convinced to order the seafood pasta with clams, mussels, etc. and there was almost no flavor and the pasta itself was a huge letdown- $42 mind you. My husband and son's pasta dishes were OK. We ordered 2 deserts- chocolate mousse pie and ricotta cheesecake. The cheesecake was literally frozen and dry. We spent well over $300 to have a nice Christmas Eve dinner and unfortunately it was just a huge letdown. read more

I've been to many Italian restaurants around the world and never had a waiter so annoyed at us, for seemingly no reason. While the rest of the staff was incredibly kind, including a gentleman who I assume was the owner, the main waiter here on this particular Thursday night was extremely cold and terribly rude. I ordered the Il Tinello soup and said happily, "Oh, it's named after the restaurant!" and he stared just stared at me, as if to say "Who cares?" We ordered that soup, the (50 dollar) Caesar for two, coffee, drinks and he said "....And your entree?" When we said that's all we wanted, he said "You HAVE to ORDER AN ENTRE," like he was reprimanding us. I almost walked out. I said, "But that's all we want," and he repeated that, as if I was a naughty child. I said, "We can just leave." He said, let me check with the owner and walked away. The coffee came but we turned it away, we didn't know if we were about to be kicked out. He eventually came back, said it was fine and we never saw him for the rest of the night. Having said that, the food was incredible. read more

I stopped in this quaint place on a business trip. Jenny greeted me with a smile and I sat at the bar with Atra, the bartender. Atra was so kind and friendly to me as a lone female diner in a mostly male environment. I was taken really good care of by the waiter who suggested he choose my meal for me, which I agreed to and was not disappointed. The manager came over with a big smile and to check on me. He was very friendly and handsome! Stated with a soup and then had chicken scallopine with hard boiled eggs on top. The gravy was delicious!. Very tasty. Ended with the cheesecake. read more

See all

Love coming here...this is definitely one of my favorite Italian places in NY. It is pricey, but the service is old world NY Italian high end restaurant and the wine list is super. It is pricey... Nice little bar area as you walk in gives a nice ambiance to the place and then the restaurant with the white tablecloths brings it home. The appetizer table is usually a hit, but i prefer the set disches off the menu. Exceptional calamari and tomato caprese salad. Oils and balsamic are high end and high quality Entrees are usually the fish... The lamb is always great as are the meats. I highly recommend this place! read more

If you're looking for authentic Italian cuisine in New York City, Il Tinello is a hidden gem that exceeds every expectation. From the moment you walk in, you're greeted with warm, personal service that sets the tone for an unforgettable dining experience. Benny, the gracious owner, makes you feel like family, and the staff, provides impeccable service with genuine care. I was there celebrating my birthday solo and they provided me with unsolicited and genuine attention and care that truly made me feel special on that day! The food? Simply outstanding. I have been craving Osso Buco and it did not disappoint at all! It was so fresh and flavorful and the attention to detail is evident in every bite. The ambiance is cozy, elegant, and intimate, perfect for a romantic evening, a special occasion with friends, or if you're like me, celebrating a birthday solo! You'll feel transported to Italy with the restaurant's charm and old-world atmosphere. Il Tinello offers more than just a meal--it's an experience. For those who value top-tier service, incredible food, and a genuine Italian vibe, this is a must-visit. Five stars, without hesitation! Thank you Benny and staff! I will be there again on our next trip to NYC! read more

See all

A few times a year, I visit my sister in NYC, and the two of us love to explore food/restaurant experiences together. On this occasion, my sister had to work most of the day but was able to meet me for lunch near her office. She did a quick Yelp search and found Il Tinello to be one of the closest restaurants to her office, but she had never heard of it before. Still, she was intrigued by the extremely high rating (4.9 at time of writing, with 58 reviews). She asked her coworkers if they had been there, but none of them had, nor had they heard of it. Regardless, we opted to give it a shot, because you don't see restaurants rated this highly (with over 50 reviews) very often. Too good to be true? We were about to find out! I arrived early and waited in the bar area for my sister to meet me. There were two gentlemen patrons at the bar, and I watched their food arrive--which looked really good. I asked them what they had ordered and they started raving about the cacio e pepe, and the catfish tacos. I took note of these recommendations, and soon after my sister arrived. We were promptly seated in the dining room. The entire experience was flawless. The restaurant was busy, but our server, out of the corner of his eye, noticed anytime I needed anything during our meal. We ordered the cacio e pepe (made tableside--must try/see!) and the lamb osso buco with saffron risotto--one of the specials of the day. Both of these dishes were absolutely astounding and had so much depth of flavor. The lamb, in particular was moist and juicy but still fell off the bone perfectly. We did not have time for dessert because my sister had to get back to the office, but next time we will definitely plan ahead for it. On our way out, we met the manager Benny, who was so kind and gracious. We learned this is a newer, second location for a family's longtime esatblishment/original location on W 56th, and Benny has been working tirelessly to make this new location as good, if not better, then the original. I plan to return here on all my subsequent visits to NYC. This place is the real deal, and you are guaranteed to have an amazing experience. I'm still thinking about this place, two weeks later. Can't wait to return. read more

See all

I was so impressed by this restaurant that I decided to leave my first Yelp review! I had the gnocchi bolognese while my partner had the branzino special. For dessert, we shared a tiramisu while each of us enjoyed an aperitif on the house. Outside of what was ordered, we enjoyed an assortment of antipasti and some Italian cookies with our dessert: all of the aforementioned was on the house. The sommelier recommended a red blend that was fantastic! Speaking of, while the food was incredible, what really impressed me was the five-star service! A huge debt of gratitude for the tremendous service provided by Angelo: he really turned our ordinary Saturday night into something special! Whether you are local or visiting, you need to try this place! read more

Pricey but nice ambiance as well sat by the window. Just had wine and cheesecake and it was delicious. Romantic setting.

What a delightful local spot! The team is amazing -- Arta, the bartender, makes fantastic cocktails; Benny, the manager/owner is always welcome; and Ray, the captain, always takes great care of the guests. And the food is always . Definitely make sure to stop by if you're in the neighborhood! read more

Il Tinello - Osso bucco, cacio e pepe - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

See all