One of my favorite restaurants in NYC. Everything is fresh and absolutely delicious. And they make an excellent espresso martini

I dined here the evening of 1/9/26. My waiter's name was Arturo; and the bartender, Dennis. They both are dedicated and experienced. However my dining experience was mediocre. This is because the food was overpriced for the quality of dishes served. The bread was room temperature and was obviously purchased from a bakery. I was expecting warm bread, recently baked in an oven--the kind that would instantaneously melt butter smeared with a knife. I had the fried calamari appetizer. The calamari was somewhat rubbery, and it was coated in a tad too much flour. I prefer mine flash fried in a dusting of flour. The calamari did not taste fresh caught, either, and It was served with a side of garlic aioli. My preference is for a side of marinara sauce, which pairs perfectly with calamari. I had the Lobster Il Toscano, which cost $85. It was lobster meat from two, one pound lobsters sautéed out of their shells. The lobster was between firm and mushy. It did not taste fresh caught, like what I get in the summertime for a similar price while dining in any of the seaside restaurants in the Hamptons or Montauk. I also ordered the New Old Fashioned, whose main ingredients are Maker's Mark and Vermouth. I did not like it because I do not like Vermouth. I overlooked that it had Vermouth in it when I was looking at the cocktail menu. My dinner cost me $132 because they put a mandatory $20 mandatory tip on the check. The bill was originally $112. CAVEAT EMPTOR: There is a sign saying that they want CASH TIPS! There is free parking in the lot across the street once the ticket is validated in the restaurant. The restaurant is in a Tudor-style dwelling, and it is big enough for celebrations and events. read more

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The food was delicious! The pasta is homemade and the Bronzino was lightly grilled. The service was wonderful. Everyone enjoyed the Napoli cake, but I wasn't a fan because it had too much cream. I'll definitely be back to try their lasagna read more

IL Toscano Ristorante - Ravioli - Italian Near Me - Douglaston, New York

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My favorite restaurant of all time. I ordered the sear crusted ribeye steak, which was mouthwatering. We also ordered the special which was black linguine and shrimp. It was incredible. They are known for their Napoleon dessert which is out of this world. I even took an order home with me.. The waiters have been there a long time and they do their job. Excellent. The atmosphere is cozy and warm. I absolutely love this restaurant. read more

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My friends and I ordered a $66 cabernet bottle. For food, we ordered a plate of scallops from their special menu, the pulpo and the linguine vongole. We were very full and satisfied. Amazing dishes! I had to order a Napoleon slice of cake to go because I was too full. Service was great and it was a cozy spot. read more

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6/18/25. First time here midweek. Started with some old fashions and orange martinis from Dennis at the bar. Upstairs was closed, sadly, so we dined in Millers section (with Marco). Ordered new to me dishes. Usually I get the lasagna but we tried the eggplant parm. It was delicious, so fresh and light. We also shared the homemade ravioli special and of course, the lobster. Every dish was fantastic. Ended with napoleon cake and tartufo. Love the cocktails, food and service. read more

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This local gem is tucked away next to the Douglaston LIRR train station. It serves Northern Italian cuisine in an "old school" atmosphere that makes you forget you're in NY. They are only open for dinner and they get busy! We made reservations for 5:45 and were seated quickly by the Donna, who couldn't be more friendly & accommodating. Our waitress Lisa recited a long list of specials, all of which sounded amazing. The emphasis here is on "homemade" and they take obvious pride in their food preparation. Their ravioli (see photo) was so delicate, and stuffed with lamb and artichoke. I ate slowly to savor every bite! Their eggplant parm is not breaded and loaded with cheese as so many restaurants do it. The thinly sliced eggplant is cooked and layered and then topped with a delicate tomato sauce and a light sprinkling of parmigiano reggiano. It is so light compared to eggplant parm you get at so many Italian restaurants. A friend at our table ordered the gnocchi, which she raved about being fresh and flavorful. Their homemade Napoleon was layers of very delicate pastry and a cream that delighted the tongue while not being overly sweet. We thoroughly enjoyed all their dishes and have made plans to return again soon. Definitely worth the visit! read more

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Food: 4.5/5 Service: 1/5 Disappointed by the service here. We came by tonight and parked at the LIRR. The bread tasted and felt like eating a piece of cardboard. Entree's were decent. I ordered the pork chop special which came with mushrooms and polenta, and my boyfriend ordered the duckling. The food was the best part here but everything else? Nah. We felt overlooked and we were never asked how the food was, yet I saw other tables being acknowledged. I asked twice for the check before we finally received it and the waiter even threw down the check on the table. Rude and not respectful. Like others said, if you're not a local here, you don't matter. Would recommend for the duck, but understand that you're not getting good service. read more

This right by the LIRR Station there's a parking lot that charged $7.50 to parked . if you eat in the restaurant you can get your ticket validated. The chicken risotto with asparagus . risotto was so delicious. The chicken was made perfect. The pasta was also very good. Don't forget to order the Napoleon dessert. The service was very attentive. The ambiance is cozy. read more

Our go to place this place is very comforting, enjoying the quiet while visiting my bestie in her hood. Italian food is our comfort food and this place is such a great place to unwind. read more

Our friend graciously took us here to celebrate a few birthdays in our group. Most of us were here for our first experience. My observations below: 1. The waiter proceeded to take our orders without even handing us the menu, both the food and wine list. Not sure what was the assumption there. 2. One of the support staff couldn't remember whom ordered what and interrogated our friends with less than pleasant tone which orders for whom. 3. Another support staff dripped gravy from my order all over the sleeve of my sweater and my hand. No apologies here. Simply dump me another napkin and a shot of seltzer guessing that was sufficient. Expensive outfit stained aside, quite appalled with the behavior. Love to hear you address these concerns. You probably couldn't care less but rest assured this was definitely bitter taste for my personal experience. Nonetheless our hostess was friendly and hospitable. read more

Had a private dinner for a 70th bday event. Service was amazing. Food was good. The place gives a rustic homey feel and was on the darker side. read more

Educational dinners in Queens typically do not work with my schedule as I only periodically work in the borough. However, my schedule aligned with a dinner being held at Il Toscano - and since the topic was of particular interest to me I made plans to attend. Two of my colleagues who were joining had great things to say about the restaurant, so I was really excited to check it out. There seems to be two Il Toscanos, one in Commack and the other here in Douglaston. The latter is conveniently located right by the LIRR - you can actually park in the station's lot and they'll validate it. Walking in, I was immediately greeted with old school vibes - the restaurant opened in 1985 and it doesn't look like the styling was changed much. That's a complement by the way - it doesn't look dated and has been kept up and refreshed in a very strategic way. In addition to the main level dining room, they have an upstairs dining room where we were seated. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that we had full access to their menu, and were able to order an appetizer, entree, and dessert. This is rare when going to one of these dinners, as I'm usually limited to certain menu items. They don't have a large menu - sections are marked off for apps, salads, pastas, and entrees. I decided to start off with the Mediterranean pulpo; I really enjoyed this - it was a sizeable octopus leg which was served with white beans and andouille sausage all in a tasty Romanesco sauce. All of the flavors worked really well together. For my main I went with the Semolina Crusted Jumbo Shrimp. The shrimp were lightly breaded and served with crispy leeks and risotto. The dish was good - the shrimp were a good size and the risotto was cooked well. At this point my colleagues and I all wanted to try each other's dishes so we did some swaps. One of them had ravioli stuffed with spinach and cheese which was quite good. My other colleague had the lasagna which was made with a bolognese and béchamel sauces; this was good too - the béchamel was an interesting addition and the pasta was cooked al dente. For dessert I had their signature Napoleon which was super creamy but also light and airy; the flavor and texture were on point. Service was great, food came out a good pace in relation to the presentation and everyone was friendly. Overall, I had a great time at Il Toscano - this was one of the best educational dinners I've been to in a while and part of that is due to the great experience that the restaurant provided. I would definitely return for another meal. read more

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We had our holiday party here place was nice weight staff some of them were rude . Order the steak a nice size but that was wasted would have been nice if they would have gave me my own Togo container. The waiter took everyone food away from the table packaged it brought it back and just placed it where ever. So when I got home I through it wasn't my steak read more

We came here in January and the weather was pretty cold that evening. The restaurant has a perfect location, next to the LIRR Douglaston's station for those who plan to come by train and they offer a parking space and valet service for those who drive. We had a nice section in a small room just for the four of us. We had privacy but the table outside had an engagement party so they were pretty loud. Hubby's friend and his wife came to the restaurant many times. They recommended Lobster dinner. Our waiter, Miller, was a good waiter, knowledgeable and attentive. So both Hubby and I ordered the lobster. However, before the entree, we ordered two appetizers: asparagus mushroom and broccoli rabe. Both appetizers were nice but I didn't think broccoli rabe was that great, it was ok. However, the lobster asparagus, and mushroom were very good. The lobster dish was tasty. Our friends had crusted shrimp. That looked pretty good. After the meal, we had desserts because we were worth it ha! The manager came up to us to ensure a great service. Even the people from the party came up to us to apologize for the noise but that's ok, the couple is getting married so we forgave them lol. Nice food and experience. Great service from the team. Thanks! read more

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Great food and service. Neighborhood gem. I had no idea they have been around since 1985. Seems small and deceiving but very big with an upstairs as well . Food was excellent. Went for a date nite and did not disappoint . The Zucchini Flowers, Fried Calamari, mushroom truffle ravioli, and their signature lobster dinner was amazing. Will return . read more

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This is my favorite Italian restaurant in the area. They have homemade pasta with fresh ingredients. Their service is great. The ambiance is cozy without being too pretentious. I had their special entree of quail last time. It had good flavors and tender read more

IL Toscano Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Douglaston, New York

We had a reservation but needed to cancel at the last minute. We decide to do a take out order and pick it up. The gentleman who took my order over the phone was awesome. Everything was in perfect order when we arrived to take it home. The food was still warm and perfectly cooked for all 6 of us when we were ready to eat! So impressed by Il Tuscano. Highly recommended this restaurant!! read more

First time here since end of Covid when tables were spaced and occupancy at 50%. Thought we would dine here again as it's 10 mins from home. I am a fish and veal eater only, no pasta for me and nothing with garlic. I ordered the branzino. Received 2 very small pieces, equal amounts skin and fish. Side veggies were diced and looked canned. My hubby's pasta bolognese he said was good but nothing really stood out. We sat upstairs which was fine. But restaurant needs a major renovation especially for these prices. Paneled walls, orange tiles and an unfinished plank of wood served as the table next to us. When we left it was packed downstairs with diners jammed in like sardines. Very steep stairs and no elevator. I feel very sorry for the servers having to go up and down carrying all those plates. I compare this to Stella's in Floral Park and Giulio Cesare in Woodbury, food good but so very dated. I prefer dining at a pretty well spaced restaurant for the same money -- namely West End Cafe, Cafe Testarossa and Sotto Luna. Note: The best branzino and veal marsala is at Sotto Luna in Roslyn, our favorite restaurant. read more

I was there with friends a few weeks ago for the second time. It was a Saturday and busy, but delightfully busy. The decor is warm and comfortable. The food is delish! The service was great! Loved our waiter (we sat upstairs). We will be going back tonight to celebrate our friend, Jaime's birthday! Cant wait! read more

I was spoiled y'all! My family who are regulars here continually hype the food and tell me all the time how much they love IL Toscano treated me to an indulgent, let's see how much of the menu we can try, spectacular meal! I could not be more grateful. Allowing me to choose the wine I order the Jean-Paul Picard Sancerre, which felt like a great way to get summer off to an early start on this sunny Sunday. I admire the decor of the restaurant which is a rustic throwback with black bow tie service providing a level of service that is sorely missing in so many of my restaurant experiences lately. We toast to our special evening ahead. We are given bread and peppery EEVO. I am told the bread isn't the usual warm crusty one that is usually served - this one was more of a brioche style. We ordered a lot for the 3 of us - let me give a rundown: Prince Edward Island Mussels - So plump and juicy with hints of bacon flavoring the Peroni beer, onion and pepper laced broth. Amazing, if this all I ate tonight I would've been happy. Foie Gras special - I am not a major foie gras fan but it was delicious with toasted bread and wild berries to cut the richness. Eggplant Parm - this was a special app they were hoping they would have and it was fantastic - melt in your mouth cheesy tomato-ey eggplant. Yum! A special salad was also ordered, but I didn't try it. For our mains we ordered: Sea Bass special - a thick filet of creamy white fish. The skin could have been a little crisper but the flavor was good. Served on a bed of pearl couscous (2 of us ordered this) Lamb Chops - cooked rare it is tender and delicious. I really enjoyed the toasted polenta served with this as well. Lobster - For the table we ordered their apparent specialty on a bed of spinach (pasta was another option). This was mind-blowingly good - the lobster was de-shelled, super tender baked scampi style. A must get! For dessert their famous napoleon which is simple flaky layers with whipped cream so airy it might float away. We also ordered a pear tart that came in a flaky puff pastry with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. I leave feeling so full, so great and so lucky - planning my future visits to try more of the focused menu or the daily changing specials. IL Toscano has existed since 1985 and I wonder what I've been doing with my life to avoid coming here for so long - I sometimes regret life choices haha, but so happy I've finally indulged here. read more

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Rustic Tuscan eatery serving up huge portions of delicious food. Il Toscano presents a classic Tuscan vibe with just a splash of old New York. The servers are efficient and easy to waive over. They also split dishes to share very easily. The menu features an impressive range of options even without the plethora of specials on offer. The baked oysters were awesome - super juicy and flavorful. The foie gras was another incredible appetizer - it's rare to get such a nice slice (the picture I attached is actually a 1/2 portion because we split it). The lobster il Toscano is a 2lb serving with really delicious lobster meat. The lobster bisque was one of my favorite plates of the night. I would skip the Long Island duckling because the honey and peanut sauce does smother the flavor a bit. The famous napoleon is deserving of said fame. The dirty martini is equally classic and well executed. Overall excellent spot for homey Italian food ideal for sharing due to the expansive list of specials and hefty portions. read more

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I only posted a few pictures of the food. I booked a party for 20 people and Alex was super helpful. They have different menus for different budgets. Lobster with linguine is absolutely a must- pricy for $85 but worth it- you get a whole lobster. Scallops were perfectly cooked and seasoned. The napoleon was incredible- I couldn't stop eating it. Lisa was our waitress and she was great and very attentive. Great family run business. read more

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Many previous good experiences. Not this time. Food subpar. Overpriced. Noisy. Unable to hear across the table. We drove nearly an hour to meet friends half way for diner here. Last time though. Very sad. Food was actually awful. Too much pressure for restaurants to survive. Parking was good though. read more

I used to go here for between 20-15 years ago Was always very impressed Went yesterday w a group of 5 2 of us had the special seafood chowder It was diner quality vegetable soup w supermarket tiny shrimp n wat I assume was chopped up can of clams Expected a creamy, maybe saffron infused, chowder Maybe 1 piece of lobster Maybe big shrimp Mussels would have made it worthwhile, but not any of that Like I said, it was diner quality Ravioli had a great taste but pasta was totally over cooked Same w the fettuccine w mushroom Mom had eggplant Parmesan She didn't even finish Special tile fish was tasteless Foie gras was nothing special Nothing was horrible, but for the price, shoulda got pizza across the street Won't be returning read more

We have now eaten here about 6 times. In my opinion - outstanding delicious clean fresh food. I am very fussy - this is very good food. Old school vibe. Cozy warm place. Generous wine pours. Great desserts. Only wish they had good bread - it was kind of hard and cold. Anyway - top notch place - highly recommend. read more

Everything was delicious. The staff was very welcoming and pleasant, the food was delectable! I have been there twice and will happily patronize them again. read more

Wonderful way to spend Father's Day. We had people coming from Manhattan and Suffolk and wanted to find a nice place in the middle of- and boy did we luck out! The restaurant is right by the train station with free (before tip) valet parking in the station lot. We ate outside and were surprised at how quiet the trains passing by were. The service was excellent. The food was outstanding - perfectly prepared and portioned. We don't want it to end and we will definitely be back - even when we're not meeting people there! read more

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The food and service here are always outstanding. The lasagne is superb. Dennis at the bar pours a perfect mix no matter what your pleasure may be. read more

Hidden Gem ... conveniently located by the train station but they also have free valet parking which is always a plus . The staff is pleasant and service is on point when it comes to serving , I just wish they were a little warmer and more welcoming . The vibe in the place is great , authentic and beautiful Italian decor and extremely good choices on the menu , the food was GREAT!!! I had the gnocchi and my boyfriend had the chicken which was nice and juicy , we had the broccoli rabe and garlic appetizer and it was seasoned to perfection , pricing was good considering their nice portions of food , I couldn't even finish mine lol . Will definitely go back but I wish they work a little more on their hospitality.. read more

I heard about this restaurant from a few friends who live near the area. I was not disappointed. It's a converted home with a few additions and gives off an intimate feel even though it can get a little loud when it's at peak dinner hour. They started off with a bread basket with a small, hard tiny loaf of baked then toasted bread called Friselle. It was very crunchy and had a peppery taste which I enjoyed. My wife and I each had the Super Tuscan wine which was not too dry and full of a deep richness of flavor. She ordered linguine and clams which was pack with clams in the shell and the linguine was served al dente so she thought it was perfect. It was a good sized portion which she ended up taking home about half of the plate. They ran out of lamb ragout over gnocchi so they let me have a 50/50 portion of ravioli with wild mushrooms in a light cream sauce and the half served on a separate plate so as to not mix the sauces, was ravioli with roasted chicken and pear. Each one carried a different flavor note. The service was friendly yet professional. Our server was quite knowledgeable about each dish and she presented us with multiple specials to choose from at the beginning of our stay. I thought the price was reasonable and I would encourage people to visit here anytime but on Saturdays which is understood is very busy. Parking a validated valet across the street by the train station. read more

IL Toscano Ristorante - Ravioli with wild mushrooms - Italian Near Me - Douglaston, New York

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First time at Il Toscano, and it was amazing. Service was impeccable, impeccable impeccable. The ambience is terrific. The food is worth the trip. Just a heads up valet parking is across the street in the parking lot directly in front of the restaurant that might not be immediately clear and parking is validated at the restaurant. Be sure to get that done before you leave but run don't walk to this restaurant and experience what happens here it's amazing you're going to love the food you're going to love the service and you're going to want to go back I know I am. read more

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Food was delicious. Service was even better than the food. celebrated my 24th birthday here. The home made napoleon was the high light of my night. read more

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Honestly, I'm still confused if we accidentally walked into a restaurant or a DIY dining experience. When we arrived, we were told to "seat yourself" and the guy pointed from a distance to the table in the corner. We were squeezed into a tiny table shoved next to the bathroom door -- super appetizing location for a party of six. Apparently you're also supposed to imagine your own menus because no one bothered to bring us any until requested. After asking for menus (because, you know, we like to know what we're ordering), we decided what to order. The food was fine, but the service was a disaster. We were rarely checked on, we had to ask for water refills, and it wasn't even busy. Honestly, I think we got more attention from people going in and out of the bathroom than from the staff. I chose to come here and celebrate my birthday dinner with my family because we have had a great experience in the past. However after tonight I am very disappointed and I will never come back. Wouldn't recommend unless you're looking for a new way to test your patience. read more

Beautiful restaurant, very good food, busy, efficient but somewhat cold service. Maybe more theater than actual quality, a little pricey for what you get in the dish. Still, a good place to bring a date. read more

Three different types of bread to start. Server was friendly. The outdoor seating is beautiful. We had to rush to the airport but the meal was amazing. Friend said this was the best lasagne they've had outside of Italy. Large portions. I had the portabella mushroom pasta special and it was delicious. We came right at sunset and sat outside and the ambience was fantastic. The waiter did take a minute to bring us menus but it's clear this is a sit and enjoy sort of place we were just in a bit of a rush. read more

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Wanted to love this place as I read good things and that it's a hidden gem. Hostess was nice as we had to wait for our table (we had reservations) but she updated us several times. Bread basket, meh. Appetizers, the good...the grilled octopus was tender, tasty and a good portion. Our fav of the night. The bad, the Calamari Fritti. Soooo disappointing, one of the worst we've had and we've had our share. It was thin thin rings, the batter was awful. Did not seem like we were served fresh fried calamari, my friends thought it was frozen. We got the mushroom Wellington which was tasty but disappointing in that we thought it would a stuffed puff pastry but it was just a piece of puff pastry sitting on top of a bed of mushrooms. The Linguine Vongole was okay, have had much better, lacking some garlic and flavor. The lasagna was way too salty. And the risotto with the jumbo shrimp was undercooked, it was crunchy. The shrimp were good but the risotto ruined it. As for service it started off fine, but after taking our orders we never saw our waiter again (only walking past us). Did not check on us once, did not ask how the food was. Tried to get his attention several times just to ask for water refill. He seemed friendly with the other guests/tables and we were very friendly with him but maybe because we aren't regulars, he did not provide us the same service. We only saw him again to offer dessert and even then he didn't ask how everything was. I'm sure he was busy but sadly service was poor. We didn't bother ordering desserts since we had a few misses for dinner. read more

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Truly a wonderful Italian experience that not many Italian restaurants can provide. I loved my waiters heavy Italian accent. This is the type of place where theres minimal options on the menu and the specials are truly the revolving and exciting menu of truth. I had the shrimp risotto which was so damn delicious. They added these fried thin slices onions and once you mixed that in the risotto it's a game changer! I love my drink as well, they didnt charge us for them so that's a major plus! read more

IL Toscano Ristorante - Semolina Crusted Jumbo Shrimp - Italian Near Me - Douglaston, New York

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4.5 Dropped 1/2 a star from a grumpy waiter but the food was surprisingly good. I had no expectations walking in but it was pretty busy for a random rainy weds night. We got 3 apps to share; the soup of the day which was a white bean and hearty green veg with bread, the mushroom Wellington (not a Wellington bc the puff pastry was just on top) and the foie gras special. Portions are generous! We devoured everything but they had burnt the toast that came with the foie gras which was disappointing and I was hoping the pastry on the Wellington would be wrapped around the asparagus and mushroom but it was still good nonetheless. I was a big fan of the soup. Creamy and savory but not over salted like most soups. I had the Long Island duck as my main which was again a big portion and cooked to a perfect medium. The sauce was a little on the sweet side but it was very good. My husband's ravioli was creamy and the pasta was fresh and cheesy. We ended the meal with panna cotta and espresso. Overall a great date night spot and might be our go to in the neighborhood for a nice treat! read more

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Excellent service and very delicious food!!! We ordered some specials and off the regular menu. All excellent!