The food is fine. I would go so far as to say It's good for Italian, but the value is marginal. I'd like to be more positive really I would but it's been in this location for at least the 12 years I've been here on the UWS and it's like it's aging out. I think they need to "experience up" and keep the prices as they are, that would make this model continue to work. Ads in playbill have worked to fill the place but that will end at some point. It's stupid but I like the food next door but hate the pizza store ambience of Francesco's read more

Great food, great ambiance, great service! They had a very nice selection for all types, great assortments of wine too. The only thing that I did not like was my scampi linguine was a big to hot. As in spicy, which was a bit off putting. Otherwise a must try for sure! read more

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Il Violino was okay. I got the pollo alla parmigiana And the chicken was a bit on the chewy side. The pasta was also a little bit pasty but I do have to say that the sauce was really good! The place looked packed but we got seated right away which was nice! The atmosphere was cute perfect for a date. The lights were dim and there was a fake candle illuminating the table. The price was pretty fair in my opinion. read more

Il Violino - Chicken Parmigiana - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Delicious food, very warm and cozy outdoor setup, excellent service. A perfect lunch or dinner spot on the UWS this winter.

We had a nice get together and we picked Il Violino to to catch up after six months not seeing each other due to the COVID-19 epidemic. We got our orders mixed up by the waiter. But we went along with it. We ordered the $26.00 special that included soup. I chose Minestrone soup that was real watery with few vegetables as I've had other places. The Salmon was bland in taste. We also were told we had to leave to accommodate other reservations. My experience was not a pleasant one. There are other places out there who know how to treat their customers. read more

My delivery never came. Waited 1.5 hours. Called several times to complain. They said it was the delivery company's fault and told me to call delivery company, putting the burden on me, the customer. To their credit, the restaurant finally called the delivery company after I pushed to lodge a complaint which is why I gave 2 stars rather than 1 star. Good customer service (and a higher rating from me) would've been for the restaurant to send the order to me and fight with the delivery company rather than put the burden on me, the customer. read more

Great food, service and love music! Will definitely be back! Loved the pasta primavera and bruschetta appetizer plus all the salads!

Delicious food. Service was excellent. Setup well for covid environment with plentiful outdoor seating. Spinach salad with goat cheese was simple and good. Lasagna was above average as well. Will be back. Atmosphere and wait staff are fantastic. read more

We had a nice, casual dinner at Il Violino on a Thursday night. The service was impeccable. Lasagna bolognese was just right and my wife loved her tri-colore salad. The bread was excellent. Waiter's suggestion for wine was perfect. What's not to like? read more

Il Violino you are simply awesome, I had a wonderful experience here yesterday. The atmosphere in this place is so welcoming. Everything I have ever bought here has been fresh and tastes fantastic. Team is really nice. They are fast and professional. Il Violino....Nothing but win. read more

Before heading off to the opera we had an excellent meal at I'll Violino on Columbus Ave. our servers were outstanding. Everyone in our party enjoyed their meal ranging from a delicious steak to seafood over linguini. read more

My friends and I went to Il Violino for dinner before the opera. It's very close the the opera house maybe 10 minutes walk. The food is good and service is excellent. Highly recommend if you are looking for a place before theater. read more

The outside looks so appealing. You can see diners enjoying a cozy time. I head inside and I was able to score a seat in that windowed room. Glasses of water arrived pretty quickly. Service seemed topnotch. Ordered lasagna bolognese and Bucatini alla Amatriciana . They put some lovely looking slices of delicious& rustic looking bread on the table. Olive oil for dipping. Whoa! The food was out incredibly fast. It looked perfectly delicious. I start to eat it only to realize that They absolutely forgot to microwave it. It's unfortunate. My lasagna has a lot of meat in it. My waiter was having a cozy chat with the ladies from Estonia at the table near to mine. I wouldn't care at all about the love connection , i just wish the volume of casual chatter was lower so that I could hear the charming storytelling going on at my own table. (Sigh) The wine was good. The tiramisu was pretty delicious. Very relaxing, laid back place. For the price though , i would hope for piping hot dishes . read more

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Very cozy restaurant with italian mood. The Salmone marinato was a very nice antipasti with the toast bread they brought us with very good olive oil. The Bucatini all'amatriciana and the Lasagna were both very well cooked but not surprising. The food was great but the flavour was not so intense I was expecting. Besides that, very good dinner. read more

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

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Great location around the corner from Lincoln Center and Central Park. Normally the small hole in the wall brick stone joints ate amazing, but this place was average at best. Super tight, but a lot of seating it room to move around. I sat at the bar on my to hear the bartender insist a diner pay with a credit card that has a chip. I ordered the pollo parmesan and it took all of 5 minutes to bring out, and it was flavorless. Tons of cheese, but lacked flavor. For $25 I might add. I won't be back. read more

Had a lovely meal here one weeknight with perfect service. I was literally seated in the window with one of the stars of the TV show, M.A.S.H. who was friendly to all. From my perch, I could people watch as I waited for two friends who were held up in traffic. No one tried to take my table away, for which I was quite grateful. In fact, I was served chewy Italian bread with olive oil to nosh on. After my friends arrived, two of us ordered a price fixe meal.The dinner consisted off a ginger carrot soup, a salad of arugula, an unusual seafood entree, and panna cotta. All were excellent. The maitre'd remembered to bring my main guest a surprise birthday dessert and let me pay for the meals of my guests unobtrusively. All-in-all perfect dining experience. However, the meal I had over the weekend was not as good as the first In fact, when I explained to the different maitre'd that our appetizer of mussels, which arrived lukewarm, featured six unopened ones, he shrugged us off. He said they were probably bad and there was nothing he could do, that it was just bad luck. Not a very reassuring answer. So I give Il Violino five stars for my wonderful first visit and one star for my second, averaging three. When I suggested strongly that he take the appetizer off my bill he did so reluctantly but then he held the door for me as I left. Perhaps he was too stressed this weekend. It was a busy night and the small space was noisy and very crowded. I'm willing to try again early on a weeknight. read more

Amazing food, great service & deserts to die for. Everything we had is authentic Italian cousine, freshly made & delicious. We were running home Friday night from the Apple store & saw this amazing Cousy restaurant & we had suddenly realized we haven' had Italian food in ages, with all this pandemic nonsense. Of course we stopped by & so glad we did, it's a hidden gem with fantastic food & wonderful service. We decided on the special of the day Fresh mozzarella antipasto & Eggplant parmigiana & the food is so good, it literally melts in your mouth. Minestrone soup, Fried calamari & Seafood linguine in white wine are really good & we enjoyed it as well. Desert here is homemade & fantastic, so you better leave some room for desert! Authentic Italian Tiramisu & Tartufo with Espresso was perfect finish of the meal. Our sincere compliments to the chef & staff for most amazing meal & warm ambiance, just wanted to thank everyone for this great experience. We are New Yorkers so it's not easy to impress us but here we are absolutely impressed! They are definitely following all necessary precautions for pandemic- tables are reasonable distanced from one another, one person per group is required to leave contact info & everyone's temperature is measured. read more

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My boyfriend and I usually go to Pomodoro Rosso (our fav Italian place in the area) nearby but decided to try here for something new. Big mistake. Maybe it was just what we ordered, but I was pretty much disappointed during the entire experience. First of all, our waiter was less than pleasant. Seemed grumpy and unhappy to be there serving us. Second, I ordered the Minestrone Soup to start and it was seriously lacking - only had carrots, peas, celery, zucchini and cabbage(?) in a light yellow/clear broth. Shame to call THAT a Minestrone soup. The bread is served in 2 giant hunks, cold, on your side plate. My boyfriend ordered the Penne a la Vodka which was the most decent part of the meal. Pasta cooked perfectly and the sauce was tasty - good portion as well! Unfortunately for me however, they brought me out the wrong dish and as we were trying to catch a movie I opted out of waiting for my correct order to be made. Lastly, the side order of Brussels we ordered were by far the worst I've ever had. Barely cooked they were basically inedible. First and last time here for sure. read more

LOVE the neighborhood feel of this place. Consistently awesome food and staff. Lucky to live so close. Don't pass on a simple plate of spaghetti and meatballs, they make best! read more

The waitress was very rude and snobby. We couldn't get bread or any help. Food was mediocre. So disappointing

stopped her for a drink and a bite before an event at the kaufman center. service was quite and pleasant, will come back for an actual dinner! read more

Comfortable "old school" ambiance, friendly attentive service, tempting menu options, generously stocked bar, under the direction of a lady who ensures that guests enjoy their experience here: a gem in the Lincoln Center area! read more

So so glad that Violino has opened for takeout and delivery, including drinks. They have only been back open for about 10 days and we have already ordered 3 times. Food and drinks are excellent and now they have iced, perfect for summer. Carmen and her staff are truly lovely, special people. Support your local businesses and go get some delicious food and drinks from Il Violino! read more

This is my second time coming here for dinner. the food is fresh and not greasy. Very authentic Italian food. read more

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

Met some friends here and had an enjoyable evening over Italian food and wine. I ordered a glass of red wine (mandatory!) and fettuccini shrimp dish. While I appreciate fresh pasta, the fettuccini had stuck together in multiple parts - some of it were al dente, some was undercooked. Fresh pasta is mucho effort, so I'm okay with paying extra. All pasta dishes were $25+. But damn, ill prepared pasta is unacceptable at an Italian restaurant. I'd also be curious to know whether the bread was freshly baked on the premise. Don't judge - when I see carbs, I fill up. Service was good and prompt. I would give them another go. read more

Came here with a group of 5 before seeing a show at Lincoln Center -- it wasn't crowded at all and it's very close by to Lincoln Center (which was a plus in this case). The place is quite large, so it's good for large groups. But even though there were groups, it wasn't loud and we could hear each other talking. I ordered the orecchiette broccoli e salsiccia (broccoli and sausage pasta) and it was pretty good and flavorful (I added cheese and pepper, to be fair). Food came out pretty quickly and I have no major complaints about service (except that it took quite awhile to get the check - had to ask the waiter 2 times before he remembered, and we wanted to make sure to be one time for our show). But overall, I thought the place was okay - really overpriced, but I guess that's a given due to the location. Entrees were around 20-30 and the portion sizes are okay. Feels more like a tourist-y spot if you're seeing a show before Lincoln Center and needed to grab a quick dinner. read more

I've been here a total of two times, both before an opera. The pasta arrives incredibly fast. I got the bucatini my first time and the ravioli my second time and also tried some of my friend's lasagna. All were good, and the pasta is always al dente. read more

Definitely enjoyed our meal at Il Violino! The food was pretty good -- the pasta tasted super fresh and had good flavor. I got the fettuccini with shrimp & porcini and the sauce it was in was truly excellent. Our dining atmosphere left something to be desired -- six of us were crammed into a very small table in a corner, even though it looked like there were a lot of open tables (that did not get filled throughout the duration of our meal!) and anytime someone had to use the restroom, everyone had to file out so they could squeeze out. I don't really remember anything about our service - it made neither a positive nor a negative impression. I'd go back if I could get a nice table, because the pasta was great. read more

I booked 2 imax tickets to Gravity* for a first date because pffft, what is easier than sitting and not talking? Well, besides http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/10/11/silence-is-golden-during-greenpoint-restaurants-eat-dont-speak-meals/ For dinner, I planned the safest meetup: a moderately priced Italian restaurant 2 mins walk away from the theatre. I won't be breaking my wallet, there will be stuff any datable human being would like, and she won't be able to tell how horrendous I am with directions. Il Violino was quiet on a weekday primetime. The seating area semi circling the restaurant offered full view of the outside through its floor to ceiling windows. We were tucked in the corner, where conversation was easy and the ambience unobstrusive. To my surprise, my date had very minimal experience with Italian cuisine (ikr?) Refusing to succumb to the fact that my past x dates were all italian cuisine noobs (which I assumed was nonexistent since the release of 'The Godfather') I began to throw out key words - "veal? spaghetti and meat-a-ball-a? Pasta?" "What is veal?" "It's when they murder a baby cow..." "Awww! nooo!!" She had scaloppine di vitello - circular veal cuts with potatoes and white wine sauce and I went for the salmon with mustard sauce, cooked medium. I expected somewhat small portions per the negative reviews below, but I was pleased to see an average entree portion. Both entrees were plated nicely, utilizing a lot of negative white space giving it a very appetizing and clean look. Ok just kidding... I hate white spaces... I rather have any empy spaces on my plate be filled with more food. But that's just me, right? The salmon was okay. It was fun to eat it with the mustard sauce but after a few bites, I scrapped off the sauce. I guess it was too mustardy. Blech. The vegetables were watered down and the mashed potatoes was boring. My date really enjoyed her veal. She even started to live-brag about it on social media. It was that good. Too bad I wasn't offered a taste so I can't really tell ya! She cleaned off her plate and started taunting my slow eating. The service was dull. I asked for recommendations and was met with impatience. Well, that was the vibe I got anyways. "If you like fish, we got x, if you like mussels, we got x, if you..." uhg - just shutup and tell me what is good without running the entire goddamn menu at me. Overall, Il Violino serves its purpose. For Hells Kitchen, the price is fair and the selection is good, resulting in an easy dinner. For an actual food hunt around Hells Kitchen, you can do better. But if you're location restricted and is looking for a nice place to sit down -- Il Violino will do. *Gravity in IMAX was bloody awesome. read more

Il Violino was a random restaurant my uncle picked for dinner because the french restaurant across the street was booked. Walking into the restaurant a few days after Christmas it was still decorated with all the trimmings. The lights, the decor and the cozy lighting added to the ambiance as we sat down. The hostess was curt as she seated me while I waited for the rest of my party. The chair next to me had oil on it and I had to ask for a new chair twice before they would stop wiping it down and insisting it was only water. (The oil stain on my purse says it wasn't water!) Service wasn't awful but somewhere between the smiling-but-hating-you-hostess and oil chair I was disenchanted. I ordered a forgettable pasta dish because it was just that mediocre. My sister had the veal which also turned out to be a little disappointing. So why the four star review? I had something lamby here and I liked it. The braised lamb! It was perfection on a plate. The serving was huge, the braise just right and gamy? Not at all. Possibly the best lamb I've ever had. Four stars for the lamb! read more

I am kicking myself for not having eaten here though I was told to do so two years ago by a friend I met in 2011 (in another miserable heat wave) at the Columbus and 67th Starbucks, who lived on Riverside and 66th and let me use the gym pool. (Btw: Say what you will about Trump and his preposterous hair: that man knows how to build apartments and the 120 Riverside tower, the newest, has a fantasy gym, breathtaking lobby and the BEST doormen). He and his family used to eat there and Luigi, the jazz master now 88, eats there for lunch regularly as he lives in the area by the studio at 48 W. 68th. I met the owner at my friend's performance at Don't Tell Mama this last trip in May at his "Cafe Nights" performance and promised to go in after dance class but then got sick and didn't dance the rest of the trip. The lunch prix fixe is THE deal of the Upper West Side! For 19, you get the following: 1) salad or soup 2) choice of entree, including chicken marsala or piccata, broiled or poached salmon with GREAT mashed potatoes and haricots vert with butter, lemon and garlic 3) glass of wine (for a house Pinot Grigio it was more than decent), or penne with vodka and two others It's far cuter inside than it looks from the street, with a cool ceiling, autographed headshots from Liza Minelli to Paul Sirico (Paulie on the Sopranos) to Oliver Stone. There are violins on the wall and it's just charming with a tiny bar (full bar , not just wine and beer). My meal was outstanding. Great, local Italian with regulars who have been going for years. I saw a woman with a Yale 1958 sweatshirt (her husband's of course as girls didn't get let in to the undergraduate program until the 1970s) and we had a nice chat. Service is friendly and good. You can't do better in the area for Italian at this price point. read more

let them know what you want and they will accommodate. fast reasonable and tasty. portions on the small side but the wine selection is perfect before a quick movie or show at lincoln center. can't go wrong if you aren't expecting extravagance. italian comfort food. daniel is amazing - he'll make you happy as best he can. read more

I like to judge my Italian restaurants based on how well they make a Caprese salad: mozzarella, tomato and basil. Hard to mess that up, right? Well, Il Violino was able to do it. Lousy mozzarella, a pale watery tomato, and two wilted little leaves of basil -- and to add insult to injury, it was served on a bed of lettuce! Oh, and I had to ASK the waiter for some olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Next we ordered some pasta. Let's just say that the portion size was inversely related to the quality. (Hint: the portions were huge.) The whole joint is scandalously overpriced. The waiter disappeared halfway through the evening. We were told he had gone home for the night. So we had to wait for someone else to take our hard-earned money. This place is ridiculous. read more

Had the Gnocchi Genovese : delicious and beautifully presented. The desert Tartuffo was sublime - many flavors delicately layered. I didn't want to leave and I will definitely look forward to returning. read more

One word. BRUNCH. Theres a pre-fixe menu for $15. I felt that was reasonable for being the Upper West Side. Includes a choice of champagne, screwdriver or a bloody mary. The quality of food was outstanding. My friend ordered the smoked salmon and FRESH mozzarella omelette - which was amazing. It came with a side of potatoes and a mini salad thing of greens. His champagne was top notch. I had the French Toast. It was not soggy, it was warm and fluffy. It included a sprinkle of strawberries and maple syrup. I was satisfied. My screwdriver was yummy. I would go again, ONLY for brunch. I think any other meal would be obscenely expensive. P.S. Service was awesome. Attentive enough to refill your glass of water even when its 2/3rds full and ask you how you're doing probably every 10 minutes. This may be considered borderline irritating, but there are just some places where I find myself BEGGING for water. read more

Ah! I'm honestly shocked to read terrible reviews about this place. My mom and I go here every few months because she always craves the fried calamari from here. They're perfectly fried - golden brown, light in your mouth, and so darn soft. Plus the marinara sauce you get to dip the calamari in just brings you over the edge. We usually share a salad and a seafood pasta. The salad is decent (pretty plain) but the seafood pasta is decadent. The noodles are cooked al dente. They have this wonderful chew in them that you don't get from store bought noodles. And they're generous with the seafood mix! The most recent time I came here we brought my sister along and shared the meatballs and a white fish special. I'd probably not order either of those again as the meatballs were dry and the white fish was smelly (smelly like the way that fresh water fish smells like dirt if they're not exactly the freshest catch). Stick with the fried calamari and the seafood pasta and you'll love this place. Oh, also, don't expect the service to be exactly warm and fluffy. The guy gets the job done! He reads you the specials, he takes your order, he brings out your order, and from time to time he may forget to bring you the extra side of marinara sauce until it's too late and you've already finished the calamari. read more

The food here was absolutely horrendous! (please excuse my spelling I'm typing this on my iPhone) Okay maybe horrendous was a bit overkill but the food is shitty. I felt horrible actually bringing my mother-in-law here. Good thing she actually liked her salmon. I had the spaghetti bolognese. I saw the gnocchi bolognese on the "specials" and I asked the guy if it was fresh. He hesitated before answering "no, but its pretty good". That told me two things: 1. Its pretty bad (like kiss your sister bad) 2. Its not really a special, more like a list of shit we also thaw and sell. They made a point of putting "Homemade!" next to each dish with bolognese sauce. Why do I always assume that translates to "good"? My mistake. I've been burping and sitting on the shitter ever since I got home. That is consequently why I am typing this in from my phone and not a laptop which I forgot to bring in with me. I don't feel like doing the dirty butt duck walk to go get it. Either way this restaurants only saving grace, and why I gave it one star instead of negative 2 stars, us because they have Moretti beer. Not draft but atleast its cold. read more

Not my favorite. There are so many great restaurants in New York City for similar prices that I would avoid this restaurant if you can. It looks like a traditional italian restaurant. Exposed brick walls, homey atmosphere, slightly loud and crowded. The menu offerings are fairly standard, nothing interesting or exciting. Typical pastas/salads/entree items. My group was large so we got a variety of options, all of which came with similar sides of vegetables and mashed potatoes. The vegetables and mashed potatoes were dripping in butter (don't get me wrong, I love butter, but this was not a good thing) to the point where I had to dab grease off of the broccoli. The pasta looked good, but was lack-luster, and all the portions were pretty small. Overall, not bad, but not good. A-OK. read more

Terrible experience! Came here with my boyfriend before going to the Met Opera, but how we regret it! My boyfriend already had dinner before coming here, so he was willing to have only the dessert while I ordered the gnocchi. While reviewing our order, the waiter was very disrespectful and soon complained to the hostess to have us moved to the bar because we didn't order enough food, according to them. The gnocchi came and was okay, nothing special. I hope they change this attitude, we felt very disrespected. read more

Il Violino meets all my requirements for a good NY Italian restaurant; homemade pasta, brick walls, tin ceiling, old school waiters with ties and an autographed picture of Tony Bennett on the wall. Food was very tasty and most dishes are less than $20. Walking distance to Lincoln Center. Very enjoyable. read more