The food was so delicious with sublime layers of flavors in everything including the strawberry sour drink. Our server was lovely and very accommodating. While the restaurant was a bit snug with the single bathroom hidden by a curtain, the ambiance was very on "NYC" Must trys are the Burrata and Cacio e Pepe. The only improvement I would love to see is altering the menu so that you can see if something is vegetarian/vegan/gluten free. I have many friends that I would hesitate to bring because there is no way to identify easily ahead of time these things. read more

I went to L'Osteria for lunch with a friend on a weekday. The restaurant is bright, clean, and small. We were seated at a table against the wall. Service was good. I tried the following dishes: Fritto Misto (4.5/5): A good, classic fritto misto. No complaints here. The calamari was delicately fried, and the mix of vegetables was nice. Spaghetti Pomodoro (5/5): This was a really good pomodoro. The pasta was al dente, and the sauce was rich and flavorful. I'm always on the hunt for a good spaghetti pomodoro, and I was really happy to eat this one -- it was great. I was really pleasantly surprised by this impromptu lunch being so good. I would definitely return here if in the area, and would even consider making a trip to eat here! read more

I was being treated to a museum and dinner. It was only a 10-minute walk from The Met. Our server was fabulous. We started with meatballs, small portion, so the three of us could have ordered two servings of this because its sauce was so savory. They give complimentary bread and olive oil. Soup of the day was spinach asparagus and potato, all blended and topped with croutons, shaved parmesan and drizzle of olive oil. It was very light. I did love my Cod Livornese; fish was delicate and flaky. It was the best dish among Fettuccine Ragu and the special of the day: Pork Chop. The tiramisu was good as expected and their Americano was impressive. Table next to us received a panna cota on the house because it was Mother's Day. I liked its warm and cozy atmosphere. Place is small, so I guess it fills up fast during peak hours. read more

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We walked in for an early dinner after going to the Met. Typically pricey for the UES, but worth it for the fresh pasta and wonderful service. We sat at the bar and Alex took care of us, and he was so kind and friendly! I got the vongole which is my favorite pasta, and it was so flavorful and had a generous amount of clams. My friend got the cacio e Pepe and it was so creamy- she loved it! Since we were trying to budget we didn't get any of the appetizers, but they looked great. The bread and olive oil was much appreciated and we devoured the basket. Would love to come back here to try more of the menu! read more

L'Osteria - Linguine Clams - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Simply spectacular! This ragu was genuinely out of this world and the pictures don't even begin to do it justice. Great wine list, amazing service, and the most lovely little pasta spot tucked away in the UES! read more

L'Osteria - Rigatoni Sausage Ragu - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Superb! We had a unique caprese with slow cooked tomatoes, fresh buffalo mozzarella (update NY), arugula and Gorgonzola salad, the caci y pepe and the slow cooked lamb shank special. All mouth watering, perfect preparation. With panna cotta dessert with a lemoncello sauce. Nice service, lighting, and mellow romantic vibes! We will be back! read more

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Small venue with a nice personal touch. The food and service was excellent. A reservation is needed.

Food (ravioli & salad) and service were ideal, sat on the patio and traffic noise was a nonissue.

We searched delicious Italian food in NYC to refuel us after a wonderful time at the MET. The food was amazing and the service was very professional. We noticed several Italian couples dining there as well which felt like a good sign. It didn't disappoint! We had the Meatball appetizer and spaghetti pomodoro as well as a special ravioli. Paper plane, classic gin and tonic, Hugo spritz all so delicious as well as the apricot sour. Definitely a nice date night spot! read more

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Amazing Italian restaurant near the Metropolitan Museum of Art. We did a quick lunch break here and it was wonderful. Service was excellent and the food terrific. We had the Fettuccine Ragu which was great but the Ragatoni Sausage Ragu was definitely our favorite. This place is a hidden gem. read more

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Small restaurant on Lexington Ave. limited seating so reservations are probably a good idea. That being said. I found the food average and the portions small, especially for the price point. Cocktails were good as well as the service. But food was just average. read more

it was fine - not bad but I probably wouldn't come back just because there are so many places in the city. I definitely recommend the pesto pasta, it was the best dish we ordered. Pass on the pasta pomodoro and the steak, both weren't good. The salad appetizers are okay but nothing really good. The fritti appetizer is also just okay. Service was good read more

L'Osteria - pesto pasta - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Delicious authentic food - the Cacio e Pepe was outstanding - and terrific attentive service at the bar. Will be back!

Delicious pasta, speedy service. Loved the sausage rigatoni in particular! Small, cute little place on the UES.

Cannot recommend this place enough! Our waiter was very attentive and the food was great, at a good price point as well. seriously the staff was so amazing!!! read more

First visit after I walked by and saw the intimate dining space, and I will return. Yelp-mates suggested both the fusilli pesto and cappuccino, and I second the high marks. The pesto is smooth and silky, and initially I thought not that flavorful or impressive. But wait two bites, and the subtlety of the flavor overwhelms and delights the palate. I ate some bites with parmigiana cheese, and the salt beautifully complimented and highlighted the mild basil flavor. The pasta with pesto is also lovely on its own, but I would recommend some cheese. The coffee is strong and more of an espresso size than a cappuccino cup, yet satisfying all the same. L'Osteria is not in my neighborhood, yet the friendly staff (what a welcoming smile from one of the servers that contrasted sharply with the distracted attention from the young maitre d), lively Italian playlist, and cozy interior will draw me south with friends and family. read more

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Very good dinner; excellent service; comfortable space. We had crostini to start with goat cheese and warm fig as well as a fried veggies and squid and a ravioli special with ricotta and butter sage sauce - all very good. For my main, I had a red snapper special- sautéed in a lemon sauce with clams - mine was perfectly cooked though my wife said hers was over. My daughter enjoyed the linguine with clams. For dessert we had a delightful tiramisu. Excellent neighborhood Italian dinner. read more

Great food and service, enjoyed everything we ordered, would recommend as a great Italian spot on the UWS

My mom and I wandered in with no reservation on a Wednesday night. Vibes were a bit off as soon as we walked in when the host was super accusatory about the fact that we didn't have a reservation and then when we said we were okay sitting outside, he was muttering to himself about how "that's all we have anyway." Outside of that, though, we had a great meal. Our water was a lot nicer, giving us recommendations and frequently checking in on us. We had the calamari for the starter, which came with battered veggies as well. It came with an aioli, which I'm not a huge fan of, but I loved that the calamari tasted amazing and light even without the sauce. The reason for the five stars though is the pasta, which is all made in house. Even though the menu only lists some of the pastas as housemade, our waiter assured us that all pastas were made at the restaurant, and BOY can you tell. I got the fusilli pesto, which I am now obsessed with. I loved the chewiness of the pasta, and the pesto had so much flavor. I'd absolutely recommend this dish. Sometimes I find that Italian restaurants don't give enough food, but we found that L'Osteria gave the exact right amount of food. My mom got so many raviolis in her dish, and when she was finished she said she was perfectly full. read more

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Must try! Best meal while in the city. Food was exceptional. Service was top notch and the atmosphere was wonderful.

After spending hours exploring The Metropolitan Museum, we looked for a place to escape from the rain and grab a snack. L'Osteria looked like the perfect spot. The restaurant is quaint & cozy and reminded me of an eatery you would find in Italy. They also have a lovely covered outdoor seating area, but we opted to sit at the bar. Luciano greeted us and apologized that they were short staffed, but he said he'd be right with us. In addition to making drinks, he was also serving tables. Cocktails were first on the agenda. I ordered a Hugo Spritz (Saint Germain, Lime, Mint, & Prosecco). Mom got the Strawberry Spritz (Tito's, muddled strawberry, lemon, & Prosecco), and sister the Rosa (Malfy Gin Rosa & Grapefruit tonic.) Both spritzes were delicious! So light & refreshing. I could drink them all day. The Rosa was also tasty. Luciano brought us some bread to start. It was warm & fresh and came with an exceptional olive oil to dip it in. Their pasta is made in house and the menu changes seasonally. My friend couldn't resist so she ordered one of the pasta dishes. She said it was outstanding! Mom, sis, & I shared the Fritto Misto, which consisted of calamari and fresh market vegetables with an Aioli dipping sauce. Fried to perfection, the batter was light and you could tell the veggies and calamari were fresh. It was delizioso! We also got the Grilled Shrimp, which was served on a bed of Salsa Verde. The shrimp were large & juicy and the Salsa Verde was fantastic! Another winner! In addition to a great meal, we had an enjoyable conversation with Luciano. He was charming and polite. Definitely an exemplary employee. I really enjoyed it and would love to come back for a full dining experience. We were all happy that we stopped here. read more

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Good service, but the portions are very small and the food is just okay. In my opinion, small portions don't make sense in a casual restaurant. I'm not into fine dining, but when I do go, I expect and accept the smaller servings that come with it. However, when an ordinary place serves extremely small portions, it's a real turn-off, especially considering the high prices for such tiny servings. read more

The experience was wonderful. The meal was scrumptious. We had the calamari, zucchini blossoms and veal piccata. The only thing we were not fond of was the bread. My friend was brought two wines to taste and was having difficulty deciding which one she liked better. The service couldn't have been better. The atmosphere was charming. My friend who goes to fine restaurants frequently liked it so much that she is planning to inquire about the possibility of having a private birthday party there. I highly recommend this restaurant. Being there felt very special! read more

Last week one day walked in to this Italian place during lunch place is empty 6 people taking 3 tables I was ask if how may people I looked around and behind me ... replied table for one it's me .. got side table by service entry ... asked politely can I sit by window cold reply it's reserved Ok ... ordered shrimps as appetizer pasta pesto main course took some time my food arrived Wow 5 tiny shrimps overcooked ... pesto pasta on kindergarten level please improve such easy dish to make Don't think I would ever revisit L'Osteria again .... read more

L'Osteria is a cozy, nice looking Italian restaurant in the Upper East Side and I was excited to have lunch here after a long morning walking around the Metropolitan Museum of Art. However, the setting didn't match the food quality for me. My visit started off great with an amazing Hugo Spritz, which is a St Germain (elderflower liquor), Mint, Prosecco and Club Soda cocktail. Hugo Spritzes are one of my favorite cocktails and I highly recommend ordering one anytime you see it on a menu. For my meal, I ordered the Rigatoni with Sausage per the server's suggestion. Unfortunately, the pasta was quite overcooked and I would have preferred al dente. The sausage ragu was made of small, soft crumbles and some larger pieces of sausage would have enhanced the dish. Reading other reviews, I'm not sure why my meal wasn't meeting the expectation. I have a feeling this restaurant would have been a better choice for dinner than a weekend lunch. Either way, the soft and broken pasta and lackluster ragu were both disappointing. read more

L'Osteria - Hugo Spritz - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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The staff was wonderful but food across the board was okay. We liked the burrata, then ordered pesto & the pollo. The chicken was really pink when it came out, but we were assured it was cooked through. The potatoes were nothing special, the chicken was super moist but otherwise average. The pesto tasted fresh, but basic and with no ability to add a protein not the most ideal dinner. Not the most gluten friendly place, but there are a handful of entrees (no pasta) and the staff is knowledgeable on ingredients! read more

L'Osteria - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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The cost is justified by every aspect of the meal. Their food delivers outstanding flavor. This place delivers what I expect every time. Staff members exceed typical service standards. This spot delivers remarkable service. read more

Another great yelp find. We had an event at the Guggenheim and we were looking for a place close by. Service was superb and the food was super yum. The restaurant is teeny tiny so it's very intimate. We will definitely go back. read more

What a lovely, cozy Italian restaurant on the UES. The ambiance inside is perfect for date night and the service is quite friendly and attentive. For starters we got the Caesar salad and meatballs - both were delicious! Meatballs taste really homemade, soft, and flavorful. Would definitely recommend the meatballs. For entrees, we got the salmon and the cacio e pepe. The salmon wasn't fully cooked through but the presentation was so beautiful! The pasta was super rich and filling. It was a little cold at some parts of the dish too but I liked that the noodles were super homemade like they mentioned on the menu. Not sure I'd get the Cacio e Pepe again. Was too stuffed for dessert, but I'd want to try the tiramisu next time! read more

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Excellent italian restaurant on the upper east side. They have a small but lovely inside seating area and a really lovely outdoor area with fans and heaters and white linen tablecloths! The service was excellent. We ordered the cauliflower fonduta, the cod and the veal piccata with mushrooms in butter and sage instead of the spinach. The cauliflower fondue was a mix of parmesan, fontina and i've other cheese. The melted gooey cheese was yummy but the ratio of cauliflower to cheese was way off. There should have been twice as much cauliflower in the dish. Cauliflower is cheap. There is no reason at all to skimp in it. The cod came in a delicious red sauce but there were no veggies so a tad expensive for just the fish. The veal piccata was excellent as were the mushrooms though there was a tad too much butter in the sauce for me. It felt extremely heavy but very tasty nonetheless. Total bill with tip and a beer was a tad over $100. Restroom was clean. read more

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Authentic, homemade italian food in the heart of NYC. Very cozy restaurant with great service and cozy ambiance. I was suprised by the authentic quality of the ingredients, and the fact that the food was perfectly seasoned and with all the right flavors. Highly recommend it. read more

L'Osteria - Fusilli Pesto - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Clean, simple, neighbourhood Italian restaurant. Food was very good. Portion sizes were near perfect - just enough so you felt full but not stuffed. Veal was too salty. Semifreddo was a delicious way to end the meal - a must. Allison, our waitress/bartender was very kind and patiently answered all our questions. Prices were reasonable. Considering the intimate setting, it was packed! Honestly, have 0 complaints. Experience was very pleasant. Would highly recommend this restaurant if you're looking for simple, good quality Italian food. read more

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We would highly recommend L'Osteria! It only has a handful of tables so it has an intimate, quiet atmosphere. The food was spectacular, beautifully presented and excellent quality. The service was wonderful, friendly and kind while also being attentive. A great end to our day in the city! read more

If I could eat here again, I absolutely would. The shrimp was cooked well. My cacio e Pepe noodles were Al dente and perfectly salty with the perfect bite of pepper. My dinner partner enjoyed his fish and ravioli very much. Watermelon salad was flavorful too. Kind of pricey but you are definitely paying for quality. From kitchen to table, everything was excellent. The servers were exquisite in service. I felt quite welcome waiting for my food to take home. read more

L'Osteria - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Absolutely perfect. Food was delicious, fresh & the service was on point. Pesto, fettuccine ragú, meatball sandwich, salmon, seasonal fruit tart, wine & macchiato. Beautiful setting! read more

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We randomly happened on this lovely restaurant post visiting the Met. It was a warm summer day and the watermelon & cheese appetizer really hit the spot! The cod and salmon were sublime -- and the sauce of the cod was the best part. The waiter was pleasant though the food itself was enough to come back for - They do have outdoor seating which was bright and quiet too. read more

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We had such an amazing Dino g experience here. The ambiance, the flavors, and the service were a trifecta. We arrived after a short walk from the Metropolitan Museum and were greeted warmly by the staff. The menu selections were excellent. We each ordered different dishes - ragú, salmon. And of course dessert. Would we return- yes!! read more

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My friend and I both thought the Fettuccine ragu tasted unsalted but was well made otherwise. The spaghetti and free bread were very good though. Good service and quaint traditional interior. read more

L'Osteria - Fettuccine Ragu - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

My husband, my teenager, and I had dinner here after making a last minute Saturday night reservation for a late dinner. Upon arrival our table was not ready but we were welcomed at the bar. After a short wait we were sat at a table in a corner by the window. All the previous reviews are correct - it is an intimate dining experience, however it still manages to feel private. The ambiance is excellent and the service was above and beyond. Every step of the way the service was five stars! The food was fresh, homemade authentic Italian. Definitely we will be back! I have to add a second shout out to the staff - they were welcoming, knowledgeable, and accommodating. It was truly a lovely experience. read more

L'Osteria is located on Lexington Ave., just around the corner from our co-op coming to our attention in the last two years. The term osteria means wine bar but has evolved into meaning wine bar that serves food simply prepared, which is a good description of the food served at L'Osteria. We have had several late lunches here enjoying a glass of Italian wine with any number of dishes that are simple in their preparation but bold with flavor. We've started our meals with the imported burrata, with homemade roasted peppers, eggplant, and balsamic vinegar; roasted beet salad with arugula pesto, parmigiano reggiano, and baby arugula; and the endive salad with walnuts, gorgonzola dolce, apples, and red wine vinagrette. All simple meals but well executed, creative, and tasty. For main meals we've tried the chicken filet served in a white wine sauce with creamy mashed potatoes; grilled salmon with a kale puree and dijon mustard sauce; rigatoni sausage rague with porcini mushroom and parmigiano reggiano cheese; and a roasted pepper sandwich. The meals again were simple in their preparation but tasted delicious. The sausage rague could have use some more sauce or something because it seemed a little dry to me. Otherwise everything was wonderful. We will need to go back to try dinner, but a great spot if you are looking for a substantial late lunch. read more