The best Italian food on the Upper East Side! The management and staff are great, and go above and beyond to make your dining experience excellent. We have have had MANY of their menu options and specials. Everything is good - they will also customize or make substitutions for you. I can't recommend Lex Restaurant enough! read more

I came here for a discussion (warily, based on others' reviews!) and was pleasantly surprised! They were all very kind and attentive. Delicious selection of wines; I asked about their dessert selection. Apparently the carrot cake and tiramisu are homemade, and delicious! read more

A romantic gem with delicious food! We had the watermelon salad (amazing) and the barramundi fish with the fresh vegetables- it was truly gourmet. The staff was friendly and professional. The lemon sorbet and Brownie sundae were fantastic. Highly recommended if you are attending an event at the 92nd Street Y. read more

Sticking with 2 stars. Service was a bit faster this time but still took forever for the food to come out. They ran out of smoked salmon but they told me this half an hour after I ordered my food. At this point I was tired of waiting and didn't want to hold everyone else's meal up, so I ordered the pancakes, which were dry. I wouldn't recommend this place. read more

Recently we had a family dinner for ten including three children. The staff was very accommodating Our appetizers of calamari, and meatballs were served Expeditiously and were hot and delicious. The entrees were well-conceived, Well-plated, and again served hot. We particularly enjoyed the risotto, scallops, and the pasta special of penne with sausage and broccoli It has become our neighborhood "go to". read more

I have been going to Lex since late 2005 and it's one of the few places on the UES with both exceptional food, exceptional service, and late opening hours (most places around here close at 10pm, while Lex stays open until 12am or later depending on the crowd). Some highlights include the calamari, caprese salad, and the penne alla vodka--the best I've had in NYC or anywhere else. Giuseppe and Niro really know how to make you feel welcome, I look forward to seeing them as much as I look forward to the food and drinks! I only wish they were open 24 hours! :) read more

Adorable and quaint. Servers are extremely attentive. Generous pour on wine. A NYC hidden gem!

My husband and I had dinner at Lex Restaurant last night before attending an event at the 92nd St Y. It's perfectly located just across the street from the Y if you're planning to attend a show or discussion there. The food was great and the ambiance was good. The service, unfortunately, was disappointing. The owner/maître d' was very pleasant and helpful, the young men helping with table service were great, but our waiter, sadly, was not. He was rushed, refused to listen to questions before providing inaccurate responses, and, at the end of the evening, brought us the wrong check to pay. Everyone has bad days - this was certainly one of his. Still, we will definitely be back. read more

Lex Restaurant - Appetizers at Lex Restaurant - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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This place is great! It's a little more expensive but I'd say it's definitely worth it. I came here with my mom and we ordered the calamari and fettuccine with a glass of the Chianti. Everything was great! Would recommend read more

Unique, delicious food and beautifully presented. Love how welcoming and genuinely friendly the service is.

You pay for the atmosphere here. And the service is good. Food is overpriced for the quality. You can get better, and cheaper, at any of the area pizzerias. read more

I had the French onion soup and an Aldo Cosmo! My rating is based on how I was treated after having an embarrassing credit card issue. Aldo the bartender was understanding and allowed for a creative solution. His Cosmo was outrageously fabulous! I could have left feeling awful and uncomfortable but that is not what happened! Thank you Lex and thank you Aldo!!! read more

Hot, fresh, yummy pasta and tasty salad. Great for a late lunch after the Met. Everyone in my group got a different pasta dish - each was exceptional. I got the salad with chicken and grilled portobello - filling without being too heavy. Generous portions. Well made cappucinos to follow. Simple italian food, quite well done. I gave it only 4 stars because it is a little pricey. read more

There are many people who write reviews on this website whom use Groupon and Travel zoo deals I'm sorry to say I've noticed that many of "these" people don't know good food and service. They always find something to complain about even when they are spending $20 on a meal. Yelp is here for "all" of our opinions yes, but I have experienced hundreds of manhattans best restaurants. I don't wait for tables, I sit in the best seats, I eat the best food, I drink the best wines, what I'm trying to say is through my experiences I know a good thing when I see one. I have been a customer of Lex for years and cannot say one bad thing, Not one. The wait staff is extremely professional and the food is consistently on point and absolutely delicious. NEVER once have I had a problem, and I can be a bit particular. I'm not alone with my feelings, the regular customers here are some of the most prestigious people you could ever meet. But any of you grouponer nobodies wouldn't know the difference between food, service, or atmosphere quality if it smacked you in the face. The owner and staff always bring a smile to my face with their hospitality. This is a gem that I hope will continue to feed my belly and my soul for years and years to come! read more

Stopped in for lunch with a co-worker and was a little hesitant because we were the only customers. The restaurant is small but tastefully decorated. It was a nice day so the floor to ceiling windows looking onto Lexington Ave were open adding to the atmosphere. The service was excellent, the food was delicious and the prices were reasonable. I look forward to returning to Lex and have no problem recommending it. read more

The dinner that I had here was great. Salad and linguini with clams were delicious as were the desserts shared with friends. Wine was good and service was attentive. The place was a bit noisy with little space between tables. read more

This is my favorite place for date night. The service is amazing. You immediately feel at home. And the food is delicious. We come here for every special occasion. read more

My boyfriend and I went here for dinner on a travelzoo coupon. We have been trying many different neighborhood places on these coupons from travelzoo, livingsocial, groupon, etc. Four choices of wine were offered- two red and two white. The Chianti was fine. We split an appetizer of calamari, which they split in the kitchen. Somehow I ended up with all of the big pieces and my boyfriend ended up with nuggets of fried batter. My calamari was OK - well fried but under-seasoned. Then we ordered mains - no branzino or lamb, so he ordered seafood risotto and I ordered chicken parm with spaghetti. The seafood risotto arrived and looked OK but the seafood was sprinkled on top of a plain risotto, it seems. It was not great. The chicken parm arrived and I immediately noticed two things - 1) it was served with ziti, not spaghetti, which was VERY overdone 2) the mozzarella cheese on top was simply sliced, perhaps from one of those plastic wrapped craft singles. Like the calamari, the chicken was fried well but everything else on the plate was awful. Then the WORST part. Dessert. It seems that Lex Restaurant does not have any type of pastry chef, and whoever does their desserts should be fired immediately. I make better snacks when I botch a recipe at home. The offerings: brownie, cheesecake, carrot cake, vanilla ice cream. Brownie was over cooked and topped with Hershey's (or cheaper) chocolate sauce. Carrot cake was obviously cut hours before as the edges were dry and tough. Dessert was TERRIBLE. We will not go back and do not recommend you go back either. read more

I've only been here once, for dinner with my husband and in-laws, but the food and service were both well above average. After requesting a booth near the back this summer, we were seated and then decided that it was too warm at the back of the restaurant. They moved us with no hassle and no mean glares of disapproval. Later, my mother-in-law spilled her glass of red wine, and they promptly cleaned up the mess, got us new napkins, and refilled her wine glass again with no scorn or disdain. I had a started salad that was quite good and then the pasta special of the day, which was handmade pappardelle with salmon. The salmon was good but the pappardelle was INCREDIBLE. The portion was huge, but I couldn't stop eating the pasta, which was cooked to perfection. My other three dining companions enjoyed their meals, too. WAY better Italian food than other mid-priced options in the neighborhood. I'll definitely go back. read more

Lex Restaurant is excellent! A neighborhood spot, I can confidently say everything on the menu is very good (we had the Branzino and the Angel Hair Pasta with Shrimp and Argula - both were wonderful). The wine selection is great as well. A great place to go right before events at the 92nd Street Y. read more

Stopped in based on the favorable Yelp reviews, and was not disappointed. My mother, sister and I were looking for a dinner spot near the 92Y, where we had tickets to see Tim Gunn later that evening. There was only one other occupied table when we came in, so we had our choice of tables and took the window for some primo people watching. The service is very relaxed- they take your drink orders and serve those before proffering menus. The bread was a crusty rustic loaf served with olive oil. Yum! The three of us shared the asparagus appetizer, as well as a plate of calamari. I was excited to see tentacles! It seems like 99% of calamari plates now are only rings, maybe the tentacles look too squiddy for most? Regardless, they're my favorite parts, so I was happy to chow down. My mom had the bolognese, my sister the penne a la vodka with salmon, and I chose the stuffed chicken breast. Every dish was delicious! (Ok, I didn't get to try the bolognese, but my mom liked it quite a bit, and people from the surrounding 2 tables ordered it as well after seeing her dish). As we were relaxing over coffee and cappuccino the server offered free cordials. Do you know how few free drinks married ladies get? Awesome! In summary- tentacles + free kahlua + delicious spinach & cheese stuffed chicken! The atmosphere was great, unrushed but attentive service, and fabulous Italian food. read more

Let me be totally clear - the 2-star rating is more a reflection of what I had than everything overall. I came here for brunch on a Sunday. The owner or manager was very hospitable and service was great throughout. No complaints from me at all there. It's a pretty small restaurant - relatively long and narrow and there's also a small bar. The menu is actually pretty extensive. Unfortunately, they don't have any draft beers. Only Bud, Heineken, Amstel and Corona bottles. I went with a tuna melt for my meal, while the majority of others I was with ordered some type of entree (that's easily where I went wrong). I was very disappointed when my tuna melt arrived. It was served open face (kind of) on a pretty generic, small hamburger roll. It really wasn't impressive and there were about 12 french fries served with the sandwich. My wife, on the other hand, fared much better. She ordered the chicken parm entree and it really did look great. They used fresh mozzarella as opposed to the generic store bought cheese. I sampled a few bites and it was very good. Even the pasta was great. I'm certain that if I'd ordered something different, my review would probably be much different, as well. Oh well - what can you do? You can't win them all. I actually wouldn't be opposed to going back, but I'd definitely give something else a try. At least, it was a very enjoyable meal. read more

Wow, truly one of the best local restaurants on the upper East side. A real find. Consistently good food, staff is attentive, we have become regulars!! Highly recommend this restaurant! read more

My family and I went for Valentine's Day . The food was very good . The atmosphere was perfect . The service was great too. Definitely will come back . The owner was very nice too . We had a great time read more

Lex restaurant offers the best Italian food you can get on the upper east side! Strongly recommend it! Not only the food is delicious, but the staff is very friendly and attentive. It's a neighborhood place and they treat their guests as family and truly transform grabbing a meal into a special dining experience. Nero, Louis and Carlos are great! The owner Victor is always very attentive making sure his guests enjoy their experience. Great place! If you are on the upper east side it is a must try! read more

This was the worst, overpriced lunch I have ever had. I'm still reeling from it. The service was atrocious...no one there and still had to ask for bread to go with my 15.00 Caprece Salad that was appalling. The Mozzarella was slimy and spare. They said, oil and vinegar but brought some bottled dressing in a cup. The Rose' was one step above vinegar and so PRICY, THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES. I am so SORRY I walked in off the street. Susannah Bianchi, Upper EastSider that is happy to spend money when it's good and hardy. read more

Lex Restaurant is a good neighborhood spot. The Service was good, attentive and fast. I enjoyed the eggplant parmesan appetizer, pasta fagiole soup and pesto gnocci. Everything was piping hot and fresh from the kitchen. The eggplant is not to missed, but the soup and pesto gnocci was OK. I tried the lasagna and calamari of my dining mates and they were quite good. I'd rate Lex Rest. as a great long lunch spot and definitely a place for a business dinner or lunch. read more

This restaurant is the best. It's kid friendly .they make you feel alive nothing I've ever tasted felt more authentic.one bite and you are in Italy. If you come here you will enjoy yourself the rest of the night. I really respect the service they make you feel loved and valued. This restaurant is truly great. read more

I went here because I bought a voucher from Travelzoo. I was not that impressed, overall. Specifically, ordered French Toast from the prix fixe brunch menu and it was the saddest French Toast I'd seen. I order FT most often for brunch but I really regretted that decision here. Eggs Benedict also didn't look too special, unfortunately. It tasted just ok. On the plus side, service was good, it was not really busy (perhaps says something) and the look and feel was pleasant. read more

The Lex restaurant has been a second home for me in the last 10 years. The service is extraordinary, super cozy atmosphere and best of all, the food is absolutely delicious and authentic. It's a perfect go to for a date night, family gathering, celebration, dinner with your girlfriends or a brunch afternoon. I would highly recommend listening to the specials from your server as they are always super diverse and amazing every time! My personal favorites are the crab cakes and grilled chicken salad to start with. For entrees, you can't go wrong, it's more of what you're in the mood for that evening. If you want great service, delicious food and cozy atmosphere, than this is the place for you! read more

Not really worth the money. Their four cheese sauce is good but the portions are small and the place isn't busy enough for the service to keep in the swing of things. read more

It's a very nice intimate, low-lit place. The food is delicious and the wait staff are very good; they started recognizing us even after we had just been once or twice. read more

Food was magnificent. I love that the waiters have been there and show a genuine care for the food and service. I had the short ribs... melt in your mouth with a top tier sauce! read more

Food is great. Victor, the manager/owner is an Amazon host! Unfortunately, when he is not there this place is a circus! I NEVER eat there unless Victor is present. The rest of the staff are RUDE, RUDE, RUDE. They are hurting this restaurant!! read more

These guys couldn't get out of their own way. I can't believe these guys are still in business. The 2 stars were actually for the food, but the service was horrible and comical. We went for Sat brunch not knowing what to expect based on reviews. There were 3 other tables besides us. The dead silence and lack of music afforded us the opportunity to hear every tables complaint with their order. Seriously, nobody's order was right, from the drinks through the main course. Never again. read more

I made reservations for 6 and had a wonderful dinner with my family. The appetizers were amazing and each of us agreed that our main dishes were absolutely delicious. I applaud the service, we were greeted, seated immediately and were not left unnoticed. The decor is romantic - candle lit tables and a comfortable setting. I definitely recommend the brownie desert or the lemon sorbet. If you are looking for a romantic dinner for two or dinner with your family I (without hesitation) suggest a reservation at Lex Restaurant. read more

Crab cakes were awful. Salad passable (was afraid to order anything else). They gave my friend's 10 year-old the $25 prix fix menu to order off of, since she was the guest they made the exception for (even though the place was empty). SO happy they allowed us to order pancakes for her off of the regular menu. read more

They really do have great italian food in a cozy restuarant. It's filled with locals and the waitstaff is very good at suggesting dishes. The bolognese is incredibly meaty, just the way I prefer it...salads are fresh and good, and the wine is fantastic. read more

Like several of the other reviewers, I came here for brunch with a TravelZoo coupon. For that price ($25 for two-person brunch with drinks), I thought the place was good. Food was pretty good, but nothing special. Service was very professional - didn't have any of the problems other reviewers complained about. The restaurant itself had a nice ambiance to it - might be a nice place for a dinner date? read more

Great Italian food on the UES. The place is small and you'll miss it if you blink walking by. The ravioli is amazing and all the pastas I've tried there in my previous visits have been good too. Definitely a place to stop by if you're on the UES and want Italian. read more