Good food, service. Tablecloths. Napkins. Waiters who know the food. Excellent appetizers, entrees.Relaxed service but attentive. Fine food, wines. read more

I read about Lusardi's on /r/FoodNYC, and my friend and I decided to go one day to get our carb fix. We weren't disappointed. The people on FoodNYC made it seem like a "I've never had better Italian in my life!"-type place. I'm not sure it was quite up there, but if you're looking for something miles better than your canola oil-laden "spaghetti" from 2nd Avenue, Lusardi's isn't a bad bet. While urinating in the bathroom, I saw a framed article from FORBES featuring Lusardi's in a "Places to Eat" in-set. Right next to it, there's a letter from scion Steve Forbes, the editor, to the Lusardis (who own Lusardi's). Not sure how I felt about that. As editor, you're supposed to be critically distant from the businesses you review, and this seemed a little too chummy to me. read more

One of my most favorite places on the UES. The food is amazing the staff is awesome and the patrons are some of the who's who in NYC Wheather your an UES local or just visiting NYC you have to go to Lusardi's read more

A true gem. Lusardi's is welcoming, intimate, filled with friendly and knowledgeable staff but most importantly, creates impeccable food each and every time. Their wine list is extensive and the specials reflect seasonal ingredients. Whether you go with your significant other, family or friends, you will not be disappointed! read more

The food and the service are outstanding. We also love that it is old NYC. My favorite is the veal.

Ok so Happened to stumble upon this place after my phone died at Central park. The thing that attracted me to this restaurant was the outdoor garden they are going with white table cloths and the perfect amount of soft orchestral music wafting through the open doors onto 2nd Ave. The moment we were seated we were greeted by an enthusiastic passionate server called ankit / AK. He's single-handedly elevated the entire meal experience to Michelin levels, making this restaurant my new Italian favorite on the upper Eastside. I later found out that it is owned by the same people as UVa, Which I also had the pleasure of dining at a few months ago but I don't remember any of the dishes being quite as unique there. I'll start with the guazetto - light fresh tomato white wine sauce: acidic and fresh perfectly complimenting the weather and light evening breeze on this late August New York summer night. Next : the vongole spaghetti: I never thought I would ever like clams but this dish recommendation from Akey literally change that perception forever. The sauce was the signature white wine garlicy with hot peppers added in : it literally blew my mind and and by the end of it I was literally sipping the sauce even after the spaghetti was long gone. We have cracked the code: Italian food with a kick, ladies and gentlemen! And finally the star of the show - *drumroll* the John Dory- a fish like no other. This was almond crusted and served with sautéed spinach on a bed of lemon martini sauce. This dish reminded me of my other favorite dish in Manhattan which is the special Amish chicken at nomad. Now Nomad restaurant being in a hotel lobby has sadly shut down for now, along with a number of its other Michelin starred counterparts that are similarly housed. So in this climate it was refreshing to have a favorite go to with outdoor seating and excellent service and ambience even given the circumstances. Lastly the desert did not disappoint and we ended up going with the pistachio torte even though I will definitely be back next time for the tartufo! One of my favorite dining experiences in a while in the city and one of those rare places that I would actually look forward to going to twice, if not more read more

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I think I will dream of the food at Lusardi's for the rest of my life. That was some of the best Italian I've had!!! The gnocchi especially was to die for. Pillowy and light, just how I like gnocchi. But the sauce was creamy, deliciously flavored, not overly salty. Inside ambiance is perfect for dinner and catching up. Not too loud. Neat, organized, old school, feels upscale. I took off a star because the service was so-so. The waiter never even gave us his name. Didn't spend much time with us. Waited a long time to order. Overall I would absolutely go back. You should definitely go!!!! read more

Came to Lusardi's for dinner and had a wonderful evening out. We were warmly greeted by one of the waiters and then seated at a great corner table. Order the lump crabmeat cocktail to start and when we mixed it with the greens below and added some of the sauce that accompanied it, it was like a party in my mouth! Ordered the whole wheat pasta with pancetta, peas, and mushrooms in a light tomato sauce that was so delicious I cleaned the plate dry! Paired it with an amazingly smooth Cabernet that had me feeling great. For the main we had a chicken dish in a beautifully done truffle sauce with Brussels sprouts on the side. And for dessert we had the tiramisu which was WOW! Side note, while ordering at the beginning of the meal I went to order another main and the waiter suggested to see how we feel after the first main course and boy was he right. Turned out he was right because after the main course we were stuffed. But there's always room for dessert, right?! The food was phenomenal, the waiter was absolutely incredible being friendly, attentive and very welcoming. Couldn't have been happier we chose Lusardi's! read more

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Very disappointed. I picked Lucardis for a celebration dinner. Maybe it was a bad night for the restaurant but with the exception of the shrimp, all of the other dishes were mediocre and my duck was bad . Another particularly bad choice was the lobster bisque which had No lobster flavor nor any evidence of a lobster. read more

Simply the best Italian Restraunt in the U.S. ! My family is from the Parma area of Italy and eating at Lusardi's is like being back in Italy, worth every penny! read more

Lusardi's has been an UES favorite of our family for 30+ years. Meraviglioso! read more

I had such a wonderful experience here, though I just stopped in for a drink. They were very crowded, but the owner/manager (?) accommodated our group of 3 at a table, even though we were only going to drink. EVERYONE was so friendly!! I did end up ordering the caprese, which was outstanding! Very, very nice place! read more

Lusardi's - Caprese - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Food was top notch! Service even better. I just hate Yelp forcing additional characters!! read more

Always an outstanding evening when dining at Lusardi's. The service is outstanding and the food is delicious.

One of my family's favorite local restuarant in the UES. Excellent homemade pasta. Great service by the wait staff and the hosts are always attentive to all the diners. We've only sat outside because of COVID. We've had all the pasta dishes and have never been disappointed. I love the ragu dish. I can't ever seem to order anything else. Wait I lie, I've had the gnoochi and love it too. read more

This place was the perfect spot for a fancy date night. Great wine, authentic Italian food and a cozy dining area. The staff was very friendly, always attentive without pressuring us. The truffled goat cheese salad was one of the highlights of the night, and I will be thinking about the poached pear dessert with cinnamon ice cream for a long time! read more

Old time Italian place. For the price, I felt the food did not meet expectations. Got the veal tenderloin wrapped prosciutto and did not see any prosciutto and veal was a little dry. Friend got the rabbit and it came messy looking and he said it was dry and had bones. Other pasta dishes were ok. For the price of the entrees, I would expect more. Service was excellent, though. Nice atmosphere. read more

One of my favorite Italian restaurants in NYC . We always visit when we come to the city Great food, great service, excellent ambiance read more

Fantastic meal at a very reasonable price. Took a potential client and service staff very accommodating and friendly. Restaurant was pretty full but able to seat us before the time of our actual reservation. Solid choice for authentic Italian in upper east side. read more

Came here on a dinner date on a Wednesday night around 6:30pm. There was a lady at the door taking coats. Right when you walk in was a small bar and a few tables. Everyone was super friendly and welcoming from the moment we sat down to the time we left. Being in our mid 20s, we were by far the youngest people there. Most tables were older couples or business meetings. Attire was business casual; dark jeans, black pants, khakis etc. I ordered the veal in lemon butter sauce and my date has the ravioli. They give out complimentary bread, a side of zucchini with our entrees and cookies for dessert. Most entrees ranged between $25-40 and desserts were $12. We each ordered one glass of wine; most ranged between $14-18/glass. I enjoyed my meal but wish it came with some type of pasta on the side. Portion size were average, maybe a little smaller than average. Not sure if the food is worth for the prices that you pay. Overall, good place if you are trying to impress someone. The ambience was nice, service was good and food was pretty good. Not my favorite Italian but still good. read more

The best Italian food Ive ever had! The service was excellent and we will definitely be back

Excellent service and good food. Enjoyed the outdoor seating. My neighborhood has ALOT of Italian restaurants, this is one on the list for a return visit. The gnocchi was delicious. I took 1 star off because the crème brûlée was disappointing. read more

The food was without taste , didn't know what we were eating, we order pasta with truffles , the pasta was sticky until we mixed it with the truffle sauce . We order antipasto , was very mediocre , the fish had no taste and the chicken too , we didn't know what we were eating . Service was terrible ! And after $600. Tab I wouldn't go back . Absolutely won't suggest . read more

The Tortelli In Salsa Tartufata was delicious! The pasta was perfect and the filling was fresh and flavorful! We enjoyed a bottle of wine with dinner that was recommended to us. The Torta Al Pistacchio was good but I only had one bite because my daughter didn't want to share it. The staff was working hard and did a great job. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone that enjoys quality food. The price reflects the quality. If you're dining on a budget and looking for a quick bite this place would not be for you. It was a slow and savory experience. read more

Lusardi's - Tortelli In Salsa Tartufata - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Came here to celebrate birthdays with three of my friends . Food was phenomenal, staff was attentive . One of my friends wanted a steak that wasn't on the menu and they were able to accommodate and prepare a lovely steak . I had the rack of lamb medium well and which was cooked to perfection . The Black Truffle Antipasto was so delicious !! Definitely will make time to return again !! read more

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Came here for lunch, don't know how we didn't find this place earlier and we live right around the corner! We actually tried the Lusardi's up at Westchester first, they're no longer affiliated but apparently this is the original location. Food was excellent. You cannot go wrong with any of their pastas, but hands down their veal stuffed ravioli was the best. My husband also loved his lamb chops. Sure to start spending lots of money here... loved it so much! read more

My family had a wonderful time at this classic Italian fine dining Upper East Side institution. Lusardi's offers incredibly warm and attentive service, damn terrific food, and a charming (albeit dated) ambiance. I was originally introduced to this old school Italian restaurant through a business relationship ~5 years ago and find myself returning on a semi-regular basis for special occasions ever since. Our party of 7 ordered a mix of cocktails and wine throughout the evening in celebration of Mother's Day. The bartender certainly knows his martinis! For the table, we shared the Grigliata di Calamari (Grilled Calamari), Carciofi Alla Romano (Baked Artichokes), and Caprese Di Bufala E Peperoni (Mozzarella, Roasted Peppers, and Tomatoes). The calamari was perfectly prepared, with good texture and seasoning. And who doesn't love a medley of mozzarella, roasted red peppers, and tomatoes?! The artichokes were just okay and felt a bit bland, under seasoned, and under portioned. For mains, the table ordered Fettuccine Al Ragu Vitello (Veal Bolognese), Branzino Alla Mediterranea (Branzino), and several orders of Vitello Martini (parmesan crusted Veal with white wine and lemon), and Vitello Alla Parmigiani (Veal Parmesan) - with side orders of Spaghetti Al Pomodoro. The veal parmesan and veal bolognese were both out of this world delicious. On the former - yeah, the kitchen is definitely heavy handed with the cheese, but this is by far my favorite dish at this restaurant. On the latter - the bolognese sauce is tender, flavorful, and quite tasty. Regarding the dishes I was unable to sample, the table thoroughly enjoyed their meals with extra compliments on the veal. Yes, my family apparently loves Veal. All-in, I highly recommend Lusardi's! read more

Lusardi's - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Lusardi's is my favorite Italian restaurants in the city and i've been coming to this restaurant for years for special occasions. I'm so glad we decided to brave the cold weather last night. Everything was absolute perfection, from the heated dining area outside to the friendly wait staff that really made our evening special. For the appetizer, we ordered the Tuna Special and I have to say it is one of the best things I have ever eaten. When I come here I always order a Vodka Martini and the Vitello Martini for the main. We had such an amazing night here. The dining experience and service is truly one of a kind. I highly recommend dining at this restaurant!! read more

Always good food here. It may be the old fashioned Italian place, but there is a reason it has been there for a while. Some dishes are worth opening a restaurant around them. read more

Very very nice ambience here!! Classy interior, cozy but not too crowded, and I love how it's not too noisy so you can actually chat with your friends over dinner! Food is very decent. The grilled calamari was really good. The lemon sole was quite salty though. The tiramisu was a perfect ending!! read more

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Good food and great service. Feels like old NY I'm here in the best way. Will keep coming back.

Great pasta, calamari, veal and ravioli. Sauce is authentic tomato marinara, service is excellent. Highly recommend food quality and selection. read more

Lusardi's - Dinning Room - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

If you're looking for a classic fine Italian dining experience on the UES, Lusardi's has you covered. It's not a trendy restaurant, but rather, a classy establishment with impeccable dishes and excellent service. We visited Lusardi's with a reservation for a weekday dinner. Upon request, we were able to be seated outdoors on a lovely June night. The service from start to finish was excellent. I highly recommend the grilled calamari. Note, this is not your usual fried calamari- it's perfectly grilled, without any breading, and it is so perfectly succulent and fresh. A few of us ordered the specials of the night. My seafood linguine (linguine all' ammiraglia) was delightfully fresh and filled with umami. For dessert, the tiramisu hit the spot. I am now a fan of Lusardi's, with its old world charm. It's a great place when you want to be able to hear your dining partners and enjoy a quality meal. read more

The epitome of classic Italian cuisine! Quality, tasteful, outstanding service and ambiance all wrapped up in this upper easy side gem! This is a definate no matter what area of the city you are staying in to make the trip to Lusardi's and experience the best of the best! From the moment we walked in we were made to feel special. The service was impeccable, every plate we had was presented and had the flavor of what you would expect from this first class quintessential Italian restaurant! read more

Lusardi's - Classic Italian - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Sooooo disappointed. We live in the area and had been wanting to go for years. Finally made it out last night and the experience fell short of our expectations. The food was very, very good, but the service was terrible. I'm not sure if they were just having a bad night, but from the minute we sat down things were off. It took a long time to get the menu, and when we did the waiter immediately wanted to take our order. I asked if they had a drink menu - honestly just to buy a few minutes to look at the menu and the waiter was super dismissive of my request. Felt super rushed and weird but okay. We order, and the appetizer comes out on time, cool. But the entrees took foreverrrrrrr. My husband ordered the veal, which was pretty good, and I got the gnocchi. I don't understand why it took so long, but again, okay. Finally the food arrives and I asked for cheese. Again, nothing arrives for ten minutes. Finally, we flag down a waiter, and bring some of these issues to his attention politely. 5 minutes later cheese arrives, but he basically dumps it on my plate, obviously quite stressed, and even continued grating when I told him to stop. The bill came and they didn't offer anything to make up for any of the issues, except for an unasked-for side of zucchini they randomly sent over with the entrees. We give restaurants a lot of grace, and I hate complaining at the table, but I couldn't *not* in this case. The whole vibe was weird and it's unfortunate, as we had been wanting to try this to hopefully bring family to in the future. Bummer. read more

My family and I have been dining at Lusardi's regularly (mostly for special occasions), since I moved across the street on Second Avenue in January 2009. Their food is consistently outstanding, from their pasta, to their lovely fish, and many traditional Northern Italian foods. My entire family loved it! My only regret is they no longer have kidneys with mustard sauce- and I truly wish they would add sweetbreads as well. My favorite Franch restaurant on the West side had sweetbreads on the menu, but it closed due to the Covid pandemic. I truly wish La Mirabelle would re-open on West 86th Street, and Columbus. It was the French equivalent of Lusardi's, and my mother is of French heritage, and my entire family eats many, many French dishes, often weekly. I make delicious chicken fricasee, for example, and Coq Au Vin: both red wine, and the white wine variant, Coq au Riesling: my great grand parents were from Lorraine province in eastern France, and the foods continue generation by generation. My mother, "Grandma", or Aunt Cookie to the extended family, made delicious thin crepes for breakfast, every Wednesday for my entire childhood. Now we make them at multiple homes, just like Grandma did. Try Lusardi's: it never disappoints. Sarah S. read more

Lusardis is always great ! Food and service are consistently good. It's my go to restaurant. I feel great there anytime I go. read more

Delicious lunch time mussels. I found them to be fresh and marinated in a wonderful mouth watering broth. I'll be back.

not only was the food fabulous - flavorful - and authentic but the service was amazing. great family style ambience, classy and memorable. will be back! read more

A pleasant experience all around. Was greeted with smiles at the door. The waitstaff was professional and well groomed. The food was another highlight of the evening capped with a delicious variety of desserts. A pleasure to take my girlfriend here and will definitely reccomend this place to others. This is the way. read more

Lusardi's - Italian Near Me - New York, New York