This was my first experience at this restaurant and it was a great one. If you expect a very fancy place this is not the place for you. When walking in it's like you are walking into someone's home, and your Italian family will be cooking for you. The food was awesome. I would definitely recommend this restaurant. read more

Manducatis - Italian Near Me - Long Island City, New York

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Loved everything here! The vibe, the food and the service. Calamari is the best I've ever had.

Why it's worth it: From the outside, Manducatis doesn't even look like a restaurant, but as you will learn, you don't go here for a trendy or romantic vibe; you go here for the pasta and the history. Vibe/layout: The front room contains a bar and looks more like a rec room with a bunch of boxes than a restaurant; however, the rest of this restaurant feels like one big living room, complete with lace curtains, houseplants and a wood-burning fireplace. This restaurant has been hosting curators, sculptors and painters from P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center for over 30 years. Usually a place would frame photos of famous/favorite customers on the wall; however, in Manducatis' case, the reverse happened: P.S. 1 exhibited 11 candid black-and-white photographs of the Cerbone couple taken by Howard Gross. Ideal meal: Ricotta gnocchi with pesto or red sauce and mozzarella ($18) The story: Operated since 1977 and owned by Italian immigrants, Vincenzo and Ida Cerbone and now their son, Anthony, Manducatis is as unique as it gets. Ida, the cook, learned her skills in Italy and makes her gnocchi with ricotta, not potato. The food comes out on large plates that bear the black-and-white childhood photograph of chef and co-owner, Ida. When the Cerbones got married, Vincenzo had the plates made, so customers are essentially eating off of the Cerbones' wedding dishes. Talk about a personal touch. Tip: Check out a Moma PS1 Warm Up party, then head to Manducatis for a bite to eat and then to Dutch Kills, the speakeasy down the street, for a drink. read more

Manducatis has been apart of LIC for nearly 3 generations (I believe). I know my father used to go there and maybe even his father. It's the spot to go for authentic traditional Italian cuisine. The chicken parmesan is amazing. Although I dont eat seafood, I've heard from people who do that Maducati's has some of the best dishes. The decor and ambiance is very calm and relaxing and they burn fires in the winter in their fireplace. It truly is an old classic Italian restaurant and a staple of the TRUE and ORIGINAL Long Island City. Before nobody knew or cared about our existence. It's one of the only pieces of our identity we have left. It's about as authentic as it's mob ties are. read more

Came on a cold January night and had a great time. The space feels like entering a home and the wood burning fireplace just added to that (and additional heat). Had the baked clams, and veal chop special with pasta on the side. All delicious and reasonably priced. read more

A bit out of the way but worth the trip! Fresh ingredients. Homestyle Italian cooking like your grandmother would make if you had an Italian grandmother. Large portions. Decor is a little weird but just roll with it. Service is very good and attentive and friendly. Go for it! read more

This past Saturday, I once again patronized Manducatis. It is my favorite Italian restaurant. Snow falling and the fire going right behind us. I love this restaurant. We shared a salad, grilled zucchini and prosciutto and melon. Delicious. My favorite dinner is the Fetticcine and Bolognese. The flavor in that sauce just kept hitting my palate with each bite. I kept eating until the plate was wiped clean. What a meal. Two of the others had the shrimp and fresh pasta special also raved about it. Wonderful evening. The charm and the friendliness of the staff keeps me coming back. read more

Cozy restaurant with large portions of delicious Italian cuisine. I will definitely be returning soon!

This is a strange place. My father in law took my mother in law and my wife and I here one night on a whim and it was so good. The inside is strange but I really like it it's different. It's hard to explain there's like different rooms and the rooms turn it's weird. You'll have to go there to see what I mean. The food was so good, it's like a hidden gem. Can't wait to go back again read more

Just had the most amazing Valentine's day feast with my husband and we both LOVED our food and the place. The servers were friendly and worked as a team, the crowd was present but not overwhelming, the fireplace was on setting the mood, and the food was incredible! We will definitely be back read more

Stumbled in to Manducati's last night on a whim after my and my good friends' original plans were thwarted when we found the mysterious Brooks Restaurant in Court Square closed. Upon entry, we were lead through the labyrinthian dining room by an ancient Italian man to a table. Where we originally thought we'd be the only diners, it was nice to see some (real Italians!) dining in the main room. I liked the vibe of the place, kind of felt like early 80s mob sh!t, serious Goodfellas era. The waiters are attentive, and dressed well, while the waitress is kind of 'nother time sloppy, in uniform. Paradoxically miserable and quietly pleasant after an initial judgment period, she spits cigarette breath and a general air of being totally over it. In short, she's everything you'd want in your server at this place. It's the contrasting details that make the place charming; cleanliness in its table cloths and settings is offset by fake Christmas trees and wreaths, and a general gaudiness in the aesthetic. It's a distinctly and unforgettable Italian American experience, Queens-style. The waiter recommended a $9 glass of house wine, which he provided in a very generous pour, equal to probably two glasses if we were in a Midtown joint. The antipasto, at $20, was serviceable. Olive oil and vinegar were provided, while cured artichoke hearts, olives, roasted red peppers, peperoncinis, and a few meats and cheeses were splayed on a bed of green leaf lettuce. I appreciated that they gave us time to really indulge in the slow consumption of the antipasto. Excellent bread was served with butter, and my friend and I dug in. It took us over a half hour to eat the antipasto, and we were appreciatively un-rushed as the servers monitored our progress, serving our pasta only when we were ready. Up to this point, the experience was satisfying if the food itself was unexceptional. The pasta changed everything. I had ordered the fettucine bolognese (made with homemade pasta.) My friend ordered the puttanesca (not homemade pasta.) First off, the prices were good for the enormous portions, certainly enough to share if you're going to really do the pasta course followed by a meat course. Mine was $19, my friend's was only $16. I was blown away by the bolognese! The texture was spot on, the pasta perfectly al dente, as every delicious, decadent bite begged for more. I ate 3/4s of my heaping serving before becoming dangerously full. The puttanesca was equally delicious. A rich, smoky sauce hiding tons of briny capers and olives was cooked with a penne pasta, perfectly al dente and immensely satisfying with every forkful. Where the restaurant could improve is in small details, like having better Parmesan cheese. We had to ask for it, and it was brought out to the table and left there, looking like a cheap Kraft cheese. A freshly grated, good Parmesan would have truly added another decadent layer to our pastas. One annoyance was that I was deep in conversation when the waiter cleared our plates, and thus forgot to mention that I wanted my left over bolognese wrapped up to go! I hate wasting food and I'd already planned it for today's lunch! Oh well, but it would have been nice to have been asked if I'd wanted to save it. Perhaps It was the misplaced and clumsily executed "fanciness" that made the waiter not ask. I don't respect that. I don't think any restaurant should be above asking such a question. It shows a respect for its food. Good food should never be wasted. read more

The character who complained about the wine list is obviously not an oenophile. It has 4000 moderate priced and rare wines. The food is make, literally, by Grandma in the kitchen. It's been here for 50 years, enough said? sometimes the food is inconsistent and the plates are cold to the touch in winter, but overall it is a great restaurant. read more

Always has good items on the menu especially the homemade gnocchi which I'm sad to say is even better than my old favorite from manettas down the block. Mr cerbone has always made great Italian food both in Italy and over here in Long Island city. Overall the food/service here is very good and it's sad to see that most people in Long Island city don't know about this gem read more

AMAZING FRESH ITALIAN FOOD. Pasta was so fresh and light it felt like i was back home in Italy. The people are so friendly and inviting. The best feeling coming in here. We were treated like family. 10/10 recommend read more

I love this place - one of the two best Italian restaurants in the city and it's awesome. Huge menu, bigger wine menu - the food is fantastic and specials are ever changing and imaginative. A real gem read more

Perfect family owned authentic Italian restaurant that's been in Long Island City LONG before it was a trendy area. I've been going here since I was a child and the quality of the food remains excellent. read more

From the tasteless decor, to the poor service, to the utterly inedible food, I can only recommend that anyone looking for a good dining experience in L.I.C. avoid this place like a louse ridden rat. Manducatis is an institution in L.I.C., but based upon previous reviews and its current performance, one can only assume that it has slipped from its lofty perch. Dinner began with an unremarkable fresh mozzerella appetizer, consisting of two sizes of fresh mozzarella, and cluster of jarred roasted peppers. My wife's stuffed shells, and my chicken parmigiana entrees were utterly drowning in sauce, rendering them completely unappetizing. Accompanying my wife's entree was a green salad with oil and vinegar (on the side), yet the greens were wilted and unpalatable. Accompanying my chicken, was a reasonably acceptable side of penne. After a thoroughly awful dinner, my wife and I were forced to wait 20 minutes before our waitress was able to flagged down from across the establishment. We declined to order desert and left. Based upon the reviews here, I would speculate that the restaurant is either failing financially, or due to the aging staff. This is a family establishment with a long and proud history, and it is unfortunate that it is expiring in this fashion. read more

I've been here a few times now, and it's just terrific. Manducatis looks like it could be a corner dive bar from the outside, but don't be intimidated. Inside it's charming and comfortable. I can't seem to deviate from the homemade manicotti (it's that good) but I've stolen off of others' plates, and friends dishes have been great as well. Usually I don't order "red sauce" when dining out (I find it's never as good as my family's homemade) but this is an exception. Their stuffed clams- actually have a whole clam in the middle (that never happens!) I find nothing wrong with the service here (as I read in other reviews.) They might be a little "old-school" about certain things, but that's part of the Manducatis charm. And if that charm includes bringing the bottle of Sambuca straight to your table when you order an espresso, fine by me! read more

I was hoping for better, Salad was limp, baked clams were rubbery and chewy ,and the tomato sauce ,watery and tasteless. The olive oil was wonderful as was the fresh bread,but the fact that there were only 4 other people eating there should have given me a clue. Owner was warm and greeted us as old friends but I went there for the food, sorry total FAIL. Anyone who likes this food also must eat spaghetti O's out of the can. read more

The best chicken parmigiana. Authentic. Perfect. No one can top it. I've searched high and low near and far and it remains the best. It is so delicious with the right balance of sauce and cheese on a beautiful pounded lightly coated chicken breast. It's accompanied by pasta with outstanding homemade real southern Italian red sauce. The antipasto is a great starter. The cheeses are excellent. If you do not want the chicken parmigiana there are many other Classic Italian dishes such as Marsala and pasta carbonara. The meatballs are exceptional too. This is a homey old style family place. The decor is the same as the 70s and that is part of the charm. Ditch the fabby overpriced places one night and come eat Ida and Vincent's real Italian food. I promise you will not be disappointed and you will be back! read more

My family has been coming here for years. It is a nice family run Italian restaurant. Not every dish is wonderful, they are Italian-Americans, but it's authentic Italian-American if you understand what that means. I have fond memories of this place, but I've also never had to foot the bill so I do not know if I feel it is worth it. All I know is that you won't find yuppies here (they opened Rustica for them), you'll find people that you could imagine making this food at home and this feeling of the Italian-American home is encompassed in the taste of the food and the size of the portions. read more

Great Italian restaurant. Vincent and his family are wonderful people. Very classy place. Every dish we ordered was fantastic, and so was the service. read more

Awesome food, lax service. Don't be in a hurry. Reasonably priced and real tasty, bring friends.

Best Manicotti best ever. Roast baby pig sublime. Superior wine list, excellent service.

GOOD food, TERRIBLE service. After having dined at Manducatis several years ago on a quiet weekday night and leaving reasonably satisfied, I decided to take a group of 5 there for Friday night dinner. I doubt I will be returning. The food is GOOD not GREAT. The waitstaff was inattentive and unwelcoming. What should have been an hour-long dining experience was involuntarily stretched to 1:45. The greatest annoyance, however, was a noisy large group which had been seated in the middle of the main dining room, instead of in the adjoining nearby (completely empty) overflow space that would've been perfect for them. Hospitality 101, it seemed to me. read more

I had another fantastic meal here last night, and felt the urge to yelp about it. I have been dining at Manducatis for about 20 years. I was brought as a kid for all family birthdays, anniversaries, mothers days or just any excuse to dine out together, and now, my family still convenes here when we get the chance. Last night happened to be my dad's 59th birthday, and the old-standby once again delivered a stand-out meal. Maybe it's because I've been eating here for so long, but to me this is the epitome of Italian-American comfort food.. The food is cooked with love the way your grandmother would. For appetizers the eggplant rollatini and antipasti are always a hit. The fish of the day (last night was striped bass and Branzino - i chose the bass) is always fresh and perfectly cooked. I opt for the Manducatis preparation - where the fish is covered with mushrooms and scallions - but the Livernese preparation comes in close second. The gnocchi is absolutely incredible - not to be missed - its made with ricotta (not potato) so they are like little pillows melting in your mouth. (We always ask for the gnocchi with Bolognese - much better and more complex than the marinara!). The homemade pasta special for the evening is always amazing as well - last night they had whole wheat homemade spaghetti with asparagus and sun dried tomatoes - yum! I also had bites of the suckling pig, eggplant parmigiana and the chicken parmigiana. Everyone was so please and completely stuffed by the end of the meal. Round it out with an incredible wine list, and lovely tiramisu and cannolis. This is a family run restaurant that's an old-school LIC kind of place. Its a gem, and something of a relic. read more

Great food. Warm people. A family place with a big heart. Plus, good place for celebrity sightings.

This is the most authentic Italian restaurant in Long Island City, hands down. The dishes are prepared in the homemade-style in which they were intended. It doesn't look like anything from the outside (which is why my wife and I took so long before trying it out), but it's warm and cozy inside - regardless of the fact that it can seat more people than any other place I can think of in LIC. It's been run by the same Italian family since it opened in the 70's. With all of the new construction and new businesses sprouting up all over Vernon Blvd, it's refreshing to find such an authentic experience at Manducatis. Highly recommended. read more

Excellent old world italian restaurant. The owner, an elderly gentleman greets you with a "Buonasera!". Rustic old time decor, brick walls, you meander through an unassuming entrance through a sea of tables to one of three dining rooms. The waiters are like your mother "what do you want!" Often said gruffly but don't let that fool you the food is terrific and the dining experience wonderful. My favorite is the manicotti, it is all home made and absolutely sublime, the best I ever had. I toured the kitchen once and the owners wife was preparing a freshly delivered sea bass for the day, with pride she pointed to the burner on the stove all her great meals are prepared! In the back a much older woman was preparing fresh pasta for the day, hand rolling gnocchi, it reminded me of my grandmothers kitchen! It doesn't get better than this! A little rough around the edges but great italian food, good wine selection, quiet charming and romantic atmosphere. This is a place well worth going out of your way for. read more

Wonderful place, and melancholy because old-fashioned Italian restaurants like this are such a dying breed. I suggest you go sooner rather than later, as it (and its ilk) really won't be around forever. You can read other 4- and 5-star reviews for more detailed info, I'll just say - duh - great food, great drinks, great (*in its way* service), and just wonderful ambiance. I'm mostly writing to say that the 2-star reviews pain me. They seem to fall into two categories. First, ignorant or inflexible people who don't like the restaurant because it's not what they want it to be. (Including the service, which is by no means rude or bad, just culturally different from what these people expect/want. Are they going to go to a super-authentic Chinese restaurant in Chinatown and complain about the brusque service? Ridiculous.) Their disapprobation is truly annoying. Second, people who don't like the food. I have to assume that some of these people had unfortunate bad luck, and really did receive bad food. That's a shame, but it's extremely rare; it's certainly never happened to me, but restaurant is only human (haha), and I guess it's inevitable that sometimes something will go wrong. However, I'm pretty certain that most such reviewers simply don't have good taste, at least for Italian food, and for whatever reason can't recognize its high quality. There's nothing to do about such people, but it is a shame when their incorrect assessment winds up as a permanent black mark against a high-quality place. read more

This place is great! We went last night after it was recommended to us from friends. Had the eggplant rollatini and baked clams to start. The bread they serve is awesome! All pasta entrees come with delish fresh salads. 3 of us had fish- shrimp marinara, shrimp and peas, and clams in a red sauce. My dad had the veal and said it was amazing. Espresso and cappuccinos were great. And oh my, the desserts were amazing! Make sure you get the tiramisu! We loved the feel of the place - it was so cozy and you felt like you were family! We will definitely be back! read more

This is simply a great family owned, run Italian restaurant. The menu changes a lot, featuring a lot of seasonal seafood, and ingredients and fresh homemade pastas.... not a sterotypical chicken parm joint. read more

Decent Italian food. However, Manetta's and Bella Via a few blocks away in LIC are significantly better. Manducati's is very over-priced compared to the portions you receive, and the pasta dishes just don't compare to the other Italian restaurants. I will say Manducati's has the best soup in the area though. It might be worth a shot to try since some dishes could be good, but overall it's not the best in the area. read more

We've been coming here before the new high rises and hipsters, when the pasta dishes were $5.95 - this was and continues to be a terrific place - I'm sorry some folks feel otherwise, but to each his own. We've just come back from a trip to Italy, and we thought the food here was better than anything we ate in Milan and Florence. If there's a better family run Italian restaurant in New York, please tell me what it is. read more

This is old school italian done right. Exactly what you'd expect decor wise, but tastier food than other similar spots. the eggplant parm and baked clams were the highlights! read more

Old school Italian restaurant that has been in LIC forever. The food is good. The atmosphere needs some updating, yet the old school charm works in this place. The food is done well, nothing is absolutely fantastic. The portions are large and the prices are fair. We continue to come back here, even though many newer restaurants are finally moving in the area. read more

LIC's best kept secret! After moving to LIC six months ago from London, and after visiting every other Italian in the area, we were finally referred to this family run restaurant a week ago. After a weekend of spending a fortune on meals that were quite frankly disappointing as we showed visiting friends from London around the neighborhood, this afternoon was quite easily the best restaurant we visited. Traditional, Italian food, in a relaxed Italian restaurant where toddlers and adults are just as welcome as one another. The food was simple but tasty - exactly as Italian is meant to be. The host, Anthony, well he quite simply made the meal. How he can keep up that level of enthusiasm after so many years is astounding. Well done guys, good show. See you again, very, very soon! read more

Authentic Italian. More Formal and more sophisticated dishes than their daughter's restaurant Manducati Rustica just a few blocks away but both are amazing. read more

The Cerbone's restaurant, a fixture in LIC since 1978, has the finest by far wine list (fairly priced too) in LIC, and superb neopolitan food as well as great daily specials. Head chef Mrs. Cerbone, a rarity for Italian food. Son Anthony is captain of the ship and great sommelier. Relaxed service, not fast food, laid back, old style. read more

I stopped into Manducatis for lunch with some co-workers. When we arrived, they weren't exactly open yet, but they seated us anyhow and took great care of us. The interior of the restaurant is quite large, much bigger than it appears from the outside. It is cozy and quiet, with many different dining rooms. Service was prompt, though not exactly friendly. The servers were short with us, but in that charming New Yorker way. Our food came out pretty fast. I ordered homemade spaghetti with sun dried tomatoes and garlic, lots of large chunks of whole garlic. I like garlic, but I don't want to bite into a whole chunk of it. The tomatoes added a lot of flavor, but the dish was a bit buttery for my taste. My co-workers all seemed to enjoy their meals, but I thought it was just average. And that sums up the whole dining experience for me, just average. read more