Really love this corner neighborhood gem in Morningside heights just a quick walk from Columbia university. They have a happy hour from 4 to 6 PM of pasta, dishes, wines, and Prosecco. Very reasonably priced for very well executed and delicious dishes. Our family of five enjoyed catching up together in a very comfortable table right next to the bar. You do have to ask for the bread which we did ask for with olive oil and black olive in it ;-) they gladly re-fresh. All the pastas are amazing, amazingly prepared, and we enjoyed four pastas and this salmon which was prepared with sautéed spinach and my husband enjoyed immensely. We ordered the special tricolor salad that was on the happy hour menu - had an orange and lemon tangy fresh dressing and two orders of meatballs that came with toasty crostini for the sauce. I wished it had a dollop of ricotta but it was delicious on its own. Ordered Burrata salad, fettuccine vodka with grilled chicken, squid ink, pasta with seafood and tomato. Fettuccine Bolognese and pasta with broccoli rabe & sausage I would be happy to have over and again! Homemade pasta - yes please always. The dining room is cozy but they also have a little terrace area and tables outside if you'd like along Amsterdam and we look forward to another return! Their desserts were delicious also - the tiramisu was perfectly proportioned and the chocolate They are open for breakfast lunch and dinner and Monday through Thursday happy hour is 4-6pm! recommend you go and enjoy this NOW!! read more

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This place is super cute. A little bistro in Morningside Heights, not far from Teachers College. And they also have a little covered patio part of which is rainproof! Met a friend here, and we ended up talking for hours and they didn't kick us out. The soup of the day, asparagus, was very tasty and perfect for rainy weather. I got a glass of Nero d'Avola from their small selection of wines by the glass, and it was delicious once it opened up. My tagliatelle funghi in a cream sauce was a little heavy, but I might have expected that. Also their complementary bread was delicious as was the olive oil. I might have read it four stars, but the vibes and their letting us sit and catch up was great. I would happily come here again with a friend. Definitely doesn't feel corporate and the vibes are cozy! read more

Max Soha Restaurant - Outside patio, pretty dry even in the rain - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

I went here briefly for a work-related lunch and was pleasantly surprised by the menu, attentiveness, and quaint hospitality this place had. The food was good and I was told the dessert was better. Will definitely try again read more

Max Soha Restaurant - Gnocchi Alla Sorrentina - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Max Soha is a nice cozy little spot where you can grab some solid Italian food. What pulled me in was their very fair priced lunch special, and honestly I was hungry enough to read that sign like it was a personal invitation. I popped my head in and ordered spaghetti and meatballs because sometimes you just need pasta made by someone who actually knows what they are doing. Unless you are a trained chef at home, restaurant pasta just hits different. The food was good, so good I basically swallowed it whole. And that is where my only issue comes in. The portion size was cute. Adorable even. Perfect if you are half my size or just trying to snack on spaghetti like it is a light appetizer. But for me, I had to order two lunch specials to feel like I actually had a meal. Pasta is one of the cheapest comfort foods on earth. A little extra would have gone a long way and probably would have me bragging about this place to everyone I know. Outside of that, the place is great. Cozy interior, friendly staff, solid vibe. If they made the portions match the flavor, this would easily be one of those comfort food spots you keep on your regular rotation. Overall I enjoyed it and I would return, but I am coming in already knowing I may need to double up. Cheers. read more

Max Soha Restaurant - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

One of my favorite restaurants in the city. Happy hour for meals and drinks after work, can't beat those prices. The Chicken Alfredo is my go to with some wine. I try to dine at this restaurant once every two weeks. The service just makes me want to keep coming back. The staff remembers my fiancé and I, always making us feel welcomed. Very attentive and friendly. The ambiance is quiet, calm, and comfortable. I love the Halloween decor. Can't wait to see what they do for the holidays. Easily, one of the best restaurants in Manhattan! read more

Cozy cafe and friendly neighborhood spot! Came here for brunch on the terrace on a rainy day. Good portions and presentation for brunch. Staff were prompt and attentive. Will need to return to try the dinner menu! read more

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Loved the pasta here! Service was great and the ambiance was lovely. It felt like I was in an authentic little cafe out of town . Really the best Alfredo I've had. read more

I came here recently on a week night for dinner and had a fairly good dining experience. I made a reservation in advance to avoid any wait and were seated at a table away from the door, which is a plus. We ordered meatballs as an appetizer, "handmade" pasta with lamb and for dessert we had the brownie with gelato and the pistachio and ricotta cake. All were fine for what they were. I would say the pasta while advertised as handmade tasted more like store bought freshly made. Additionally, while the brownie was good it was a bit dense. The ricotta and pistachio cake was very good. The service was amicable and attentive. The decor was pretty cute and ideal for a date spot. As a night out for dinner, Max Soha is definitely a spot that leans more on the quality of the service and the overall charming and romantic ambiance of the place instead of it's food. That's not to say the food was bad. The food was good, just not spectacular. read more

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Found this Italian lunch spot on my walk down Manhattan. Great appetizers, really loved the bruschetta. read more

Max Soha Restaurant - Prosciutto & Mozzarella di Bufala - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Cute, friendly and surprising. We have visited this neighborhood many times but somehow never visited this adorable place before. We were not expecting to find Italian food considering the other restaurants in the area. Our server was super friendly which is always a great start. We ordered the grilled chicken panini and the pasta lunch special. Both were very good. The gentleman just was also very friendly and accommodating. The space itself is a little small-ish but that's part of the charm. They also have what looks like a lovely patio area, though we did not use that. read more

some of the best pasta i've had in my life. the atmosphere is amazing and the music is lovely. the service was very nice so i'll definitely be back. read more

Max Soha Restaurant - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Tasty, fresh,and well worth the money. We've been eating heresies 1998 and have seen revamps to the menu over the years but the one constant has been great food at affordable prices. The staff is friendly and accommodating. Check lunch and happy hour specials too. read more

My ultimate go to place near my apartment whenever my friends are visiting or whenever I'm meeting with friends/family in the area. It's cute, quaint, delicious, and reliable! I've been here so many times but just getting around to writing a review as an ode to the place as a few of my friends in the neighborhood have moved away. We had a last farewell gathering here for a group of 4 for dinner with no reservation and were seated immediately. Got a bottle of Chardonnay to share and it was perfect for the final hot days of summer. Our waiter was fun and friendly and very attentive to us throughout the evening. We got the Calamari and Bruschetta to share and it was a good size appetizer for the table. I got the Penne alla Bologenese, but I usually get the Spinach Pappardelle con Fughi - highly recommend this if you love spinach & mushroom. We also ended up getting their dessert specials - the Tiramisu and Key Lime Pie - they were both pretty good and a great way to end the night. read more

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We enjoyed this place. It was cozy, good service and food. I had a gluten free risotto that was okay. My friends had lasagna and regular things that were better. But, I appreciate the accommodation. read more

Cute down-to-earth Italian place that is perfect for a date or just a nice treat without hurting your wallet! It seems like in the past they were cash-only but they do take card now. There is indoor seating with dimly-lit romantic vibes as well as a very nice outdoor patio for enjoying fresh air. The menu offers classic appetizers, pastas, and meat entrees at super reasonable prices, with none of the pasta dishes breaking $20 as of this review. They give free bread with olive oil, though the bread was somewhat dry which made it hard to soak up the oil or sauces. But the pasta I ordered, the fettuccini ragu, was absolutely delicious! The fresh pasta was perfectly cooked and the sauce wasn't the typical tomato-based sauce I've seen with other ragus, but more meat-forward and almost stew-like. The lamb was so tender and flavorful, though it's probably not for those who don't like the taste of lamb. Portion size was satisfactory for one meal, not too meager or gigantic, but big eaters may want to consider an appetizer or dessert. Overall, beautiful ambience combined with affordable yet high-quality pasta - I'd love to try more! read more

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I loveeee love Max Soha. First, the ambiance is so cute- they have indoor seating and outdoor seating in a covered patio with curtains. They have fresh, hand made pasta that is soo delicious. I love how they use ingredients that are in season to maximize the freshness of the food. They have breakfast (coffee, tea, pastries, bites), lunch specials and dinner options. The service was great and the food is consistently amazing. Highly recommend! read more

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Hadn't been in a very long time. To my surprise, the decor had changed, but the great food remained. It felt like coming back home to a family meal. The service was excellent, and we had a great time celebrating my son's 25th birthday. We really appreciated the great memories being brought back to life. read more

Max Soha reopened! Staff is very friendly and welcoming. It's a good place to grab lunch/dinner and catch up with friends. Generous portion sizes as well. read more

Max Soha Restaurant - Spaghetti Alla Carbonara - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

I love this place! Both the ambiance and the food are are great. But today we had a special treat. Their latte artist is a genius and we asked if he could do a lab. As you can see he delivered. This place is magical. read more

Max Soha Restaurant - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

i came here for a quick late breakfast i got a cappuccino and nutella crepe both were very good. i think they could have put more banana (only two pieces) but it's not a big deal all the fruits were fresh the service is prompt. it was a little busy when i came in but i never felt neglected. the ambiance could use a little work to be honest. it's a small space and the tables are pretty close to each other. when the table next to me was ordering i felt like i was part of their table and going to order next (even though i was waiting for my food already at that point) i didn't really mind too much but this place is a bit cramped. read more

Max Soha Restaurant - Crepes and cappuccino - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

We have long supported Max Soha but I just can't do the small portions anymore. None of the portions are as large as the images here. The $12 glass of wine was less than half full, the meatballs in the appetizer were tiny and the lasagna, which was said to be a good size, was maybe 2 1/2 inch square and served in a small cock bowl. I don't need huge portions, but something reasonable. read more

3.5 rounded up since the price is right, delivery time is good, packaging solid, and all pastas arrived cooked to a perfect al dente. I'll certainly order again. Took a couple meals to work through: Casarecce Alla Norcina - That is definitely one darned nice cream pasta dish. Slight side eye to exactly how much porcini and truffle were actually in the dish. Though I got an occasional palate swipe of both, and it's well-priced. So no complaints here. Fettuccine Con Ragu' D'agnello - this was real good! Beautifully braised lamb, tender veg, just an awesome dish. Calamari Alla Griglia - big, hard, huge no. The only solid is that the mini salad bed was pleasant with the dressing they included. Very overcooked and super chewy calamari, and it seems like the pesto is brushed on before it is grilled and there isn't a second pass when it comes off the grill. You can see pesto grilled into the calamari...but hardly any flavor is present. Pass. Penne Alla Bolognese - Awesome that they will sub a different pasta upon request! The bolognese was fine. If they are adding cream, it's a very scant amount as it could have used a touch of that signature cream presence I couldn't find. Chicken Marsala - very forward marsala flavor, which for me is a good thing! Healthy amount of protein. A bit dry but still had good flavor. Mash was solid. Garlic Sautéed Spinach - sautéed a bit too long to push over to the mushy side. Nice big garlic cloves...though didn't pick up the garlic flavor in the spinach. Portion a little small for the price. All said, I'm definitely about continuing to work my way through their menu so I know my preferred go to items and can continue to support a solid area choice. read more

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One of our favorite local spots. The waiters are very friendly, the food is always delicious! Highly recommend the chicken Marsala! It's a quiet, small, but cozy restaurant. Happy hour deals are always well worth it! read more

I really like this place. It's a quiet, cozy, intimate space where you can get great Italian food for an affordable price. The service was exceptional. Our waiter was very friendly and patient, and went over the specials menu with us, answering any clarifying questions we had and waiting for us to be ready to order (it took me awhile, lol, when there are many good options I go through internal conflict until the inner voices in my head reach a consensus), and he kept our water filled. The pasta is al dente, seasoned perfectly, and of course I added some pepper and parmesan to the dish to add a bit of *umph*, not that the truffle oil needed any additional notes. Let's talk about how I was full but saw the dessert offered on the specials board and decided to go for it even though I knew I didn't need any more food. How the words "chocolate" and "passion fruit mousse" made my heart skip a beat. It did not disappoint. I'm really glad I overindulged that day. I had a nice glass of Chardonnay with my meal and was overall very satisfied with my experience there. I recommend it for dates, family time, or just a place to hang out with friends and have a nice, long conversation. read more

Max Soha Restaurant - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Nice service. Great chicken. Very nice waiter. Most eat chicken. Bread is great. Nice drinks.

The food was absolutely delicious! I don't think I've ever devoured breaded chicken that quickly. Plus the Nutella croissant is my dream food. The server was very kind and easy to call over. The restaurant itself is quite small, but they fit an impressive number of two-person tables in there, plus a few that can take more people at once. Didn't sit in the terrace, but it seemed nice. read more

The place is very comfortable and the staff is very nice and helpful. The housemade pasta with creamy truffle sauce, sausage, and mushrooms was very tasty. The lasagna was very nice, but the pasta in it was a bit overcooked. We will come back soon. read more

Ambiance was very nice- small dining room but friendly and attentive staff. Delicious and reasonably priced luncheon specials. Truly exactly what we needed after move-in day at the dorms. What a gem! We will be back next time we visit our daughter at college! read more

The only survivor (with Massawa) in this portion of amsterdam ave that should be renamed "restaurant death row". Max Soha is worth considering for low key lunch/dinner. - menu is basic (what all items have in common is that cooking them seems so easy that a grad student can probably so each while simultaneously attending a zoom class, maybe that's what going on the the kitchen?) But - as a result of leaning on safe recipe, it does not disappoint - service is a step above anything else around (except Massawa of course), you wont feel like you are visiting a workplace, and it seems like a place where people may remember you - renovation was a success (a rarity in New york) the place seems cleaner and has more light without becoming soulless. the place is actually charming on a sunny day, makes you want to move in here (or if you are living here, makes you not want to move out). So Max Soha is great when simplicity and easy going is of the essence. But dont bring anyone picky or someone who only goes out to have food they cant cook themselves. read more

Came here with a friend and her mom. We got the Restaurant Weeks dinner for $21 (arugula pear salad starter, shrimp and sundried tomato spaghetti entree), as well as the daily special ( 3 scallops). The complimentary bread and olive oil were pretty average. The scallops were great and had a smooth texture I'm not used too (less stringy than ones I've had in the past). The salad was light and refreshing. I personally felt like the spaghetti was a bit disappointing. The shrimp and sundried tomato combo was interesting, and overall, I felt like I could have made the dish myself. Will have to try another pasta next time I'm in town! read more

Max Soha Restaurant - Scallops, arugula pear salad - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Great service and food for a brunch when you're uncertain. Great coffee and egg dishes.

Food is amazing but service can be better Servers make it obvious they don't want to be there, hand in pockets, they take menus away without asking etc...it's the little things Fyi... I'm giving this place 4 stars but keeps popping at 1 on yelp read more

came here randomly for lunch after i realized nearby elysian fields was closed and was really surprised at how pleasant it was. ambient and nice to sit on the deck on a sunny day and even though the restaruant was rather small it was still quite busy. i got the lunch special which i really enjoyed but i would've been more satisfied with a bigger portion. would totally come back to try the rest of the menu! read more

Came for a staff lunch. They had our reservation ready and we're very fast with a large group. Food was delicious! Would come back! read more

Max Soha Restaurant - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Always my favorite Italian place around Columbia university. This location is about five mins walk front the engineering building, and they have lunch special. PLEASE NOTE:THIS PLAVE IS CASH ONLY. Theo pasta is homemade and quite chewy, and they put eggs in their dough, so you can see the light yellow color. My favorite dish is casarecca allá norcina. This is a creamy dish wish mushroom and sweet sausage. Probably one of the best creamy sauce that I have ever tasted. In addition, they normally have specials written on the board. This time we tried a lentil soup, which is so good for the hot weather. It has sausage and other vegetables added in. Definitely worth a try if you were luck to have it as soup of the day. Highly recommended you to try it! It wasn't too pricy neither. I didn't discover this place till later of the school year, but I had already eaten there several times. read more

Max Soha Restaurant - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

$17 for a eight to quarter pound of pasta? Crazy. Your carbonara is decent but way too over priced for the amount you give. read more

Max Soha Restaurant - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

I wish I could say my experience was a great one. Unfortunately, it was just average. Also, we noted that the waiter "rounded" and since we paid in cash, he pocketed 50 cents. We are by no means, cheap people, but the waiter should have really returned the change in its entirety to allow the customer to decide what the tip should be. That's mainly why I am giving a 2. Onto the food: The spaghetti chitarra comes ragu was meh. It was okay. Again, I am unsure of why this place has such stellar reviews for this price point. $15? I can honestly make this myself. It also did not taste like homemade pasta, as advertised. The spinach pappardelle with mushrooms was drowning in cream sauce. It was just too much sauce and it tasted so heavy. Again, this meal was not delightful and the pasta did not seem homemade, especially because I have had homemade pappardelle and these noodles just did not have that wonderful chewy texture of homemade noodles. I would've given this place a 3, but having the waiter steal the fifty cents was actually very dishonest in my opinion. If you're going to run a cash business, at least be honest and not assume the customer will tip you after you've tipped yourself! read more

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Loved their cream pasta!! They have a relatively small menu but I think that's a good thing. Cream pasta has a lot of flavor although it may get cloying after some time, just bring it home to finish. They change up their dessert menu which is nice. Their tiramisu was authentic and lovely. read more

Max Soha Restaurant - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Really delicious food, generous portions and reasonable prices - the trifecta! Highly recommend.

This is the kind of place I wish I knew about my freshman year at Columbia (also wish I had more money to eat out, but alas). Sadly, my first time here was right before graduation. Nevertheless, it was a great experience. I came with 2 other friends at around 8:30pm on a breezy weekday night, and left full and content. The atmosphere was quiet intimate, with the dim lighting and brick walls, making it the perfect place to go with some close friends. My friends all know that I am not the biggest fan of pasta and its generally high prices, but the food and price at Max Soha was quite reasonable. I got the Casarecce alla norcina, which was delicious and $14. The pasta was al dente, and the sauce/cheese combination was the perfect balance to the sweet sausage. I was most impressed by the service - our waitress was super attentive, and refilled our bread basket a couple times (we were starving). While I still have never been blown away by pasta in my life, I would recommend Max Soha to anyone at Columbia or in the area. The only sticking point about this place is the cash only policy, but hopefully you come with someone who happens to carry $100 bills on them. read more

Max Soha Restaurant - Casarecce alla norcina - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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