I went here on a Thursday night with a girlfriend who was visiting from Pennsylvania. We enjoyed this dinner very much. My friend got the mixed green salad as a starter and a vegetarian entree. I ordered the pasta special which was a large size tortellini with a pasta primavera. Everything was delicious. The atmosphere felt alive and happy and the hostess was friendly and nice. I hope to return soon. It was a good night. read more

Total rip off. Ordered the soup special, it came as a pasta, and I was charged $38 for it-- more expensive than anything on their menu and was very mediocre for a plate of pasta I didn't want. read more

EDITED TO ADD: I stated that their was hair in TWO of our dishes. Secondly, we didn't ask for anything for free except the meals that had hair in them, which was the least they could do as they were uneaten. In addition, I do not have black hair. I am a brunette. The only person who had black hair at our table was my aunt, sitting in the middle. Both dishes that had hair were ones served to the left of the table, and my aunt didn't touch any of those dishes as we had ordered duplicates. I have the receipts and images to prove this, but, maybe the restaurant is right, and we secretly planted hair in two dishes to get $40 off the $1,000 bill because we enjoy "taking advantage of small businesses." Lastly, I have eaten out on my birthday for the 10 years I have lived here and have never been charged a cake cutting fee. I don't know what business would respond this way, but it's asisine and further solidifies my point: DO NOT EAT AT PISTICCI'S. My family and I (13 people) celebrated my birthday at Pisticci's. My partner called multiple times to let them know we'd be celebrating my birthday and bringing our own cake. When we arrived with a cake, it was as if these conversations never happened. We sat at our cramped table, and no-one came by (even with water or bread - we had to ask for this separately) for 15 minutes. Everything was slow, as noted by the 3 hours we spent here. We eventually ordered appetizers, including steamed mussels with a side of hair. I let one of the waiters know, who stood there and stared at me blankly. I kindly asked him to remove the mussels from the bill. Right after this, another waiter whips by me to pull a salad that had been placed on the table muttering "This actually isn't for this table, it's for another." The salad had been on the small table for 5 minutes, touched, reached/spoken over, and this man grabbed the salad like a ninja in the night. I'm horrified to think what table they placed that salad on next. The manager came by shortly after this to ask "How is everything?" as if he had no knowledge of these previous events. I told him what happened, he said "Ok, I'm sorry" and walked away. Eventually our entrees came out, and we all sat confused as to how an Italian restaurant, where each of us ordered pasta, would not think it important to offer parmesan and crushed red pepper. We had to ask 3 times to get this. The food was mediocre. We were all eating until someone found another hair (the same exact type) embedded in their pasta. At this point, I thought this was all ridiculous, so I got up to say something. I showed the hostess the hair, she said "Ok" and then walked away. I was left standing there with the plate of food. I put it on the empty table behind us, then another waiter came out and grabbed the plate, confused and about to place it back on our table. I told him there was a hair, to which he replied "Where?", and I showed him it strung around the bottom of the pasta/plate. He said "I'm sorry" and walked away ?? He came back with someone else's drink, to which I asked what they were going to do about the hair and quickly digressed to just please take it off the bill and get this person something else instead. The manager came by shortly after to ask the same question as before, as if he had no knowledge of what was going on in his restaurant. When I told him about the additional hair, his response was "That's so weird," as if we were lying. Most of us had lost our appetite by this point, but I guess the restaurant confused the cheer of being surrounded by family as us having a good time. I specifically recapped the events of the evening with the manager and replied "I'm having a great time because I'm surrounded by my family, otherwise, this has not been a great experience." The manager replies, "I'm sorry to hear that" and walks away. LOL. By this point they had also stopped coming around the table, (e.g. to ask if we wanted more drinks or water), but eventually came around to ask "Does anyone want any dessert?" After I reminded them it was my birthday and we brought a cake, they asked if anyone wanted coffee. ~5 cappuccinos took about 15 minutes to make, and when they brought them they didn't bring any sugar or spoons. The cake came long after, again without any spoons. Despite asking to use up all of the cake, they only used half. Everyone was left wanting more, but it was so hard to get their attention to ask if any remained, that we let it be. After trying to get their attention for 10 minutes, my partner had to GO UP and request the bill, which only had 2 items comped, although they still graciously charged $104 just to cut the cake. We didn't receive a sincere apology or anything to make up for the extremely lackluster and gross experience. They exhibited unsanitary practices and general discontent for having a packed house on a Wednesday night. I guess they don't need any more money, so go somewhere else that needs it! Fumo is close by :) read more

fresh steaming mussels - yummy, wish there was more not cause there wasn't enough (it's appetizer size) but because yummy, would eat the sauce just by itself, sauce works great w bread too, would order again fettuccine ai funghi w truffle oil - not even sure if there was truffle oil, did not like and i love mushrooms, would not order again penne pisticci - yummy yummy everything pasta and sauce, would order again rigatoni alla vodka - amazing sauce, im al dente over anything but the rigatoni was too firm, would order again free bread basket refill cute book wallpaper and mirror in bathroom nice inside outside makes me think of greece service bad :( would come again first visit read more

Absolutely loved it here! Came here with a large group of friends for dinner. As you enter, the bookshelves painted on the wall make it feel like you're entering a bar in a library. Has a very classic yet rustic and traditional look to it. We had made reservations for 9 but the hostess and staff were very accommodating when we wanted to add 2 more people. I ordered a Rockford Peach for the first time ever and I loved the sweet and fresh taste. Perfect amount of bourbon. I ordered the maltagliati, which came with pasta, lamb, spinach, and ricotta. The lamb was stewed perfectly and the combination was really lovely. I also tried my friend's bean tortellini and I loved it! Will probably order that next time. I ordered dessert as well and unfortunately can't remember the name. It was vanilla and chocolate gelato in a chocolate shell with a cherry and espresso to drizzle over. So good and indul read more

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Great for brunch and dinner. I've loved everything i've eaten at pisticci, and the ambience is nice and romantic both for indoor and outdoor dining. read more

There are 4 young adults from my very short street in Portland, Maine, all living in NYC. As I found myself in the city for the month of July, I decided to gather the troops at Pisticci for a Maine meet-up . What a wonderful restaurant. We were seated at a very comfortable table in the back, our server was funny and attentive and we never felt rushed! The food was consistently terrific. I ended up with grilled polenta and meatballs, which was filling and delicious. Everyone was happy with their meals. We decided to stay for dessert, and our waiter, who had refrained from suggesting any specific dishes up until that point, gave an earnest and sincere pitch for the coconut cake. We ended up with the coconut cake and a plate of whipped cream and berries. The coconut cake was off-the-rails good. He was right. It was kind of a cross between a cake, a cheesecake and a tres leches. Our waiter even brought us a small plate with three fresh lime wedges to squeeze over individual bites. The plate of cream and berries, which was wonderful, was definitely over shadowed by the coconut cake! We were probably there for 2 hours, and felt like we easily could have stayed longer. On the way out, I talked to the bartender who told me they also do an excellent brunch on the weekends. Sounds like there is often a long wait for that, so make reservations! Another note; Pisticci is not far from the Columbia/Barnard campus, generally a desert in terms of nice places with good food that work for families. read more

We're locals who have patronized Pisticci for many years, particularly to help during Covid. So when planning a birthday gathering for next month I walked over to make the reservation. I asked about bringing our own birthday cake and was shocked to hear they charge $8 PER SLICE. God forbid someone should have two! So after spending at least $1,000 on dinner and drinks for 10-12 adults, they'll charge another $96 because we brought our own special cake?? It's not as if I'm walking in with creme brûlées and a key lime pie. This is incredibly disrespectful and arrogant. We won't return. read more

My go-to spot for reliable food and excellent service. It's such a comfortable restaurant and I've never had a bad meal.

Dined outside with a couple friends on a weekend evening at the cozy set up Pisticci has arranged for their patrons. Service is warm and friendly. The Italian menu is solid. read more

The food is consistently great ! Service is friendly and attentive, but not over bearing. Pisticci is a real gem in Harlem.

Had a beautiful dinner with my family and friends. Received wonderful reception from owner and staff. The food is always on point and the atmosphere warm and friendly. I would recommend this neighborhood bar and restaurant for all occasions! read more

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I always go here whenever I crave for pasta. Staffs there are very welcoming and professional as well. It is kinda expensive when you order some special pasta, but it worths the price. read more

Took my friend here for her Birthday brunch, everything was amazing. I made the reservation earlier in the week but I called just an hour ahead to ask for their famous coconut cake to be brought with a candle at the end...I figured after all of the food we ate, she wouldn't have room for it. So I went to remind them and request it in a takeout container. They needed NO reminder from me, they were on point. I am not a pancake person nor am I a cake gal, and I am definitely not a fan of coconut cake, but EVERYTHING we ordered....and I do mean everything, was amazing. And EVERYTHING was devoured. Definitely will be returning, hopefully extremely soon. 12:15 brunch was not crowded at all....the experience was perfect. read more

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This is a gem on the upper west that i would recommend to anyone. I absolutely love their dishes and you can tell they source their food from all the freshest ingredients. read more

This was my first time here and I came with some coworkers from work. We had a few late additions to the reservation, and the hostess was very accommodating to our party. They even sat us without everyone being present which is rare in my experience in NYC. Although I didn't drink alcohol, my friends all got the Rockford Peach drink which they said was very good. It looked crisp and refreshing! I was deciding between two dishes and ended up letting the waitress choose for me. It was a surprise when I got my plate but a very good surprise indeed. I ended up with the Tuscan bean ravioli which was excellent. The sauce was savory and complimented the ricotta and cannellini filling just right. I would definitely get it again. Overall, this place was an excellent find and I'll definitely be coming back! read more

Pisticci - Menu - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Although the decor is quite pleasant, unfortunately, my experience with this place was not as positive as I had hoped. With the exception of the burrata dish, everything we ordered was subpar, and considering the price point, it was very disappointing. For instance, we paid $37 for ravioli that I would never order again. I was upset to pay so much for food I did not enjoy. read more

Super cozy inside! Menu is short and sweet but has everything you need. Nice cocktail and wine choices. Service was a touch slow when we first sat down but it picked up quick. Cant give a full 5 stars bc they charged my credit card twice! :( read more

Pisticci has very good food. I cook Italian so I know what I like and they are good! However, I'm not the only one who thinks so and so get there early! What's very nice is to sit outside in good weather so when wait staff is running around, busy, you can relax and chat out of doors. read more

Came here today without reservations and hostess was nothing short of rude. Didn't have a table but also is not offer an approximate wait timeframe and actually suggested we should go elsewhere and walked away . Gave two stars because I ate here many times and the food was quite good. Since I am big on service we won't be back- read more

I was looking for a place to take a true "Harlem Foodie" and I have to put it in quotes because anyone who claims to love good food should absolutely know about Pisticci! After, 13 years back in New York this is still my most pleasant surprise find!! The food is authentic and extraordinary! I have now made it a go to show off location. When I just want to impress someone with a quick bite I run them through Pusticci! Thanks Pisticci!!! read more

Awesome food, even better service. Nice date or just going out with friends, this is the place to go.

Beautiful place no ambiance. The food is wonderful and so are the drinks. Gets really busy during the evenings, always best to make reservations. read more

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Pros: Nice ambience Eggplant appetizer is good! Table to farm and they compost! Cons: 1. Slow slow slow service. I think there was one women waiting about 8 tables, so I understand why we were going snail pace, but goodness. We were there on a Thursday night, and the restaurant was definitely crowded, so it seems they could go for another waiter or two. We had our menus for about 15 minutes before anyone came to check in on us. I saw other tables get complimentary bread, but we were never offered any. 2. The food is meh. I had the Maltagliati with lamb, ricotta and spinach, with was decent but could have used more seasoning as it was bland. Everyone else in the party seemed to enjoy their meal more. Had the butternut squash, penne pisticci, and the fetuccine. Their plates were cleaned! read more

Pretty good. The rigatoni alla vodka was the star the pisticci pasta was ok, the tiramisu and coconut cake were pretty good and the minestrone soup was tasty and light. Also tried the garlic bread which was a little too sweet for my taste. read more

Wow wow wow this place is AMAZING. BEST Italian food I've had thus far in New York!! The staff is so sweet and kind, the ambiance is open and airy which I adore. I started off getting the Burrata caprese, which was the best I've ever had! This is a MUST if you come here!! For my entree I got the Fettuccini ai Funghi which super light and yummy! The noodles where cooked to perfection and the sauce just made your taste buds scream in delight. My date got the Black Angus Skirt Steak which wasn't up to par with everything else solely because the meat was a tad bit over cooked. The manger, Lacy, over heard us talking about it and came over to our rescue. She apologized immensely and got us a fresh one that was cooked to perfection she was so sweet and kind, definitely an amazing, professional and proactive manager. She then gave us the Fresh Coconut Cake as an apology which was SO GOOD!! Literally obsessed with it!! She was the sweetest, the food was 11/10 and the staff goes above and beyond. I most definitely will be back!! read more

Amazing food, fungi pasta and fig gelato are my favs!! Definitely worth trying! They also have a couple of mocktails and their other food is great. read more

More bittersweet times, another friend just got married, and planned a lovely group dinner at this cute and cozy Italian resto. We ate fresh, comforting pasta and salads dressed with anchovies and perfect Italian cheese. Good table wines made for decent conversation but I'd like to try something bolder next time--if I happen to find myself in this Morning Side Heights neighborhood again. I had the divine lamb ragu, at the suggestion of fellow Yelp videographers, and I was more than impressed with it. The portion was on the small side but you couldn't beat the freshness of the pasta and the pairing of the rich meat sauce with ricotta and extra parmesan cheese on top. Wow... Lasagna type WOW! Nearly everyone else at the table ordered the tortellini in a cream sauce special. It looked fresh, light and flavorful. And I couldn't help but want to try it but my friend was sitting far away so I couldn't nab a piece of hers like the gentleman sitting next to me kept doing to his wife's plate. He informed me that he and his wife had a 15 year relationship with Pisticci. A woman that works there, the hostess I think, came by and spoke to him, asked about his grown children and complimented him on how such good people they are. I ended my meal with the Tartufo. The presentation was remarkable. Expresso poured all over chocolate covered vanilla and chocolate ice cream with cherries. Loved it! Another good choice that the same nice gentleman stole a piece from. In his defense, he let me try his pear crumble topped with ice cream dessert special that I swooned over. read more

Pisticci - lamb ragu pasta - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Busy neighborhood spot tucked away from Broadway. Huge pasta dishes and very shareable apps. Helps to make a reservation but not always necessary. read more

The name of the restaurant should be "pasticci" (which means a mess) and no pisticci. I do hate when a restaurant claimed to be Italian to then be no even close to an Italian restaurant. I understand that an Italian place does not need to be literally Italian and some variations are welcome, but here the food is disgusting and for sure not Italian. Pasta over cooked, tomato too sweet, you asked for Parmesan (which is maybe the most cheaper one I never saw) and they literally throw it on your dish. Want to speak about "secondi"? The steak was essentially a strip super tiny and orribile. No way to chew it. The chicken was left on the dish, again to hard to chew. This is not even a restaurant, for sure not an Italian restaurant. The food quality is impressively bad. read more

Terrific drinks and mains. A neighborhood mainstay. Crowded during prime time,but worth the effort.

Super friendly, great value, delicious food. Couldn't ask for more in our neighborhood Italian!

This restaurant seems to be a decent place with a great atmosphere and I decided to dine in with my friends on a Friday evening. I ordered a medium rare beef steak, and it was tough and unchewable. Either the meat was a cheap cut or the Chef doesnt know how to handle a steak. I was puzzled. The steak came with plenty of greens and it didnt have any dressing at all. One of my friends also had the same experience. On the positive side, roast potatoes and buttered toast are delicious with great flavors. And this place has a great energy. People might only come here for a drink. I'm confused. I will have to think twice to come in the future. read more

We picked a windy chilly morning to eat outside at Pisticci. The menu was very limited for brunch. My husband had the French toast with a side of bacon.. he enjoyed it and I loved his bacon.I had grilled salmon and salad... which was simple and my friends had the pasta with mushrooms which was very good. Overall... I need to try this place again to give a final review. Worth another try. read more

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A nice set of salads and entrees in Upper West Side. Good service - they accommodated our request to move us to a table next to a window. Will come back again. read more

Pisticci is in my opinion the only real restaurant in this neighborhood. Sure, there are a couple places on Amsterdam, but none of them are any good. Pisticci is nice because I think it qualifies as fine dining. It seems like it gets a little popular in the evening, so you might have to wait a little bit. However, our wait was only like 5 minutes. My friend got pasta with a side order of salmon, while I got the spaghetti with meatballs, plus the garlic bread. I thought my spaghetti was perfectly fine, nothing special. The garlic bread was pretty nice, but I didn't really have much of a garlic taste of it. My problem with Pisticci are twofold. One, when I placed my order of garlic bread, my waitress asked me if i wanted the goat cheese option. I said no, but when they brought me my order, for some reason there was goat cheese on it. Naturally, I was charged for the goat cheese of course. Secondly, I feel like the prices are a little high here. My friend got a simple pasta with a piece of salmon on it, but the total of this was $32 dollars, which I think is a little much when you consider after tax and tip, this works out to be essentially $40. read more

Pisticci is a great place to have a casual and delicious Italian meal. Their menu consists of comfort items like spaghetti and meatballs, polenta, garlic bread, and ziti with cheese. They have a great selection of salads and fresh vegetables. Eating here, you feel far removed from the usual long wait times and crowded restaurants of lower Manhattan. It is peaceful here, cozy, and the servers are pleasant. The place is a beautiful place to eat and their food always satisfies. Whether you want a classic cheesy pasta or something for complex , Pasticci will have what you are looking for. read more

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While the food was exquisite as it had ever been. And introducing this beautiful little italian bistro to a great friend for his bday. He was very impressed with the chosen plate. As well as I, and impressed with the service during a busy time. I was so impressed I tipped in cash at the high end. We left on a good note in high spirits. The only thing that took the energy out of this experience was my bill was charged a second tip at the highest level again. I called my bank to cancel it. But i wont be returning when the staff alters your signed receipt in their favor and noone checks first. Poor business practices. read more

Pisticci - Rigatone a la Penne - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

My boyfriend brought me to Pisticci for my birthday dinner this year. What a lovely experience! We split a bottle of red and also got an appetizer before we got our entree. Unfortunately, the wine we originally wanted was not available. Our hostess was very generous and brought us two samples (each!) of different wines to try. We went with one of the organic bottles and were very pleased with our decision. For our appetizer, we went with the garlic bread covered with goat cheese. There were four pieces of bread in the appetizer and they were all served warm. So yummy! For the entree, I went with the Michael's Pasta. I try to cut out meat as much as I can so I was happy to see a good vegetarian option. It was cooked perfectly. We'll definitely be back! read more

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The restaurant was great! The pasta special was beyond amazing. Everything is soo fresh and delicious. The margaritas were also so refreshing and made perfectly. The staff were attentive and friendly. They had an outdoor eating area. I would highly recommend! read more