Had the best meatballs and sauce here before seeing Jerry Seinfeld at the beacon last night. Yes that was amazing too but the dinner beforehand was just perfect. A light and fresh Caesar salad, the fluffiest and most flavorful meatballs and my husband thought his eggplant was perfectly crispy and delicious. I loved the ravioli with spinach and cheese. Our server guided us snd we listened. She knows! And when you know....... read more

I had a great time sitting outside the restaurant on a beautiful night the other night. Service was good, but I just didn't appreciate the chicken marsala. We ordered the chicken marsala, mussels, seafood pasta, salad, and creme brulee. Mussels were good, salad was expected, seafood pasta was okay (portion size good), but the chicken marsala's chicken didn't cut right. Chicken should be plumb, and cut cleanly with the knife, Every cut, I felt like I was tearing the chicken not cutting it, so to me it's either the chicken is bad? Overcooked? Something was wrong with the chicken. I'm so disappointed as I really was looking forward to it. Creme Brulée was huge, tasted fine. And I hate this part - all entree served with a side of rigatoni pomodoro - no substitutions. Yup - my chicken marsala came with a side of rigatoni pomodoro. Makes no sense, and maybe it's a 'bonus' but it just felt cheap, like it wasn't an entire meal, and they want you to get a $14 side of spinach cause it doesn't come with the bad chicken marsala. Yes, $28 for chicken marsala and I got two pieces of chicken that tear when I try to cut it. read more

Polpette 71 - Chicken I cannot cut with a steak knife. It's tearing! - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Another amazing meal at Polpette 71 ! I had the Lasagna, special menu and my husband's favorite, spaghetti with garlic and oil . Of course we started with "meatballs ". The best in Manhattan! read more

Polpette 71 - Lasagna special and Garlic and Oil ! - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Wonderful! Great food, exceptional service, friendly staff. They made our anniversary dinner special. read more

Polpette 71 - Polpette - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Walked around Columbus Ave and realized THIS is the other Italy in NYC. Though I'm Italian I almost never eat Italian--but went to find something good. Polpette fit the bill! I really thank them for explaining every menu item--I'd be lost without it. As for service: my water never emptied, and I didn't wait long either. Got the pollo Pollo Milanese with pasta and was pleasantly happy! It all tasted great and lasted me two days. I'd say it didn't have as much flavor as I remember, but still pretty good! read more

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After we checked in to our hotel (La Quinta) on Christmas Eve, we went out in search for a restaurant that was open. It was freezing cold and we were starving, so when we came across Polpette 71 a few doors down from our hotel, we didn't hesitate to go in. My husband had the spaghetti and meatballs, and I had a chicken and pasta dish and the ginger carrot soup, which was on special, to start. We also shared a bottle of wine and the complimentary garlic bread. The food wasn't amazing (well, the soup was), but it was pretty solid and filling, and we did not regret our choice, even though it was $134 US (before tip). The restaurant was cozy and warm (which was very much needed that night), great service, and they also do gluten free options. [Yelp collections: NY Christmas 2022] read more

Polpette 71 - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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I was excited when I found out that they had the squid ink pasta. Unfortunately I was disappointed that the Black Linguini with salmon, mussels, shrimp, leeks, tomatoes, garlic and olive oil was bland. We also ordered the meatballs (their speciality) and Insalata arugula. The meatballs were light not too heavy which was good. read more

Polpette 71 - Meatballs - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Great ambiance and delicious food. In a sea of great italian restaurants, Poloette 71 is our favorite for ambiance and food. We always order a customized dish and the kitchen always splits the dish for us! The portion sizes are super large so a shared app and entree is usually plenty of food. We love the pillowy, homemade gnocchi and while it's usually served with marianara, we request pesto all the time ! read more

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What a wonderful setting and meal on Valentine's Day. Staff was amazing and so friendly. Had very local vibes. And oh man was the food great. Had a burrata salad that was to die for. And super tasty fried zucchini. But the real treasure was the lasagna. Can't wait to get back! read more

I had dinner here twice. On our first visit, my husband really enjoyed his veal Marsala but not the soggy side pasta. I had a fish dish with some tomato sauce and I wasn't a fan of that combination. On my second visit I had chicken Marsala; I liked it much better, especially the sauce which was delicious. The side order of sautéed broccoli was very good. The tiramisu was very heavy and came with only a few sprinkles of cocoa powder. I had to ask for more cocoa powder but was still not enough for my taste. The place was very quiet on my visits, maybe because we went after 8:30pm. The space was very comfortable and cozy. The service was good and friendly. read more

Polpette 71 - Fish with tomatoes sauce, chicken Marsala, sautéed broccoli and tiramisu. - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

This place made me fall in love with New York and Italian food all over again. I've been to NYC many times, but this was my first time exploring the Upper West Side. There were five of us, on a mission to celebrate my daughter's birthday without her knowing, and we ended up at Polpette. It's a cozy and warm place. We were seated at a large wooden table without tablecloths at the back of the restaurant. We were soaked, cold, and hungry due to the rain, but LuAnn's warm, speedy, funny Italian attitude made all of us giggle. This place is famous for its award-winning meatballs, so if it's famous, you should definitely order them. The focaccia is simple but so good. I was initially going for the black linguini, but the Pappardelle special with grilled shrimp, salmon, and vodka sauce, along with wide homemade pasta, made me change my mind at the last minute. I loved the ribbon pasta, and the vodka sauce is rich but doesn't overpower the seafood. They grilled the shrimp to add an extra layer of flavor, and the salmon chunks were incredibly tender. At the end, the owner brought out the mini cakes that my friend had prepared for my daughter. My daughter was so surprised; the plan worked, thanks to LuAnn's vibrant personality. We shared a slice of the lemon cake with her. Turns out, we were sitting at the special table, which is the owner's family dining table! The food is excellent, and the prices are surprisingly affordable (considering it's New York with inflation and all). Btw, we also ordered a bottle of red wine. This place may not be those fancy 5-star place with modem deco and stuck up servers, but it's a family own, family run place. The pasta still taste good when it's cold (late night snack, read more

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The meatballs in the pasta are delicious owners are awesome. They come out and talk to you. It's really a place you wanna call your regular place. read more

Italian restaurant in UWS that's apparently well known for it's meatballs so naturally, I had to get spaghetti with meatballs dish. Overall, I'd say they're pretty good, but they're a bit softer than I would normally prefer. Almost feels like the protein was overworked which loses some of the tenderness. Still a good dish and would recommend it if you're in the area read more

Polpette 71 - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

I had an excellent dinner last night at Polpette 71! My boyfriend and I each had their limoncello cocktail, which was delightfully sweet and refreshing, along with some tasty focaccia with olive oil. We shared the sauced meatballs as an appetizer, which were delicious--tender, moist, and flavorful. I had the ravioli a la vodka, which now takes the #1 spot on my list of favorite vodka sauce dishes--I left no sauce behind on my plate! My boyfriend had the fettuccine carbonara, which I tasted and was delicious as well. For dessert, I had the chocolate mousse alongside an Americano, and he had the creme brûlée. The food was perfect, beginning to end. The restaurant itself was small and appeared to cater to locals in the neighborhood, giving it a quaint feel. It was however a tight space to fill with as many tables as it had. We arrived early, but as it got busier and the room filled, waiters and guests were bumping up against our chairs every time they walked by as they were spaced too close together. Our waiter and server were friendly and professional, and did double duty at the bar as well, making things a bit more challenging at peak dining hours, since they seemed to be the only two staff besides the manager. The manager did not greet us and stepped in to take orders when it got busy. She smiled at no one and was not particularly welcoming. As this was our first time here, this was not the best front of house presentation. Overall, the food was excellent and I would come back at off-hours again for a smoother dining experience. Hopefully they can consider a better layout and add more staff to help out, too. read more

My 12 year old son is a foodie and is a food critic. He's a harsh critic as I am a too. Traveling from Los Angeles we decided to have him choose a place to eat at. He choose Polpette71, and I am so glad he did. Service from start to finish was amazing. The food was some of the best we had while in New York! We had the following: Meatballs Spaghetti Pesto pasta read more

This was by far some of the best Italian food I've ever had. What truly made my experience here so magnificent was the customer service. My friend and I came here around 4pm on a weekday and the restaurant was just about empty. We sat outside at the cutest little table, multiple staff members ensured we had everything we needed at all times. We got their signature spritz to drink - it was quite refreshing, not too sweet. Then we split the eggplant sliders and their specialty gnocchi marinara. The chef was kind enough to split the gnocchi for us without even asking!! Both the gnocchi and sliders were absolutely scrumptious. The sliders were so tender and flavorful with a generous amount of sauce, it's without question that everything was made from scratch. 10 out of 10 would recommend. read more

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The best food experience of our NYC trip! Polpette 71 is a hidden gem that we will return to! The meatballs were to die for, our entrees were perfect, and the tiramisu was a religious experience! Our server was the most lovely and was the cherry on top of a great experience. read more

Came here for date night. We got a seat outside and the weather was nice! Service was quick and efficient and friendly. The crème brûlée was divine! read more

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We were lucky enough to have friends suggest this place for a friend's group dinner. It has a homey feel, albeit a noise level that probably evokes big family dinners. There's a small bar in the front with a good number of tables in the dining area. Our party of 6 was seated promptly and served the house focaccia for the table. All I can say it was warm and delicious. Although I didn't see the wine list because I wasn't drinking that night, the 2 bottles of red wine we ordered was enjoyed by 4 in our group. Also , the prices seemed reasonable. We shared a few apps- eggplant rollatini, cold antipasto plate & sauced meatballs ( the "specialty of the house"). All were excellent with the eggplant my fav- thinly sliced eggplant rolled & stuffed with mozzarella & a few peas ( different but sooooo good!) My entree was a special- seared thin chicken cutlet, rolled & stuffed with mozzarella & portabella mushroom, and shredded veggies & potato balls made of mashed potatoes, bacon bits & cheese, all in a white wine herbed sauce. Probably the best chicken dish I ever had ( besides great fried chicken). My other friends also enjoyed their dishes thoroughly - veal , chicken & shrimp parms, swordfish special & chicken piccata. Desserts we had were crème brûlée & gelato. Also excellent choices. It was so good I can't wait to go back!! Big thumbs up to the kitchen & wait staff! read more

Food was mediocre at best. The acclaimed meatballs were meh. The special I had seemed to be just a random mixture of odds and ends left over in the kitchen, although the grilled shrimp on top were good. The dish itself however had no flavor. The rigatoni side dish that came with entrees was undercooked and hard. The best dish at our table of 7 was the spaghetti with the spaghetti and meatballs. read more

Not a lot of restaurants available in that area and the ones that are there are mostly Italian. This one is right on the corner, and has both indoor and outdoor seating. I was hailed inside by the lady who I believe owns the restaurant. It was rather a slow day as it was Tuesday so there were a handful of patrons inside. Once seated the lady explained that their meatballs were the best on the menu, however I opted for the "Penne Nonna" which was made with Chicken, sun-dried tomatoes and mushrooms in vodka sauce. The service was quick, started with a few pieces of bread, which weren't the best, but the Penne Nonna was excellent. It was very flavorful, and was enough to feed two people. I could not finish it all so made half of it to go. For that area, I feel the prices are appropriate, given the quantity. More like 3.5 if I were to give a correct rating. They can do better on the bread, as that would enhance the flavor of the food too. read more

Can't recommend enough! Visiting New York during Christmas time and found this charming restaurant on yelp. The meatballs and chicken Parmesan were delicious, and the vodka sauce was outstanding! read more

Passed by Polpette many a time but never dined in until yesterday - glad I did! Cutting to the chase: food was very good, served quickly and eating it on 71st street off the noisy Columbus ave made for a very relaxing experience. We ordered the ravioli a la vodka, the chicken milanese and a couple of drinks. Suggest you do the same! read more

Polpette 71 - Pollo Milanese - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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First time I tried gnocchi marinara, it wasn't my favorite pasta but I'm glad I got to atleast try it! My date and I ate here around half an hour before they were supposed to be closing and yet they let us eat outside no problem even without asking for our vaccinations (when Covid restrictions were still going around.) I want to come back and try more pasta options! read more

Polpette 71 - Menu - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Coming in from California for a weekend & saw Polpette 71 online for an Italian Restruant recommendation in the area. Walking up to the restaurant they immediately catch your eye. Walking in, the ambiance was dim candle lit dinner & wonderful hospitality. My boyfriend and I warmly greeted & sat immediately. Daily specials were explained and I was immediately sold. Everyone was so nice & working in the industry we can admire everyone working here just danced around one another! Beautiful food, crew & establishment. Thank you for the best food I've had & a wonderful Italian NYC experience. read more

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We had a wonderful experience for a late lunch at Il Polpette on Sunday during Labor Day weekend. The four of us had various dishes that included Branzino and Zuppe to Pesce-all well prepared. We sat in the garden area that added a great ambiance on a beautiful day. Our thanks to our server Katie and we had a delightful conversation with LuAnn. We recommend them highly. We will be back! read more

We decided to come here to celebrate our friend 5th NYC marathon and this place was perfect. Luckily for us, they had enough seating for a group of 6 people so that was a plus. When we arrived, they told us they only had outdoors seating. We were fine with it but just wish they told us this when reservation was being made. We were seated by the host but didn't see our waiter so to make things more convivence for the waiter, we decided to grab the menu since it was placed on the side right next to our table. Apparently this tick our waiter off the wrong way and we felt him being annoyed with our table the entire night. Eventually he said he doesn't like people helping themselves to the menu due to covid but if that was an issue but put a sign not to touch. Either case, we ordered our dishes and everything arrived promptly. The complimentary bread was a nice touch especially when dipped in their olive oil. Food wise, I ordered their chicken francese. The chicken was thinly sliced so even though I had three slices, it wasn't very filling. The chicken is then floured and cooked in a butter wine sauce with a small side of pasta that tasted pre-cooked. The dish was okay but I can't say it was the best chicken francese I had since this is my usual go to dish when I visit an italian restaurant. My friends dishes also looked okay so with that said, I can't see myself craving to coming back here anytime soon. Decor wise, it's pretty and it has a cool vibe with all of their decorative lights. They put effort decorating their restaurant so I like that a lot and kudos for effort; however, that day was cold and I wish they put on more of the heated lamp for us. read more

Damn, what a treat this was! My bf and I were staying down the street and kept passing by this little Italian place, so we finally tried it and were pleasantly surprised. The hostess / manager, Minnie (I hope I have that right) was a delight and our server was also very helpful and sweet. We met locals who raved about the food while dining, and it filled up so quick! We didn't get any dessert but we loved our dishes. The meatballs are the popular item on the menu, hence the name, but dammit we didn't try them this time. Next time for sure. Thanks for such an authentic New York experience. read more

Everything was fantastic! The meatballs, the pasta, service and ambiance was all 10/10. We are now frequent customers read more

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Good food, Fast waiters. Nice music playing, not to mention the servers were very kind and helpful! Great Gelato too.

Have you ever had fried zucchini that was so good that you cried? No? Okay, yeah, no, me neither. I totally didn't cry, I just had really watery eyes last night when we stopped by Polpette 71 for an unplanned dinner. We started with the fried zucchini (that totally DIDN'T bring tears to my eyes) and caprese salad (our friend dining with us kept say, should I order another? I'm going to order another. It would be weird if I ordered another one, right?). Then we had the swordfish, meatballs, and eggplant parmigiana entrees. I honestly don't know which one to rave about first. Everything tasted like it was supposed to be the star of the menu. Then, when we all thought we were going to burst, they brought out a tiramisu that made my eyes super sensitive to the breeze again. The service was incredible and the food was honestly some of the best food I've had in my years in the city. It was the PERFECT NYC evening and I literally cannot wait to go back. I wish I could give Polpette 71 more than 5 stars because it deserves them. read more

Polpette 71 - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Held a bridal luncheon at time, 71 two weeks ago. Wish I could rate higher than 5 stars! Their beautiful garden area created an intimate atmosphere. Sitting there, enjoying the delicious food and drinks, brought me back 'home' to family dinner at Grandma's. Lu could not have been more attentive and caring, not only during the meal, but also with the pre-planning, enabling me to simply relax and enjoy the party. Polpette's meatballs are truly the best, and we also enjoyed their focaccia, fried zucchini, rice balls, and antipasto platter. We each ordered our own meals (there were 12 of us) and portions were generous as well as scrumptious. I had the ravioli, little clouds of love! Everyone had a great time and I highly recommend eating at Polpette 71. read more

Wonderful neighborhood italian on the Upper West Side. Service was excellent and the house made pasta did not dissapoint. Would highly recommend if you are looking for a good NYC italian spot. Meatballs are teh specialty, and while they were good, I would have preferred them to be a bit more "firm". Flavor was good, though. And the Papardelle and Penne Nona were delightful! read more

Polpette 71 - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Everything about our visit to this restaurant was perfect. The staff was exceptionally polite, friendly, very prompt, and was very helpful with explanations and recommendations concerning the menu. We were seated outside the main part of the restaurant on the patio under a closed in awning; which gave our visit a lighthearted, but still romantic atmosphere. The prices were more than reasonable; especially since the portions were quite generous. We ordered the bottle of Cabernet, the meatballs, the cozze a la marinara in white sauce, the fettuccini carbonara, and the black linguini with salmon/mussels/shrimp. Everything was absolutely delicious. We were so distraught that our hotel room didn't have a refrigerator, because we wanted to take back leftovers. I will definitely return the next time we visit NYC. read more

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Such a joy to stumble across this charming little NY Italian eatery! The restaurant itself evokes a sense of nostalgia for the classic family-owned Italian restaurant - it was very warm and welcoming. I got the spaghetti and meatballs, and it was excellent. The sauce was so flavorful, and the meatballs were so tender and delicious. And the pasta was lightly al dente - just perfectly cooked and well-sauced. The staff were also so friendly and attentive. All in all, I was so glad to have stopped by, and will definitely come by again to get more of the meatballs! read more

Polpette 71 - Classic Meatball - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

I had the veal Marsala and Katrina had the lobster ravioli. Both were soooooo good. Would highly recommend!!! A great experience and meal to start our weekend in NY. Now onto the crème brûlée!. That did not disappoint either. Excellent dinner! read more

Polpette 71 - Dinning rooom - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Hi LuAnn thanks so much for the suggestion on the Awesome Meatball with spaghetti and the Cod with the potatoes! We really enjoyed the atmosphere and the food. read more

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From the moment we sat down, we knew we were in for a real treat! As born-and-bred New Yorkers, we have come to expect GREAT Italian restaurants. Luann, Nicky Meatballs' sister, was the perfect hostess, steering us into delicious apps, salads and entrees. If you are a local or coming to visit NYC, you gotta go to Polpette 71! Mangia! read more

Polpette 71, or as we refer to it "Nicky's Meatballs" - Ambiance is warm, cozy and inviting. The restaurant has wonderful brick walls, pleasant lighting and low background music. Seating includes a small bar with ~5 stools, a variety of table sizes to fit just a few, or a larger group, but it feels like you are welcomed into a home, not just a business. You can hear your conversations, it feels intimate, yet like a comfortable community. The menu is just big enough to have a variety of selections ensuring that it is easy to find something for everyone. The prices are very reasonable and the portions are generous. Food is brought out hot and in a timely manner. Their meatballs are fantastic, as are many, many other menu items and specialty cocktails. Business casual to dressy, date night, friends gathering or family meal, this place is that neighborhood gem that you are looking for. read more

The food was good. Nothing special. But watch out for the slow service... Ambiance was nice. Won't be back in a hurry... read more