Amazing Italian experience amazing food and super nice staff interaction is amazing ai this place

Dinner after work with a colleague to fully immerse in Northern Italy cuisine in Little Italy, Manhattan, NYC as this time, I was not alone for this visit. My colleague has been to Puglia Ristorante several times for old school traditional conservative Italian cuisine and hospitality, but this is my first experience. Unfortunately, I did not see any Saffron Risotto listed on their menu. The menu is laminated but very vague as it does not contain specific details. I remember my former love cooked this entrée for a dinner party at our former home. Saffron Risotto's roots originate in Milan, Italy (Northern Italy). In the evening there is a DJ who curate music selection and event hosting for live entertainment which the reckoning became boisterous loud, rowdy and moderately wild standing on chairs and thrashing napkins. This concept originated in Southern Italy at weddings for restaurants. My party of two came for dinner which coincidence peak sports events simultaneously: NY Knicks 2026 championship parade and FIFA World Cup 2026. The energy was very high and boisterous loud, but controlled. I do not suggest Puglia Ristorante for early beginning dating as it is not conducive for couples open deepen conversation. I personally abhor boisterous loud restaurants/cafes as my intent is to sit indoor with air conditioning with good food, libation and good company. I believe this restaurant is for hosting celebratory events where patrons are openly and free to express their joy in a ruckus chaotic wayward behavior for boisterous loud noise level of birthdays and as the atmosphere environment encourage to celebrate living. The staff actually encourage patrons to openly assert such joy for high-energy and boisterous loud because life is too short and it is meant to be lived. "Life is not measured by time. It is measured by moments." - Armin Houman This restaurant is able to accommodate large parties with strong suggestion of group reservations. Patrons are mostly tourists, out-of-towners in hopes of absorbing New York lifestyle and culture. Entrées are served family style gargantuan portions which is to be shared - not one's individual plate. Patrons be mindful enter Puglia Ristorante very hungry and exit fulfilled with satisfaction. The bread is served warm and fresh with butter which I surely enjoyed. The air conditioning was rather weak partly because it was near full capacity occupancy and the rowdy patrons made the energy high. Tables dressed in linen and napkins. Bathroom facilities are minimal available, thus be prepare to wait on a big fat long line. Business cards are available upon request for grabs. Price is somewhat high, but seemingly standard for stagflation 2026 era. My foodie synopsis: Fried calamari $15.75 My colleague engulfed this entire antipasto dish. Personally, I do not care an iota for this dish. Broccoli rabe $12.00 I do not like broccoli either. My colleague did enjoyed this side dish. I believe adding garlic and a little cooking wine would enhance the taste. Spaghetti with meatballs $17.00 The meatballs were large, but somewhat dry. The red marinara sauce was average, but sufficient as this entrée was not swimming in sauce. Unfortunately, the menu did not specify red marinara sauce embedded. Linguine white clam sauce $24.00 I ordered this entrée primary for the pasta - not for the white clam seafood. Linguine is one of my default choice of pasta. (I do not care an iota for Fettuccine pasta). The menu did not state white clams as seafood included. I also detest clams for seafood as I did not touch. The white clam sauce was sufficient amount as it was not swimming and the pasta was not drowning full of sauce. I was hoping there would be a hint of garlic flair. I was egregiously and disappointedly unable to finish this entree, amid without antipasto. It surely made me full to expand my waistline and increase my weight gain. At the end of the evening we practiced walking meditation from Little Italy to Zuccotti Park (formerly Liberty Plaza Park) which greatly improved our mental health respectively including calorie burn for weight management. One pitcher of red Sangria It was served chilled with fresh fruit of apple, but no peach or orange. I was hoping to be served cold with ice. The ice was small size and somewhat minimal. I am a native New Yorker and prefer ice in my drink especially during the hot humid summer months. My colleague became moderately almost severely drunk for the evening, but miraculously maintained his composure for being a gentleman. I was mild tipsy to sip this fruity wine in very minimal controlled moderation. This red Sangria was not dark coloring as my desiderium, but it enable me to achieve a phlegmatic disposition concluding my manic work week. The Sangria made me full that I was floating in gelogenic, thus unable to finish my entree. I was able to intake one quarter of the linguine. Yes... Blame It On The Alcohol! Oopsie! read more

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When you come here, know what you're getting into. It's lively, it's free alcohol (included with your set meal price), it's diverse, it's fun, it's musical, it's people standing on the benches (crowded communal tables) and cheers-ing to people whose birthdays it is. This can only happen in New York. The live music act looked like they're from Little Italy. Bread was good. Pasta was good. Everything was good--but it felt like portions were lacking and there was only 1 standout pasta. Vibes were wonderful. Make reservations for groups. It's very communal. read more

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Delicious food in a heart of little Italy. Nice ambience with Italian music. Love the relaxing atmosphere in here. The mussels were really delicious. read more

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bad wine, horrible food, insanely loud music. I felt like the staff felt bad that I accidentally wandered into the restaurant. They're knowing smiles, said it all. I've had better Italian food in China. read more

We decided to go to a prefix NYE dinner @pugliarestaurantny. It started with MULTIPLE rounds of appetizers, then some entrees, and finally an assortment of desserts. The appetizers were really good and the zucchini fries and house salad were exceptional. The entrees and dessert were a total miss, not tasty. With the prefix menu it also included unlimited wine, soft drinks and juices which was pretty great for the price. As part of the NYE celebrations they also had live music which was really fun for all! read more

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This place is such a vibe! I can't believe it finally took me 3 years to come here. There is no woman's bathroom. I came for a friend's birthday. We each paid $75 for unlimited wine and a variety of food. I don't remember everything we got, but here's what I do remember: - Caesar salad - garlic bread - rigatoni - fried zucchini (?) - Chicken parm - dessert: assortment of cakes There were other birthdays and some engagements to celebrate. We were all in the main dining room. They sang to us, we all sang together, and of course stood on the tables! The food was pretty solid and you can't beat the price for the vibes and experience. I'd come back for a different occasion. read more

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A big fan of the aycd wine-- at first, it didn't seem strong, but boy did it leave a number! Such friendly staff, not sure how they do this night in and out! Great food to pair alongside the wine and the live music was very fun. There were plenty of other Italian dishes, but the wine got to me first. Playing New York New York with wine is the greatest experience-- Cheers! read more

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Very lively restaurant. Large group standing on tables and enjoying live music when we got there. House made wine, no cocktails. Did not enjoy my cavatelli pasta, flavorless and made my stomach hurt. Tiramisu was incredible mid. Big tables for large groups. Cute outdoor patio. Service was fine! read more

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Puglia is a great Italian spot in the heart of Little Italy with a large and varied menu. It's a lively restaurant that offers live music, warm hospitality, and even better food. We visited on a Sunday night when the restaurant was packed due to a large school trip. Once they left, the place was completely empty until another big group arrived for a birthday party. It seems like Puglia is a popular spot for large gatherings, so I'd recommend making a reservation in advance. Reservations are done through Instagram DM, which is fine since they respond quickly and send a reminder on the day of your visit. Bread is served for the table with a smooth, flavorful butter that I couldn't stop eating. We also ordered the calamari, which was lightly battered, well-seasoned, and perfectly crispy. I got Puglia's famous vodka rigatoni with shrimp, and it was absolutely delicious. The sauce was creamy, the noodles were cooked perfectly, and the shrimp was a great addition. The portion was generous as well. I also tried a meatball, and I have to say, it might be one of the best I've ever had. We met the owner, who was incredibly sweet and even stopped by to wish my friend a happy birthday. Toward the end of our visit, the live music started playing, and while it was a bit loud, the energy was great, and everyone was having a great time--including us. read more

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3.5/5 stars You are here to party and for the vibes above all else. It's a cramped space with limited bathrooms. There's live music in the corner that personalizes to birthdays and whichever celebrations. Service was okay. It was busy but it took a while to get more wine and water. The food was also okay. The dessert was disgusting though and almost inedible. The cheesecake was not cheesecake and the base was brown sugar hardened. The pasta lacked taste or also wasn't good. Eggplant also had no taste. It seemed like you were eating empty calories. Overall would not go back but happy my friend had a good time at her bachelorette read more

Puglia Ristorante - Dessert tray - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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It had been more than 50 years since I'd been there but the dinner was as delicious as always. The bruschetta was soooo good we all could have simply eaten that. The rest of our meals were just as god with plates piled high and reasonable pricing. Th food, wine service were all excellent and the added entertainment was charming. read more

I had the Homemade manicotti with a bolognese sauce. So tasty! The manicotti is freshly made and the sauce was spot on. Fun place! Waiters sing and it's family style too! So go eat here make some friends with their home made vino at the table. Well done! read more

Absolutely a must go! The food was fantastic and the staff was amazing! The ambiance is so much fun! They start dancing and singing live around 7pm every night. Don't waste time reading too many reviews, just go and have the experience, it's worth it. read more

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Puglia has such a great vibe--super lively and perfect for group dinners. Great ambiance! We went with the prix fixe party menu for a group of 10, which included unlimited wine, beer, soda, and coffee served in pitchers and bottles for a mostly self served. The food is served family style. The portions were decent, though maybe a bit tight for a group of 10. Service was definitely on the slower side. We came on a Wednesday night, it was surprisingly busy. The pacing of the meal felt rushed, with multiple dishes coming out back to back. Just as I started serving myself one plate, another would show up... and then another... Definitely no time to pace yourself or digest... The garlic bread and baked clams were really good! The pasta and the rest of the dishes were just OK, meh. Nothing memorable. **Be sure to call ahead for reservations--DMs go unanswered! read more

The food is honestly bad. It's mainly for the atmosphere for birthday parties. You stand and swing your napkin. They put way too many people in such a small restaurant read more

We had a large group with reservations. They made us feel welcomed and everyone was super friendly. The music performance and allowing the kids to dance and sing along was great! read more

We had an amazing dinner here when we visited with our high school band trip. The singer was amazing, as was the food. I loved how it was decorated and the family style offerings we were able to share. I recommend this so much if you go to NYC and are in Little Italy. You may also be lucky enough to see a performance of the "Napkin Song" read more

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Went here with my wife and a friend and had a great time! Food was served family style and I was very impressed at how tasty everything was. Service was friendly and responsive. It was initially a very relaxing atmosphere, albeit a little cramped. But we happened to be there on a live music night so it later became quite loud, but the unlimited wine quickly made that enjoyable. read more

Puglia Ristorante - Small bites (shrimp, baked clams, fried mushrooms) - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

The food, service, location and live entertainment including that provided graciously by the crowd while standing on tables and chairs -are terrific - we will return again and again - if you can get in, try this place quick - so fun!! Call well ahead of time - like 2-3 weeks read more

Called ahead of time and was told that they would be open. Showed up an hour before closing time just to get turned around. However, ended up going to the Italian restaurant next-door, that's on the corner and had an amazing time. Food was better than anything I could've imagined from this restaurant. read more

Puglia is lots of fun. Make sure you call and make a reservation in advance. Then, get everyone there on time to seat. Especially for special occasions like birthdays, engagement parties and friendsgivings. Puglia is great for group dinning experiences. They do a special menu where you get unlimited drinks and a 3-course meal at around $51/person. They also encourage you to pay in cash to avoid paying extra. It's a great deal if you have a lot of drinkers and lots of people to feed. The food portions are big and you will leave Puglia feeling full at the end of the day/night. On top of that, what makes this place special is the live performances. Tons of Christmas and Mancho man and other songs were played. It's loads of fun when people, young and old stand on top of their chairs. Everyone sings along with their napkins waving in the air. It's fun to watch and participate in. To be quite frank, this may be a white people thing (I hate to bring color into this but I was the only Asian during the entire dinning experience. The irony is that Chinatown is just around the corner. Then again, who cares, right? As long as you have a memorable experience). I am just pointing this out in case you are an introvert who hates noise and fits into the minority introvert and you don't want to feel like you stand out the entire time you're there. PS: I didn't mind it. Even then, they have an inside space where you can avoid the crowd and dine in a more calm environment. Overall, an awesome place. :) There is another Italian restaurant uptown that does this (it's called Patricia's on second avenue, but that restaurant attracts more of the college crowds). Puglia is more family oriented. What's more, something to be aware of - there is one bathroom stall for the ladies. So be prepared to wait on the long line for the bathroom if you break the seal. read more

I love this restaurant! This was my second time here and it was so much fun. The food is served family style and it's seriously so good. The pasta is cooked perfectly al dente and has the right amount of vodka sauce. The garlic bread is delicious- crunchy, buttery, garlicky. The zucchini fries are chef's kiss. I've been dreaming about them ever since the first time I had them a year ago. I haven't been able to find them anywhere else. The vibes here are truly immaculate. There's live music and everyone dances, sings along and swings their napkins around. The tables are also close together so you're bound to make new friends. It is difficult to get a reservation here for a Saturday night because they are so popular. That being said, it's SO worth it! read more

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Unlimited house wine and family style portions? Say less. Hands down one of the best Italian restaurant experiences in Manhattan. Came here for my birthday party and it was perfection! The food was served in generous portions, allowing us to try a variety of delicious dishes. The flavors were rich and authentic, truly capturing the essence of Italy. The restaurant's cozy atmosphere made us feel like we were dining at a traditional Italian family gathering. The staff was friendly, accommodating, and made sure we had everything we needed. To make the experience even better, they have live entertainment every night and they will have you dancing on your chair waiving your napkin. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for an authentic Italian dining experience with a warm family touch! read more

Puglia Ristorante - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Came here with a reservation for a big bachelorette party and wow, what a fun experience!! The food was served family-style and it was so plentiful and delicious. Service was swift, and the performances were so much fun! Will definitely be coming back when I have the opportunity. read more

My family and I recently had a meal at Puglia. Here's the lowdown and the reason for the 3/5 rating because the food was excellent. Reservation (or lack of) -1 Puglia is relatively active on social media and says reservations can be made through a direct message to them. I sent a DM 11 days in advance. No reply from them at all. My wife inevitably calls a few days in advance and was told just to do a walk-in (5:00 on a Saturday). When we arrived at 5:30, since we didn't have a reservation we were only able to sit outside. The weather was fantastic, but still... Upcharges -1 We were charged $6.00 for a bottle of water (my wife wasn't given the option of tap water) and a refill (2.00) for my youngest sons sprite. Who really does this? Food: Food was really good. I had the rigatoni with vodka sauce and chicken. My oldest son had the gnocchi, my youngest son had the chicken Alfredo, and my wife had a pasta dish too. We had a bottle of the house wine. Food was excellent! Service was above average. Portions were fair. We had the garlic bread appetizer but a piece of bread with our meals would have been welcome. I enjoyed my visit for the most part except for a few hijinks along the way. Maybe there will be another future visit...we shall see. read more

Puglia Ristorante - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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I came here for a friend's birthday. The food was pretty good actually. However, the music was too loud - making it impossible to have conversation. Three stars for the seating. They set up too many tables that were back to back. Getting in/out to use the bathroom was challenging since there were people basically on top of us with no space. It just wasn't comfortable. If one table was removed, it would have been much more enjoyable for everyone. It felt very crammed, not pleasant if you're claustrophobic. read more

Visited Puglia with my daughter's theatre group. We sat in a private room and even got serenaded by a sweet gentleman. He really made it quite the experience! read more

Puglia Ristorante - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Shake your napkin and have a good ole time at Puglia! Enjoy the atmosphere and delicious Italian cuisine. My sister and I wanted to have dinner in Little Italy, but we didn't have our hearts set on a specific venue. We did a little bit of research and Puglia had great reviews. Additionally, we were able to get a table without a reservation. The seating is community style: nice long tables. It wasn't too busy when we arrived, but the place was jumping by the time we departed. Our server wasn't the most pleasant and he also tried to convince me ravioli and rigatoni are one and the same when they didn't have the stuffed rigatoni special. Ummm, I'm Sicilian and NO these are NOT one and the same. I like ravioli, but I don't love it so I opted for penne alla vodka with chicken. This dish didn't disappoint! My sister is a huge fan of fettuccine alfredo and she too was fond of her dish. We started with an incredible Caesar salad, the best I've had in quite some time! The dressing was superb, the croutons were baked to perfection, and the portion was very generous. The Italian bread was dynamite and reminded me of what my grandmother served at dinner when I was a child. The butter was out of this world too. We enjoyed a bottle of Pellegrino with our meal. About 1/2 way through our entrée, Jorge started to perform a combination of Italian classics and Christmas music. He was fun and the music had a nice techno beat. Finally, the restaurant is known for "Shake Your Napkin." He started to perform and encouraged the patrons to jump on their seats and shake their napkins.. did we? Of course we did, when in New York! Our moment of spontaneity turned into a fun first night in the City filled with great food and fun memories, leftovers too because the portions were generous. read more

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Came here for a birthday. Great place for a big group and if you want an interactive party-like experience while eating. Our group got this family style, so I was nervous they wouldn't be able to justify the steep price tag for a vegetarian (my friend is gluten-free so same boat). So happy it was unlimited house wine, I feel like I drank 2 bottles. Great standard not overly-acidic red blend. Bread - amazing! super crispy and garlicky and came with marinara Salad - generous considering the table also gets salad - you get your own mini portion Vegetables - eggplant SO good - doesn't look like much but the stack was very filling (included bell pepper, cucumber, etc.) Ravioli - said they didn't have the spinach available, so they did a separate plate of cheese ravioli I really liked how they accommodated our dietary restrictions. The vibe was great and energetic with everyone on chairs napkin twirling. Make sure to tip the duo because they didn't stop singing the whole time we were there and were so friendly! Restrooms were the only area of restaurant decked out in Halloween decor and it didn't disappoint. read more

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We came in at a 4 pm on a Saturday. We had the place to ourselves and our waiter was very attentive. I enjoyed the warm bread with butter. I ordered the gnocchi bolognese and it was fairly good but not the best Italian food I've had. Overall, I'd check this place out for the service and the reasonable prices (sub $20 for entree) read more

Puglia Ristorante - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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My friends and I have been to this place twice already! We love it so much. This restaurant is a cozy places nestled in Little Italy. It's like a dinner and a party all in one. There is live music where everyone is singing and dancing. The food is served family style and SOOOO good. The garlic bread is divine. A nice mix between crunchy but soft and buttery deliciousness. The Caesar salad is nicely dressed with a hefty amount of cheese. THOSE ZUCCHINI SHOESTRING FRIES?! One of the most amazing things on this Earth. That could have been my whole dinner. The mains are great, too! The only reason this gets a 4 is because getting a reservation is difficult. We had to call months in advance. However, that speaks for itself about how amazing this place is. Overall, I love this and I HIGHLY recommend!!! read more

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We stumbled upon this place while walking around Little Italy. What got us into the door was the impressive lunch special, but what really got our attention was the AMAZING garlic bread. For my entree I got the rigatoni alla vodka and it was delicious. One thing we also really liked was the quaint outdoor dining area. Their sheik decor coupled with their insanely flavorful cuisine made for a great time by all! read more

Puglia Ristorante - Garlic Bread - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

I went here because a coworker saw pictures on Instagram and thought it good. The soup is good but it is small and pricey. The pasta is fresh, they were out of rigatoni so they put it in ravioli. Sauce is decent, and you get a nice amount of ravioli, but the chicken is a little bit dry and nothing really special is added. The food is not bad at all, but it is not blowing me away. Give me a bit more. Throw in more meat, even if it means raising your prices. Give the sauce more character. Give me some sort of vegetable. The plate feels almost naked because the whole dish feels like it is on an emotionless autopilot. What makes Italian restaurants special is not necessarily the food, it is the little touches. Every Italian restaurant has a spaghetti and meatballs on their menu, but it is the little touches that each restaurant does or does not do with the dish is why one restaurant make it better than the other. Maybe my expectations are too high after watching Big Night, and also me trying some better Italian food. Speaking of Big Night, I observed that they do offer live entertainment here as well. Maybe that is really why you come out here. read more

Puglia Ristorante - Pasta E Fagioli - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Wow! We were looking for authentic Italian and we found it! The lasagna was and the stuffed rigatoni was superb! We started with stuffed mushrooms and a mixed salad and ended with tiramisu (10/10) and my husband devoured the molten chocolate cake. Huge portions, great service, and authentic Italian ambiance....highly recommend! read more

Puglia Ristorante - Tiramisu and Molten Chocolate Cake - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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This Italian restaurant offers my favorite pre fixe menu in Little Italy. For $39, my friend and I were served Caesar salad, garlic bread, as well as hot antipasto family style. We also had choice of drink, entrée, coffee, and dessert. We were seated inside, which was spacious with a welcoming, homey atmosphere. There were beautiful paintings throughout the space, exposed brick, and fireplace in the back. Our dinner started off with the Caesar salad. This was laden with dressing - dare I say, a bit too much? There was plenty of grated Parmesan throughout, but not enough croutons. The romaine lettuce was nice and crunchy. Then we had garlic bread, which came with grated Parmesan and a variety of herbs on perfectly toasted sesame bread. There was butter and garlic on top, which was a heavenly combination. Next came the variety of Hot Antipasto, and I was quite impressed with this plate. It included potato croquettes, stuffed shrimp, eggplant rollatini, and zucchini fries. The potato croquettes were delightfully crispy little morsels of potato-y goodness. The stuffed shrimp was tender, succulent, well seasoned, and full of flavor. The eggplant was wonderfully cheesy, stuffed with ricotta in a bold marinara sauce and sprinkling of more cheese. For my entrée, I was debating between the Veal Scallopine Marsala with Pasta, or Homemade Lobster Ravioli Alla Vodka. I decided to go with the veal because usually ravioli dishes only come with a few pieces. The veal came with potato croquettes and fresh vegetables consisting of broccoli and carrots. The veal was pretty tasty, and cooked in shallots, garlic, mushrooms, along with a very flavorful, savory and creamy dark brown sauce. The veal itself was tender and juicy. The accompanying vegetables were made simply and were satisfyingly soft. I had a Cappuccino with Chocolate Fudge Cake for dessert. The Cappuccino was expertly created and absolutely delicious! There was plenty of steamed milk foam with a generous dusting of cocoa powder on top. This espresso-based coffee drink with steamed milk was oh so smooth with just the right amount of sweetness. The Chocolate Fudge Cake came with a prettily designed drizzle of strawberry sauce with a bit of whipped cream in the center. The cake was rich with true chocolate taste, velvety, and incredibly moist. The addition of the strawberry sauce was a yummy touch. Service was pretty good and our waiter was friendly, however it was hard to get anyone's attention when we needed something. Also, as the night continued on, many more parties entered and there was live music, so it became difficult for my friend and me to hear each other. It seems like this spot is a very popular place to have a birthday event, and there was certainly a festive feeling inside. I would consider returning to try the Lobster Ravioli or Little Italy Style Veal Chop. read more

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The food was actually decent and the price was very freind let for this part of little Italy. Service was a little slow the night we went, but to be fair, they had a party of 30 inside. Very traditionally Little Italy type ambiance. My only big complaint was the Parmesan cheese was a goat cheese. read more

Puglia Ristorante - Chicken Parmesan - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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It's been a while but like a good wine, this place gets better with age. From appetizers to entrées and dessert everything is delicious. You really can't go wrong with anything at the spot. Today we had an assortment of apps and then shared a few entrées. Fried calamari, rice ball angelina, hot antipasto, loads of garlic bread. Then a beautiful fillet of sole franchise & go to solid chicken Parmesan. read more

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Definitely on the cheaper side of Italian restaurants in Little Italy. They feel a little off the beaten path compared to the others along the main street with men grabbing for your attention for sit down service. The atmosphere is pretty standard, nothing too fancy. Feels like a cheaper Italian dining hall version of a restaurant. Food came out relatively quickly and the service was good. The mozzarella sticks were delicious! Wine tasted a bit like motts apple juice and my friend agreed. For my entree I ordered lobster ravioli which was good but I've had better. My advice is stop here if you want cheap decent Italian food, however I have experienced much better. I guess you get what you pay for! read more

The food and music was okay but the service was not good. They tried to rush our entrees out of the way while we were eating and then at the end when we got the check they tried to charge the party for extra drinks on the table and people even though we had called ahead of time for only 20 people and the 41 dollar menu. We had photo evidence of the bottles on the table but they still refused to give us the 41 dollar menu and still ended up charging us for the unlimited menu. I highly recommend bringing your loops or earbuds for concerts to the restaurant for your event if you are inside during the party hour. read more