Their original location use to to be over on 90th and 2nd. That one closed and this much larger spot has plenty of seating along with a terrific decor and bar area. The food here is just so good! Very authentic cooking and the Panuozzo is off the hook! A Panuozzo is like a pizza sandwich stuffed like a calzone with all types of ingredients. The bread is warm, chewy, and fluffy with a nice charcoal oven charred bottom to it. They also have a large list of delicious pizzas to choose from, calzones, and appetizers. The pastas and gnocchi are also quite tasty as are their salads. Nice wine selection by the glass and bottle that are reasonably priced, along with beer and cocktails. Staff is very friendly and attentive. Plus, sign up on their website for a free drink on your birthday! read more

In an area with staid, old-world Italian restaurants there's San Matteo: young, casual and lively. 4.4 stars-good! When my daughter joins us for dinner, we often share dishes asking her to order what she likes. She's never steered us wrong. We started with Insalato di Rugola -- baby arugula with cherry tomatoes, pine nuts and goat cheese. One portion was more than enough for the three of us. We topped the salad with Fritto Misto, fried calamari and shrimp. Delish! Individual pizzas are a little larger than what most people would eat on their own. We ordered two pies: areche with squash, and the day's special that had capicola and other ingredients that I simply don't remember. Each pizza is sectioned into four large slices. (Frankly, if it was just me and my husband, one pizza and salad would have been fine for dinner.) I thought the pizzas were 4.4 stars-good, the same as my assessment of the restaurant. Cheesy, tasty, a little floppy. The wine list covers all bases. We chose a $50 bottle of Montepulciano, which has become one of my favorites. There's a full bar with of course, any drink a person could want. Carmela, our server, is from Italy, and added to the fun of the evening. She sat us upstairs at a round table with a bit more privacy than other tables. I'd been curious about San Matteo since we moved to Yorkville. I noticed that there's a Monday night special with gnocchi and $30 bottles of wine. No reason not to give it a try! read more

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Stopped by San Matteo Pizza for dinner because we were in the mood for authentic Southern Italian-style pizza, and it did not disappoint. From the moment we walked in, the staff was very welcoming, and the ambiance immediately caught our attention -- clean, cozy, and perfectly rustic, exactly what you hope for in a great pizza spot. My partner and I shared the pizza of the day, topped with ham, ricotta, and hot honey, as well as the salsiccia and friarielli pizza. Both were completely different in flavor yet equally delicious -- beautifully balanced, fresh, and clearly made with high-quality ingredients. To end the night, we treated ourselves to a cannoli that was simply amazing, filled with rich ricotta and chocolate chip cream that tasted perfectly authentic. A special thank you to Carmela, our waitress, who was incredibly kind and attentive to every detail of our order. Her recommendations were spot-on, and she truly elevated our dining experience. She did an outstanding job, along with the rest of the team. If you're looking for exceptional, personal Southern Italian-style pizza in a warm and inviting setting, this place is a must. We'll absolutely be back! read more

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Came here last night for dinner with my brother and my friend, after several times passing by but never actually going in. We didn't have a reservation, and the restaurant was already pretty full, but thankfully there was a table available, which we were seated at right away. For those who haven't been, San Matteo specializes in personal pizzas, with four small slices per pie. They only have one size option, so if you're with a large group, several pies may need to be ordered. I got a margarita pie, and the thin crust was just thin enough, with no flop when folded. The way it was made also made it flavorful enough that no part of the slices or the crust were left over. I didn't get to try any of the appetizers, but I did get to try a little bit of my friend's gnocchi, which was absolutely perfect. The atmosphere is very warm and friendly, and the staff was extremely attentive. My friend and I also got the classic Aperol spritz, and the flavor was just right. Everything here is absolutely delicious- no wonder it's always full! I'll definitely be back to try more menu items. I'd highly recommend! read more

San Matteo Pizzeria e Cucina - Aperol Spritz - Pizza Near Me - New York, New York

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Old-world charm with Upper East Side vibes. this was the perfect joint for a casual dinner with a longtime college pal, and the pizza did not disappoint. little hard to find our server at the end to cash out but I would go back here in a minute. the pizza dough itself shown through completely, mainly due to the woodfired oven. this place is the real deal! read more

On my server's recommendation, I ordered the San Matteo Burger, medium rare. It arrived completely well done--dry, overcooked, and honestly one of the worst burgers I've been served in a restaurant. At roughly $24, that's hard to excuse. What made it even more frustrating was that my server never came back to check on the meal. I waited, hoping I'd have the chance to mention the burger and have it corrected, but that never happened. Instead, I left most of the burger untouched because it simply wasn't worth eating. I also asked another staff member for a Diet Coke, which never arrived. By itself, that's a small mistake. Combined with the overcooked burger and the lack of any follow-up from the server, it felt like no one was paying attention. It's disappointing to write this because this restaurant used to be one I'd recommend without hesitation. Based on my last few visits--and especially this one--I can't say that anymore. read more

Excellent pizza, service and vibe. I walk by daily, it's always crowded. Get there early. read more

San Matteo Pizzeria e Cucina - Zucchini Alla Scapece Zucchini Alla Scapece - Pizza Near Me - New York, New York

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Pizza was superb, server (Carmela) was super helpful in recommending dishes Atmosphere was top-notch nice and relaxed not too much noise. I'm hoping to return soon and try other dishes, I know I won't be disappointed read more

Worse pizza we ever had. I asked for cheese pizza with 1/2 added pepperoni. We got barely cheese and pepperoni on all. The second pizza Pizza Vestuti with added Italian pepperoni. It was supposed to have sausage on it, we found one piece in the middle. They don't even cut it enough so you can take out a pizza. All that distasteful pizza and we paid $58 and change and had to throw it out. read more

Great location near The Metropolitan Museum of Art, for authentic Italian thin crust pizza. Fantastic service and good prices. My mother and I split the one pizza and it was perfect for a light lunch. If extra hungry, it could be definitely be eaten by one person... read more

San Matteo Pizzeria e Cucina - Yummy authentic thin pizza - Pizza Near Me - New York, New York

Multiple locations: 81st and 2nd Ave. Cute and informal Pizzeria with a solid blend of wines, oven baked pizza pies, and gently cooked pastas that come together for a nice group hangout. The prices are a just a tick high but not outrageous, and it is an easy place to be for large hangouts. $20 a dish. 3.5/5 stars as a dinner spot. read more

Their pizza... out of this world!!! We tried their special, pepperoni with ricotta , hot honey and jalapeños.. it was sweet and spicy. The crust had the perfect amount of crunch and softness. I have been thinking of this pizza ever since. We also got a glass of Chianti wine, which went perfectly with the pizza. We sat at the bar since we did not have reservations and the place was packed, obviously!! I passed by today at 10 and was hoping it was later in the day so I could enjoy another slice of the goodness!! Will definitely be coming back read more

Ordered delivery from a few blocks away, which kept very well. RATING: 7/10 PRO TIP: The pizza is actually not bad. PIZZA DIAVOLO It's hard to stand out these days given the amazing neapolitan pizza scene in NYC, and you may not have seen San Mateo pop up on any lists, but this UES stable with a few locations actually did a solid job on authenticity and flavor. The diavolo was nicely spicy, and had a savory red sauce and importantly, the curst was fluffy, chewy, soft. MEATBALLS - not bad, nice and salty, and hearty. Good addition if you're used to having meat with your meal and you're getting a meatless pie especially. BRUSSEL SPROUTS - was surprised by this. Another classic Italian dish and it had these crispy pieces of panchetta over it and cheese which added this salty richness. Not bad. FINAL CATEGORY: GOOD/GREAT (terrible / bad / ok / GOOD / GREAT / excellent) read more

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We went to San Matteo after a family event. They accommodated our party of 14, which was nice. The wine list was subpar, but that's pretty much what you'd expect from a pizza place. My boyfriend and I ordered two pizzas. He asked for a white pizza with three different kinds of meats (he wanted pepperoni, but they didn't have any. What pizza place doesn't have pepperoni?). They got his order wrong and brought out a pizza with red sauce and no cheese (we didn't know we had to specify that we wanted cheese on the pizza?). I ordered a prosciutto and burrata pizza. The flavor of both pizzas were good, but they were so thin, soggy, and undercooked that we could not pick them up without everything falling off. We had to eat them with a fork and knife, but they were so soft that the knife hardly cut through them. Overall, the restaurant's atmosphere and service were decent, but there are so many great pizza places in New York City that I would look elsewhere for a pie. read more

Price is reasonable, and good taste. I will be back, I like Burrata cheese, and pizza. Margherita. read more

Quality at this location has gone way down hill. Received 4 soggy undercooked pizzas. Prosciutto rancid on one pie! Never again !! Next time will use their other location on 89& 2nd even though further distance from my home read more

Made a reservation here after having it in my screen caps from a social media post. Upper east side on a corner- they have indoor and outdoor seating, as well as tables and bar seating. We were sat inside due to the rain during the day and ordered drinks and an appetizer. Place could be loud from the bar area, the bell ringing from kitchen to pick up orders, etc - but it doesn't deter from the dining experience. I ordered an old-fashioned which came out and really wasn't one - probably one of the worst mixed drinks I have had this year. We also ordered the fried burrata carroza to start. This was ok - not a big Pablo guy and only ate one of the items. For the entree I went with my usual chicken parmigiana - which I thought would come with a side pasta or anything - it doesn't. Ok? Wasn't even offered. The entree was spectacular - and probably the best chicken parmigiana I have had this year bar none. The chicken just melts into the cheese topping and the sauce was very good. Chicken had a nice crisp to it but again just melts in your mouth. Seeing as how this place popped up for me due to their pizza we ordered a margherita pie to share and try. So very good - the crust soft with a nice fire char taste to it - the cheese and basil a perfect marriage of all the necessities that make a perfect pizza. Wow. For dessert we each got a cannoli and I went with an americano coffee. Things were up and down - but the food really won the day. Very good. read more

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A friend who once lived in Milan (and now lives in Manhattan) told me the best pizza in NYC is at San Matteo. I was born in the city and have lived more than half my life here. How I never ate at San Matteo until March 1st 2023 is anyone's guess. And what I thought was the best pizza in the city (Di Fara's in Brooklyn, which closed for good 2022) was replaced. The Vesuti was perfect. Crust, sauce, basil, cheese, ground sausage. Together, the pie was a textural and flavor dream. I ate nearly my weight (I'm a big girl) in it, insalata mista (which could use a few more castelvetrano olives), meatballs (which were a touch dry and still delicious, and what I know as arrancini, though they're called something else here. The music being played was awesome: classic R&B and pop, bringing the ideal vibe and rhythms. Opportunities for improvement are few. They include the brand/vineyard names of the wines on the list, or if the availability changes often, write them on the chalkboard. Right or wrong, people want to drink from the winemakers they know and no one is served by not sharing the full information. Also, if the guests request a specific order for the dishes they selected (i.e., salad, primi, and then pizza), that ought to be provided. If that isn't possible, tables need not only to be bigger so as to accommodate simultaneously so many plates, and guests need to be told dishes are not served as courses. What does NOT need to change (besides the food) is meeting the spectacular Carmela and Alfredo being your table's primary server. With a seemingly photographic memory, I've seen Alfredo manage a whole lot of customer traffic, orders, and hustle on a very busy night in a space where I only saw one free table once we were in conventional dinner hour (my first ever reservation was 5:00). San Matteo Pizzeria e Cucina on 2nd Avenue and E. 81st. You need to dine here. You need to make it your go-to. read more

I am not a huge pizza or pasta person but first impressions is great! We started with the arancini. And then had a margarita pizza with sausage and sopressata. Sooo good. We topped it with chili infused olive oil and they offered some hot honey. Wow so good. We ended it with gelato and a cannoli. Both very good. Definitely recommend. Service was great but just don't be like my friend and ask for ranch lol read more

San Matteo Pizzeria e Cucina - Arancini and Aperol Spritz - Pizza Near Me - New York, New York

Best pizza I have ever had. Thin crust, homemade dough, crispy and fresh. Topping combinations are so fun and each is better than the last! Last night we were able to try the special pizza and the prosciutto and bufala pizza. Both were lovely and made for great leftovers! Service was great, although we felt a tad rushed (Not abnormal for the city though, tourists beware). Cute space, slightly cramped but it's part of the vibe! A small pizza joint with authentic Italian pizza! read more

San Matteo Pizzeria e Cucina - Prosciutto E Bufala Pizza - Pizza Near Me - New York, New York

First time back in a while, this was still really excellent and such a great option for the UES. This time we got the margherita pizza, meatballs, arancini, paccheri all'amatriciana, and buttered spaghetti for our kids. The pasta was excellent and very al dente -- my wife really loved this, and really enjoyed the pizza as well. Still a lot more we want to try, including other pastas and pizzas (eg we saw someone eating a veggie pesto pasta that looked amazing). We'll be back. (My wife reviewed this and agreed that I captured her sentiments correctly.) read more

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The pizza is out of this world! Perfect dough, I ate it till the last bite (saying as a person who is always leaving crust behind). The menu has Italian titles, so that says something. Red or white sauce..I had trouble choosing so I got one of each. For red, I got eggplant pizza called Paesana. The marinade on the eggplant makes this inimitable. I had a slice after slice but had to stop myself so I can try the white sauce pizza I got called Porchini Tartufo. Mushroom truffle, also delicious but a bit oily. The order was through Doordash and even though there was quiet a bit of time between baking and eating, I still wholeheartedly loved the pizzas. I think I found my spot for when I'm in UES, as I usually don't like many restaurants up there. read more

San Matteo Pizzeria e Cucina - Pizza Porcini e Tartufo - Mushroom truffle pizza - Pizza Near Me - New York, New York

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We came on a weekend night without reservation and were seated immediately, hostess and servers were very nice. Ambiance was cozy, and had a "sports bar" vibe so I guess it would be ideal for having dinner while watching some game. Not my ideal atmosphere for an Italian restaurant but it worked for them. Food was good but not spectacular and IMO a little overpriced for the quality, not that it tasted bad but had prices similar to other Italian restaurants in the neighborhood that have higher quality ingredients and more complex dishes. We had paccheri alla matriciana $24 good, and Pollo Sfizioso also $24 also good. This place kinda feels like Italian fast food if that's a thing. My Main course didn't include any sides. My partner ordered coke and it was fountain soda in a cup full of ice that didn't include a refill. I have mixed feelings about this place, did I like the food? Sure, Was it special?, not really. I'm not sure if I'll be coming back, but was the experience bad? Not at all. I just don't think it was worth the price. read more

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We were a party of 10 - and I thought the pizza was solid. Appetizers were all tasty especially the prosciutto and mozzarella. Atmosphere was nice upstairs. Drinks were strong and had a nice wine list. I think this place is nicer than a traditional pizza joint. Would come back with a large group. read more

The panuozzi are phenomenal. So is the lemon dessert. I have to type at least 85 characters in order to post this review.

My wife found this place searching for a pizza place we could sit in that served wine. We had been at The Met most of the day and place is essentially 7-8 blocks directly east - that's walkable for us old folks. We got there at 5 and they weren't busy, but when we left about an hour later they weren't busy very busy and all the tables on the covered porch were full. We were quickly seated and had drinks just as fast. We ordered the pizza special that day. It's Neapolitan style which means a very thin pie with soft pillowy crust. The pizza was on our table in just a few minutes and was cooked perfectly. It hit the spot after spending all day looking at priceless works of art. We lingered and decided to have desert and are so glad we did. I can't remember exactly what it's called, but it's essentially a raised donut with pistachios with chocolate sauce and vanilla gelato. OMG - the gelato tasted like birthday cake! The place gave me a neighborhood vibe with a mix of families and locals. They had the place decorated for Halloween which made it even more fun. The service was great! read more

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My coworker said this place was "the best Italian place ever". He failed to mention that there was cheese and cream in everything! Not a fan of the dish I got which was the mushroom pasta with burrata. I said no burrata and it still magically showed up in my pasta. My husband got a pizza, which was pretty generic. Nothing special about it. Service was alright. This place is really popular for large families. As we sat there, one large family came in after another. If you like cheese, this is the place for you, but as someone who is lactose intolerant, this is not the best place. Sorry. read more

The best pizza I've had in a long time. It was fresh and authentic. I loved the delicious ingredients that were served! The server was very nice and spoke in Italian which was refreshing read more

San Matteo Pizzeria e Cucina - Pizza Near Me - New York, New York

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I ordered delivery from San Matteo again and pizzas arrived quickly and in perfect condition. One pizza is perfect portion for one person. I tried the PROSCIUTTO & BUFALA (pizze rose or pizza with tomato sauce) and the CENTENARIO (pizze bianche or no tomato sauce). They was soft and elastic with great flavor. Ingredients were high quality. I would just say the Centenario had very little nduja salami. I loved both of them, probably one of the best pizzerias in the neighborhood. ESPAÑOL: Pedí a pizza a domicilio de San Matteo de nuevo y llegaron rápidamente y en perfecto estado. Una pizza es la porción ideal para una persona. Probé la PROSCIUTTO & BUFALA (pizze rose o pizza con salsa de tomate) y la CENTENARIO (pizze bianche o sin salsa de tomate). La masa era ligera y elástica con un increíble sabor. Los ingredientes de alta calidad. Tan solo diría que la CENTENARIO tenía poco ndula salami. Me encantaron ambas, probablemente una de las mejores pizzerias del barrio. read more

San Matteo Pizzeria e Cucina - Centenario - Pizza Near Me - New York, New York

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UES fixture for excellent pizza and aged beef. Always attentive, helpful and knowledgeable service. We love the spinach salad and we like the sausage pizza. The aged beef is excellent! read more

Great food - we had spinach salad fresh mozzarella with cherry tomatoes and the daily pizza special. Everything was very good. Service was friendly and attentive. We sat at the bar and everytime time the door opened it got dam cold. I gave them 4 stars because it just wasn't 5 star even for a Monday night read more

San Matteo Pizzeria e Cucina - Daily special pizza - Pizza Near Me - New York, New York

After walking by San Matteo for years on my way to work as a night shift nurse my wife and I finally decided to stop in for a prework meal. The ambiance is cute but seating is a little tight in some places. The service was decent but nothing over the top: like not attempting to rectify or confirm if everything was ok when my wife left her entire plate of pasta and didn't ask to wrap it and not telling us when things were additional charges/how much additional things would be ("fresh truffle" which was unable to be found in her pasta for $10). The food in general was good but again nothing spectacular and for lack of better terms extremely inconsistent. For example, our arancini appetizer was mediocre but the pizza we got was phenomenal. My chicken was good but her pasta had zero flavor (even with the $10 of "fresh grated" truffles). The white pie we got was described to us incorrectly by the first man who approached our table (but wasn't our server) so we were very confused when it came out though pleasantly surprised by the taste. I'm a sucker for fresh ricotta! The dough was wood fired, fluffy, and pillowy which happens to be my favorite kind of crust! The arancini on the other hand I could definitely have done without, it was overly salty and nothing special to order again. My wife's main dish was the tagliatelle porcini cartoccio which had Fettuccini Pasta, Porcini Mushrooms, Burrata Wrapped in a Foil Envelope which was supposed to be $24. We paid $34 including the $10 truffle fee which I promise is not worth it, though trust me I'm well aware that's not a lot for truffle it was just none existent and should've been added after the foil package was opened. This was probably the least flavorful pasta I've ever had. Whatever seasoning they may have added was literally lost in the sauce. I asked for the chicken Milanesa which I saw on their Instagram but it seems the don't make that anymore and the waiter talked me into the pollo sfizioso. This dish had Chicken Cutlet, Homemade Mozzarella, Baby Arugula, Cherry Tomatoes, Parmigiano Reggiano, Pesto Sauce and a Balsamic Glaze. When I say there was an entire container of cherry tomatoes baked under the cheese I am not exaggerating. The dish was decent but would be way better without an entire layer of hot unseasoned tomatoes whose only purpose seemed to be making the top the the chicken cutlet wet. They added zero flavor and became a nuisance and kind of an unpleasant taste after a while. Lastly, as big dessert people and after two mostly failed courses, we decided to head to Anita gelato across the street to ensure we enjoyed our final course of date night. Overall, it's a decent Italian spot on the UES but I would probably only go back for their pizza (and their pizza only). read more

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I'm not one to leave negative reviews these days. Covid has made life tough on restaurants and I don't want to be the guy complaining or making life any harder for restaurants trying to get by. But just ordered 2 pizzas from San Matteo and they were literally inedible. See photos below. They both were very liquidity , half the pizza arrived scattered around the box and the whole thing fell apart when you tried to pick up a slice. Total disappointment and entire dinner went in the garbage. Too much good pizza in this city, I'd stay away read more

San Matteo Pizzeria e Cucina - Pizza Near Me - New York, New York

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Wow - I'm disappointed after hearing rave reviews about San Matteo being one of the "best" pizza places on the UES. I did order delivery, so maybe I would have a better experience in person, but I don't think it's worth the hype. First, the toppings are minimal at best. We ordered the magherita and a regina magherita pizza. For one of the pizzas, there was a single basil leaf, which I have to admit was pretty comical, but left a lot to be desired. Second, there was barely any crust supporting the cheese. I could have slapped on the toppings on just cheese for a keto twist and I wouldn't have tasted a difference. The pizza actually tasted better once I put it in the air fryer because at least that gave it some texture. Overall, "best" pizza on the UES? Highly doubtful - makes me wondering if they are compensating IG food accounts to heavily advertise them because the food doesn't live up to the expectations. read more

San Matteo Pizzeria e Cucina - Pizza Near Me - New York, New York

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San Matteo is always a solid choice for a tasty dinner or happy hour in the area, whether you're with friends, family, or alone. There is ample outdoor seating and the staff is always very nice. You can't go wrong with any of the pizzas, I've had so many at this point and they're all a hit. The crust is nice and thin where toppings are then fluffy at the end. The happy hour offerings are a great deal. I finally tried a Panuozzo for the first time and it was delicious! We got the Ortolano which has grilled eggplant and I think roasted peppers. It was a great compliment to a meaty pizza and the flavors included in it were great. read more

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Must Try This Place!!!! FOOD: 5 (Everything was good. Can't wait to try steak next time.) DECOR: 4 (Small but Cozy. Wish had more TV for football game.) SERVICE: 5 (Very Kind) DRINK: 4 (Many Choices) read more

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I only go here for the pizza, and begrudgingly pay for the very very over priced beer. Pizza is awesome. The chewy and airy puffed dough that is so characteristic of a Neapolitan pizza is cooked to perfection. I usually order The Diavola or the Prosciutto & Bufala (add arugula). I have not tried non-pizza items, so can't speak to that. Pizzas are amazing, top 5 in NYC when it comes to Neapolitan style. Ambience is a bit odd, kinda sports bar but not? Def not the ambience I would want for a a three course meal but works for pizza! Service is great, mostly, pretty fast, even though pushy at times! I can't possibly have an app together with a whole pizza so just let me have my pizza! Thanks! I love going here, and I go pretty often... as you might have guessed.... Just for the pizza ;) read more

San Matteo Pizzeria e Cucina - Pizza Near Me - New York, New York

Food - Yum! Loved the regina pizza since it was so saucy and flavorful. Cacio y pepe is my favorite pasta so this in pizza form was elite. Dessert never disappoints of course and had all this to chase down with some classic Chardonnay. Service - The staff was extremely friendly and accommodating. Ambiance - The place was a vibe. Definitely a great place to come to and watch a sports game or go on date night. Great for large groups too! A lot of space, but definitely make reservations. read more

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Had an awesome Sunday evening dinner at this awesome Italian joint! We made a reservation and thankfully we did because it was packed. We opted to sit inside because of the rain at the bar. They have a small brick oven in the back where they made their pizzas! We had one white (mushroom with truffle oil) and one red (margheretta). I loved the red sauce on the margarita pizza; light and flavorful. The white pizza was underwhelming with not enough mushrooms/flavor. Both pizzas had classic semi burnt brick oven crust. The middle were a little undercooked but still delicious. Service was great! Very prompt with clearing plates and taking our order. Overall, delicious spot and lots of local Italian customers. I'd recommend the pizza for sure! read more

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They accept walk ins, but offered us a high table because we didn't have a reservation, not really comfy. Service was okay, not great, not bad. But food on the other hand.. was amazing! Everything tasteful, good portions, so so good! read more

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