What can I say about this restaurant. We happened upon it when we were probably 1 hour past when we should have eaten and it was the closest to us. We could not have been more fortunate. The service was impeccable, the food was delicious. Even the coffee was exceptional. We dined at several Michelin restaurants during our visit to NYC but our meal at Sistina was definitely the highlight. read more

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First, food was delicious, a little overpriced but right next to the MET so understandable. I brought my wife and kids ages 11 and 8. They put us in a cute room, fine, but then we realized that there was a different room with natural light and a garden and everyone else was in that room. All new guests went there too. After we got our food which took a very long time, no one came to refill water or check on us or collect our plates until we tracked someone down. We finally realized that there was no one attending our room! Our server was actually the bartender in the other room at the bar not that close to us. The hostess apologized at the end and said that she put us in the first table she saw. But for all later guests she put them in the brighter room past our room? We paid the bill and left and won't come back and will not recommend to others. read more

Given that cost per person is $200- +300, and most nights it's crowded, you would think the owner would be more pleasant. Not our Italian stallion-- he walks among his patrons like a victorious gladiator, or maybe his secret is the Achilles heal of his UES crowd --Appeal is always inversely proportional to attainability. Or perhaps it's because this restaurant has no competition in the immediate neighborhood, or perhaps the patrons enjoy being told what to do by a waiter from Queens. Which is note worthy as there are a handful of excellent Italian restaurants there, at a fraction of the cost. Last night when I told my waiter I want to order a drink, before I order food, his response was "let me tell you the specials before it gets to crowded- and when I asked for a basket of bread, his response was "you can have bread when you order your food." Didn't know I was being trained for the NYC kennel club. This is outrageous behavior and I'm paying for it ! Could be the UES clients like abuse, or are too lazy to venture into other areas in NYC where there are abundant Italian restaurants with superior food. I talked with some friends who also frequent this S&M club fronting as a restaurant and they agree with me. no Michelin star here, just an expensive spaghetti joint - truffles on everything $$$.... The food....don't know- l left after one drink ! read more

While the ambience is lovely the service is arrogant, slow and much less than gracious. They are unwilling to accommodate requests for half portions of pasta at lunch, very unusual. I ordered two appetizers one a salad and another a seafood. The salad was supposed to have shaved truffles but there was not one bit of truffle, only very artificial and overly strong flavor of truffle oil. There were very intense overpowering garlic chips and a cloyingly sweet sheepmilk ricotta spread underneath the lettuces. It was a strange combination of flavors that should never have been on the same plate. The seafood appetizer included tasteless shrimp covered by clashing overpowering flavors of orange, garlic and jalapeño, which should have worked but somehow did not. Perhaps the proportions were wrong. It was an unpleasant, disappointing and very expensive meal. Most of it remained on the plates. read more

Sistina is an absolute gem on the UES. For the past 5+ years this has been my family's go to spot for every special occasion, holiday or weeknight dinner. Basically we find any excuse to visit Sistina! Some of my favorite nights are dinners like we had last night- a day with an unexpected change of plans & no reservations- Chef Giuseppe Bruno made room for us & on a Saturday night! He welcomed us into his beautiful restaurant, sat us personally at our favorite table & recommended a dish that was absolutely amazing. I am still thinking about my pistachio pesto pasta 24 hours later! Thank you to Chef Giuseppe Bruno, his delightful daughter Nicolina & his staff for all they do to make our nights at Sistina unforgettable! read more

Sistina - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

We sat outside and had some of the restaurant specials: the breaded fresh porcini with scant parmigiano sauce, and the oxtail ragu with pasta, as well as a tomato sauce with seafood. Everything was excellent, and although expensive, I recommend Sistina for a marvelous dining experience. The service was correct and excellent. Really a pleasure. read more

Sistina - Oxtail ragu with ziti - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Quite possibly the best restaurant in NYC. I hesitate to tell people about Sistina in hopes of keeping it a secret, but they more than deserve the recognition. Although the menu is stunning, I've never once eaten off of it because of how well cultivated their specials are. Impeccable service with a classic UES feel. Would be surprised if a Michelin star wasn't on the way. read more

I'm so happy that I went here. It's super classy and a great birthday place. They have some super old school dishes from the old country like rabbit and pastafazool even thought it's a super high end place in an elegant building that is very old school Upper East Side. Crowd is a little on the older side. The food and atmosphere are amazing and as expected, everything on the menu is mega expensive. I think that the pasta fazool is something like thirty bucks and that would have my Italian grandparents rolling in their graves, LOL! They bring around jars of truffles for you to sniff and get added to your pasta among other dishes, which is fun to indulge in! read more

Unbelievably rude service and staff. We were seated during a very empty time for the restaurant and ordered 2 aperol spritzes. So far so good. Then things took a turn. Within 2 minutes of waiting for our afternoon cocktails, we were asked what we wanted for our meal. We said we were starting with a drink and may order a snack but wanted to start with a drink, and we're abruptly told we had to either order main courses of food or leave. Before we even got our drinks, we had to leave because we were not ordering a full meal. We were essentially kicked out, and quite rudely at that. I'm shocked and have never been treated so poorly by a restaurant in my life. Shame on the establishment for its inflexibility and disrespectful, snooty attitude. read more

Literally one of the best dining experiences I've had in years! My boyfriend and I left the met and were craving Italian food. The gentleman working the front (Sergio) was so kind and assured us that we would really enjoy our experience. He was correct! We ordered everything that he suggested. He took the time to understand our palate, our hunger level and suggested in the most expert was a PERFECT MEAL. We got the scallops, 3 glasses of the super Tuscan (Liborio), meatballs, integrals pasta and beets and burrata. When I tell you this guy was like a psychic in picking the best food for us!! It was phenomenal. We will be back. Be sure to ask for Sergio!!!!!!! read more

Sistina - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Great atmosphere and service! The wine selection was immaculate and the pasta was really amazing! I definitely recommend the fettuccine!!! The bread at the start with the selection of butters could have been a whole meal itself! Very filling!! read more

Sistina - bread and butter :) - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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I arrived at the restaurant with a reservation for a table of three. I got seated at a table where we were literally hitting chairs and elbows with the people behind us. I politely asked to be moved to one of the other two vacant tables in the restaurant, both of which were set up for three or four people. The hostess immediately said that they weren't available to us and when I pushed back asking why she said that they had nothing else available. Throughout the meal one of the other tables never got filled, and the other table that I had requested to move to she seated a table of three at. Not only did what she was saying not make sense but the attitude she gave us was totally uncalled for. We eventually received our appetizers, which were delicious, and then finally our main courses arrived. One of my guests had ordered the red snapper, which she said tasted spoiled. Our server very politely took the food back and offered to bring her something else, and raised no issues about it. About five minutes later, the chef and owner Giuseppe came out of the kitchen with a raw piece of fish on a plate and held it up to us, telling us how the fish was the freshest in New York City and how there was no way that the piece of fish was spoiled. This was totally unexpected and an awful way to treat your guests in a restaurant when you're paying the prices that Sistina charges. While the rest of the food was delicious, I would not recommend the restaurant due to poor service provided throughout read more

Our table was ready, however these "people" wouldn't move one table slightly to the right to accommodate a person who is permanently disabled on a wheelchair. They didn't want to inconvenience a potential future person (table was empty with no one waiting for it). Absolutely unbelievable. Terrible service and prejudicial towards handicapped persons. read more

Beautiful Italian restaurant set in an UES townhouse with 3 sections: bar, dining, and a back room. The ambiance is lovely with high ceilings, dim lighting, and adorned with orchids. It was packed even on a Tuesday evening, and the clientele was definitely comprised of mostly regulars and locals. The service was fantastic and Giuseppe checks in on the tables himself as well. Note that he will insist that you check your coats! Some highlights: 1. Burrata with blood orange: Fresh and creamy with the perfect touch of citrus drizzled with oil. 2. Pappardelle Sistina: One of the best pappardelle dishes I have had with a creamy and savory veal ragu accented with chanterelles. The pasta was perfectly silky and tender but the ragu was the highlight. 3. Wild mushroom ravioli: Flavorful and tender ravioli stuffed with black truffles in a light yet creamy sauce. 4. Nutella bread pudding with spiced gelato: Deliciously creamy and soft bread pudding topped with a light Nutella glaze, peaches, and spice gelato. A perfect mesh of flavors. 5. Spicy blood orange gelato: Creamy with a slight spicy kick. 6. The breadsticks were a nice touch and the accompanying sliced bread was soft and paired well with the ragu. Overall, a fantastic gem on the UES for Italian, especially for a date or a dinner with close friends. They have tables for larger groups as well. It's a perfect setting for a special occasion with well-crafted dishes that are beautifully presented. read more

Excellent food, service, and beautiful atmosphere! One, if not the best restaurant on the UES.

We had a graduation celebration dinner for 8. We were in a festive mood laughing and enjoying our company that had traveled for the occasion. It was at this point a disheveled man barked at us to "keep it down". Shocked I asked our waiter who was this cantankerous goat? Turns out he was the OWNER! He ruined our $1,300 meal and left us stunned and furious. If you are looking for overpriced food that fails to be authentic, that is served in a room full of octogenarians who'd rather be in a library; you will love this place and the curmudgeon of an "owner". read more

Beautiful food, great service, nice by the glass wine list. Convenient to the Met. I'll look forward to visiting again next time I'm in the city. read more

We made a reservation for Christmas Eve one month ago after reviewing the online menu. They called a week away and said it is a 250 dollar price fixe menu that they still haven't decided on. read more

Food and service is always excellent. Became one of our favorite Italian restaurants from the 1st visit 2 1/2 years ago. Beautiful upscale decor. Great for a business meal, celebration or slightly fancy meal. The servers are incredibly knowledgeable, professional and nice. Am always impressed by their ability to recite and describe a dozen-plus daily specials. Highly recommend to anyone who asks for a restaurant recommendation for a special occasion or when visiting from out of town. read more

This is a UES institution. Location is just stunning, with a unique mixture of modern art and exquisite neoclassical decor accents and references throughout the first floor. The second floor and its 'Champagne Cascade' is just breathtaking... Food is authentic and comforting, although researched and very elegantly presented. Italian wine selection and champagne is among the best in the country! read more

We had a wonderful lunch at Sistina~ the hostess and our server were very gracious and accommodating to my mom with dementia. A bread basket with a pretty plate of butter started us off and I had a white Negroni which was refreshing and strong (which I love). Mom had the clam and zucchini risotto.. very tasty and excellent texture. I had the chicken caprese... the perfect spring summer lunch! To end mom had a perfect latte which she very much enjoyed. read more

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Sistina is our fav restaurant! A hidden gem in the UES! We went here to celebrate our anniversary and have been back 5 times since! Everyone we recommend loves it as well! Great food. Great service. Great atmosphere and ambiance! read more

Sistina - Sistina - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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I was very hesitant to eat at Sistina because of the reviews but I was meeting some friends who suggested it and did not want to be rude and offer another suggestion. Wow was I pleasantly surprised. First of all, the amount of specials this restaurant had on a Thursday night could have and would have been it's own menu at any other restaurant, I was blown away. I decided to go with the special of the artichoke soup and for dinner a mushroom ravioli. They have a great wine list and made me a perfect martini. They started us off with fried green olives that I thought were amazing. Would definitely go back if I found myself on the East Side. read more

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Ive been coming here for 4 years now. I have to say that the zitti with lamb ragu and veal milanese is delicous. My go to spot in NYC. read more

Sistina - The main dining is stunning. - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

True Italian cuisine - in a cozy, quiet, and beautiful framework. The chef owner is an art collector. You see drawings by Matisse on the walls. The wine list is amazing! read more

Well was going to go but came down with covid So instead of going and infecting the entire restaurant i called and canceled Well after there bullshit policy and charge me $150.00 to cancel leas than 24 hours i hope they use that for there own medical Bills I wont be back But the owner could not care read more

Horrendously overpriced. Dirty inside; rats and flies outside. Grumpy owner. Average food. The staff are very nice though Avoid at all cost! read more

I got to say, this was quite an experience. I was so tempted to give it a 5 star, if my steak was just cook to my preference that could have made a big difference. I took my fiancee for his birthday and had booked the reservation for a Friday evening and even mentioned in a note the occasion. When we stepped foot in the door, I felt my credit card screaming inside my wallet... but I knew what I was signing up for when I booked this place. We were sat promptly in the main dining section after the bar. The wait staff were very attentive and maybe too attentive (will get to that in a moment). The waiter came by and offered us to smell the white truffle and said this is the last one of the season. The smell alone extraordinaire, strong and potent. Afterward, he goes on to recite the menu from memory and we opted for the paper menu to order our meal. To be honest with everyone, while sitting there and looking around, I did feel a little uncomfortable. The atmosphere was "rich" if you get my drift. We sat for an earlier dinner so it wasn't as crowded, there was a family sitting across from us. The wife was in her gala gown with a stunning necklace. The husband was a the lawyer type (and it was confirmed) that he was. I was a little schleppy in my afterwork attire (even though I managed to dressed up a little for the fiancee). but now back to the food. They had complimentary olives, bread, and oil. The olives were amazing. After every two or three olive pits on our small plate, a waiter will quickly swapped out for a new plate. It did drive my fiancee crazy that his plate got swapped out at least 4 times because of the pits. I am grateful that my water glass was never empty. Here you are waited not by a waiter but the entire staff. The owner Giuseppe was walking around and chatting with diners. We ordered drinks, I had the Bourbon Blackberry Collins and he had the Vodka Aperol Burst. Mine was okay, it did the trick for me..nothing special. He like his so that's a plus. For starter I had the Grilled Shrimp & Scallops with a small mound of lump crabmeat and black truffle sauce ($28). I took the first bite and moaned. My fiancee starred at me strangely but I don't care, it was that good. The shrimp, scallop were seared nicely and the truffle sauce make its divine. (I am giving 5/5) He had roasted artichoke with grilled mozzarella and grilled shrimp($25), it was looks good (he peered over my should just now and says he gave it 4/5). For our entree I had the Prime Dry Aged Shell Steak ($55) and had it medium, it sits on a bed of broccoli rabe and fingerling potatoes and a side of tomato salad with olive oil and basil. My steak was okay, a bit more cooked than I had desire, it is more of a medium well then medium. The tomato salad was fresh and the basil and olive oil make its refreshing and delicious. The fingerling potatoes were just blah, nothing special about it. This dish I give a 3/5. the fiancee had the Wild North Atlantic Halbut with seasonal vegetable and lemon sauce ($45). He enjoyed it and gave it a 4/5. We were full and did not opt for dessert (even though I pressure him to gt something since it's his birthday). He said no and went to the restroom, I asked and paid for the check. When he came back the staff started signing and brought out a complimentary small plate of tiny dessert with happy birthday written on it. It was surprising and very nice of them. I enjoyed their service and tip them above the 20% for making it special! read more

Sistina - Grilled shrimp and scallops over lump crabmeat and truffle sauce! Yummy - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Great atmosphere and very good food. Major wine selection. Attentive service we will be back.

Amazing food, excellent service, perfect ambiance and friendly feel! Best Italian food in NYC, and more than excited to go back again and again! read more

Sistina is a true ode to Italian food experience. Chef Giuseppe Bruno shows his talent in every dish. The execution of simplicity to complexity is unique and translates in the freshness and flavors of his menu. The room at Sistina is elegant and tasteful. The front of the house provides a harmonious service that remain attentive and not intrusive. And the wine program delivers one if not the best cellar in NYC. Don't miss Sistina, perhaps one of the few restaurants where the chef owner still cooks your meal. Elmer E. read more

If you are going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and looking for a very fine dining restaurant, Sistina is your place. The food was wonderfully prepared and presented, the staff friendly and professional and the ambiance elegant. read more

Sistina is superb! The food is the best in NYC! In fact, the pasta at Sistina is better than anything you will find in Italy!! The wine list is massive and impressive! Guiseppe always selects the perfect bottle for our dinner. The staff is attentive and incredibly professional, delivering excellent service! The interior is beautiful and the ambience is grand. Our meals at Sistina are always magnificent! We thoroughly enjoy ourselves and have been repeat customers for many, many years. We always recommend Sistina to friends who visit NYC and they constantly thank us!! read more

I have been dining at Sistina for over 30 years. Incredible food, impeccable service, perfect location. The bar is the perfect spot to meet a friend for dinner and watch a sporting event in the background. The main dining room feels like you are in someone's beautiful upper east side home. I just love this place and I dine here every time I visit New York City. read more

The chicken meatballs were not as good as my husbands but the bread sticks and the beets and buratta were amazing! What a gorgeous place for a special meal. read more

LOVED this place! First of all such excellent service, they accommodated several off the menu requests for dishes (spaghetti carbonara & caprese salad) & the garden room was beautiful!! Had such a good time and couldn't recommend enough! read more

Sistina - Special request of spaghetti carbonara, side of broccoli - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Whenever I visit a city, I always look for the best Italian restaurants. I found Sistina on Open Table. The menu looked fantastic so I made a reservation. It's a wonderful cozy restaurant. we sat at the bar and had two of the most fantastic pasta dishes I've tasted. My friend had the gnocci in a porcini mushroom sauce and I had the raviolis. I have attached photos so you can see their magnificence. I highly recommend Sistina when you're in NYC. read more

Sistina - The Gnocci - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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We have been dining at Sistina for many years. Whether we are seated at the bar or the dining room, the staff is always welcoming and the service is great. And then there is the food- always fantastic. read more

Sistina is simply wonderful.....incredible attention is paid to all things that make a restaurant memorable including flowers, decor, staff, presentation of the most delicious food and outstanding wine list. that it just happens to be in a fabulous neighborhood nestled in a knockout building doesn't hurt. lucky you if chef/owner, Giuseppe, or his lovely daughter, Nicola, come to your table to chat and make sure you are happy with your meal. just go and enjoy your evening. read more

Elegant and classic. Delicious and varied menu with wonderful choices. I recommend sticking with the classics as they were all consistently much better than some of the other listed options we choose. You must try the lemon sorbet as it is one of the best things I have ever tasted--exquisitely perfect lemon flavor--sometimes simple is best. read more