Grazie! Grazie! Grazie! Special thanks to Adriana for her…read morehospitality and ensuring that our experience was worth the visit. Another special thank you to our amazing waiter, Alejandro. He did not miss a beat and if anything slipped past him, it was swiftly corrected. And lastly, to the chef! Thank you for your culinary creativity shown in each specially crafted dish. Starters: Fried calamari and shrimp- this was a good start although missing a little flavor to the batter but it was good nonetheless. Whipped burrata-this was delicious but it could have been even better with some more of the delicious house bread that we were offered upon arrival. Drinks: Balsamic peach spritz (not pictured) the graduate's favorite drink of the day! She raved about it the entire time. Aperol spritz- very refreshing with a beautiful citrus twist! I loved it. Old fashioned- my boyfriend throughly enjoyed this classic drink. Entrees: Oven roasted branzino- AMAZING! The cook on the branzino was perfect and the broccolini and mini carrots added a beautiful crunch to my experience. I could have taken another order to go. My boyfriend had the house ravioli which was salmon and after taking one bite, I can attest that it was INCREDIBLY delicious! Everyone else thoroughly enjoyed their meals: Ribeye steak Lamb chops with spinach mashed potatoes Lamb chops with roasted potatoes Roasted Chicken Rustichella We ended the celebration with dessert: Olive oil cake- not too sweet and fluffy. Tiramisu- sinfully good! Overall, we had an incredible dining experience and would highly recommend it.

Best to go on Sundays...for Parking. Otherwise, this quaint, intimate enclave of delicious fresh…read moreItalian fare is the perfect date or family gathering spot. Pastas are fresh, wines are Italian and Service is familial, comforting and personable. There's bar space for solo situations or to grab a quick bite and sip. Short Ribs Paparadelle, Fettucine Alfredo with Grilled Chicken were fresh & delish! Had the Fried Calamari and Shrimp to start. Very light battered, fried and clean. Also, had the divine Roasted Brussel Sprouts. Ended with the Olive Oil Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream and the 3 Mini Cannolis, which provided the perfect bite to end the feast. Just sweet enough to leave you wanting more. No matter the occasion, Barbalu is GOOD to you!

I've been back multiple times since my first visit and always get the Reginette and another pasta…read moredepending on my mood for our entrees. We came for dinner today and got lucky because the Sunday only special (Chicken Parm) was available so we ordered that and I decided to switch up my usual to the Spaghetti. My boyfriend loved the Chicken Parm and it comes on top of Vodka Pappardelle which was also delicious and the Spaghetti wasn't too heavy even though it was cream based. I wish they sold the Vodka pasta separately as an entree because I would order that as an entree on my next visit. Another fabulous dinner at Ammazzacaffe!

Cutest little italian spot in the neighborhood. Went here for girls night, but also great for date…read morenight or to take your parents if they're in town. Snagged a resy day of. Sat in the booth upfront, which made for great people watching. They have a huge patio in the back - perfect for a nice day out. For apps - got the beets for the app + the lattuga salad. Beets came with a smoked ricotta, loved the smokey touch! Salad was perfectly dressed. For the mains- split 2 pastas with the gals and it was a perfect amount of food. I liked both, but spaghetti bottarga was my fave. Of course got a dirty martini to pair dinner with. Will be back!

Came here for Christmas dinner on Thursday. I searched for a restaurant semi-close to me that had…read moregreat reviews and was Italian. This was high up on my search, and with reviews like what they have, we decided to give them a shot. Its very easy to get to with a decent amount of street parking. Seems a bit out of place next to a deli on a residential block. You can kind of miss it if youre not paying attention. We were a party of 6 and had a 5 PM reservation. You have to pass through this dark curtain and go to the middle of the bar where the host will greet you and bring you to your seats. We were seated promptly with no wait. The restaurant is VERY small. So much so that at our table, all I had to do was reach my hand out and I would have been touching the kitchen counter. It does get a little crammed/crowded, but not in an annoying or unbearable kind of way. The vibe is actually really cozy and rustic. Very dim lighting so either whip out the flashlight on your phone or hold up one of the real candles they have on the table to read the menu. The food menu is straightforward and simple. They have an extensive wine list. I love how on the food menu, next to each dish, they tell you the region of Italy that dish gets its roots from. They have lovely dinnerware here. They brought out a foccacia bread for the table with a tomato dipping sauce. Absolutely delicious foccacia. The sauce was a tad too salty for me. I started off with the mocktail Luisa. It was passion fruit, lemon, agave, ginger beer, and mint. It was $10 and very fresh and mouthwatering! For my appetizer I had the Calamari alla griglia. Grilled calamari with guacamole and carasau bread. I've never had grilled calamari before. Only either marinara or fried. I also thought pairing it with guacamole was an interesting twist. I was so pleasantly surprised by this dish. The calamari were perfectly fork tender grilled. The guacamole went well with it. The carasau bread was more like a tortilla chip. They give you a decent amount for $24.95. That app slid down my throat effortlessly! For my entree I had the Maccheroncini alla Norma. Maccheroni with eggplant in tomato sauce with ricotta cheese. The pasta was so fresh and perfectly cooked. The sauce reminded me so much of my Calabrian grandmother's. The ricotta made it rich and creamy. Filling as well. So much so that, even though it wasn't a huge portion, I had to take home half of it because I was verging on being stuffed! My mother had the Cotoletta alla milanese. Keep in mind that if you get this chicken cutlet dish that it serves about four people, even though its for 1! HUGE portion. About 4 enormous cutlets that gave my mom 3 days of leftovers! All of the desserts were $12.95. A nice selection to choose from, but I had the classic Tiramisu. They make it here tableside. He made it with such care. Loved watching him put it all together. Let me tell you, that was the BEST Tiramisu that I've EVER had! Wow, just amazing. Very balanced, quality ingredients. The marscapone was so decadent, creamy and fresh. I could have easily taken down 2 of them! I tried some of my mother's chocolate cake. Delicious and decadent. Service throughout our dinner was above and beyond. Attentive, kind, concise and our waiter was such a cutie! Smooth sailing throughout the entire meal. We barely had to wait for anything. Amazing restaurant and staff. Prices are just fine and the quality goes way beyond. Can't wait to come back. Highly impressed and recommend!

Charming Italian restaurant with a rustic vibe. Came here for dinner one night, and was lucky…read moreenough to be able to sit outside on this not too busy street. This place does get busy so recommend making reservations if you can. They have a pretty nice wine list to choose from along with different cocktail options. From the start, the food was delicious starting with the house bread which was warm and soft but still felt light. For dinner, I ordered the special for the night which was cacio pepe ravioli, while my husband got the tagliatelle verdi con ragu. Both of our pasta dishes felt extremely fresh. The ravioli was unlike anything Ive had before, with flavorful cacio pepe filling and a butter sauce with pancetta complementing the flavor. The tagliatelle was also delicious in a more ragu centric way, still offering a good balance of flavor. Both dishes were pretty filling and so neither of us could finish it. We ended the night with cannolis, which was a pleasant surprise to find 3 came in 1 order. One side is pistachio while the other had a coco dusting. These were again delicious but pretty filling and sweet so we could only eat one. The staff here was also very friendly and service was quick with food coming out much faster than I expected. Overall I would come back and try even more on their menu.

So a friend and I decided to dine out on a Tuesday, thinking that most places would be empty, well…read morenot EVELINA. We were able to snag an early seating at 6:30. Note: reservations are not required but definitely suggested!! This place was packed. Every table sat, but a few chairs at the bar. I give this place 5 stars, EVERYTHING was lovely! The dim lights, (I love a dark and moody restaurant) noise level, talk-able but good music in the background, food, drinks, service.... all of it TOP NOTCH. Let's get into the deets.... I ordered the Portia cocktail... if you like Mezcal, you should definitely try this one. Smoky and a little sweet, it was a delicious drink We order Pinsa Bianca for appetizers, the bread, roasted peppers and whipped ricotta all made for a light but delish start. We then dove into the rib-eye (for 2) DELICIOUS ! One of the best steaks outside of a steakhouse I have had. The marbling gave it great flavor, salted well and the perfect char on the outside, it was accompanied by French fries and broccolini. All a great addition; The broccolini was surprisingly not too bitter which was nice. To round it off we ordered their version of a Lemon tart! It was the perfect level of sweet and tart! Yummmo Overall a great place for dinner, run don't walk, you won't be disappointed! You'll thank me later

We went for a Mother's Day brunch. The place was packed. Lots of families with kids and babies…read more 9our server was friendly and sweet and helped guide our decisions. We got the lobster with white asparagus with eggs to share. Yum. It really did not need the eggs. The hollondaise was delicious. We ordered. Oxtail rags, carbonara, and the fish pasta -Sardinian nod. All were excellent. The carbonara could have used a bit of pepper and a bit more pecorino. Guanciale? Or bacon? Also had the scallops which we loved. I ordered a Bellini but it was not a Bellini. No peach. Just a cherry - odd. The Lemon scone was the best we have had - served with cream and lemon curd. Amazing The Carmel custard dessert - was rich but a bit one note. It did come with a crunchy buttery cookie. The ice creams were homemade. The restaurants is lovely. Food wonderful. Service friendly and quick. But it is so loud you are literally yelling at your companions. Maybe they could turn down the music ? Regardless. We love this place!

We had the best night at Michael's!…read more I knew Michaels was an iconic restaurant deep in Brooklyn. I've seen their sauce sold in stores before, and we finally made the trip out for dinner. We went around Christmas and it was decorated inside. The restaurant was packed. Every single table was full. Everyone was having the best time. Even the bar was totally full of people ordering drinks before they were seated. The food is classic, New York Italian. Everything is a very well done version. The veal Parm was one of the best I've ever had. The caramel cake at the end was truly beyond. I can't recommend this experience enough. We ate for three hours had amazing cocktails, great bottles of wine and a really delicious meal. Looking around, you could tell the diners were locals enjoying a beloved neighborhood restaurant. It's such a special restaurant that serves real New Yorkers.

You can tell this is a staple Italian restaurant in Marine Park, Brooklyn. Lots of regulars and…read morefamilies. I always pass by and finally decided to try it out. The interior looks like a classic Italian restaurant and service is very formal. It was quite busy for a weekday night. There's valet parking so you don't have to stress about finding street parking nearby. We ordered fried calamari, baked clams, baked vodka penne, and the Fisherman's Platter. We were served bread and some antipasto to start. The calamari was a classic and I loved the sauce -- it had a good spicy kick to it. The baked clams were okay. The Fisherman's Platter is a must and good value with its generous portion of seafood. It can definitely be shared amongst two people. The baked vodka penne was also good but portion was on the smaller side. I would say Michael's is a must try at least once.

Great neighborhood spot with fantastic food. Came here on a Saturday for lunch and the weather was…read morebeautiful so would recommend sitting outside. We ordered the duck ragu with tagliatelle, avocado and tomato salad with grilled chicken, and the spinach ravioli (not pictured). The salad was so refreshing and you can tell that the EVOO was very high quality. Grilled chicken was cooked well. My fiancée really enjoyed the ragu and his dad said he was a big fan of the ravioli. Service is attentive but not intrusive and prices are super reasonable. We will be back!

We got the corn insalate, the black spaghetti with the chorizo, and spaghetti with Manila clams…read more The corn salad was refreshing and healthy. The black spaghetti was recommended by the waitress over the blue crab black spaghetti and no regrets, it was tasty! Everything tasted good and was received timely. Would definitely go back!

Reservations are harder to come by so I had to settle with an early 4 pm meal. I was seated…read moreimmediately as they opened. Service was attentive and friendly, and I did not feel rushed at any point. I wasn't too hungry so I shared their popular focaccia bread with green butter and sheep's milk agnolotti. Focaccia 5/5: best focaccia I ever had, it came hot and fresh out of the oven. Crispy on the outside but so soft inside, topped with a delicious parm. The green herb butter was so smooth. I loved this dish and would come back just for it Sheep's milk 4/5: they're like ravioli stuffed with smooth, melt in your mouth cheese... the sauce was light and sweet from the honey. It was so unique and delicious (technically a 5/5 but I personally am not a fan of sweet pasta and would likely try something else next time) I hope to come back another time for that bread and to try one of their other pastas

I came to Lilia for dinner with my sister and we had a great time! We had a reservation, and…read moreeveryone was incredibly kind. The service was great, and our server gave us great recommendations. Inside has lots of seating and it is moody, more of a date-night vibe. We ordered three pastas and two appetizers. All were overall great! They are known for their focaccia, and it was good! Definitely one of the focaccia I have had, most end up being too oily but this was perfect. We also got the mussels, and they were good as well, the butter sauce it is dosed in is not too heavy and pairs well with the bread. The Mafaldini was the biggest portion size, and it was also good, but we preferred the other pastas more. The best pasta was definitely the agnolotti!! Though the portion size was smaller, every bite was so delicious. Overall we had a great time here!

I'll start with a few caveats. No Bathroom on premises. Cash only, and no booze…read more But if you're willing to take a chance, you'll be rewarded with a solid, Italian homestyle meal in a tiny and cozy restaurant that won't break the bank. Standouts include the artichoke side, the Amatriciana, and the Tiramisu. You wont be disappointed.

This cute little Italian restaurant is pretty awesome in a quiet little neighborhood. The staff was…read moresuper nice and made the vibe feel like a chill place to hangout and enjoy your meal. I got the cacio e pepe which was great. The fresh cracked pepper and the pasta was very fresh and more al dente the way I liked it. This place takes cash only so make sure you have some on you to pay.

Cuisine: 7 Service: 8…read moreDecor: 8 Value: 7 Overall: 7 I wonder how many 100 year old restaurants are still left in NYC. It can't be easy to stay true to who you are in this ever changing world. With today's social media heavy and influencer dominated marketing, this restaurant sits on a quiet street in Brooklyn just going about its business. Known as an Italian red sauce shop that served all walks of life, including possibly the mafia, this place has seen it all. If only the walls can talk, I could imagine all the stories it holds. Our friendly waiter has been there for 20+ years and shared some of his experiences and memories. It was a nice bonus to our meal for four. For appetizers, we had some Clams Oreganata (8/10), Fried Calamari (8/10), and Roasted Peppers w/ Anchovies (8/10). I would say that these three starters were the highlights of the meal. The entrees were not bad, just not as outstanding as their appetizer counterparts. My favorite of the bunch was the Eggplant Parmigiana (8/10), which was delicious and well made. The other three items, Pork Chop alla Bamonte's (6/10), Ravioli w/ Meat Sauce (7/10), and Rigatoni w/ Sausage & Broccoli Rabe (7/10), were all decent, but nothing special. By the end of the meal, four of us all agreed that it was a fun experience. With all the great options for Italian cuisine in NYC, it's not somewhere that stands out enough for regular visits. However, I would stop by if I was in the neighborhood.

Rating: 3.5/5 I…read morediscovered this restaurant on Instagram as one of the top Italian restaurants in NYC, so I decided to try it. It appeared to be family-owned in Williamsburg and consistently drew a large crowd throughout the day and night. Upon entering, I noticed the restaurant was keen to maximize seating, with diners placed very close to one another. The restaurant appeared to have a very old-school vibe; maybe that was the theme they were going for? The food ordered was: 1. Calamari - They weren't overly fried or coated with breading. Tender, and not rough. Flavorful enough; no sauce was needed (although it was included). A good appetizer. 2. Rigatoni with vodka sauce - Maybe it's my taste buds, but I also thought the sauce lacked seasoning and flavor overall. The pasta was cooked well (al dente), but the lack of flavor from the sauce ruined the dish. I was really excited about this dish! 3. Cavatelli with Bolognese Sauce - I've had bolognese sauce before, & this dish was just weird. It felt like they just did it within 5 minutes of cooking time, & it was something you could've just made at home yourself with a jar of Prego sauce. It also lacked seasoning. 4. Chicken Parmigiana - I'm a huge chicken parmigiana fan, and I feel like it's always a must if you eat at any Italian restaurant. This dish was well seasoned, not overly fried, not heavily covered with cheese, and smothered in a good amount of sauce. The chicken wasn't dry either; it was tender. Weird part was it was served with a side of string beans & potatoes, not pasta. This was one of the best dishes of the night though. 5. Chicken Marsala - Just like the chicken parmigiana, the chicken was tender & wasn't dry. It's easy to overcook chicken becoming dry, but the two chicken dishes weren't. Very flavorful & a good amount of mushrooms added for garnish as well. Same with the chicken parm, string beans & potato's as a side and not pasta. 6. Linguine with White Clam Sauce - I'm allergic to shellfish, so I did not try this dish, but my table said it was tasty. Overall, I thought the food wasn't as good as I thought. I felt like because this restaurant was hyped up on social media & they know it'll always attract business because of it, the pricing to food portion ratio did not correlate. It's a little on the pricey side for the amount of food you'd get, but maybe it's because of the rent since it is Williamsburg (but they've been around since the 1900s though), the pricing of ingredients, or the quality of the ingredients (import ingredients?). The menu said the pasta was homemade. Another thing was, just like another reviewer mentioned, I felt my table was rushed out the door. We weren't even finished eating and we could feel they were eyeing the table, probably becausd I was with a large party. We weren't even sitting for too long either. The waiter who served my table, whose name I didn't catch, was friendly and polite though. Anyways, this is my take on this restaurant. Maybe this is how old school Italian restaurants are supposed to be & in terms of food too? Maybe you'll perhaps have a better experience than I did. *DINE IN - RESERVATION REQUIRED*