Aleo-GARDEN DINING

(212) 691-8136

7 W 20th St
New York, NY 10011 40.739757 -73.991136

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Neighborhoods: Flatiron District, Midtown

aleorestaurant.com/

Hours:

Mon-Fri 12pm-11pmSat 4pm-12amSun 4:30pm-12am

Last updated 7.08.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, Discover, Diners Club, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Romantic Dining, Outdoor Dining, Private Rooms, Lunch Spot, Happy Hour, Live Music, Food Delivery, Carry Out, Dine At The Bar

Cuisine:

Mediterranean, Italian

What People Are Saying About Aleo-GARDEN DINING

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

Mediterranean and Italian cuisine including fish, pasta and meat dishes such as veal cutlets, lamb chops, Alaskan salmon and more.

Editor's Tips

The Extras:
Rent the outdoor garden, dining room or bar for private parties.
Save Money:
Swing by during the week from 4pm to 7pm for happy hour.
ambiance
92.8600025177002% positive
  1. The young energetic staff is obviously instructed to PLEASE, and the atmosphere was so cozy and relaxing.
  2. Great romantic setting
  3. love everything about this place - the food, the service, the music, the ambiance, the owner, the bar - this what NY is all about.
  4. would highly recommend Aleo for some classic Italian fare in a casual yet sophisticated atmosphere!
  5. Bar is comfortable place to wait, or just make a reservation so you don't have to wait at all.
  6. Add the simple but elegant environment (the outdoor garden, I hear, is simply romantic in spring and summer) and spoon-fed wait service (they'd probably feed you if you ask), and this is truly a perfect package.
  7. This was an awesome birthday dinner all my friends and family had so much fun and my sister in-law ended up going back for new years eve dinner.
  8. The dinner was fun but the desert was the big surprise, the waiter gave us free fruit which was nice.
  9. ambiance was nice - we had a nice cozy corner table, that was about the only good thing about this restraunt.
  10. The atmosphere is both inviting and cozy.
  11. The friendly and welcoming environment, and the simple but elegant decor, really set the tone.
  12. We recommend it for a romantic evening, or a group of friends.
  13. hard to find, family owned, wonderful atmosphere, with great food, Aleo takes the cake!
  14. The outside dinning area is so quaint and beautiful during the summer, and during the winter, they put up a tarp and have high powered expensive heaters that keep it cozy.
  15. And the soft Italian music that was playing when we were there made it feel like you could have been in a romantic cafe in Italy.
  16. Aleo Restaurant, my new favorite, has managed to rival my previous neighborhood choices such as Beppe and Arezzo by providing delicious food at appropriate prices in an atmosphere that truly feels comfortable.
  17. ain't one for atmosphere, so I really couldn't tell you if the atmosphere is good.
  18. The garden is so romantic.
  19. If you want service and royal treatment that makes you feel special, food that's a cross between homemade and unique, and a great dining experience in a comfortable and pleasant setting, I highly recommend Aleo.
  20. Oddly disconcerting and somewhat loud Italian covers of american pop music playing and a bar with a TV which faces the seating areas didn't add to the ambience.
  21. Staff was attentive, service was great, atmosphere was nice and I'm sure that the garden is a wonderful spot in the summer.
  22. Great place for a few drinks and conversation, dinner with friends, or a romantic meal with my girl.
  23. The outdoor seating, which was enclosed because still cold outside, was kind of romantic because they have this waterfall.
  24. We were seated in the back garden which was quite romantic (front area just okay.)
  25. But there waiting for us in this beautiful outdoor garden was a romantic table for two, with a plate of fresh mozzarella, provolone, sopressattta, salami, olives and roasted peppers already set on the table.
  26. Great outdoor ambiance
  27. The atmosphere seemed a bit more like a corporate lunch-spot than a cozy date spot to me.
  28. Good location for a great meal, intimate and good for a date, cannot loose with any of the menu items.
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. Our favorites: capellini w/ sundried tomato, broccoli rabe, seared chicken in white wine sauce (they'll add Italian sausage if you want, they did for us) was bursting with taste and flavor; and the penne (cooked al dente) with generously proportioned saut
  2. hard to find, family owned, wonderful atmosphere, with great food, Aleo takes the cake!
  3. My girlfriend, on the other hand, thought the food was absolutely fantastic, mainly because the pastas we chose were more cream-based (more her thing than mine).
  4. told them it was my fiance's birthday and they brought him a slice of their delicious chocolate cake with a candle (which was nice but then they charged for it which is ok, I guess, but I think a more detail- oriented restaurant would have comp'd it.)
  5. As for the deserts, each one is delicious, the Tiramisu is the best I have tasted and I have probably tried that dish in over 100 different restaurants over the past 10 years.
  6. The dinner was fun but the desert was the big surprise, the waiter gave us free fruit which was nice.
  7. The food was delicious, from the stuffed clams, to all the entrees and finally that "light as a feather" strawberry cheesecake to top it off!
  8. And YOU MUST order the flatbread pizza appetizer, which I could have eaten for dinner and dessert, too!
  9. The people are more than helpful from seating us to helping with the wine and desserts.
drinks
91.66999816894531% positive
  1. As soon as you come inside the door, you are greeted with a warm welcome and are given the option to sit at a table to linger at the bar for as long as you like (which is also a very pleasant thing to do as they have a fantastic and kickass bartender who
  2. Surprisingly the bar was lively and happening, so we started with some real interesting and creative martinis, along with the best homemade pizza we ever had.
  3. We had to chase down the waiter to order and refresh our drinks.
  4. The food was great, there is an Outdoor Garden, and a great bar menu.
  5. The food was so good, they kept the drinks filled and everyone enjoyed.
  6. Our server was remarkably knowledgeable of the wine list and poured as if she was a sommelier.
  7. few of us just intended to have a few drinks after work, but we ended up ordering some appetizers and sandwiches from the bar menu, a hearty platter of meats and cheeses, some grilled tuna and chicken sandwiches, and lamb pitas that were over stuffed wi
  8. thoroughly enjoyed everything that was put on the table including the wine, which was recommended by the manager.
  9. have gone there on a date, and the owner is so nice and the waitstaff is so welcoming my date thought that I owned the place (needless to say the date went well and ended well), I have gone in with some friends for a couple of drinks and appetizers befo
  10. Our favorites: capellini w/ sundried tomato, broccoli rabe, seared chicken in white wine sauce (they'll add Italian sausage if you want, they did for us) was bursting with taste and flavor; and the penne (cooked al dente) with generously proportioned saut
  11. the food was extremely tasty, service was very good and the drinks kick ass!
  12. We arrived and the table wasn't ready so the guy who greeted us seated us near the bar in small groups, bought us a round of drinks and came out with what they call flatbread pizza, which was so good I am still tasting it.
  13. they had other equally good wines at very reasonable prices and we got compensated anyway.
  14. The people are more than helpful from seating us to helping with the wine and desserts.
  15. ... the manager is always there to assist us on finding a superb wine to match our dinner.
  16. Had dinner there wednesday night, the place was hopping, both the floor and the bar and the wait staff seemed very professional in handling the tables without being nervous wrecks.
  17. Great place for a few drinks and conversation, dinner with friends, or a romantic meal with my girl.
  18. dinner/drinks. Staff were friendly & made us feel at home.
  19. Whenever i go there for dinner or drinks i can see that they give impeccable service to everyone.
  20. The wine list is awsome and has some of my favorite BV & Ruffino Wines.
  21. love everything about this place - the food, the service, the music, the ambiance, the owner, the bar - this what NY is all about.
  22. Honestly, I can't remember all of the ingredients in the other appetizers and specialty sandwiches we had that night, but I do know that it was the best bar menu of any Italian restaurant we have ever been to, and we go to several a month.
  23. The waiter was personable, funny and made several nice drink suggestions.
  24. The place has it all well presented/delicious food, great wine selection/drinks, an Outdoor Garden Oasis in the Back and a great staff owner.
  25. We had three bottles of wine, and a big meal for six of us for under $35 each.
  26. But if we don't, I know we'll have a great meal anyway, even if it's at the bar.
  27. Memorable special ocasion parties, Anytime wine & dine , Very nice staff
  28. Oddly disconcerting and somewhat loud Italian covers of american pop music playing and a bar with a TV which faces the seating areas didn't add to the ambience.
  29. We wanted to order wine & apps but couldn't find our waiter.
  30. The plan was to have a few drinks at the bar (we heard they make great martinis), then dinner in the dining room.
  31. We were seated and although the restaurant was far from full, nobody came to our table for a FULL 15 MINUTES to even take a drink order.
  32. My friends and I were looking for a nice place to eat and have a few drinks on a Saturday night before we went out to the clubs in the Gramercy/Chelsea area.
  33. Aleo has such a friendly service: they put down so many bottles of after dinner drinks on our table!
  34. manager or someone stopped at the table and asked if we would like a complimentary after dinner drink.
  35. Only try Aleo if you have over 3 hours to waste & have a TON of patience or just dont order wine & place your dinner order AS SOON AS YOU SIT DOWN.
  36. Nice wine list.
food quality
87.81000137329102% positive
  1. We had three bottles of wine, and a big meal for six of us for under $35 each.
  2. told them it was my fiance's birthday and they brought him a slice of their delicious chocolate cake with a candle (which was nice but then they charged for it which is ok, I guess, but I think a more detail- oriented restaurant would have comp'd it.)
  3. The food was great, there is an Outdoor Garden, and a great bar menu.
  4. The food was good and the service was awesome.
  5. The homemade cannolis and capuccino topped off a great meal.
  6. have to admit the food is a little slow in coming but then they do state in their menu, the food is made cooked to order and when it does come,it makes up for the wait.
  7. We arrived and the table wasn't ready so the guy who greeted us seated us near the bar in small groups, bought us a round of drinks and came out with what they call flatbread pizza, which was so good I am still tasting it.
  8. hard to find, family owned, wonderful atmosphere, with great food, Aleo takes the cake!
  9. The food was actually really good & if the service werent SO terrible, I would consider going back.
  10. The place has it all well presented/delicious food, great wine selection/drinks, an Outdoor Garden Oasis in the Back and a great staff owner.
  11. love everything about this place - the food, the service, the music, the ambiance, the owner, the bar - this what NY is all about.
  12. Not only was the food great, but our waiter, Fabio, was honestly the most accommodating and friendly waiter I've ever had!
  13. From the steak to the rissotto, to the stuffed sole, everything was awesome.
  14. Oh, did I say the food is terrific.
  15. best pasta around
  16. This clearly is one of the best restaurants in the city for Italian and Mediterranean cuisine.
  17. The veal cutlet and the halibut are my all time favorite dishes at aleo but sometimes i couldn't help ordering from their specials menu especially the fish.
  18. The food was so good, they kept the drinks filled and everyone enjoyed.
  19. My food would have been good if it hadn't been cold.
  20. They also loved the shrimp risotto cooked to perfection.
  21. Had a nice meal at Aleo.
  22. Our companions raved over the risotto, and appetizers of baby octopus & stuffed calamari (spinach, mushroom, onion and feta-stuffed squid over octopus chickpea stew), and the classic roasted tomato, fresh mozzarella and fresh basil flatbread pizza.
  23. The food is superb, and the service exquisite.
  24. The food was good but not inspired.
  25. As for the deserts, each one is delicious, the Tiramisu is the best I have tasted and I have probably tried that dish in over 100 different restaurants over the past 10 years.
  26. The mozzarella, soppressata, mushrooms and roasted peppers on grilled panini bread (I think) was the best of the group.
  27. The food was delicious, from the stuffed clams, to all the entrees and finally that "light as a feather" strawberry cheesecake to top it off!
  28. He offerred us a complimentary cocktail with a dish of homemade biscotti to end a great experience.
  29. The flavor was enhanced with Italian sausage, diced potatoes, capers, olives and pine nuts, all of this in a fresh tomato and shellfish broth served over angel hair pasta.
  30. Seafood dishes are great as well.
  31. You will not see the pomp and circumstance in the higher priced places, rather ALEO's prices are so reasonable, while the food competes with the best of them.
  32. Tucked away on a side street off Fifth Ave., this is classic, authentic Mediterranean Italian at its finest.
  33. Attentive service with good food in decent price
  34. At the start of the meal we had good service but the room quickly filled up and the service worsened as a result (sloooow dinner service, mixed up dishes, empty water glasses, no one checking in to see if we were alright.)
  35. Honestly, I can't remember all of the ingredients in the other appetizers and specialty sandwiches we had that night, but I do know that it was the best bar menu of any Italian restaurant we have ever been to, and we go to several a month.
  36. All around great meal.
  37. Good location for a great meal, intimate and good for a date, cannot loose with any of the menu items.
  38. Appetizers: flatbread pizza was unbelievable; fresh mozarela, tomato and basil best of the two.
  39. Aleo is one of those finds where you're stuck between keeping it to yourself or telling everybody about the wonderful food and service that was bestowed on you.
  40. My buddies had different pasta, all great stuff.
  41. But if we don't, I know we'll have a great meal anyway, even if it's at the bar.
  42. The pasta with the parmesian cheese sauce with peas, mushrooms and pancetta was so flavorful that I couldn't wait to get the next forkful in my mouth.
  43. Excellent food and service
  44. Dinner: Shrimp and chicken rissotto - it came either or but they did both chicken and shrimp when I asked, which I thought was quite accommodating - and the steak were full of flavor.
  45. Everything was delicious.
  46. If you want service and royal treatment that makes you feel special, food that's a cross between homemade and unique, and a great dining experience in a comfortable and pleasant setting, I highly recommend Aleo.
  47. But there waiting for us in this beautiful outdoor garden was a romantic table for two, with a plate of fresh mozzarella, provolone, sopressattta, salami, olives and roasted peppers already set on the table.
  48. Lingiui was perfectly cooked with subtle, yet great flavor sauce.
  49. In spite of a great tuna tartare and a wonderful salad, I left hungry.
  50. From the homemade mozzarella, to the fresh calamari, to the pasta sauces that I later learned are recipes from the owner's mom, Antoinette Raimondi, this was an incredible dining experience.
  51. Surprisingly the bar was lively and happening, so we started with some real interesting and creative martinis, along with the best homemade pizza we ever had.
  52. Peter and the rest of the staff have created several original dishes just to suit my personal needs, all fantastic.
  53. It was called flatbread pizza, we had one with mozzarella and roasted tomatoes, and another with proscutto, carmelized onions and provolone, everything fresh and homemade.
  54. the food was extremely tasty, service was very good and the drinks kick ass!
  55. No matter where you sit, meal will be great, always has been for us.
  56. We have a rule that we never order steak in an Italian restaurant.
  57. Service was great, food was excellent.
  58. I, myself ended up eating a cold steak in a corner away from the group since there was no space.
  59. The food is absolutely superb, and the service sincere.
  60. It's just enough sauce to cling to the pasta and other ingredients, and enough left at the bottom of the bowl (huge portion) to dip a little bread.
  61. First batch of table bread was OK, second batch was stale.
  62. Aleo Restaurant, my new favorite, has managed to rival my previous neighborhood choices such as Beppe and Arezzo by providing delicious food at appropriate prices in an atmosphere that truly feels comfortable.
  63. And YOU MUST order the flatbread pizza appetizer, which I could have eaten for dinner and dessert, too!
  64. But that wasn't the only mouthwatering dish on the menu.
  65. The food is GREAT the chef is AWSOME and the service is what it should be!
  66. Our group were served a plate of dried sauasage, olives, cheese & fresh baked bread with olive oil to dip in.
  67. Pasta is creative with great tasting sauces, and this coming from a traditionalist who usually eats pasta with basic marinara.
  68. Food was good, but for the price of a plate of pasta here, four raviolis doesn't cut it as an entre for a big guy.
  69. The food is fantastic and the award winning chef is superb!
  70. had the mussels in a tomato broth that was delicious.
  71. am willing to wait if the food is fresh and worth it but this was so disappointing.
  72. In my opinion, the food was good, but nothing to really write home about.
  73. Overall, food was good but NYC has a ton of good places.
  74. Everything was great, but the best thing on the menu is the seafood medley.
  75. The sausage & broccoli rabe dish that was the best my brother ate.
  76. few of us just intended to have a few drinks after work, but we ended up ordering some appetizers and sandwiches from the bar menu, a hearty platter of meats and cheeses, some grilled tuna and chicken sandwiches, and lamb pitas that were over stuffed wi
  77. with bad service, cold food, there isnt much reason to visit again.
  78. dine out regularly and not only was the service awful but the food was barely edible.
  79. Great seafood
  80. At this point, I felt terrible b/c I picked this place & after more than 1 hour into the evening, we hadn't ordered food b/c we couldnt find our waiter.
  81. You ain't missin anything by not going to Ruth Chris because the steak at Aleo was probably as good or better.
  82. The specials are also fantastic and their soups are amazing, I personally don't like soup, but Aleo has a special touch when it comes to making soups that can please even the most picky of people.
  83. had the ravioli special which was fantastic, and sampled everyone elses dishes.
  84. The food was impeccable (I suggest the mussels, and the halibut, my boyfriend had the lambchops that had nothing left when he was done).
  85. The food is delicious.
  86. Great place for a few drinks and conversation, dinner with friends, or a romantic meal with my girl.
  87. Tops were the Aleo tart, which was a puff pastry that has goat cheese, olives and carmelized onions and other great flavors, and a portobello mushroom salad that had gorgonzola and proscuitto and other distinct flavors.
  88. Our favorites: capellini w/ sundried tomato, broccoli rabe, seared chicken in white wine sauce (they'll add Italian sausage if you want, they did for us) was bursting with taste and flavor; and the penne (cooked al dente) with generously proportioned saut
  89. It was served in this huge clay type bowl filled (and I mean filled) with shrimp, scallops, squid, clams and mussels that were so fresh and sweet tasting.
  90. The combination of traditional Mediterranean fare with Middle Eastern nuances in dishes such as the lamb chops, the lifeguard stew and field green salad are wonderful.
  91. My girlfriend, on the other hand, thought the food was absolutely fantastic, mainly because the pastas we chose were more cream-based (more her thing than mine).
  92. The food wasn't so much bad tasting but devoid of any flavor.
  93. The staff is friendly and delightful, and the food is amazing for this out-of -the-way neighborhood Italian restaurant.
menu variety
81.82000160217285% positive
  1. Good location for a great meal, intimate and good for a date, cannot loose with any of the menu items.
  2. Aleo Restaurant, my new favorite, has managed to rival my previous neighborhood choices such as Beppe and Arezzo by providing delicious food at appropriate prices in an atmosphere that truly feels comfortable.
  3. But that wasn't the only mouthwatering dish on the menu.
  4. few of us just intended to have a few drinks after work, but we ended up ordering some appetizers and sandwiches from the bar menu, a hearty platter of meats and cheeses, some grilled tuna and chicken sandwiches, and lamb pitas that were over stuffed wi
  5. And the yellow fin tuna tartare was probably the best of the choices.
  6. The place has it all well presented/delicious food, great wine selection/drinks, an Outdoor Garden Oasis in the Back and a great staff owner.
  7. Everything was great, but the best thing on the menu is the seafood medley.
  8. The food was great, there is an Outdoor Garden, and a great bar menu.
  9. Honestly, I can't remember all of the ingredients in the other appetizers and specialty sandwiches we had that night, but I do know that it was the best bar menu of any Italian restaurant we have ever been to, and we go to several a month.
  10. The veal cutlet and the halibut are my all time favorite dishes at aleo but sometimes i couldn't help ordering from their specials menu especially the fish.
  11. have to admit the food is a little slow in coming but then they do state in their menu, the food is made cooked to order and when it does come,it makes up for the wait.
overall
100.0% positive
  1. great place for smaller appetites.
  2. told them it was my fiance's birthday and they brought him a slice of their delicious chocolate cake with a candle (which was nice but then they charged for it which is ok, I guess, but I think a more detail- oriented restaurant would have comp'd it.)
  3. What a great restaurant!
  4. Ever since my first visit to Aleo it became and remains my favorite restaurant.
  5. great place to feel like you are wanted.
  6. have gone there on a date, and the owner is so nice and the waitstaff is so welcoming my date thought that I owned the place (needless to say the date went well and ended well), I have gone in with some friends for a couple of drinks and appetizers befo
  7. In from out of town recently and just getting a chance to give props to this great little restaurant in NYC called Aleo.
  8. My friends and I were looking for a nice place to eat and have a few drinks on a Saturday night before we went out to the clubs in the Gramercy/Chelsea area.
  9. Honestly, I can't remember all of the ingredients in the other appetizers and specialty sandwiches we had that night, but I do know that it was the best bar menu of any Italian restaurant we have ever been to, and we go to several a month.
service
86.0099983215332% positive
  1. Excellent food and service
  2. Waiter were not attentive, very slow, and look overall confused.
  3. The service was great.
  4. Our waitress could not have been more helpful and pleasant.
  5. the waitstaff is pleasant and helpful, the bartender is a kind, warm person and the manager was extremely generous.
  6. dinner/drinks. Staff were friendly & made us feel at home.
  7. Our server was remarkably knowledgeable of the wine list and poured as if she was a sommelier.
  8. service was very attentive and especially from warm welcome and attention from mangaer was impressive.
  9. dine out regularly and not only was the service awful but the food was barely edible.
  10. Food and service super excellent.
  11. the food was extremely tasty, service was very good and the drinks kick ass!
  12. The food is GREAT the chef is AWSOME and the service is what it should be!
  13. Add the simple but elegant environment (the outdoor garden, I hear, is simply romantic in spring and summer) and spoon-fed wait service (they'd probably feed you if you ask), and this is truly a perfect package.
  14. The place has it all well presented/delicious food, great wine selection/drinks, an Outdoor Garden Oasis in the Back and a great staff owner.
  15. Whenever i go there for dinner or drinks i can see that they give impeccable service to everyone.
  16. The owner, Peter, makes you feel right at home and the wait staff is just as friendly and accomodating.
  17. The waitstaff, bartender and manager were all very polite and eager to please.
  18. The specials are also fantastic and their soups are amazing, I personally don't like soup, but Aleo has a special touch when it comes to making soups that can please even the most picky of people.
  19. Staff was attentive, service was great, atmosphere was nice and I'm sure that the garden is a wonderful spot in the summer.
  20. Attentive service with good food in decent price
  21. The people are more than helpful from seating us to helping with the wine and desserts.
  22. At this point, I felt terrible b/c I picked this place & after more than 1 hour into the evening, we hadn't ordered food b/c we couldnt find our waiter.
  23. The food is superb, and the service exquisite.
  24. Memorable special ocasion parties, Anytime wine & dine , Very nice staff
  25. The service is fantastic, the waiters really want you to enjoy your evening.
  26. manager or someone stopped at the table and asked if we would like a complimentary after dinner drink.
  27. thoroughly enjoyed everything that was put on the table including the wine, which was recommended by the manager.
  28. have gone there on a date, and the owner is so nice and the waitstaff is so welcoming my date thought that I owned the place (needless to say the date went well and ended well), I have gone in with some friends for a couple of drinks and appetizers befo
  29. Not only was the food great, but our waiter, Fabio, was honestly the most accommodating and friendly waiter I've ever had!
  30. We wanted to order wine & apps but couldn't find our waiter.
  31. We had to chase down the waiter to order and refresh our drinks.
  32. The friendly and welcoming environment, and the simple but elegant decor, really set the tone.
  33. The bartender was also was nice enough to tell us that after 1000pm cars parked on the street would be towed.
  34. The food was good and the service was awesome.
  35. Aleo is one of those finds where you're stuck between keeping it to yourself or telling everybody about the wonderful food and service that was bestowed on you.
  36. The staff was very friendly and very attentive.
  37. The food is absolutely superb, and the service sincere.
  38. The food was actually really good & if the service werent SO terrible, I would consider going back.
  39. (other mother's day plan had to be canceled ) due to slow service and the fiasco.
  40. had never had an encounter when service was poor or the tables were complaining.
  41. The young energetic staff is obviously instructed to PLEASE, and the atmosphere was so cozy and relaxing.
  42. ... the manager is always there to assist us on finding a superb wine to match our dinner.
  43. The people are great, and the manager was sweet.
  44. My favorite server, Danny, is one of the finest servers you can ever have.
  45. The waiter was personable, funny and made several nice drink suggestions.
  46. Aleo has such a friendly service: they put down so many bottles of after dinner drinks on our table!
  47. At the start of the meal we had good service but the room quickly filled up and the service worsened as a result (sloooow dinner service, mixed up dishes, empty water glasses, no one checking in to see if we were alright.)
  48. Peter and the rest of the staff have created several original dishes just to suit my personal needs, all fantastic.
  49. with bad service, cold food, there isnt much reason to visit again.
  50. Had dinner there wednesday night, the place was hopping, both the floor and the bar and the wait staff seemed very professional in handling the tables without being nervous wrecks.
  51. love everything about this place - the food, the service, the music, the ambiance, the owner, the bar - this what NY is all about.
  52. If you want service and royal treatment that makes you feel special, food that's a cross between homemade and unique, and a great dining experience in a comfortable and pleasant setting, I highly recommend Aleo.
  53. The dinner was fun but the desert was the big surprise, the waiter gave us free fruit which was nice.
  54. The staff is friendly and delightful, and the food is amazing for this out-of -the-way neighborhood Italian restaurant.
  55. As soon as you come inside the door, you are greeted with a warm welcome and are given the option to sit at a table to linger at the bar for as long as you like (which is also a very pleasant thing to do as they have a fantastic and kickass bartender who
  56. The appetizer's were ok however the entrees were a train wreck, the service was horrible.
value
81.82000160217285% positive
  1. the waitstaff is pleasant and helpful, the bartender is a kind, warm person and the manager was extremely generous.
  2. Aleo Restaurant, my new favorite, has managed to rival my previous neighborhood choices such as Beppe and Arezzo by providing delicious food at appropriate prices in an atmosphere that truly feels comfortable.
  3. Food was good, but for the price of a plate of pasta here, four raviolis doesn't cut it as an entre for a big guy.
  4. It was served in this huge clay type bowl filled (and I mean filled) with shrimp, scallops, squid, clams and mussels that were so fresh and sweet tasting.
  5. price was very decent, which is always important factor for choosing resataurant.
  6. It's just enough sauce to cling to the pasta and other ingredients, and enough left at the bottom of the bowl (huge portion) to dip a little bread.
  7. Attentive service with good food in decent price
  8. You will not see the pomp and circumstance in the higher priced places, rather ALEO's prices are so reasonable, while the food competes with the best of them.
  9. The outside dinning area is so quaint and beautiful during the summer, and during the winter, they put up a tarp and have high powered expensive heaters that keep it cozy.
  10. am willing to wait if the food is fresh and worth it but this was so disappointing.
  11. they had other equally good wines at very reasonable prices and we got compensated anyway.
wait time
25.0% positive
  1. have to admit the food is a little slow in coming but then they do state in their menu, the food is made cooked to order and when it does come,it makes up for the wait.
  2. As soon as you come inside the door, you are greeted with a warm welcome and are given the option to sit at a table to linger at the bar for as long as you like (which is also a very pleasant thing to do as they have a fantastic and kickass bartender who
  3. Waiter were not attentive, very slow, and look overall confused.
  4. (other mother's day plan had to be canceled ) due to slow service and the fiasco.
1 Star Rating: Poor

01/27/12

Do yourself a favor -- skip this one

by NoahR

If I could save one person from going to this place by giving my opinion-- then i'd be glad to.

First of all, the reason this place called Garden Dining is because at the back there's one that is used for events. i cannot make a comment on that except to say if there's a party going on at this place, you can forget about getting any kind of service! The owner's attention is always focused on the party (bec they are paying more money, of course!)

He ignored other guest requests and complaints. He's all bout the dough.

My girlfriend had the veal and it was served dry and cold! Went here becuase of a good review about the veal and didnt realize till too late that the review was from a year ago! Fast forward to present day, this place and the food sucks! Oh and went here also because opentable had bonus points. Beware, that is a trap. They can't get people in the door so they're luring you with points and deals . This is not a good Italian Resto in the Chelsea/Gramercy area. There are waaaay better ones.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

02/25/11

Had a WONDERFUL TIME

by GramercyNUT

I must admit, I have been to many neighbrhood places in the GRAMERCY / CHELSEA area, and ALEO is a sleeper. I used Opentable and got 1000pts. I was amazed at the freshness of the plates and the people were so sweet and kind to us. I ate a special VEAL CHOP that was off the hook good. My girlfriend had a plate of pasta that was amazing. The server was a terrific young man who was so sincere that he would not let us buy a more expensive bottle of wine , instead he directed us to a less expensive better wine, and then gave us complimentary cordials at the end. ALEO we will be back.

1 Star Rating: Poor

02/07/11

Very dirty,roaches all over the place!!!

by Petrony

We went there for lunch last week with 3 other people,the restaurant was empty at 1:30 pm(wonder why?),the waitress looked she just came out the bed,and the red hair waiter was having shots behind the bar!(i love his job,free food,free booze)The appetizers came 45 minutes late,the waiters were hanging around and having more shots,includind the waitress,never checked on us,and under the plate was a roach crawling,i almost threw up...

Next table to us,had at list 3 roaches crawling between the silverware,the floor was so sticky,i think the water never touched that floor,since the restaurant was open!

Stay away from this place,very very dirty,smelly,food ok,but i better go to pizzeria,not worth the money,but we got the roaches as a bonus!!

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

10/28/09

Nice Spot...Great Food

by Jazmine33

I had my daughter's birthday party here awhile ago, about 40 guests. They did a great job. I know a few of my guests can be difficult, but they were very professional and kept everyone happy. The food was so good, they kept the drinks filled and everyone enjoyed. I couldn't be happier. So glad I picked this place!

  • Pros: Neighborhood, Service, Decor
  • Cons: None
4 Star Rating: Recommended

06/08/09

Nice place

by Jingjing

Nice and clean place

The Details on Aleo-GARDEN DINING

Place Categories:

  • good food
  • great service
  • best place
  • best italian restaurant
  • friendly wait staff
  • great everything
  • inviting atmosphere
  • truly enjoyed aleo
  • great date spot
  • eager bartender
  • memorable anytime wine
  • quite romantic back garden
  • never order steak
  • helpful waitstaff
  • very decent price
  • warm environment
  • sweet huge clay type bowl
  • incredible dining experience
  • creative pasta
  • romantic evening
  • great overall experience
  • recommend highly
  • romantic group
  • great meal
  • comfortable romantic setting
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