(212) 308-1099

11 East 53rd Street (nr. Fifth Ave.)
New York, NY 10022 40.7601 -73.9752

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Neighborhoods: Midtown Center, Midtown

altorestaurant.com/index.html

Hours:

Mon-Fri 12pm-2:15pm, 5:30pm-10pm

Saturday 5pm-11pm

Price:

$$$$

Last updated 8.16.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Diners Club, Discover, Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Fine Dining, Business Dining, Notable Wine List, Prix Fixe Menu

Cuisine:

Italian

Building Maintenance Services:

Industrial Cleaning

Notable Chef:

Michael White

Smoking Permitted:

No

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Alto

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

Tucked under a deep awning, Alto feels like a secret sanctuary. Countless wine bottles, encased behind blue glass, line the windowless dining room; a backdrop to the zealous servers deciphering the high-minded menu. Chef Michael White's tribute to northern Italy is as forceful and accomplished as its southern cousin, Convivio. White's food is the product of a union of Italian elements, mixed with modern restaurant technique and an appetite for big flavors and textures. As at Convivio, the pastas threaten to steal the show, but here you would be well advised to save room for entrees, like…

Editor's Tips

What to Drink:
For an inexpensive, well-matched wine from northern Italy, try the 2003 Bonarda Mazzolino ($40). It's full-bodied and juicy, thanks to the hot European summer of its harvest.
Look Good:
Jackets are preferred, since the crowd is on the older side; 20-something patrons must dress their best. Business Casual is fine, just no jeans or tennis shoes.
Know Before You Go:
At dinner either a three- or four-course prix fixe is available. Chef's tasting menus are available upon request. A la Carte is only available during dinner at the Bar.
ambiance
75.0% positive
  1. “Well from the moment you step foot in the door to the 7000 bottles of wine incased in glass, the most comfortable chairs and bankets.”
  2. “like the ambiance as well, particularly in the smaller, quieter sections of the restaurant.”
  3. “It is not the most romantic place I have ever been but it is nice.”
  4. “Our server Michealango was outstanding and made us feel very comfortable we had a great time.”
dessert
77.77999877929688% positive
  1. “The desserts were good, but again, nothing to die for.”
  2. “The chocolate ganache for dessert was also wonderful, and a generous portion for a restaurant week menu.”
  3. “at lunchwith 1:45 pm late reservationsonly to be seated in a far corner of an empty dinning room--to be virtually ignored The expected restaurant week entrees, chicken, pasta, and salmon but the appetizers were at a new low -- a beet and goat cheese sal”
drinks
83.33000183105469% positive
  1. “Service has been good every time I have been there, and the wine list (more of a wine book) is impressive, if perhaps a bit over the top.”
  2. “Well from the moment you step foot in the door to the 7000 bottles of wine incased in glass, the most comfortable chairs and bankets.”
  3. “at lunchwith 1:45 pm late reservationsonly to be seated in a far corner of an empty dinning room--to be virtually ignored The expected restaurant week entrees, chicken, pasta, and salmon but the appetizers were at a new low -- a beet and goat cheese sal”
  4. “We all ordered the lunchtime prix fixe menu and it was a terrific value, so terrific in fact that we could reasonably afford the wine pairings.”
food quality
74.07000064849854% positive
  1. “At these prices, the food had better damn well be excellent, and it just met my expectations.”
  2. “Great whole fish”
  3. “Wonderful service and delicious food.”
  4. “The soft shell crab in a pea soup concoction was excellent.”
  5. “The waiter was knowledgeable about his food, and at least tried to translate the Italian names for truly exotic ingredients.”
  6. “On top of superb food, impeccable service from start to finish.”
  7. “Having dined in many of New Yorks Italian restaurants I must say the creative approach to Scott Conants Alto is a breath of fresh air to an otherwise mundane level of Italian cusine throughout the city.”
  8. “at lunchwith 1:45 pm late reservationsonly to be seated in a far corner of an empty dinning room--to be virtually ignored The expected restaurant week entrees, chicken, pasta, and salmon but the appetizers were at a new low -- a beet and goat cheese sal”
  9. “One other note, be sure to try the pretzel bread - a nice twist on the usual dinner roll or sourdough bread you get at a restaurant.”
  10. “It was a fresh and great dish and he loved it.”
  11. “Wonderful food, wonderful service”
  12. “All-around delicious food”
  13. “The prix fixe does not offer good value; I would instead have an appetizer (or a half-portion of pasta as an appetizer) and a pasta and skip the entree altogether.”
  14. “My lamb loin was tasteless as was the venison.”
  15. “will not return even if they serve up good pasta.”
  16. “The whole fish was excellent--not overcooked and served in a light tomato broth.”
  17. “had to wait what seems for ever to seat down to a not impressive, yet average meal.”
  18. “Great pasta, average entrees.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “The chocolate ganache for dessert was also wonderful, and a generous portion for a restaurant week menu.”
  2. “We all ordered the lunchtime prix fixe menu and it was a terrific value, so terrific in fact that we could reasonably afford the wine pairings.”
overall
66.66999816894531% positive
  1. “at lunchwith 1:45 pm late reservationsonly to be seated in a far corner of an empty dinning room--to be virtually ignored The expected restaurant week entrees, chicken, pasta, and salmon but the appetizers were at a new low -- a beet and goat cheese sal”
  2. “One other note, be sure to try the pretzel bread - a nice twist on the usual dinner roll or sourdough bread you get at a restaurant.”
return potential
50.0% positive
  1. “loved this restaraunt but i most likely will never go back there because of the way he treated our party.”
  2. “will not return even if they serve up good pasta.”
service
72.7299976348877% positive
  1. “Wonderful food, wonderful service”
  2. “The staff was beyond attentive and helpful.”
  3. “The maitre'd was very friendly and I appreciated the gardenia.”
  4. “The sommelier was surpiringly rude, considering the rest of the staff was delightful.”
  5. “just hope the reason that we got such bad service was not because my four work colleagues were indian and chinese.”
  6. “The service was spot on -- attentive but not fussy.”
  7. “Terrible service”
  8. “Our server Michealango was outstanding and made us feel very comfortable we had a great time.”
  9. “The waiter was knowledgeable about his food, and at least tried to translate the Italian names for truly exotic ingredients.”
  10. “Wonderful service and delicious food.”
  11. “On top of superb food, impeccable service from start to finish.”
value
72.22000122070312% positive
  1. “at lunchwith 1:45 pm late reservationsonly to be seated in a far corner of an empty dinning room--to be virtually ignored The expected restaurant week entrees, chicken, pasta, and salmon but the appetizers were at a new low -- a beet and goat cheese sal”
  2. “am an huge fan of L'Impero and when I heard that they were opening up another restaurant called Alto I could not imagine how different it could be.”
  3. “The chocolate ganache for dessert was also wonderful, and a generous portion for a restaurant week menu.”
  4. “At these prices, the food had better damn well be excellent, and it just met my expectations.”
  5. “The prix fixe does not offer good value; I would instead have an appetizer (or a half-portion of pasta as an appetizer) and a pasta and skip the entree altogether.”
  6. “We all ordered the lunchtime prix fixe menu and it was a terrific value, so terrific in fact that we could reasonably afford the wine pairings.”
4 Star Rating: Recommended

11/28/08

nice dinner

by jwinter06

Went to Alto for a nice dinner a couple weeks back, and it was just that: nice. At these prices, the food had better damn well be excellent, and it just met my expectations. Like a lot of fancy restaurants, the appetizers were far better than the entrees so I highly recommend spending your $$ on a few appetizers and choosing the less pricey main dishes.

The service was spot on -- attentive but not fussy.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

10/17/08

Delicioso!

by anpele

Aqui va un comentario en Espa?ol sobre Alto: Reservamos para llevar a nuestro jefe que visito NY en las ultimas semanas y es muy exigente con la comida y fue una buena experiencia en general. Pagamos CARO (los vinos son costosos...) pero el servicio fue excelente y la comida muy recomendada. Los que ordenamos lamb o veal tuvimos mucha mejor suerte que los que ordenaron pasta. Dos puntos en contra: no me mato el fois grass y el postre que nos recomendaron parecian simples donitas rellenas que deslucian la comida. Sin embargo, al final nos dieron unos muffins para llevar y unos postrecitos muy ricos.

1 Star Rating: Poor

03/03/08

wait no more please!!!

by sineu

I refuse to wait another minute to seat down!!! despite res. I had to wait what seems for ever to seat down to a not impressive, yet average meal...whatever happened with chef Scott Conant??? it was great then, it is simply awful now....please avoid the trip and delay, sounds just like a bad flight!!

4 Star Rating: Recommended

05/23/07

Great pasta, average entrees.

by tbrax

I've been here both for lunch and for dinner and in each case have been far more impressed by the appetizers and the pasta than by the entrees. The veal agnolotti in particular stands out. It has been outstanding in each of the sauces in which I have eaten it. The entrees, however, have been a bit underwhelming. The seafood is high quality, but the preparations are very ordinary--in essence it is a good piece of fish served relatively plain. I can do that at home or get it any number of other places. I had hoped for something either more distinctly Italian or something more creative. The prix fixe does not offer good value; I would instead have an appetizer (or a half-portion of pasta as an appetizer) and a pasta and skip the entree altogether.

Service has been good every time I have been there, and the wine list (more of a wine book) is impressive, if perhaps a bit over the top. It does helpfully have a briefer section containing recommended selections; for all but the most avid wine consumers I think the briefer summary is more than ample. I like the ambiance as well, particularly in the smaller, quieter sections of the restaurant.

  • Pros: Pasta, appetizers
  • Cons: Average entrees
4 Star Rating: Recommended

05/15/07

Food wonderful

by suzana

I went for my birthday with my husband. It is not the most romantic place I have ever been but it is nice. I had the veal and fontina agnolotti and the flavor was amazing! My husband likes the traditional and he ordered the spaghetti. It was a fresh and great dish and he loved it. For dessert we ordered the chocolate ganache and brioche. Great way to finish my birthday dinner.

  • Pros: Food and wines
  • Cons: Not very romantic

The Details on Alto

Place Categories:

  • wonderful service
  • delicious food
  • really bad meal
  • wonderful dining experience
  • worst place
  • great whole fish
  • nice dinner
  • great dish
  • terrific value
  • fantastic alto
  • helpful staff
  • very nice restaurant
  • very friendly maitre
  • knowledgeable waiter
  • most comfortable chairs
  • good desserts
  • dry salmon
  • big italian places
  • like ambiance
  • good olive oil
  • excellent soft shell crab
  • loved grilled pumpkin
  • huge fan
  • great pasta
  • wonderful chocolate ganache

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