Italianissimo Ristorante

Doesn't Recommend

heindele

Joined 5 years ago

Worst Italian Resturant in the UES. If you enjoy salty food, indifferent waitstaff, and bumping elbows while eating in a dark, cramped space, then this is the place for you. The bread was stale, the pasta is mushy, and the meat was rubbery. The wine tasted like it came out of a $3 box, and costs $12.50 per glass. Only people who do not live in NYC and those who are not familiar with good Italian food like this place. Any rating you see for Italianissimo that is more than 1 star means the reviewer 1) works for them, 2) is old and losing their senses of taste and smell, or 3) usually eats at Olive Garden. If you want to experience bad "Italian" food with rude and inattentive waiters, then eat here and be prepared to pay $65 per person!

Recommends

MC72

Joined 5 years ago

Truly a hidden gem. My wife and I were walking aruond our neighborhood, looking for a casual, romantic place to have a nice meal. We looked at the reasonable priced menu on the street and decided to try it. It was wonderful. My wife thought I planned this romantic evening for her, and who am I to not take credit, though I finally admitted to her that we just got lucky when we stumbled into this little gem of a restaurant. The waiter made all of the specials sound so enticing, that we ordered each one! And they were all delicious. Dessert was great, too. He made the Bananas Flambe right in front of us, while people peeked in from outside to see the flames shoot in the air. I would selfishly want to help keep this place a secret, but I have to recommend it highly, so other people could enjoy the kind of evening we were lucky enough to have. Service was the best I have seen in a long time anywhere. We can't wait to go back.

Recommends

katyaB

Joined 5 years ago

Incredibly romantic, cozy place. My boyfriend and I were looking for a cute italian restaurant and stumbled into Italianissimo by chance because it looked charming from the outside. We were not disappointed. The service was excellent, the food delicious and the ambiance was perfect. It is a sliver of a place with exposed brick walls and perfect mood lighting. It was a wonderful; experience and I expect we will be going back frequently.

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Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Editorial Review. Northern Italian menu features seafood entrees, pasta, veal, and more; prix fixe menu available early evenings on weekdays.

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ltucker76

Joined 7 years ago

Best Italian restaurant on Upper East Side. I feel compelled to write about this restaurant seeing as it was the venue for my first date with my boyfriend! I've lived on the UES for a number of years and never recognized this restaurant before but when escorted here on my first date I couldn't get over how cute and cozy it was. It's a tiny space which makes it all the more romantic. When we first sat down we were handed an extensive wine list which the waitor graciously went over with us in detail. This helped to lighten our mood!!! The appetizers were delicious and the dinner was authentic italian. We have since gone back here a number of times and have yet to be disappointed. If you're looking for a good date/romantic type setting I highly suggest trying this restaurant out!