Cucina di Pesce

(212) 260-6800

87 E 4th St (nr. Second Ave.)
New York, NY 10003 40.726235 -73.989526

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Neighborhoods: East Village, Downtown, Bowery

cucinadipesce.com/

Years in business

Established in 1987

Hours:

Mon-Thu 3pm-11pmFri-Sat 3pm-12amSun 11am-11pm

Price:

$$

Last updated 10.17.11

What People Are Saying About Cucina di Pesce

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

In Short – This convivial, unprepossessing Italian seafood joint, signalled by a giant neon fish, attracts a faithful following from outside the city as well as within. Sidewalk seating and a skylit back room add a bit of charm. Specialties of the house include black linguine with shrimp, asparagus, and Pernod; and broiled sea bass with capers, fennel, and tomatoes. A few vegetarian, chicken, and veal dishes are offered for fish-phobes. Overcrowding can result in dilatory service, but loyalists say it's worth it. – – –

ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. Though Cucina di Pesce has a cozy decor, its abundance in patrons creates a noise level that is not for those who seek a quiet romantic evening.
  2. The place was very cozy and very comfortable.
  3. Great food in a cozy atmosphere.
  4. Many candles is enough to give us romantic vibe and we enjoyed ourselves with wonderful decor.
  5. Whether sitting outside, or in the cozy, albeit dark interior, the restaurants offers diners a good meal in terms of menu, service and atmosphere.
  6. nice decor though, dark and candlelit type of place, again, best go before 6pm, or go elsewhere!
  7. This place is very romantic, the lights are low with candles at every table that make evrything glow.
  8. In addition to the big portions, affordable prices, killer Early Bird, and casual but cozy atmosphere, it also has a beautiful back room that's perfect for groups.
  9. The decor is wonderful.
  10. It is not the 'fanciest' place but it is certainly comfortable and the food is excellent.
  11. Cucina di Pesce has great food, nice atmosphere, and a great location!
  12. In addition to the big portions, affordable prices, and casual but cozy atmosphere.
  13. Inside of cucina, atmosphere is very great.
  14. The food is good, the pasta is fresh, the ambiance is perfect.
  15. The decor and ambiance were great.
  16. Go there to get good food with big fun.
  17. This is a good place to go if you're looking for an inexpensive dinner with nice ambience in east village.
  18. really wanted the back room again for my birthday fete -- glass dome-like ceiling, romantic vibe, fits 50.
  19. the prices are very affordable, the staff is unpretentious, the service is excellent, the food is DELICIOUS and the ambience is romantic and cozy!
  20. Atmosphere was very romantic due to lots of candle lits.
  21. Very romantic, non-pretentious, great service.
  22. So if you're looking for a quiet romantic spot, this is not the place.
  23. Great ambience, intimate/crowded but you can have private conversations; lively.
  24. I'd eaten here a dozen times for new year's, romantic dinners, casual dinners, and so forth before getting engaged.
  25. brought a platonic friend and felt odd because it seemed more of a romantic spot.
  26. It is cheap, cozy and a nice place for a midweek dinner.
  27. The food is consistently delicious, the service is friendly and attentive, the ambience is cozy yet lively, and the prices are ridiculously reasonable.
  28. delicious food, great ambiance, good staff, clean bathrooms.
  29. The atmosphere is great, always a buzz about the place.
  30. This is a cozy & romantic place.
  31. It's one of the best, cheap, fun places to enjoy meal.
  32. Good cheap food, great atmosphere
  33. Their food is delicious, atmosphere is warm and romantic, and they're a calm and relaxing r.
  34. The vibe is very romantic and dimly lit.
  35. The vibe is very romantic with candle lit nice, and the service is very friendly and attentive.
  36. great ambiance.
  37. But ambience was great for couples.
  38. Yet cucina's does offer good food, good location, & great prices.
  39. The atmosphere is great, especially in the back room.
  40. Great food, lots of options but not too many, completely tasty appetizers and main courses, romantic atmosphere with friendly wonderful service that I haven't experienced.
  41. Amtosphere is cozy
drinks
75.0% positive
  1. They served very delicious foods and unique wine.
  2. His pushy approach and tireless "filling to the brim" wine glass refilling became annoying.
  3. The bar and garden areas are also pleasant, and there's outdoor seating in nice weather.
  4. Defenitely wine is unique.
food quality
83.52999687194824% positive
  1. Great prices, great service, delicious food.
  2. They served very delicious foods and unique wine.
  3. Cucina di Pesce has great food, nice atmosphere, and a great location!
  4. seafood lasagna is great, fusilli with smoked salmon and spinach is fabulous.
  5. Great Italian food, nice space.
  6. Whether sitting outside, or in the cozy, albeit dark interior, the restaurants offers diners a good meal in terms of menu, service and atmosphere.
  7. The food is good, the pasta is fresh, the ambiance is perfect.
  8. can sit and relax and really enjoy my meal.
  9. Food is uncomplicated but very good - seafood is very fresh and excellent.
  10. But there is always a nice complimentary veggie antipasti and bread.
  11. Yes, it was a relatively cheap dinner, but also since the food was just mediocre, my friends and I won't be going back.
  12. As you can see from this review, the food is good here!
  13. The chicken marsala and veal marsala are decent and tasty (albeit not the best I've had), tender cuts.
  14. It's one of the best, cheap, fun places to enjoy meal.
  15. My guests were also happy that the meal didn't break the bank.
  16. The menu is so cheap and the food is so tasty.
  17. Attentive staff, great food, and a wonderful selection of international music make it very hard to find a match in the area and beyond.
  18. Couple friends went for a get together here, the service was ok, the food came, but the food isn't all that great, I had better.
  19. Great service; good food
  20. You have to order the Rigatoni Melanzane pasta with Ricotta cheese.
  21. BUT the food was absolutely horrible!
  22. The food is delicious - specials and daily menu selection are both recommended.
  23. Home made pasta is the best.
  24. We had cold seafood antipasto in a complex tomato sauce, and the monk fishes to start.
  25. don't think the food here is amazing Italian, but there are some standouts.
  26. Decent seafood.
  27. love their pasta.
  28. the prices are very affordable, the staff is unpretentious, the service is excellent, the food is DELICIOUS and the ambience is romantic and cozy!
  29. Great food, lots of options but not too many, completely tasty appetizers and main courses, romantic atmosphere with friendly wonderful service that I haven't experienced.
  30. Great food, good service.
  31. wonderful place, wonderful food, great staff, and affordable for both dinner and large group.
  32. Yet cucina's does offer good food, good location, & great prices.
  33. Friendly service, delicious food, resonable price (it's very cheap).
  34. The food was not impressive.
  35. simply loved my meal here and the entire experience - and will be back very very soon.
  36. Good cheap eats, but let me enjoy my meal.
  37. Go there to get good food with big fun.
  38. Good cheap food, great atmosphere
  39. We had many dishes and one of them, I highly recommend "spinach penne
  40. The food is consistently delicious, the service is friendly and attentive, the ambience is cozy yet lively, and the prices are ridiculously reasonable.
  41. would not go after the early bird b/c its not worth it, find better food for full prices.
  42. The food is delicious, I've had most of the menu items by now.
  43. Food was very yummy and winelist was very notable too.
  44. Horrendous food, poor service, and a terrible night waiting for my stomach to forget the seafood.
  45. This quaint restaurant oozes romance and serves up some delicious fare to boot.
  46. came across this place with my partner on a rainy night, and we sat by the modest fireplace and ended up eating the best Italian meal I'll ever have in this city.
  47. The pasta was cooked well, and the sauce was perfect, not too strong.
  48. They always served delicious food and great service.
  49. Excellent, friendly service, great food and great prices.
  50. The fish was very well deboned and the stuffing tasted good.
  51. It is not the 'fanciest' place but it is certainly comfortable and the food is excellent.
  52. great food.
  53. Their food is delicious, atmosphere is warm and romantic, and they're a calm and relaxing r.
  54. only fish entrees are good - pasta is not homemade.
  55. thought the food was good and at a very good price.
  56. food isnt superb but for an early bird, very good.
  57. Good Italian cuisine here
  58. love love love their Linguni with Shrimp & Calamari dishes though.
  59. The food was delicious, a great value and awesome portions.
  60. The price is right, the service is excellent and the food is delicious.
  61. but the food was not so impressive.
  62. lobster bisque is fantastic, and the grilled seafood salad is a huge plate of goodness.
  63. Everything is drenched in oil, sauce, bland, ugly just gross gross gross.
  64. True authentic Italian food.
  65. It has such NY mood, if that's what' you're looking for, and everyone I go there with always says their dinner was delicious.
  66. The seafood linguini is good even though the pasta was a little too al dente for my taste.
  67. especialy stuffed mushroom was so fantastic.
  68. dependably good italian food
  69. What do you need big portions of horrible food for?
  70. The appetizers were cooked well and I enjoyed the stuffed mushrooms.
  71. The vegetable and seafood pastas are great, and I find the service very attentive.
  72. Second dish was the fresh spaghetti.
  73. e.g, fish dishes were sort of flat.
  74. Great food, great service, great prices!
  75. The complimentary veggie salad / antipasto is good - veggies are more al dente than squishy and if you like vinegary foods you'll love this (it's a large portion too!)
  76. After a couple of mediocre appetizers (mushrooms and clams both stuffed with lots of bread crumbs) we decided to order the simplest entrees on the menu.
  77. Great food in a cozy atmosphere.
  78. The food is DISGUSTING here.
  79. delicious food, great ambiance, good staff, clean bathrooms.
  80. Homemade pasta and seafood we ordered were excellent.
  81. Mediocre food and inexistent service
  82. Good neighborhood italian food
  83. Hands down the best italian food in East village.
  84. O.K. food, awful tiramisu, a snobby host and hostess and sub-par service!
  85. It is a lively place with delicious food and plentiful portions.
menu variety
93.75% positive
  1. Great food, lots of options but not too many, completely tasty appetizers and main courses, romantic atmosphere with friendly wonderful service that I haven't experienced.
  2. Whether sitting outside, or in the cozy, albeit dark interior, the restaurants offers diners a good meal in terms of menu, service and atmosphere.
  3. Their Early Bird menu is excellent.
  4. After a couple of mediocre appetizers (mushrooms and clams both stuffed with lots of bread crumbs) we decided to order the simplest entrees on the menu.
  5. The food is delicious, I've had most of the menu items by now.
  6. The menu is so cheap and the food is so tasty.
  7. The food is delicious - specials and daily menu selection are both recommended.
  8. Attentive staff, great food, and a wonderful selection of international music make it very hard to find a match in the area and beyond.
overall
100.0% positive
  1. The atmosphere is great, always a buzz about the place.
  2. This is a good place to go if you're looking for an inexpensive dinner with nice ambience in east village.
  3. This is my favorite restaurant in Manhattan.
  4. If you are looking for great restaurant in East Village, I recommend this place sincerely.
  5. They led us to great place around the window.
  6. It's my favorite Italian restaurant thus far in NYC.
  7. great place for a first date - a touch of romance but nothing that will scare them off!
  8. It is cheap, cozy and a nice place for a midweek dinner.
  9. nice decor though, dark and candlelit type of place, again, best go before 6pm, or go elsewhere!
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. really appreciate great service and will be back here on Vanlentine's day~~~
  2. simply loved my meal here and the entire experience - and will be back very very soon.
  3. would definitely go there again if were in the area and I would highly recommend this place
service
86.3599967956543% positive
  1. The vibe is very romantic with candle lit nice, and the service is very friendly and attentive.
  2. They always served delicious food and great service.
  3. really appreciate great service and will be back here on Vanlentine's day~~~
  4. In addition, service was so friendly, I never missed my smile during dinner time there.
  5. The service is quick and all the times I've been there I've not had a bad experience.
  6. Attentive staff, great food, and a wonderful selection of international music make it very hard to find a match in the area and beyond.
  7. Staff, including the Nick/manager, is super attentive.
  8. We really enjoyed our night chatting with the couple next to us who were probably the most friendly people we've ever met.
  9. We had a large table set us in the back and the waitstaff and management were attentive and provided great service for the whole night.
  10. Yesterday, I've heard it from manager they prepares special offer on next month to celebrate history of 30 years in East Village.
  11. Great food, lots of options but not too many, completely tasty appetizers and main courses, romantic atmosphere with friendly wonderful service that I haven't experienced.
  12. When we complained one waiter was rude the others shuffled about and ignored us.
  13. delicious food, great ambiance, good staff, clean bathrooms.
  14. Great food, great service, great prices!
  15. Very romantic, non-pretentious, great service.
  16. Their generous service was very impressive and even more sang a song to celebrate.
  17. wonderful place, wonderful food, great staff, and affordable for both dinner and large group.
  18. service is also often slow and annoying.
  19. O.K. food, awful tiramisu, a snobby host and hostess and sub-par service!
  20. The food is consistently delicious, the service is friendly and attentive, the ambience is cozy yet lively, and the prices are ridiculously reasonable.
  21. and my friend came here last Saturday and were pleased on vestibule because the staff here were all friendly.
  22. GREAT service!
  23. The flavors are great, service is great.
  24. Service is very attentive and friendly, price is reasonable.
  25. Horrendous food, poor service, and a terrible night waiting for my stomach to forget the seafood.
  26. In addition, the service with all staff was excellent.
  27. The service is friendly and attentive without being pushy.
  28. The staff is friendly.
  29. the wait staff aren't super friendly -- depending on the hours you go their attention seems to be elsewhere.
  30. the prices are very affordable, the staff is unpretentious, the service is excellent, the food is DELICIOUS and the ambience is romantic and cozy!
  31. Manager gave us good spot and very friendly.
  32. Great service; good food
  33. Couple friends went for a get together here, the service was ok, the food came, but the food isn't all that great, I had better.
  34. Whether sitting outside, or in the cozy, albeit dark interior, the restaurants offers diners a good meal in terms of menu, service and atmosphere.
  35. The service is great.
  36. Friendly service, delicious food, resonable price (it's very cheap).
  37. Great prices, great service, delicious food.
  38. The service is attentive and charming.
  39. The price is right, the service is excellent and the food is delicious.
  40. Great food, good service.
  41. The prices are great and the service is fantastic.
  42. Excellent, friendly service, great food and great prices.
  43. Mediocre food and inexistent service
  44. The vegetable and seafood pastas are great, and I find the service very attentive.
value
86.25% positive
  1. FYI, I've heard they are preparing special 30% Off price for March to celebrate their last history in East Village.
  2. On Valentine's day, they will offer special price $30 with 3 full courses.
  3. Good cheap food, great atmosphere
  4. The menu is so cheap and the food is so tasty.
  5. had a full course dinner with price for entree on another place.
  6. would not go after the early bird b/c its not worth it, find better food for full prices.
  7. The foods are sooo good and nice price for us.
  8. Service is very attentive and friendly, price is reasonable.
  9. What do you need big portions of horrible food for?
  10. Foods were great with resonable price.
  11. Portions aren't huge.
  12. The food is consistently delicious, the service is friendly and attentive, the ambience is cozy yet lively, and the prices are ridiculously reasonable.
  13. FYI :They offer special price on next month to celebrate cucina's 30 years history in East Village.
  14. Yes, it was a relatively cheap dinner, but also since the food was just mediocre, my friends and I won't be going back.
  15. Yet cucina's does offer good food, good location, & great prices.
  16. the price was good.
  17. Food was good for its price.
  18. In addition to the big portions, affordable prices, killer Early Bird, and casual but cozy atmosphere, it also has a beautiful back room that's perfect for groups.
  19. annoying that it's a cash or amex only, but otherwise it's good value.
  20. The food was delicious, a great value and awesome portions.
  21. Great prices, great service, delicious food.
  22. In addition to the big portions, affordable prices, and casual but cozy atmosphere.
  23. The prices are great and the service is fantastic.
  24. Good cheap eats, but let me enjoy my meal.
  25. It's one of the best, cheap, fun places to enjoy meal.
  26. lobster bisque is fantastic, and the grilled seafood salad is a huge plate of goodness.
  27. Great value and nice space.
  28. thought the food was good and at a very good price.
  29. Excellent, friendly service, great food and great prices.
  30. The price is right, the service is excellent and the food is delicious.
  31. Their generous service was very impressive and even more sang a song to celebrate.
  32. wonderful place, wonderful food, great staff, and affordable for both dinner and large group.
  33. the prices are very affordable, the staff is unpretentious, the service is excellent, the food is DELICIOUS and the ambience is romantic and cozy!
  34. This is a good place to go if you're looking for an inexpensive dinner with nice ambience in east village.
  35. If you find Italian restaurant with affordable price, I recommend Cucina here.
  36. It is cheap, cozy and a nice place for a midweek dinner.
  37. Friendly service, delicious food, resonable price (it's very cheap).
  38. The prices are amazing for NYC.
  39. It is a lively place with delicious food and plentiful portions.
  40. Great food, great service, great prices!
wait time
50.0% positive
  1. service is also often slow and annoying.
  2. The service is quick and all the times I've been there I've not had a bad experience.
3 Star Rating: Average

05/31/11

Good food let down by subpar service

by bomberpete

My wife and I went with a Groupon coupon on Memorial Day weekend. Our meals were both excellent. I had the very flavorful shrimp and calamari with linguine, and she had the rigatoni with eggplant. We even took it home. The total came to $21. I would have gladly tipped 15-20% on $40.

Here's where it got bad. The waiter was incredibly distracted and so was the staff. Twice I had to go find someone to get the check. The inside room was only half-empty; there were plenty of bus people milling about. There was no one at the bar, and the manager was in the kitchen while I tried to get someone's attention.

Again, the food is good but it's frustrating to wait 20 minutes just to pay the bill. I'd go back in hopes that the service experience can match the food, but I'll go with patience!

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

09/18/10

My favorite Italian Restaurant

by EastVillager

Loved Baked clams and free Mussel Bar. I have been there several times and always welcomed and they treat me like a family. Great Service and Food. I had Veal Parmigiana and was delicious. And Fried Calamari is a MUST. You can not get better Fried Calamari at any other place!

2 Star Rating: Below Average

09/10/10

Food and service are poor

by accidentalvoyeur

I've been here a number of times because I've been in the neighborhood and now I'm inspired to write a review after sampling numerous items and being disappointed time and time again. The cold seafood antipasto and grilled calamari were both lacking flavor and desperately needed something else in order to taste good, same goes for their salads. The seafood skewers were alright, but the pasta that comes with certain dishes is just plain and not very tasty.

I also don't like how they only take cash or American Express, yet when my friend tried to pay with her AmEx card the waiter said we had not ordered enough and still had to pay cash.

1 Star Rating: Poor

08/20/10

Deffinitly had better

by mink45

Came into the restaurant roughly around 4PM on a Thursday and the place was COMPLETELY empty. Strangely enough the waiter just happen to seat us RIGHT next to the bathroom (maybe because we had a groupon?) which is so tiny that I was barely able to maneuver and REEKED of urine. I ordered the seafood fettuccine and it was meh ok, I've had better at 7A, some of the pasta was hard. My boyfriend got the chicken parm and it was lukewarm. The place had flies everywhere and most of our time was spent fending them off of our food.

Bottom line: The service was bad, took 15 minutes to get my check. The food was way too mediocre for the price. The seafood wasn't as fresh as they say. The bathroom and restaurant were not very hygienic, my chair had crumbs all over it. The many flies. The cups weren't very clean, when i pointed out to the waiter that there were white floating particles in my water he didn't believe me so I had to take a knife and stir the water until all of it floated up, the pieces we actually VERY visible to the naked eye. I would never come here again coupon or no.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

07/14/10

What a place!

by SCULLYMSC

I had a birthday gathering last Sunday and made a reservation online.

When I got to the restaurant, Nick, the manager with whom I had been corresponding, greeted me personally almost immediately and let me knew that once my party assembled my table was waiting.

Even as my party size grew and grew (who knew I had so many hungry friends?!) the restaurant was graciously accomodating. Our server Jay, never missed a beat the entire evening and a good time was had by all.

Oh, I had the seafood lasagna (Jay's recommendation) and it was filling and delicious.

The price is more than affordable. The restaurant is lovely and the staff even more so.

I have no complaints at my time spent here, tell all my friends about it and I will definitely be back.

  • Pros: Service, Food, Hospitality
  • Cons: None come to mind

The Details on Cucina di Pesce

Place Categories:

  • great cheap food
  • great generous service
  • great place
  • great prices
  • favorite italian restaurant
  • mediocre food
  • attentive outstanding staff
  • very romantic vibe
  • big plentiful portions
  • enjoy italian meal
  • wonderful decor
  • great ambience
  • mediocre inexistent service
  • excellent seafood
  • romantic spot
  • great ambiance
  • authentic italian food
  • unique defenitely wine
  • good neighborhood italian
  • celebrate last history
  • delicious dinner
  • like cucina
  • simply loved entire experience
  • great atmosphere
  • great homemade pasta
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