Il Tinello Ristorante

02/07/11

Phenomenal Service

by TheTripChick

Go for the phenomenal service and old-guard dining experience. The food is very good but truly, this is more about the service experience.

We started off with the antipasto from the cart - fresh portabello mushrooms with rosemary, marinated peppers, artichoke hearts, seafood and prosciutto, among other things. Everything was freshly prepared table-side and tasted wonderful.

Our next course was a lobster ravioli special. It was done in a delicate red sauce that complemented the richness of the lobster perfectly. It was one of my favorites of the evening.

For the main course, I chose the Dover sole piccata, also a special (sensing a trend for the evening?). The piccata sauce was superb and the Dover sole was deboned table-side. The sheer dexterity of the waiter as his fingers, armed with utensils, flew over the sole and deftly removed the bones was a sight to see. These guys could win contests, if there were such things.

Dessert was zabaglione with blueberries, also prepared table-side. To be honest, the zabaglione was missing the typical "body" that I expect from zabaglione. It tasted good but the consistency was a little runny.

Overall, I cannot say enough about the top-notch service that we received at Il Tinello. Even though there are a ton of good Italian spots in the city, we will be back simply for the service.

11/24/08

BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT IN NYC

by Diannwallwilson1234

Mario is the best manager/owner/Maitre'D in New York City. I never leave the city until I have dinner at this spendid restaurant. I have been dining at IlTinello since it opened over 15 years ago.

The atmosphere is quaint, the service splendid and the food rates this as the best Italian Restaurant in NYC.

Order the antipasta..table side display of fresh vegetables, (Hearts of Palm a must).

I always have them make the Chicken stuffed with spinach and served in a wine sauce. I think he should rename it "Chicken Diann" for I never order off the menu and they know how much I love the way they prepare this chicken dish.

The Tarramasu is to die for!

Enjoy this great restaurant..make sure you get reservations.

• Pros: Excellent Service, great food, quaint and lovely ambience
• Cons: NOTHING

02/22/08

Best Italian in New York!

by nycouple

I would recommend Il Tinello to everyone. Simply put, this is on my list of Top 5 restaurants in New York City. The decor is old fashioned Italian, the service and food are magnificent to say the least. I have lived in New York City for 10 years and my job enables me to dine out almost daily so I have visited hundreds of restauraunts. I look forward to my experiences at Il Tinello. Francessca and Mario treat everyone like regulars and remembered my drink orders after my first visit. I make it a point to bring out of towners here because I know we will be treated well and the food will be unforgettable. In a town with so many good Italian restaurants, it is difficult to stand out, but Il Tinello is the best. Some of my favorites include the veal chop, veal saltimbocca, lobster or mushroom ravioli, dover sole special, and the special whipped cream and berries desert!

• Pros: Food, Service, Uptown location
• Cons: No Sundays, drinks are a little pricey.

11/13/07

Superb service, old world training & charm

by cellsum

I could not disagree more with the review complaining about the service here. I popped in--totally unexpectedly--after an event at the nearby Paley Center with my teenage son. We normally would not go to a restaurant of this caliber so spontaneously-- on a "non-special" occasion--especially being dressed casually, in jeans-- nor would we ever dine so early (5:30 pm)--we just happened not to have had lunch-- and as we walked down the street, realized we were probably too early for dinner at other places-- and really did not feel like the usual sushi restaurant-- and it was an opportunity-esp. after enjoying a great live program that made my teenager feel--for first time since who knows when--hey, being with the parent is not so bad after all...

Wandering in, they gave us a "look" --we had no reservation, were not regulars-- we were shunted to a corner--but we could see--it was a Saturday night, as we left--the place was filling up--and tables had been reserved...the service was VERY solicitous-- the Caesar salad was made tableside-- and I was a little surprised to see raw egg included-- thought those days had gone, along with steak tartare...but it was wonderfully made-- we had simple dishes-- chicken with tomato for him, Dover sole special for me... the glass of wine I asked for did not come immediately-- but the mistake was soon recitified... and staff could not have been more attentive or professional... and everything--from the delightful bruschetta--the tomatoes tasted as if they had been imported from Italy--a perfect tiny sliver of mozzarella... to fruit tart dessert--was simply perfect-- and an example of well trained professionalism--from bus boy to chef-- My son was treated like a perfect gentleman--and he responded in kind-- it was a special occasion, indeed. Our bill was really not more than we might spend at our local neighborhood standby-tho had only 1 glass of wine) for level of service, a bargain! We plan to return!

02/04/06

Rip off

by abeschwartz

This restaurant was highly recommended to me by a well-known TV celebrity. I regularly eat at many of the finest and most expensive restaurants in the world and they all accommodate special requests.

I ordered three Caesar salads without anchovies. They proceeded to make the salads table-side with large pieces of anchovies.

When I politely complained they began to sell me on why the salad would taste better with diced anchovies. When I refused, they berated me and then refused to cancel the order. As if to purposely teach me a lesson, they proceeded to serve us a few raw romaine lettuce leafs with a splash of oil and charged us $10 per salad even though I refused to touch my salad.

When I politely complained to the Maitre 'D, he shrugged his shoulders and did nothing.

This place is a rip-off joint in serious need of an attitude change.

• Cons: Rude staff, Poor Attitude