Lusardis Restnt

(212) 249-2020

1494 2ND Ave
New York, NY 10021 40.7723 -73.9556

Get Map & Directions »

Neighborhoods: Upper East Side, Midtown

lusardis.com

Price:

$$$$

Last updated 8.17.11

Category:

Restaurants

Cuisine:

Italian

drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “The bartender is truly wonderful and a funny guy, but they use the bar as a waiting place before you are escorted to your table.”
  2. “The service is very good, too and they have a HUGE wine list.”
  3. “Lusardi's has consistently excellent, authentic Italian dishes (especially the pastas), a superb wine list with a selection at all price levels, and an old-school staff that always makes us feel welcome.”
food quality
92.7299976348877% positive
  1. “restaurant with great food and no scummy people”
  2. “The food is now just acceptable- good, but not what you'd expect at these prices.”
  3. “Too bad - this used to be a great, reasonable and lively neighborhood spot- now it's just mediocre food and a tired old crowd.”
  4. “Lusardi's is the most authentic of any in Manhattan.”
  5. “good italian food.”
  6. “Lusardi's has consistently excellent, authentic Italian dishes (especially the pastas), a superb wine list with a selection at all price levels, and an old-school staff that always makes us feel welcome.”
  7. “While there are a million "authentic" Italian restaurants in NYC.”
  8. “Thank your own personal god or woodland nymph, here is a restaurant with great food and an attentive and knowledgeable staff where the average clientele is not clad in dirty blue jeans and tee shirts and shod in flip flops.”
  9. “It's also a great place to show out-of-towners what real Italian food is.”
  10. “The old-shool maitre d' will shave fresh truffles onto your risotto con funghi or whatever.”
  11. “good food”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “Lusardi's has consistently excellent, authentic Italian dishes (especially the pastas), a superb wine list with a selection at all price levels, and an old-school staff that always makes us feel welcome.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “It's also a great place to show out-of-towners what real Italian food is.”
service
93.33000183105469% positive
  1. “friendly staff.”
  2. “restaurant with great food and no scummy people”
  3. “The bartender is truly wonderful and a funny guy, but they use the bar as a waiting place before you are escorted to your table.”
  4. “Thank your own personal god or woodland nymph, here is a restaurant with great food and an attentive and knowledgeable staff where the average clientele is not clad in dirty blue jeans and tee shirts and shod in flip flops.”
  5. “Lusardi's has consistently excellent, authentic Italian dishes (especially the pastas), a superb wine list with a selection at all price levels, and an old-school staff that always makes us feel welcome.”
  6. “The service is very good, too and they have a HUGE wine list.”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “Lusardi's has consistently excellent, authentic Italian dishes (especially the pastas), a superb wine list with a selection at all price levels, and an old-school staff that always makes us feel welcome.”
  2. “The food is now just acceptable- good, but not what you'd expect at these prices.”
3 Star Rating: Average

01/15/07

Old School Italian

by sarangutan at Citysearch

I agree with the commenter who says that this place hearkens back to the days when dining out was a true event, not to be taken casually. Sometimes, however, I feel that the management takes this too much to heart, which manifests itself in ultra-formal service and a somewhat stuffy atmosphere. Much of the food is quite good, nothing to write home about though. There is something valuable about the Lusardis experience in this day and age, though.

  • Pros: Vintage dining experience
  • Cons: Stuffy atmosphere
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

09/02/06

a restaurant with great food and no scummy people

by kilboj at Citysearch

Thank your own personal god or woodland nymph, here is a restaurant with great food and an attentive and knowledgeable staff where the average clientele is not clad in dirty blue jeans and tee shirts and shod in flip flops. Yes, as some of the reviews here say, the crowd can tend to be in part a bit older, but that has real benefits - they actually treat dining at a fine restaurant as an occasion of pleasure and dignity, not just another $10.00 nosh. I go there often, and it is always a relief to actually "go out" to dinner, as a pleasant event. The so-called younger crowd is missing a really good thing if they stay away. And, yes, Virginia, there is really a Lusardi and he is really there, which makes all the difference.

  • Pros: elegant dining among elegant diners
  • Cons: none
2 Star Rating: Below Average

01/13/06

Boring food at out of this world pricing!

by joyce1849 at Citysearch

The management seems only interested in the 70+ group of folks, with the serving of bland food and the rapid table turn over by the servers. The bartender is truly wonderful and a funny guy, but they use the bar as a waiting place before you are escorted to your table. This could be a fun place, but not with run of the mill food, and the out of site price tag for dining with the elderly.

  • Pros: Great location, Great Drinks, Not Crowded
  • Cons: Very Expensive, Older Patrons
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

11/24/03

One of my favorites

by joshdog at Citysearch

My wife and I have been eating out almost every night for the last 12 years and this is one restaurant we always return to. Lusardi's has consistently excellent, authentic Italian dishes (especially the pastas), a superb wine list with a selection at all price levels, and an old-school staff that always makes us feel welcome. It's also a great place to show out-of-towners what real Italian food is.

  • Pros: The food, The wine
  • Cons: Not cheap
4.5 Star Rating: Recommended

06/11/03

Multo Bene!

by EFKH at Citysearch

Quiet and Not crowded, but fabulous Northern Italian. I suggest going in November when Italy harvests its truffles...the truffle dishes are to die for! The old-shool maitre d' will shave fresh truffles onto your risotto con funghi or whatever...oh it's fabulous. And it's cappucino...straight from Florence. Buon Appetito!

  • Pros: Quiet, Delicious, Unknown

The Details on Lusardis Restnt

Place Categories:

  • great food
  • authentic oldschool staff
  • lively neighborhood spot
  • authentic italian dishes
  • great place
  • just mediocre tired old crowd
  • fresh truffles
  • most authentic lusardi
  • very good service
  • pleasant event
  • dirty blue jeans
  • truly wonderful bartender
  • fabulous northern
  • good italian
  • authentic italian restaurants
  • great scummy people
  • dirty tee shirts