Scalinatella Restaurant

The Scene – Regulars sneak down an unassuming stairway into this cavernous, brick-wrapped room for a distinguished dose of la dolce vita. European jetsetters exchange air kisses at the tiny bar, gregarious groups pass oversized antipasto platters and couples retreat to elegant candlelit corner tables. The mood is formal yet fun: Suited waiters toss pastas tableside while flirting with every woman in sight. – – The Food – For more than a decade, Scalinatella has been famous for two things: superlative traditional Italian cooking and a colorful cast of deep-pocketed…

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Editor's Tips

Know Before You Go:: Ask for prices on specials: Fish can surpass $40, and raising an eyebrow when seasonal ingredients are mentioned means they'll be added (along with $10) to your order.
The Extras:: If nothing on the menu strikes your fancy, ask for something that does. If the ingredients are on hand, the kitchen will finesse them into a meal.
What to Drink:: Of the handful high-dollar, northern Italian and California reds under $60, the best is a rich, ruby red Rosso di Montalcino "Poggione."

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User Reviews (25)

ambiance	100.0% positive	“Service was great and the atmosphere is lovely !” “This is a perfect restaurant for a romantic evening or an evening with friends.” “The atmosphere was romantic.” “It looks deceiving from the outside b/c on the inside it has a cozy wine cellar feel.” “If your idea of fun is to drop $250 a head (THEN the waiters will be respectful) while entertaining your goodfellas or goumada, this is the place for you.” “This cozy italian restaurant is right across from where I live and I am so happy to have found it.”
dessert	100.0% positive	“Chocolate mousee cake was amazing.”
drinks	100.0% positive	“wine is awesome.” “It looks deceiving from the outside b/c on the inside it has a cozy wine cellar feel.”
food quality	86.89999580383301% positive	“The goat cheese and spinich salad was nice, and the ox-tail pasta was superb.” “EVERYTHING was just so fresh and full of flavor, all of the staff treated us very well and definitely knew what they were talking about, we will definitely return to this hidden gem.” “The food is amazing, fresh, flavorful, and plentiful.” “The food was very good, but there is no veal chop parmesean worth $65.” “had homemade pasta with shaved black truffles- and it was one of the best meals I have ever tasted (and I frequent top rated restaurants).” “recommend scalinatella to everyone, except to those who would have a prolem spending $120 for a full course meal for two(tip included).” “The food and service was impeccable.” “Good food -- SCARY waiters!” “The service was somewhere between inattentive and indifferent, the food was mediocre at best, but worst of all the mediocre salad and entree I ordered off the "specials" were $26 and almost $60 respectively, more than two times nearly everything on the pr” “The linguine bolognese is especially good as are all of the veal dishes.” “food is delicious.” “enjoyed the seafood salad and cold zucchini/mushroom in garlic and oil to start w/the fresh bread.” “Go for the experience and real Italian food with fresh quality ingredients.” “The table tidbits were delicious at the beginning.” “Once seated we were quickly served complimentary pre-dishes, the zucchini was delicious.” “the seafood stew was incredible, and my gf's shrimp outstanding.” “The tuna steak with carmalized onions amazing as well.” “The waiters were very friendly and the food was great.” “The waitstaff was very accomodating and attentive and the food was excellent.” “The food was good -- the most unforgettable part, though, was the rude staff.” “The food was amazing.”
menu variety	50.0% positive	“The service was somewhere between inattentive and indifferent, the food was mediocre at best, but worst of all the mediocre salad and entree I ordered off the "specials" were $26 and almost $60 respectively, more than two times nearly everything on the pr” “This restaurant was absolutely wonderful, a pleasant surprise, my boyfriend and I walked down the stairs to look for a menu and ended up in the dinining room at that point we had to give it a try.”
overall	100.0% positive	“It was my boyfriends idea to try this place out and it quickly became our favorite restaurant.” “If your idea of fun is to drop $250 a head (THEN the waiters will be respectful) while entertaining your goodfellas or goumada, this is the place for you.”
return potential	50.0% positive	“EVERYTHING was just so fresh and full of flavor, all of the staff treated us very well and definitely knew what they were talking about, we will definitely return to this hidden gem.”
service	83.33000183105469% positive	“The waiters were very friendly and the food was great.” “The service was somewhere between inattentive and indifferent, the food was mediocre at best, but worst of all the mediocre salad and entree I ordered off the "specials" were $26 and almost $60 respectively, more than two times nearly everything on the pr” “Good food -- SCARY waiters!” “The service is attentive and personable- with no distinction between stuffy corporate suits and junior music moguls in scruffy garb.” “The service was great.” “If your idea of fun is to drop $250 a head (THEN the waiters will be respectful) while entertaining your goodfellas or goumada, this is the place for you.” “The owner Marco is a great host and very attentive to his guests.” “We were greeted by friendly staff that eagerly awaited to take our coats, and we were seated immediately even though we didnt make reservations.” “The waitstaff was very accomodating and attentive and the food was excellent.” “The service is fantastic and everyone has a sense of humor.” “the crowd was nice but the service was slow and arrogant to say the least.” “EVERYTHING was just so fresh and full of flavor, all of the staff treated us very well and definitely knew what they were talking about, we will definitely return to this hidden gem.” “The food and service was impeccable.” “Everyone very attentive to your needs.” “The food was good -- the most unforgettable part, though, was the rude staff.” “We were early and found the service incredible (not sociliates) and loved everything we ordered.”
value	50.0% positive	“The food was very good, but there is no veal chop parmesean worth $65.” “do not recommend this restaurant and also would say it is severely overpriced.” “frequent the best and most expensive restaurants in NYC and this one made my head spin.”
wait time	33.3299994468689% positive	“the crowd was nice but the service was slow and arrogant to say the least.”

03/18/12

Worst Italian Basement Restaurant

by DiDicanthus

Expect to pay a minimum $ 250. per person. It is a loud tight place where there is barely enough room for the help to serve the tables, you will feel like a can of anchovies never mind sardines. They have no idea about table service or manners, before you even are finished eating they will yank the plate with food and a fork away. The food was a mediocre on a scale from 1-10 I give it a 2 and expect indigestion lasting for days.

If you order Limongello don't be surprised to get a bottle so hot it feels like they left it in the oven.The Albanians have no idea that the shot glasses must be frozen, and they will charge you 25$. Avoid this place, for the price is was out of range for what you get loud and poor service.

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03/11/11

Really Cool Night Out

by 5336

Ok, I have to start with OMG! Johnny Depp and Keith Richards were sitting right across from our table. How cool is that! The food was terrific and the waiters are on the ball. This is my fourth time dining here and I have yet to be disappointed. We ordered veal chop w mushroom sauce that was cooked perfectly and linguini w clams. Both dishes were terrific! Consider this restaurant to be one of the best in NYC. Better have reservations the place is packed every night.

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02/12/11

SCALINATELLA IS THE WORST RESTAURANT IN NYC

by lee rocker

I went to Scalinatella expecting to enjoy a good meal. Wow we we taken by surprise. Upon being rushed to or table the waiter ignored us for 20 minutes with out bringing water, wine list or a menu despite the fact that the place was half empty. We ordered the linguine and clams and the shrimp fra diablo, both dishes were terrible. The clams were tiny and tasted frozen and the shrimp dish came with out pasta as well as flavor. I travel extensively and eat in restaurants all over the world. Price was not a concern to me, but with this place I left feeling that i had been robbed. I can only assume that this place must stay in business but serving out of towner's and tourists because I cant believe that anyone would frequent this place more than once. You could get a better dinner by opening a can of Ragu and supermarket pasta. Filthy, dirty, disgusting restrooms just add to the lousy experience.

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09/17/10

Ask for prices.

by alley103

My wife and her four friends went here this week. The food was good. However the majority of the dishes avaiiable are NOT on the menu. They ordered without asking for the price of each item. What a mistake. Veal Marsalla, a standard in all Italian restaurants was not on the menu. IThe price was $54. The waiter did not offer any prices for the "specials". Beware. Ask for prices. I believe this is a deliberate attempt to deceive their customers.

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03/02/10

Feast for the senses.

by vipertonic

It's like a party with your friends from the neighborhood. Food is outstanding and they make whatever you want. Sure there's an element of a Scorsese film but that depends on the day. Go for the experience and real Italian food with fresh quality ingredients.

Scalinatella Restaurant

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What People Are Saying About Scalinatella Restaurant

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Editor's Tips

03/18/12

Worst Italian Basement Restaurant

by DiDicanthus

03/11/11

Really Cool Night Out

by 5336

02/12/11

SCALINATELLA IS THE WORST RESTAURANT IN NYC

by lee rocker

09/17/10

Ask for prices.

by alley103

03/02/10

Feast for the senses.

by vipertonic

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