04/10/09

Good food

by mar933

Overall, I'm happy with this place -- their food is excellent, service is usually friendly, they have good wine and great ambiance. Add some good company and nice conversation -- life is not so bad after all...

• Pros: Great food, friendly service, ambiance
• Cons: Expensive specials

01/13/09

Small portions, food is adequate, hostess needs to go to hostessing school

by MermaJJFox

I'm confused by some of these glowing reviews. Who are these people, and do they actually have any restaurant experience? The place is average at best. The portions are terribly small-- so the prices are actually high for what they offer. The waiter was good, but the hostess was borderline passive aggressive. When asked to move seat, she said that all that was available were shared tables (this when the restaurant was only half full). Mostly filled with university students, not many people above 25 it seems. The front of the restaurant smells a little like mold, but towards the back it's okay, even though the kitchen is right on top of you. I think that the good reviews need to get out a little bit-- this was achingly mediocre.

• Pros:  it's not awful food (just not exceptional)
• Cons: hostess however, is awful

12/01/08

Nice and cozy, lazy service

by veat

It was my first time at Pisticci. Our server was kind of brusque and the service was slow... which we could have understood -- or even found charming -- if we weren't two of only eight or so customers in the entire place at the time. Decor was warm and comfortable, and the house red wine was decent. We thought the meatballs were underwhelming, but the penne Pisticci was a winner. I don't really understand the hype. I'll go back, but I wasn't blown away.

• Pros: Cute, Good Pasta
• Cons: Slow Service

04/12/08

I love Pisticci!

by wendynyc

When a friend recommended this restaurant, she simply told me, "you have to go, you won't believe it," and she was right! A year ago, I went to Pisticci for the first time, and I've been back several times ever since. This place has mouthwatering Italian food at fair prices (a bowl of spaghetti with fresh tomato sauce costs $7.95!), and affordable, great wines. The restaurant is cozy and homely, and the whole staff is very friendly and helpful... And, if you go on a Sunday night, you may be lucky enough to sit near the live jazz band, which is fantastic! I truly love this restaurant, it's a real great place!

• Pros: Delicious food, friendly waitstaff, great prices, nice decor

03/14/08

irritating

by gnycm

The food is usually good but they often (2x in 2 weeks) mix up orders. The manager is irritatingly ditzy!

03/02/08

Small portions

by wisebrain

The menu is very limited and the price is high, but the atmosphere is great. Make reservations if possible.

12/19/07

Not as described in previous reviews

by stevebb

I think there must be 2 Pisticcis. I didn't find it to be anything like the reviews I read. The atmosphere was depressing, food was eh, (very limited menu) and service was OK. I wouldn't recommend it , or go back..

• Pros: good service
• Cons: ambience, limited menu, food was eh.

11/19/07

LIke being in Italy at Grandma's house

by elsushi921

I totally LOVE this place, the food is excellent and not over the top, its all Italian but very finely done. The staff is amazing, as soon as you walk in your completely relaxed and feel as if you are in another era and another country ! Everything new in Harlem is done to the best. I would not have known of this place if not for newnewyorker dot com I went on a Sunday night and had a real treat of a great jazz singer too, I can't wait to bring friends and show off this new find.

• Pros: the ambience
• Cons: hard to park but still worth it

09/22/07

no, no, no

by kat65

So sad,

how can you possibly dump a sea of hot canned tomato sauce

on top of a mozzarella di bufala and grilled eggplant?

The polenta blocks were tasteless and, again, drowning under cheap tomato sauce.

The fettuccine were overcooked and swimming in a not well defined mix of oil and

water.

Just bad comfort food. Great for the Midwest, but not for NYC.

Too bad because the place is actually cute.

• Pros: nice atmosphere
• Cons: bad food, I still smell like tomato sauce

04/25/07

Refreshing and unique! a true find.....

by sram

We live right by Pisticci and eat here often. they manage to provide a cozy ambiance and an excellent quality of food. They have some amazing daily specials. Excellent desserts (would eat the chocolate mousse for dinner if i wer'nt worried about the calories!!). There are enough healthy and yummy options on the menu. Perfect date spot!

• Pros: Ambience, Friendly Wait Staff, Food!!!
• Cons: Slightly pricey ( but worth it!)