01/06/09

BEST JOINT TO EAT AND HAVE FUN WITH LIVE MUSIC

by franknaps

Ive been going here for almost 30 years and it is still excellent! I grew up in Jersey about 20 minutes away and always go to this place. Now I live in CT and it's our 1st stop when we go to the city!

Bella!

• Pros: ALL THE FOOD IS GREAT

08/04/08

Atmosphere sorta trashy, Food Mediocre.

by starstyle

Outdoor seating was awful. The umbrella was broken & falling over. The water had something floating in it. The plastic chairs were flimsy & dirty. Service was lazy. Ravioli was flavorless. The marinara sauce tasted homemade & was yummy, as was the bread. Linguini shrimp w/ white wine sauce was mediocre. Cheesesticks, mediocre. Pizza was average. Point is, nothing was overly flavorful or "distinguished". An okay place for a not-so-quick bite. The atmosphere was just sort of trashy, and I'm NOT at all a snob. It just seemed like a neighborhood pizza joint, just more expensive.

02/12/08

Best Lasagna In the United States

by rddixon

My wife and I were in Little Italy this weekend and stopped in for lunch. The service was amazing and so was the food. I usually get spagetti carbonara and love it. My wife had never been there before and she ordered the Lasagna and loved it. I then tried it and also fell in love with it. We travel alot and both love italian. They have the best LASAGNA of any place we have ever eaten. I would highly recommend stopping by and enjoying this lovely restaurant.

• Pros: Great Food, Close to Shopping.
• Cons: None

01/21/08

Big Disappointment... don't go

by tudycutie

We went there 6 years ago and had a really fun time because of the live music and loud atmosphere, the place was crowded with people and energy... we decided to go back recently on a Friday night even though we knew food was ok at best (recent reviews still looks positive). What a big disappointment!!! Well we didn't expect food to be good but we were the only table there for the entire night (repeat... it was a Friday night). Because there weren't anyone else there, they were reluctant to perform live music. After a few inquiries, they decided to send a woman who didn't even know how to sing for a few songs... really pathetic!!! No wonder no one was there. There were 12 of us and my co-workers jokingly asked if I reserved the entire place! I thought to myself "maybe it's cold out and not a lot of people are hanging out" but as soon as we left we saw every restaurant around there was packed.

• Pros: None - used to be fun with live music. Well no one goes there anymore
• Cons: Food was ok at best, The place is empty on a Friday night (live music optional)

01/15/08

Terrible Customer Service, lukewarm food, dirty atmosphere - salty food

by a_tasty_new_yorker

We came in on a weekend, being that all the other Italian Restaurants in Little Italy were full. The amount of people in here on a busy Saturday should've given us signs as to the quality of food/service Puglia should be known for.

This place serves their food luke warm (its as if it was only reheated in a hurry and they didn't heat it up all the way) and the waiters write in their own 20% tip when the bill comes. When asked why he wrote it in himself, he said that all Italian restaurants charge 20% and when we wrote 15% he kept insisting that we short changed him. He also insisted that it was customary to pay 20% in NY. That really took the cake, since he obviously thought we were tourists - and he was out to scam us. (The waiter is a Bald guy in his 30's)

Bottom Line, poor service, unclean atmosphere, it was not crowded, but yet very noisy, and food was not even heated properly and very very salty. And to top it all off, the waiter harrassed us. For the price they charge, you can get much much better elsewhere. This is a definite no - go.

Honestly, all the people who've written good reviews sound exactly the same. I wonder if it's insiders writing their own reviews. I honestly say "beware. " We were also sitting near their dessert bar, the waiters were touching everything and licking their fingers of the whip cream while touching the sliced strawberries afterwards. It's a completely nasty experience sitting there and watching this being done - poor person who had to eat those strawberries. Very very unhygenic.

• Pros: No wait - no customers
• Cons: Practically everything you would expect from a restaurant, they do the opposite.

Editorial Review

by Contributor

Authentic Italian delicacies without traveling overseas.

07/30/07

Fun Night Out

by alp304

What a fun place for a big group to go for dinner! I was at Puglia this past Saturday night for my friend's 21st birthday. There was about 15 of us and we definitely had a blast! The music sing-a-longs were hilarious and we just had an overall great time. Price was reasonable, but the food could have been better. I can't speak for everyone but my friend and i both had the lobster ravioli, which definitely wasn't bad, but wasn't that great either. The fun, loud and friendly atmosphere made up for it though...would definitely recommend it for a big group if you're looking for a real dining experience.

• Pros: Music, Atmosphere
• Cons: Food

04/15/07

Little Italys Best Value

by pep11

We visit Puglia on every trip to New York.This Quirky Italian Restaurant serves very good food and provides some great entertainment in the form of lounge singer Jorge!! His songs will leave you howling!!!

This is one of the very few restaurants in Little Italy that does not have someone out front hawking the fares of the restaurant. It doesn't need to because the food and ambience speak for themselves. The communal seating is intresting and provides another source of entetainment.

The food portions are good sized and always fresh,ditto for the salads.My wife is fond of the Lobster Raviolli and I prefer the mixed platter of Sausage,Veal and Hot and Swet Peppers. The house wine is acceptable.

We have eaten here for over 25 years and have yet to be disappointed.We recommend it to family and friends and they all agree dollar for dollar you can't beat this gem in Little Italy.

• Pros: Greta food,great entertainment,exceptional value
• Cons: noisy,waiting for seats

03/30/07

Excellent food and a great place for groups

by thegirlsny

I visit Puglia twice a year with a very large group (50+ people) as well as a few times a year for smaller dinners with family and friends (in fact, I was just there tonight). We love the food (especially the garlic bread, chicken parm and pizza) and always have a great time. Jorge amuses us with his songs (like the Napkin Song). The owners (love you, Greg!) and staff are always very gracious and accommodating. We will continue to have lunches there and recommend Puglia to anyone visiting Little Italy. It is a bustling, fun place with great food.

• Pros: Great food, great service, great value.

10/25/06

Great Atmosphere for Fun!

by lmolner

To anyone who hated this restaurant....are you feeling alright? I have been several times for different occasions, birthday celebrations, bachelorette parties, just for dinner and it is probably one of the most enjoyable places to go in the city! The food is good, the service as well! The little man on the casio is great fun. "Get up and Shake your napkin"..what fun!! I don't know anyone who has been there and hasn't wanted to go back! If you are looking for good food, a fun atmosphere and a memorable time I recommend it, in fact we are headed back soon with a group of girls for my future sister in laws bachelorette dinner. GO! You won't regret it. P.S. Not a place for snobs!

• Pros: Atmosphere, Food, Entertainment
• Cons: crowded