Arte Cafe

A local, cozy Italian restaurant that’s been around for some time. It’s a hit-or-miss kind of place though. I’ve had very different experiences over the years. The last time I visited was for the lunch prix fixe and sat at the bar. The portions are good size and the food was pretty bland. The bartender was pretty friendly and laid back. Worth checking out if you are in the neighborhood.

We hosted our son's rehearsal dinner at Arte Cafe for 70 guests and the Welcome Party immediately after for 200 and the evening was absolute perfection! The food was incredible, the service could not have been better, and every detail that goes along with an evening like that was executed with precision! The planning process leading up to our event was so smooth, with the team helping us every step of the way and thinking of details that we had not thought of ourselves. We would highly recommend Arte Cafe if looking for a venue for any event!

What a great spot! Their food was really a hit! I had some Omelette. The perfection of the goat cheese spinach and eggs did a good job. I really loved the atmosphere, they have a good number of seats, a bar and the ambiance really is nice. Can’t say more and everything better in person, but the ambiance really won my heart. A great spot to hang out and enjoy the weather. Servers were really attentive and very accommodating making the visit more pleasant.

We had our wedding at Arte Cafe and it was absolutely perfect. We had the most wonderful picturesque old school New York Italian-American ambiance. The manager Ariel was extremely generous and accommodating. The event coordinator Alexis was attentive, thoughtful, organized and knowledgeable. The general wait staff, bar staff, and kitchen crew were incredibly professional, experienced, and gracious. They made our dreams come true!

I love this place. I had my daughter's Bridal Shower here in the Skylight Room and I couldn't be more satisfied. The food was exquisite, the service was exceptional and they were very accomodating and easy to work with. Everyone said how great everything was. Thank you so much Arte Cafe for making our event special.

We had our wedding dinner at Arte Cafe in the Skylight Room. Alexis helped us plan the whole day and gave us so many options to work through, and Auriel and team ensured the day-of went perfectly. Not to mention how much our guests loved the food!

Great place for food. We were a table of 5, we were seated right away. Their lunch prix fixe menu was great! 3 courses for $25. Their Ceasar salad and Tuna Tartare was good. Their Carbonara, Pollo Piccara, Pollo Parmigiana, and Burger with Fries were all excellent. Their Margarita Pizza was kid approved! Tiramisu and Vanilla Gelato were excellent as well. Highly recommend this place. It's not loud, you can actually have a conversation and not yell over the music which is so nice. The staff is very attentive and super nice.

Arre is more than food, is an amazing experience. Starting with the decoration; is a beautifully delicate and cozy place to enjoy with family, the variety in the menu, coffee, and their sweets treats. The attention is amazing! Nico, The manager is always thinking about every detail, trying to give you the best service. We are new in the neighborhood and this is our place for breakfast or brunch, but I’m pretty sure that they have many options for dinner and even live music on weekends. It’s a place that you have to visit in Kendall, in my opinion, is a hidden treasure in the Neighborhood.

We came to Arte Cafe after a comedy show at the Beacon Theater. They were one of the few restaurants open late on the UWS and wanted not to be rushed during our meal. Being very hungry, we asked our waitress the portion sizes to avoid over ordering. She indicated they were generous and glad we asked. Everything we ordered was right about the portion sizes but also extremely tasty. The salads were a great start and our entrees were done very well and happy we decided to order what we did. While I stuffed myself into finishing my entree, my wife was smarter and decided to instead take some of hers home. We shared the chocolate cake with ice cream, which was a nice ending to our meal. The resturant is dimly lit with all brick walls with some artwork that made it a very cosy place to relax and eat. Our waitress, whose name I wish I remembered, was very nice, and attentive without being intrusive. Glad we had our late night dinner there and will be back again for sure when in the area.

My group of 8 was having a hard time finding a place to eat dinner (with no reservations on a Saturday evening) after visiting the Museum of Natural History. Luckily Arte Cafe accommodated us immediately and we were very pleased with our meal. Pros: - We didn't have any menus at first but after that hiccup, our waitress was friendly and attentive. - Great food- everything was flavorful and well-cooked - we all enjoyed the Margherita Pizza, Spaghetti Pomodor, Calamari, Arancini, Zucchini Fries, Pesto Linguine, Penna a la Vodka, and Chicken Parm. Our friend said that her Pollo Piccata was the best she's ever had. Overall, surprised by the current 3-star rating and would come back here for solid Italian with a big group!

Came here on a Saturday night with a large group. We made reservations. It did get busy the place is nice. Our waiter was super nice and helpful. We ordered a margarita pizza and a few salads. Nothing special. But it was good. I got my chicken parmigiana. It was good as well. Nobody at the table complained about the food. However nobody was raving either. Bill was as expected. Service a 5. Food 3 1/2. Overall a good experience and i would come back

I am so disappointed in Arte Cafe. I am a pretty regular customer there and go with friends. I went in yesterday to book a table for February 22 for 6 people. I had previously been shown a perfect round table for the celebration I was having with my family. I showed the manager, Luciano, the table I wished to book for my family on 02/22/2025 @6:30. He told me he would put in a request in for that table but would not promise me that we would be assigned that table. He told me that, if they were very busy that evening, he would give that table to other guests who came in before us and put two square tables together for my family. That would defeat the ease of conversation at a round table. I have booked many reservations for restaurants and, when I have booked in advance, they have always honored my wishes. My family only wanted to eat in that restaurant because having a round table makes it easier for us to interact. Now I will not know if that will happen. I am so disappointed in Arte Cafe. It would be too difficult for me to start changing arrangements for my family and so we will keep the reservation but beware if you have special requests for ArteCafe!

Fantastic upper west side italian restaurant. Food is excellent and fresh, ambiance with exposed brick walls is cozy and romantic. Bar area is spacious and has tvs and high top tables while still having elegance.

Food was excellent. We had the pear salad and the spinach tortellini and loved both. Waitstaff was attentive enough, allowing us space to visit with our friends. Nice ambiance, classy, but not super formal.

Very late post for last New Year's Eve dinner. Everything was delicious. Service was on point even when the place was packed. Balloons were everywhere for the festive ambience.

WARNING! If you decide to dine here, make sure that you contact them no later than the day before to ensure your reservation will be honored. Unfortunately, our reservation was cancelled without notice or apology. If we had not called to confirm the day before, our party of 18 would have shown up to discover the restaurant closed in preparation for a party of 300. Completely unacceptable and unprofessional. Many other options in the area.

Had a lovely outdoor dinner here a couple of weeks ago. Really good gnocchi and broccoli rabe. Good service. A very nice evening.

Neighborhood Gem - Most of all, the service was spot-on. The food was authentic Italian. It got a bit loud as the room filled up, but overall a really nice experience.

Arte Cafe on the Upper West Side is an absolute gem that masterfully combines authentic Italian cuisine with a warm, inviting ambiance. Especially during Christmas time! The spicy rigatoni was a standout, perfectly al dente with a robust sauce that delivered just the right amount of heat. The pesto was vibrant and fresh, bursting with flavor, while the tortelli was a delicate, pillowy masterpiece. The service was impeccable--attentive and friendly--and the cozy atmosphere made the experience all the more special. Whether you're seeking a romantic evening or a comforting Italian feast, Arte Cafe is a must-visit. Five stars!

Ordered short rib entre and wife ordered meat balls. Both dishes were quite dry with the short ribs being overly well done. My wife tolerated the meat balls but I could not tolerate the short ribs after just two bites and asked for them to take it back. Bartender/waiter was surprised stating that slow cooked short ribs could not possibly be dry/overcooked. I politely said I was surprised as well but to be safe I'll just order the Strip Steak. A few minutes later, the manager came up to me and hostilely stated that there was no way the short ribs were dry, that they were slow cooked for 6 hours and that if I just did not like the dish to just say so. I was deeply offended by his hostility as were surrounding patrons at the bar. I cancelled my strip steak order, paid for my wine and the meatballs in cash and abruptly left. I'll never set foot in this place again even though it is only 50 yards from my house.

After reading all the bad reviews, I've always avoided this place. But, we were meeting friends that had picked this location to eat. We had a 5:30 reservation on a Saturday, so I thought that would be good at least to avoid the bad service reviews. We got the calamari and caprese as appetizers. The calamari wasn't tough and had a simple flavor to it. I got the gnocchi which was soft, the sauce was robust. The portion size was not that large and for someone that never finishes their entrees, I finished this one. Our food arrived in a standard time. I got the west side breeze drink which was not good and tasted like juice with no punch to it. The tiramisu that they had as their signature dessert was also disappointing, the texture was not creamy and the robustness of the espresso was lacking. I may come back again for lunch, but there are better places on the UWS

3.5 / 5.0 - I had a craving for carbonara and had enjoyed Arte Cafe's Spaghetti Alla Carbonara ($24+) previously both dining in and for take-out, so I decided to order take-out again. Not sure if they've changed their recipe, but it was better previously, especially with a slice of crispy bacon on top. The complimentary cookies were a nice treat, though. I do like their outdoor dining set-up, so perhaps, I'll try their happy hour next time.

This is a great Italian restaurant. I visited this restaurant on a Wednesday after 3pm. The restaurant looks small from the outside. But it's huge on the inside with multiple rooms for seating. Each room has a different look . I did not have a reservation and was able to be seated right away. The waiter checked in often to ensure that all of my needs were met. I appreciated the the use of fine China. The plates are colorful and elegant at the same time. Each plate with food had a different plate design. I was able to do the prixie lunch for $25. This includes an appetizer , entree, and dessert. It is so worth it. I ordered the crab cake with mushroom. The crab was fresh and flavorful. The mushrooms are a great compliment to the crab cake. I was surprised that I liked the mushrooms. I'm not a huge fan of mushrooms. For the entree I got steak and fries. The steak was cooked perfectly. There was a salad paired with the meal. I don't think it's needed. But it looks nice on the plate lol. The tiramisu was great moist and prepared to perfection . I truly enjoyed my meal at this restaurant. I would definitely come to this restaurant again. This is the cozy neighborhood restaurant that is needed in all communities.

Ooof, I hate to give a not-good review. But that experience was ROUGH. I arrived (solo) and asked if I could sit & order at the bar. Was waved over. When the bartender came by I immediately asked for a glass of wine and a menu. I was served the wine fairly quickly... and then, I had to wait a million years for any other service /attention. Was NEVER given a menu. (I looked it up on my phone 25-min into the wait). Only 1 other time did they ask how I was doing, but walked away from me MID SENTENCE, so I didnt take down my order. I've truly never had such a poor customer experience. I sat at the bar for 1 hour(!), before I decided to just call it quits and leave. Grabbed a pizza slice from 2 Boots for dinner instead. Sad, annoyed, hungry.

A little slow on the service, but all in all a good time. Calamari (both grilled and fried) was a bit disappointing. Not fresh, a bit rubbery and no heads. Eggplant parmigiana was delicious and the pasta was perfectly al dente. Chicken piccata was also good with a nice sauce and mashed potatoes. A solid spot but nothing that special. And a bit heavy on the ambiance.

We are a group of 20 tennis players in Manhattan. We planned a get together at Arte Cafe more than 10 days ago for December 13th early dinner at 3pm. But yesterday, one of our organizer called to verify our reservation and learned that Arte management had accepted a 300 people reservation for dinner and need to shut down restaurant at 3pm to prepare for the big party! We had to scramble to find a new venue! We are horrified at Arte management. Nilesh Amin.

Came here for my husband's work holiday party, and we were all thankful for our waitress & servers. We had a HUGE party and definitely not enough staff, but they work so hard to make it work & we had a great time. Food was really good. For appetizers, I got the Tuna Tartare & my husband got the Arancini (fried rice & cheese ball), which I liked more. Crispy outside savory inside. For Entree, I got the salmon, which was delicious, but really really like the mash potatoes underneath it. I usually don't care too much about mash potatoes when it's included with a dish. This one was creamy, buttery, & just the right flavor. Their spinach, yep spinach was really good too a couple ppl on the table said the same thing. For dessert I got their tiramisu & my husband got cheesecake. I prefer the tiramisu. In general, really enjoyed my experience here. Looks like a good place to hang out with a few casual friends or date as well.

Came here for a friend's birthday and was impressed with the food and service! My seafood pasta was the right portion and had that kick and their meatballs were delicious. Plus everything was given in a timely manner. Thanks!

Yum Yum Yummy - Never disappoints in house or delivery. Whole family loves everything about the Arte Cafe for well over twenty five years!

Service was horrible. Attended a baby shower, food was served late and mediocre. Wont come back.

Arte Cafe has the worst corporate representation. 3 years ago I contacted the then manager, Marc Ornetti, to celebrate my baby shower, they took my deposit and then Covid hit. The city went into lockdown and according to them, they were issuing refunds to all clients who scheduled events. Months after months I kept following up and out of my good heart I decided to give them $300 gratuity from the deposit so I told them they could keep it. Covid-19 affected the restaurant industry a lot and I understood they needed time, so I was patient and flexible. But they just kept ghosting my emails and calls. 2 years later I submitted a small business claim in the BK court and I won the case. They owe me over 2,100 dollars + all the interest that has been accumulating. That was March 2022. Life kept happening and I got busy so I didn't contact them again until November 2022. I went in person, spoke with Zoe (who was a social media intern who told me was a manager), Alejandra on the phone. I emailed Luciano the "general manager" emails kept falling through, I heard Marc Ornetti was let go due to bad findings and sketchy stuff. I finally got to speak with another manager (Raul Escarza) who seemed personable and nice, and after sending all the paperwork from the court that they were already supposed to be getting"he and his team" realized that apparently I was suing the wrong corporation. The Arte Cafe I rented for my baby shower was the location in Chelsea, and even though the manager for both restaurants was the same, he "was working" for two different bosses. All my trips to the court and attorney fees were in vain, at this point I paid more for lawyers fees than for what I was fighting (my deposit). Mr. Escarza said they didn't have any connections to the Chelsea people which I know it was bs because afterwards hd reached out to tell me that one of the ex bosses from the Chelsea location was still with them and "out of the kindness" of their heart wanted to give me $600 and call it a day. I said I will think about it and to give myself a break and not to file another claim to the "right corp"... I contacted him again and asked for $900 instead...that was back in January 2023 and I never heard back again! He never acknowledged my emails, never replied back. The whole corporate aspect of this place is a scam, full of people who work and at the same time do not work for them. Workers that leave because of the bad payment and a restaurant with so many years, have such a bad reputation. At least they could have replied back and owned their mistakes. Mr. Ornetti was their worker and he took my deposit while working for both companies. It's not my effing problem that he is no longer with them, they need to pay what they owe.

The place is very dim at night but it has a really nice private and romantic ambiance! Our table had a little candle and other tables had a small lamp. It is a bit pricey per item but the food is amazing! The staff is very attentive. They come to refill your glass when they see it half full. Very traditional Italian food.

I sat outside, the only customer at Saturday brunch time outdoors, although they were doing moderate business inside. The young waiter was very nice and cordial, quickly brought out the menu and the water, and took my order. I ordered the goat cheese/spinach omelette (just okay), which came with mixed greens (just passable), and home fries, which were mostly tepid. I told the waiter that they were not very good when he asked; he was apologetic, and then he vanished. Another guy came out, an older man, maybe a manager, also asked how I was doing, and I repeated my complaint. He also was apologetic, and then vanished. I next saw the waiter when he gave me my check, $23 including tax/tip. I know of NY restaurant/cafe manager friends who would have brought out a complementary side of home fries, hot not tepid (even half as much would have been a positive gesture), as a way of making amends for this first-time customer. And for the rest of the day, I experienced a mild but ongoing stomach-ache. It wasn't from my usual coffee cafe on Broadway as I've been going there for a long time. Honestly, I would not return to Arte.

My first time here and I enjoyed it. Lovely atmosphere and the wait staff was very friendly. I had the eggplant parm and it was very good.

Old school Italian with lots of unexpected space, good food and a lively neighborhood atmosphere reminiscent of the NY that is simple and inviting. Service could be faster.

My friend and I came for Sunday lunch and we both liked it - I'm shocked by the bad reviews. The food was delicious and the service was great - shout out to our server who let us know about their bottomless brunch option! It was my first time here but I'll definitely be back.

Stopped coming here over covid and missed this place!! Manager Luciano and bartender Kevin gave us good reason to come back. Craaaazy HH menu and so so good. Started with guac, did meatballs and two pizzas! Fantastic value and so tasty!!! Wine pours for $8 were excellent. In addition to HH specials, Arte actually has a pre-fixe early dinner which is amazing. It has been greatly expanded upon. Will absolutely be back!!

Amazing place! Had the 3 course meal for $25. Best value in NYC. Service was excellent. Highly recommend it.

I came to this restaurant for the first time with a metup group. I had chicken parmesan and white chocolate mousse for dessert. The servings were large and delicious. The staff was gracious and helpful. I would certainly go back.

I haven't been eating out a lot, and when I do, it's usually with a group of friends or family. I liked the atmosphere. Very spacious, which is rare in NYC. I had the pollo palliard. It was cooked well and very tasty. It was seasoned well to my liking. The salad might've been a little too overdressed, but I should've asked for it to be lighter on the dressing. It was busy when I went, and the server had a lot going on. He forgot to give us the dessert menu, but understandable because he had a bunch of tables. He was very nice regardless, so nothing to criticize there. Overall a good experience at this place.

Went there with my extended family. Their food is fine, but pretty expensive. We had a table at the back for 20 people. Good service.

The ambience is lovely. Service and food are okay. My eggplant Parmesan was good but too oily for my taste. My friend had the salmon which was also oily. Bread was good and they were generous giving more of it when we asked. It is understaffed like every other business seems to be these days.

Good neighborhood restaurant with an Italian flair. Fish dishes were very good and well prepared, although the pasta dishes lacked attention. Pasta was served cold and overcooked good atmosphere and outdoor eating is available service staff was excellent

Absolutely awesome brunch. Went with 11 people on a Saturday. The service was awesome and the brunch deal was $18 pp for 2 hours bottomless. The drinks were strong and not watered down or weak. For the brunch they gave croissants and mini muffins for the table that were really good. Everything was great!!! Highly recommend

This restaurant apparently no longer has a direct phone line in case there is a problem with a reservation or delivery order. Calls are forwarded to an answering service. The person at the answering service is nice and tries to be helpful, but there's not much they can do.

Located at 73 St. in the Upper West Side. Pizza absolutely mouth watering, salads done well. Very nice vibe, excellent service by Roberto straight out of Sicily.

Visited Arte Cafe for a dinner with my friend after boating at Central Park. The restaurant is a short distance from Central Park which is great. We made reservations the same day and they still had times available. We were sat quickly with the indoor or outdoor option. It is supposedly an upscale restaurant but they didn't even pour us water, just put the bottle on the table and left. For drinks I ordered the Aperol Spritz and my friend ordered the Watermelon Crush Martini. I was not that big of a fan of either. They tasted like a lot of alcohol but my friend loved it. Just depends on your preference I guess. For entrees I ordered the Chicken Parm and Spaghetti and my friend ordered Bolognese. We shared our plates and we loved both dishes. The only downside was that my plate didn't have that much spaghetti but a big piece of chicken. The chicken was delicious. It was all cooked perfectly. We decided to order dessert and shared the Chocolate Lava Cake. It had a rich taste and fluffy texture. The prices are a bit high but it is NY and the portions were pretty off. Overall I feel like it was a nice experience and the food was delicious!

Very hot inside, weak a/c, made whole dining experience uncomfortable as we were all sweating.

Came here for lunch with a gf today. We originally sat outside but then when we checked the QR code for their menu we realized they has a back door patio which looked super cute. We asked to move which they moved us quickly. They seated us on the corner as there were a few other larger parties. **do not sit near the walls, the leaves and dust will fall onto your table** The table and chair was very dusty & dirty. We waited a good 20-25 mins until we finally got a hold of a server to take our order -.- (already a bad start) We ordered our food & drinks. Cocktails came right away but not once the wait staff asked us about our drinks and I actually wanted to order a different cocktail but was irritated by then. Not to mention we wait 20-30 mins and it arrived At last. Once we started eating, yet again no1 came to check to see if everything was good or if we needed anything else. But they were sure to give the other tables attention with beverage refills + table side black pepper on their dishes. This was not a pleasant experience. The food was okay. For a $32 steak, our steak was very tiny, over cooked & lack of flavor we were hungry so we just ate it. I did enjoy the grilled octopus and lobster/avocado/cucumber appetizer. Will not be a returning customer.

Service was excellent although the food was just a tad bit salty. We were a party of 6 without a reservation and they were very accommodating. The server even sent out a complimentary cookie tray for us at the end. This is a great place for a sit-down meal in the area and I would return.

I've been going to Arte for many years as I live a few blocks away. Dinner is always enjoyable and I've brought many friends here. For the first time I had lunch today and spend a lot for the meal. After I left I thought that it seemed ridiculously expensive for lunch and later walked by and noticed that there is a lunch menu posted. I wasn't offered that menu but only the more expensive dinner menu. I'm really disappointed and feel that one of my go-to neighborhood restaurants is perfectly willing to take advantage of a regular customer. I will like not be back and certainly won't recommend this place anymore to my friends.

I really like their food: Eggs Benedict, omelets, Burgers, Fried zucchini, and Crab Cakes with ample amount of crab. Good for an event BUT, they are a bust if there's more than one event going on at the same time. They can't handle it well. Everything was cold. Eggs were cold, Burger meat was RAW when ordered medium, I would only go if it was a regular dining experience.

Had a family birthday dinner there last week. We were seated in the outside patio area in the back. The weather was perfect and the atmosphere was great. The staff was very attentive, the service was friendly and competent. The food was one of the better Italian meals I had: fried calamari with marinara sauce was excellent. The food around the table looked good and everyone enjoyed their meal. Overall, it was a very nice experience. We even went back the next night for dinner with another couple and enjoyed it then too. A nice place on the UWS; will be returning.

Went here for a staff holiday party and was wowed by the service. We had an open bar and the bar tenders were as attentive as they could be, with the number of people they had to serve. They were also friendly and quick. We had a variety of appetizers, nice salads and a huge entree. I give it four stars because the chicken parmigian was good but not the best I've ever had. That' said, I would definitely come back here for a solid Italian meal when I'm on the UWS.

Everything you would hope for exists in this Italian restaurant. The food was superb, the service, friendly and efficient, and the environment is comfortable and pleasing. The decor compliments the food. In addition the prices are right. They have brunch specials to boot.

Disappointing Experience. My wife and I were looking forward to a nice dinner at Arte Cafe after an event we attended in the area. Full disclosure - admittedly it was a Saturday nite, however the place was chaotic and unwelcoming. After having made a reservation well in advance, we were deposited at a table in the middle of one of those extension shed-like rooms in the back that had space heaters on full blast on a relatively warm night. It was too bright, way too noisy, and very hot. No offer was made for better seating. There are plenty of spots in NYC able to handle high volume well - this place is not one of them. Our mood ruined, we decided to leave and had a wonderful dinner elsewhere.

Ended my recent visit to NYC by catching up with cousins at Arte Cafe. Our bartender was Kevin. It was pretty busy on and off while we were there but we were well attended to and Kevin did a great job of making us feel welcome. We ordered a few appetizers and I enjoyed mindlessly snacking on the fried zucchini while sipping on my red wine. You have to love a happy hour that lasts until 7pm! I can see why so many neighborhood residents call this place their local spot.