Canto Upper West Side

Great Italian restaurant serving up delicious salads, pastas and other main courses. The portions are slightly larger than what you would see in Italy so ordering a pasta and a secondi dish is a lot of food. The place is pretty loud with bar and table seating. Hard to really have a conversation here another way they arranged the tables were really optimizing how many people they can fit rather than the comfort of the diners. Prices are on par with NYC restaurants.

Went because a friend recommended the espresso martini, which was this. However, my repeat will probably be the bucatini carbonara. Lightly grilled bread with marinara and ricotta was a pleasant surprise. Pannacotta was admittedly just ok for my preferences, but overall experience was great. Couple of regulars next to me advised that the apple tart is actually their go-to here so perhaps I'll try that next time. Pretty little neighborhood spot with cheery holiday decorations ('tis the season), a pretty mural, and elegant arches if you look up at the ceiling or towards the bar.

We flew from Texas for a DAY TRIP just for the frozen espresso martinis and I’m not exaggerating when I say they are a 10/10. The best in the world. Smooth, strong, perfectly sweet!!! The staff was also amazing so friendly and attentive. The vibes were immaculate. If you’re anywhere near the Upper West Side, run, don’t walk.

This restaurant exceeded expectations from start to finish. The food was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Service was friendly and attentive without being overwhelming, and the atmosphere was comfortable and inviting. Everything came out on time and tasted amazing. Definitely a place I’d come back to. Thank you Devon for being so welcoming & sweet.

This place had the best steak meal I had in a long time, where I was dreaming about going back for more. Everything about it was so delicious and flavorful, I’d recommend this to my mom, who’s a harsh food critic and loves to eat at home. The place had a great vibe and volume was deficient for a bunch of people chatting away. The service was great and I was so happy and content, I was dancing in my seat, a true indicator for anyone satisfied with their food.

Everything tonight was DELICIOUS! The waiter, Mateo, was fantastic, attentive and made sure everything was all ok. We had raw oysters, burrata and prosciutto, beef carpaccio, lobster ravioli, and carbonara. A party of 2 and we were delightfully full. Not stuffed, justttttt right! Would definitely say this would be a spot I would bring people to, and it is a perfect date spot.

Wonderful restaurant, terrific service. Our server was fantastic, came here from Italy, (we spoke Italian for a bit) and was attentive while not being overbearing. Lovely carbonara, served in a way I have never seen before (with an in tact yolk on top). The rest of the family enjoyed their meal as well. We all had pasta dishes and were quite pleased (Gnocchi, Spaghetti & Meatballs, Penne with Butter and Cheese, the last 2 for the kids). It was fashionable, but not overly so, with everything from jeans and tee shirts to fancy/club/dress up. Prices were reasonable. You get what you pay for... The ricotta cheesecake was ok, not as moist a version as I hoped for, but with a fun brulee top. All in all. Would go again and again. Really great experience for all.

The food and the frozen espresso martini was soo good!! I sat outside since the weather was so nice. Great European cozy vibes. Our server was pretty rude though. He got mad at us when he served us food we didn’t order lol

Wonderful service, excellent staff - Devon walked us through the menu and kept checking in on us throughout the night. Not to mention, probably the best Italian food my partner and I have had in a while!

my boyfriend and i were feeling hungry a little early into the afternoon, and canto has been a place that's been bookmarked for a bit. came in mid afternoon and was seated quickly despite having no reservation. it was surprisingly crowded for the middle of the day, but we were attended to consistently and in a timely fashion. service for the most part was friendly and swift. the ambiance is intimate yet social -- it's dimly lit and music is playing at a medium volume in the background, but most of the background noise is made up with chatter from each table. we had: wellfleet oysters, arancini di risotto, bucatini alla carbonara, and branzino. the free bread gets a special shoutout for how nice a surprise it was -- soft (even the crusts not too hard) with a delicious dip of tomato sauce on the side. oysters were fresh and pleasant, also a steal at $1.50 a piece for happy hour (before 5). arancini was as good as it gets: breaded nicely to have a good crunch without being too abrasive, burst of savory flavor with the rice and cheese within (supplemented again with the tomato sauce). pasta for the bolognese was delightfully al dente, with the sauce being creamy without being overly rich, and decadently savory. overall, great experience and delicious food, would absolutely come back again.

Made last minute reservations at Canto and am honestly so disappointed in myself for suggesting this restaurant... Outside of the service, everything about this restaurant was mid. Everything lacked flavor and it reminded me of why people think Italian food is insipid (gre word lol) or lackluster. I could have had a more inspiring and flavorful meal at home, so very disappointed. We ordered Calamari, kale salad, and french fries to start. Calamari wasn't properly battered and didn't feel fried at all. Also for some reasons apples were fried and included in the basket... the Kale salad wasn't actually good, but lacked enough toppings. And fries were fine. For our mains we got the Carbonara and we couldn't find the other main on the menu, but both needed a boatload of salt/pepper added. I haven't been disappointed like this in such a long time.... But the water, complimentary bread, and service was great!

It was my first time at this canto location, we stopped in for drinks. The bartenders were absolutely wonderful, especially Andre! It was Valentine's Day and the restaurant had decorated the place accordingly with tons of red and pink decor. They have happy hour daily, including their frozen espresso martini which is my favorite. Their regular espresso martini is also perfectly done. We snacked on some truffle fries, which were good but not a must-have. Overall, I like the place and the people. I really love the frozen espresso martini. Will likely come again.

I really liked it here! I was just waltzing around the UWS and told myself I would just eat at wherever looked good. I walked by Canto and thought it looked interesting so there I was solo dining at the bar. They have some pretty neat decorations for the holidays. I got the fettuccine ai funghi with a medium rare steak for my meal and a raspberry spritz mocktail. Both were really good and hit the spot! The food came out quite quickly. I got the apple tartlet dessert which was pretty good, although I wish the tart was heated up a little more to contrast from the cold gelato. Other than that, service was good and I overall enjoyed my time here. I spent $86 here inclusive of tax and tip for my little solo date that night. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to my peers and I would be interested in coming back to try other things on the menu!

The frozen espresso martini was so good. Loved the texture and the flavor with cream on top. The Cacio e Pepe was pretty good but not the best. Loved how it was serve out of a cheese wheel though. Service was pretty good and loved the ambiance. Would highly recommend.

Beautiful space, but service was a little slow and the sauce in the pasta I ordered for brunch was a little too watery/runny. My friends ordered waffles and steak and eggs and those looked good! Saturday noon on a snowy day saw minimal crowds.

THE BEST ESPRESSO MARTINI HANDS DOWN!!!! It's a craving at this point. Location is a lot more spacious than the lower east side location. Great pacing between drinks, appetizers, entrees. Never had to call for someone to come to our table. Constantly checked on the guest before needing to ask for anything.

We stopped by Canto on a whim last night after a movie and were able to be seated outside immediately. The weather was a bit chilly, but our table had a heat lamp, and we were provided with blankets, which was super cozy and nice. I didn't really have any expectations - just wanted a decent bite to eat - but everything we had was delicious! I had the branzino, which was cooked perfectly and was served with a zesty, lemon-cream sauce, mashed potatoes, and spinach. So good. My partner loved his lasagna. I paired my meal with a wonderful glass of Super Tuscan. For dessert, we had tiramisu and cappuccinos. The coffees were great. The tiramisu was served as a square cake and a good size for a party of two just looking for a few sweet bites. It wasn't the boldest tiramisu flavor I've had, but definitely a tasty version. I liked the moist, cakey ladyfingers portion at the bottom. Came with a few strawberries and mint on the side. Everyone who works here is incredibly nice and the vibe of the restaurant is just really chill overall. Our server was friendly and gave good suggestions.

Canto is fine but pretty forgettable. The space and drinks are nice, but the food didn't really stand out and felt underwhelming for the price. Nothing was bad, just not memorable. Works if you're nearby and want a decent atmosphere, but there are better Italian options around.

Everything tonight was DELICIOUS! The waiter, Mateo, was fantastic, attentive and made sure everything was all ok. We had raw oysters, burrata and prosciutto, beef carpaccio, lobster ravioli, and carbonara. A party of 2 and we were delightfully full. Not stuffed, justttttt right! Would definitely say this would be a spot I would bring people to, and it is a perfect date spot.

Delicious bread and vongole pasta! Service was great and inside was nicely decorated for Christmas

This place had the best steak meal I had in a long time, where I was dreaming about going back for more. Everything about it was so delicious and flavorful, I'd recommend this to my mom, who's a harsh food critic and loves to eat at home. The place had a great vibe and volume was deficient for a bunch of people chatting away. The service was great and I was so happy and content, I was dancing in my seat, a true indicator for anyone satisfied with their food.

If you're hunting for frozen espresso martinis, Canto is the spot. Truly, 10/10 for the drink game. The food, however, was a mixed bag for me. We were seated quickly, but it took about 12 minutes before we could wave someone down to take our order. After that, it felt like we had about four different servers--maybe part of their teamwork approach, but it did make service feel a little scattered. That said, the female manager was incredibly kind and attentive, which was appreciated. Food highlights: * Kale Salad - fresh and flavorful * Truffle Fries - crisp and indulgent * Pesto Pasta - well-balanced and delicious Food I'd skip: * Calamari - not very crispy and pretty standard in flavor * Bolognese - needed more seasoning to really shine The ambiance is beautiful--semi-upscale with a lovely aesthetic--perfect for a night out with friends. Personally, I'd come back for drinks over dinner. But those frozen espresso martinis? I'd make the trip just for them.

Such a cute restaurant. Staff was great, very friendly. My friend and I was not here hungry so we ordered the eggplant parm and the pENNE ALLA PUTTANESCA. The eggplant parm was tasty but it needed some more sauce. The penne was delicious.

Service was phenomenal, food was delicious and made just right. We got there earlier than our reservation & were seated immediately. Good thing we came early because by the time we left there was a long line! Only thing that was an unfavorable was the noise level, probably acoustics, and we had to raise our voices & lean in to hear each other over the nearby tables. (Not pictured here: my friend's lamb chops, beautifully done as she requested, and the potatoes substituted for spinach p/ same request. Small dish but perfect for my small eater friend.)

Must haves: fried artichokes and arancini to start. For the main, the pastas are a must have. My favorites are the lobster ravioli and orecchiette Italian sausage with broccoli rabe are AMAZING. Highly recommend both! The bartenders are incredibly nice and attentive. And the warm ambiance decorated for the holidays does not hurt :-)

So so good. The frozen espresso martini was insane and the carbonara was delish. Love a place that gives complementary bread. We sat outside and it was great. Perfect weather and in a chill area so no loud noise and people walking too close. The servers were good but nothing crazy.

Cute restaurant, good for a date or meeting with some friends. It feels trendy and they seem to be known for the frozen espresso martini. The beef tortellini was very average, and a little overpriced for the portion size. We were lucky to get a reservation two days in advance and they were flexible about adding someone to our party which was nice. Service was friendly and fast.

Came after a nighttime movie, grateful to quickly get a table at the late hour. Restaurant was pretty full but not loud or super crowded. Quick and attentive service with lots of menu options. We got arancini as an appetizer and my main complaint is that they ran out so quickly. Someone at my table got the lasagna and they loved it. I got the tortellini, I was pleasantly surprised at the portion size. Dish was a little too salty for my taste but overall a good late night meal.

Shout out to the busboys who did AMAZING!! (Please give them a raise!) They actually served us the food, and sometimes drinks, in addition to water. The waiter seemed a bit stretched- I could see that he had to go all the way to the corner to enter orders, which might have contributed to him not utilizing his time to the best effect. Service (the waiter/hostess) was fine but not very friendly. We never got asked if we wanted another drink- in fact our drinks arrived after the food (because the busboys were amazing!!). Ambiance is fun, especially in a nice day when the windows are open. Pasta was solid, with the carbonara especially good. Cocktails were also really good. I can't wait to come back for happy hour.

Came here before going to the Met as it was super convenient. Wow! Are are SO glad we did! We were sat outside as the place was PACKED. They were so kind in giving my twin boys blankets as the weather had just started to get a bit chilly. We ordered the bolognese lasagna, chicken Milanese, the carbonara and for starters the arrancini. The food was all amazing. Every single dish was great. For desert we ordered two chocolate soufflés and wished we had ordered one for each as to not to share! They were phenomenal! The best soufflé there is! If you like chocolate you can't pass the chocolate soufflé! We can't wait to be back! Highly recommend!

We finally made it to Canto on the Upper West Side after months of meaning to go. The space is attractive...nicely lit and well appointed...but it's loud. Conversation required raised voices, which took away from the experience. Service was prompt and friendly without being overbearing, though the meal ended on an awkward note when the server presented the check prematurely on an electronic keypad before we were even asked if we wanted coffee. The food itself was forgettable. The eggplant parm appetizer leaned heavy on the cheese and lacked a real flavor punch...crushed red pepper helped, but it shouldn't be necessary. The chicken francese special arrived in a generous portion but fell flat: the chicken wasn't as tender as it should be, and the mashed potatoes were oddly soupy and more sauced than mashed. While Canto's Lincoln Square location is convenient, the Upper West Side has far stronger Italian options. For us, this was a one-and-done.

Canto UWS was a pretty nice experience this past Sunday. We made a reservation for a group of 10. They requested we send in our dinner orders at least 3 days in advance which we felt was odd for a restaurant but hoped everything would be seamless. Some of the food came out lukewarm & They ran out of the oysters before 7pm so that was a bummer but everyone thought the food was pretty good for the most part. People enjoyed their fish & meat dishes Though I will say, weve had better pasta (i got the mushroom pasta & someone else got the lasagna). Service was decent. The frozen espresso martini was to die for. I'll probably be back just for those.

Was so excited to finally try Canto based on the rave reviews and reviews from friends, but was disappointed. I actually tried the restaurant out twice in one weekend out of convenience and both times were similar. The pasta dishes are just not good. I can make better sauces at home out of a jar. Very bland and the pasta itself isn't special. I ordered a $45 steak and risotto dish (weird combination, but figured it must be good). The steak was awful. This must have been the lowest quality steak possible. Tasteless and chewy. The risotto was quite good, but again, at $45, no thanks. Beautiful decor but the food is very very average.

Came with friends for brunch. The food is decent but the service was all over the place. I would swear they just opened. Good: food for the most part is solid. BEC sandwich with rolled eggs, pancetta, american cheese, aioli on a brioche bun - you can't go wrong. Side note - they didn't seem like rolled eggs but more like cooked in a sheet pan and cut into squares. Burger and french toast enjoyed as well. Complimentary bread basket was nice. They are making a very good Espresso Martini! Waitress was kind. Needs work: there are a lot of people working here and no one seems to be communicating with each other. When we walked in a many greeted us and tried to seats us but then a woman came over to greet us and seat us. When they brought our first round of drinks, they brought them to the table next to us. Later they brought us food that was for the table next to us. Frittata was a thumbs down. Oddly there are peas in it. The burrata special was fine, had better. We were handed multiple menus - 2 drink menus. A lunch/dinner menu which we could only order salads or meat plate from. A brunch menu where a few items were sold out. A specials menu, but only 2 items on that available. When we ordered food we found another item was sold out. Ordered a second round of drinks, bloody mary also sold out. A short time later a bloody mary randomly came to the table despite being told no more?! I ordered a prosecco which came in the tiniest little coupe glass and it was flat. Should have sent it back. Many people checked on us throughout the meal which is nice they care. Wasn't sure if we had 2 waiters. Felt like there were 2-3 managers on duty. The restaurant looks like they just took over the space. Mostly white walls aside from a tree painted on a wall upfront and some minimal tinsel for the holidays.

We decide to have a quick dinner here before heading to the opera. Service was fantastic and the vibes were great! We ordered 3 dishes to share. Overall, the appetizer was good but the pastas were mediocre. - Burrata and prosciutto: 10/10 (this was our favorite dish that we ordered. Burrata was creamy and the prosciutto was super tasty.) - Carbonara: 7/10 (carbonara was so so... I've had better carbonara elsewhere) - Lobster ravioli: 6/10 (meh ravioli... I feel like the pasta was a bit too overcooked. The sauce was mediocre too.) - Frozen espresso martini: 8/10 (good for the experience but I think I prefer regular espresso martinis)

Great service and delicious food. Worth a visit after a Lincoln center event. Staff was wonderful and quick to offer recommendations. Our server, Chris, was charming and helpful throughout our visit.

Popped in here on a whim before seeing a choral concert across the street. It was fitting that the name "Canto" means "sing" in Italian, so I took it as a sign. I sat at the bar because I was dining solo and had a lot of time to kill. James my bartender, and he is also who created all of the cocktails. I ordered the Padrino, which is a spin on a Manhattan, but with Scotch and some allspice. The allspice was so different and perfect for fall. It was a beautiful hint of cinnamon clove and made a familiar cocktail a totally new one. For my meal I ordered the fresh pappardelle with wild boar ragu. I thought it would be like a Bolognese with red sauce but it was closer to a beef stew (with peas and carrots too). It was not what I expected but it was very tasty. The boar was cooked very well and the pasta is made in house. Before leaving I decided to try James' espresso martini for dessert. It was perfect. Not too sweet like some others I've had before-definitely coffee forward and i loved the shaved dark chocolate on top. The restaurant is beautiful. Light and open, decorated in a modern style. It just opened a few months ago but this is their second location. I took off one star because for the first half of my meal, the owner/manager was talking VERY loudly (almost yelling) near the bar about their finances, bills, paying their contractor, etc.... I almost left after my cocktail to go next door to eat. Just stuff that i felt should either be happening in an office or at least quieter so diners did not need to hear. That being said, the owner did say hello and welcome me to the restaurant, and he was very nice. I wish Canto the best of luck in this new location and I will return next time I'm seeing a concert at the Kaufman Center!

Environment is cute, location is great, and food is pretty tasty but the service truly is subpar. Took a friend for brunch with a noon reservation on a Saturday and though we were seated quickly, we were then ignored for about twenty minutes. Our coffee orders were taken then didn't arrive for another twenty minutes. Water was only brought after all of that. Pretty disappointed as I was trying to show an out of towner a nice time. Don't think I'll return.

Came here today, fell for the social media hype. Made a reservation online for 6:30pm for indoors. Called today, to confirm my reservation. The hostess sat me outside. I ask if there's seats inside she states no. Although again my reservation was for inside. I did see a space available inside. I am biracial Latina/ black. Other non POC party of two came in, were seated outside, they brought it up and were provided seats inside. It was 58 degrees and the outdoor heaters were not turned on until I was almost done. Later on, two black women came in were provided really close seats to us. They asked to sit at other tables available - the hostess rudely says to them, it's either this table or the bar. The food was average. The frozen espresso martini is definitely overhyped. I've tasted better espresso martinis in other places. Pro: The waiter and servers were great and decor.

The food was fresh and you could always get the best frozen espresso martini in town. My parents, brother and I loved it and Devon's service was just amazing.

The food was really good AND didn't break the bank! Which we love. The server Devon was very attentive and kind. We sat on the outside in covered patio great vibes decorated for the holidays

Devon was an amazing server! Great food! Love the ambience as well, everyone was great. Great spot for a date or for friends.

Early dinner- 4:45pm because one of us had a show. The place was practically empty when we sat down and the waiter completely rushed us the entire time. Literally took one of the menus when we were still asking about dinner recs. We got the arancini, shrimp pasta, and cacio Pepe. One of us asked if spinach could be substituted instead of asparagus and the waiter was so rude about swapping another vegetable into the dish. Having worked at an Italian restaurant, I know my chef would have been mortified at the way this waiter responded- hence this review. The 3 stars is purely because the waiter was a jerk. Otherwise, probably would have been a nice place to go- seemed like a good crowd and cute place otherwise. He also took one of our wines with about an ounce or two left in the glass. Didnt deserve the tip we left.

I loved this place so much I have been there so many times and it never disappoints, the frozen espresso martini are definitely worth the hype everything I had was so good!

I really enjoyed my experience at brunch! The food is quite good as well as the drinks. The restaurant is very spacious, well lit and pretty. Our server was very friendly and kind. The two things I loved most was the space the wait staff gives you. We felt taken care of but didn't feel like we were being rushed. And, I love how dog friendly they are. I will gladly eat in the presence of cute dogs any day of the week!

Good spot in the neighborhood for a nice dinner out. Obviously try the frozen espresso martini. Some of the pastas are better than others. We loved our server Fernando. He was very attentive and accommodating.

Amazing ambiance and food. Absolutely loved the seafood paparadelle. Devon was the best server !

Lovely cozy. atmosphere, delicious food and excellent service Devon was great. Cozy on a cold waiter day. Recommend highly.

Really cute ambience inside, came during dinner and was able to catch happy hour which ended at 6. $12 cocktails and the espresso martinis were good, both normal and frozen. The shrimp rigatoni was alright, wouldn't say that the vodka sauce was super flavorful. The French fries side was very good, crispy! Service was attentive and kept checking in on us which was great. Would try another pasta dish though in the future.

Devon and Andrew were very nice and helpful with Suggestions and the service was estellar.

Nice cozy spot on the upper west side that serves solid pasta with a nice selection of drinks. I got the frozen espresso martini which had a good coffee flavor without being too strong (although I do like my drinks more on the sweet side). The bolognese was pretty good, nice flavor from the sauce and solid texture on the noodles although nothing that amazing. Also wanted to shoutout the free bread, which was perfectly grilled and pairing with buttered marinara was a really nice touch.

Great food, service and ambiance. Florian was our server and was very attentive. One of my favorite restaurants in the city.

Loved the frozen espresso martinis!! Chris was very kind and helpful, he's the one who recommended the drinks for happy hour. Also enjoyed seeing the Christmas decor inside

I visited Canto - UWS for happy hour with a friend. I had seen the frozen espresso martinis on TikTok and wanted to try one. It did not disappoint! It was creamy and delicious, but not too sweet. We visited at 5pm on a weekday, and it wasn't very crowded. Service was quick, but there are a lot of seats packed into the space, so I could see it getting a little hectic when it's crowded. I'll definitely visit again!

Food was very good .. Devon was a very professional and friendly waiter .. enjoyed my first time at Canto

Food is overall okay. Nothing forgetful but also nothing memorable. NOTE: if you don't have reservations and are hoping to use the waitlist feature, no matter what the app/website says, call restaurant to confirm. They don't honor the waitlist apparently and it's at the discretion of the hostess based on how busy they are. Bar area is communal seating. Not horrible but feels slightly too wide of a table if you are told to sit across from each other instead of next to one another. Not horrible but may make a date less enjoyable. Wanted to give this place a chance but after two tepid experiences, try and go off peak for best bet as food is atleast okay but service not so much. This place tends to be more busy early rather than typical "peak" dinner hours so that may work to your favor. FOOD: -eggplant appetizer is great -gnocchi is super cheesy (read mainly cheese, not enough sauce) - apple crumble needed actual crumble. Presented nicely but more of a soggy mess than a a balance of apple cinnamon and crumbly pieces. Drinks and wine menu is fairly extensive.

The location is newer and the place was packed at 7:30 pm on a Saturday probably because of the novelty of Canto in this neighborhood The service is somewhat slow We were seated around 7:45 for a 7:30 reservation which is not a major issue at all Drinks were forgotten and needed reminding and to be honest the food was not bad but not something I'd really not remember in a few weeks The bread was slightly burnt still very much edible, the arancini was ok, needed some spicing up I felt. The marinara and burrata was rather flat and industrial rather than tasting like Italian countryside The ricotta cheesecake is not too sweet which is good but rather crumbly which was odd The apple crumble was not bad, a bit dry The service was friendly and I will say that if you are looking for a quiet bite to eat this place can get quite loud Will certainly again to see how it evolved though