Canto West Village

I had the best Valentine's Day at Canto. The vibes, food, and drinks were delicious! The staff was so kind, especially Ana, our waitress. For the girlies, the frozen espresso martini is a must-try! Will definitely be coming back. What an amazing time 💖💖💖

A well-decorated and intimate Italian restaurant in West Village. We ordered the vodka rigatoni and ravioli dishes, and they were both amazing! It’s also on the more affordable side compared to other restaurants in the area. The only downside was the service. We had reservations, but still had to wait a bit. Then when we were actually seated, we received the window/bar seats instead of a table.

Solid drink menu: frozen espresso martini was very good. Pasta was good too. We didn’t have reservation and didn’t have to wait… so it’s great if you’re spontaneous type. Atmosphere was pretty and we loved the Christmas decor but seating is tight (tables were very close to one another). Service was great and overall pleasant experience.

There was quite a long wait despite having a reservation (about 45 minutes), but given the restaurant’s stellar reputation and impeccable ambiance, it’s easy to see why guests are happy to linger. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting—tables are close together, which only adds to the charm—and every dish we tried was outstanding. My group shared several appetizers and entrées to sample a bit of everything, and not a single bite disappointed. And of course, the frozen espresso martinis—the entire reason we came to Canto—absolutely lived up to the hype. Highly recommend giving Canto a try; it’s well worth the wait!!

Canto West Village is such a beautiful, cozy little restaurant with a great vibe. The food was really good, the lasagna alla bolognese and the shrimp pasta both hit the spot. The espresso martini and raspberry spritzer were absolutely delicious, and our waitress was very kind and attentive. The only downside was that, even with a reservation, we weren’t given a table. We were seated in a small corner at the bar, and it was a bit uncomfortable since our plates could barely fit. Other than that, we enjoyed the experience and the food.

Small spot but very efficient with the space. Staff was accommodating with our stroller and little one. Drinks were great, portions were good size, menu had options for everyone. Will be back.

This is a such a beautiful, welcoming, and quaint spot. We came here midday Sunday for a couple martinis, and it was worth every minute. Ana was our bartender and she is absolutely amazing. Making well made cocktails is a skill, and she is one of the best I’ve encountered throughout my global travels. Her drinks are tasty, well balanced, and the perfect amount of booze. From the moment you walk in, you feel welcome. It’s a tight space, but I enjoyed that. It feels communal in a space and time where community and connection are hard to come by. Will certainly be back.

Alexa was a very knowledgeable waitress. The cocktails were delicious and a good price during happy hour. The food was fresh and very delicious. I would come back here 100%

This is not a full review as we came in here to just get a couple drinks before dinner elsewhere. They were extremely friendly and helped us quickly at the bar. Martini's and glasses of wine are the happy hour, which is what we sat in for. The inside is very nice and they set the mood for a casual dinner or a date. Will definitely be coming back to try the food. Cheers!

Came here on a Sunday night in a group of three. Two people ordered frozen espresso martinis which were very good. We started with the calamari appetizer. After enjoying the amazing free bread, we were initially surprised at the small portion size of the calamari. Upon first bite, something was off. All three of us tried a bite and decided to send it back. The waiter snapped that we should have told him when it first came out. One person in our party ordered the special- Pappardelle Scallops. CAUTION: The specials menu does not list prices. Pasta dishes are in the mid $20s. Veal was $34. We were shocked when the bill came and the Special was $49!! Worst part was the scallops were overcooked. When we notified the waiter, he told us there was nothing he could do. At the end of the dinner when the bill came, the calamari was still included. We asked the waiter to remove this and he refused. We asked to speak to the manager and he said there wasn't one working tonight. After refusing to pay, he finally removed the calamari. Maybe we got a bad night, but the belligerent service and overcooked items killed the evening. Hopefully management sees this as an opportunity to improve

The restaurant is pretty tight and can get loud. Overall the food and drinks were pretty good. The gnocchi gratinati was phenomenal, I really liked the cheese crust on top. The frozen espresso martini is a must get, it had such a smooth flavor. The octopus appetizer was also good and tender. I'd recommend as a spot to grab for dinner with friends, but not if you're looking for an intimate setting.

Came here for an early dinner and drinks with my friends on Friday, and it was such a cute spot in the heart of WV! We started with some espresso martinis, which were part of the happy hour deal, and were only $12! Unbeatable deal! We shared the burrata, the pesto pasta, and the bolognese. Everything was delicious although I was a little bummed because we ordered the Cesar as well but it was never brought to our table. I'll have to try it next time in in.

Solid experience out to dinner at Canto. Very friendly and generally attentive service. Dishes were flavorful, especially the pasta entrees (favorite was lobster ravioli) and the night's special (risotto with duck leg); the small plates were good but fairly standard (Caesar salad and fried artichokes). The space is cozy, welcoming, but also very small and tables are very close and cramped; one of our party was seated up against a pillar and had very little room, and adjoining tables were also squeezed into tight spaces. It's very popular with a younger crowd, likely because of trendy specialities like frozen espresso martinis.

Fantastic experience dining at Canto for the first time. Excellent and delicious food and dessert. Cozy and charming atmosphere. Great service. I will definitely be back soon.

Canto's signature frozen espresso martini was the absolute highlight. It was a perfectly balanced symphony of espresso, vodka, and a hint of sweetness, all frozen to a delightful, creamy consistency. Tbh, I'd go back just for that. Beyond the incredible drinks, our experience was made even better by our waiter, Erik. He was attentive and kept our glasses full with a genuine smile. You could tell he really cared about ensuring we had a great time.

Me encanta Canto! El restaurante mejor, y Erik fue muy simpático y hermoso. The frozen espresso martinis are amazing.

I came here JUST! for the frozen espresso martini! It's like dessert in a glass, and the presentation is just so cute! This would be an awesome spot for brunch with the girls in NYC!

Nice ambiance but poor service. The servers were slow and after 10pm it seemed that they lost interest in attending the guests, the service slowed considerably later in the night. I had a pesto fusili, which was alright - the sauce could have been better.

Cute, lively spot for happy hour + Italian food! They have happy hour from 4-6 (on weekdays - not sure about weekends) - the deal is $12 martinis, including their delicious frozen espresso martini. We sat by the window which was perfect, as the rest of the restaurant was pretty loud after 630ish. The calamari was perfect, and the manicotti was pretty good too.

Best pasta and drinks, especially the carbonara and frozen espresso martini. Thanks Erik for the great service!

This place is so cute! Their espresso martinis are very good which they are known for. Their food is also really good. We got the lobster, ravioli, muscles, and a side vegetable. The atmosphere is really cozy and cute and the service staff was really nice and attentive.

Great cocktails and ambiance! Especially the frozen espresso martini. Service was prompt and professional.

We came specifically for the frozen espresso martinis on a Sunday afternoon! The restaurant was relatively empty and we were given the option of where to sit. We ordered two frozen espresso martinis and truffle fries. Appearance-wise, the espresso martinis lived up to my expectations and looked so good. I loved the frozen aspect and they tasted even better when melted. The "espresso beans" on top were actually chocolate, which was so cute. In terms of the drink itself, I feel that there was slightly too much vodka, but regardless, it was still delicious! The drink is a bit pricey, so be prepared or come during happy hour when it's less expensive! Overall, I would definitely recommend coming for the frozen espresso martinis!

My new favorite Happy Hour spot in the West Village! Canto is a charming little restaurant tucked away on a side street with spectacular frozen espresso martinis! My friend and I went on a Friday afternoon and it was pretty quiet. We had reservations because we've heard it gets busy, which is true since it was packed by the time we were leaving so I do recommend making it to be safe. The happy hour drinks were very delicious for $12. The absolute star of the show were definitely the frozen espresso martinis - probably the best I've had till date! I also tried the Sorrento martini which was citrusy and refreshing. We didn't try any food except for truffle fries but I will absolutely be back to try it!

Canto is one of the best restaurants to open on the upper west side in years. Owner Djamel Omari is an effusive host,discerning businessman and a fabulous human being. The food is outstanding and reasonably priced. Cocktails are creative and magically balanced by expert mixology James and his new addition Juanes. Eggplant Parmesan, pastas, risottos, a great Caesar salad, outstanding Branzino which comes with sides (a rarity these days!) and brilliant desserts which are unusual to have sweets this good at an Italian restaurant. You are even served bread with burrata resting in a dish of delish tomato sauce, accompanying your cocktail or glass of wine. For a deep dive check out: https://ifthedevilhadmenopause.com/can-do-at-cantonyc-restaurant-review/

We came for the frozen expresso martinis and they did not disappoint !!! They had an option of tequila or vodka, both were fire. Food was delicious, we had the branzino, shrimp spicy rigatoni and traditional bolognese. Staff was super friendly, our waiter Jonathan was the best ! Will definitely be coming back, place was a vibe !

I came here for my birthday dinner and I was not disappointed. The frozen espresso martinis were everything I dreamed of and more. Everything was delicious, from the free bread to my lobster ravioli to the chocolate souffle. The ambiance was great, service was prompt and my friends all agreed we should come back.

Canto is a great intimate venue for you to enjoy some Italian food. The food was spectacular from the fresh pasta, flatbreads, and seafood. They are known for their frozen* espresso martini which lived up to the hype. The service was good as well! The only downside is that the restaurant is a little cramped but it's NYC so that is very standard.

Came for drinks and appetizers at 6pm with reservation. Complimentary toasted bread and marinara sauce were served and refills were provided when asked. - Arancini Di Risotto ($20): basically mozzarella sticks in rice ball form, good but nothing special - Bruschetta con Funghi E Provolone ($20): bread was fluffy with mushroom & cheese and the truffle oil didn't overpower any of the flavors - Meat & Cheese platter ($34): they were nice enough to give us more of the manchego & brie to sub for the goat and parmigiano since none of us liked those - Frozen Expresso Martini ($19): delicious, I see why it's their famous drink! Ambiance is dim and cozy. It started getting packed/noisy around 7pm, so I'd recommend going with a smaller group (2-4 people), that way everyone can at least hear each other without yelling. It also gets really warm inside as the restaurant is quite small. Even though it was busy, the waiter came by multiple times to check on us.

Three words: Frozen. Espresso. Martini! Now that I have your attention-Canto is a must-visit in the West Village. This place is tiny so reservations are a must and my friend and I had no problem getting in on a Sunday evening. They have a lovely cocktail menu, but you absolutely must try the Bella Canto with your entree and one of their famous frozen espresso martinis (I'm still regretting not getting 2!). Their food is pretty fabulous as well: bread and a ricotta/marinara dish are complimentary to start which was very nice. We enjoyed the tasty Eggplant Parm as an appetizer, which was very nicely done. For entrees, we split the Pumpkin Ravioli and the Gnocchi, which was doused in a lovely truffle cream sauce. My only complaint is that I wish I had more-portions here are small, but I guess that's good so you have plenty of room for dessert! Dessert: the Chocolate Soufflé is an absolute must and was the only dessert item I cared for. The Tiramisu was good, and the Lemoncello cheesecake was okay but had a marzipan aftertaste that I wasn't a huge fan of. Overall, we loved this place. Portions were nicely balanced so you could thoroughly enjoy each course. I would absolutely come back for more frozen espresso martinis!

The frozen espresso martinis really are the best I've tried in NYC. The food was good and I loved the happy hour. Pretty small inside but excited to try the new location on the upper west side!

The food here surpassed my expectations. I think the tuna might have been a special but it was SO good. We also got cocktails and I enjoyed the frozen espresso martini. Inside the restaurant is cozy with a couple of tables and a bar. My one complaint was that I made a reservation in advance and it doesn't say online that they are sitting you at the bar. I prefer sitting a low top tables, so definitely recommend calling to make a reservation if you have a preference like me. The waitstaff was great and we overall had a really nice experience. I would recommend Canto!

I went to celebrate my birthday there last night, and the experience was awful, the staff was extremely rude and they made us feel unwelcome. The food was underwhelming, the only salvageable thing about this experience was their espresso martini. I will never go back to this place again.

Canto is such a cute gem! Started off with the frozen espresso martinis during HH and they exceeded my expectations. These were DELICIOUS! Next we got the mussels and clam with the kale salad and they were both yummy and not too huge portions. Our waiter was always attentive and made sure we were being well served! Overall the vibe was great and deff worth a try!

Cute and vibey pasta spot, great for grabbing a bite with friends and a few drinks. Get their frozen espresso martinis which are the perfect strength and dangerously good. Their complimentary bread and tomato sauce are also a great way to start off the night and pastas are all quite decent. Would go for the vibes and fun drinks rather than the food.

Went for the frozen drinks. They only had the espresso martini but it was amazing. The vibes were loud but fun and the dessert was amazing. The cheesecake was so good with a fresh strawberry sauce. Definitely will have to go back for the pasta. We didn't have a reservation but the staff was so friendly and accommodating. Slow service when ordering but worth it!

We had great service during our time here, we stopped in for drinks for my friends birthday. Our bartender Jamal was very personable and nice he even brought out a special dessert for my friend. Our drinks were tasty especially the spicy margaritas I would also recommend the banana pudding it was incredible. The place has a super cute vibe.

Adorable spot in the west village with a really great brunch menu! The ambiance is great and the staff was very friendly. The service was a little slow and dishes came out at different times, however I think that is common at a popular time like brunch. The frozen espresso martinis really exceeded my expectations as did the quiche Carne. It is pretty easy to get a reservation here on the weekend for a larger party. I would recommend if you are in the area and looking for a fun but more low-key brunch. Would overall give a 3.5!

I have found my favorite spot in West Village! We stumbled upon this location after pride and was immediately captivated by their frozen espresso martinis! The food, service, and drinks were unbelievable! Cant wait to come back and to visit them in their next location! 10/10. The Owner Djamel the. Best and thank you

Food was amazing! Highly recommend! Service was great. Vibe was chill. Can't wait to go back

Worst dining experience all weekend. 9pm resy Saturday night. It took over 10 minutes to get greeted first interaction was "I'm not your server but I can get you a drink." Gave her our drink order and asked if she could throw in an app for us and she said all food had to be ordered at once. A little weird but ok. Same server comes over after our drinks are delivered to take our food order; that initially said she wasn't our server, sure whatever. Food is in ~9:25. After dropping off the burrata we don't see our server for roughly an hour. Another staff member comes over ~1015 and asks if we want another round of drinks and we tell them we are still waiting for our food. Another server comes over and asks if we want desert and we tell them we are still waiting on our food. Finally ~1030 our server comes over and I let her know we haven't gotten our food and we sat down at 9pm. She goes to check, comes back and says it wasn't her fault and that it was the kitchens fault. Crazy to not just own the issue but sure, blame the kitchen. Says she'll get us a round of drinks or a dessert. Not trusting this young lady w any more of my time so decide not to get anything else. Our two pastas come out 10 mins later and we devoure them. Bill comes out after that and there is one drink taken off the tab. Ask her if she's sure she doesn't want to take off the round of drinks that she promised to make up for the rough dining experience and she says "nope, I'm just taking off the one drink." Bummer of a dinner but hopefully this review saves somebody else from wasting a date night at Canto.

My friend and I had a drink here. The interior is cozy and cute and was well decorated for Christmas. The cocktail I ordered (spicy marg) was simply fabulous! Super fresh, tasty, and well crafted. It was $18 so quite the price but it is comparable to NYC prices. I would love to return for food!

Very disappointed - we had eaten at the UWS new outpost which we loved. So I decided the original would be better. Nope - not only too noisy(we couldn't hear each other's conversations) but we could definitely hear the people on either side of us, that's how close together the tables were. While the app was a good burrata surrounded by prosciutto, my branzino was buried in a murky indistinguishable sauce - too bad! Service was good though

I came here for brunch on a Saturday. My friend and and I had a reservation - I was a few minutes late but they still had the table ready for us! The restaurant isn't that big but is very cute. The server and host was attentive. Service was also pretty fast! I got the shashuka and my friend got the egg ravioli. We both enjoyed our meals! I would definitely come back

The food.... was incredible. If you're coming get the carbonara it's so tasty and huge portion. The ambience here is amazing and the waiters were very attentive and accommodating. Must try!!

Canto has many vegetarian options which will keep me coming back. The spinach ravioli in red pepper sauce was delicious, especially the sauce. I really enjoyed the frozen Aperol spritz since it was a hot day! It's also not as easy of a find in nyc. There was a a slight mixup in terms of service with our burrata (They brought one with prosciutto) but they were very quick to fix it. The service overall was solid. Really enjoyed the complimentary bread served with marinara sauce. Great ambiance as well, two tops are well spaced out.

Best restaurant ever. The staff could not be nicer, and the drinks are amazing. The food is also so good. I've gone here 3 weekends in a row just for drinks at the bar, and also for food. Literally do not have a bad word to say about it. The bartenders are awesome!! I love sitting at the window spot and people watching. The food is all very good. 10/10!

Great restaurant. Got there early for my reservation and it was no problem. Tried everything from the espresso martinis (tried 3 different martinis/love a good happy hour!) to the apple rose dessert. Service was great, the owner was present and delightful. The ambiance was perfect. I would like to return and dine during the evening to see how it is. Loved the window seat (just wish those seats had backs to them) and above all I loved that the waitstaff was knowledgeable and could answer questions/give recommendations :)

I wanted to like this restaurant but I did not have a great dining experience. I had a reservation but the server put me and my boyfriend in the corner at the end of the bar and it felt very packed in and as if two seats shouldn't be there. The server serving the party of two behind us sometimes bumped our area / us and it was just too cramped. The food was subpar. I got the tagliatelle and the noodles were so soft. My cocktail drink was OK. I only really liked the frozen espresso martini. Small restaurant, and average food. It didn't feel like their AC was working well enough either so I was just feeling very sweaty and hot for most of the dining experience.

Came here for a private event that rented out the whole restaurant! Food: - Parmigiana Di Melanzane (Eggplant Parm) - Delicious and cheesy! - Polpette (Veal Meatballs) - Good texture and flavor, but I wish this had come out warm as that would have highlighted the meatball even more - Arancini Di Risotto (Rice Ball) - Yummy fried bite with cheese inside - Caprese Salad Bites - This may have only been made for our event, but they put the buffalo mozzarella, fresh tomatoes, and basil on skewers. This was delicious! - Fusilli Al Pesto E Zucchini (Fusilli Pasta with Pesto) - I could eat this all the time! I love pesto pasta, and the addition of zucchini and sun-dried tomatoes was fantastic - Ravioli Alla Norma (Eggplant Ravioli) - Flavor is good, but the sage butter sauce is quite heavy, so I wouldn't be able to finish a whole plate of this Service/Ambiance: Very friendly and accommodating! They checked on all the guests multiple times. The restaurant is on the smaller side, but it's beautifully decorated. They had an adorable vespa out front decorated with flowers Overall: I would come back here to try other dishes and their cocktails!

WHO IS OUT FOR VIOLENCE AT 6PM ON A THURSDAY??? WE WERE ENJOYING OURSELVES UNTIL WE WEREN'T. It doesn't matter how good the drinks or food were, we will NOT be coming back to this place. We came for the famous frozen espresso martini, and we will not be returning because of the disgusting behavior we experienced. We were thrown into a corner and were rudely told by the hostess that "we were too loud"... #1) The music is extremely LOUD so we have to raise our voices in order to hear each other. -they gave us excuses that the music is at a "normal" volume and "other tables were complaining" when in actuality, we can hear them as well, and it is not a quiet atmosphere. #2) EVERYONE is LOUD because we are in a LOUD environment where liquor is served and everyone is having a good time. #3) Why would you tell your HAPPIEST customers to quiet down? We are enjoying ourselves and not being obnoxious or anything of the sort. The hostess already came up to us because we had a reservation for 5 people but had a surprise visit and thus had 6 people. She came up to us with an extremely bitter demeanor as if we committed a terrible sin, saying we must inform them next time.... But it's a SURPRISE and only one extra person. The manager already said it was fine because there are extra seats...So there's already some ill feeling to our very diverse party. With that being said, it's very hard to believe the complaint wasn't personal. Especially when we spoke to the OWNER HIMSELF, he deflected the issue onto the manager. This left us puzzled and a bad taste in our mouths as we were just saying how lovely this place was until we were treated otherwise and the situation was handled poorly. OVERALL, the way they handle situations and concerns brought up to them is giving DISTASTEFUL.

Best frozen espresso martini around. Food is delicious! It is on the smaller side though so, it seemed a lot louder when we were there. As it was busy.

Incredibly sweet and welcoming staff! I came in alone to eat & work on my Ipad. There are a lot of nearby spots that aren't very welcoming to parties of 1. It was really refreshing to come to Canto. I will be back! :)

A new go to!! The ambiance here on a cold winter night was perfect- dimly lit, crowded, cozy and warm. The food was great! The menu is massive and has everything italian you are craving. The portions are also not too big so we left feeling satisfied and not gross. The linguine vongole was hands down my favorite pasta dish on the table. Listen to the reviews, the frozen espresso martini is a must!! Its basically coffee ice cream in a martini coupe. I want to try more on this menu for sure will be back!!

Great Italian spot in the WV! To start, the sauce they give you with the bread is phenomenal. For apps we split the arancini, meatballs and eggplant dish. The meatballs were very well seasoned and the arancini and eggplant were nice and cheesy. For mains both the kale salad and pear salad were well balanced and just as good as the pastas. Per the other reviews we got the pesto fusilli and it did not disappoint. The clam linguini was good as well but not to the level of the pesto. Well made cocktails and heavy wine pours too. Would definitely return.

As an avid fan of Canto (had been at least 10 times before this), I planned my 25th birthday dinner here with a group of 8 friends. I showed up for my 7pm reservation and was told my table wasn't ready - that was fine, we waited outside (very cold but we understand restaurants get off schedule sometimes). Every 10 minutes, I checked in with the host/manager. He assured me that it was almost ready, but it never was. He seemed angry that I was even asking (waddling over in my tiny dress and birthday sash). After about 30 minutes of waiting, I asked again. He rudely asserted that I needed to be patient. I explained that we had waited over 30 minutes for our table and we really needed to get going (turns out my partner had planned a surprise birthday party for me and my family/friends were waiting for us to arrive). I asked if there was anything he could do to compensate us for our wait (e.g., drinks, an app). He got very angry and said that it was incredibly tacky for me to ever suggest such a thing, that I was inelegant, that he didn't owe us anything. I've walked past Canto several additional times since this encounter, and he's always there (maybe manager/owner?) - he usually has a peacoat on with the collar popped up. If you go to Canto, please avoid him! This used to be my favorite restaurant in the city but I will never return.

Came here to try their famous frozen espresso martini (it was amazing!!) - and to celebrate my friend's birthday. We got the carbonara and the seafood linguine - they were delicious! There wasn't a lot of space in between tables, and with the dimmed light the restaurant felt pretty cozy. 4 stars because they restaurant was nice enough to put a sparkler on the tiramisu we ordered to celebrate my friend's birthday - but they ended up charging $2 on our bill for the sparkler without telling us in advance.