Cucina Italian tavern

After a day of shopping I Harlem we got hungry, doing this place and to my surprised and satisfaction it was amazing!!! For starters we got a Frito Misto, very crispy and delicious and I have never had egg plant chips until now, those were something else in a very flavorful and delicious way, then we got buttermilk Fried Chicken sandwich yummy yummy!, spaghetti with meatballs and Chicken parm w. Rigatoni vodka. For the drinks we opted for spicy Diablo, virgin Daquary and one the other one with rum. I will come back for their sourdough pizza!.

Love this place everything was so delicious and the workers were so sweet! The vibe was so good. Our waiter Jeremy was the sweetest! Def recommend and I will be coming back!

A Hidden Gem in East Harlem – Cucina is a 10-Star Experience I cannot say enough amazing things about Cucina on 127th Street in East Harlem — this place absolutely wowed me from start to finish. If you’re craving fresh, flavorful Italian food with heartwarming hospitality, look no further. I stopped in during happy hour and ordered the Caesar salad with chicken cutlet added, and it was perfection. The chicken was golden and crispy, the dressing was rich and tangy, and the butter lettuce was so fresh and crisp it practically crunched with every bite. I paired it with a frosé that was the ideal balance of sweet and sour — totally refreshing and perfect for a sunny afternoon. What truly elevates Cucina to a 10-star experience, though, is the staff. Sherwin, the host, delivers the kind of warm, welcoming hospitality that should win awards. His phrase “lunch Italian side” as he guided me to the outdoor patio was charming and thoughtful. And Erin, my server on the patio, was friendly, attentive, and on point the entire time. Big kudos to the Chef — the quality and care in every dish are undeniable. Cucina has that magic combination of great food, great drinks, and genuine people who make you feel like you’re part of the family. Highly recommend for a relaxed lunch, a romantic date, or a neighborhood happy hour hang. I’ll be back — again and again!

Stopped by for a dinner with a friend here and it was absolutely amazing… atmosphere was great.. drinks perfect.. the food was incredible.. we had the eggplant parm, meatballs, chicken sandwich, chicken parm w the vodka pasta.. the wings.. and a pepperoni pizza… every dish was honestly amazing. 10/10 would recommend and I will be coming back!! Btw Mike is an absolute gentleman!! Thanks for making us feel welcome!

Service Was Horrible Only One Server Who Wasn’t Attentive And The Restaurant Wasn’t Crowded… Kitchen Closes Extremely Early For The Restaurant To Stay Open Late Food Was Decent I Expected Better The Vodka Sauce Wasn’t Good It Was Average At Best… Brocolini Was Seasoned Well But Could’ve Been Cooked Slightly Longer.. I Had A Rum Punch Which Was Delicious

Place just opened up and it’s a Beautiful decor and very good vibe. Great music. Max was our server. and was very attentive. Food was great. Order three different personal pies all were excellent. The wings were cooked well and were crispy. Cocktails were different but welcomed. Very tasty and packed a good punch. Chef Mike greeted us and the host also checked in on us regularly. Will definitely recommend this place for a Friday night date night. Will be coming back.

Nefesh is an amazing host and bartender. Great customer service and good vibes. Kwame is the best. He always makes you feel welcome and greets you when you enter into the space.

The newest hidden GEM in Harlem! I take my reviews seriously, so I had to come twice to make sure and wow was I amazed both times. If you’re looking for delicious and I mean like, eyes open staring at your eating partner and nodding while saying MMMHMMMM good- this is the place to go. I tried both their brunch and dinner menus and neither dissapoint. And the staff are some of the kindest and most attentive people ever. I forgot I was in New York for a second. Good service is something I will never take for granted. Anyways back to the food - the cheesey garlic bread will leave you dreaming of it, the chicken parm is cheesey and that marinara has the perfect amount of garlic, and paired with some rigatoni vodka, I left stuffed and happy. And did I mention they have a BOTTOMLESS brunch option! I normally throw mimosas back, but their food and the quality of their Bellini had me taking my time and just savoring every moment. Some of the fluffiest pancakes and juicy yet perfectly crispy chicken, and the oxtail with polenta had my partner scraping the plate. Aka long story short - TRY THIS PLACE. Trust me with food this good, and prices this affordable - this spot is about to blow up. Chefs kiss, just wow 👏👏👏❤️

Another gem in Harlem and the best part is that they have a happy hour 3-7pm M-F , the service is great and the food is amazing! There's also plenty of seating and a bar you can grab a seat at. Love the tavern style vibe . Came in on a Monday around 5pm they place wasn't busy which was nice , i was seated and immediately greeted by my waiter. Opted for a happy hour glass of wine which was very good, red wine to be exact haha. Also got the fried mozzarella with marinara sauce which was on the happy hour menu as well. The drink and app came out quickly and i enjoyed the crunchiness of the fried mozzarella and of course the gooey mozzarella on the inside , it was a perfect balance. For dinner i opted or the Rigatoni vodka with vodka sauce, pulled burrata & breadcrumbs, let me just say this dish was incredible i would probably compare it to carbone's vodka sauce it was that good ! And the burrata on top was just out of this world. I very much enjoyed my dinner here and cant wait to come back and try a few other items , definitely on my go to list and should be on yours too!

I had been holding off on reviewing Cucina until a 2nd visit, because I wanted to give the place some time to get established in the neighborhood before I came in with my (sometimes harsh and unforgiving) take. My first visit was pleasant, but it was soon after opening, and service was a bit clumsy and awkward - but that's to be expected. The food was fantastic. I went here for a second time tonight, and let me tell you, neighbors - it's great! The pizzas are diverse in flavor profile and have all been really delicious (including tonight's eloté special!) and the appetizers have been very good as well (I've had the chicken wings and the eggplant chips so far). I haven't ventured much past the pizza as a main, but I do look forward to trying the pastas and the smashburger next time. Any Italian place trying to set up shop in the much-beloved Babbalucci location is going to be subject to intense criticism, and so far, I think Cucina is holding its own. Babbalucci became a neighborhood hangout that felt like home, and I haven't found anything like it since. Harlem Ale House was a close second, but both establishments have been closed for some time now. I have reserved the 5th star for a couple of things that could stand some improvement - the bar seating doesn't feel as cozy as it was previously - not sure why (and I wish I could give constructive criticism here), but the bar just doesn't feel welcoming. Secondly, the cocktails are not very exciting, a bit too sweet overall, and slightly too weak. The happy hour menu requires you to reference the main menu to understand what the special cocktails actually are, and one of the cocktails is not described in either menu, so I had to ask what it was. However, kudos for paper menus and not the dreaded QR code treatment! None of these are shortcomings that can't be overcome, and I think that this restaurant is doing an amazing job entering a crowded market on Lenox Ave!

LOVE finding new neighborhood spots. Especially happy hour spots. I came in at the beginning of happy hour while lunch was ending. The bartender Max is so welcoming and friendly, he even gave me the option to order lunch but I knew I wanted to sample the happy hour menu and sample I did. Drinks are crafted in front of you and after speaking with the bar manager (his name escapes me but he is also great!) They make their own lime juice and others, truly makes a difference! I had the Spicy Diablo (mezcal), Side Piece (vodka) and the Negroni I think it's called Enzoni. All were 10/10 and all $10 on happy hour! Food - Usually if a place has good happy hour drinks, the happy hour food isn't great. THIS food is great and I only had two of the happy hour appetizers. The fried mozzarella (3 pieces, my picture shows only 2) should really be called fried hot pockets. They are thique and taste good. I also got the buffalo wings, I loveeee the homemade ranch. It's a different flavor but love the fresh ingredients. Fresh is definitely a recurring theme here. So, I love me a Cantina happy hour (next door, same owners actually) but the vibe is different here. Definitely more chill but still warm and lively - music was good too.

Visited for the first time yesterday. I had a wonderful dining experience. Service was great. I felt very welcomed upon arrival. Food was tasty. I had shrimp scampi with pasta. Enjoyed the happy hr special that was going on for appetizers and drinks. Ambiance was great. Good music playing in the background and nice cozy tables. The place was small but I was still able to enjoy privacy with my group at our table. I will be back soon.

Fantastic happy hour specials and drinks! Great service too. Also good vegan/vegetarian options which is just fabulous. Great for big groups or even watching a game at the bar.

Cucina Italian Tavern is a great addition to Harlem and I'm glad that they're one of the new restaurants in the area. They have a solid HH with strong drinks and good apps as well. The chicken wings were crispy and the sauce was perfect. I also got the meatballs which were cooked really well. The bartenders were also super nice without being overbearing. All in all, I'm glad this is a part of Harlem & hope that they're here to stay for many years to come.

Ordered takeout, and the food arrived promptly. Pizzas are deep dish style and serve about 2 as a main course. Alla vodka was delicious, bee sting pretty good. Freese salad was very good. Would recommend.

Great spot to get a tasty Italian dish like spaghetti and meatballs. Courteous service and it's also kid friendly.

It was a very pleasant experience celebrating the New Year the food was very authentic with real flavors it was served hot and simmering Everything entrees and appetizers and the specialties of drink menu ,I especially love the garlic bread appetizer and the drink special Lemon Drop and Island Rum and I got a special treat pistachio ice cream and chocolate biscuits ..The service from the time you walk in the service with a smile..The waitstaff always make suggestions about the menu.. the ambiance is very tasteful and they have music and large screen tvs

Just opened. Really cute place. Small plates and great drinks. I had a island punch.

I mean, I loved the old Italian spot (not to be named) but so happy Cucina entered this scene. They completely renovated the space and made a huge bar. The scene is grown and sexy. The food is a 10/10. Huge fan and official regular. Just what the neighborhood needed

The service and food is A1! The best part is Happy Hour from 3-7 PM the first time I came here it was a whim but this is the second time. Mike is great and so social with his customers. The food I can't express words you have to come for yourself. OMG these mozzarella sticks I can just have these with this Hugo drink and I'm good! The vibe of the place is so chill! Shout out the Max and Ted so cool and Adam is and excellent server. I will be back with friends or just of if I need a drink! Come check them out best Italian spot in Harlem!

This is one of my new favorite places. My friend and I came here and we loved it. The food, the people who work here, the ambiance - all perfect!! We went for dinner and tried a couple of the pasta dishes and the meatballs. Oh my gosh - so delicious! I absolutely can't wait to go back to try more of the dishes.

I brought my daughter to NYC for a mother daughter trip, I have been multiple times but a 1st with her. I was chasing the old Harlem warmth and charm and this place has it all. Great atmosphere, great food, great music, delicious drinks and service unmatched. Definitely my new favorite spot to visit and will definitely be back the next trip. 10 out of 10 Highly recommend!!

The newest hidden GEM in Harlem! I take my reviews seriously, so I had to come twice to make sure and wow was I amazed both times. If you're looking for delicious and I mean like, eyes open staring at your eating partner and nodding while saying MMMHMMMM good- this is the place to go. I tried both their brunch and dinner menus and neither dissapoint. And the staff are some of the kindest and most attentive people ever. I forgot I was in New York for a second. Good service is something I will never take for granted. Ask for Fedy! And the place is super cute with great music like c'mon! Anyways back to the food - the cheesey garlic bread will leave you dreaming of it, the chicken parm is cheesey and that marinara has the perfect amount of garlic, and paired with some rigatoni vodka, I left stuffed and happy. And did I mention they have a boozy brunch option! I normally throw mimosas back without thinking, but their food and the quality of their Bellini had me taking my time and just savoring every moment. Some of the fluffiest pancakes and juicy yet perfectly crispy chicken, and the oxtail with polenta had my partner scraping the plate. Aka long story short - TRY THIS PLACE. Trust me with food this good, and prices this affordable - this spot is about to blow up. Chefs kiss, just wow

First time here sat at the bar & Mia was amazing loved her vibe, had the chicken parm lunch special very good and lots of food plus some strong French 75's 10/10

I'm very close, and our neighborhood has been in desperate need of this restaurant for a while - and we have it now! Pizza is fabulous; chicken parm KILLS, shrimp scampi is as light as a feather; spaghetti and meatballs are boom-tastic, and the desserts are spot-on! Stop wondering why the restaurant is popular and GO!

Great food and friendly service! This is a great addition to the neighborhood! Will definitely be back.

I think what struck me first was the warmth of the place. And then the music!! R&B and 70's Soul, at a volume loud enough to enjoy, but quiet enough to hear your dinner companions. I was pleasantly surprised at how good the prices were. The host, who was very engaging said that although the prices were reasonable, the quality of the food was top notch. He wasn't lying! Me and my two buddies shared a salad, chicken wings, shrimp scampi, spaghetti and meatballs, 2 glasses of wine and one delectable pizza. Dinner only cost the three of us $45.00 each with tip!! I cannot wait to go again. You should too!!

That cheesy bread is to die for. Service and staff are amazing. Shoutout bartender Raul and please do go on Fridays. There seem to be some regulars that aren't shy on buying drinks for newcomers and taking group shots. Was told not to look into one's eyes because he's the player but looking into his eyes got me and my friend drinks and shots. Overall, an amazing place and we will definitely be going back.

Cucina Italian Tavern is our new go-to spot. Since it's opened we've eaten at Cucina almost weekly. It's comforting and welcoming and delicious. Everything we've ordered we've loved and we have eaten half the menu at least. The service is maybe the best thing about this place though-- shoutout to the fantastic server, Max who always takes such great care of us and who we look forward to seeing each time we visit. Martini Mondays. Mozzarella sticks. Max. It's great! Run down walk! 10/10.

Since trying Cucina about a month ago we have been back several times, each time more and more satiated by the fresh and comforting food, exceptionally warm and generous service (we're talking about you Max!), and amazing prices. This restaurant is reliably delicious, comforting, fun, and affordable. It's my new go-to spot. Honestly 10/10.