Il Bambino

The purpose of this review is not to hate or harm this restaurant in any way, shape, or form. That being said, I hope you take this review as an informative review. Atmosphere: This is quite a warming place to go to. Spotless, bright, colorful, and well organized. Their restroom is also clean and tidy. They also have a patio, but I didn't see it completely. Service: Service is pretty good. Food was ready a few minutes late than the time promised, but the lady kept me updated. Food: I ordered to go. I got two paninis, The Tree Hugger and the Roast Chicken with Goat Cheese. They were not bad. The flavors were good, but they were missing something for me to feel they were worth paying what they cost. I know the ingredients are not cheap. However, if they were organic, it would be a different story. Price: As mentioned before, I felt like the flavors were not quite close to the price. That is just for the paninis I ordered. Perhaps, other things on their menu are woth paying for.

This place used to be amazing, and I used to highly recommend it to my friends for their panini. I've been hearing bad reviews from my friends recently about the food quality, but I didn't want to be doubtful without trying them. I ordered "Truffle Bacon Chicken" which contains chicken, smoke bacon, Truffle aioli, caramelized onion, dirty chips, and parmesan. As you can clearly see on these pictures, there is a lack of caramelized onion and dirty chips. This panini was overloaded with truffle aioli, which made this panini so dry and uneatable. I called the store right away, and I was informed to get a call the next day from a manager. Unfortunately, I never received any call from them. I called again the next day and I wasn't able to speak with the manager. This panini cost me $19.20. Please do not waste your money.

Best brunch in Astoria. They have the most delicious salads, sandwiches and drinks. The soup is offered during the fall and winter season and comes with a slice of pesto toast, tomato soup is my favorite and I always ask for it during summer. I also love the cookie butter latte. My favorite salad is the roast beets salad and sandwich is the prosciutto, Gorgonzola and fig spread

This cute panini shop offers a variety of pressed sandwiches and other homemade dishes just right sized and delicious. The sandwich options are unique with an assortment of flavors from across the global palette which is refreshing. We ordered on panini from the brunch menu and one from lunch. Frankly it was hard to choose but our server was cheerful and helpful in making our selections. The classic fries are spot on. Homemade chips are good but are not subtle to prepare for flavor. There is both indoor and outdoor seating in their covered patio which is where we sat. Lastly, I found the beverage selection really awesome, someone there knows there brew. All in all, a great spot and wonderful to have in the area.

Omg always amazing - today we got take out but I’ve tried many things on the menu. They’ve recently redecorated and changed it up a bit - looks good! The menu changes so today I’m trying something new out and I’m so excited! Great ingredients make great food and this place has it down. Be sure to get one of the best brownies ever and some dirty chips - two must haves!

Very nice place to have a conversation and meal with friends. Cute little pumpkins on tables. The environment is quiet. They have salad, panini and so on. The gentleman, I think he is the owner, is super nice and provided us a good service. I like the question he asked us “do you have any questions about the menu?” It is courtesy and friendly to a person who is not familiar with panini, like me. We also got a suggestion how big the portion is and don’t order too much. The salad is fresh. Crispy panini. Try it if you are still hesitating.

This place is adorable; the atmosphere is super cozy & inviting, and the staff was super welcoming & friendly ! I was really excited to try this place & have read previous reviews about how they skimp on ingredients but I really wanted to see for myself as I do love a good panini. Do not get me wrong; the sandwich was DELICIOUS ! The flavors were outstanding, but unfortunately those reviews were correct. We got the roast chicken panini to share & it was really disappointing to see how little chicken there was, and even arugula ! Definitely a let down. I would come here again & again for that panini, if it was priced appropriately for the amount of food you are actually getting.

Yummy sandwiches and crostinis. We enjoyed the food and the service. You order your food up at the front and sit down like at any other restaurant and have the food served. Everything tasted fresh and the crispiness of the bread was great. The hostess was very sweet and accommodating which made the visit even more pleasant.

I recently visited this sandwich restaurant with my husband and we had a delightful experience. We tried two sandwiches--the Cuban and the Cajun pork, which was the special of the day. The Cuban sandwich was outstanding, with a generous amount of flavorful meat and just the right touch of spice. It had that perfect balance of ingredients that made every bite satisfying. The Cajun pork sandwich was a pleasant surprise; it was bursting with flavor and clearly made with care. It's always nice to see specials that are as delicious as this one. The service was friendly and attentive, adding to the overall positive experience. The restaurant's ambiance was cozy and quiet, allowing us to enjoy our meal without distractions. The only downside was the brownie we tried for dessert--it was average and didn't stand out compared to the exceptional sandwiches we had. Overall, I highly recommend this place for anyone looking for great sandwiches in a relaxed setting.

Yato was once a bambino. Full of life and vigor. Yato would race around Astoria and marvel at all the wonderful places to eat and a wonderful price. Those times have come and gone. Astoria, now overpriced, covered with shitty restaurants and weed shops, is a place where either the food will be amazing or horrible. Where does Bambino sit? Here's a clue; Yato's has better paninis at his local deli.

I went on a Saturday afternoon, the restaurant had indoor and outdoor seating, the vibe was very homey. I got the tree hugger and cookie latte which were both okay. The service was pretty slow.

The reviews don't lie - this place is amazing! I was visiting some friends in Astoria for brunch, and they recommended we meet at this place as it was one of their neighborhood favorites. I can see why - at its core it's a panini shop, but to just call it a mere sandwich shop does not do it justice. The ingredients are top tier, their paninis are perfectly assembled with perfect ratios of everything, service/atmosphere is cozy and friendly. The place was buzzing on a late morning on a weekend day despite inclement weather outside. Sipping on a warm coffee, enjoying a delicious sandwich, in the company of good people and good conversation, while looking out the window while it was raining @ Il Bambino will always be a core memory for me.

Best place ever !!!! Consistent and delicious!!! Great service , clean, great on delivery, great to visit, lovely garden, menu has so many options, prices are great. 15 years and hopefully 15 plus more to go !!!! Quality, made with love !!!!

Cute little lunch spot in Astoria! I was craving a panini and salad after a morning run and decided to stop by Il Bambino. I loved the cozy, homey vibe of this place! We decided to order one of the specials of the day -- a panini with pulled pork and jam. The panini was crispy, just how I like it. We shared the butternut squash soup with pesto smothered grilled bread + mozzarella floater. This combination was fantastic! They were kind enough to split it into two bowls for us. Baby arugula mimosa salad was also really yummy (and huge). The shaved egg really was the glue to all the flavors coming together. Service was very attentive and welcoming. This is definitely a solid gem in the neighborhood!

This place is killing the panini game! Truth be told, I've never seen a place with such a concentration on brunch panini. The flavors are rich and certainly unique. I went on a morning where I had the cute, quiet cafe to myself. The staff was very friendly as well. What a great spot!

I miss the old price/portion sizes but the fact that this place has remained delicious over the past 5 years I've been coming is a testament to its quality. I love every panini I've tried from here and in the fall/winter I always order their soups. It's a nice cozy space to sit in and has a nice back yard. It remains one of my favorite places to eat in the neighborhood.

This place used to be amazing, and I used to highly recommend it to my friends for their panini. I've been hearing bad reviews from my friends recently about the food quality, but I didn't want to be doubtful without trying them. I ordered "Truffle Bacon Chicken" which contains chicken, smoke bacon, Truffle aioli, caramelized onion, dirty chips, and parmesan. As you can clearly see on these pictures, there is a lack of caramelized onion and dirty chips. This panini was overloaded with truffle aioli, which made this panini so dry and uneatable. I called the store right away, and I was informed to get a call the next day from a manager. Unfortunately, I never received any call from them. I called again the next day and I wasn't able to speak with the manager. This panini cost me $19.20. Please do not waste your money.

4.5 stars - sandwich was great but a bit pricey. The bread is extra crunchy, flavors and aoili were all fantastic. The brownie met its expectations of being the best brownie - it's fudgy and the walnuts add great texture. It paired very well with their steamed maple milk. It was crowded for brunch around 1:30 but service was really good!

It's hard to find a good panini in NYC, but I'm Bambino does a great job of balancing the crispiness of the bread with an appropriate amount of flavorful filling. The menu is extensive so it's difficult to pick one, but thankfully the paninis are sliced in half if you wanted to share and try different types of paninis with your friends.

Great panini spot in Astoria! So many amazing, delicious options to choose from. If you're going with someone, I recommend getting a couple different paninis and sharing since they are good portions and you can try a variety. They also have brunch paninis if you're looking for a breakfast option. It's more of a casual dining setting but they have indoor seating and also sell alcohol (beer/wine) if you wanted to have a drink. We didn't have alcoholic drinks but the hot chocolate and cookie butter latte were great!

It's a panini shop. But on the pricier side. It was delicious tho. Staff was friendly and accommodating. They have brunch and dinner options and also saw some wine on the back shelf. They have an outdoor patio too. Glad I tried the place and I'll be back to try their other paninis. I've got my eye on the Cubano next time.

They've updated their menu a bit, no more charcuterie board but still most of the brunch staple flavors, even if with new names. The Chip Butty was great. Suggest waiting a bit before eating (the brunch items with eggs inside), as it comes out fresh and therefore warm and a bit messy.

Il Bambino delivers and it has been delivering the goods since it opened. I haven't been here in a while and I had forgotten what I've been missing. Namely: top quality and reasonably priced toasted goodness. On this occasion I went for the Notorious PIG, egg panini enhanced by smoked bacon and truffle oil. I also has the beet, goat cheese and arugula salad. I thought I'd have enough room left over for the home-baked, super-sized and decadent chocolate chips cookie, but it was not to be. Next time...

The paninis here are delicious!! I love the Roast Chicken Adobo panini! They paninis are also very filling, so make sure to come hungry or save half for later! il Bambino does not take reservations and does get packed, so if you have a larger group, make sure to come in the earlier side for lunch.

Would consider this a 4.5/5! My one complaint is that it's on the pricier side, with my meal being almost $25 for a sandwich+dessert, but very very tasty overall. The Cubano was flavorful and well prepared, and the brownie was absolutely phenomenal! The sign out front says "best brownies ever (no really)" and I gotta say, it lived up to the hype. The staff were also incredibly kind and helpful, taking only 5ish minutes for me to get my food.

Great panini shop in Astoria! We've been here twice and they have always been great with service and food. We really like the taste of their food. You really can't go wrong with any of the pressed paninis. I would recommend the El Porko Royals as well as the Piggie Smalls, both of which the server recommended as well. You only get the panini with your order, and have to get sides separately. Parking is often difficult because it's all street parking and it's hard to come across an open spot. But it's worth the effort!

Super nice staff and tasty food. Would definitely come back. Backyard seating is also available. I got the sweet sausage with spicy jam. A good combination of flavors and a side of fries. Perfectly crispy.

Oh bambino, you've been a steady presence in my life for years. You rarely disappoint, and lately the specials you have posted to instagram have been fire. This cajun roasted pork panini is one of those specials that had me running out of my apartment as soon as it was posted and had me saying "they still got it" after the first bite. Pro tip : You can buy their wonderful aiolis and mayonnaises. Their lawless spicy mayo being my absolute favorite.

Creative paninis. Out of this world desserts. Fun decor (handwritten recipe "wallpaper").

They've got really good Paninis and an awesome outdoor spot. I recommend coming during brunch time. I thought it would be busy but I was actually able to get seated outside by the way and it was a beautiful day. On top of being a lovely spot, the service is also lovely. Overall, this place is definitely worth your time if you were already on yelp considering going lol

Just delicious!!! Street parking, seating outside, exceptional service! Ever time in NY, we always stop by!

SUCH a cute gem in Astoria. This is one of the best panini places I've been to in nyc. The portions are HUGE and I was full for lunch and dinner after sharing two paninis with one other person. There is a nice back yard that is outdoor in the summer that they also use.

I ordered the Sir Oink-a-Lot panini from the brunch menu to-go. It had scrambled eggs, sausage, cheese, chips, and a maple bacon spread. The maple bacon spread was a great touch and gave the sandwich the brunch-y taste I was looking for. Overall it tasted really nice and it wasn't too salty, which I was afraid of! It was also very filling. Il Bambino is a little on the pricier side but worth trying if you're in the area. The brunch menu is very pork-based but there are a few meatless options. The people who work there are friendly.

I needed lunch and I needed it fast. That's when I stumbled on Il Bambino. A cute little cafe away from the hustle and bustle of Steinway. When I walked in (with foggy glasses) I was greeted by the staff behind the counter. Not knowing what exactly I wanted I engaged in a conversation with the host/server and she was very helpful with her recommendations. After careful consideration of the menu I landed on a crostini with rosemary ricotta cheese, tomato and olive spread. I did not stop there. I also ordered a panini with prosciutto, mozzarella, arugula and olive spread (yes I love my olive spread). I dined in so after showing my vax card, I sat in the dining area and waited for my food. The back has a cute small seating area. Some of the walls had photos while one wall has a bunch of handwritten recipes which look to be done by kids from a local school. How cute is this? Water was brought to my table and shortly after my crostini. Omg was it delish. The ricotta was smooth, the tomato fresh and the olive spread was perfection. Not long after my panini came and boy was it good! Between the friendly service and the amazing food, I feel like I might be a frequent diner get. And on my next visit, I'll need to see if they really have the best brownie ever, as advertised. I definitely need to be the judge of that.

Got the Basil Pesto and Speck recently for breakfast. Its so good and very delicious. The flavor is good and has a well-balanced flavor. I like the fresh taste of the sandwich and the smell of it, so addicting. Overwhelming selection of Panini sandwiches. Different flavors and the packed of filling as well. Wonderful atmosphere inside, and has a good setting. I like coming there. The service is amazing and friendly staff.

Lemme just say I fucking love paninis and when I saw the list of paninis they had I knew I was doing something right. It's not none of those fake" paninis" where it's just a sad flat sandwich it's the real deal. I ordered the cuban but I'll be back.

I always wanted to go here and I finally did and it did not disappoint. The paninis' were amazing, some of the best I ever had. We got the Love Handles and Piggie Smalls and they both had a unique flavor that blended amazingly well. Can't wait to go again!

I never thought a panini could change my life but HOT DAMN BAMBINO ya did me dirty, in the best possible way. Came for brunch and had the Notorious PIG. Perfection. Every bit of it. I also asked for the chili hot sauce on the side and it just added to the overall epicness of the meal. Side note, their baby string bean appetizer may sound weird, but it was amazing. Don't knock it till you try it. They offer flavors for their mimosas - regular, passion fruit, and guava. I had guava and it was delicious. Cannot wait to come back and try more paninis.

I'm seriously kicking myself because for the last 4 years living down the street I've held off eating from this place out of laziness despite everyone raving about it. I give it 5 stars because since I've had it the first time, I'll find myself getting a panini from here every other week. The Cubano is my favorite! The best part about the paninis is that they are hearty and leave you full. Please don't make the same mistake I made and come here ASAP!

Always a pleasure to eat or order from here (on the app- Caviar) . I always get the baby string beans with Parmesan. Also the Italian meatloaf panini is excellent. The ambiance of the restaurant is quaint and comfortable. The outside back garden is nice and the servers are personable and professional. Five stars.

Great sandwiches that use fresh ingredients! Perfect for a lunch. The restaurant is a bit small, so I personally would go with a big group. It's better for a one-to-one lunch.

Oh how I love the bambino! Adorable atmosphere great good especially the paninis I love the outdoor section, perfect spot for lunch or a date

Food wasn't great. Service was really slow and sometimes completely absent. The outdoor seating is really nice. Maybe I'll go back and try another dish when I have a lot of time on my hands because the atmosphere is really nice.

Nice outdoor dining. Food is tasty! Would recommend. Go to IL BAMBINO tasty food. :).

I checked them out on Instagram to see what panini flavors they have. Saw something they posted and it looked so good. Needless to say, what I got was nothing like the pictures they post on Instagram... but it was still very tasty. They didn't have Senor P on the menu when I went but I told the staff what kind of ingredients I wanted and she suggested making Senor P. I can't remember what exactly was in there but I believe it was chicken, red pepper, cheese, and their special sauce. The panini was definitely big enough for two meals. Would come back again to try more panini and crostini! Very convenient takeout meal

Il Bambino was a great experience. I tried the tomato soup and the Italian meatloaf panini. The star of the show was the tomato soup, which came with a delicious piece of toasted bread smeared with pesto. I can honestly say that's the best tomato soup I ever had! The Italian meatloaf tasted just as expected. It was like a cheeseburger with tomato pesto- delicious as well. Service was quick and the food was amazing and I'd lightly recommend to someone else!

A local gem with creative delicious panini and excellent apps. Lovely back garden! I like the charred broccoli panini myself.

Wow. Must of been the best panini --I've ever ate! I ordered their notorious PIG = bacon, egg, cheese + truffle. It's was crunchy, tasty and ohhh so good. The fillings were Perfectly proportioned. Just enough ooze for the breakfast sandwich. I only ate half so it's good enough to be split- if you want to try their other sandwiches. Will definitely come Back for more.

Il Bambino has a really wonderful staff, lots of dining space, and reasonable prices. Unfortunately, the paninis have never been up to par for an Italian spot in the city. I hear good things about the brownies!

Went on a Thursday night and it was fairly empty, but the food is amazing. I assume it's more of a grab and go place since they specialize in paninis. The outside dining looks cute, but it was a bit chilly when we went, so we opted to sit indoors. The sandwiches are very filling and delicious. I can't believe this was only my first time here as I always pass by, but finally made the stop.

I haven't had a panini in many years, and even then, it was not an authentic one - it was from a bagel shop. I decided to try something new in town and placed a take out order for the Italian meatloaf panini and a brownie. Both were excellent! The panini has such great texture and its contents were very savory. The brownie was also quite delicious and huge! I will definitely have to dine in one day for the full experience but I was impressed!

Cuisine: 6 Service: 7 Decor: 7 Value: 7 Overall: 7 Once upon a time, there was this unique little shop serving crostini and panini that made me travel far distances without a blink of an eye. Now, that place no longer exists. In its place is a store by the same name, but the food is nothing like I remembered. It wasn't bad, just nothing special. Most of the crostini we ordered were just average, with a touch of truffle. Should have skipped the weekend brunch paninis and ordered more of their classics like Porchetta or Roasted Mushrooms. On a high note, still the same great Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate. I'll be back to give them another chance simply because I need this drink in my life.

Il Bambino is a neighborhood staple! Delicious food, friendly staff, reasonable prices. Delivery is great and dining in the garden is awesome too! Love this spot!

I placed a rather large order on Mothers Day and all was excellent. The lady on the phone was so helpful and pleasant to speak to. All were friendly during pick up also. We all enjoyed our food! Highlights-Truffle potato salad, My boyfriend is a pig and big smokie.

Picked up food from here and had a picnic at Astoria Park. So perfect!! Such delicious sandwiches. You really can't go wrong at this place. The brownie is great!

Incredible sammies! I always love the mushroom paninis and the charming ambiance and quick service are always a delight!

Amazing veggie sandwiches and lovely service. I love the vibe when it's not busy, but it can get crowded and claustrophobic on the weekends - A small price to pay for a great place!