La Perla Nascosta

La Perla nascosta reminds me of a classic Italian restaurant I used to go to in brooklyn when I was younger. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. The service is incredible and the food is delicious! We tried the fried calamari, artichokes, meatball pasta, and broccoli rabe sausage pasta. They were all phenomenal dishes! I cannot wait to return soon. What a lovely place! I did not get a picture of the chocolate mousse for dessert because we dug right in. It was so rich and delightful!

Italian Food Near the American Museum of Natural History
This new Italian spot on West 79th Street is tasty and affordable. The pasta with rich sauces is so good. 🍞 Complimentary starter bread + chili-flaked olive oil
The bread comes topped with herbs and salt, fresh out of the oven. It’s delicious even on its own. 🦐 Appetizer: Baked Clams & Shrimp 
The breadcrumbs on top of the clams soak up all the briny clam flavor and the acidity of the sauce. The shrimp is great with the sauce too. Toward the end, we started dipping the starter bread directly into the sauce. For mains, we ordered three pastas— all handmade, soft yet chewy: 🍝 Tagliatelle Carbonara 
The pancetta flavor really shines, and every strand of pasta is coated in a rich, creamy sauce. If you love thick, rich sauces, this is a must-order. 🍝 Cortecce Pesto 
Pesto shrimp pasta with a super fragrant pine nut and basil flavor. Lots of sauce, very satisfying. 🍝 Tagliatelle Meatballs 
A classic meatball tomato pasta. It comes with two huge meatballs, perfectly seasoned. The meatballs are so big that you can get a bite of meat with every forkful of pasta. Personal ranking: Carbonara > Pesto > Tagliatelle Meatballs.
The carbonara is honestly one of the best I’ve ever had. The meatball pasta is also tasty—just not as stunning as the first two. The total came out to about $30 per person (after tax and tip) for four people, and we still had leftovers.

I tried the spinach ravioli, bruschetta, and fried calamari — everything was delicious! The spinach ravioli was perfectly cooked, filled with creamy and spinach, and the sauce was rich and flavorful. The bruschetta was fresh and vibrant with just the right amount of garlic and olive oil. The calamari was crispy on the outside, tender inside, and not greasy at all. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and the staff were super friendly and attentive. For a new opening, they’re already doing an excellent job — I’ll definitely be back soon!

Just had the seafood plate at this brand-new spot on the Upper West Side and… wow. If you’re into mussels, clams, shrimp, and all that good stuff, this dish is a must. Everything was super fresh, cooked just right, and the broth had that perfect garlicky, herby kick that makes you want to grab a piece of bread and soak up every last drop. The place just opened, but it already feels like it’s going to be one of those neighborhood favorites. Cozy vibe, friendly staff, and you can tell they care about what’s coming out of the kitchen. Definitely planning to come back and next time, I’m bringing friends.

5 stars easily. The food was amazing — everything tasted fresh and homemade. The meatballs were rich and cheesy, the desserts were perfect (especially the chocolate mousse and cheesecake), and the service was super friendly. Cozy atmosphere, great vibe. I’ll definitely be back.

If you’re looking for authentic Italian cuisine, this restaurant is a gem. Every dish we tried was incredible — from the creamy burrata appetizer to the perfectly al dente penne alla vodka . You can tell everything is made with care and high-quality ingredients. The chef clearly knows what he’s doing. Highly recommend!

If you’re craving Italian on the Upper West Side, this place hits the spot. The vibe is cozy without trying too hard—perfect for a weeknight dinner or a relaxed date night. The pasta tastes fresh and homemade, with just the right balance of flavor (the kind that makes you want to mop up every last drop of sauce with bread). Service is friendly and laid-back, which adds to the neighborhood feel. It’s not overly fancy, but that’s the charm—you get solid Italian comfort food without the fuss. Prices are reasonable for the area, and portions are generous enough that you’ll probably leave with leftovers. Overall, it’s the kind of restaurant you’ll find yourself coming back to when you want a reliable, satisfying Italian meal close to home.

The food here is absolutely amazing — every dish is full of flavor, and the eggplant is honestly the best I’ve ever had. The place feels warm and cozy, with a welcoming atmosphere that makes you want to stay longer. The staff are friendly, attentive, and make you feel right at home. Highly recommend this spot for anyone who loves delicious food and great vibes!

Awesome classic Italian restaurant & service. Highly recommend the calamari. Great addition to the UWS!

They are the new Upper Westside hidden Italian gem -- Tucked away in the heart at 206 West 79Th Street just off Amsterdam Avenue you will find a warmth of a true Italian family home style of "La Perla Nascosta"--the Italian hidden pearl captures the timeless beauty and rich flavours of Northern Italy. Tonight I had the RED SNAPPER LIVORNESE covered with light cherry tomato sauce, onions, capers, black olives served with asparagus was tonights deliciousness! This time to enjoy a quiet dinner amongst the local upper westsiders neighbors is Sunday night through Thursday..... is the best time to go, as of right now. Friday and Saturday can be extremely busy with the people who have recognized this hidden gem! Now that the holiday season is kicking in, I recommend reservations. The restaurant does not have a liquor license yet and should have it by the holiday time. Meantime, bring your own bottle of wine from home or from the wine store down the street at Broadway and West 79Th St.

This is a cute and cosy new place in a quiet location off of Amsterdam Avenue. There were a number of families there but this would also be a good choice in the neighborhood for a couples date. The food was delicious. The pizzas were solid for a restaurant that just opened serval weeks ago. The Chicken Milanese and Chicken Francese were excellent. Save room for dessert as well. The apple pie was excellent. Highly recommended!

Best new find. Old school style Italian cuisine. The flavors were spot on like "Nonna" would make. The right balance of sweet, garlic, and tartness on red sauce dishes. Generous portions for the price was another plus. The servers and manager were attentive and made you feel like you are a regular even though they just opened recently.

This is a newly opened restaurant in the space that housed Coppola West- a restaurant i frequented a lot. The food here is really good and the prices are less than what you'd expect in the city, but that's maybe because they're new and trying to build a clientele. The service was very attentive. We didn't care that they don't yet have their liquor license but some patrons might. We will definitely be going back.

Just dined here and we are extremely satisfied. It's a small place that just reopened under new management, according to our waiter. Food tasted amazing. My wife got the penne à la vodka with chicken and I got the lamb shank. Great presentation too. Service was good - the waiter paid attention to us and was cordial. Definitely a place to go back to.

Charming little spot across from our hotel that was able to take us on a Saturday night. Great personable and attentive staff and very good food. We didn't have anything but salads and an appetizer this time due to the lateness of the hour but the rest of the food looked great and I'd definitely go back. As others have noted they don't yet have a liquor license so you cannot even bring your own bottle in yet but apparently that shifts at the end of the month.

So I totally understand that they do not have there liquor license yet even though I was dying for a glass of wine..Poor me LOL This has to be one of the worst meals I have ever had on the upper west side.My friend and I love our dinners out and we love to support new places but Never has a meal disappointed us .I hope they catch this mistake and invite knowledgeable chiefs into there kitchen To catch the problem. Good luck.

This is a hidden gem. I had the Veal Parmesan and the serving was HUGE! It was delicious. I highly recommend this place. Service was great. A quaint atmosphere. It is across the street from the Lucerne Hotel. Check it out!!

Adorable new spot on the upper West side. Wonderful service. Good food. Cute ambience. They are still awaiting their liquor license. Portion sizes were excellent, which is why I'm giving it a five. I was going between a four star or five star rating, but the food was good and the portion size was excellent so going with a five. We ordered the calamari and pizza. Calamari was excellent! The pizza was very good, but in an area where there is a lot of of excellent artisan pizza, I don't think it was the absolute best. Hope to see this adorable spot do well!

So to begin with this is day five of the restaurant the atmosphere is just lovely. Very warm and inviting. We decided to try it because we live on 78th St. and was hoping there would be a fabulous Italian restaurant within walking distance. We were not disappointed. The owner is very pleasant and accommodating. We started with the garlic bread, fantastic both my husband and I were shocked when we bit into it to taste how delicious it was. The veal parmigiana was outstanding. The portion more than plentiful and excellent value as well. My husband had the Lamb Shank. He said lovely sauce and very tender. He's a man of few words yet devoured his entire meal! We had a lovely talk with the owner, who told us all about his desire to open a new restaurant as he has two other very successful coffee/pastry shops called Rex in the city. And the server was as pleasant and accommodating as could be, we will definitely be returning. OMG just had the tiramisu and chocolate mousse cakes! Delicious! Wonderful subtle flavors; neither overpowering! They were both fantastic!!!

We ordered Caesar salad, calamari, and lasagna (multiple entrees) to go via Uber Eats from this restaurant last week. The food was great! Very tasty, fresh, at the right temperature. Surprised at the high-quality and yumminess. We will definitely eat here again, hopefully inside the restaurant.

Excellent risotto and Caesar salad. Nice bread. Good service. They just recently opened so didn't have a liquor license but soon will.