Manducatis

The foods were all very underwhelming, the lasagna noodle was way too soft and sauce watery. Also tried the Spaghetti Carbonara which tastes very porky and the daily special (spaghetti with tomato and asparagus) had no taste at all (we suspect they did not add salt). The linguine with white wine clam sauce was probably the best one but still lacked layers in its flavor.

I recommend the octopus heavily. Get one and then when you're stunned get a second. From the pastas the lasagna has good meatiness and the manicotti balances cheese and pasta and red sauce well. For those and for the tremendous octopus they deserve four stars. To ding them a little bit, because I've made these dishes too, the Bolognese is too thin and not deep in flavor. I think it's missing salt and maybe wine and maybe time. The gnocchi pasta is great but the tomato sauce used does not stick. Still, go. Go go go. Get the octopus and the lasagna.

The place looks and feels like an old fashioned Italian restaurant (which is a great thing). We shared the Baked Clams and the Sauteed Mussels. Both were very good starters. I had the Chicken alla Parmigiana for my entree and I thought it was excellent. For dessert, we shared the Homemade Tiramisù (since they only had one slice left). It was one of the best tiramisu that I've had in a long time. Service was very good. The owner, Ida, walked by and chatted with us for a few minutes. Her son was our waiter and he was very friendly. Everyone in our group agreed that the restaurant was fantastic!

This place is amazing! A true family owned, family run restaurant, and it shows. The atmosphere and ambience were surpassed only by the service, and multiple members of the family were gracious enough to give us the story behind the restaurant. If you want authentic Italian food, look no further.

Felt like I was at a family members house for dinner. This place is deceptively spacious. There are three dining rooms and a front bar area. We were seated in the 2nd dining room and greeted with menus which were single page which I like because it usually means everything on there will be good. Def get the calamari. The red sauce it comes w is poppin. I could live w/o the stuffed mushrooms next time. The veal parm was quality. The manicotti was better than the lasagna. Stay for the desert. I’m getting tiramisu for take out on the regular now and it was like $8. Thanks manducatis. I’ll be back for sure

Old school, New York Italian. As original as it gets. Foods great, classic interior. Family-run restaurant. It's like eating in your grandma's lovely dinning room. The price is very reasonable.

Such a hidden gem. One of the best Italian foods I’ve ever. Cozy, historic atmosphere. Welcoming, knowledgeable and very professional staffs. Food took awhile to come but i promise it’s all worth it!!! Best pork chop and cheesecake ever. We had such a good time! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

I have been coming to this restaurant for over 20 years, I must say the food is excellent. It's not your trendy Italian restaurant du jour, it's more than that. The staff makes you feel you are part of the family. They have an extraordinary well curated wine list. Their pastas are always fresh and well executed. I personally like the calamari salad, it's my favorite, it's always fresh and tasty. Their eggplant rolletini is to die for, and their Veil radicchio (for those in the known) is also exquisite.

Hello, excellent food and service. Very warm atmosphere, great staff and service. The best cheesecake we have ever had! Would definitely recommend this restaurant.

Went with my wife on Valentine's Day to Manducatis, which we remembered fondly from early dates together in the 1990s. Sure enough, the rec room decor and indifferent service haven't changed a bit, nor the lighting which is as bright as a McDonalds (no candles) and the 1970s music. That was all as expected, and in its old-school Brooklyn/Queens attitude, authentically charming. But the food was a huge disappointment, like something served at a senior citizen birthday party. My veal parmigiana tasted like it had been fried in the same oil used to fry fish-- not an exaggeration. The stuffed mushrooms were oily. There were literally no greens of any kind on the menu (maybe a condensed Valentines Day menu?) The side pasta was slimy and the sauce watery, like out of a can. The $52 bottle of Nebbiolo was what you'd expect from a $12 bargain bin. Sorry, I can't recommend this place except as a kind of time capsule-- which considering how much the neighborhood has changed might have a certain value for newcomers.

Food is great. Service is terrific. Real home cooking. Very flavorful and prepared just right

We made reservations, but this place is huge inside, so it is not necessary to make one. This is a nice family owned restaurant, and it has been in the community since the late 1970s. All these awards and recognitions are posted all over the restaurant, so I'm glad that we were able to go there. The service was great and friendly, and it had a family type atmosphere. The chicken parm & shrimp and peas over capellini were good. Nothing too over the top. The desserts were great and not too heavy for me to eat after a meal. Overall, I enjoyed the food, and I'm glad that I was able to check it out.

The place looks and feels like an old fashioned Italian restaurant (which is a great thing). We shared the Baked Clams and the Sauteed Mussels. Both were very good starters. I had the Chicken alla Parmigiana for my entree and I thought it was excellent. For dessert, we shared the Homemade Tiramisù (since they only had one slice left). It was one of the best tiramisu that I've had in a long time. Service was very good. The owner, Ida, walked by and chatted with us for a few minutes. Her son was our waiter and he was very friendly. Everyone in our group agreed that the restaurant was fantastic!

I have eaten at Manducati's thrice, all for business purposes. I would recommend it for what it is, a reliable, old school Italian restaurant. When you walk in, it looks as if you are in somebody's basement. There is a stuffed animal sheep, full size, and decor as if people were living in a middle class suburban home above the space. That is "character." The dining room is conventional, probably as it was fifty years ago. The first time, we had a group. People ordered cocktails. They were refreshing. We also shared appetizers. I cannot recall exactly what I ate, but I can say it was satisfying. We were loud and stayed a long time. Nobody minded that. The last time, it was just two of us. I had the fluke, lightly breaded, with the side of green beans. I was hungry. I was eyeing the paste. I was informed I could have a half order. That was perfect. I had enough fluke left over for a nice sandwich, with cheese, the next day. The service was brisk. The prices are fair. All in all, you could not do much better and you could do much worse. I would not hesitate to dine at Manducati's, including on my own dime.

Walked in around 6:30 on a Saturday and got a table right away. My boyfriend and I shared the baked clams, eggplant parmigiana, calamari salad and zucchini (special). The calamari and zucchini were both fantastic, but the eggplant tasted off - totally not good. Baked clams were alright. 3.5 stars.

A group of colleagues and I dined at a local restaurant to celebrate Staff Appreciation Day. The atmosphere was perfect for our gathering.

Don't be mistaken! It may look like a normal house door, but inside is a massive restaurant!! Such wonderful interior and yummy pastas , I would def go again for some homey cooked Italian fare

My first time dining at Manducatis, and I wasn't impressed. Manducatis is a very large restaurant that appears to be stuck in the 1970's. It attracts a mostly mature audience, and plays a 1960's soundtrack. We were a party of four that drank a lot of wine, and sampled a lot of food. Wine's by the glass were expensive, but not very good. A special of Zucchini with a Balsamic glaze was good, but the special pasta Fra Diavolo was not. The seafood was all overcooked, and the sauce a bit bland. Everybody thought there was nothing special about our dinner except the bill. $390 for a party of four. I guess that there is no shortage of money in Long Island City.

One of the best hidden gems I've ever come across. This place evokes memories of an Italian childhood, with a huge, old school brick interior and little touches that truly make you forget you're in the city and not in your grandfather's house. To top it off, incredibly attentive and knowledgeable staff who are always ready with a recommendation especially for wine wait on you. We sampled a few vintage bottles from the hidden menu and these were incredible. For food, I tried their special: spinach pasta with olives, capers, and red sauce. The pasta was homemade and unlike any other I've had in a good way! The sauce was a little watery but this is the sort of place where you question your own taste over the chef's. A bite of tiramisu to end a great night rounded out the experience. The owners grew up in Italy and I can't wait to take my family here and enjoy a night at the bar.

Excellent old school Italian restaurant, even down to the decor . We started with the cold antipasto, baked clams and thd best fried calamari I've had in a long time. Server went above and beyond with his knowledge of the wines , recommending a fine red explaining the grapes used. Main course wax chicken alla parmigiana with fresh pasta and the steak pizzaola with broccoli rabe -both plate lickin good! I usually avoid desserts but couldn't resist the tiramisu or the pistachio tartufo. Bottom line Italian food the way it was meant to be !!

We've been coming to Manducatis for over twenty five years. We love the family run restaurant. You can find mama Ida in the kitchen every evening. She may take a break here and there, sitting in the shadows of the other room. Then she would be off to the kitchen. We love the classic Martini's and the wine selection is also plentiful. The service is on point and we just can't stop coming here.

Great service and Excellent Italian food and wine !! We always go for dinner and we are always happy to dine at Rustica !!

Anthony is wonderful. What a great restaurant. Don't miss this place. They are so friendly and kind. Really glad we stumbled on it.

This is an old school, NYC Italian family run restaurant. If you grew up on outer borough cheesy-saucy Italian food, well iykyk.

A very comfortable place for excellent food. Servers are nice too. Great fish and pasta dishes.

We meant to try this place for quite a long time since we moved to LIC and this past weekend we finally had dinner here. We thought it's a small place when peeking thought the windows from the outside. However we were pleasantly surprised when the waiter led us through two rooms into the charming dining room, which has really nice ambiance with the exposed brick and stone wall. The service was absolutely attentive. We had the fried calamari for appetizer, it was lightly breaded and very tasty. We ordered our entrees (seafood pasta, and pork dish) from the special of the day. Big portion and delicious on the pasta, and the pork was tasty, tender and not dry. We really enjoyed the food and will definitely come back again.

Please see my review (Rob E.....above) from 11/3/23. We went back today (about 45 days or so later, 12/20/23) for a late lunch/early dinner (after noon during mid-week. We couldn't WAIT to get back there, and were so happy we visited again for another fabulous meal. Wound up sitting at the same comfy table among the plethora of tables available (MDC's had just opened for the day). There were a couple of other tables nearby with people having fun and enjoying their meals. Not noisy at all, though, and, as it was the last time: warm and comfy inside. We were also lucky enough to procure street/metered parking across the street (not easy to do in LIC at lunch time, but we were fortunate in that regard last month, as well). We settled in. Just soda and water to drink for us (no wine this time). I ordered the hot fish antipasto (a FULL meal in itself! Lots of tasty and briny seafood: shrimp, scungilli, mussels, shrimp, etc in a delicious, somewhat spicy sauce PERFECT for dipping the tasty,crusty bread into), and the Veal alla Parmigiana (the same main dish I had last month, and one I couldn't WAIT to sink my teeth and taste buds into again....and once again it was the best VAP I've ever eaten). The VAP came with side of brocolli (the broccoli could have been warmer, but it WAS tasty and slightly buttery). A fine side dish. My wife ordered the Eggplant Rollettini as an appetizer/antipasta: lovely, cheesy, tasty! And since she loved HER main dish last month as well, she once again ordered the Spaghetti Carbonara. Again, no surprise: it was beyond delicious (I can conifrm!). For dessert, we ordered TWO helpings of biscotti and we each had a rich cappucino (which made for some delicious dipping). The biscotti, although cool temperature-wise, was LARGE, fresh, and even more delicious once dipped in the cappucino. We were able to take a LOT of the main course and the biscotti home (so really, what we ordered will have wound up being enough, as it was last month, for TWO full meals for each of us: today and the leftovers re-heated tomorrow!) It wasn't inexpensive, but par for the course around the neighborhood nowadays. But again: it was enough for TWO meals EACH. A heart-warming, superb meal; from appetizer through dessert. We were once again served by the affable son, Vincent, who remembered where we sat, what we ordered last time, and other details we shared with him...even though we'd only been here once previously. No wonder the regulars love it here. I wish I'd discovered this restaurant years ago. I'd have been a regular much earlier!

Great service. Old school cooking. Nice ambiance. Everything was Delicious. Loved it. Will be back.

Wonderful service. Delicious traditional dishes and some creative pasta specials. We had cod, veal and the pork special. Just lovely. A fave in LIC.

This is a hidden treasure in Long Island City, in Queens. The owner is an alumnus of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program which taught her good business practices and helped her make great decisions to help her business grow. The interior is very welcoming, eclectic, and warm/inviting. There is a darling patio for outside dining with fountains and privacy. But the crowning glory is the food. The owner is also the chef, and she is very talented. Her sauces are well paired with the proteins, are multi dimensional and are just delicious. If you are up for EXCELLENT Italian food, find your way to Manducatis Rustica! You will not be disappointed and you will remember this outstanding restaurant forever.

It's 5PM on a Saturday, they wanted to seat us next to a table of 10 ppl, 4 kids screaming and running around the table. I asked if we could be seated across the room and the maitre'd said "You don't have to stay" - what kind of answer is that?? We're going to spend $150 to sit next to screaming children running crazy? We stayed because it was snowing and we had a parking spot. Food is below average. Many other places to spend your hard earned dollars.

I first heard of this from the many mentions of this restaurant on Zagat. I finally went with a few friends and we were all happy with our dinner. The restaurant has been open for 41 years and it was like a well oiled machine. The decor was really nice, the outside doesn't really have the most appealing storefront but don't let the outside deter you from visiting. Also, the service here was friendly and top notch, thank you for all the stories. The food: Octopus and Asparagus Special- Omg was the octopus excellent, the octopus was super tender and I loved the garlic flavor. The portion was a tad small but the dish had so much flavor and the asparagus was cooked nicely. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=OngdqYyM3Y6z7vkgcqIsUg&userid=Y_iTTjKvV5hLy-880SZzlA Eggplant Rollettini- The was good, it was nice and tender eggplant and the cheese had good flavor and added a nice chew but I did wish the sauce had some more flavor. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=LWYBIPgya8XEo-SKjYOE8g&userid=Y_iTTjKvV5hLy-880SZzlA Steak Pizzaiola- This was easily my fav item of the night. I loved the steak and the tomatoes, this was kinda a surprise because I wouldn't normally associate steak with tomatoes but it went together perfectly. The tomatoes were so perfectly sweet. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=G42X-8I4X9PjsBAHOsANNg&userid=Y_iTTjKvV5hLy-880SZzlA Salmon- The salmon was so tender, so light and packed so much flavor. I enjoyed the tomatoes, capers and garlic, as well. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=N2l78395EUdOc1DDerY_LQ&userid=Y_iTTjKvV5hLy-880SZzlA Roast Suckling Pig Special- I enjoyed the flavor on this but I did wish there was some kind of texture on the skin since it wasn't soft. Overall, it was good but it would have been amazing if the skin was crunchy. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=eH4yst-yWDLPo1iwg4LaMQ&userid=Y_iTTjKvV5hLy-880SZzlA Scallop Pasta- This was the dish I thought was going to be the easy favorite but turned out to be my least favorite. I enjoyed the scallops since they were nice and fresh but the pasta came off very bland to me. I also thought the pasta come off on the heavy side. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=vg8OnQpnFhqldz0wJ0N5uw&userid=Y_iTTjKvV5hLy-880SZzlA Broccoli Rabe- The waiter asked if we wanted rabe and cabbage for the table and wow were they both really good, the rabe was not too bitter and it was perfectly tender. Cabbage- This was really good, it was nice and sweet with really good flavor. Italian Cheesecake- I thought the cheesecake was just OK, I thought it could use some better texture and I thought it came off dry. Cannoli- I thought the cannoli was just OK, the shell could have been fresher.

This is a review Manducatis doesn't need. Manducatis cares not for your social medias - your Instagram influencers, your Yelp reviews, your Google reviews, etc... Manducatis does not advertise. It has been on this same corner since Christmas Day, 1977 doing what it does - serving up excellent, classic Italian dishes while making you feel right at home. Their legend built by happy customers' word of mouth. I will tell you it doesn't hurt when the words are coming out of the mouth of legendary singer and Queens native Tony Bennett in the form of a tweet "Manducatis in NYC is the most authentic italian restaurant in the US. I love it!". I mean, c'mon! Does it get any better? What could I possibly add? I love that this place exists and hopefully continues to exist for a long time. It is a conduit to a LIC of the past before the giants moved in when it was a working class neighborhood in the shadow of Manhattan. The wait staff will tell you stories of the history, show you old photos all while directing you to an excellent bottle of wine and some amazing food. I loved all I tried - grilled octopus, eggplant rollatini, steak pizzaiola, roast suckling pig, scallops over linguine, salmon with the humble sides of cabbage and broccoli rabe nearly overshadowing the mains. We did specials, but the menu consists of well known classics - I doubt you could go wrong with anything you order. I was not crazy about the cannolis for dessert - I would pass on this. If you've never been, do yourself a favor and go because you will feel relaxed overlooking that warming fireplace as the Manducatis family takes care of all you need! BONUS HISTORY: My mom, a LIC native, lived here before Manducatis and tells me this corner used to house Spetmann's - a local bar.

The food was excellent, the service friendly and professional, and there was a wood burning fireplace that was made everything absolutely charming.

I felt like Italian. Very nice atmosphere and service. Reasonable prices. Recommended for good southern Italian Long Island city.

This is your classic red sauce Italian American restaurant that can be hard to find in NYC. The place is still family run, which you can really feel from the moment you step inside the unassuming building off Jackson Ave. We ordered a bunch of classics, including calamari, Chicken parm, Chicken French, Shrimp French, and eggplant parm. Everything was good to great, but the service was especially welcoming that I have to give 5 stars. They even provided a piece of tiramisu and a picture for the birthday girl (over 90 years old), which was a special touch to commemorate the day. We had a great experience here and know you will too!

I walked through the doors and felt like I had journeyed back in time. growing up in Baltimore there was a vibrant Little Italy with a rich tradition of wonderful food. I felt at home in this wonderful restaurant. Definitely a family restaurant that was established by the grandparents. Anthony the dad expertly guided us through the delightful menu. we were waited on by son Vincent. he told us his Dad asked him to help out on a Valentines Day when he was 16 and he never left. That family bond is apparent in the food and the feeling of welcome! don't miss this neighborhood treasure!

Ok pppppl Italian old school. Steak pizzialo, and a very formal table service that has been trained exceptionally well. Everything about this is like nonna's kitchen.

Waiter was son of the owner I arrived when it opened at five. My wife and I ordered the chicken parm and homemade spinach pasta. The salad , chicken parm and veggies were good. But the pasta was mushy and bland. We told the waiter Anthony. He seemed perplexed and and did not agree. His mother is the chef but there are others assisting her preparing the food. He told me I can't tell her you didn't like the pasta She would get very upset . He was .upset that we had the nerve to complain. When the dishes were picked up half of the pasta was still in the plate. No offer of another dish , refund and even a gesture of dessert on the house. My wife is a terrific chef but will admit when something didn't come out as expected. Update. Disputed charges. He lied and said all pasta consumed. Told my friend who recommended this restaurant. He won't return. Will now spread word of my experience and cheap owners

A fine establishment. The owner is welcoming and friendly while the food is delectable. It is one of those secret gems hidden in the city.

Best chicken parm ever. Love the old school Italian vibe, friendly staff, nice sized portions. Will definitely be returning.

Great food. Right sized portions. Family friendly. They were accommodating and the meatball parme was amazing. They had daily specials on the weekend. Everyone was taken care of.

Authentic and delicious Italian. Met friends here for a relaxing dinner- highly recommend

We had the pleasure of dining at this family-run Italian restaurant in LIC, and let me tell you, it's definitely worth the visit! We had the Eggplant Rolletini to start with, then for our main dishes, I had the spaghetti carbonara, and my boyfriend had the chicken alla parmigiana (not pictured: a side of penne pasta that comes with the chicken). For dessert, we had the vanilla and chocolate tartufo. Everything was delicious, authentic cuisine. After chatting with Anthony, the owner and our waiter that night, we found out that his 81-year-old mother is the chef! How amazing is that! Can't wait to go back to the Cerbone Family's restaurant for another homemade Italian meal.

This is my favorite Italian restaurant. It makes me feel like I sent back to a Italy or home with family. It's intimate and one of the longest running restaurants in Queens. Definitely recommend.

This restaurant is amazing!! Service is wonderful and the waiters are super friendly !! The food is great and the atmosphere is calm and intimate!! All and all a 5 star restaurant to me!

Hidden neighborhood gem! Step into this lovely Italian restaurant and you are immediately immersed in an experience, not just a restaurant. The decor reminds me of a comfortable, warm, family home. The staff is friendly and the food is consistently delicious and hearty.

Simply the best, I've never had anything here that wasn't top tier. If you're familiar with good Italian food, you'll recognize it here.

Gotta love this place As a old school as they come Hands down some of the best Italian NYC has to offer This is a regular after meeting dinner place for a group of us and Manducatis never disappoints Huge portions Great service

Shared delicious pizza with prosciutto and mushrooms, salad and calamari. No room for entree!

If you ever want to feel part of an italian family you've secretly never had - please come here. Drapes older than your DOB? You can find that here. The nonna that overfeeds you? You can find that here. Waiting for the best meal of your week while starving and having it be completely worth it? You can find that here. Did I mention that you can find your boyfriends nonna's old neighbors grandson's from Frozinone here? Yea you can. It's a one a kind place and if you know - you know. Any wine at all will do the trick - they dont offer anything less than expectational. I had the shrimp parmagiano and it was absolutely wild - the best ive ever had. I need to go back asap. I love Manducatis - totally lives up the secrecy?

This place for many might not look like much from the outside, but is very comfortable, clean and has the look of an authentic Italian place. It is family owned and I feel good putting my money in a person's pocket instead of into a corporation's. We were able to talk to the owner whose father was the founder of the restaurant 40+ years ago! The food is excellent! The homemade pastas are delicious! We are visiting NYC and this is a place we will come back to anytime we visit here again.. sorry we didn't even remember to take pictures!

Love this place. Wonderful, charming old-school family run establishment, and the food is always great. Started coming here years ago, and one of the first places we dined when we moved to LIC 14 years ago. We no longer live in LIC but our visit last night reminded my wife and me how much we enjoy this place.

I came here with my wife on Friday night 2/18/2022 for a few-days-late Valentine's Day meal. I had the veal parmigiana. she had the veal piccata. We shared the Octopus / Asparagus appetizer. Everything was done right and delicious. the atmosphere was excellent, very homey, quiet. The service, too, was excellent. I love Manducati's food, but i think you have to have a taste for old-school red-sauce Italian. Neighborhood restaurants of this type used to be all over Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. No more. I am glad Manducatis is still there, they own the building so they're not going anywhere. Manducatis is a little on the pricy side for Queens but would be low for something similar in Manhattan. It is a once-every-two months treat. I can't wait to go back.

The food was excellent. The service was on point and you feel like you are a part of the family. I highly recommend this establishment.

This place was unreal. The tomatoe sauce was excellent and I know my sauce. The wine selection was awesome and had a solid variety. Old school feel with an awesome selection. We had Veal Parm, meatballs, gnocchi and it was fantastic. Definitely recommend for family and friends and business meetings. Places like this don't exist anymore, definitely go.

Do yourself a favor and treat yourself to a dinner at Manducatis. The food, atmosphere, and service is impeccable. I felt at home the moment I stepped inside. This is a family owned Italian restaurant who started it back in the 70s and they take great pride in their excellent food and service.