Nica Trattoria

This neighborhood Sicilian spot has strong devotion to fresh ingredients and a warm host. Giuseppe Nicolosi commands the room and welcomes each guest by name with a warm smile. The signature gnocchi pairs well with a glass of wine and the burrata! Stop in and you won't be disappointed.

My fave Italian food experience in New York. The roasted cauliflower and the pasta puttanesca are outstanding, the atmosphere is warm and congenial, the service is impeccable and Giuseppe, the host, is endlessly entertaining. Not inexpensive, but worth the tab and the trip. Note, cash only.

Wonderfully intimate experience! The food was delicious, and the customer service was superb. A hidden gem in pain sight.

A place like this is so rare in Manhattan. Incredible food served by the owner himself. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a great meal and experience.

Authentic Italian food in a neighborhood setting. We went to Nica Trattoria after a long day at the MET. It was about a 15 minute walk, and we had reservations for 5:30pm. We were the first patrons there, and the owner joined at our table and walked us through their extensive menu. We settled on the barata and filet medallions as appetizers. My son had the pasta and meat sauce, my daughter had the pesto gnocci, my wife had the swordfish, and I had the veal saltimboca. All if our entees were cooked to perfection and were derived hot from the oven and straight from the table. Everything was delicious, and we sampled liberally from one another's plates. We were full at the end of the meal, so we did not order any desserts. The bill was $270 (including tip) for two appetizers, four entrees, two bottles of sparkling water, and one glass of wine. Nica Trattoria is cash only. The food was excellent and you get what you pay for. I will definitely go back.

My boyfriend and I had a wonderful time learning to make different types of pastas from scratch! Nico and his staff were super friendly , informative, and helpful! Got in some nice chats along with some delicious food!! Can’t wait to take part in another workshop!! ☺️ 🍝

Guiseppe's fabled gnocchi is everything you've read about, likely the best in NYC! Today we had 4 orders of broccoli! Delicious, also try the Chicken Scarpariello, falls off the bone. He is an absolute genius and everything is made with love ❤️. Big thanks from your friends at Big John's 🚛

Great food and ambiance. Nica takes great care with every dish and you can tell how passionate he is about the restaurant. Very warm, welcoming and friendly. Food is fresh and made to order and you can tell there is great care put into every dish.

This restaurant is worth a trip to the Upper East Side. But also perfect for dinner after a day at the museum Guiseppe is a riot. His truffle gnocchi is one of the best pasta dishes in New York City. If you don't already love gnocchi, this dish will make you love gnocchi. But only his gnocchi. Because it is the best. The Casesar salad is also the best in the city. His dressing is home made. And perfectly balanced. The artichoke is also perfect. Everything Guiseppe recommends is worth eating. The restuarant is small. So make a reservation. .

As someone who is a performer, I appreciate what this place is going for. The eccentric "owner/chef" (trust me, he has a SAG-AFTRA card) treats you like royalty, even though he never saw you before. You open the menu and see a bevvy of alleged daily specials. The Chef recites everything, to the point you want to search for a baguette to shut him up. Overkill! (The daily specials are regular items, for there is no way this "chef" could remember all of the items.) We had a 7pm reservation and the VERY small space was not full yet. I enjoyed my artichoke app and my friend's stuffed mushrooms were really good. My friend smartly went for the orecchiette with broccoli rabe and sausage while I stupidly chose linguine with white clam sauce. The clams were cockles - which I knew in advance - and so small that this was basically linguine drowned in oil. Worst, I like cheese on this. I know, I know. Cheese is frowned upon on anything with seafood and the zombie-like waiter would not give me any. I summoned the Circus Master who was not pleased. He called me weird and finally relented by giving me a tablespoon of cheese on a plate. A huge portion if it was cocaine, but not enough for my pasta. He made me feel uncomfortable. I ate recently at one of the best Italian restaurant's in Las Vegas - Piero's - and had the best linguine with clams ever. They did not make a federal case when I asked for cheese. This was Jerry Lewis' local hangout where "Casino" was filmed. What a great time. Nica's is pretty shabby in comparison to that or any other decent Italian restaurant in NYC. The only bright spots? Come 8pm, the placed was packed. We had a charming young married couple next to us who appreciated our joke that we had already heard Act 1 of the buffoon. We chatted some more, so maybe there is something to say about close tables. But not again. I do not like being on top of strangers. I want a table of my own tucked in corner preferably. When the best thing we ate was dessert - the chocolate mousse - you know the joint has a problem. Oh, and no cocktails. Only beer and wine. And even that they could not get right. My friend wanted a non-alcoholic beer and they were clueless whether they had any. Eventually they found one. Oh, and they only take cash. A real shit show, sorry. When I left this Bunuel like experience (except I got fed) $200 later, I felt ripped off and sad. This is not a good place.

This place appeared like a mirage to us one night, and we decided to give it a try sans reservation. We got a table quickly in the very cozy front of the house. In warmer weather, it looks as though the front opens--which probably helps. The owner/chef (I assume) was in the dining room providing hospitality and personality, which we really enjoyed. My only real issue was the food, which was only fair. There were four of us this night, so I was able to sample a little of everything. Some dishes were alright, some completely lacked any seasoning whatsoever. My bolognese was almost completely without flavor aside from tomato. They do have some nice wines available, and some of the appetizers were fairly good. On this visit they had fresh figs and prosciutto, which was absolutely delicious. All in all, I wished the food had been more even and had lived up the our host's hospitality. This is a neighborhood spot, and I'm sure a lot of people go just because he creates such a warm atmosphere. Would love to give them another try in the future.

Yesterday my son and I had a experience at the restaurant. It's a small but very cozy Italian restaurant on and managed by the owner. The food was amazing. The appetizers, the dinner option and the dessert were superb. A must go for a great meal.

My 3rd time at NIca Trattoria. Really delicious Sicilian food. We went on a Sunday and it was early enough he recited the specials to the entire room. Very cozy and not a lot of tables, so reserve early. The gnocchi are perhaps the lightest I've ever had. We had 3 pasta dishes and they all arrived with a perfect degree of toothiness. The owner is a character and service is prompt. They also do corkage. They used to be cash only. They now accept credit cards but they prefer 1 card for the table. Highly recommended.

Unfortunately didn't love the food/experience here as much as I was hoping for as this was recommended to me. Perhaps just an off night? I got the white truffle gnocchi which was highly advertised/recommended to us, and while it was fine I was hoping for a stronger truffle flavor, and the texture of the gnocchi wasn't bad. The flavor was potato forward, and they're on the larger side - think large American-style "dumplings," as it were in texture and flavor. I wondered if this was a creative spin on gnocchi or if it were more traditional; my Italian friend (showed him the picture I took) noted that traditional gnocchi is smaller & has little indentations on it. Doesn't mean this way is wrong, just that I wasn't imagining what we got when we ordered it. They are more golf-ball size here. I will say texture wasn't bad though, they said it would be like biting into a cloud which I could see why they said that. Also got the appetizer caprese, but didn't find the basil flavor all that powerful and think it could have benefited from a glaze of some kind. By the way, there's a $40 minimum per person. And, if you look at the other negative reviews some mention feeling uncomfortable if you do not fit a certain type of clientele. I and my friend did feel this vibe as well, feeling a bit ignored and unwelcome when comparing our experience to the few other tables adjacent.

Recommended cash only establishment. Came here during Christmas week and it's a small but mighty Italian restaurant. Very limited tables, I'd recommend calling for a reservation. Our group of 3 got a few appetizers to share and pasta to share as well. I recommend the penne alla vodka pasta but the ragu rigatoni and the linguini with clams were also very solid. Wine selection is great.

The best guy, the best team, the best gnocchi. Always my favorite. I couldn't love this place more. We spent my dad's 70th here. Anytime he visits, we make time for Nica. ‍

Had an awesome dinner- great authentic Italian food. Recommend the Caesar salad, the vongole, and the bolognese. Service was great. Awesome wine selection. Place does not have a lot of seating so make sure to make a reservation. Recommend for Italian food in the area.

My fave Italian cuisine experience this side of the Mediterranean. Roasted cauliflower is my fave among many outstanding appetizer. I'm guilty of sticking to the robust pasta Puttanesca for main course and the Tiramisu is exceptional. The atmosphere is warm, service impeccable and the host wonderfully entertaining. Note: Cash, only n

You have not had amazing gnocchi until you've had it here! Nica Trattoria makes the most wonderful truffle cream gnocchi that will make your taste buds soar. It's from the heavens. Pillowy soft. Melt in your mouth. Like eating a cloud of deliciousness. It's that good. The taste is amazing. In fact, everything here is beyond good. The service and hospitality is well above par. The food is served up warm, authentic, and with love. The owner is a funny and caring man. Now this is authentic Italian done right. We have dined here a bunch of times and gravitate to the same plates which we enjoy. The pastas, artichokes, and desserts. Nice wine list too. It's a small spot so reservations are a must. You won't be rushed once you're eating. It's not really cheap but worth it for a very enjoyable dinner. You'll leave content and happy. Then dream about that gnocchi.

I feel like I'm in Moonstruck! Sometimes it's heavy on the salt. Typical prices for UES Italian, but great by uptown standards! Would not say the same if it was in a more densely populated restaurant area. I always leave with a clean plate and a little happier.

Magical Italian dinner- Best gnocchi I have ever had in a restaurant! Tiny spot with authentic old school Italian playlist a little louder than usual but appropriate for the vibe. No host is better than Giuseppe. I will certainly be back with my entire Italian family

A small, authentic Italian restaurant run by a charismatic owner originally from Sicily. Shared the Caponata and Gnocchi with a Gorgonzola sauce as starters and a delicious fillet of sole with a lemon and caper sauce accompanied by perfectly cooked broccoli. Shared a delicious Tiramisu to end a perfect meal.

I have dined here at least 6+ times in the past and have always spent $250+. Tonight I was in the area and wanted to grab a quick casual bite. My friend wasn't feeling well and was not eating. I ordered 2 dishes and a glass of wine. We were informed that they were out of the polenta and that we needed to spend $80. I told them that I would pay for the glass of wine that they had served me but that they were being rude and that we would go ahead and leave. I will never go back. I would rate this experience 0 stars if I could. The carpaccio had no flavor whatsoever.

we were literally in italy for the duration of dinner idk. giuseppe was super friendly and gave great recs! pasta was a little pricey but the restaurant is cozy and cute so i think it was worth. the mushroom pasta was sooo good and shreya really liked the cavatelli pesto! tiramisu was delicious, i'd go back just to try all their desserts

Nica Trattoria is an experience! Came in here with a group of friends for dinner and fell in love with the dinner service. Not only is every dish here outstanding, Giuseppe the chef is truly the star of the show. The dishes he recommended for us were all insanely good and truly memorable. Not sure if they're still cash only, but check before going!

The dining experience was absolutely amazing! The gnocchi dish was a standout with its incredible flavors. What truly made the evening memorable was the owner's exceptional kindness, patience, and engaging nature. They went above and beyond, taking the time to interact with my 3-year-old and even teaching her the art of twirling pasta on a fork. We were thoroughly impressed by the outstanding food and service, leaving us eagerly anticipating our next visit. Can't wait to go back.

I've been to Nica numerous times. The owner was very nasty and when I placed an order to go he gave me the wrong dish. My friend who was eating with me is highly allergic to almonds and pine nuts and they gave her the wrong dish which included both nuts. She almost had to go to hospital. When telling the owner or the gentleman in charge he said why do you panic. He did not care about the allergy at all. The service is horrible.

Ordered from here as its close to us and we've been looking for a new go to favorite Italian place. Some of the best bolognese we've ever had (split this & the penne alla vodka). The prices were reasonable for the generous portions. We will definitely be going here in person next time!

They completely messed up my order had to go back three times. While they did correct it they failed to acknowledge the mess up or apologize. Oh and to top it off they served me something I was highly allergic to. While their food may be good....I'd stick to Napoli food instead of Sicily...they may accidentally kill you.

Amazing Italian restaurant that transports you right to Italy. The food is beyond delicious, and the service is so friendly and warm. The ambience is cozy and lovely. I honestly cannot recommend this place highly enough! I rarely leave reviews, but this place is really wonderful. And yes, the gnocchi is next level!

The food is fantastic, specifically the gnocchi in the white truffle sauce. The owner is wonderful, engaging, funny, truly makes it an experience. This is my favorite place to go for a special occasion.

My bad, I did not realize they were cash only. When I made reservations, that probably should have been brought up. But I had to be a big shot and tell the owner that I had dined their previously when asked. This a an Italian restaurant that has a Sicilian chef that is friendly and accomaditing. The dining room has limited tables, and the restaurant can be somewhat tight when seated. But that all does not matter whatsoever because the chef can really provide you a dining experience that you will not forget. We had the muscles and cauliflower as appetizers, and I had the home made pappardelle pasta with mushrooms. What a wonderful delicious meal. We had also cannoli for dessert which was the best we ever had. Why? Because they were not sugary sweet, just perfect. Just one issue seem to present itself. We had an early seating, and the chef's partner was making some of us feel anxious by rushing us through dinner. I get it, he did not know us and was afraid we might make it a four hour tour. I don't care, the meal was fabulous, but I will next time take the later seating.

THE CLOUDSSSSS try the truffle clouds you won't be upset i promise love the place, v authentic

My wife and I used to live around the corner and would come here on special occasions. It was always a fantastic meal. We moved out of the neighborhood about 9 years ago. On a whim we decided to try and pop in. The owner remembered us immediately. The food was as good if not better than the last time we were there. Literally everything thing we ate was fantastic. This place is a true hidden gem and it's spots like this that make New York City special.

This restaurant is wonderful. The food is great. The owner is great. The staff is great. The food is great again. It's cash only. Who cares. Small restaurants like this.. where the owner will come chat at your table... they're disappearing everywhere. Enjoy them while you can.

Food was amazing! Best gnocchi we have ever had. Great local restaurant with a charismatic waiter!

The absolute best food I've had in the area in SO long!! Also the best staff and owner lol

I'm only giving four stars because the food is genuinely very good. I had a great pasta. But this restaurant should be listed as 3 dollar signs, not 2 dollar signs. We were told we had to spend at least $40, each, which we didn't know until we had already ordered, so we ended up spending way more than we needed to spend, and we were so full that we took our food to go and we were nauseous. It's ridiculous that we should have to spend so much when we were full after merely an entree; I am not opposed to spending that much on food when it's warranted, but I am opposed when it comes by surprise and when I I'm already full after far less than that. On top of that, I found the waiter very aggressive, and even if slow service is "authentic," that just compounded an already unpleasant experience. Go here if you're looking for an authentic food and experience and have a huge appetite and are ready to spend $.

Really wanted to like this place, but have to say the experience was not for me. We came here because my boyfriend loves gnocchi and we had heard good things about theirs. Found out the place was cash only and asked about an ATM on site, but was directed to one around the corner-- not a crazy deal breaker, but I think in 2020 if you're going to be a cash only place in NYC that enforces a $40 minimum per person... maybe have an ATM on site? Service here is... strange? You have one person taking your drink orders and then another actually taking your food order? Ok sure. After taking our time to decide our drink choice and food choice we ordered a bottle of wine with who we thought was our server and tried to order our entrees, but was then told our sever would be with us to take our order. Server arrives and was this guy we observed earlier chatting up and laughing with other tables when we first arrived. Based on reviews, I think this guy was the chef? We tell him this is our first time here and he responds with excitement about telling us what this place is all about. So I think "Oh, nice. We're going to get some really awesome service and leave super happy and laughing like those other people." Nope. Attempted to order, but was cut off. Server then proceeds to recite by memory all of the specials and appetizers -- basically reading the menu (all of this was listed). I get the novelty around this, but it honestly went on for an awkward amount of time especially given the fact that we already had our menus for 30+ minutes and ordered drinks already. Maybe it was the wine, but my eyes started to glaze over a bit. When we finally get to order, he asks us if we'd like an appetizer and I politely decline as I wasn't super hungry at the time (late lunch). He then proceeds to ask my bf the same and he had to decline twice as the sever kept pushing us to share one. Honestly, we didn't appreciate being made to feel bad about not ordering appetizers. Bf got his gnocchi and I got the mushroom truffle pasta and the food was really good. Unfortunately, we got pretty much no attention afterwards and my bf pointed out the server/chef-man visited and chatted up every table except ours after. This is a small place so it really left us feeling like a second rate table. Didn't help that we were seated in the dark at the boondocks with world's smallest table. Needless to say we skipped out on dessert because we just wanted to leave at this point. Some might find this place charming, but I feel like if you don't fit a certain profile of clientele you really get treated differently. We had a good laugh about it after, but we won't be back. There are plenty of great Authentic Italian places in the UES with food just as good that don't force an "experience" on you. tl;dr: Cash Only. Food was good. Condescending staff. Maybe get takeout instead (if they even offer it)

My first time here but certainly not my last. My wife and I came here to celebrate her birthday. We needed to be in the upper east side for an event later that evening and chose this restaurant because it was nearby. Of course all the positive reviews were part of the the reason we came. And now I understand why it has so many great reviews. The food was fantastic! Everything was great. As others have said the gnocchi was phenomenal. It truly melts in your mouth. And the pork chops were juicy and delicious and very tasty. There is a decent wine list and the price is are fair. New York City has thousands of Italian restaurants but this one truly stands apart from the crowd.

Authentic, friendly and neighborly, Nica Trattoria is your local restaurant often filled with regulars. Currently all outdoor seating, Giuseppe takes good care of his customers. Extensive menu, delicious food and a welcoming host, this is where you want to be.

Save, I dunno, Italy, you haven't had gnocchi until you have some here. First things first, making a reservation. I call in and score a res for 4 of us on a Saturday night. He says something along the lines of you got it and I'll call you or you call me to confirm. I knew we were in for a treat. Day of, I called and left a message which he returned saying hey, come on in I'm opening a little early. OKAY! The classic Sicilian trattoria is COZY with maybe 8 tables. Immediately welcomed, you feel like you're home in the best way possible. Coats were taken and hung, and we were immediately seated. The CAULIFLOWER TORTINO was out of this world. The ARTICHOKE was standard but good. Can't go wrong by ordering the CAPRESE e PROSCIUTTO... I mean, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes & prosciutto. Yum. The GNOCCHI is something straight from heaven. They are soft pillows and melt in your mouth nearly immediately. The gorgonzola cream sauce we selected was phenomenal. It's as though all previously eaten gnocchi (elsewhere) has been some sort of joke; a poorly-executed simulation of what gnocchi CAN be. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. For some reason, I ordered the VEAL CHOP MILANESE as my main dish instead of pasta like everyone else, but I'm sort of glad I did. It was delicious. Perfectly breaded, seasoned, and covered in a mound of chopped green beans and tomatoes. It was a dish I'd never had before so it was an adventure in expanding my horizons (said the girl who eats sweetbreads and the like). That said, I snagged a bite of the SPAGHETTI CARBONARA and it too was fantastically creamy and dotted with pancetta. Passing on the solid recommendation, should you find yourself in Manhattan, head to the upper east side. It'll be worth the journey. Oh, and bring CASH - no credit cards accepted. I've seen a lot of mentions about it being expensive... but I didn't think so. Maybe it's the Silicon Valley in me or simply eating at/supporting really good local restaurants, but dishes ran $15-40. Pasta dishes were all about $17. The value is definitely present. I will 100% return time and time again when in New York. It's now one of my favorite restaurants.

Enjoyed a delicious dinner outside for our first time at Nica. All meals are made to order and the bread you could tell was from scratch. The staff is *wonderful*. Very attentive and so welcoming. A true NYC neighborhood restaurant where they introduce themselves and want to know your name. Can't wait to go back! (It is cash only but plenty of ATMs nearby)

This is to this day (not to say that it won't change tomorrow), my favorite 'authentic' Italian in the UES. It is very small, only 8 tables, cozy, hole in the wall feel. The chef, staff, host, owner are friendly, talkative, informative, and it seems everyone has been going there for a long time. It transports you to feeling that you are truly in Italy, which is a rare occurrence for NYC. The restaurant is cash only, which adds to the authenticity. The menu is small, and also talks about the history of its Sicilian origins how authentic the restaurant is. I am on the hunt for the best gnocchi in the city, and to this day, I have found the best gnocchi here. Right here in the UES. It is soft, pillows, billowy, melts in my mouth. It is heaven. This is your classic, authentic, italian that people travel all over the world to NYC to try. It is absolutely worth whatever it takes to find yourself at a table here.

Nica Trattoria serves Sicilian & Italian food with many daily specials. They have affordable wine list. Open for dinner only. Dining area is very limited, reservation is required. They only accepts Cash. Giuseppe Nicolosi is the chef, takes care of everybody's excellent dishes and chatting, singing with his guests when he is out of his kitchen. Such a entertainer!!! He also bakes bread served in his restaurant. The gnocchi are famous. Texture is like clouds. We ordered it with truffle and cream sauce. They were just heavenly. Other dishes were all good. Service was great and very attentive. Dining room is very tiny, cramped and packed. But I'm craving for that gnocchi already!

This place has the worst service ever, the rudest waiters and manager, and the owner is a boor--this was our experience when it first opened and we tried it a couple of times, thinking it might have been a fluke the first time. But no. It's very consistent. The owner/chef thought it was funny to come to the table and comment on how people had cleaned their plates. Recently we went by on a rainy Tuesday evening with my mother, who had a walker. The manager "greeter" looked at us and told us, "first of all, it's cash only, and we don't have room for the walker." The restaurant was practically empty, but he insisted all the tables were reserved aside from one 2-top between 2 parties. Reporting this to local councilman's office and the Public Advocate: get the memo--it's illegal to discriminate against disabled people!

A friend of mine brought me here for the first time on a Sunday night and yeah, the food is quite stellar Guiseppe, the owner, is awesome and welcoming as well, and the rest of the staff is too. Highly recommended for some truly authentic Italian food and I can't wait to go back! Tiny place so be sure to make reservations. Very much worth it.

This place just keeps getting better. Someone mentioned the cash only being a downer I feel that it only adds to the charm!

This is the most accurate 1 star I could have ever given. I am almost thinking about upgrading the others. A friend of mine comes from NJ and wants to eat pasta. I yelp and get Nica Trattoria with great reviews. We get there and get a table. The host was an older gentleman, which seemed to know how to do his job. Anyway, we should have noticed that something is off when he took the order from the table next to us and the customer says something like "I would order if you'd let me and not be so in my face". I didn't eat, as I was not hungry, but my friend ordered a Caprese salad, seafood pasta and we both ordered San Pellegrino and a wine, which was the 3rd most expensive bottle. Around $100 worth. He eats, we drink etc. We still have wine in our glasses and I see my friend getting uncomfortable. I ask him why and he says he thinks the older gentleman wants us to leave. I am like "no way, the tables are empty, it's just 830pm, we still have wine", but Lord behold!!! The host comes to me and says "we will need the table soon". We were there for about 1 hour, with a bottle of wine bought. I turned and said "we still have wine in our glasses". He said "oh no, take your time". Really? My friend felt extremely awkward by the whole incident and wanted to leave. THE ABSOLUTE WORST TREATMENT I HAD TO EXPERIENCE IN AN NYC RESTAURANT and I've been here for 4 years. The most deserved 1 star rating I ever gave. Oh, and don't get me started on cash only and other "house rules". Anyway, us, as patrons, are to blame as well, if we accept being treated like crap or even more considering that "wow, this must a good place". Needless to say, never coming back! Additional comment: Someone added the photo below to point out the "house rules". Like I said in the review: we were there waiting for 30 mins for the food, 1 hr to enjoy and we bought 1 BOTTLE of wine. If the owners think I am an alcoholic to drink with a friend a bottle of wine in 1.5 hrs they have the wrong person. Please New Yorkers, avoid these kind of places, that are mediocre at best and pose as fancy places just because they are rude.

I've eaten at Nica multiple times, tonight being the most recent. They deliver a consistently great meal all around for a reasonable price, my girlfriend and I have it as a go-to for an nice dinner out (like Valentine's Day, dinner with friends, etc.). Note they are cash only (and will tell you this when making the reservation) and have a general time limit of 90-minutes per table (which is very acceptable when you know in advance coupled with the quick service I'll speak about below) which is listed on the menu. The food was great, tonight consisted of the stuffed mushrooms, red peppers with anchovies, and lamb chops. Both the mushrooms and lamb chops (including a side of roasted potatoes) I'd had there before and were as wonderful as ever, but I was greatly surprised how excellent the peppers were and how the anchovies really worked with the flavor! A glass of red wine was had as well, however I can't recall which one I got, only that it was well suited to the rest of the meal. Portion sizes are generous, but not overwhelming so, you'll leave happily full but will have room for dessert if you don't have too much bread or too many appetizers. If you do have too much bread (which is fresh and very tasty) prepare to leave stuffed. The service was prompt, the food arrived quickly and was cooked perfectly to order (medium rare for the lamb chops), and the staff was able to answer a question on the menu quickly and accurately without a second thought. They also called earlier in the afternoon to confirm my reservation, which is a nice touch (they've done this every time I've made a reservation). The restaurant is very small, but not uncomfortably so, it's simply limited in the number of tables so reservations are a must along with promptness for your time. The menu is also only 2 pages, with a 3rd page of specials for the day, and a nice wine list (wine & beer only) for bottles and some by the glass. All in all, you really can't go wrong with anything you order here, you'll be tempted to ask what the disk someone else ordered that you just saw come out (and there's no shame in asking). It's a great spot for a date, dinner with another couple, or adult family (parents, siblings, not children) and friends.

Best Italian food in NYC. Salads & appetitzers are fresh and delicious; pastas are absolutely incredible and flavorful. Giuseppe's hospitality is also unparalleled. Highly recommend!!

Best authentic italian food I have ever had!! The head chef/owner is so knowledgable,funny, and friendly. It blew my mind how good the food was, so much flavor in all the dishes we had! All the dishes were out of this world but Gnocchi was by far the best! I look forward to coming back to this restaurant when I come back to New York in the future. Cant wait!!!!!

Came here at 7pm on a Saturday night, most tables had been taken so we were seated outside. Cons: the pappardelle with porcini was under salted, and the mushroom flavor was a little dull. Service outside was a little slow at times but I think that was partially due to it being crowded and we were outside. CASH ONLY $40 minimum a person (very odd). A pasta plus an app per person was enough to make the minimum. Pros: fava bean and sausage app was on point, the gnocchi was so fluffy. Service: very attentive

So far my favorite Italian restaurant on upper east side ! Great food and great service/ what else we should escocer from restaurant:) Small place but it has the magic atmosphere where not even fancy places don't have it! In your first step you would feel you "are at the right place" ... enjoy .....

This place is so incredible. Having just come back from Italy 2 weeks ago, this food tastes straight from Italy. The owner is this super friendly and sweet Italian man who just wants you to feel at home. You really get the vibe of being in an Italian home or a small Italian restaurant. The food is pricey but the portions are very generous, so I don't feel we overpaid. Would be back here in a heartbeat and will recommend to everyone I know.

Warm hearted chef owner who serves fabulous culinary treats to his guests. Mussels with sauces and tomato, veal Milanese, gnocchi with pesto, pasta with mushrooms, chocolate mousse and tiramisu were but a few of the dishes we enjoyed tonight. An enjoyable feast!

Super cute spot with outdoor seating and a legit handle on the pasta game. Menu items are affordable (under $20 pastas) and the service is attentive. Sit outside if you can and while tight, you'll be rewarded with a nice quiet sidewalk seat. Come midweek or early if you want to sit right away. Since it's not directly on 1st ave, there's only light foot traffic. This is so short but there isn't much to say... it's just really damn good eats in a trattoria type atmosphere. Grab a date, get on over here, and get some gnocchi already! Note: Cash only