San Pietro

Update... So we returned after the incident from about five years ago below. The owner wasn't there today, but the long-time head waiter, who is fantastic, and the real reason why this restaurant still operates took great care of us today. The food was excellent as well. I'm going to move my rating up from one star to four stars based on this recent visit... I have been going to San Pietro for years and have recommended it many times to friends and colleagues, but from my previous experience, it will be the last time that I ever visit the place. I had taken a client out to lunch who happens to be over 90 years old and hard of hearing. He inadvertently ordered the wrong main course and asked for it to be changed. The owner ran to our table, yelled, and threw a fit over the request. In all of my years entertaining, I had never seen anything so unprofessional, especially from a place supposedly this high-end. It was horrifying, to say the least, and I could tell that the waiter (who is great, btw) was incredibly embarrassed. As I was leaving the restaurant I walked over to the owner and let him know that I didn't appreciate his treatment of my elderly client and his response to me was "this is my house, get out". With an attitude and treatment of customers like that, it won't be his house much longer. Needless to say, I won't be recommending or returning to San Pietro ever again.

We had a reservation at 7 pm - get to the restaurant at 6:55 and we got in trouble by the waiter for not calling ahead. The whole meal was chaotic from start to finish. They didn’t refill waters (beware they charge $10 for 1 bottle of water and didn’t even offer tap water as an option). The food was just ok. We didn’t even get 1 of the dishes we ordered. The portions are very small and some dishes were salty. The worst part of the meal was when we got our check. Suddenly, our bill had different dishes than what we ordered and we were charged $235 dollars initially. We only got 1 salad, 1 entree pasta, and a small serving of eggplant Parmesan (pictured here) which was the special. We told our waiter about the wrong charges on the bill and he seemed irritated and took the check back. He brought it back with a few dollars knocked off. However the bill was still wrong. The head waiter then comes over and tells us that the eggplant Parmesan was usually $60(!!!) and he gave us a special price and he ended up charging $48 for it. He then up charged the price of all of the dishes we ordered by a few dollars. There’s only a few menus to go around for the whole restaurant so I couldn’t even reference it to double check the prices. Overall, we paid $134 (so $100 less than what they initially charged us). Between the mediocre food, poor service, and highly inflated prices - we were highly disappointed and would not go back.

Everyone is so cute in here and the food is sooo good. The mature waiter recommended us really good pasta and the tiramisu was delicious. Love it!

Take a step back in time! The service here is what truly separates the spot from other restaurants! You are greeted like an old family friend and given the specials by your uncle! It was great! The food was inspired by rustic classic Italian fare and did not skip a beat!

Manolo made us feel like we were family for my mom’s bday. The food was clearly high quality ingredients and fresh pasta was amazing. Will definitely be back!

one of the best Italian restaurant in NewYork delicious food, excellent service and good seating.the waiter called the chef personally to be sure of our order as we decided to change the meal ingredients.prices reasonable for the quality &quantity 😀 😋

Classic Italian restaurant experience. I like the mature waiters willing to say "let me just bring you our best wine pairing for your dinner". And it's an experience just to listen to the 16 specials detailed then summarized in reverse order. We had lamb, pasta, and branzino. All well prepared. Pasta was fresh made and a highlight. Branzino is a house speciality and also exceptional. Lamb was tasty, if one minor complaint it would be that we ordered medium rare and the lamb was well done. That said, overall a delightful experience I'd recommend to anyone.

Food was incredible! Atmosphere really stunning, sommelier helped me choose a great wine, and the homemade gelato was straight out of Italy, so delicious. Only thing off was that the prices on our bill didn’t match the menu… but I would definitely recommend this place nonetheless.

San Pietro is one of the great Italian restaurants in New York. When you arrive, you are always warmly welcomed by Gerardo Bruno, who is one of the owners. You will be then be seated in a beautiful dining room. All of their items on the menu are prepared with the freshest ingredients and they have an extensive wine list and a great bar. My wife and I have been coming here for over 30 years, and have been through the ups and downs of the economy, 911, and also more recently the Covid shut down with them. Some people will complain about the prices, but they are no different from all of us who have suffered these last few years with food prices that have become so inflated. Quality servers are now sparse and have to be paid more money all of which narrows their margin for a profit so they can remain in business. Manny, who is the maitre'' D, is always very helpful with the specials and can guide you if you need more information about any item, as well as directing the cordial and professional service. It's in a great location just off of Fifth Avenue at 54th St. I highly recommend this restaurant.

1 star for location and 1 star for ambiance, half star for service. We were hosting a large, 10 person group for dinner and had trouble finding a table last minute. We settled for San Pietro given our office proximity. The restaurant was empty, and reminded me of an establishment in little Italy. The head server was attentive and tried to cover several tables at once, which resulted in slower service. The food was mediocre (I make better pasta at home) and ridiculously overpriced (even for a miami resident!). Most items on the menu were "MP", spinach side was $24. The waiter also imposed apps on us that we never ordered. It's Little Italy style tourist trap. I will not return.

OH. MY. GOD. I was skeptical about coming here because of the mixed reviews, but I am SO happy I went! My husband and I went out for a date after his work day nearby, and we were looking for a late evening walk in to have a romantic dinner together. SAN Pietro did not disappoint! The decor was phenomenal; dim lighting, romantic, it reminded me of the trip I took to Italy when I was in college. It brought back so many pleasant memories; don't even start me off with the food. I have never tasted something more authetic. All the food reminded my very italian husband of the food from his chlidhood, and I was happy I could indulge and taste what he loves in an authentic way. If you're skeptical, DON'T SECOND GUESS!! Go give this restaurant a try and surprise your sweetheart with a small escape to Italy.

Old school, Italian spot: waiters in jackets, extensive list of specials The service is excellent. Very family-friendly, or appropriate for a business lunch. The entrance can be confusing to spot, but it is before Papillon.

We had a reservation at 7 pm - get to the restaurant at 6:55 and we got in trouble by the waiter for not calling ahead. The whole meal was chaotic from start to finish. They didn't refill waters (beware they charge $10 for 1 bottle of water and didn't even offer tap water as an option). The food was just ok. We didn't even get 1 of the dishes we ordered. The portions are very small and some dishes were salty. The worst part of the meal was when we got our check. Suddenly, our bill had different dishes than what we ordered and we were charged $235 dollars initially. We only got 1 salad, 1 entree pasta, and a small serving of eggplant Parmesan (pictured here) which was the special. We told our waiter about the wrong charges on the bill and he seemed irritated and took the check back. He brought it back with a few dollars knocked off. However the bill was still wrong. The head waiter then comes over and tells us that the eggplant Parmesan was usually $60 and he gave us a special price and he ended up charging $48 for it. He then up charged the price of all of the dishes we ordered by a few dollars. There's only a few menus to go around for the whole restaurant so I couldn't even reference it to double check the prices. Overall, we paid $134 (so $100 less than what they initially charged us). Between the mediocre food, poor service, and highly inflated prices - we were highly disappointed and would not go back.

Decided to pick San Pietro for dinner last night as this restaurant was near the venue I had an event to go to, so we made our reservations at 5:15pm. I have a habit of always being early, so I arrived at 5pm to an empty restaurant, with the bartender/hostess person saying the kitchen doesn't open till 5:15 but we said we'd sit and relax, having a drink beforehand. We sit down, start talking, I ask her to see a menu, she wasn't really into giving us the menu, but with a little charm she did, it was weird, not sure what happened there. Anyway, in comes Manolo, a larger than life Maitre De type who reminds me of classic servers of old. A boisterous personality, booming voice, and very interesting way of handling himself. The service there is overwhelming, many people running around, suit/ties/jackets types, and imo too many cooks in the kitchen. So, bottom line, this place is ABHORRENTLY EXPENSIVE. Like these numbers, even for New York City are out of control. It's like Inflation hit this place twice as hard, and at the end of the day it wasn't worth it. We got 2 soups, 2 Aqua Panas, a beer, an old fashioned, a pasta dish and a Cesar Salad for...$188 no tip included, that's insane. The food itself was good, The beef stew was flavorful, the Stracitella was alright, The Cesar was very tasty and the Pasta was OK. This place is really for those where money is no object, and they want to just essentially throw it out like a club, insane prices again. Overall, 3 stars, won't return, remember to make sure Manolo doesn't push you around either.

Amazing food and ambiance, definitely coming back here again. Service was great and friendly. I came all the way from Long Island on a business trip and this restaurant was always on my to go list!

Went to San Pietro for my five year anniversary and it was a magical night. A night to remember. Ordered the Ravioli San Pietro Con Burrata Pugliese and will come again for it!! The service was amazing and my boyfriend and I were very pleased. It was beautiful restaurant with a romantic ambiance, It has Swarovski Crystals that catches the light magically. I will defiantly come again with my friends and family.

I'm Italian so I wanted to find an authentic Italian place and went here and was not disappointed! Food and service was amazing definitely recommend!

The food was good solid Italian fare. The service was excellent until I discovered that my credit card was mixed up with others at my table. Under the circumstances I am not able to go to other guests for reimbursement so I am stuck with a much larger bill than anticipated,

Accepted walk ins so no reservations were needed, which really h lord because last winter it was so cold, and I was ready to walk into just any restaurant that would have no wait and no reservations. The soup was timely, and warmed me up. It was tooo good, and the staff were super nice and helpful. Would try again :)

Meh, the chef owner overcooked the beautiful sushi grade tuna to the point it was grey , dry, and chewy. The eggplant was greasy and over fried, and the salt encrusted Bronzino was also soggy. Overall, pretty mediocre dining experience.

After the recent string of one star reviews We approached SP with some trepidation. Our experience could not have been more different. Perhaps it was because we were guests of a regular customer. Service was attentive, friendly and professional. We had reservations for 8:30 on a Saturday night. The venue was half empty and quiet. Conversation was easy. The ambience comfortable, informal but elegant. I'm withholding 5 starts for two reasons. 1) The place is extremely pricey. Pastas start at 39 dollars, etc. for food which is nicely presented and fine but can be had for much less money at more humble establishments. 2) When presenting the diner with 10 plus specials to choose from they need to be written down (with prices) so that they can be examined at leisure. Nevertheless, A very pleasant evening. Perfect for a special event.

I first tried this place a few years ago due to knowing the owner's son Coming back after all this time just as a customer, and the service was still amazing. Everyone is attentive from staff to chef to owner ! They all go above and beyond for you no matter what you are ! It's beautiful inside as well! You can't help with gaze at the ceiling full of beautiful crystals! I had the amazing Ravioli San Pietro and a chocolate mousse dessert after ! It was phenomenal, I want to thank Gerardo and the staff for also apparently set up my own proposal that my NOW fiancé had planned Thank you for a memorable evening and meal! Can't wait to return again

Marcelo was wonderful. Nice drinks, great services. Thanks you for having him there best bartender eve

Come for dinner and a show. You won't find a more impressive waiter than manolo who can repeat an extensive list of specials forward and backward. The food you can tell is made with love and reminds you of something your mother would cook for you. If you are visiting or have lived in the city your whole life, this place is worth going to.

Very charming place with excellent service. The moment we entered until the end they make us feel welcomed and special. Food was great too. Perfect Italian restaurant to visit.

Such an amazing, special experience here. The staff was so kind and did so much to make us feel so special. Hope to come back on a future trip to NYC!

Hi to everyone! We been visit this place in the end of December, we thought it's Italian restaurant, but it's not for 100% Italian. The thirst thing why we were In shock that many dish was not Italian, and not testy at least. What was really good Bronzino fish pasta with creamy sous! If you visit this place you need to try it. The rest meal what we ordered was not tasty, specially we ordered salmon tartar and it was with truffle oil, it's terrible. When we get our check and we sow how much we need to pay, we were in shock! The restaurant not cost bill which we paid, and the food was not good! No good

My husband and I visited for dinner on Saturday Evening. The experience would have been great, had there not been either the manager or owner listening to Cable News on his iPad full volume at the bar, audible to the entire dining room. This went on through the duration of our entire meal, on and off. There were only two other people at tables near us and we all exchanged glances on how extremely rude and distracting this was. This behavior, disrespectful to anyone near you, is rude on the subway. Why should it be acceptable for the manager/owner of a restaurant that charged us $350 for a dinner for two. We were really shocked.

The staff was very friendly, but it is extremely over priced, the food was tasteless. They gave us more dishes than we needed without consulting someone at the table. It seems like they were padding the bill. The food was not good at all. We were nine people and not one of us were satisfied. We would not recommend. Suggestion: quality food for the huge prices.

This is my absolute top destination for a special occasion. The food is invariably glorious, the wine list is thoughtful and well curated, the staff is a consistent delight -- warm and friendly and knowledgeable. 12/10!

We went to this place, first there's no signal outside,so we were trying to find it, for 15 minutes. We were very welcome by a lady at the door, she was really nice. Take a seat at the bar and wait, and wait for someone to ask for a drink, finally when they came, there was very bad actitud. The lady present us the chef, he was rude and no nice person. The waiter terrible, service terrible, time horrible, very disappointing place. Was incredible because they are sister restaurant of Sistina, one of the most beautiful and excellent restaurant in nyc. We order cacio e Pepe, and it was a carbonara, so we didn't have choice, no good, because chef can make adjustments, but no invented a plate diferent as it is. Waiter also so rude in manners. I really don't understand this place, never be back.

I have been going to San Pietro for years and have recommended it many times to friends and colleagues but from my experience last week it will be the last time that I ever visit the place. I had taken a client out to lunch who happens to be 90 years old and hard of hearing. He inadvertently ordered the wrong main course and asked for it to be changed, the owner ran over to our table yelled and threw a fit over the request. In all of my years entertaining I had never seen anything so unprofessional especially from a place supposedly this high end. It was horrifying to say the least and I could tell that the waiter (who is great btw) was incredibly embarrassed. As I was leaving the restaurant I walked over to the owner and let him know that I didn't appreciate his treatment of my elderly client and his response to me was "this is my house, get out". With an attitude and treatment of customers like that it won't be his house much longer. Needless to say I won't be recommend or returning to San Pietro ever again.

Dinner and service was excellent. The maitre d was great to us. Always makes a veal dish that I love. You need to try this place. 5 stars.

Dinner on a Monday night - waiter was friendly but we had to waive him over three times. Just wasn't paying attention. Took forever to take our order and get our meal. Restaurant was only half full. All in 2.5 hours. It's a business dinner. Shouldn't be even close to that unless we tell them we want time. Food was just ok with the exception of my main - Monk fish. Huge chunk of fish looked very unappetizing. A dense flesh fish shouldn't be served so thick because you can't cook it thoroughly. Sure enough the middle was raw. Had to pick around the middle which was a mess on my plate. For a $$$$ priced restaurant, they really came up short.

Highly recommend this restaurant. Came here for lunch on a Saturday the staff was extremely nice and welcoming. Food was delicious! We first split an appetizer which was the beef carpaccio, highly recommend! For entrees I ordered a cacio e Pepe with pork cheeks which gave it a bit of a carbonara vibe and it was delicious! My mother ordered the branzino which was amazing as well!

Our initial reaction was delight in the traditional and elegant setting. Manolo, the charismatic and and knowledgeable Maitre'd , made several suggestions including the caprese salad and zucchini blossoms which were a perfect start to a authentic Italian meal. Every dish was fresh and delicious. We had pasta, branzino cooked with a salt crust, sword fish with capers and black olives, tuna tartare, and desserts that delighted us. Throughout the meal, Manalo displayed his passion for San Pietro and how much he cares for his patrons and the food he serves them. Thank you for a wonderful meal and extraordinary experience, we will be returning soon.

Classic northern Italian cooking in a nice setting. Perfect for a business meal or for a special occasion. Service is very good with about a dozen off the menu items. A special was the St. Joseph pastry in honor of the holiday. Been here several times before and would certainly return.

This restaurant was not only mediocre Italian at best but it was beyond expensive. $10 for an espresso?? And not to mention they don't tell you the prices of the wine you order or the specials. I'm not cheap and happy to pay $$$$ for a good meal but this was egregious. Our salmon tartar appetizer was edible but not great and was served with 1 slice of wonderbread white toast and was $39. Stay far far away from this place

Don't go! Twenty minute wait for someone to even take a drink order. Then had to ask twice for the drinks. Took over one hour from arrival to get food, then lamb -- requested medium -- arrived so rare I think I heard it "Baaa!" Got attitude on requesting it be cooked to medium. Bolognese was ok. For the high price even relative to other area Italian places, this was a stunningly poor experience. Will never go back.

Fabulous Restaurant, incredible food and service, Manolo made the experience excellent, thank ypu for a wonderful night,

The most fun staff. We enjoyed all the food. Our table had pasta, lamb chops, veal and seared tuna so our meals were all very different but all amazing. Great evening. Can't wZit to go back.

We went for dinner. Seated at nine, ignored until 9.40pm and not even shown a menu. We had to leave.

Probably the best Italian food in NYC.. great atmosphere and wonderful staff.. the owner is ALWAYS there, and listening to him run through the specials is worth the visit on its own. NYC's finest. KD NY

Had a meeting today for lunch at San Pietro have to say it was a great experience from the minute you walk in the door.. that only got better .. launch was super perfectly prepared grilled calamari unbelievable presentation along with the best grilled swordfish that I've tasted in a long time.!

We were so disappointed. We reviewed the menu and made our choices then the waiter came by and was screaming the specials, it clearly made us and other diners uncomfortable. We started to place our order and waiter told us only 3 pastas from the menu were available. So we had to make other choices, then was told other items on menu were not available as well. He blamed it on the pandemic, I get it supplies and help are scarce currently but it doesn't take much to print up a menu every week with options you can actually offer. Food was just ok, nothing special. After dinner we received the check...buyer beware....the prices on the check don't match the prices on the menu, several items had prices inflated. Now that completed turned me off, trying to deceive patrons is so wrong!

Worst experience imaginable! You will get better service in the food truck on 5th Avenue. Waited 20 minutes to get our own menu, 20 minutes for server to get our drinks order. 20 minutes to get first course. Mediocre food wine and no service. $300 bill for 2 people and 1 person had a glass of wine. Stay away! We left $1 tip so servers don't think we are tourists that don't know to tip, which was too much for 0 star service we got.

I have been a patron of San Pietro since the mid 1980's. The food and service are exceptional. Gerrado and Tony welcome their customers always with a smile and recognize their return with gratitude. Manolo is the captain on the floor who knows the true meaning of service. Always a pleasure to dine @ San Pietro.

Visited this restaurant last night on a recommendation from our hotel concierge. Great authentic Italian food with Italian music playing in the background (not pop or 80s). The service was amazing. Gabriel was our main waiter, and he even offered us a free umbrella at the coat check, as it had started to rain (who does this?). I ordered the ravioli and my wife ordered the risotto. Both were amazing. We will definitely return on our next trip.

Great food and great service. Took my parents last week and we all really enjoyed it!

Linguini golfo espectacular!!!! Extraordinary!!! The food and the services are excellent

The restaurant's emphasis on quality is admirable. When an ingredient isn't up to part during service they are transparent and quick to offer an alternative. In my case, I had ordered tagliatelle with white truffle but the last available one didn't meet the chef's expectations. So, they proposed black truffle instead. They generously grated it on my pasta and the result was a delicious dish. Creamy and earthy. Definitely one of the best Italian restaurants in the city!

I can't believe I never yelped the CLASSIC San Pietro. When I first landed in NYC back in 1996 I got a job as a temp for a bitch on wheels (Think Devil wears Prada level of snottery) who was the office Manager for a small VCfirm called Chartwell Investments. I am sure she's longgone by now, anyhow, she made all the hoity-toity lunch reservations here - and I vowed (after seeing the gorgeous and mile-high-pricey menu) that if could ever afford to, I would eat here some day. Well my "someday" came much sooner than I ever imagined. And yes, this place ROCKS. It's even better if a colleague is paying. Service is excellent (better if they feign to know you) and the fresh pasta is good here. Note - this is not my holy grail (Lusardi's is), but it brings back all sorts of memories. Food. Struggle. Corproate Ladder. StarvingFresh-Outta-College. First time in THE city. Miss it!!!

Good food. Miserable service. If youre in town for the holidays there are more worthy places to have that kind of dinner.

Had a wonderful meal and experience! We were pleasantly surprised stumbling upon this little gem while out walking. Staff was kind and attentive and the wine list was huge!!! We would definitely recommend this place

This is the first place I head for dinner whenever I hit New York. It's truly old school, very small and traditionally decorated, a sort of dense, warm, dark environment. The restaurant has two rooms: the lower, larger room, and a smaller space up a few stairs, with Italian vistas painted on the walls. The staff is amazingly attentive, just like in a good restaurant in Italy. They're from Sorrento, in the Naples area, and their Southern cooking is delightful, authentic, rich, filling. During the lunch period, the entire lower dining room is filled to capacity by Donald Trump and Bill Gates-types in pin-striped suits, even the women. Very formal business lunch atmosphere. If you wander in in your jeans and tshirt, you'll be seated in the upper dining room where the suits don't have to look at you. The stuffiness during the day disappears at night, when it is very much a pre-theater place. Much more relaxed, very romantic, very expensive. Dress up a little. I can hardly write about the food without drooling. A perfect meal would start with fried calamari and artichokes. Then, as the menu exhorts: "Pasta cannot be left out of an important meal" I would go with either the Paccheri (huge rigatoni) with lamb, sausage and fennel, or the goat cheese gnocchi in tomato sauce with sausage and smoked mozzarella. Spaghetti alla chitarra is billed as a favorite, but to me it's just boring tomatoes plopped on top of angel hair pasta. For fish, the grilled john dory is flavorful and light, or order one of the many interesting meat dishes. Dessert is not a specialty. Leave time to eat, because while the service is very good, they do not rush. In summer, there's a very nice outside patio area.

Not just amazing food, you are transported to Italy in a better time better place. Service is impeccable and food is fantastic. Porcini mushrooms with peas, veal chop, rack of lamb, and even a simple radicchio salad are out of this world. S.P. is a staple that can't be missed!

This place was a total ripoff. Mediocre food at exorbitant prices. Had a pedestrian bottle of Italian wine that retails for $15 and was charged $115. Disgusting! It was a late night last minute choice and a really bad one.