Siena Cafe • Italian • Bar • Restaurant

I love dining here on Sundays for brunch! It’s an amazing place to hangout, eat have drinks and enjoy great food. The food portion is a lot but it is worth every bite. Trust me! The staff are helpful and friendly! I HIGHLY recommend this place! Anything you order you will LOVE!

I had the avocado toast around 3pm on a Sunday afternoon after being out playing sports on a mostly empty stomach for the entire morning. The avocado toast was heavenly. Perhaps partly due to my starvation and exhaustion 🤣 (The avocado on a separate plate was an "extra" that I ordered -- $4). No, but more seriously, the toast had the right amount of crunchiness, the smashed avocado had the right amount of salt and sweetness, and the veggies contributed a nice hint of sourness. Overall, very satisfying. The iced coffee with milk and no sugar was also delicious. Can one associate deliciousness with coffee? I don't know but that was how it felt 😄 5 ⭐ overall despite a 3 ⭐ for service -- the server didn't do anything wrong, but I just didn't feel very welcome 🤣

Had the steak and eggs (modifications can be made) and the bottomless drinks were definitely worth the price. Food came out perfectly and the steak was well seasoned. The staff was amazing! Jamie made sure our drinks were always full and Gaby made sure that everything was going great! Will definitely be back again!

Great spot for bottomless brunch!!! Food, service and space amazing and just a vibe! Brunch burger was amazing! Staff is friendly and fast ( especially Jaime and gabby). 10 out 10 would recommend if you looking for a chill environment with great food/drinks at a great price.

This place is a nice vibe! Service was pretty good. The only knock was that the first pour of water unfortunately led to a spill in my partners purse. Besides that small accident it was a very chill vibe and the food was great!

The brunch service was absolutely phenomenal with Nica. Drinks came out quick, and were delicious. I ordered the steak and eggs and would definitely recommend. I will be coming back.

Found this place when looking for a graduation brunch for a friend. It is always reliable. The bottomless brunch is a fantastic deal and the menu options are unique. The service is great and attentive and they refill bottomless drinks often. In the several times I've been here, I particularly liked the avocado toast and the French toast. I would like to try to dinner too, although I've only come for brunch. I recommend to all friends in the area!

Overall, if you are looking for classic brunch foods with simple flavor profiles, this could be a good spot to visit. I really liked the salmon omelette I had. Classic omelette but it was enhanced with nice smoked salmon and avocados. The salad and potatoes were also a nice touch. Paired nicely with the mimosas we had. My friends got the breakfast burger and lemon ricotta pancakes, which were both tasty and not over-seasoned or sweet/salty. It seems like this place really likes kept it really simple. The outdoor seating was inviting, and our servers were very courteous to us both on mimosa and water refills. They stopped by often to make sure we were ok.

Siena has come to be a go to spot whenever we are in the UES. You know you're going to get great service, delicious food and a great overall vibe. The pasta is always fresh and the seafood always brings me back. The apps and pizza are also tasty. Definitely recommend if you're in town.

Great neighborhood place ! Love to sit at the bar! Great music and friendly bartenders!!!

(Brunch review) A group of 17 of us came in hot and sweaty from just completing a run, but Siena still offered us a huge table right at opening. Genuinely appreciated the accommodation, especially in the state we were in. Unfortunately, Siena for us suffered from food that looked and sounded great but did not taste great. I love brunch. I ordered the berry waffles, which were served beautifully, and a lot of food comes with the plate. The waffle itself just tasted slightly old, as if it had just come out of the refrigerator and was warmed up in the microwave. The waffle was dense and slightly soggy/chewy instead of light and crispy. I also got to try the drunken chicken parm pizza, which sounded amazing and I was so excited to try it. That one was better than the waffles, but still fell short because the description didn't match what was actually served. It wasn't a thin crust pizza, and it didn't seem like there was any vodka sauce, or any sauce, on it at all. Doesn't seem like brunch is the move-- maybe dinner?

The service was good. The servers were polite and accommodating. However, the calamari was tasteless and they served the crumbs of hot cherry peppers. The cocktail -'Diablo Picanté' z was too strong and tasteless. There was only one slice of lime and no Cucumbers. Apparently, the bartender uses Cucumbers juice, which tastes completely watered down. And, I asked for salt on the rim, because , you know, it's a tequila based cocktail, so salt on the rim would be nice, and they gave me some black salt, that had no taste, as well. They don't even have tahin, which would have been perfect, because this is a spicy tequila drink; which again was tasteless. I will not be going back to Sienna Café. It is not worth the money. And I'm tired of restaurants that serve you food that is tasteless. Might I add, so you know I know what I'm talking about, I am an awesome cook and I make lots of cocktails. and I use all fresh ingredients. It should be automatically expected that if you're going to restaurant in Manhattan or New York City for that matter that all of the cocktails are made amazing. A lot of these restaurants are cheapening everything and expecting customers to pay out of their ass for everything and giving us bad quality, food and drinks.

Came back to Siena Cafe for a low key Sunday night dinner. To my surprise they still have happy hour drinks! Hubby was able to get a beer for the hh price. We arrived for an early-bird dinner, around 5:30pm and restaurant was lively! Bar was full and large groups filled the indoor tables. The service was rather slow this time, however we were in no rush whatsoever so we told them to take their time. We ordered several apps to share, we got the crispy calamari, polpette (meatballs) and the eggplant rollatini. Wow! The calamari was delicious, the meatballs had such flavor and I always love a chunky tomato sauce. And the eggplant rollatini was my fav! In fact I prefer this dish over the eggplant parm (which I got last week). I enjoyed this dish very much. For entrees, we shared the chicken parm and lasagna Classico. The chicken parm was ok, slightly on the dry side. However the lasagna made up for this. It was one of the best lasagnas I've had, full of chunky meat sauce. Normally lasagnas I think they are mushy with the pasta in between however this was not the case at all. Overall Siena is becoming our go-to spot, love the service and the food is on point. And to top it off, the prices are very reasonable! A staple client, for sure.

Went for bottomless brunch and it was great. Price was a great deal - 32$ for food and unlimited cocktails? Best in manhattan The food and drinks were good, drinks were also heavy pours which was great. Restaurant was super cute and clean, and service was wonderful.

One of the nicest neighborhood spots to visit when ever I am in the upper east side. Food is always on point !

Friday 6:30pm Finding space at bar was a challenge and hence decided to check out this spot post dinner as there were 2 seats waiting for us . Happy hour was until 7 which made it an easy choice to come here as well . The bartender was friendly and welcomed most of the customers as they walked In and seemed to have known them ( frequent customers perhaps )? I was excited to try the wings as despite having had sushi prior to coming here , I was craving for wings . Unfortunately, it was disappointing as it's evident it was pre fried and was overcooked when I had them ( it looked better than it tasted ) . Got the Parmesan fries as a side dish and was good . Other people who had food looked to have enjoyed their meals so maybe I just ordered the wrong dish . We sat at three bar but the restaurant looked decent and was full of diners . Good place to meet up friends at the bar or to have food if you live in the neighborhood. ( which I don't ).

(4/20/24) Did brunch here today. 8 of us. Absolutely a must do. The best brunch deal of the entire Upper East Side. $32 for bottomless 90 minute brunch drinks plus entree. Amazing staff. The Parmesan pizza with chicken was enough for 3.

Hubby and I tried this restaurant by accident. We were planning to go to the Greek restaurant by the corner on the same block, but after looking at the tomato sauce and gaining a pleasant smell while passing by, we decided to stop. We went back for dinner the following week. Our first dinner was excellent, from the service to the food. We enjoyed it so much. We had Ella as a server. She was professional and helpful. We sat outside in a beautiful garden-like area. We had amazing baked clams, black fettuccine with shrimp, smoked salmon, and crispy artichoke. Everything except the artichoke was delicious! That tomato sauce was unique. I love solid and rich tomato sauce. This one was meant for me. We came back the following week and sat inside. I had branzino and Hubby had chicken Milanese. We also had baked clams again. Just when I thought I would lose some weight, this kept pulling me back in! I can't escape! Everything was perfect, except we didn't have a friendly server. Our waitress this time was unfriendly. Regardless, we enjoyed both dinners!

We were looking for a place to eat after the museums. We saw this place packed. So must be good. Luckily we got a table. Cute busy place. But service is a little slow, took like over 20 minutes after we sat to get someone to take out order. Food is great. We had Gnocchi w short rib ragu, shrimp scampi, lobster ravioli and caccio peppe. All perfectly cooked. Passion Margarita was $12 nice n strong. The bathroom door is right by the kitchen, can be a disaster if you don't pay attention w dishes coming through so be careful. Find us great, I'll definitely come back if I'm in the area.

Came here for my birthday dinner, and if you want a subpar experience for pricey happy hour food, you've found the place! Our server knew that it was my birthday as my friends gave her the cake ahead of time as a surprise. YET SHE ACTED LIKE SHE COULD NOT BE BOTHERED TO BE THERE. For a nearly $30 price tag on pasta and $15 for the most boring salad you've ever had, I should not feel like I'm bothering you. I guess it's a cute spot with great decorations, but if I am ever invited here and I see the server we had, I would simply turn around.

The quality of their food appears to go on a model of "garbage in / garbage out." All the drinks appear to be made with artificial mixes. The quality of food & drink can't seem to compete with local food trucks (there's an empanada truck on Lexington Avenue and 78th with food that's better than anything served at Siena). But please, don't take my word for it. Go see for yourself and compare. If you're lucky enough to own a Manhattan restaurant, you really should strive for better. The is entirely undeserved. Those responses are mostly from the owner's family & friends.

This place was decent. We were seated promptly outdoors but service was a bit lacking. Our appetizer came out with the meal (and wasn't very good) and our server seemed to have very little training or attention to our table.

I was looking for an Italian place to eat at for dinner recently & stumbled upon this restaurant. The scenery & decor inside is very picturesque & the food was amazing!! I had a pasta dish with rigatoni, vodka sauce, burrata, & basil (can't remember the name of the dish but it was delish!!). The service was quick & easy, the staff were very polite & overall I had a great experience at Siena. I will definitely be returning here for dinner another time to try their other menu items!!!

I cannot get enough of Siena!! The staff is always so welcoming and attentive. The vibes we're fun and upbeat today. Literally tried half the menu today. Couldn't decide which to get won or got both of The Gnocchis, and both are delicious!!! The crostinis were superb. Just got back from Europe and I swear the mushrooms tasted the exact same, fresh and delicious. The salads are always so guilt free and yummy. The clams were perfectly seasoned and the salmon crostini was the perfect bite to share. The flavors complement so well! I'll be back to try the rest of the menu for sure!!

I stumbled upon Siena Cafe by accident during my afternoon walk and what a lucky find! The music was what attracted me first and i had to ask for the playlist! The Tri Colore salad (which I added grilled chicken to) was a delightful surprise - fresh, flavorful, and satisfying. The service was top-notch, making the accidental visit a memorable one. Definitely deserving of five stars! Will have to come back and try other things on the menu! Ps. Best grilled chicken i had so far!

I'm surprised at the low rating for this place! I thought it was a solid Italian spot on the upper east side. Ambience:: I love the location! After a day at the met or the Guggenheim this is a great spot to come and get some food. The outdoor space is nice and has a romantic vibe. You forget that you are on a busy street bc it's well protected from the cars. Service: good service. They didn't rush us which I really appreciated and were extremely friendly Food: the Arancini is a must! So flavorful and cheesy. We got the mushroom risotto as a larger size - instead of small plate and it was very good! I would come back just for the risotto! I got the pest gnocchi which was very good and felt very fresh. I appreciated that they gave us Parmesan and chili flakes to add to our meal at our convenience Price: very reasonably priced - especially for portion sizes

Nice relaxed neighborhood Italian restaurant and bar with good ambiance in the Upper East Side. Friendly staff and good food. My wife loved her lobster ravioli, my Italian wedding soup was very tasty (a bit more like a minestrone with very fresh vegetables and no meatballs) and the arancini and the truffle pasta and fresh pasta our daughter and son-in-law had were very good as well. Friendly bar service while we waited for our table too.

Great local spot I visit for happy hour and light bites. I haven't tried the main dishes but it's been a quality experience every time.

Really disappointing experience tonight for dinner. We were seated quickly, and the menu looked good. I ordered the shrimp scampi, and my friend ordered the chicken parm. The bread was okay, nothing special. Our meals came rather quickly. My shrimp scampi was honestly gross. The shrimp was fine, but there was so much parsley on it that it was overpowering. The pasta had absolutely zero flavor, neither did the sauce. My friend's chicken was okay, but the pasta similarly lacked flavor. Our food was also lukewarm. They clearly forgot to salt the water. They didn't even offer red pepper flakes or Parmesan cheese to either of us, which is strange. The biggest issue was the service. No one even came over to ask if we were liking our food, or to refill our waters... When we were heading out, our waitress just stared at us - she didn't even say goodbye. It was just an extremely weird experience and there are so many great places nearby... skip this one.

Oh wow that was a quiet interesting finding!! They're really take care of you Thank you zalo

One of my favorite spots. it's intimate, dimly lit, decorated nicely, and really great cocktails and food. Amazing service! (Gabbi, Amir, and Zalo are the best). A great place to go solo at the bar or in the back room for dinner (I've taken both my parents here, and they've enjoyed it and they are VERY picky). They have a really cute outdoor area too.

Such a cute vibe! Perfect for date night or a girls lunch! Drink are strong! But I'm not complaining !

A lot of mixed reviews, so let's get straight to the point. Sienna has been SOLID post COVID. Service is on point. Kitchen is consistent. Friendly hard working staff. Fun bartenders. Cute and clean environment. I just Love this space, much more relaxed and conducive to a quiet night of conversation. Is this a destination restaurant? No. Siena is a local Italian café in the UES that is now buzzing every night. Bound to have a fun night out and meet interesting locals! Happy hour is a plus with their seasonal drink menu. I always order the Fried Calamari! Cooked to perfection. Wonderfully seasoned, lightly battered fried crisp with soft and tender squid. There is high level execution here that comes directly from Culinary 101. All of their pasta dishes are well executed, and the sea food tastes fresh from the sea. Siena has every aspect of a restaurant that makes me feel warm and happy. It's like you're at a house of an Italian grandmother who just invited you to come in for some hearty dinner...the place is small, lightly dimmed, homey, romantic, and nostalgic. I recommend this to all my UES'ers.

Wow, I am surprised to see the rating of this great Italian restaurant is not that high. This is a very pleasant spot if you want to have a nice long dinner or lunch with your family or friends. Maybe not so good if you're in a rush. Good place for locals and tourists alike. I was impessed how quickly we were seated considering the busy time. We tried different pizzas, salad and fried calamari and food is very decent if not great. Ambiance is relaxing and romantic (indoors). Staff is very friendly and that's what bought me the most. Therefore the 5 star review for this restaurant. Keep up the good work!

We eclipsed the Eclipse by celebrating our wedding luncheon/dinner yesterday. It was the perfect place. It was quiet enough for a Monday afternoon that we weren't rushed; the service and food was great and a wonderful time was had by all.

Honestly, I didn't love the food here. I ordered the gnocchi pesto pasta and it just wasn't great- I think it could've used a little more flavor. The service was nice and the restaurant had a casual vibe, but overall I didn't love the food. However, the restaurant was very accommodating for the amount of people that we had in our party- around 25, and didn't make us order a set menu, which was greatly appreciated.

The ambiance was what drew me into this Italian themed restaurant. Lots of pretty overhead lights, spacious seating, and a good vibe overall. I ordered the "fig in the city' cocktail which was a spin off of the cosmopolitan. Very good drink, but more juice than should have been. I couldn't taste the fig as much and it was garnished with a blood orange. I ordered the gnocchi pesto. I liked that they gave fresh cheese and crushed red pepper for the table with your order. I had to ask for the bread, which is a trend that I'm hating, especially at an Italian restaurant. Gnocchi was very good itself - the sauce left a little more to be desired. It needed more basil and salt in my opinion. It was a nice portion. A little bit more on the pricey side too but that's the cost of living here. The server was incredibly nice and we were seated in the corner away from everyone. Overall, it was good. The food was okay. I would come back if I were in the area but wouldn't necessarily seek it out.

Siena Cafe is a great choice for brunch! They have a bottomless option that includes a main course, a side dish and unlimited drinks for 90 minutes for $29. This is the best deal I've seen in the neighborhood and aside from that, I was impressed by the overall experience. Siena Cafe has a very nice outdoor setup. If you're going to dine outside on a cold day, make sure to get a table with a heater that's right above your table. Our server was very friendly. At times it took him a while to come over and refill our drinks but in the end we had our fill and were happy overall. For the bottomless drink option you can order white and red sangria, mimosas, rossinis (strawberry and sparkling wine), bloody marys. You can try all of these offerings too, you don't have to stick to just one. For brunch I had a cheeseburger with home fries. It was very good! Not the best burger I've had, but a very good one. The home fries were also good- although I really liked my friend's French fries so I would recommend getting those instead. Our group was not rushed at all! I should note that we were sitting outside on a very cold day so that may be part of the reason we had such a leisurely meal. I'll go back to Siena Cafe for sure!

Tom was great! I pass this spot often on my walk around the neighborhood and have only been for brunch. The branzino was excellent and ambiance was 10:10. Will have to check out the happy hour

This is a beautiful establishment. The food is great. The service is even better. Great addition to the neighborhood.

A strong 5 stars for the experience!! I had a blast here. This is the place to go if you want to further new friendships and refuel existing ones. There's no better and more economical way to do so than through their Bottomless Brunch! For $29, you can enjoy a variety of bottomless beverages and an entree. The waitress was attentive and generous with drinks and facilitated in festivities of the table. I got the smoked salmon omelette with a side of sausage which was realistically like 3 stars but I was in too high of spirits to mind. The restaurant was also lightning quick in cleaning up a small accident I witnessed outside of the bathrooms. Overall, I would 100% come again, but not too frequently so as to let my liver rest.

The drinks and food are alright, the area is kind of small. There are better options for brunch in thr area in my opinion.

Had the "cool as a cucumber" today for the first time.... WOW. Such a refreshing drink, and not too sweet at all. Grey goose vodka, fresh cucumber, mint, lime juice and Prosecco probably my new favorite drink.

Really cute and yummy restaurant. This has turned into a regular spot for me. The inside and outside seating are nice. The food always hits right. I have gone for brunch, lunch and dinner. Never disappoints. Service is good too. Very friendly and seem sincere.

I walked by this place so many times during my covid walks. Everyday of the week I saw people sitting in their cute outdoor dining set up, yet I never got here until recently. The food was fantastic! The inside was also just as cute as their outdoor set up and easily accommodated out large group of 8. I can't wait to come back and try something else.

Nice Ambience, Attentive Servers, delicious food. The best Italian restaurant in Upper EastSide.

The ambiance at Siena Cafe is cozy and intimate, with rustic décor that exudes warmth and charm. Whether you're enjoying a romantic dinner for two or celebrating a special occasion with friends and family, the atmosphere sets the stage for a memorable evening. The soft lighting, comfortable seating, and tasteful background music create an inviting and relaxed environment that encourages you to unwind and indulge in the flavors of Italy.Everyone in the restaurant is super friendly!

Siena is right on a main street in NYC and the place was very inviting. I really liked the interior decor. Not too bright and the ambience was only improved by the rock/jazz music in the background. We were part of a large party of about a dozen people and arrived late, so we missed most of the appetizers. Thank you Yankee traffic! I did have a chance to try the calamari and it was extra crispy and delicious. I ordered the Siena Rissotto. It was a decent sized portion with three large shrimp and plenty of calamari and rissotto. The rice was very tasty and just like you'd imagine rissotto to taste. I added a side of brussels sprouts and they were cooked well but not overly done. The service was good and overall it was a very enjoyable time.

Alla vodka was yummy, shrimp were fresh, people were nice :). They brought great bread and Parmesan to the table. Vibes are very chill and chill :).

This is my go to spot in UES for good ambience and great cuisine. Post Covid, not many establishments are up and running. Siena has managed to stay alive and reinvent to counter the Covid dilemma. They built up a nice outdoor atmosphere for dining and hanging out with friends. With that said, the quality of food has not slipped one bit. The food tastes even better than it did before. I heard they may have gotten a new chef. Nonetheless, the food is phenomenal here. I couldn't brag on one particular dish, but homemade pasta is a game changer. And, the specials made with that homemade pasta will keep you coming back. FYI: They serve brunch on the weekends. Best to make a reservation.

Food was fine service meh but biggest problem - an NYC brunch place where you have to pay for a coffee refill??? No thanks!

Average Italian spot in a city full of great Italian spots. Spaghetti and meatballs fit the bill but did not wow at all. Biggest issue I had here was the very slow service despite being a very quiet Tuesday night.

Love the food & service but noise is always a problem-excessive for dinner conversations!

I had high hopes for this uptown spot. It has an inviting interior and good service. But the food...honestly...doesn't live up to the space. Salmon tartare was bland and tasted like supermarket fish instead of the high quality salmon it should have been. Mussels and clams were overcooked and bland. Their claim that they make their pasta in house made us all order pasta...all of which was overcooked and mushy. The gnocchi was gluey and resembled a poorly cooked rice cake with a basil pesto sauce that had no pesto taste, only that of a slightly salty béchamel. Black fettuccini overcooked with overcooked shrimp and rubbery calamari, spaghetti and meatballs that could come from any average diner...reviews for this place made it seem like a solid choice, but our visit proved otherwise. We ate there between the lunch and dinner menu and they offered us the ability to order from either menu, which was a very gracious thing to do. Maybe our timing was wrong...with the kitchen unprepared for the dinner menu.

Siena is cute! The vibes are good for a date night or girls night. I was impressed with the Caesar salad - it was very fresh, crisp lettuce and good dressing. Not soggy at all which is such a pet peeve of mine for restaurant salads. I had the bolognese and was pleased to see that they offer half size portions which ended up being the perfect amount of food. The pasta was perfectly al dente and the sauce was really flavorful. I'll be back for brunch!

Food: 3 stars - 1st order salmon omelette- eggs were tasteless, no salt and the smoked salmon barely tasted the "smoked part" - 2nd order steak & eggs - the steak was chewy and felt a bit greasy - Coffee was see through and tasted like strong tea Service: 2 stars - Issue in the kitchen took our food an hour to come, they didn't manage expectations well or offer any redemption. Ambiance: 4 stars - Well decorated, nice vibes and nice music

This is a fun place to have a drink and a bite to eat. It has a cozy and lively vibe to it. You can order some nice small tasty bites. The food and service is good. Overall a nice place to hang.

Great bottomless!! The service was a little bit slow but that's because it was so busy. The food was super good too