Trattoria L'incontro

I used to love their Astoria restaurant. I'd been going there for over 15 years. This is the first time I've been new L’lncontro since they moved to Manhattan and everything has changed. Compared to Astoria, the restaurant is smaller and uncomfortable with many tables crammed into a small space, and the delicious freshly baked bread had been replaced by mediocre bread. One of my favorites, the lobster salad, was as delicious as ever, but Branzino had changed from a simple yummy grill to a tomato sauce flavor. Napoleon used to be filled with banana cream but now replaced with lemon cream. No more strawberries on top. Too bad, because for the past 15 years this has been my #1 favorite restaurant in NYC. It's changed from what it used to be, but it's definitely still at a high level.

I almost don't want to share how much I enjoyed L'Incontro by Rocco because it's crowded enough and I intend to go back often! We started with the white radicchio salad and the egg yolk large ravioli followed by the 32 ounce Porterhouse & the pistachio gelato with orange zest.- I mean everything was insane. So good. Just perfection. Bravo Rocco!!!

Fantastic experience. On the pricier end but really enjoyed. Highlights were the veal ragu, gnocchi, tiramisu, and crème brûlée.

I came here last night with two of my friends and we were very impressed with the customer service here. I've always seen this place, but never stopped in but I've been craving authentic Italian food. We made reservations for 5:30p which was clutch because after 6:15p on a Saturday this place was packed! To start the customer service was phenomenal and I was impressed with how the waiters remember all the specials because there were so many. They also checked on our table often to see if there was anything we needed. Now for the food, they have a Flatbread that comes with a red sauce to start which is very appetizing. We got the fig salad which was perfect to start along with the steamed clams. For my entree I got the Ravioli and I'm glad I did. Overall this meal was so satisfying that of course I wanted more. Happy most of all with the service. Thanks for having us and thanks for an amazing 1st time experience at your restaurant. I'll definitely come back soon.

We wanted to love this place bc it’s in the neighborhood, but the service was bad. The waiter was impatient, and the thing that really turned me off was that he packed our leftovers, chicken parm, fish, and the creamed spinach/potato side, together in one small container, which looked extremely unappetizing. I also felt the desserts were just very average. The wine list was good though.

Trattoria is a neighborhood gem and a stalwart that is just right to celebrate special occasions. My husband and I have always had delightful experiences dining there. Impressive service (it’s impressive how the staff remembers and recites the menus and specials!), delectable dishes and lovely environment. Their homemade pastas are fantastic. Go for their wine recommendations and you will not be disappointed!

We were in NY for a family event and wanted to try and Italian restaurant in the neighborhood that I grew up in. I researched the reviews of Trattoria L'incontro and decided to try. Oh my, what an exceptional dining experience. Authentic Italian food that is simply the best . Greeted warmly for our reservation and seated. Our Waiter and owner helped us select a wine from Tuscany and described the specials which were extensive. Decided to go with the squash blossom appetizer which was like how I grew up, a special fig salad and pasta as our main course. Absolutely amazing !! My wife and I said it could be the best Italian meal we have ever had including in Italy. Highly recommend !

One of our favorite restaurants! L’incontro’s new location is fabulous. Rocco and team provide nothing but the best service and quality of Italian food. A must try.

Believe the hype. I'm glad we got to go there when it was still "new". Night one of their full bar and the place was buzzing. Food was as others have said, phenomenal. Service, wonderful. Rocco, a gentile host who loves his customers. The prices were really fair and worth the quality of the food. A winner *****

Rocco is absolutely amazing! The food is incredible! The staff makes you feel like you are right at home! The Resturant is beautiful and the ambiance is great. Everyone is enjoying themselves and their dinner!!

upon arriving to this beautifully decorated spotless Italian restaurant I was truly taken back by the hostess and the bartender. making sure while waiting we were not left behind. they offered us cocktails of our choice. The menu was old school Italian with a touch of modern. where do I begin, the lobster salad was ridiculous, the cerviche took me back to Mykonos and the best was the veal that literally melted in my mouth no utensiss needed, the short rib wowww no words but my ultimate favorite was the homemade pasta with lobster ragu and the homemade rigatoni with ragu . there are no words except I felt like I was in Italy. the desserts were addictive and out of control. all I can say it was the best of the best!! YOU MUST TASTE FOR YOURSEL! I will be back as I already made my next reservation. thank you Rocco for coming to my table to make sure everything was ok. truly a gentleman and old school is the only way. thank you again!

We had a wonderful time here. It does have that fancy classic Italian vibe when you walk in and the service was superb along with it. Everything we had was really really good but the Ragu was EASILY the best thing we had. It was perfection. The sauce was perfectly savory and sweet and the veal and pancetta really added to it. Eggplant Rolatini was a great appetizer. The chicken parm was good but their pasta was so good that I would 100% skip it next time and get another pasta. Tiramisu was ELITE. Also Rocco himself came to our table and he just seems like an awesome dude and talked with him a bit. Sat with people at their table and truly added to the fun experience! Come to this place if you haven't yet!

We were looking forward to trying this well known Queens import. Then bar was hopping at 6 pm. The crowd at that time was, as expected, geriatric combined with young families. The music was offputting- it was elevator music from hell. The staff were lovely. We were started off with excellent bread with a tomato spread. Cocktails and wine were OK. The red wine is stored on display against the walls and is a bit warmer than ideal. We shared an excellent arugula, pear and Gorgonzola salad to start. My wife's chicken parmigiana was enormous and pretty good. I had the rigatoni with veal ragu. It was very flavorful but a bit gristly. Nice place with a nice festive vibe. There's a a lot of competition. 3.8 stars.

I visited this restaurant on a Sunday night, and it was quite crowded by 7 PM. We were seated at a table towards the back, which was ok I guess. We ordered two appetizers: the Burrata and the calamari. The Burrata was delicious, wrapped in prosciutto and accompanied by basil and cherry tomatoes. Unfortunately, the calamari was somewhat bland, and the crust just fell off the calamari. For the main course, we tried the "special" pork chop, which came with a cinnamon apple cherry glaze, string beans, and potatoes. It was quite good. However, I was eager to try the pappardelle with rabbit ragu, but it fell short of my expectations; the dish lacked flavor, even after adding salt and pepper. On a positive note, the Nero D'Avolo wine was delightful and definitely worth trying. The servers were attentive and friendly throughout our meal. While I noticed many five-star reviews that influenced my decision to visit, I wanted to provide an honest review of my experience.

We finally stopped by L'incontro and we were so excited! This restaurant is new, opened about 3 months ago and it is already packed! We got a 6pm reservation and when we arrived, it was completely full! This restaurant was previously located in Astoria, and have moved now moved to upper east side! We ordered the calamari and the meatballs to start, lately I've been always craving calamari, and this was excellent! I love calamari that is not completely drenched in breading and this was a perfect ratio. And the meatballs had a hint of truffle, which were so tender and delicious. Followed by the veal chop parmigiana (for 2) and the ragu (which I substituted for the spaghetti instead of rigatoni). Note that this restaurant makes all their pasta from scratch! Which I love even more! Overall it was a very relaxing evening and we got to enjoy the specials of this amazing restaurant. We are very much looking forward to returning!

Phenomenal new addition to the UES. I started off with the wild boar meatballs in a mushroom sauce - perfectly cooked and presentation 10/10. Then for my main I ordered the rigatoni. It comes tossed in an unreal veal and pancetta ragu. Even the free starter bread (you don't see that in NYC much anymore) with the homemade tapenade was amazing. L'incontro has secured a spot in the Italian night rotation. Well done.

I've visited L'Incontro by Rocco twice since they relocated to the UES. The food quality remains consistent with what was expected at their previous location in Astoria. The quality of the food and creativity demonstrated by Rocco is fantastic. There is a nice small bar in the front (beer/wine only) that is perfect for either dining or a pre meal drink. The staff is experienced and prompt. The only "issue" is the size of the space. Tables are closer together (similar to most other restaurants on the UES and throughout manhattan) and can be on the louder side. I'd recommend making a reservation to ensure you get a spot and getting a table for 4 in the middle of the restaurant which gives you a little bit more space from other diners. I didn't take photos of dessert but can vouch for the cannoli, semifreddo and gelati.

L'Incontro has been on me and my boyfriend's list of places to try since we learned the restaurant was opening on the UES and it did not disappoint!! My sister was in town visiting so we decided to make a reservation (highly recommend folks making a reservation as the place gets packed!) I loved everything about L'Incontro from the ambiance to the food. When you enter the restaurant you immediately see the cute little bar which was super packed with guests, the interior seems much bigger than it appears on the outside. The entire staff was very friendly and we did not have to wait but a few minutes to be seated. Our drink order was taken in a quick fashion and we were walked through the specials of the evening. The food was out of this world!! Here is what we had: Appetizers: - Calamari (so crispy and not chewy at all) - Raviolo (very small, but excellent!) Main course: - Fettuccine al Noro di Seppia ( the squid ink pasta was cooked to perfection and the lobster was unbelievable!) - Gnocchi di Ricotta (like little clouds and the cream sauce was everything!) - Tortaloni (I do not eat meat, but my boyfriend said that the veal inside the pasta was fantastic!) Dessert: - Tiramisu (so moist and delectable!! Must try) The chef brought us out these amazing little shots that were so good! (Cheers Chef Rocco!) I was over the moon delighted by the dining experience overall and will definitely be back! If you are wanting a fun night out with great food checkout L'Incontro by Rocco, you will not be disappointed.

Those 5 stars are real my people. NO LIE..This place deserves it. Lets begin with the staff. Every waiter is a seasoned professional. They're tone and mannerisms are of people that been in the game for a minute. I take 4 sips of my water..boom a refill. I finish an app...boom...new fresh cutlery. Like clock work. The vibe in there is new. Very updated. Not the biggest place but thats ok. It jus means you have more quality control. I did the specials tonight. Started with the wild-bore meatballs fire. Only sad part is theres only 2 in the order. Followed by Arugula salad with sliced pears fire!!!! And im allergic to pears but idgf. Cus im really bout it. Then did the veal ravioli with some sauce. Idk too fancy too remember but it was amazing. Also all pasta is made in house!!! Honestly dont know how this place doesn't have michelen stars already. But if you want to show your date you know good food this is the place to pull-up too.

I have to start off by saying that we loved Rocco's original restaurant in Astoria and loved everything about it, it was sad that he had to leave the area. Now on to this new spot. I'll have to say that they haven't missed a beat. The food is still some of the best Italian food you will ever have. Granted the portions are not huge, but this isn't family style, it's fine dining and that's exactly what you get, a damn fine and tasty meal. This new location is smaller than the original Astoria spot, but they do now have a full bar in the front of the restaurant if you want to sit and enjoy a drink and some food. And as always Rocco the owner is the best, so friendly and welcoming. Just all around great food, not cheap, but great all the same. This is a great addition to the upper Eastside food scene.

Absolutely amazing. One of the best chef, restaurant I have ever been to. Brings me back home to my heritage. Service amazing, ambiance amazing and food is out of this world. It is what my grandmothers and mom cooked to take your breath away.

Rocco is at it again, except on the Upper East Side. After 25 years in Astoria, Rocco's world renowned Tratoria L'Incontro is no more, despite that its last day was as busy as its first day and all its days in between. Landlords take note. Always be nice to your tenants. But I digress... L'Incontro by Rocco is a reimagined version of the original with all the je ne sais quoi that made the original a success for over two and a half decades. My gastronomical partner in crime and I happened to be standing on NYC's 82 St and 2nd Ave. corner looking east, when we noticed L'Incontro by Rocco. Earlier in the day coincidentally, we learned that the original closed and the culinary maestro reopened a new temple dedicated to the gods of gastronomy. On our inaugural visit--their third day open--of what will most certainly be many, many, more visits, we ordered a feast that consisted of the evening's special porterhouse for due, a mashed potato and broccoli au gratin puree, beet salad and Italian inspired Napoleon. We washed it all down with a bottle vinno rosso Symmetry. The menu is well-priced, crisp and concise. Their wine cellar is a curated with an excellent representation of all that's relevant. The staff is friendly, attentive and professional and many are familiar. How was our overal experience you may ask? Put it this way, if the M15 bus ran us over while recrossing Second Avenue, we would have passed to the netherworld in total happiness and content as provided by our hypothetical last meal. Book your reservation soon, while you still can....

Excellent food and phenomenal service. The tradition from their restaurant in Astoria continues. Every person on the hardworking staff from the busboy, waiter, manager and owner are on their game. Both Rocco and the manager visited our table to make sure our meal was going well. We enjoyed every dish, including eggplant rollatini, salad with fresh figs and prosciutto, parpadelle with rabit ragu, chicken parmigiana, rigatoni with ground veal and pancetta, and a special pasta with seafood. Our group was very impressed. The great reputation of this restaurant is well deserved.

Food and service was the best Italian food I have had in a long time. It's a little loud I went on Friday night was busy with a good vibe

Easily one of the best new additions if not the best addition the Upper East Side has seen in years. My friends and I had a 6:30 reservation on a weeknight, and the place was packed-- for good reason. The service was outstanding from start to finish. Our server, who shared that he's been with Rocco for 25 years, relocated from the original Astoria location along with the entirety of the staff), helped us with everything from wine recommendations to perfectly pacing our meal. The food was phenomenal. We started with zucchini flowers, eggplant rollatini, and a ricotta toast special--all perfectly portioned for our group of five. For the mains, we shared the chicken parm, veal, tomato pasta, and gnocchi. Each dish outdid the last--it was hands down one of the best meals any of us have had in NYC. On top of the incredible food, the warm and experienced servers, along with Rocco himself, made the experience personal by checking in throughout the meal. We wrapped up with olive oil cake and a complimentary scoop of pistachio gelato, both of which were fabulous. I will be back tomorrow. And the day after that, and the day after that.

If I could give it 6 stars out of 5 I would. Ambiance.. amazing, food... incredible, service...wow. Will be coming back for sure.

The legend continues just having moved to a new location. Goodbye Astoria hello Upper East Side. The newly built restaurant is an iconic modern, class act, with a nice bar and very comfortable generous seating. So yes Rocco still roams the dining room hugging everyone and putting out maybe the best classic Italian food in Manhattan, adding a dozen or so specials daily. Please don't all come at once, save some seats for me and my team. Rocco we salute you.

Very disappointed The place is very crowded, very noisy and very expensive. As far as the food is concerned the calamari were undercooked and soggy, the 2 pasta dishes we ordered were a little too salty. I have to say that the service was very good and the staff very helpful but unfortunately this is not a reason enough for me to go back there. By the way the original place in Astoria was by far much better

Rocco and staff have done it again or dare I say done it even better. Walking into the new L'incontro you feel like you're at home but with a new design. The ambiance is beautiful. The menu has many of the great original classics and some new items that were previously specials. The stuffed artichoke with fontina was the best stuffed artichoke the 4 of us ever had. The raviolo is perfection. The chicken parm is a large portion and comes with a pasta, was a hit. The slow cooked roasted pork was so tender you do not need a knife. It came with potatoes and escarole. The cacio e pepe was one of the best we ever had. Their pasta is made fresh. They have an extensive wine list with some reasonably priced options. The place was packed at 6:00 and continued to have a packed house when we left at 8:00. The service from all the staff is beyond accommodating. If you live in the area you now have a new neighborhood treasure. If you don't live in the area you must go to enjoy one of the best meals you ever had. I'm so thrilled Rocco has made his dream a reality. We can't wait to return. It's a big hit!!!

Been there twice already and going back tomorrow. Great food and service. Excellent beer salad and baked clams.

L'Incontro by Rocco is now on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in a very attractive, modern space. The ambiance and lighting are warm and welcoming. Rocco continues to cook up excellent food at prices that are not much different from those in Astoria. The portions are also adequate. It was good to see him again and to chat with him briefly at our table.

I've visited this place three times in the past few months, hoping to enjoy it given the glowing reviews. However, each visit revealed more shortcomings. Many customers seemed to be regulars from the owner's previous restaurant in Queens or very "bridge and tunnel". I now understand all the glowing reviews because these are all old customers accustomed to this type of restaurant, which is average at best. To me it felt like a lot of hype with little substance. Unfortunately, the food didn't meet expectations. This place touts itself as "upscale Italian restaurant featuring traditional Italian dishes". The presence of "chicken parmigiana" on the menu should have been a red flag, as it's not authentic Italian. My last time there I figured I would try veal parmigiana since my previous 2 "authentic" main courses fell short. My veal parmigiana was disappointingly soggy, the mozzarella appetizer was rubbery, and the salumi tasted like something from a deli. The one standout was the pasta with tomato water, which was truly delicious each time we had it. The wine list, presented on an iPad, was underwhelming and overpriced for what it offered. I expected a large and diverse selection since it is on an iPad, but it featured mostly average wines with familiar labels like Tignanello and Sassicaia, lacking any unique options or vintages. Additionally, the noise level was unbearable. We are not old nor hard in hearing. At 42, my wife and I struggled to have a conversation. The chef is always present as you can hear him from the opposite side of the dining room. It felt like the chef prioritized chatting with familiar faces over attending to other diners. I wanted to like this place, but feels like an overhyped Queens or Long Island Italian - American red sauce joint. Not the self described "upscale Italian restaurant featuring traditional Italian dishes" experience.

Food was outstanding. Everything we ordered was perfectly cooked & seasoned. Meat was soft and juicy, pasta was al dente. We tried: Appetizers: calamari, octopus, burrata, fig & prosciutto salad, tuna tartare Entrees: 2 person porterhouse steak, tagliarini with tomato water, chicken scaloppini, braised short ribs over polenta, osso boco pasta, puree spinach & garlic, string beans & potatoes. Dessert: tiramisu, cheesecake, napoleon Service was impeccable. Super kind, unpretentious waiters who were so attentive in refilling drinks & making sure we had everything we needed. They were so elegant when serving & made sure they distributed the leftovers before taking dishes away. Ambiance: the perfect place for any celebration. Tastefully and beautifully decorated. 2 restrooms that were clean. Bar in the front was convenient for waiting for additional guests to arrive. This place is one of the best restaurants I've been to in Manhattan. I can't believe it's not received a Michelin star!

Our first time at this restaurant and what a disappointment. We wanted to start with appetizer fried calamari that wasn't cooked enough. I ordered the stuffed artichoke. When the waiter brought it out to me it didn't look like a stuffed artichoke. it was an inch of mush on a dish. horrible. The waiter was very pushy as I wanted to start with appetizer then afterwards decide what to order, well he demanded that we order main dishes plus appetizers in the beginning. You mush order a main course. Very pushy waiter. Food not good. Beaut decor but we won't go back.

Food was delicious. Great menu, whatever we ordered was amazing. Portions generous - but not over the top. A lot of "specials" .... Service was very nice all throughout the meal - tho it did take a while to get bill delivered to table, tho I think they were just trying to not make us feel rushed Ambiance was very nice - table setting / presentation was impecabble and thankfully didn't feel squished or overly crowded - tho was a bit brighter than I'm used to

Food and service top notch. Chef Rocco has done an incredible job and wish him much success on the UES.

Beautiful place, smooth music, impeccable service and fantastic food. This was our First time back to NYC in 24 years and this was a special treat.

I was touted by a friend to try L'Incontro when it was in Astoria. Long story short, I finally got there in Manhattan. Rocco is veerry charming, and a fabulous host. The food is ethereal. I met strangers there who will now be friends. All around an amazing evening,and I'll be back soon.

Have now gone twice in past two weeks with friends during middle of the week. The nice physical ambiance, good food and fair service is ruined by the extremely loud noise. Looks like they added a few tables since their opening a few months back.They might consider adding some sound proofing ceiling and wall materials to soften.

Nice addition to the UES. Service was great - whole team is from the Astoria location. Food was well done and place was packed all night. Will be back.

sorry it has moved to the Upper East Side, but it's still my favorite restaurant. A huge selection of daily appetizers, entrees, salads, pasta etc. I've never eaten from the menu. My only MAJOR problem is the prices of the specials should be provided to the customers! This is something I ALWAYS complain about.

Walked in off the street around 8:30 PM. The restaurant was packed. I was by myself and got lucky and sat at the bar. I ordered a Prosecco and a chickenParm, it was my first experience there and extremely positive. I will be going again with my wife to sit at a table And get the full experience. I also had the pleasure of meeting Rocco, who was charming and an excellent chef.

Very nice atmosphere, service is excellent and food is very good. Only objection is that portions are small for the price. My only criticism. THat is why 4 stars, not 5.

We four of us just ate here and it was fabulous!! The food and Staff were Great!! We will Definitely be going back. Always loved his Astoria site but so glad it's open on the UES!!

My husband & I were great fans of Trattoria L'Incontro in Astoria. Chef Rocco has moved into beautiful space on the Upper East Side of Manhattan as L'Incontro by Rocco. The food is beyond fabulous-the same wonderful dishes we had in Astoria! The service is outstanding -very attentive but never intrusive! We had my 60th birthday celebration there last night and I cannot thank Chef Rocco, his right hand man, Carlos, and the rest of the team enough for a fabulous evening!! -Maria from New Jersey

What a treasure! Rocco's new restaurant is just beautiful and inviting, and the food is terrific. Thankfully the glorious sun dried tomato dip came with him from Astoria, and the favorite stuffed artichokes and eggplant rollatini as well. Many dishes are familiar and a bit refreshed, some are new, and all our group tried were beautifully presented and totally delicious. One guest declared the cacio e pepe the best ever. The staff, many recognizable from Astoria, are helpful and professional. What a gift to the neighborhood.