This has become one of our favorite eateries for dinner in this area after several other local restaurants closed, and overall we have been happy with our choice. The service has always been attentive and the food has always been very good, and they have always accommodated our dining partners' preferences.
(4)
Mabel Y.
I've passed over this place many a times, never again. I had a "romantic" dinner with a gal pal. The beet salad was presented as though it was a caprese (not bad, just unexpected). The risotto with truffled mushrooms was perfect for sharing. I was debating between the millefoglie and chocolate souffle for dessert and decided against the souffle when I was told that it would be ready in 4-5 mins (???). The millefoglie with fresh berries was so worth the calories! Any restaurant where the waiter runs 3 blocks to get a credit card back to you holds a dear place in my heart.
(4)
Bobby T.
Food, drinks and service low quality. Much better Italian restaurants nearby. It started when we sat down. They only offered us bottle water. Sneaky way to have us buy a bottle. I ordered a Kettle and soda that came back to me with a lower quality vodka. When I asked for a replacement a different waiter came back and said we don't have kettle. Couldn't drink and they still tried to charge me for top shelf. Food was horrible. I had the caesar salad which was inedible. It tasted like they made it at 12pm and we ate at 9. For my main course I had the rigatoni bolognese. Pasta was good but the bolognese sauce wasn't. Honestly it tasted like Chef Boyardee. All in all they don't spend money on fresh food, try and find ways to up charge you and doesn't match the quality of it's competition in the area. Piece of advice: On a Saturday, night if a restaurant in nyc isn't busy, there is something wrong. This was the case and I learned the hard way
(1)
Wake Me For Meal S.
We visit this neighborhood spot a lot because of the consistent food and service. We typically start with the creamy burrata and heirloom tomatoes along with the crispy calamari. The bianca salad is really good. Theo orders the spaghetti with marinara and is always satisfied. I like a few dishes-Penne Integrale Alla Primavera-really fresh. Also Petto Di Pollo Al Crema Di Gorgonzola has a lot of taste. Veal Piccata is also solid. The wine list is simple and affordable. I'm always happy with the experience.
(4)
Chris S.
We always pass on our way home from Sunday service but finally had the chance to stop in. Quick service, good natured staff and fantastic food. We're fans of the mini crab cakes. A nice green salad comes with everything. The outdoor seating was the perfect place to spend the last Sunday before we all go back to our regular work schedules!
(4)
Paul T.
My party of four just finished dinner at Bottega tonight (8/24/15) and had an excellent time. Service was excellent and the food was very good. Can't understand some of the negative reviews seen on this App. Must reflect on the attitude of some of the reviewers. We shared the fried calamari and eggplant, the sauteed portobello mushrooms with peppers, garlic and olive oil and the squid ink pasta with crabmeat for starters and were very pleased. For entrees, I had the veal chop, and the other members of the party had the seafood pasta in white sauce, the red snapper special, and the rigatoni pasta with meat ragu. Everyone was happy. I tried the veal chop with the review of one diner in mind that what he/she received was a pounded pork chop. What I was served was a genuine veal chop one and quarter to one and a half inch thick cooked to my liking (medium) with a mushroom sauce and served over asparagus. I can only surmise that the other reviewer ordered/received the veal scaloppini instead of the veal chop. For dessert, I wanted the chocolate lava cake, but my wife wanted to share the chocolate souffle instead. It was served with vanilla ice cream and was wuite delightful. The wine list was adequate and one can definitely find something in a moderate price range. We woukd definitely return to this restaurant again.
(4)
Elaine T.
Quite disappointed that a live roach was in the food served and the management attitude They have lost my business and I used to bring many clients and friends
(1)
Andrew C.
Bottega is an upper eastside restaurant that has a real feel of a nice neighborhood spot. The atmosphere is very pleasant with a large, comfortable setting and an active bar along with large open outdoor seating. The restaurant has excellent delicious appetizer selections that we enjoyed along with moderately priced quality wines. We will visit this restaurant again in the near future.
(4)
Paola B.
This place has great italian food, friendly service, and very nice ambience. I went for dinner on a saturday night and didn't have reservations. The place looked fairly full but they were able to accommodate. I wasn't very hungry so I just ordered an entree their salmon dish and it was perfectly cooked and amazingly juicy. I would absolutely return and try other dishes.
(4)
Nicole H.
Loved the service and food. They went above and beyond to make our experience Amazing.
(5)
Joan M.
To say I was treated shabbily at this restaurant would be an understatement. Had been here one time before and remembered the good food. Food good but service non-existent. Would have ordered more wine if waiter was present. My risotto was plopped in front of me. Had to track someone down to ask for cheese. Someone came by and reluctantly sprinkled some cheese on risotto and hurried away. Believe me, they were not at all busy. Planned on coffee and dessert but l opted for check instead. Had some trouble opening door when leaving and maître-d just ignored me even though he was standing right there. Many other restaurants in area where one is treated nicer. Never would recommend
(1)
Payam Z.
3.5 stars Bottega is the most recent restaurant to open in a space that has overseen an unusually high turnover in the past few years. The menu boasts a reasonable range of Italian dishes, but is overall very similar to other classic neighborhood joints such as Meditteraneo. The best dish from my experience in the pan seared swordfish with balsamic reduction and spinach risotto. The drizzled sauce complements the lightly seasoned fillet perfectly and the risotto makes a decent replacement of the typical vegetable side! Aside from that, the linguini al-vongole and the rigatoni di bologna are decent choices, the duck dishes are not done particularly well. Other notables are the friendly service and the large patio that however has an unsightly view of the 2nd Ave. subways construction. Overall I would probably visit again on account of the seafood, which was the specialty of the previous occupants anyways.
(3)
Ellen C.
My family and I were walking by and decided to try this place in our neighborhood for Mother's day. We ordered their fettuccine with chicken for our son, and instead of the fettuccine shaped pasta we asked for penne since it is easier for kids to eat. When his pasta came without the chicken. we told the waiter, he apologized and left, and the chicken didn't come until our son finished his pasta.. Also we ordered some fish my fish was cold, but my husband's swordfish was good.. Whenever we tried to ask a question or needed something nobody didn't come to our table, i saw some waiters heard us calling them but they pretended not to seeing us.. There were men with suits who had a weird attitude when we couldn't find the waiter we asked questions to them, they had sour faces and looked like they weren't understanding what are we talking about, we were asking bread, water and our sons chicken not a brain surgery tips.. We couldn't tell which one is a manager, but there were 3 men with a suit running around with a rude attitude. They all look they are in a hurry. When we asked the check we saw we were charged $25 for our son's pasta. The pasta we ordered was $17 when we asked the waiter, he said this is how they charge. Sorry, but we didn't understand when your chef forgot to put the chicken in when you brought the chicken awfully late in a separate plate you charge $10 extra. So we called to talk to the manager, he didn't listen to us, he looked at us dirty and said "this is what it is" he was so loud yelling us, we felt so bad like we did something is wrong... No, we will not pay $25 for a cheap pasta with tomato souce with an attitude! Anyways back and forth and with much yelling required tables close to us looking at us it is MOTHERS DAY! he changed the pasta to $18 like he is doing us a favor. We still paid the $120 plus tip, now i think we shouldn't pay any tip, and we are not going back. Too much attitude and too much robbery! The manger even almost ran over my son when we were coming out of the bathroom! he even didn't say sorry.. Too much full of themselves, ok food but not worth the rudeness! I would suggest everyone to save your money and go elsewhere where the food tastes fresh and the servers don't have an attitude..
(1)
Veronica M.
If you want to pay a whopping $36 for a flattened pork chop pretending to be veal, under a sedge of chopped arugula and diced supermarket tomatoes, this is your destination. The soups of the day were $9 each, and clearly from those big cartons of soup restaurants can buy. A modestly sized plate of fried zucchini, very oily, was $7. My companion had two glasses of indifferent vino. The bill came to $106.+ tip. Oh, the waiter forgot our order too, so we sat... and sat. He did apologise though. The other customers were loud and less than cool. Badly behaved kids next to us didn't help. We won't be going again. Don't you either--we road tested it for you!
(1)
Diane M.
Love this place!! Consistently good food. Service is always wonderful - attentive and cheerful waiters. Have brought many friends here and they all like it. My favorite is the arugula avocado salad and the Penni with tomatoes and cheese. Such a nice light pasta! Also love the decor and ample seating. Great value for the price!!
(5)
Dom L.
Simple Sunday late afternoon spot. Standard looking Italian restaurant exterior with open eating dining. We had a small dog with us and they kindly let us sit outside. We had 3 tasty tapas plates accompanied by excellent wine. They even bought Rhino (dog) some fresh water. Rating is based on the fact that we only ate appetizers but we would come back to here for dinner. Check it out
(3)
Alexander S.
The location is beautiful and exhibits a lot of old school charm. You sit right out on the street and are treated very well by the staff. It reminds me of a small restaurant in Italy. However, I expected more from the food - the calamari was delicious, but the portion was very small. And it took an hour to get our main course - underwhelming and smally apportioned pasta dishes. I'd much rather forgo the food and enjoy a glass of wine and a cigar out on the street patio. Perhaps the food will be more on point next time around.
(2)
Colin K.
Price point it a bit high considering the quality. Not to mention that the beer selection is poor (granted this is definitely not a beer spot). The food was OK. Quality was inconsistent from dish to dish. My dish was just OK, a bit flavorless and small. However, the other dishes seemed well proportioned and of higher quality -- though still not quite worth the price. Definitely not a go-to spot in the area.
(2)
James A.
Really nice restaurant that features excellent sidewalk seating, perfect for warm weather. Dined here last week & found the food quite good and affordable as well. I had the linguini with clams in a garlic and wine sauce and it was great. Nice sized portion and cooked very well. My date had the mussels which were also really good. We also each had a drink from the bar and they were both nice & strong ! All for under sixty bucks too. The staff was also very attentive and the owner or mgr also checked on us to make sure we were satisfied with everything. Very happy with the visit !
(4)
Ekrem E.
We thought it was going to be the best place for brunch when we sat down because our first impression was great: Good bread, good ambiance and friendly but slow service and a kind manager. Unfortunately, food was tasteless, poached eggs were hard boiled eggs and our dishes came out with no potatoes as opposed to what was indicated on the menu. Might go back if we read better reviews about the food.
(2)
Shaden M.
Great place went there for valentines and looking forward to go again .waiters were nice . Food is not expensive however the portions aren't so big so id advice u get an appetizer with your entree
(5)
Elena R.
Penne with tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella was delicious. Bread was yummy. We brought our own bottle of red for which there was a $35 corkage fee. Attentive service.
(4)
Alice T M.
love this place I eat here a least once a week. Great food and service. The MG is great and remembers you by name and I am always treated very well. The best food on the upper east side. Every dish this great taste.
(5)
Mia G.
Love this restaurant! Consistently good food and service. Very gracious atmosphere. Not loud and the tables are nicely spaced.
(5)
Julie T.
Food was delicious, great atmosphere, excellent service, and nice Barolo at a great price by the glass.
(5)
Larry Y.
Went back yesterday apparently Anthony isn't the owner like he came off to be to me there are two partners Gustavo and Dino who own this place a waiter told me that this Anthony does this all the time he tries to buy people off with a free drink instead of doing the right thing and replacing the bad food with food the way it was ordered.
(1)
Michael F.
The problem with so many Italian places in NYC is they try to pass themselves off as something special, when most are overpriced and have average food. Let's keep it real, if you have any amount of skill in the kitchen, you can cook some pretty decent Italian at home. That's the beauty of it. So if you are going to eat out at an Italian restaurant, it better be great. It better make you think "there is no way in hell I could have made this." Unfortunately, Bottega is not one of those restaurants. Decent enough food, service was fine. The same as about 1000 other Italian restaurants in NYC...
(3)
Fabi O.
Had a business lunch there and the setting was perfect, there was no one there the whole time we sat for 2 hours!. The food on the other hand was just ok. I started with the CAPRESE DI BUFALA. I know tomatoes are not in season but these really had no taste. For the main course I had DENTICE ALLA LIVORNESE which was described as red snapper. There was no way this was red snapper, it was flavorless, even the capers had no zing. The fish either was overcooked or it was tilapia. Pass on this.
(2)
Arielle E.
Bottega was a fantastic find. I went with my husband and his family for a Saturday night dinner. The restaurant was busy but not loud. The calamari appetizer with zucchini was good, nothing special. My husband and I both got the pappardelle with duck ragu and it was incredible. Generous portion, the noodles were cooked perfectly, the sauce was delicious, and the duck could not have been more scrumptious. To top it all off the entree was only $18. The chocolate lava cake was a great ending to the meal. Definitely recommend Bottega.
(4)
A. K.
It is a very pretty place, and the manager is a gentlemen. Bread needs to be improved, and the "free" dips are much too oily. The mains were reasonable priced and good. The appetizers weren't as good. There would be more incentive to go back if the wine prices didn't begin in the $40 range. There should be some bottles in the low 30s.
(2)
Tina P.
I love this place. Not only is the food wonderful but the service is topnotch as well. I especially love the Chilean Sea Bass when they have it as a special but the seafood that's regularly on the menu is also quite tasty as are special dishes like the Osso Bucco. For one thing, the sauces are interesting because they have a lot of flavor but they don't bury things. The pastas that I've tried are also good (I particularly like he black pasta with crab) and if you order filet mignon medium rare it comes medium rare and not medium or well done. Although the duck breast was not made the way I usually like it (it was cooked more and in a peppery sauce) I have to admit that I still found it quite good. The vegetables and salads also meet my expectations. But the one thing I've gotten REALLY fussy about these days is SERVICE and I find that the service here is both pleasant and professional. The staff recognizes repeat guests as well and will take a moment to make you feel special, they've even offered after dinner drinks and dessert after repeat visits. The outside seating section is also nicely done but, unfortunately, it is currently facing Second Avenue subway construction. Don't let that stop you though because this place is well worth a visit. (and just wait....in a few years it'll be really nice)
(5)
J T.
My friend and I were looking for a nice place to have wine and a light dinner--Bottega seemed to have a really great atmosphere. And it's true! The ambience was lovely--casual but still classy. The host was very accommodating, but as soon as we were seated, it was as if we were not even there. All of the waiters ignored us and did not even ask for our drink orders nor gave us any bread while they served EVERYONE ELSE around us. And when we tried to get someone's attention, they would snap at us and cut us short. Finally, after half an hour of waiting, our waiter came and was very rude and snappy toward us--cutting us off and not even apologising for the delay in their services. What a shame because the atmosphere seemed great and the food was good. We got the shrimp spaghetti and the bow tie pasta with broccoli rape as well as the portabello salad. Overall, decent meal and atmosphere, but bad service.
(2)
Chris C.
I'm giving Bottega five stars, and I don't award that many stars lightly! This is not a super-expensive, super-fancy Italian place. It's a medium-expensive, medium-fancy Italian place like many of the others like it on the UES. However, in my opinion, it's the best of the places of this genre. It doesn't try pretend to be anything it's not - it's just honest good food and excellent service. The other night, our waiter, Enrique, really made our night. He joked and cajoled with us, and by the time our night was over, we really felt at home. We will definitely be back.
(5)
Scott F.
Their Penne Pomodoro & Mozzarella dish is excellent. Looking forward to going back.
(4)
Katelyn F.
I do love this place! I came here with my brother and dad, as my brother works at the hospital down the road. It was so tasty, and not as costly as some restaurants in the area. I forget exactly what I had but it was fabulous. Cavatelli something.. mmmm. My dad got something that he found a little misleading to what was described on menu. My brother loved his dish. The bread and oil/herbs is also pretty noteworthy. The decor in the restaurant is very well done. And love that there are plenty of windows, so even if it's a chilly night you can sit along side the street and still enjoy people watching, or whatever you like. We will be back!
(4)
Janet A.
Just had lunch here. I was a little nervous since I was the only one here (my impression is that it's more of a dinner spot because of the price point). Had a mesclun avocado salad to start, which was adequate. My entree, pan seared filet of sole in a lemon caper white wine sauce, was quite good. Service very nice too. Overall it was a worthwhile treat in between doctor appointments.
(3)
Will B.
A good quality Italian meal. Great service, great atmosphere and good solid food. Yes not mind blowing Italian but solid classic dishes.
(4)
Massimo P.
This is a classic Italian eatery (with courteous Italian waiters), yet it was surprisingly good and relatively inexpensive. The insalata bianca (with fennel) was interesting, and the swordfish with risotto absolutely delicious. Good selection of wines by the bottle, less varied by the glass.
(4)
Rich H.
Drastic drop in quality and service from Greek restaurant previously in this location. Best part of the meal was crusty bread on table with complementary sundried tomato spread. Downhill from there. -- Sauteed mushroom appetizer was tasteless and slivered mushrooms were hidden by equally tasteless sauteed peppers. -- Beet salad was fresh, lightly dressed and enjoyable. -- Grilled octopus entree was sad. Rubbery, tasteless octo surrounding a mound of overcooked spinach. Service was ridiculously slow. Main course took an hour to arrive even though the resto was only half full. Our friendly waiter seemed as frustrated as we were. Outdoor seating was pleasant enough, despite the view of Second Ave subway construction. Bottom line: Even with fairly reasonable prices, this place isn't worth the time.
(2)
Russell W.
OK UES Italian restaurant. I'd go back.
(3)
T M.
This place gets 5 stars just for their customer service! So nice and welcoming and inviting. We just wanted a dessert and some wine and they easily let us sit at a table and not mind that we didnt order dinner. The food however did look delicious. I would def come back here to try the food. But its a nice relaxing place to sit and chat with friends over some nice wine!
(5)
James L.
Really nice place, excellent service. The problem is with the food. I once had a superior papardelle with duck ragu here several months ago. And so I was craving it again and that's why I came back. It was no longer on the menu. I chose fettucine with olive oil, vegetables and chicken instead. The chicken was way over-cooked and rubbery to firm, and the pasta was blah, with poor seasoning. The rubbery calamari appetizer was extremely disappointing with a watery tomato dipping sauce and practically no seasoning. I'm comparing it to the tender consistent perfection of the calamari at Wa Jeal up the street, or at a Carraba's anywhere. The tiramisu was alright, though it seemed heavy on the marscapone/whipped cream and light on the soaked lady fingers. I can not imagine ever wanting to come back. Extremely disappointing food.
(2)
Thornchaya N.
Me and my boyfriend came here for lunch. The server was very polite. We had funghi trifolati it was mushroom appetizer it was very flat taste also my spagh shrimp i had as well. Disappoint about food but the restaurant is clean service is nice.
(3)
Justin P.
Somehow my finace and I were able to walk in on a Saturday night and be seated 10 minutes later. We were both impressed with the interior decor which definitely added to the experience. We ordered two antipasti's: calamari (good), and asparagus wrapped in prosciutto (apparently this is served cold, which we didn't expect, but was excellent nonetheless). We split the Spaghetti Mediterraneo (spaghetti, shrimp, sundried tomatoes, olive oil) which was also very good except it only came with 4 shrimp which was a little disappointing. For desert we had a wonderful piece of homemade Tiramisu which definitely topped off the meal. All in all we had a very enjoyable dining experience for an affordable price and I'm sure we'll be back soon.
(4)
Ed S.
Food and service are both good for this upscale Italian resto. I had the ravioli of the day which was smoked salmon w/ ricotta, and my wife had the spaghetti mediterraneo. Portions are generous, flavor is good and service is attentive w/o being hovering. Good selection of wines to go w/ our meals and desserts were well executed.
(4)
Meghan M.
Similar sentiments as the others. I went for the first time about a month ago. The gnocchi was out of this world with a perfect portion size and amazing cream sauce. Our waiter was amazing, joking with us and making us feel like we were regulars. I can't wait to go back.
James I.
This has become one of our favorite eateries for dinner in this area after several other local restaurants closed, and overall we have been happy with our choice. The service has always been attentive and the food has always been very good, and they have always accommodated our dining partners' preferences.
(4)Mabel Y.
I've passed over this place many a times, never again. I had a "romantic" dinner with a gal pal. The beet salad was presented as though it was a caprese (not bad, just unexpected). The risotto with truffled mushrooms was perfect for sharing. I was debating between the millefoglie and chocolate souffle for dessert and decided against the souffle when I was told that it would be ready in 4-5 mins (???). The millefoglie with fresh berries was so worth the calories! Any restaurant where the waiter runs 3 blocks to get a credit card back to you holds a dear place in my heart.
(4)Bobby T.
Food, drinks and service low quality. Much better Italian restaurants nearby. It started when we sat down. They only offered us bottle water. Sneaky way to have us buy a bottle. I ordered a Kettle and soda that came back to me with a lower quality vodka. When I asked for a replacement a different waiter came back and said we don't have kettle. Couldn't drink and they still tried to charge me for top shelf. Food was horrible. I had the caesar salad which was inedible. It tasted like they made it at 12pm and we ate at 9. For my main course I had the rigatoni bolognese. Pasta was good but the bolognese sauce wasn't. Honestly it tasted like Chef Boyardee. All in all they don't spend money on fresh food, try and find ways to up charge you and doesn't match the quality of it's competition in the area. Piece of advice: On a Saturday, night if a restaurant in nyc isn't busy, there is something wrong. This was the case and I learned the hard way
(1)Wake Me For Meal S.
We visit this neighborhood spot a lot because of the consistent food and service. We typically start with the creamy burrata and heirloom tomatoes along with the crispy calamari. The bianca salad is really good. Theo orders the spaghetti with marinara and is always satisfied. I like a few dishes-Penne Integrale Alla Primavera-really fresh. Also Petto Di Pollo Al Crema Di Gorgonzola has a lot of taste. Veal Piccata is also solid. The wine list is simple and affordable. I'm always happy with the experience.
(4)Chris S.
We always pass on our way home from Sunday service but finally had the chance to stop in. Quick service, good natured staff and fantastic food. We're fans of the mini crab cakes. A nice green salad comes with everything. The outdoor seating was the perfect place to spend the last Sunday before we all go back to our regular work schedules!
(4)Paul T.
My party of four just finished dinner at Bottega tonight (8/24/15) and had an excellent time. Service was excellent and the food was very good. Can't understand some of the negative reviews seen on this App. Must reflect on the attitude of some of the reviewers. We shared the fried calamari and eggplant, the sauteed portobello mushrooms with peppers, garlic and olive oil and the squid ink pasta with crabmeat for starters and were very pleased. For entrees, I had the veal chop, and the other members of the party had the seafood pasta in white sauce, the red snapper special, and the rigatoni pasta with meat ragu. Everyone was happy. I tried the veal chop with the review of one diner in mind that what he/she received was a pounded pork chop. What I was served was a genuine veal chop one and quarter to one and a half inch thick cooked to my liking (medium) with a mushroom sauce and served over asparagus. I can only surmise that the other reviewer ordered/received the veal scaloppini instead of the veal chop. For dessert, I wanted the chocolate lava cake, but my wife wanted to share the chocolate souffle instead. It was served with vanilla ice cream and was wuite delightful. The wine list was adequate and one can definitely find something in a moderate price range. We woukd definitely return to this restaurant again.
(4)Elaine T.
Quite disappointed that a live roach was in the food served and the management attitude They have lost my business and I used to bring many clients and friends
(1)Andrew C.
Bottega is an upper eastside restaurant that has a real feel of a nice neighborhood spot. The atmosphere is very pleasant with a large, comfortable setting and an active bar along with large open outdoor seating. The restaurant has excellent delicious appetizer selections that we enjoyed along with moderately priced quality wines. We will visit this restaurant again in the near future.
(4)Paola B.
This place has great italian food, friendly service, and very nice ambience. I went for dinner on a saturday night and didn't have reservations. The place looked fairly full but they were able to accommodate. I wasn't very hungry so I just ordered an entree their salmon dish and it was perfectly cooked and amazingly juicy. I would absolutely return and try other dishes.
(4)Nicole H.
Loved the service and food. They went above and beyond to make our experience Amazing.
(5)Joan M.
To say I was treated shabbily at this restaurant would be an understatement. Had been here one time before and remembered the good food. Food good but service non-existent. Would have ordered more wine if waiter was present. My risotto was plopped in front of me. Had to track someone down to ask for cheese. Someone came by and reluctantly sprinkled some cheese on risotto and hurried away. Believe me, they were not at all busy. Planned on coffee and dessert but l opted for check instead. Had some trouble opening door when leaving and maître-d just ignored me even though he was standing right there. Many other restaurants in area where one is treated nicer. Never would recommend
(1)Payam Z.
3.5 stars Bottega is the most recent restaurant to open in a space that has overseen an unusually high turnover in the past few years. The menu boasts a reasonable range of Italian dishes, but is overall very similar to other classic neighborhood joints such as Meditteraneo. The best dish from my experience in the pan seared swordfish with balsamic reduction and spinach risotto. The drizzled sauce complements the lightly seasoned fillet perfectly and the risotto makes a decent replacement of the typical vegetable side! Aside from that, the linguini al-vongole and the rigatoni di bologna are decent choices, the duck dishes are not done particularly well. Other notables are the friendly service and the large patio that however has an unsightly view of the 2nd Ave. subways construction. Overall I would probably visit again on account of the seafood, which was the specialty of the previous occupants anyways.
(3)Ellen C.
My family and I were walking by and decided to try this place in our neighborhood for Mother's day. We ordered their fettuccine with chicken for our son, and instead of the fettuccine shaped pasta we asked for penne since it is easier for kids to eat. When his pasta came without the chicken. we told the waiter, he apologized and left, and the chicken didn't come until our son finished his pasta.. Also we ordered some fish my fish was cold, but my husband's swordfish was good.. Whenever we tried to ask a question or needed something nobody didn't come to our table, i saw some waiters heard us calling them but they pretended not to seeing us.. There were men with suits who had a weird attitude when we couldn't find the waiter we asked questions to them, they had sour faces and looked like they weren't understanding what are we talking about, we were asking bread, water and our sons chicken not a brain surgery tips.. We couldn't tell which one is a manager, but there were 3 men with a suit running around with a rude attitude. They all look they are in a hurry. When we asked the check we saw we were charged $25 for our son's pasta. The pasta we ordered was $17 when we asked the waiter, he said this is how they charge. Sorry, but we didn't understand when your chef forgot to put the chicken in when you brought the chicken awfully late in a separate plate you charge $10 extra. So we called to talk to the manager, he didn't listen to us, he looked at us dirty and said "this is what it is" he was so loud yelling us, we felt so bad like we did something is wrong... No, we will not pay $25 for a cheap pasta with tomato souce with an attitude! Anyways back and forth and with much yelling required tables close to us looking at us it is MOTHERS DAY! he changed the pasta to $18 like he is doing us a favor. We still paid the $120 plus tip, now i think we shouldn't pay any tip, and we are not going back. Too much attitude and too much robbery! The manger even almost ran over my son when we were coming out of the bathroom! he even didn't say sorry.. Too much full of themselves, ok food but not worth the rudeness! I would suggest everyone to save your money and go elsewhere where the food tastes fresh and the servers don't have an attitude..
(1)Veronica M.
If you want to pay a whopping $36 for a flattened pork chop pretending to be veal, under a sedge of chopped arugula and diced supermarket tomatoes, this is your destination. The soups of the day were $9 each, and clearly from those big cartons of soup restaurants can buy. A modestly sized plate of fried zucchini, very oily, was $7. My companion had two glasses of indifferent vino. The bill came to $106.+ tip. Oh, the waiter forgot our order too, so we sat... and sat. He did apologise though. The other customers were loud and less than cool. Badly behaved kids next to us didn't help. We won't be going again. Don't you either--we road tested it for you!
(1)Diane M.
Love this place!! Consistently good food. Service is always wonderful - attentive and cheerful waiters. Have brought many friends here and they all like it. My favorite is the arugula avocado salad and the Penni with tomatoes and cheese. Such a nice light pasta! Also love the decor and ample seating. Great value for the price!!
(5)Dom L.
Simple Sunday late afternoon spot. Standard looking Italian restaurant exterior with open eating dining. We had a small dog with us and they kindly let us sit outside. We had 3 tasty tapas plates accompanied by excellent wine. They even bought Rhino (dog) some fresh water. Rating is based on the fact that we only ate appetizers but we would come back to here for dinner. Check it out
(3)Alexander S.
The location is beautiful and exhibits a lot of old school charm. You sit right out on the street and are treated very well by the staff. It reminds me of a small restaurant in Italy. However, I expected more from the food - the calamari was delicious, but the portion was very small. And it took an hour to get our main course - underwhelming and smally apportioned pasta dishes. I'd much rather forgo the food and enjoy a glass of wine and a cigar out on the street patio. Perhaps the food will be more on point next time around.
(2)Colin K.
Price point it a bit high considering the quality. Not to mention that the beer selection is poor (granted this is definitely not a beer spot). The food was OK. Quality was inconsistent from dish to dish. My dish was just OK, a bit flavorless and small. However, the other dishes seemed well proportioned and of higher quality -- though still not quite worth the price. Definitely not a go-to spot in the area.
(2)James A.
Really nice restaurant that features excellent sidewalk seating, perfect for warm weather. Dined here last week & found the food quite good and affordable as well. I had the linguini with clams in a garlic and wine sauce and it was great. Nice sized portion and cooked very well. My date had the mussels which were also really good. We also each had a drink from the bar and they were both nice & strong ! All for under sixty bucks too. The staff was also very attentive and the owner or mgr also checked on us to make sure we were satisfied with everything. Very happy with the visit !
(4)Ekrem E.
We thought it was going to be the best place for brunch when we sat down because our first impression was great: Good bread, good ambiance and friendly but slow service and a kind manager. Unfortunately, food was tasteless, poached eggs were hard boiled eggs and our dishes came out with no potatoes as opposed to what was indicated on the menu. Might go back if we read better reviews about the food.
(2)Shaden M.
Great place went there for valentines and looking forward to go again .waiters were nice . Food is not expensive however the portions aren't so big so id advice u get an appetizer with your entree
(5)Elena R.
Penne with tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella was delicious. Bread was yummy. We brought our own bottle of red for which there was a $35 corkage fee. Attentive service.
(4)Alice T M.
love this place I eat here a least once a week. Great food and service. The MG is great and remembers you by name and I am always treated very well. The best food on the upper east side. Every dish this great taste.
(5)Mia G.
Love this restaurant! Consistently good food and service. Very gracious atmosphere. Not loud and the tables are nicely spaced.
(5)Julie T.
Food was delicious, great atmosphere, excellent service, and nice Barolo at a great price by the glass.
(5)Larry Y.
Went back yesterday apparently Anthony isn't the owner like he came off to be to me there are two partners Gustavo and Dino who own this place a waiter told me that this Anthony does this all the time he tries to buy people off with a free drink instead of doing the right thing and replacing the bad food with food the way it was ordered.
(1)Michael F.
The problem with so many Italian places in NYC is they try to pass themselves off as something special, when most are overpriced and have average food. Let's keep it real, if you have any amount of skill in the kitchen, you can cook some pretty decent Italian at home. That's the beauty of it. So if you are going to eat out at an Italian restaurant, it better be great. It better make you think "there is no way in hell I could have made this." Unfortunately, Bottega is not one of those restaurants. Decent enough food, service was fine. The same as about 1000 other Italian restaurants in NYC...
(3)Fabi O.
Had a business lunch there and the setting was perfect, there was no one there the whole time we sat for 2 hours!. The food on the other hand was just ok. I started with the CAPRESE DI BUFALA. I know tomatoes are not in season but these really had no taste. For the main course I had DENTICE ALLA LIVORNESE which was described as red snapper. There was no way this was red snapper, it was flavorless, even the capers had no zing. The fish either was overcooked or it was tilapia. Pass on this.
(2)Arielle E.
Bottega was a fantastic find. I went with my husband and his family for a Saturday night dinner. The restaurant was busy but not loud. The calamari appetizer with zucchini was good, nothing special. My husband and I both got the pappardelle with duck ragu and it was incredible. Generous portion, the noodles were cooked perfectly, the sauce was delicious, and the duck could not have been more scrumptious. To top it all off the entree was only $18. The chocolate lava cake was a great ending to the meal. Definitely recommend Bottega.
(4)A. K.
It is a very pretty place, and the manager is a gentlemen. Bread needs to be improved, and the "free" dips are much too oily. The mains were reasonable priced and good. The appetizers weren't as good. There would be more incentive to go back if the wine prices didn't begin in the $40 range. There should be some bottles in the low 30s.
(2)Tina P.
I love this place. Not only is the food wonderful but the service is topnotch as well. I especially love the Chilean Sea Bass when they have it as a special but the seafood that's regularly on the menu is also quite tasty as are special dishes like the Osso Bucco. For one thing, the sauces are interesting because they have a lot of flavor but they don't bury things. The pastas that I've tried are also good (I particularly like he black pasta with crab) and if you order filet mignon medium rare it comes medium rare and not medium or well done. Although the duck breast was not made the way I usually like it (it was cooked more and in a peppery sauce) I have to admit that I still found it quite good. The vegetables and salads also meet my expectations. But the one thing I've gotten REALLY fussy about these days is SERVICE and I find that the service here is both pleasant and professional. The staff recognizes repeat guests as well and will take a moment to make you feel special, they've even offered after dinner drinks and dessert after repeat visits. The outside seating section is also nicely done but, unfortunately, it is currently facing Second Avenue subway construction. Don't let that stop you though because this place is well worth a visit. (and just wait....in a few years it'll be really nice)
(5)J T.
My friend and I were looking for a nice place to have wine and a light dinner--Bottega seemed to have a really great atmosphere. And it's true! The ambience was lovely--casual but still classy. The host was very accommodating, but as soon as we were seated, it was as if we were not even there. All of the waiters ignored us and did not even ask for our drink orders nor gave us any bread while they served EVERYONE ELSE around us. And when we tried to get someone's attention, they would snap at us and cut us short. Finally, after half an hour of waiting, our waiter came and was very rude and snappy toward us--cutting us off and not even apologising for the delay in their services. What a shame because the atmosphere seemed great and the food was good. We got the shrimp spaghetti and the bow tie pasta with broccoli rape as well as the portabello salad. Overall, decent meal and atmosphere, but bad service.
(2)Chris C.
I'm giving Bottega five stars, and I don't award that many stars lightly! This is not a super-expensive, super-fancy Italian place. It's a medium-expensive, medium-fancy Italian place like many of the others like it on the UES. However, in my opinion, it's the best of the places of this genre. It doesn't try pretend to be anything it's not - it's just honest good food and excellent service. The other night, our waiter, Enrique, really made our night. He joked and cajoled with us, and by the time our night was over, we really felt at home. We will definitely be back.
(5)Scott F.
Their Penne Pomodoro & Mozzarella dish is excellent. Looking forward to going back.
(4)Katelyn F.
I do love this place! I came here with my brother and dad, as my brother works at the hospital down the road. It was so tasty, and not as costly as some restaurants in the area. I forget exactly what I had but it was fabulous. Cavatelli something.. mmmm. My dad got something that he found a little misleading to what was described on menu. My brother loved his dish. The bread and oil/herbs is also pretty noteworthy. The decor in the restaurant is very well done. And love that there are plenty of windows, so even if it's a chilly night you can sit along side the street and still enjoy people watching, or whatever you like. We will be back!
(4)Janet A.
Just had lunch here. I was a little nervous since I was the only one here (my impression is that it's more of a dinner spot because of the price point). Had a mesclun avocado salad to start, which was adequate. My entree, pan seared filet of sole in a lemon caper white wine sauce, was quite good. Service very nice too. Overall it was a worthwhile treat in between doctor appointments.
(3)Will B.
A good quality Italian meal. Great service, great atmosphere and good solid food. Yes not mind blowing Italian but solid classic dishes.
(4)Massimo P.
This is a classic Italian eatery (with courteous Italian waiters), yet it was surprisingly good and relatively inexpensive. The insalata bianca (with fennel) was interesting, and the swordfish with risotto absolutely delicious. Good selection of wines by the bottle, less varied by the glass.
(4)Rich H.
Drastic drop in quality and service from Greek restaurant previously in this location. Best part of the meal was crusty bread on table with complementary sundried tomato spread. Downhill from there. -- Sauteed mushroom appetizer was tasteless and slivered mushrooms were hidden by equally tasteless sauteed peppers. -- Beet salad was fresh, lightly dressed and enjoyable. -- Grilled octopus entree was sad. Rubbery, tasteless octo surrounding a mound of overcooked spinach. Service was ridiculously slow. Main course took an hour to arrive even though the resto was only half full. Our friendly waiter seemed as frustrated as we were. Outdoor seating was pleasant enough, despite the view of Second Ave subway construction. Bottom line: Even with fairly reasonable prices, this place isn't worth the time.
(2)Russell W.
OK UES Italian restaurant. I'd go back.
(3)T M.
This place gets 5 stars just for their customer service! So nice and welcoming and inviting. We just wanted a dessert and some wine and they easily let us sit at a table and not mind that we didnt order dinner. The food however did look delicious. I would def come back here to try the food. But its a nice relaxing place to sit and chat with friends over some nice wine!
(5)James L.
Really nice place, excellent service. The problem is with the food. I once had a superior papardelle with duck ragu here several months ago. And so I was craving it again and that's why I came back. It was no longer on the menu. I chose fettucine with olive oil, vegetables and chicken instead. The chicken was way over-cooked and rubbery to firm, and the pasta was blah, with poor seasoning. The rubbery calamari appetizer was extremely disappointing with a watery tomato dipping sauce and practically no seasoning. I'm comparing it to the tender consistent perfection of the calamari at Wa Jeal up the street, or at a Carraba's anywhere. The tiramisu was alright, though it seemed heavy on the marscapone/whipped cream and light on the soaked lady fingers. I can not imagine ever wanting to come back. Extremely disappointing food.
(2)Thornchaya N.
Me and my boyfriend came here for lunch. The server was very polite. We had funghi trifolati it was mushroom appetizer it was very flat taste also my spagh shrimp i had as well. Disappoint about food but the restaurant is clean service is nice.
(3)Justin P.
Somehow my finace and I were able to walk in on a Saturday night and be seated 10 minutes later. We were both impressed with the interior decor which definitely added to the experience. We ordered two antipasti's: calamari (good), and asparagus wrapped in prosciutto (apparently this is served cold, which we didn't expect, but was excellent nonetheless). We split the Spaghetti Mediterraneo (spaghetti, shrimp, sundried tomatoes, olive oil) which was also very good except it only came with 4 shrimp which was a little disappointing. For desert we had a wonderful piece of homemade Tiramisu which definitely topped off the meal. All in all we had a very enjoyable dining experience for an affordable price and I'm sure we'll be back soon.
(4)Ed S.
Food and service are both good for this upscale Italian resto. I had the ravioli of the day which was smoked salmon w/ ricotta, and my wife had the spaghetti mediterraneo. Portions are generous, flavor is good and service is attentive w/o being hovering. Good selection of wines to go w/ our meals and desserts were well executed.
(4)Meghan M.
Similar sentiments as the others. I went for the first time about a month ago. The gnocchi was out of this world with a perfect portion size and amazing cream sauce. Our waiter was amazing, joking with us and making us feel like we were regulars. I can't wait to go back.
(5)