Cafe Testarossa

  4.6 – 362 reviews   • Italian restaurant

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Voted Best Italian Restaurant on Long Island, Cafe Testarossa in Syosset offers authentic Italian cuisine in a fine dining atmosphere. For over 35 years, this award-winning Italian restaurant has served the best pasta in Syosset, blending traditional flavors with innovative American-Italian fusion. Known for Italian seafood dishes and unforgettable pasta creations, Cafe Testarossa delivers a Long Island Italian restaurant experience like no other. Recognized among the best restaurants on Long Island, it’s the perfect spot for authentic Italian dining, elegant events, or a romantic night out. Discover why it’s the top choice for Italian food lovers searching for the best Italian restaurant near me.

Contemporary takes on classic pastas & Italian entrees served in an elegant space with a lively bar.

✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in ✔️Take out Cafe Testarossa 11791

Address and Contact Information

Address: 499 Jericho Tpke, Syosset, NY 11791

Phone: (516) 364-8877

Website: http://www.cafetestarossa.com/

Menu Photos

cafetestarossa.com

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Related Web Results

Cafe Testarossa | Best Italian Restaurant in Syosset, Long Island

Cafe Testarossa is the Best Italian Restaurant in Syosset, Long Island. Enjoy handmade pasta, wood‑grilled seafood, curated wines, modern Italian cuisine.

Cafe Testarossa Restaurant – Syosset, NY | OpenTable

Book now at Cafe Testarossa in Syosset, NY. Explore menu, see photos and read 1670 reviews: “Excellent food – service – value – highly recommend”.

Cafe Testarossa | Syosset NY – Facebook

Cafe Testarossa, Syosset. 2771 likes · 28 talking about this · 8060 were here. Innovative American cuisine with an Italian influence served in an…

Reviews

The Rec Vault
We dined at Cafe Testarossa and ordered the Emilia Romagna Wednesday course menu, and the experience was excellent from start to finish.

The food was outstanding across every course. We started with fresh baked bread and their signature ricotta-style bruschetta dip, which set the tone right away. The meats and cheeses were high quality and full of flavor. The tortellini in broth was especially comforting and perfect for the colder weather. For entrees, the veal was perfectly crispy and paired well with the mashed potatoes and spinach. The balanzoni stood out for its rich, flavorful sauce, and adding the lasagna was absolutely worth it — layered, hearty, and extremely satisfying.

Dessert was just as strong. The tartufo was rich without being overwhelming, the ice cream was smooth and refreshing, and the biscotti was hands down the best we’ve ever had. Ending with coffee tied the meal together nicely.

Service throughout the evening was attentive, well paced, and knowledgeable about the course menu, which made the experience feel relaxed and enjoyable. The ambiance was warm and inviting, with a classic Italian feel that made it easy to settle in and enjoy a full multi-course meal.

Overall, this was a well executed dining experience with thoughtful courses, strong service, and a comfortable atmosphere.
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Rita
For those who appreciate refined dining in a tranquil setting, this restaurant offers an exceptional experience. The elegantly spacious and light-filled dining room exudes a sense of calm sophistication, with tables thoughtfully arranged to ensure privacy and comfort. Unlike more crowded establishments, there is no intrusion of neighboring conversations—only the quiet pleasure of your own company. The cuisine is exquisite: fresh, artfully prepared, and delicately balanced, with the fish cooked to perfection. Service is impeccable—gracious, attentive, and discreet—creating an atmosphere of genuine hospitality without ever feeling intrusive.
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Farhat Family
Great restaurant with a cozy atmosphere. I love their halibut and NY strip which is better than any steakhouse. I also love their margaritas. They have great bartenders. You can’t go wrong here.
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Mala Sharma
Cafe Testarossa in Syosset, NY, has been a cornerstone of Long Island’s dining scene for over 35 years, earning acclaim for its innovative American cuisine with Italian influences. In 2024, it was honored as the Best Italian Restaurant on Long Island by the Bethpage Best of LI Awards . The restaurant offers an elegant yet welcoming ambiance, making it suitable for both romantic dinners and family gatherings. The staff is frequently praised for their attentiveness and professionalism.

Signature dishes include:
•Almond-Crusted Chicken Breast stuffed with artichoke hearts, spinach, & Asiago cheese .
•Branzino Filet pan-seared and served with seasonal vegetables .
•Pappardelle Bolognese & Black Linguini with Shrimp and Calamari, showcasing the house-made pasta’s quality .
•Banana Napoleon, a standout dessert featuring caramelized banana layers.

Cafe Testarossa in Syosset, NY is a true Long Island Gem. If you’re looking for consistently excellent Italian food with a modern twist on Long Island, Cafe Testarossa in Syosset should absolutely be on your radar. This was my first dining experience here & it did not disappoint. There’s a reason it was recently named Best Italian Restaurant on Long Island and I can say from experience, it’s well deserved.

The atmosphere is warm and inviting, elegant enough for a special night out, but still relaxed enough that you feel at home. The staff is attentive without being overbearing. This being my very first visit, the service was flawless from start to finish. The manager, ran a tight ship and was always gracious — you can tell she really cares about the guest experience. What really sets Cafe Testarossa apart, though, is the consistency. I’ve dined at many establishments but the quality is here — in the food, the service, and the overall experience. Whether you’re celebrating something special or just want a fantastic meal out, this is one of those places you’ll come back to again and again & I surely will! Cafe Testarossa in Syosset is a go to
spot if you want a top-tier meal without heading into the city. The food, the service, the vibe, it’s consistently outstanding. On my most recent visit (May 10, 2025), I had the shell steak, & it was absolutely perfect. Cooked exactly the way I ordered (medium rare), tender, juicy, and seasoned beautifully. It came with crisp roasted potatoes and veggies that were clearly fresh — not just filler sides. You can tell they take pride in every plate. The salmon entrée, was just as impressive — flaky, flavorful, and plated with a delicate hand. Even something as simple as the sauce felt thoughtful and elevated. If you’re into seafood and pasta, don’t skip the black linguini w/shrimp and calamari. The house-made pasta is rich & has that perfect al dente bite, and the seafood is incredibly fresh. It’s one of those dishes I find myself thinking about long after the meal. If you’re still hungry, don’t skip the veal chop, thick, juicy, and cooked exactly as requested. It’s the kind of dish that makes you appreciate a chef who knows what they’re doing.
I started with a Negroni, which was balanced and well-crafted — not too bitter, not too sweet. Honestly one of the better ones I’ve had on Long Island. If you’re a cocktail person, this one’s worth trying. For dessert, the coconut crème brûlée. Silky smooth custard, with that perfect crack of caramelized sugar on top. It’s a classic, but they do it right.
Another mouthwatering desert to try is the Caramelized Banana Custard Napoleon with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream … it is next level. The layers of flaky pastry, banana, and custard are rich without being too sweet, and that scoop of vanilla bean ice cream on the side pulls everything together. It’s indulgent in the best possible way.
The service was attentive and professional, and the atmosphere has that mix of upscale comfort that makes you want to linger just a little longer. Whether you’re celebrating or just want a great dinner out, Cafe Testarossa is sure nail it.
$$ Dinner : Party of 14; $250/couple or $125/person ~To Owner: My Pleasure!
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Carlton R
Pretty good! This place offers decent slight intimate dining, with great service and good. We had the baked clams which were absolutely delicious! One of our favorites to date.for entrees, we had their pizza and a pasta dish. Both of which were delicious. For desert, we had the napoleon which wasn’t great. We definitely won’t be getting that ago. Overall, it was a great and welcoming dining experience but it’s the type of place you would seek out more if you were local to the venue. Will definitely return in the future.
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Taylor Reinstein
We had a delicious meal here tonight. The staff was so attentive and friendly. Our waiter was absolutely amazing. From appetizers to dessert everything was so good. Can’t wait to go back! The carmalized banana napoleon is one of the best desserts I’ve ever had!
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Wojciech Czubak
I absolutely loved this restaurant. The food was outstanding and the service exceptional. Despite being busy, the atmosphere feels warm and welcoming—like being at home with truly delicious food.
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Debbie Klivansky
Regarding the service, it took forever to place our drink and app order and there was a long wait between our apps and main meal. Went for a birthday celebration and they placed a happy birthday card on the table. The tuna for two app should be called tuna for one and and even then extremely over priced for what was served. My fault for not taking a photo. Veal meatball sliders were good. Main courses were pasta w spinach and cheese, pounded Veal chop, lamp chops, short ribs all good. A napoleon and cheese cake was for dessert. Nothing spectacular but would go back.
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Kevin Michalski
The food was actually pretty good. I had the fettuccine with lobster and shrimp. The portion size was just right, if but a little expensive. I also had the strawberry and peach cobbler for dessert, which was also very good The hostess seated us right between 2 parties of 10+ people, so our meal was not as quiet as we would have liked.

We were impressed by the wait-staff, who were very fast to clear our table and fill our waters!!
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David S
One less star for on line reservations said only table available was 4pm, But there were many open tables from 4 – 7 pm while we were there. Okay now to the good part, this place is a classic Italian Restaurant, fancy, nice place with excellent prepared dishes, superb service and everything is always delish! We had the Halibut and it was out of this world (highly recommend). But first the apps; crabcakes w/shrimp added a nice little twist from traditional, clams oregano sweet small lots of flavor, calamari tender just what you would expect. Drinks include an Italian beer haven’t seen anywhere else (see pic) sangria Italian style is a refreshing version too. Another main entree was the Scallops also a favorite (kinda on the light side though), the Messi Rigatoni veal, sausage, peas, ricotta, just delish! Desserts are all so good too. Oh I can’t say enough about the service, so efficient other restaurants could learn from!
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