Chicken parm & other Italian-American classics go gourmet at this hip, diner-inspired space.
A R
We have dined at this Parm location dozens of times over the years, mostly for takeout, but today was an in person visit due to the snowy weather.
The food is always great and the prices are reasonable for a New York City restaurant. We were thankful Parm opened today as most Upper West Side businesses were closed. We highly recommend it here!
… moreLane
Major let down on almost all fronts.
Had a reservation, arrived early, and were seated on time. The place was absolute chaos though, getting to the host stand was a challenge. Quality of service fell off completely after this.
We ordered the caesar salad to start and had the chicken parm with spicy rotini and carbonara as mains. Additionally we shared the Italian fries with our entrees.
The caesar salad was a let down. We had differing opinions on it, one thought it was boringly standard for $17 and the other found it to be fish-ier than a typical caesar dressing to its detriment. The croutons were great though – not that, that saved it.
The chicken parm was okay. The chicken itself was too salty but the texture was nice and tender. The rotini was obviously old – sauce was clumsy not smooth. It was also loaded up with pieces of onion which was unexpected and a let down.
The carbonara was alright. Loading up with more pancetta than I needed, but I can think of few words to describe the sauce – it was just boring and unremarkable.
According to the menu the fries were coated with garlic oil, but for whatever reason they reminded us both of cheap, bad truffle oil. Their form is the type of fry I like best, thin and crispy, but the flavor was lacking.
The restaraunt is so loud that it’s unpleasant to try to have a conversation across the table. I really hated everything about the atmosphere.
I guess the servers help each other out or by design you don’t have one person serving you because we never actually figured out who was helping us. One guy took our order and dissapeared. Food was brought out. Same guy cleared a plate or two. Another lady cleared the rest, and I asked her if we could pay. That’s the entire list of interactions we had with staff after being seated – no attentiveness whatsoever.
… moreYvonne Perry
Had a reservation for 6 on a very busy Saturday night. Place can get loud and crowded, but we were tucked into a lovely corner in the back room, so didn’t have much of a problem talking. Our waitress was super attentive and friendly. Food came out fast and portions are huge. We joke that this place is “ American Italian” – so if you like parm, this is the place to go! Our table had an eggplant parm ( for the vegetarian among us) and it was good/ if a tad bland. Two orders of shrimp penne were delicious and packed some heat from the red pepper. We had a lively, fun meal. One of my favorite things about this place: large bottles of fabulous NY tap water placed on the tables and replaced often. Free! Only minor complaints: the croutons in the Caesar ( which is not served chopped) were so large as to be ridiculous. They weren’t eaten. And the fried calamari had more fried green peppers than actual squid, so wouldn’t recommend. ( though two dipping sauce options were appreciated). Wine by the glass was also average. But listen- this place doesn’t claim to be “fine dining”. We had a large hungry group in NYC, and it was nice to be able to get a filling meal without breaking the bank. We’ll be back when people visit again.
… moreHoliday Rohrbaugh
the food here was pretty good. the garlic bread was nice, but a little too crispy. the caesar was great. the vodka rigatoni was pretty good but not show stopping. the garlic brocolli was fine. the bolognese was very good as well. they were sold out of the s’mores ice cream cake though and had a rather small dessert selection. also; i put “birthday” in my reservation and no one acknowledged it.; the shirley temples were very flat. overall it was pretty good and i would come back but they have areas they could improve on
… moreJennifer Humeniuk
Boy was this delicious! My husband got Eggplant Parmesan and I got the Francese Hero and both were great. The eggplant parm was terrific – not too bready or too cheesy, so you still really got the eggplant flavor. The hero sandwich was particularly surprising because it had a great ratio of garlic bread to the chicken. My photo doesn’t do it justice. The chicken was moist, luscious and beautifully seasoned, and a great slab of cold, seasoned tomato on top… You really couldn’t ask for more. Additionally, the servings were so large that we both have leftovers for lunch today! I’m very picky about my meatballs because my Italian mom and I make great ones haha but these were really delicious and the sauce was great with them.
… moreIrene L
Came here on the weekend with no reservation around 12pm. Good for small and large party size and family friendly. The portions are very big and they allow takeout for leftover food. The servers are attentive and regularly checked in on you.
Pictured are the mozzarella sticks and calamari for appetizers. Chicken Parm for entree with a side of pasta (with the option of salad). Everything was crispy and not oily. We been going to Parm for many years and everything is always so delicious.
… moreGarrison Pease
Good pasta here and Caesar salad.
Second serving for an all-you-can-eat pasta will take 10-15 mins and can only be ordered once first serving is completely done.
The “blanket” of mozzarella for the meatball parm were actually a thin slice; don’t get fooled by the misleading menu. Don’t order this for the cheese.
Happy hour is limited to the just the bar and a few high tables.
… moreAbhi
Parm on the Upper West Side is a terrific spot for classic comfort food, especially for the chicken Parmesan pasta. The chicken parm is served hot and crispy with rich sauce and gooey cheese, making it a standout dish. Portion sizes are very generous, so come hungry or be ready for leftovers! Desserts like warm brownies and famous cannolis offer the perfect sweet finish, and the drink menu has a solid selection of decent cocktails—including crowd-pleasers like the Negroni and spicy margarita—which are great to pair with their hearty mains.
The welcoming indoor ambience is bright, clean, and lively, making it ideal for anything from a casual dinner to a family outing. As Parm tends to get busy, reservations are highly recommended to guarantee a spot, especially on weekends. For those seeking satisfying Italian-American classics and a bustling, cheery vibe.
… moreTony
Went in as a walk in and was able to find a seat at a tall table for 2 people. Not the best placed because it was a little crammed but hey I’m glad we were able to get seated! Second time coming here, I love the chicken parm dish and the Rigatoni is my favorite. Garlic bread was good as well
… moreDustin Jones
Reservations mean nothing. Literally can go online as of this review when place is packed and every time is open. Do not book a date or any special occasion here (we didn’t but was meeting up with friends). Good for families and literally no expectations. If you pay don’t expect to sit around for more than 5 minutes if place is busy. Got seated 30 minutes late, stayed for 45 mins paid and got ask to leave for another reservation. It’s somewhat hilarious, won’t be back. Food is decent, not American portion sizes, would order two and not that great of deal, had to eat after also.
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