ELIZABETH WILLIAMS
Unfortunately when you walk in there’s a distinct smell of bathroom cleaner. I learned later it’s because the bathroom is right next to the kitchen which is open to the restaurant. The service was friendly but spotty. The recommended calzone arrived cold on the inside. The dough was nice but the cheese was cold not melted. The salads had way too much dressing. Overall a mediocre experience, sadly. We were expecting so much more.
… moreAndra Leeke
Lovely decor with a cozy vibe. Good service. The mushroom and sausage papardelle was very good. The menzana eggplant was also good. Fried artichokes were just okay.
… moreKatie Mukhina
We were looking for a cozy Italian spot and couldn’t have chosen better. The atmosphere was lovely, the service was friendly, and we were absolutely delighted with the pizza and the complimentary treat from the restaurant. The pasta had an unusual recipe, but we really enjoyed it. Definitely worth recommending!
… moreEmil Yao
Warm and welcoming neighborhood bar & italian restaurant with great drinks and good food.
… moreJulia Marchet de Morais
Hosted a private lunch event for 15 people at their cellar room, family style… we had an amazing time!! Excellent service and great quality Italian food. Good wine and privacy. Thank you for the hospitality, I will always recommend Rafele. JM
… moreMelissa Schwartz-Reed
We made a reservation here for my husband’s birthday. The host staff was helpful with our reservation. We booked for 6pm, but we were in the neighborhood a little earlier and they were able to take us before the evening rush. We ordered the calamari and crab cake as an appetizer and everything was fresh and delicious. We also appreciate a true jumbo lump crab cake! We also enjoyed their mocktail menu for those of you who are non drinkers. It’s a nice restaurant for adults to be able to enjoy, but good options for children as well as far as spaghetti and pizza. All the food and beverages were well above average. As the evening began to pick up the service for the wait staff was not as attentive as we would typically like. Our server stepped out the side door to smoke Marijuana before the big rush and not only did the cold draft blow into our table, but also the smell of Marijuana. Just not our vibe when at a more upscale dinning experience. Overall a lovely evening and we enjoyed the ambiance of the restaurant.
… moreT
Best fried calamari we had ever had. Service was great. Had the seafood pasta with scallops, clams, and shrimp, and it was very good, but could have used some kind of brightness. I thought there would be more tomatoes to add to the acidity. Overall we thoroughly enjoyed dinner.
… moreAmanda M.
I’ve lived in Manhattan for 12 years+ now and this is my absolute favorite Italian restaurant. We first visited about 4-5 years ago and it’s become the regular Italian spot for girls night and when visitors are in town. We only sit outside because the patio is so pretty and charming (in the cooler months they have heat lamps, it is enclosed) and the staff is always so lovely. The food is amazing. It’s usually lively but never too busy. I can’t recommend this restaurant more.
… moreAbhya Pandey
One of the best Italian food in NY. My husband took me here for my birthday date, and the food was absolutely mind blowing. I have tried a lot of NY Italian upscale restaurants, and this was definitely on top. They have a lot of vegetarian options too. I got gnocchi and patate. It was exceptional. Apart from the quality and taste of food, ambience and service was amazing too.
… moreDana Bashi
Came through a recommendation on the “simply NYC” website and it was great. We had the fired pizza as a starter and then the amatriciana,pasta pomodoro and spinach ravioli for mains. Portion sizes are normal and not the American size which is great. The food itself was a bit too greasy in my opinion but overall really good. Service is friendly.
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