Canaletto – A Cozy Neighborhood Restaurant with Excellent Food

We’ve been going to Canaletto for years, and the food and service are great. Moreover, we can honestly say we have never been disappointed. The staff and atmosphere greet you with such warmth, you feel like you’re part of a special family. In fact, the host remembered our first names on the second visit. Located at 208 E 60th Street (between Second Ave & Third Ave) in New York (tel. 212-317-9192), Canaletto offers classic Italian cuisine, with a more intimate local setting. Its larger neighbors such as Patsy’s, 360 and California Pizza Kitchen are good, but more impersonal and commercialized. The dinner crowd is generally older, but that has never bothered us. They welcome both small and large parties.

Canaletto starts you off with a complimentary plate of cheese, salami, homemade bread, breadsticks and a zesty tomato tapenade. Just don’t eat too many bread sticks! Whether you enjoy the daily specials or like to order off of the main menu, the meals are scrumptious. No need to order separate sides dishes like other New York restaurants. Depending on your table’s selections, they generally serve a family-style plate of lightly sautéed vegetables in the center of the table. Our plates are always clean at the end. Desserts are good as well. Whether you decide to give in to one their tempting sweets off of the menu or not, they still finish off your meal with a plate of homemade biscotti and cookies—something that always reminds me of my childhood Italian neighbors. In our opinion, one of the main reasons that this place works so well is their very accommodating and gracious manager. He is a pleasure and the epitome of hospitality. He always ensures that our dining experience is top notch and always finds us a table, even without reservations.

We really enjoy this place. If you are in the mood for real Italian food, we would definitely recommend this restaurant. Buon Appetito!