Lavinia at Home

This is our favorite pizza, some weeks we will order 4 times pizza or something else from the Mariella’s Pizza. It’s located at 151 East 60th Street (between Lexington and 3rd Avenues) in New York, tel.: (212) 319-5999‎. We are always impressed with their crispy fresh pizza and thin crust, not too much overpowering mozzarella and nice tomato sauce. If you go there for lunch, it may be very busy place, it’s right across the street from Bloomingdale’s and theirs employee’s love this place, but Mariella’s know that lunch can be crowded, so they are ready. Lot of times for me it take only one minute to order few slices fresh cooked pizza and some drink and ready to go! They have the quickest service what I have seen. Lately for variety I’m trying theirs main courses, Lasagna, Chicken Parmesan, Veal Marsala, and they are so good that I’m getting hungry again

You have to try this place if you like pizza and you are in the neighborhood!

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!

This is a nice casual Italian family restaurant, which is located at 95 S Broadway in Nyack, NY, Tel.: 845-358-3770.

We’ve been there several times for the weekend brunch buffet, and we like the outside dining area with its water fall and flowers. For $20 per person, you can eat as much as you like and it includes a Bloody Mary or Mimosa. I’m a sweet lover, and this restaurant has a nice selection of desserts – tiramisu, rice pudding, cheese cake, all kind of pies and fresh fruits. Wow.

Service is just ok; the last time, we were there, we had to go and look for waiter twice. He went to get our drinks and disappeared for quite a while.

This restaurant has big main dinning room with 2 floors; nice decor and ambiance, with big windows. The upstairs dining room offers more privacy. Given its size, it’s probably good for parties.

Restaurant Type: Italian

Our Rating: 9.0

Food: 9 • Service: 9 • Décor: 9 • Atmosphere: 9 • Price: $$$

The Alto is luxury Italian restaurant featuring Michael White’s interpretation of Northern Italian cuisine, located in the Rockefeller Center area. Its address is 11 East 53rd Street (between 5th Ave and Madison Ave), tel.: 212-308-1099

Elegant setting, perfect for a special meal. We went there for Valentine’s day dinner and it was really nice meal. They were serving 3-course for $85 dinner, which included also chef special appetizer of day and after dinner home made chocolates sand sweets. The wine cellar is extraordinary, stylized dining room is surrounded with cascades of wine and Alto features a selection of over 2500 different wines.

The food was great, the portions was good size, every course was delicious and different, perfect New Italian food and very good service. This is restaurant for fancy taste and it’s expensive, but worst trying.

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Restaurant Type: Italian, Pizza
Our Rating: 8

Food: 8 • Service: 8 • Décor: 8 • Atmosphere: 8 • Price: 8

Mediterraneo – great homemade Italian fare on the Upper East Side. It’s located at 1260 2nd Avenue (at 66th Street). Telephone: 212-734-7407
We have been in this restaurant 2 times and so far no complains. It’s serves wonderfully fresh pasta dishes, classic Pizza Napolitana and great place to go for casual dinner experience and the price is right. If you live on the UES give it a shot and you won’t be disappointed.

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