Cafe Fiorello Reviews

Very good, if overpriced, Italian restaurant near to Lincoln Center. First time visitor and enjoyed wonderful antipasto selections, well prepared and presented food in a crowded and noisy environment. Great bar area if you want to meet someone for drinks. Staff is very professional and had a delightful dinner.

Very nice atmosphere and a really attractive display of lunch items at the counter. Nice vibe, good service and excellent pricing. The 3 plates for $27 was perfect as was the Bloody Mary!

I've been dining at Cafe Fiorello for 11 years and have watched it's evolution. Flanked by two other dynamic places to dine, Cafe Fiorello has not lost its footing after all of these years. Maybe you'll be lucky enough to enjoy a hot chocolate chip cookie that the chef often passes around the dining room.

Located across from Lincoln Center, Cafe Fiorello has a large menu with choices for all types of eaters in a very lively familial atmosphere. We started with three choices from the antipasto offerings: Broccoli Raab, Mushrooms, and the Zucchini and Peppers Medley. All of them were very good and were perfect for five of us to share; we were glad we did not order the five choice option. For our main courses we shared several dishes amongst us ordering Penne and short rib meatballs, Quinoa and avocado salad, Margherita pizza, Ravioli w/Burrata Mozzarella, and Eggplant Parmigiana. All were very tasty. Following the meal we were offered complimentary Chocolate Bark and we all made sure to have a piece or two. The restaurant has excellent service and we all mentioned we would happily come again!

The staff is always very friendly and helpful. The drinks are on point, there is a great selection, and if you don't want to sit at a table and have dinner you can sit at the (alcoholic drinks) bar or the small plates bar. The small plates are a great deal and the staff always makes sure that the dishes are fresh, warm, and have a great selection, especially for vegetarians. If you attend a performance at Lincoln Center, this is a great place to go afterwards for a drink or a (small) bite to eat

We came to this place by a recommendation of my cousin. The place was full but they seat us in short time. The service was good and the food and wine was superb. We have spaghetti w meatballs, pasta stuffed with bureta and a risotto with scallops and was excellent the food. Definitively a place to repeat in future visits to NYC

The pickle was the warmest part of the food delivery. Worse meal we have ever had in NYC. Food (pizza and burger) were ice cold. So disappointed. Wish we had never ordered the meal.

We got together with family members at Fiorello’s. The weight staff was very friendly and helpful regarding allergies and preferences. The service was excellent. For dessert I got a humongous ball of gelato with chocolate around it! That was definitely not on my diet! But it was all delicious.

This is a nicely furnished Italian restaurant with the usual broad menu of Italian offerings. I had the thin base pizza as I find the usual NY pizza to be too heavy and doughy. It was so thin is was a little overcooked and crispy, but was tasty and interesting as a change from the usual. The service was exceptional even by high US standards. My waiter (I think Lyndon) was impressively professional and observant. Any place that serves a choice of grappa can't be bad.

Not only grand food and service, but they kindly found and returned my mislaid cell phone. Wish I lived nearer. I'd be there every week!

Four of us had an early dinner on a Saturday late afternoon. We were seated promptly at a nice table. Waiter came by promptly and poured water. Took drink orders quickly. So far so good. Drinks were good but turned out to be fairly high priced but given the location not surprising/ Ordered vegetarian appetizer and entrees. We were not more than half finished with the appetizers we were sharing when the entrees came out. Sending them back to stay warm under a heat lamp didn't seem the best option so we made room for them but did complain about getting rushed. A weak apology was offered. Grilled seafood for two was on the small portion side for the price and when we complained about that the waiter offered to bring another dish at no charge and let us also enjoy the seafood entree. That was appropriate and a nice gesture. The veal cutlet milanese was overcooked and overly dry. Desserts were good but also priced high. Bottom line is that Cafe Fiorello while generally OK is really not more than average and not a great value. There are better choices but you can't beat the convenience. We don't plan to go back.

It had been quite a long time since we dined here. The Cafe was great, better than how we remembered it. The ambiance was wonderful for dinner, inviting and safe. Our server was personable, knowledgeable and let us take our time. Cocktails were perfect, so we had two. Veal chop and fried artichoke were our dinner choices and they were fabulous. Highly recommend - albeit pricey. Worth it!

Large restaurant inside although on the noisy side. There is also a nice outdoor area that is very pleasant during warm weather .Food here is very good Italian. Service is usually excellent. Tonight's waiter was a bit off and not up to the standard level of service. Our appetizers were a selection of anti-pasta and Buratta with Tomatoes. Our entrees were the excellent split veal chop which two off us shared. It is certainly enough for two. Our other entree was the Fettuccine Pesto which was delicious. We ended the meal by sharing a plate of Chocolate Mousse with heaps of Real Whipped Cream. Portions are huge so sharing entree is a real possibility. Prices tend to be on the seep side but with sharing it become much more reasonable.

Drawn here by nearby restaurants listed for breakfast we decided to come here after seeing the menu and the locale. What a good choice. We got the special artichoke frittata, the Bella Benedict, the French toast and eggs and bacon. All the dishes were delicious, including the arugula salad and the roasted potatoes. Particularly good and original was the Bella Benedict with ham and burrata. The coffee was strong and hot. The staff extremely kind. We even got complementary warm croissants. Definitely and place we will come back

First the positive, very good staff and nice service. But the food was horrible and definitely not what you would expect when you look at the price list. The only reason why I give two stars is because of the staff.

For a legendary place such as this they should be ashamed. My family and I needed a light, late supper so we ordered a few dishes to share. We all agreed that the bolognese was the worst we’ve ever had. I come from Italian stock, I’m a home chef and I know bolognese and this was not it. Even my teenager was shocked by the blandness of the dish. Not a herb anywhere or seasoning of any kind. It was as if some beef was browned (though it was grey) and tomato juice was added. Fiorello’s has pride of place in the heart of Lincoln Center but rests on its name and remains lazy. All our dishes were nothing to write home about but the bolognese was really the worst. Shame on them.

We had a reservation and were seated as soon as we arrived in a nice booth. Host and wait staff were friendly and efficient. The restaurant is very noisy so it is hard trying to have a conversation. The ambiance is cozy but tables very close and pathways to the bathroom is hard to negotiate around diners in chairs. We had pizza, shared a salad and each had wine and our bill was $180! Be aware you will pay top dollar and the food is just ok. Best thing was the proximity to the Opera. Literally across the street. They have open dining outside which would probably be nice in warm weather. Not sure I would go back I think you can find better food for the price.

On July 6 at 4PM my wife called Cafe Fiorello Restaurant to ask “if we could be there in, roughly, fifteen minutes would a reservation be necessary?” The young women who answered the phone, Melissa, as I recall, said that a reservation would not be necessary: "you should have no problem being seated". At approximately 4:20 PM we arrived and related that conversation to the host, he consulted his table/reservations chart and summoned over a waiter (we have no recollection of having seen before, in our decades of dining at the restaurant) who he directed, off to one side of his podium, and out of our ear shot, lengthy instructions to lead us specifically to a table, in an area he designated. At this point it should be significantly noted that there were only five (5) booths, and not one table, occupied in the entire restaurant. FIVE. We were lead behind the podium to the right to the farthest wall of the restaurant, to a darkly lit area that we'd never even seen before, out of sight of the rest of the dining areas and void of any attempt to remotely resemble any thing akin to the decor or ambiance of the establishment we'd patronized countless times over the four decades we've lived in Manhattan. We were taken to the farthest end of this dimly lit narrow area where there were approximately 3 tables, singles on the left and two or three booths on the right. We were shown to the table at the very back of this dimly lit "room" with a table top space equivalent to a serving tray. When we asked if we could be seated at one of the, booths across from our mini-accommodation we were given an unequivocal "no"; again this dark portion of Fiorello’s was totally empty and it was four in the afternoon, on a thursday, in a relatively empty establishment. This insult to my wife and I, and for that matter to the professional, accommodating and faultless employees who, up until this incident, had made a visit to this establishment a pleasure, was not something we could, or should, accept. I was wearing my "Vietnam Veteran" cap, which of course I remove when dining. Perhaps he has a problem with those who served or currently serve. Hard to find the rationale of irrational behavior. We left, unable to find the host of this indefensible monument to crass behavior. Cowardice was another "quality" he apparently added to his resume on this day. You're welcome to dine at this normally fine restaurant, but be aware that you may be subjected to this host's need to bully and mercilessly muscle flex, at your expense, to satisfy his own flawed ego.

Taking Chris back to the city we tried Cafe Fiorello. It was a bustling Saturday night. We had made reservations and surely glad we did. It was very crowded but got taken immediately. We received a nice table looking out in the corner. For starters we had the clams oreganata which were fair at best and also cold. The caesar salad was good but too much dressing. Other two salads were good. For dinner the veal parmigiana was very good and they use a creamy burrata cheese. the servings are gigantic. Chris had the chicken milanese also excellent. The hit of the night was the chicken piccata, it was superb. Its a must to have. Service was good.

Cafe Fiorello has a warm, welcoming feel, comfy seating, great service, and delicious food. Its a good combination! Menu is modern Italian. Every dish we ordered was tasty and perfectly prepared. Baked clams were notable, as were the snapper and branzino entrees. Dinners about $70 per person with alcohol. Recommended

Cafe Fiorello A fun, lively, packed, staple, perfectly situated across from Lincoln Center. The menu is full of several traditional Italian options, and variations on Italian options. (The lasagna, for example, is not traditional and more like a flatbread pizza, but made with a “crust” of pasta). There are a myriad of pasta, pizza, fish, chicken, veal and vegetarian options. The red snapper livornese and rigatoni vodka were good and the ravioli with a side of meatballs was enjoyed. The chicken piccata Milanese is our favorite thing on the menu along with the vegetable antipasto choices. The vegetables are fresh, good and flavorful, and you can get 3-5 vegetables for a tasty meal. (GET the brocolini, which is perfectly sautéed in garlic and oil). Cafe Fiorello is an energetic, always crowded, Lincoln Center option with good food, pleasant service and a fun atmosphere. It’s open all day and until late at night, but if you’re going pre theatre, or for dinner, MAKE A RESERVATION, or be prepared to wait.

My friend recommended this restaurant to me. It was as good as she promised. We ate outside, which provided a fun view of the hustle and bustle of the city. It was loud, but it is loud in the city. The bread that was served before our meal was fantastic. The happy hour drink special that was very generous. My husband had the chicken Parm, which I tasted, and it was delicious. I had a Caesar salad, which was good as well.

We ate different dishes, and everybody was satisfied. I ate antipasti and risotto frutta di mare. The quantity was enormous, the quality was excellent. There is still a difference with Italy.

I was so disappointed with the chicken parmigiana. It tasted and looked like reconstituted chicken, not real chicken. The waitress said it was real chicken but the four of us agreed it was not. It was like rubber. I noticed this was pointed out a while ago yet it is still being done the same way. Too bad! However, the lasagna was delicious as were the meatballs. Maybe we should only eat pasta there.

We went there yesterday before a Broadway show with 7 people. Everyone's food was terrible, mushrooms tasted like straw, avocado toast was guacamole slathered on some toast, tomatoes had not taste ... One star for closeness to the theaters and the Rose water lemonade. We had been to Trattoria dell'Arte, which is part of the same hospitality group, and the vegetarian menu looked the same, but a difference of day and night.

We had a delicious meal here. It was nice to sit outside on the heated patio. It wasn’t the cheapest place but the good was worth it. Good service.

Every dish is delicious. This is a great pre Lincoln Center or just a relaxing meal. The lasagna is their own creation and unbelievably good.

Smart, sophisticated restaurant, very Lincoln Center-ish. Beautiful art, imaginative menu, expertly prepared and served. Ever since I saw Stanley Tucci eating carcioffi alla giudia on his TV series, I’ve wanted to try them. I did, and I was not disappointed. Tip: if you order the mousse, it is highly shareable. A full portion is daunting.

Excellent food, very convenient to Empire Hotel. Varied menu, lots of wonderful options. Clam sauce was good, so was fettuccini with meat sauce.

A fantastic dinner! We came here as a family for my daughter’s 13th birthday. We all loved our meals. The kids and I had the pizza which was delicious and my husband had the Chicken Milanese Picatta which he was surprised with how great it was.

Well Overpriced for below average food. Service was just ok, but front of house very friendly. Nice ambience so it’s a shame about the rest of the experience.

My husband and I went for dinner right before the Opera. The location of Cafe Fiorello is perfect. The food and service were all very good. They didn't rush us but were attentive. Our waiter was helpful when we were ordering as my husband cannot eat any fried food. That being said, the chicken cutlets and veal are all fried so he had to stay away from that. He had filet mignon that he said was excellent and I had the pasta with the short ribs meatballs. Excellent. Plus order their signature drink- it was yummy.

We were having a bit of a reunion for our high school pals so Italian food was perfect for our last minute dinner. We ordered two bottles of wine, shrimp cockail, octopus salad, burrata caprese, pizzas and antipasto - YUM !

Quite a big restaurant, we have been told it has been around for a long time. Fabulous food, quick service. Fantastic thin and crispy base pizza. Friendly staff. Unfortunately when we were there tonight, due to maintenance, they were offering limited menu… very limited menu. Still, can’t fault the food. Very tasty . Good service as well.

Have had numerous meals, lunches, dinners here. Never bad, often quite good. Specials are sometimes wildly good, recall fresh figs and cheese with a fruit reduction as dessert once that is unforgettable, even 25 years later! Wonderful that it's still going strong, terrific service as always.

Fiorello's doesn't appear to be well known for its breakfast menu, but I certainly enjoyed it. My wife had poached eggs on an avocado smeared bagel and I ate eggs and lox. I think it more people would seek out this place for breakfast they would realize just how good it is.

We're frequent visitors to Lincoln Center for concerts and the opera, so we've tried almost every restaurant in the neighborhood. We finally got around to trying Cafe Fiorello and let me tell you, it's now very much on our personal A list. For most folks a great restaurant has to deliver the best on food and service. We have to include a third criterion, namely how well do they take care of my husband's *severe* food allergy. Cafe Fiorello gets top marks on all three! The ambiance is also very good for having a conversation you can *hear.* Service was beyond reproach, friendly and efficient. In general, the food was delicious, but I must do a specific shout-out in praise of their special lasagna. Or, as I think of it Deconstructed Lasagna. It's flat, not stacked. It's spread out on the plate. It's rather bemusing, at first glance, but once you taste it, you don't care if it looks different; it's soooooo GOOD! Yes, we'll be back.

The only good thing about this place is it is open late after Lincoln Center gets out. Noisy & outdated atmosphere. Food not good. Portions huge, good to share. Expensive. Calamari awful. Parmesan & pasta just ok. Worst Italian restaurant I've been to in a long time.

We were shopping in the Lincoln Center area and stopped in for a lovely lunch. Table by the window, delicious wine selection and the sausage pizza and burrata ravioli did not disappoint. The restaurant was definitely bustling and they offer an interesting vegetable/antipasto platter that we will have to try next time. Enjoyable visit overall.

This was recommended to me by a friend. I went after a performance. It was a lovely summer night but I chose to eat inside. Two women arrived with me and sat at the bar. There was a couple who had been served, I was seated and waited, and waited and waited. I finally asked for water and waited. When my server came there was no introduction . I asked for a drink menu which was delivered and the server disappeared and I waited, and I waited. When he ultimately returned I ordered and bread arrived via someone else, my wine arrived via someone else as did my entree. I ate and waited and waited. I finally got up and went to the desk to ask for my bill. My server never checked to see if I needed anything else. As for his tip, he can wait, and wait. The food was mediocre. I had petite Dover sole which was over cooked and drowning in blurred bland. The roasted asparagus were two and were burned in portions. The entire stalk was served even the bottoms. The bread was excellent, it was a focaccia, which Is not one I ordinarily care for. Not a good value, $46 for a small piece of fish and wine.

After attending a concert at Carnegie Hall on the 14th of October, of Baritone Gehan Cooray, around fifteen of us decided to visit this restaurant to celebrate the fantastic performance of Gehan Cooray. The invitation was for close friends and family. We all had a variety of starters and some excellent wines to start with. We all had different dishes, mostly pasta and pizzas. Excellent food quality, very tasty and large portions. Most dishes were too big for one person. If you ever visit this restaurant ,and if two of you decide to have the same dish , please just order one. We thoroughly enjoyed the food and each other’s company. If you are a lover of Italian food, I am sure you will enjoy it. Thanks for the excellent service. Warm regards, Randolph Perera Zurich Switzerland 19.10.2019

What a great Italian restaurant in Lincoln Square....a little pricey-but good good food. House wine could be better, buffet of veggies is delicious. So is the spaghetti all carbonara! My son had the chicken part and loved it. Good for lunch and/or dinner. I heard their brunch is very good too.

It is a nice place and my usual place to go to before opera. The food is perfect. The arugula salad is my favorite. The pizza Margareta is light and wonderfully composed. The service is a bit careless and you have to ask multiple times to receive attention. Nice atmosphere - great location.

Excellent pizzeria after the show at Lincoln Center. I sat at the counter, excellent service, delicious thin crust pizza. It has a very good snack counter. Honest price.

We were a group of 6 who enjoyed a great meal with super service at Fiorollo. The restaurant was quite busy during our visit but we had a great time and a very good meal. Service was friendly and efficient and prices were moderate.

We are staying at the Empire nearby. We prefer to have breakfast elsewhere and found this little treasure. Highly recommend the gooey cheese omelet.

My wife, her sister and brother (they've been here before) had dinner here before seeing My Fair Lady at Lincoln Center. The service was great in spite of the place being mobbed. I had one of the fish selections, my wife had their special meat balls and pasta and Jack has a huge serving of veal! I really wanted veal piccata but it wasn't on the menu. Our Cesar salad was one of the best we've had in some time. My sole was excellent. Would definitely come here again, but eating early is best as this place was mobbed by the time we left around 7:30pm.

Cafe Fiorello is more authentic southern Italian than it is Italian American and as a very fussy NYC restaurant guy one of the best in the city. Modern presentations of fresh and delicious food, their antipasti bar is in itself a fantastic eating experience. Entrees are always excellent, check out the very unique lasagne, desserts wonderful and great bar. Service is top notch. Highly recommended.

Recommended by a friend who lives I Sutton Place. We were impressed with the decor when we enter the restaurant. We had a very informative waiter. My wife order Dover Sole that was excellent and we shared the Gem Salad that was fantastic. I order a bolognese sauce pasta dish that was very good. For dessert we dual cannoli.

Jose was a super waiter, and they seated us quickly, even though we arrived early. we both enjoyed a perfectly done manhattan, and loved the osso buco which was cooked perfectly. Particularly like the option for scoops of ice cream for dessert. It gets busy but is super close to Lincoln Center, which is great. Thanks!

We were hungry and we walked in. They were able to accommodate us with a couple seats at the center "bar" area. We just wanted a snack and cocktails. We split the pastrami smoked salmon! My husband had a bloody mary and I had a glass of bubbles. Wow! The salmon was amazing! The presentation was beautiful. The taste was unexpected. We highly recommend this dish. While we were enjoying our plate (oh the bread basket was also nice), they were preparing the vegetable antipasti plates. We were quite sad to have missed that . It looked amazing and we will certainly be back to try it another time!

if you like a very loud restaurant with small crowded tables and food served tepid, this is the place for you. it will be a long time before I even consider returning....

Please read my review of Shun Lee West to see our odyssey that led to this visit to Cafe Fiorello. We had been here for a magnificent meal just a week earlier, so after our horrendous experience at Shun Lee West, we only had less than 90 minutes to find another restaurant for pre- theatre dinner right across from Lincoln Center. We asked if we could get in with no reservation, and was told there would be a 10 minute wait. It didn’t even take that long and we were seated. We had the antipasto- mushrooms, asparagus Parmesan with hazelnuts, and eggplant Parmesan— yummy. Then we had their amazing garlic loaf. I had the pizza margarita, which is miraculous— it floats off the plate! My husband had a cheeseburger with fries, very flavorful and served piping hot. We had cheesecake for dessert- one piece can really serve 4 people. They were hospitable, efficient, and got us amply fed with delicious food in time for us to pick up our tickets at the “Will Call” window, and be on time for the curtain. Thank God for Cafe Fiorello, without which we couldn’t have eaten a great dinner in time for the theatre!

This exquisite Italian restaurant offers a delightful dining experience. The vibrant atmosphere adds to the overall enjoyment of the meal. Our server, Diana, provided exceptional table service, making our dining experience even more memorable. We started with the short ribs meatballs, which were exquisite. For our main courses, we opted for the lemon chicken and chicken marsala. Both dishes were huge and incredibly delicious. We highly recommend this restaurant and would definitely be happy to return in the future.

After we got out of Turandot at the Met, we were starving and needed to feed one of the performers. He mentioned Cafe Fiorello. The service was slow but the food was very good. I had spaghetti carbonara. My brother had avocado toast (said it was very good) and our friend had spaghetti and meatballs. Took FOREVER to order and get our bill. Food was served quickly, though.

If you’re around Lincoln Center in the morning or late late evening Cafe Fiorello is the spot. The kitchen is open very late and the food is delicious. We have gone back several times because not only the food is amazing the service is very friendly. Every waiter or waitress is more charming than the other. I’ve gone for breakfast as well and had the best avocado toast with poached eggs on top. Yum! However my family and I mostly frequent for dinner. We have some favorites: the Dover sole, the ravioli burrata, the spaghetti in white clam sauce are just divine. Give it a try!!!

We went to Cafe Fiorello for brunch prior to attending a performance at the Met. The menu had a good choice of breakfast/brunch items. Our omelettes were fresh and tasty. The staff was great and the surroundings comfortable.

Italian perfection. This restaurant has an excellent menu variety and the taste level, and service, are beyond exceptional. The Lobster Parpadella with black truffles made my mouth water. It was so good I almost made my stomach burst trying to eat it all. I almost did it though but the portions are actually very large. My mother had the seafood risotto which looked amazing and she raved about. My father and husband both had the petite Dover Sole. I can confirm that dish was amazing as well because I stole a bite from my husband lol but i gave him some lobster so it’s a fair trade. Amazing food and stellar service. Very friendly and attentive servers. This place will definitely be a new staple.

Crowded we sat the inside, noisy food good though! service also good! seafood pasta, little seafood!

Delicious pizza but had to wait to be waited on and seated while the outdoor seating wasn’t full at all. A bit unorganized.

We stumbled by this spot looking for an excellent meal and boy did we find it. The drinks, food and service were excellent. I can't say enough about how excellent the staff were. Friendly, knowledgeable, approachable and full of great recommendations. Excellent wine list as well. If you're going to Lincoln Center or just hanging on the upper west side, check out this spot for sure. Old school excellence!!

I've been many time in this Restaurant throughout the last 15 years: in the pre-Covid era was a good RESTAURANT, then the quality fell deeply, last year it was ok and this time was worse than last year starting from the Menu. The only plate on the menu that inspired me was a pizza.

This restaurant is a great reminder of great, classic, Italian food. The service was pleasant and unobtrusive, the ambiance is one of the better restaurants in Little Italy. The entire experience left me feeling great and not terribly expensive.

This place was full of energy, good service, fabulous food and so convenient to eat there before our show. We will definitely return!

A friend who has a 'reserved' table plaque on a booth insisted we go there. Coffee at an Italian restaurant was below average (expresso & latte) - a warning sign. Ordered avocado toast without the normal two poached eggs. Asked for it on challah bread (on menu). Instead it came with the usual toast so hard had to ask for a steak knife to cut it.. Avocado spread was 1/8 in.. Greens, just greens, were wilted with slimy green bits. Companion's omelet was dry and vegetables mushy. Bill came my avocado toast was billed at $18.95 - no cost reduction. We added that the order had also not come as requested. Waiter informed us "that is just the way we do it" and would do nothing about it. We asked to see a manager who came to us and, clearly put out, said the same but agreed to make an adjustment. They reduced a $94 bill by $1. Honestly, he should not have bothered. This lousy food experience was on top of a tight seating arrangement and a full size boxer (dog that is) squeezed under a table tightly next to us. And a dirty bathroom. Just did not win on any dimension. AVOID. Too many other great places to eat nearby. Even my friend, who has been a loyal patron and lives around the corner, was appalled and said her experiences lately had been a problem. I told her, do her future guests a favor and go somewhere else! With the corona virus around, it would have been nice to see an extra effort (which our hotel did) but these guys were just clueless.

Be sure to reserve early if you want to visit in busy season of December. Enjoyed the wine selection and food. Great place for a date in the afternoon or evening.

We had matinee tickets for show and came here for lunch . The Restaurant Week menu was outstanding. The service was great; the kept in mind we had a time schedule. The portions were very generous and the selection great. This was a real winner!

I had the chicken parm with a side of spaghetti 🍝. All of us ordered the exact same order, but only 1 dish had a side of pasta (we made our order very clear and they repeated it correctly). The other pastas came laster, but there was no room on the table. It was very cramp. The parm was very thin, mostly bread, and greasy looking. It took up the whole plate, but had almost no chicken. I was hoping for a healthier version, so I did not eat most of it even after scraping off the bottom greasy breading. The pasta was very plain and I could have made better at home from the jar and cheap pasta. However, the bread was delicious. We were stuck seated at the bar to eat dinner and it was cold and drafty. I will never eat here again. We usually eat in Little Italy, and love every restaurant in Little Italy. but decided not to schlep in the traffic...big mistake.

The perfect place for Italian on the Westside. Food is very, very good - and if you are a fan of thin crust wood over pizza theirs is yummy and covers half the table! Been there at least a dozen times and have never been disappointed. Can get crowded early for pre-theater since its across the street from Lincoln Center. If you don't mind the noise from the traffic opt for an outside table.

Stooped by here on our last night in NYC. The restaurant was a go to place in the 70's but times have changed. Itihas a great physical plant. We had a pizza with mushrooms that was terrible, The pizza was flatbread with rubber mushrooms and it was delivered only warm. We did not want a large meal and this would have sufficed if it did not suck Service was ok but the tab was outrageous...$56 for a cold lousy pizza, a glass of wine and a beer. It is true that crime is on the rise in NYC and it starts with this joint. I suggest that you purchase MRE's rather than go to this place.

As the UWSide of NYC. opens we were made to feel totally unwelcome here today. Grant them reopening struggles. Tables not well spaced. At best mediocre restaurant food in its heyday, but how about stop whinging and start wining?

I just had the best crab steak ever! It was garnished with grilled shrimp with a side of sautéed peppers. My sister had the lobster which she thoroughly enjoyed. We ordered the garlic bread which was phenomenal. We also ordered the Oberon Cabernet which actually paired well with our meal.

We had a great dinner at this staple of the food scene prior to a performance at the Met. Conveniently located across the street, the dishes were served piping hot and flavorful and the service was great!

Had a brunch meal for our graduation party on the Memorial Day Weekend....Very crowded but party of 10 was seated quickly.Very lively crowd so don't expect to much privacy. Overall, kinda pricey but expected since it is in the Lincoln Center district.

This is a very popular Italian restaurant close to Lincon center (great location). Food is OK, specially pizzas, but it is always way to crowded and you end up feeling like in a huge rush...

This spot has all the potential to be Michelin recommended. Great ambiance, atmosphere and location. Food is also exceptional. I had the burrata salad with homemade Burrata, then the Veal Scallopine, then the spaghetti with short rib meatballs then the Tartufo. All huge portions and all world class in terms of standards. They even came around with fresh housebaked cookies. Once ordered, foods comes our very fast and portions are enormous. But they place is so busy the waiter, although very nice, just had too many tables to service and always seemed in a rush. That leads to miss orders and sloppiness. We finished our first course before my glass of wine came. We ended pouring our own water (we order a bottle of sparking water...they actually heard wrong but we just took the bottle anyways). Also, long periods between waiter coming over to our table. I guess people don't ask you how your food is anymore? They also practice what I call either beautiful people/VIP customer preference. That is , they serve people they like and regulars better than other people. This is old school when it was acceptable to treat different people differently. Funny I actually see this less in Paris and much more in New York City. So they feel more comfortable with people that more like them. Managers are fairly hard working but again selective in who they talk to. This probably won't change since they are packed but I see why they won't get Michelin recommended. Unfortunate as lots of potential

I've eaten many times here including their brunch offering and most recently dinner last night. I found the food fairly mediocre and the service slipping while the pricing escalated. We dined on salmon and organic chicken. Its hard to do either of those dishes badly however the chicken with artichoke and potatos was bland and the salmon even more so. Ample servings of both if that is of interest however my preference is in smaller tasty portions rather than the ordinary. The service was not what it should have been.

I really wanted to love this place. Good location, looks good, seems to have many regular guests, However, the dish was soo salty. To the point I felt sick and extremely thirsty. Tried to ask for more water but service was very slow. Finally got up, got myself some water, paid for the meal, and left. Neither one of us could eat the dishes. With plenty of restaurants in the area this is one I recommend skipping. Another weird thing is that in the bathroom, where the soap dispenser normally is there is a mouthwash dispenser, but it is not really labeled. So I got mouthwash all over my hands. After rinsing it off I found the soap hidden in the other corner.

Excellent choice for a meal prior to to a Broadway show. We were a party of 4 moms with 4 teenage daughters. Everyone (even the picky 14 year old) was happy with the food, location and atmosphere. My daughter and I split the rogatoni alla vodka and the Margherita pizza and both were excellent. The chocolate mousse dessert was amazing and more than enough for sharing. We made reservations and were seated immediately.

Went there after Lincoln Center concert. Ordered five vegetables plate, which contained small, out of the can, white beans (not like the large lima beans they used to serve), two asparagus spears, overcooked broccoli rabe, overcooked mushrooms, and eggplant. For $35 I expected much more and much better quality. We then had the 4 vegetable pizza, which was atrocious tasting. The artichokes were inedible and I had to spit them out because they could not be ingested. and the mushrooms were burnt and tasteless. My guest had the chicken piccata and said it was almost too salty to eat. Lastly, the espresso was watery and the bathroom was absolutely disgusting. I mentioned it to the waiter but I doubt anything was done to clean up the mounds of paper towels on the floor and coming out of the trash can. The only enjoyable part was the wine. After spending $144 for two people, with no dessert and only one drink, I do NOT recommend this place. Since covid Cafe Fiorello has raised their prices considerable and, sadly to say, lowered the quality of their food.Ten years ago I would not have said this, but now I will not return and suggest you don't either.

Continuing a theme of my trip, I started with a gazpacho. This one was my favorite of the trip. Chunks of tomato and onion (not a puree!) with micro-salad and croutons, with a coarse tomato blend poured on top. My main course was a lobster lump salad which I thought was exquisite: Boston lettuce, arugula, croutons, cherry tomatoes, avocado, and a *great* oil-based dressing. With generous lumps of cold lobster meat. I skipped dessert; after looking at the chocolate mouse at the next table, I'm not sure that was the best decision. For wine I had a glass of Trimbach (Alsatian) Reserve Sancerre that was quite tasty. Right across from the Lincoln Center, this is a terrific restaurant on its own, the convenience for pre-performance can't be beat.

Food is overpriced. Kind of felt nickeled and dimed. Ambience is pretty nice. Taste is pretty good. Service is average. Find somewhere else to go

Had a group lunch with colleagues. Friendly service and good selection made it easy for everyone. The vegetable plate or seafood/vegetable plate is especially good for quick service. the imaginative vegetable offerings make it a good place for vegetarians.

In town to see Porgy & Bess at the Met, so needed somewhere to eat which was near the Lincoln Plaza. Had a wonderful plate on the breakfast menu, and the prices are very reasonable. Great vibe going on both at the bar and in the dining areas. Would highly recommend this restaurant, especially if you have picky eaters, or vegetarians or anyone who enjoys different varieties of food.

Was good! Antic atmosphere. Has very private tables, we really enjoy our lunch inside today. The waitress very kind , she speaks Spanish. Nice menu, and must try the garlic bread.

Be sure to order the garlic bread. Very different but delicious. Pasta was cooked to perfection. Caprese salad had the best tomatoes; both red and green. Service was the best!! Noise level was moderate depending on where you sat. We sat in a small area towards the rear. In was able to carry in a conversation without screaming! Go. You won’t be sorry.

Cafe Fiorello has become one of my favorite places to eat, not only in New York, but anywhere. The service is excellent, and the food is even better.

Came here with friends before early evening performance in Lincoln center. Food was basic either excellent vegetable bar and several protein choices. Service was professionally quick. Snd prices were good. for the city. Pleasant interior as well. One of the few places near Lincoln center that you can depend on to get you out in time for the starting time.

Always crowded Great location right near Lincoln Center Consistently good food! But very noisy Delicious brunch We had the craziest thing happened to us today… We sat down for lunch… And the maître d’ showed us in in his book that somebody gifted us a bottle of champagne and it should be brought to our table as soon as we sit down… I had my grandchildren who are teenagers… And we were not particularly up for champagne but I said yes because it was a gift… So we have a lovely meal and they gave us the bill which I saw was pretty pricey for what we ordered… And sure enough they charged us for the champagne That was told to us and was in their notes was a gift to us We told them we would never would have had it otherwise…… And they did not take off of the charge… This was 100% their error

Have been here many times, but this visit was special, based on the food we ordered. First off, their meatballs are made from Beef, no pork, so that's a good start for some...like my wife. They have added a lasagna dish that is the best I have had anywhere in the world. Made with one big noodle, the size of a small pizza and filled with short rib meat and short rib meatballs and of course cheese. Absolutely out of this world. For a starter we had their baked clams which were fabulous. Ending the meal with Profiteroles...what could be better. Great dining, service, ambiance and food taste.

Four of had different entrees—all of them just ok. I had 3 from the vegetable selection and had to send it back. The carrots were excellent but stone cold. The return platter was not much better. The osso bocco was covered with so much gravy that you could hardly taste the meat. My husband had this the last time we were there and felt the same way. We chose the restaurant because it was close to Juilliard but that will not be enough to bring us back again.

I habitually drop by for a pasta meal and soup; yet more often take out excellent garlic bread with welcoming reception/bar service

We have been here before after a matinee at the MET. It always has been good food, not culinary delights but good, solid food. Knowing what to expect the four of us were not disappointed. The veal Milanese was gigantic, the dover sole delicate, pasta and risotto equally good. The big surprise came with the dessert: it said "bucket of chocolate mousse and whipped cream". And sure enough the waiter came with two buckets, one with the mousse, one with the whipped cream. There was enough for all of us on that plate! The service is friendly and efficient. The wines by the glass were all very good. This place is very convenient to Lincoln Center. An excellent choice, if your time is limited.

I went to this very popular place in Broadway Av because of some friends told me it was at the level of the best Italian restaurants in NY. Clearly the restaurant is crowded with costumers going to/coming from the broadway theaters, but that indicates nothing diferentes than the service was always in a rush. for the food, quite average. The pizza just OK but an spaghetti carbonara was awful, carelessly made with the egg yolk just thrown over the pasta. Not to regret if you miss the place or never return.

On Friday evening 1745 already full inside and out. Quite large terrace but it really goes very fast. Excellent service and great food. Prochiutta with Burrata can not go wrong much but also the flattened veal head with tomatoes, mozzarella tomato sauce is surprisingly tasty, with fries it is way too much.

Perfect location for Lincoln Centre and even Central Park. Al fresco dining which was nice in April and good selection for lunch. Very accommodating as met rest of family there 30mins late.

This restaurant, which is conveniently located near Lincoln Center, feels like a place for tourists. Cold and oily Focaccia bread was the first indication of what was to come. Ordered the 3 vegetable special. Mushroom was like chewing leather. The zucchini was like a warm lump of mush. Sausage and pepper wasn't bad. Unfortunately the sausage was not hot. Food was served in minutes after ordering which suggested it's just sitting somewhere in the kitchen. Not surprising, the waiter never asked if everything was alright. Not a good experience.

We wanted to grab a quick bite after seeing the Nutcracker at the David Koch Theater across the street. I was with my teenage daughter. This restaurant was very good, quick, easy and ready to handle folks after the 7 pm performances. Lots of options that looked delicious. Bonus: my daughter has nut and egg allergies and they were terrific knowing/handling the options. (Quite a few safe pasta options). Our stop here helped add to a very special night .

Didn’t have too many places to chose from after attending alley show in Lincoln center. The place looked fancy, and the service was very attentive and the waiter was extremely friendly. However, the food was disappointing. I had the white clams pizza and it was just not very tasty. My daughter is vegan and she didn’t have many choices. She eventually took three vegetables platter and a made to order vegan pizza. It was ok, but not really tasty also. Cocktails were good.

I prefer going here during off-times (i.e. late lunch), when the restaurant is less apt to be too noisy & overly crowded. Although the menu is extensive, my favorite items are the Italian Wedding Soup....sort of a deconstructed version of the famous soup & selections from the antipasto bar. The eggplant antipasto dishes (i.e. caponata & eggplant parmesan) are the best! The two course lunch special (served until 4PM, I think) offers several choices.

Lovely outdoor table - loved the people watching, felt comfy dining on my own, friendly and quick service, and delicious four seasons pizza!

We have eaten here twice so far and have never been disappointed. The service is impeccable and the food is out of this world. The ambience is perfect for a night out as well!

Excellent artichoke omelet and eggs Benedict , we were lucky to be able to walk in and get a table at 10.30am. minutes later you neededminutes later, there was

We picked Cafe Fiorello because of its proximity to The Metropolitan Opera, since our son was singing at the Met for the first time, and will now go out of our way to get here again. Impeccable service, fabulous food, and a great menu. The lasagna (non-traditional unlayered) made with short rib meatballs over papardelle was a featured item, and deservedly so. The Veal Parmesan Pepperoni and the Chicken Parm Pepperoni were equally good. Noise levels were a little loud, but to be expected in a small, crowded restaurant. Highly recommended!

Busy in evening with opera across the street. My Pasta and cheese was heavy. Appetizers good. Drinks

Highly recommend. went for Sunday lunch. they also had a brunch menu. when i ordered the fettuccine bolognese al dente, waitress came back and said since the bolognese noodles are homemade they can’t be cooked al dente so i switched to spaghetti. it was perfect…. bolognese sauce was very flavorful. hubby had rigatoni. for dessert we shared the chocolate mousse which was HUGE with real whipped cream on the side. Wait staff was excellent.

Stopped in here after a performance at Lincoln Center. Really glad we did! We sat at the "bar" in the center of the restaurant. "Clever" was the server and he was excellent! Food was awesome, very well prepared and presented. We will definitely be going there again (and again and again)!

I used to have a soft spot in my heart for Cafe Fiorello, and fond memories of eating there with my family years ago. Sadly, tonight's experience--high prices, mostly mediocre food, and lackluster service--changed the way I feel about the restaurant. I won't be going back. When you walk into the restaurant, you're greeted by a bountiful antipasto bar. Unfortunately, the actual portions of antipasto served are minuscule. My table shared 5 items between 6 people, and there was barely enough for a forkful of each item. Follow that up with the artichoke frittata, which was an unappealing gray color, mushy, and tasteless (not even served with bread), and the result was a very unsatisfying meal. The only bright spot was the lemon pie, which, given the quality of the rest of the meal, was surprisingly flavorful and nicely presented. What a disappointment.

It’s a pretty, festive, hopping pre-cultural event restaurant at Lincoln Center. Its pasta seems home made and its flatbread pizza is very good, as is its veal parmigiana. Its cocktails are refreshing, and it caters to children as needed. Still, the wait, even with a reservation, is unreasonably long and the food is not remarkable for the high price. The desserts look impressive. Service is just okay in the busy culinary environment of LC. I’m not rushing back, what with all the other restaurant options in the area.

After 25 years of eating at Fiorello's, I'm afraid I won't ever be returning, nor feel at all confident in recommending the place as a must-visit NYC restaurant. Last week, I took my friend to celebrate his birthday. It was his first time. As we left, I apologised to him. The service was the worst, not just the worst for Fiorello's, but one of the worst examples I have experienced anywhere. When we were shown to our seats, not one person came to introduce themselves, nor made us feel we were going to be looked after. We waited and waited for somebody, anybody, to come. At no point during our time there did we receive service commensurate with the restaurant's reputation or pricing. Throughout, we felt ignored and forgotten about. It was of deep and personal embarrassment for me, since I had raved about Fiorello's. It took extensive prompting to order cocktails and drinks, bread for the table, dessert – even the check! (Three times I asked to pay.) And even though I had specified it was my friend's birthday, when I booked over a month before, it was never mentioned. The Director of Guest Service's sporadic replies to the many other lowest-rated reviews claim to “carefully review the issues to ensure that situations like this do not happen in the future.” And yet, here we are. It brings to mind Churchill's belief that “To improve is to change.” Judging by the other disappointed diners, whose words I encourage you to also read, Fiorello's change nothing.

Good service Good price $$$ Good menu Need to have reservation No parking Very good pizza !! Ask for the parmigiana

Came on a friend’s recommendation. The 4 of us ordered 2 pasta and pepperoni pizza. Both the pasta was great but would recommend the spicy prawns over the pesto though as it just had that extra zing to it. The pizza was thin crust and covered entirely with pepperoni, definitely worth it. For dessert we shared a tiramisu and a tartufo and it was a satisfying end to a very good lunch. A big shout out to the servers, they were very attentive and appeared magically exactly when you want. Highly recommended and will come back again.

This is a restaurant we used to love. My first visit after Lockdown, however was very disappointing. My Veal schnitzel Milanese was o rethink, yet over cooked so I could hardly slice even the centre of it. The salad was strips of soggy lettuce over sauced w vinaigrette so I had to leave most of it. & go the ballet hungry. Is this because you re fry things cooked by mistake or non-availability of chefs? Very sad. I can’t understand why this could happen in one of my favourite restaurants.

Had one of the best lemon desserts of my life! Came back another night with friends to share it.. and we also had the "bucket" of chocolate mousse. Loved the many veggie options via the antipasto bar.

Cafe Fiorello is not just for theater goers. It is an attractive, comfortable establishment with a very strong menu. The food choices are prepared very well. The meals we had were very good quality. The service was a bit disjointed with several staff members pitching in. This was not our first visit. We were happy to return and would recommend this venue for lunch or dinner.The restaurant was doing a brisk takeout business, vouching for the quality of its offerings.

Cafe Fiorello is right across the street from Lincoln Center (cross the street and walk up ramp or steps, and pass the Julliard School). We did outdoor dining, had fast service by a male server with a French accent. It felt safe; the food was GREAT; the service was GREAT and the tables were replete with delicious-looking foods. I would return there, anytime. Yummy!

My wife and I enjoyed this restaurant on our last visit to New York City in 2005, and we decided to try it again - we were not disappointed. It is as good as we remembered. It has a very inviting, attractive interior, noisy and bustling. There is outside seating as well, but it being a very cold late November night, only one brave soul was there, huddled under a heater. In warm weather we might have gone there. I had the seafood risotto, delicious and a very generous serving. My wife opted for the selection of grilled vegetables. Neither of us had room for dessert afterward. Highly recommended.

I visited Cafe Fiorello for breakfast on Sunday morning I was disappointed with the service, Firstly they open at 9:00am it took them to open the doors at 9:05am... As well during my meal nobody checked in with me to see if I wanted more coffee, or how things were, it took 20 minutes or more to get my bill so that I could pay, I asked one waiter for the check and he gave me a cold look. My waiter seemed to have disappeared. I was disappointed with the service, given seeing how busy the place gets.

Was average. Not amazing but not horrible. Food was ok. Service was friendly. The decor reminds me of a conservative grandparents.

I've been going to this place for years. It's massive, has a lot of character, service is always great and fast. Food will not stay in your memory for a long, but that's OK. Walking past or sitting at the gorgeous opulent display of various salads and such. Is always a fun part of being in New York. It's such a reliable place to have a dinner before or after whatever is going on at Lincoln center are beyond. Great for large groups or to set alone at the bar and scarf down yummy Italian food.

We were hungry, walking down broadway, and saw this restaurant. Opted for the Prix Fixe lunch menu. Very good food and good value.

Truly the best pizza I have ever eaten. Just arrived in New York and strolled past this place, it was buzzing, this made me want to go in. We sat on the sidewalk eating outdoors better than in the crowded restaurant/cafe. Good service, piping hot food we actually returned several days later for a second visit before flying out of NY. Reasonably priced.

A fun place after Lincoln theater. Good antipasti with a wide variety of vegetarian options and good pizza. Decent service.

Dinner before the opera? Then at Café Fiorello. Excellent Italian food. Super attentive staff, you are immediately asked if you are going to a show so that the food can be served and paid for quickly. The lasagne is spectacularly delicious. The daily changing vegetable starters are delicious and fresh. Thin crust pizza! And the lobster linguine is TOP. Unfortunately no photo was taken.

Booked as a family of four ( two teenagers) for our Christmas Day meal. It did not disappoint. Appetisers delicious Crab cakes & bruschetta but we wished we had ordered more. Good selection of classic Italian main meals which meant everyone was happy. Delicious desserts & portions generous that we couldn’t finish them! The bill came to about yo $320 dollars for the four of us which was not bad considering it was Christmas Day. Staff attentive & would highly recommend. A gem not far from Central Park .

Very loud and tight seating inside. The Veal Milanese was just a big and very dry schnitzel. My wife had the seafood risotto which was just ok. We will not be returning.

Strictly for tourists visiting Lincoln Center who want proximity rather than food with any taste. Service was rushed and brusque and we weren’t in a hurry. Food was marginal at best - a lower than acceptable red sauce restaurant. Veal parm was the size of the dinner plate it came on and just as tasty pounded to death. Apps were tiny but expensive- drinks as well.

we used to live around the corner so it was a nostalgia trip. always very good, amazing service, pity that the pizza shape has changed from rrectangluar to round but always outstanding . what a fabulous place

A group of us went to eat dinner after a Lincoln Center event. We were quickly seated at our table, but things went downhill from there. The restaurant is always noisy, but the staff was painfully slow in bringing our drinks. My lasagna resembled a crustless pizza and wasn't particularly tasty, although it was undoubtedly the most expensive lasagna I have ever eaten. Disappointing.

Went before the opera. The food was very good, had the soup (to share) - very good. The mains are very big, in most cases one to share in enougth.go and enjoy.

Cafe Fiorello is an upscale establishment where we enjoyed excellent service and wonderful food. It was extremely crowded when we went but making reservations ahead worked in our favor. Our server was attentive though not to the point of being a nuisance. Our meals were cooked to perfection and delicious. Though full, we opted to share a piece of cheesecake following our dinner. it was amazingly huge and incredibly tasty. Do be prepared to spend a pretty penny here though as it is quite pricey.

This place was so good we came twice! Loved everything we had…ravioli, pizza, chicken parm, scallops and mushroom risotto, calamari, choc mousse

Usually crowded, so reserve. There is a bar and a counter. Many appetizers sold in three or five. Enough for a meal. OK wine choices by the glass.

We had tickets at Lincoln Center for 8PM and this was right across the street. We were able to get a reservation and the food was good. Service was adequate and the portion sizes were good.

Food is excellent! The pizza is great, the garlic loaves are great! Even eating outdoors, they keep the area nice and warm. Service is quite fast. Hoeever it is difficult to find a waiter, even when the restaurant is nearly empty.

What a pleasure to simply walk across the street from Lincoln Center after a performance to a late dinner in a lovely old school Italian restaurant. Food and service were very good as well.

Wonderful meal with terrific service by Kevin. Very tasty whole loaf bread with gorgonzola. Spectacular bone in veal Parmigiano-- better than Sinatra's in Vegas.

I have dined here many times and have always enjoyed the food and ambiance. Recently, I was delayed arriving for my reservation and was concerned about getting a table. The host graciously honored my reservation, found us a comfortable table, and we were waited on quickly and cheerfully. As usual, our food was delicious and served quite promptly so we had plenty of time to enjoy coffee and dessert before curtain time. The tiramisu was some of the best I've had in years!

Stopped at Cafe Fiorello with girlfriends on our way to see a show at the Lincoln Center. Seated quickly, pleasantly, and served our amazing meals so fast. Breakfast available all the time, and I highly recommend the omelette. Sweet outdoor covered seating.

Another great Italian spot in NYC located in Lincoln Square! The pizza was the hit of the night and no complaints on their fresh pasta dishes either. Our waiter was excellent! Very attentive and friendly. Recommendations are strongly recommended. They also offer outside seating as well but we decided to eat inside because of the heat.

Had a great gluten-free dining experience right on Broadway. Sitting outside is different than inside but the experience is very nice. I would highly recommend for those looking for a gluten-free Italian food.

We thoroughly enjoyed our first visit to the restaurant with our two daughters. Although young, they are well mannered and love their Italian restaurants. An ample drink menu, fantastic lasagne and meal entrees made it a fun time. Great spot in NYC.

We’ve eaten here several times before a show at Lincoln Center. Tonight was terrible. Terrible seating in a cramped little corner in the back, terrible service (almost missed our show), terrible food (badly cooked fish). Apparently if your not a regular joking with Management, you’re toast. We won’t be back again.

This landmark restaurant on Broadway opposite Lincoln Center actually has good food and professional service, not a given for places that can count on patronage just because they are convenient to the theater or the performing arts. As two couples we shared an excellent vegetable antipasto (choose any five from a list), and as a main course tuna, salmon, a ravioli burrata were all good. This is an attractive choice whether or not you are attending an event at Lincoln Center.

My favorite Italian restaurant where I eat regularly before attending performances at the Met. Good food , quick , attentive service and convenient location directly across the street from the Met. The café and outside seating are also pleasant. I always reserve two weeks ahead to make sure I can enjoy a meal inside, in my favorite booth.My name is not engraved on any of the metal plaques in the booths . Not yet!

Short walk to Lincoln Center. One of the best selections of antipasti. Popular place, crowed and noisy, for a reason. Warm room, great professional service.

We ate here on our last day and had an amazing 2-course set lunch. Beautiful Italian food in a lovely setting.

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed lunch at the bar at Cafe Fiorello today. The bartender/waiter was delightful and efficient, the other patrons (who I think were locals) were friendly, and our food was very good. We shared a Caesar Salad and the Fennel Sausage, Pepper & Burrata Pizza. The foccacia bread we were served was delicious, too! We didn’t have time for coffee or dessert, but the waiter insisted we enjoy a complimentary limoncello before we left, which of course we did! I would go back again (probably with a reservation if it was for dinner).

My wife and I chose Cafe Fiorello because of its high ratings and convenient location to the Metropolitan Opera. We both had seafood; petite sole for me and cod for her, plus a caesar salad. The food was excellent, and the service was prompt, couteous and helpful. We could not have been more pleased with the overall restaurant experience, and after an enjoyable meal simply walked across the street to the opera house.

The food was average at best based on our orders, and the server was rude and inattentive. We ordered the choose 3 vegetables appetizer and they were greasy, overcooked, and mushy. The spaghetti was uncooked with a sauce that was so sweet it wasn’t edible. I would have tried to add Parmesan and peppers to offset it, but the waiter who only barked if we were ready to order never returned until it was time for the check. My friend’s chicken was interesting and tasty, but somewhat over fried. The meatballs were also fine. The tables were very close together and difficult to maneuver around. Even servers struggled. The location is very convenient for Lincoln Center. I would consider returning for that reason and to try the pizza. Also I would request outdoor seating as it seemed to offer more space between diners.

We walked and ate all over NYC and then finally tried this place on our last day. Easily one of the best Italian restaurants that we found. The grilled octopus was amazing. Their wait staff is the best!

While wandering around New York City, my 8-year-old said she was hungry, and wanted to eat pasta. As it happened, we were near the Cafe Fiorello, and decided to walk in and give it a try. Cafe Fiorella is on Broadway, just past Columbus Circle, a couple blocks from Central Park. Like many other NYC restaurants, it has a “shed” out front for “outdoor” dining, which is a nice place to eat in good weather, but we preferred to eat inside. We were seated and served quickly, and ordered an appetizer and a couple of pasta dishes, and these arrived quickly. After my first taste, I was in heaven, the food was amazing. I live most of the year in Tokyo, which has more Michelin Star restaurants than the entire United States of America, and I have eaten at some wonderful places. But the dishes at Cafe Fiorella were some of the best I have tried. My daughter, who is normally a picky eater, and seldom finishes her meals, ate everything on her plate, and asked for more. My wife was also quite impressed with her dish. The restaurant has a lively atmosphere, and is quite popular, but we were able to get a table quickly. The servers were prompt, and made good recommendations. In the future we plan to become regular diners at Cafe Fiorello, maybe they’ll even make us one of those “This table reserved for….” plaques.

Wonderful restaurant across from Lincoln Center. Exquisite food, wonderful service. My friend and I chose to return and eat there both nights of our stay. Very accommodating!

Excellent food, even better service and loved being able to sit outside toasty warm under standing radiant heaters!

Went with a group of friends for lunch before the matinee of My Fair Lady in Lincoln Center. The food was delicious and the lunch special of appetizer and entree was very good. They also offer a vegetarian special which was excellent. The outdoor dining area was very pleasant.

I was amazed, more like appalled that the chicken parmigiana, was not real chicken breast. They served me a big breaded formed chicken patty. For that price, they should take it off the menu for now. And then the waiter admitted it. Get the pasta and short-rib met balls.

Our waiter was not very good. He ignored us and we had to keep calling him over. First my husband asked for sugar free syrup and it came out with regular syrup. Then we were told they don’t have any. We ran out of milk for our coffee and had to wait 10 minutes for it to arrive so coffee was cold. The food quality was excellent.

Amazing dessert, the food and the service are good. The ambiance is perfect to be ready to enjoy a good Opera.

Wonderful ambience with a nice mix of guests from local regulars to people going to Lincolncenter for the night. Delicious food.

Wow. This place was phenomenal! Our dinner reservations fell thru so on our way back to our hotel we passed this place and on a whim decided to see if we could get in....at 8pm on a Saturday night. We were greeted by a super friendly staff, upon informing them that we didn’t have reservations the host told us he would try his best to get us in, he didn’t disappoint and we were seated immediately (even though it was slammed he found us a table). Our sever was a kind older man who even in the rush made us feel welcome. Our food came out and not only were the portions huge the food was next level amazing. The cheesecake was to good to put into words. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for great Italian.

Very noisy place. The food is quite average and very expensive. Pizza was ok - the pasta was not very good (dry) . The seafood was overcooked

The food was average at best. Service was terrible. Major attitude with the manager on duty when we approached her with a legitimate issue. Our party of 6 frequent NY and this was the first time going to this restaurant which we will never go back too. Do yourself a favor and select one of the several other Italian restaurants available in this wonderful city! Our party of 6 wasted money choosing Cafe Fioello only to walk way hungry and pissed.

Delicious, wonderful food. We always come here when we're in the city. Doesn't matter who we're with, what we're doing - we will stop in. Pesto pasta and artichoke & avocado salad. So good. Lots of choices, fresh, reasonably priced and located right across from Lincoln Center.

Cafe Fiorello offers a delightful culinary escape with its authentic Italian dishes and vibrant atmosphere. The diverse menu features fresh pasta, delectable desserts, and a fantastic wine selection. The staff is friendly and attentive, making every visit special. Perfect for a cozy dinner or a celebratory gathering—highly recommended!

We were recommended Cafe Fiorello by Steve a Volunteer in the booth by Strawberry Fields in Central Park (so charismatic & helpful). Great food and ambiance, the spaghetti & short rib meatballs were insanely tasty and the New York cheesecake was awesome. To top it off Michael the General Manager came over to our table to check how we’d enjoyed our meal and made us feel very welcome in his restaurant, we had a lovely chat. If you’re visiting this area and fancy an Italian then look no further. Cafe Fiorello it is!