Campagnola Restaurant Reviews

See Frankie D and let him suggest your meal! You will NEVER be disappointed!!! The food is amazing... Small and intimate, it's also perfect for a romantic dinner. Ask Frankie to play a song on the piano too !!!

Went to this restaurant with some people from my office including our general manager who recommended this place as ‎presumably served the "best veal chops in New York". I happily have to accept it exceed our expectations.  Although the place is a bit small and can get loud, the atmosphere was amazing and we couldn't get a better service.    Good selection of wines that made the night even better. Whenever I'm in NY, I'll make sure to come back to this place

We heard about this restaurant from a friend who lives nearby and first visited a couple of years ago on a family trip to the city. NY is the place for great Italian and this place fits the bill in so many ways. I can't remember the specific dishes we had that trip but what we all remembered was the unbelievable dessert platter, a huge, large pizza size item with all kinds of sorbets served in the shells of the fruits, canolli, tiramisu, and some things that I can't name but can assure you are delicious. This time we showed up around 11:30 at night as we were still on California time and the place was still hopping and we didn't think we would be able to get a table but lo and behold, they actually remembered us from two years ago, found us a great spot and brought out the desert platter we were looking for! We were able to polish it off again, listening to the piano player and soaking in the NY life. Now it's going to be a family tradition whenever we are in the city.

Do yourself a kindness and sit down for a meal at Campagnola! The atmosphere, the food and the people are all fantastic. If I could give it more stars, I surely would!!

A pretty much perfect dining experiance - from the welcome which was as if we were old friends returning, to the slightly worn but comfortable decor with superb food and faultless service and a pianist. This is now my favourite New York Italian ! The clientele seemed mainly locals which speaks volumes, we loved it.

Wow! I know Manhattan has more than their share of really great Italian eateries. I know because I've been to many of them but this place is really special. It oozes Old World Italian Charm and a neighborhood vibe with people laughing and kissing the head waiter upon arrival It is refined with white table cloths and starched coated waiters fluttering about to cater to every small element of your experience. I gotta think this place is a landmark favorite to the in crowd as its off the main tourist streets but walkable to 5th Ave! The Food, and I mean every dish was a culinary dream! GET the T Bone for 2, get an assorted pasta plate (the waiter will help) and get the assorted Desert tray for the table. They do an amazing job of table service to share with house specialities on every course of the meal so do that! Mostly, get ready to love a meal adventure the way great Italian Restaurants are supposed to be. You won't forget Campagnola's once you go and will want to return again and again

Maybe New Yorkers take this kind of pricing in their stride, but at over $100 (pre tip) for just 2 glasses of pinot grigio, one veal shank and one cup of cappuccino, is a lot of dough, especially considering there was no starter or dessert involved. It was a fine meal, well I’m really talking about the veal shank a.k.a "ossobuco with gnocchi dumplings", which scored a 10/10. Service was typical Italian with that touch of hard-men slick…they just do that ‘you’re here at our bequest’ mean type of look so well. While I can’t fault the experience of itself, I can’t help feeling that one does better on the international stage for this kind of money.

We dined at Campagnola this evening. From the food to the service they did an outstanding job. Staff is Italian and they know their dishes. The quality is top notch, right down to the ingredients and generous portions. The service is wonderful... They doted on us and our two young daughters, with Claudio even bringing them to the cellar to hand pick their ice cream, which he spooned until their bowls were overflowing. We would go back without hesitation.

Given the quality and extremely tasty pasta, I had to remind myself, "I'm in NY, not Rome." We were seated in a table for four towards the middle section of the restaurant. Perfect location for watching the activity and feeling the exciting Friday night vibe. Prior to our NY trip, we booked several restaurants, however, wanting to be flexible and not certain where we'd be touring, we enjoyed other NY server recommendations. Campagnola's was recommended by the GM at Bobby Van's Broad St. restaurant location. He said, "Look up Frankie D and Sal at Campagnola's." Really, it was out of the Godfather movie with those names. To our fortune and enjoyment, both Frankie D and Sal were working when we dined the next evening. The concierge helped with reservations. Our server, Nikola, was outstanding. Great personality and engaged us with light-hearted conversation recommending a Montepulciano wine and pastas for appetizers. Penne pasta in a light tomato and bechamel sauce, cheese ravioli in creamy white sauce, and a tasting of pesto gnocchi. Simply delicious, melt in your mouth al dente pasta. They know how to cook pasta and creamy sauces. God forbid, they were actually served steaming hot, too. Now that seems to be unusual these days in restaurants. Serving food hot. Their chefs were right on and tops in my ratings. Our friends split a fresh and carved up delicious fish. I had to enjoy a full plate of the rich and creamy cheese ravioli and my husband ordered the pesto gnocchi. We are pasta freaks. Too full for dessert, how did we ever clean the plate of NY "to die" for cheese cake and a light and delicious Napoleon complimentary from our server. The entire Campagnola experience was a NY highlight. Let's return next year, or, better yet, "Frankie D, could you open a restaurant in SF, please."

If your menu says, Itallian Bouillabaisse with lobsters, then put that lobster in the bowl!!!!!!!! Nothing special at this restaurant! Our order were Cesar salad, carpaccio, veal Milanese and Italian Bouillabase, pelligreino and 2 glasses of wine, the bill was 345.00 for two. No dessert. Go somewhere else!

A true authentic little gem in 1st Avenue , will not disappoint, away from the hustle of the tourist scene. All the meals were great and true to the NY Italian tradition. The service levels are quick , but a little to familiar , and therefore not up to the high quality this restaurant could achieve .

I have been dining at Campagnola's for the last 10 years when visiting NYC. I always had Sal make my reservations and my meals were terrific! Sal has left the restaurant and the ownership has changed and unfortunetly not for the better. I made my reservation 2 weeks in advance and when we arrived we were seated in a small table facing the wall, exactly where I did not want to be seated. I did not recognize one person in the restaurant. The menu did not change but the food quality certainly did. The waiter was so ordinary and his speech about the food was so uninteresting. We no more ordered and the food started coming out, fast. No fine dining here any longer! The bread and the cheese they serve you was good. The Caesar Salad was the worst I could not even finish it. It's a shame that the new owners do not recognize that the changes they made are not for the better! The food was edible but so average, you are not receiving your moneys worth. We were in and out in about 1 hour, this is not supposed to be fast food. My conclusion is this is not the same restaurant it once was, it's expensive and not worth the money and they don't listen to you on the phone. I will not return even if they gave me a complimentry meal.

La Campagnola calls itself a "country restaurant". It is informal - and very welcoming. Before any food arrived we were struck by the sincere attitude and interest of the folks who work there. Very different from most NY restaurants. The food itself was excellent. There is a menu - of course - but the place is really specials driven. There was essentially a new menu of specials of the day. When you order is not just the selection. Preparation is - in their words - any way you want it. We had four for dinner and everything was great. As good as anything we have ever ordered in an American Italian restaurant. One surprise was the wine list. Very good and very extensive, but incredibly high priced - even by New York standards. In spite of that we thoroughly enjoyed the dinner.

The food was fresh and delicious. Good variety to choose from and great specials available along with a nice wine selection. The service was very good and they were attentive. The atmosphere felt like being in Italy. The bar can get crowded so reserve a table in the dining room. Not a place to stop in and eat...most days you need a reservation....well worth it.

I've eaten at Campagnola's many times. Some of my best and most memorable;e times were spent there over the last 20 years. This time we sat in the street (it was cold- but that was OK). We had eggplant rollatini that was average; salad that was average and a very good pork chop. Then refinished with rigatoni that had disappointingly flavorless sauce. We had three glasses of wine between us that was good but cost $20/ glass. Overall, I have had better food at many places at a much, much lower prices. We spent $220 before tip. Wow. You can do a lot better for a lot less money.

An old school Italian restaurant with amazing food and top notch service. Everything here from the seafood salad to the veal chop to the porterhouse to the lobster are amazing. The only thing we didn't love were the meatballs. The off the menu sausage onions and peppers is also good. The wine list is top notch but pricey. Your best bet is calling for a reservation. We love this place and will continue to return

Recommended by a friend and it lived up to expectations. Service, atmosphere, and food all were outstanding. The owner ordered for us and every plate was great. Highly recommend. Crab cake, steak, and calamari a must.

I come into NYC from Long Island just to dine here when we have the chance. The food is really really good and the service is always excellent. They treat you like you are a regular even when you aren’t and in my opinion that is one of the signs of a great restaurant

Dropped in on Wednesday evening without having made a reservation. I've previously been to this restaurant on about three or four occasions and it has never failed to deliver. As always, the place was packed but we were allocated a table very rapidly and the knowledgable and attentive waiting staff quickly brought us appetisers while we studied the menu. Previous posts indicate that this place is hugely popular with long-standing diners and while I've not experienced any poor service on any of my visits, I was dining with a friend who has known the restaurant and staff for over 20 years and, I have to admit, we were genuinely well looked after! We had the T-bone steak for two which was simply sublime. Strongly recommended!

This is my first time at Campagnola. I have heard so much about it and everything I heard was more than I had expected. The ambiance the service, the quality of the food was outstanding. I had the chilean Sea Bass in a red sauce which was excellent. I also had the Burrata as an appetizer, another outstanding dish. Wine was exceptional. It's no wonder that this restaurant has been around as long as it has. It is truly an upper east side experience.

My wife and I had dinner last night for the first time at Campagnola. The place has a wonderful vibe: super white tablecloths, good lighting, great acoustics that permits conversation while you eat delicious food and listen to soft live piano music even though every table was filled with happy diners. We started with the special chopped salad. My wife had lemon trout that was perfectly prepared and too large a portion to finish. I had a veal chop with mushrooms and onions. Veal chops are one of the specialties of the restaurant and mine was delicious. It was very thick and very large and therefore I ate the whole chop. The service is excellent. Our waiter recognized us from another Upper East Side Italian restaurant that closed four years ago and greeted us like long list relative. We will definitely be back for another meal.

Every time we visit NYC we arrange our schedules to go to this restaurant. We have been enjoying our meals there for many years now and it’s always fabulous. Delicious comfort food with generous portions. Our hope is that it remains as it is for as many years as we are able to get there!

Friends of ours made reservations at Campagnola and told us how good it was as they had eaten there before. We had a reservation and were seated by the bar. The restaurant was full and the way many diners were greeted it obviously has a repeat clientele. The overall rating of the restaurant was good and as I said, I dont get it.The best parts of the meal were the cheese and salami etc served when we sat and the desert (tartufo). Pasta with pesto was a creamy mess and my veal dish was tasteless. I am a New Yorker and have eaten in Italian restaurants all over the city and the food was terribly mediocre. Topped with indifferent service we will not be going back

. Old school Italian. Good people watching. Helps to be regular or know one. Amazing dining experience for NYC, let waiter order for you. If so, though with wine, count on several hours for dinner with amazing food (so much of it, too) for about $200 pp. This is a great place to take first timers to NYC too if they want to experience Italian in the city.

Just had a great meal at Campagnola. Love the service, food and atmosphere The hosts are amazing and take care of you like family. They’ll make anything you want and everything we ate was off the charts. Love Patricio, one of the Maitre’Ds. Can’t say enough great things about the food, service, atmosphere and wine list here. Can’t wait to return.

I was really looking forward to my first visit to Campagnola. The second I walked in the door for a 7:30 reservation, I knew that it was not right for me. There is a Pianist who sits in the bar area right in front of the door. And I immediately realized was going to be very, very loud. Turns out we were at the second table. It was way too close to the music. We could barely hear our friends talk it is so loud. And the food turned out to be really disappointed. My Caesar salad was very Bland, my friend had prosciutto and melon and she couldn't eat the melon it was so hard. My pasta was dry. One of my friends had chicken scarpiello and he said the sausage was good but the chicken was dry. In fact no one finished their meal and we asked for the check, but the whole affair took well over two hours and now I have a splitting headache. Never again.

Enjoyed my return visit to this intimate Italian restaurant that is loved by many locals who have eaten here for many years. Started with the antipasto plate and ceasar salad. We had the Shrimp Scampi, Veal Parmigiana and specials of the night, Lamb Chops and Osso Buco. Served with this was Potato Campagnola and their house made pasta. Everything was delicious and portions were huge. Also managed to have a sample of deserts and cookies with coffee to end the meal. Staff from the front of the house to the kitchen are first class.

I return to Campagnola after previously enjoying the food but this time left me embarrassed infront of my in-laws! On our last night in NYC, my wife and I decided to treat her parents to a meal and after spending over $300 on the meal and tipping $40, I was approached by the waiter who started to explain how poorly paid he was and that I should double the tax as a tip!!! Now call me tight but I think a $40 tip is a good one especially when the service was just OK. I paid the extra tip and left quickly as I was very aware of the mafia style gentleman to my right and left standing up in case I said anything. I will never return to this restaurant

Very rushed. Very turn over the table style. Upon sitting down before seeing the menu they asked us for our water, cocktail and wine order.

I have been frequenting this restaurant once a month for the past ten years! This is the only Italian Restaurant that is worth visiting in NYC! The atmosphere, FOOD, and hospitality is unlike anything you will ever experience! Ask for Desiree and Sam at the front! They will take great care of you!

Expensive but worth it! Friends have dined here and recommended it. My wife and I finally visited and enjoyed it immensely. I had the veal piccata with capers and broccoli rabe. My wife enjoyed some pasta. All preceded by a nice antipasto and accompanied by a nice white wine. Looking forward to returning!

A very good restaurant. Very, very busy, but they do their best to move things along. Everyone ‘s food was awesome, except mine, but they did the right thing and took it off the bill. I would definitely go back. Restaurant is small so expect to wait even with reservations. It will be worth it.

Lovely ambience,lovely attentive service,authentic regional food-reasonablly priced for NYC Would visit again

Great spot indeed. Fine and original Italian inspired cuisine, with great products, tasty and delicate dishes and great service indeed. We've been very well treated, the wine waiter was very helpful, we've never been hurried... Excellent dining experience in a friendly atmosphere ! Be back !

Campagnola is a great UES New York Restaurant that never disappoints. The food is excellent and the service is unmatched. Frankie and his band of waiters are attentive and yet not in your face. The food is unbelievable and they can make anything you want. Yes, it is expensive, but worth every penny for a great meal and great atmosphere. A really great vibe to the place overall.

We were in-town for a performance at the MET and joined friends at Campagnola as their guests, it is one of their favorite NYC restaurants. Since both my sister and I are pretty good Italian cooks so we are always comparing restaurant meals to one we can make at home. Campagnola did not disappoint. We ate fairly early by New York standards so the restaurant was not too crowded or too noisy, however as the night progressed it did get considerably more noisy. It was Saturday night and to be expected. The bar tender, Angelo, was fun and the meal shared with old friends was excellent. The piano player was a nice addition.

You need to make yourself and your spouse happy by coming to this Italian restaurant. You will definitely enjoy intimacy after eating here. You will be considered a god for recommending this place. It is fantabulous!!!!!!!!!!

A friend recommended this restaurant to us since we wanted an upper east side location to eat. We are glad he did. We had a great overall dining experience . The wait staff was fun ,attentive,and helped our group decide what to order. We essentially shared our dishes which made it a family style dinner. Both the red and cream sauces were great.Our pasta was perfect. Appetizers,especially the asparagus and shrimp were wonderful. The bread was plenty and fresh. We spent a few hours there.We never felt rushed. This is truly a classic,old school small Italian restaurant with a neighborhood feel.

Good of fashioned Italian food and buzz - well worth the trek to Upper East and very close to 72 Street subway. From the warm welcome by the owner, to leaving past the cool piano sounds and good humoured waiters out front, we felt at home. The sea bass was a good size and perfectly cooked and deboned. The seafood linguini was super, and the tartufo dessert, the best I’ve had. Looking forward to coming back!

They have been getting it done here for years. Good food, a nice friendly crowd, and a warm dining room and bar area. The food is good for sure, but don't ask the waiter to take are of you unless you bring a large wallet or have a big expense account. They also tend to bring bottles of wine unsolicited as you dine which can lead to a surprise as you pay the bill. But you do get what you pay for here and that is a good meal and an enjoyable overall experience.

We arrived at the restaurant to be immediately seated. Our server/s picked a meal for us after a few questions and it was PERFECT! The portobello sauce on the ravioli was to die for and that was only part of a four course dinner. I highly recommend ditching the menu and letting them take care of you! The atmosphere was old school New York and completely charming. The place was hopping when we left and we actually got to see some Chicago Cubs dining before starting the series! A great experience!!

My husband and I dined at Campagnola this weekend with another couple - we all live in the neighborhood, and are always looking to try new places, especially Italian restaurants. The restaurant is very cute, and really has an authentic, old school New York feel to it. We were seated right away, and every member of the staff that we interacted with throughout our meal was friendly and helpful. We started out with the stuffed artichoke and a pappardelle bolognese - both dishes were fine. I ordered the spaghetti with scallops (Abruzzi) as my entree, and it was inedible. While the scallops were enormous, they were VERY disappointing, and riddled with sand. Nothing ruins a scallop more than having sand in each bite. My husband had a fish (maybe sole or flounder?) almandine which he did not enjoy, and our friends ordered the veal parmigian and veal Marsala. According to them their dishes were fine, not bad, but not anything special or impressive. When our bill arrived, I was horrified. We enjoy nice dinners out all the time, and have no problem spending money on a great meal - however, a great meal this was definitely not. The most absurd part was the price of the drinks. $15 for a glass of prosecco, $14 per vodka soda, and $6 for my pregnant friend's seltzer with a splash of cranberry juice! Absolutely absurd. I would not return to Campagnola, nor would I recommend it - there are FAR better Italian restaurants throughout Manhattan, and many of them won't rip you off in the drinks department either.

Great ambiance, service, food and wine list. Worth every dollar spent. Old school service. That's why they are so successful. The quality of the crowd is high. Will repeat

We started off with a pasta of bolognese over a two color papperadelle that was so tasty and perfectly cooked. My husband had a stuffed veal chop "La Famosa Valdostanna" stuffed with prociutto and mozzarella with a mushroom gravy that was excellent and could easily feed 2. I fared equally as well with "Veal Scalloppine alla Sorrentina" that was topped with eggplant, proscuitto, tomato, and mozzarella and a white wine sauce. Do yourself a favor and go ASAP. When you go say hello to Frankie for me.

26 years ago my son had his 2 year old birthday party at Campagnola. I picked that place because I lived around the corner and it was my favorite Italian restaurant. But great food is just only one of the reasons I went there is because they treated me like family. The warmth of the people at the time, the ambiance, the cool crowd and again the feeling you get when you walk into Campagnola it is just special. And even better during Xmas. Anyway fast forward 26 years. I moved out of the City but I still comeback and last night I actually had one of my best meals ever!The Oso Buco was off the charts!. The Sea Bass as tasty and moist as ever! They brought out a dessert at the end that would rival Ferrrar's in Little italy. Forgetabout it! But 26 years later, even under new ownership they still treat you like family.. Frankie the Maitre D. George the host (who I know from Long Island),Drew the Bartende,r the classic Piano Man playing the great Sinatra songs. And the crowd.. you never know what Celeb you will see in there ...be it a Politician or Sports star The place still has it and just maybe I appreciate so much more today because they just don't make like this anymore. Like a fine wine Campanola has gotten better with age!

The food was delicious - but - no sooner did we put our forks down, the dishes were wisked away and the next course was brought out. We hadn't even finished our appetizer and the waiter reached across the table to take it away. We all screamed, "Whoa - put that dish back, please!" We were very rushed from start to finish.

We got a last minute reservation here on a Friday night after the Thai place we were going to didn’t take bookings and were making us wait 40 mins. for a table. Provided you sit in the back area away from the window, you will have excellent conversation opportunities. At the front there’s a very good pianist but his piano’s a bit loud and other reviewers have bitterly complained. The service from start to finish is amazing. There is very sophisticated teamwork happening. I asked if I could have a skinny margarita (there’s no cocktail menu and it’s claimed they can make anything), and it came in minutes. However before that came a complimentary antiplasto plate. There were waiters everywhere - filling our water glasses, delivering drinks, bread and removing plates. Things run very smoothly there. I had the crab legs then veal scallopine limone. Everything was super fresh and delicious. For dessert I had the Napoleon pastry - very good. Just one thing to be careful of - the nightly specials don’t have prices. It’s worth asking so you don’t get a nasty surprise. The wine menu is also extremely expensive. This is bordering on a fine dining experience. However all in all, an excellent choice for some traditional Italian service and food. Go there.

I have been frequenting Campagnola for over 25 years mostly due to the fantastic service provided by Frankie D. The food is only second to Frankie's attention to detail to ensure you have a great dining experience. I bring family, friends and business associates to the restaurant and they all enjoy the service, experience.and food. It seems different when Frankie is not there. Every time I recommend Campagnola to someone they quickly become regulars. Keep up the great work Frankie!!! VP

Food was great. There are many specials. Service was outstanding and excellent wine list. Try the gnocci with pesto sauce.

We had an amazing meal here for Valentines Day! The staff was all so nice and helpful, we really enjoyed visiting with them. they had balloons all over the ceiling and a piano player that sang throughout the night. The food was all wonderful! My boyfriend had the lamb chops and he couldn't get over how good they were...I had some kind of spaghetti with scallops. We also had an sampler appetizer with calamari, clams, shrimp, and a scallop. it was all so delicious. I would definitely go back if I am in NYC. On the expensive side but great for a special occasion!!

Of course a highly rated Italian restaurant on the UES of Manhattan! If you are not "known" by the manager/maitre de you are but a second class citizen, and thus seated by the noisy bar. Waiters were debating ( I could hear them) who had to wait on us. Food, not worth the $55 per person tab, service, not worth a 20% tip (left 18%) and amibiance is not better or worse than most. I am not one to be fawned over, but expect the same degree of care and attention as any other patron. Think I can find another UES Italian? you bet, loads to try.

Have not gone to C for many years but always loved it. Many of the old staff still there, excellent service and really great food. Still a happening place with a super buzz. Drinks and complimentary appetizers come fast. Pasta, steaks ,sides and dessets all excellent . Very impressive so many years later. Will be back soon.

Dined at Campagnola for my wife's birthday. Food was excellent, atmosphere was great and service was top notch. Portions are very generous (couldn't finish) , glad we finally tried this Italian classic just around the corner from our apartment. Can't wait to return!

This place is the quintessential local neighborhood restaurant . Its been around since the 1940s and every time I have eaten here, I have always had a great meal. veal chops are the best and the pastas are great as well . Piano player in the corner but not overly loud. Nice bar seen . If you do go save room for the Napoleon ! It is with out a doubt the best I ever had !

There are Italian restaurants on every corner in the city, but none do it as well as Campagnola. The food is always fresh and imaginative (they have a large specials menu every night) in addition to the typical Italian dishes. They will also make you anything off the menu. They staff offers a non rushed atmosphere that makes you feel like family by the time you leave. It’s not the cheapest Italian in town, but you get what you pay for. This place hits on all cylinders.

The staff were extremely Accommodating to our needs and knowledgable re menu choices. The gnocchi was the best I've ever had and the fish was cooked perfectly. It's not cheap and the wine starts at $65 per bottle but it is worth it in terms of quality.

Mediocre service. Extremely expensive. Pedestrian food. High prices for mediocre wine. Rushed service. Loud. I don't understand this restaurant. It is packed every night, so obviously many people love it. We live in the neighborhood and had never been there. We decided to try it when an out of town friend came to NYC. Never again. Very disappointing. The service was similar to what you'd get in a diner. The waiter yells out, unintelligibly, the day's menu, pointing to a blackboard with undecipherable handwriting. Oh, and did I mention how extremely expensive it was? Four people was $500. We had one bottle of mediocre wine. One person only ate an appetizer, no dinner entrée. There were no desserts, no coffee, and no cocktails. Oh, they do give you a TON of food; not that this matters since it's not particularly good.

Worth the $$ ! Not sure you can find the perfect combination of great food- service and atmosphere anywhere else in NYC. They have been doing this consistently for past 25 years.

This was the last dinner during my trip to NYC and it lived up to the saying, "saved the best for last." The quaint restaurant is cozy; perfect for a date, yet also accommodating enough for a dinner with family. I highly recommend ordering spiedini alla romano (not on menu) as an appetizer and the gnocchi con pesto for dinner. If it was carb-free, I could eat it every single day of my life! I can frankly say it's one of the best, if not THE best Italian food I've ever had. Most dishes on the menu were traditional Italian, but with a wonderful twist of NYC. To. Die. For.

My friend and I were visiting friends who live around the corner to this restaurant. They liked the look of it and of course saw that it had good reviews. We were seated at a table next to the bar and it was very noisy - hard to have a conversation! Looked like a lot of locals and businessmen in suits. My friend and I ordered a salad and the Spaghetti Abbruzzi appetizer size. It was Ok but not fabulous. I had 2 glasses of wine she had 1 plus dessert and we ended up paying $75 which seemed a lot. My Caesar salad had no real flavor. The Tiramisu was average. The worst part was that they enlarged the table next to us and one of gentlemen had his seat pushed so far from the table that we were being crushed. We told the manager but he did nothing except offer us a free drink at the bar. As we are not drinkers we declined. I have to say I have been to many Italian restaurants in Boston's North End that were way better than this and also less expensive.

Had been a regular at campy's years back. Went back with customers in tow and it was like I had never left. Nobody takes care of their customers like Campy's. Fish, Veal, Chicken and Steak were all great. Out of towners were in awe and impressed. Food, Service and Atmosphere like this come at a steep price. But well worth it.

This is an experience that we never miss when in NYC. This could easily be in the running for the top Italian joints in the city. We usually elect the family style method of dining which in our most recent visit was 6 different courses--all delicious. Quite frankly is a "not to be missed" place on our list.

Campagnola is OK- nothing special and at these prices, it should be special. Wine by the glass is $20-30 per and many entrees are in the $50-75 range. The service was good but the food was average Italian restaurant fare. We ordered baked clams, Caesar salad and porcini mushroom ravioli. All were okay, nothing out of the ordinary. The ravioli barely had any mushrooms at all, it was just plain cheese ravioli. The highlight of the meal was the dessert, the tartuffo, which was very good.

Campagnola is an average size Italian restaurant which has excellent food. We were treated to delicious chorizo with chunk of Parmesan cheese.The eggplant rollatini appetizer was perfect as well as the asparagus! For entree we had Chilean sea bass with Arabbiata sauce and real Dover sole - cooked to perfection! For dessert we had tiramisu and napoleon. Items were à lacarte.The prices were higher than average, but food was worth it! There was a piano player as well. It's a great restaurant to celebrate a special ocassion!

What used to be a solid old school American Italian staple is anything but that today. Some of the same shtick - the chalkboard specials, the waiters in suits, yada, yada, yada. But one rather important thing is missing - the quality of the food. My guest's veal was mediocre. She even guessed that it was previously frozen, perhaps. My Caesar - pre-made (came out in 30 seconds) and ordinary. My linguine with porcini mushrooms tasted as if someone pee'ed in it. Sour, acidic, inedible. The famed Napoleon for dessert to kill the taste of the meal was equally disappointing, a big nothing. The problem with Campagnola? It just isn't good. Pride in the food is gone.

Trendy, stuffy with aroggant unpleasant waiters. Meal was average to poor and very expensive. Waiter was rude and unaccomodating

We had reservations for a family special occasion. The maitre d' insisted that he "take care of us" with a special family dinner. We had heard some good reviews and went along with him. We were served the most boring, hackneyed and ridiculously expensive Italian food, which was overcooked and served with unpleasant alacrity combined with a superior attitude. The women wept and the children cried. Maybe the regulars can pick their way to a good meal, but have your bitrthday somewhere else!

The service was great! The food was incredible! The wine was an experience! We were treated to a 5 course meal that was out of this world.

THIS RESTAURANT WINS A PRIZE!......as the only one in the history of my lifetime in New York from which i walked out on. A RESERVATION HERE MEANS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!...,after a 45 minute wait...our party of four was seated in a corner table made for two people....you couldnt even eat since the the shape and location of the table was so far away that if we had ordered anything we would have had to call UPS to deliver the meal. in addition...sardines were on the menu....for that is exactly what it was .....4 adults squeezed into a little space like sardines...,,after one cocktail we left and went down the block to NINO 'S..... IT WAS LIKE NIGHT AND DAY....comfortable...lovely piano music in the background ..great food and best of all a table that wasn't built for the Munchkins from the Wizard of Oz. Someone on the staff gave us his card and said if we came again they would make it up to us...what does that mean.???? comfortable pillow on the floor????? i was told they changed owners a year ago........obviously not someone in the restaurant business

Great neighborhood Italian. There is a reason it's been around for so long and always busy. Great food, service and ambiance. Tommy at the bar is terrific. A must go for great Italian food in NYC.

The sautéed shrimp w mushrooms and artichokes appetizer was delicious, as was the spaghetti puttanesca, branzino and tartufo dessert. I would have given 5 stars had the owner showed us the same interest as he did all the other tables he visited, if our waiter hadn't served our pasta with our main course when we asked it to be a separate course before our entree, and if we weren't overcharged for one order of pasta that we said we were sharing (because 2 half orders are approx $10 more, note: this was corrected when brought to waiter's attention). However the live piano music was great! So we may return.

One of the best birthday celebrations I ever had. Cozy ambiance, tables beautifully set, superb service, delicious food, nice wine list. We all wanted to eat authentic pasta, and were not disapointed. I had the gnocchi in pesto sauce, others had the porcini mushroom ravioli, and penne in vodka sauce. All I can say is that my mouth still waters. I never tasted such rich flavor as the porcini mushroom sauce on the ravioli. They have a side table with a giant reel of Parmigiano Reggiano from which they scoop cheese for appetizers. For my birthday they brought me a scrumptious Napoleon with fresh strawberies and "Happy Birthday" written in chocolate around the rim of the plate, as they sang to me, accompanied by the pianist who played the piano the entire night. What a great place! Our server was like a friend who told us that they can make anything we want, any combination of foods, even if not listen on the menu. "No problem" for anything we asked for, delivered within minutes in a friendly, welcoming manner. If you want great Italian, this place is a must. Prices are moderately expensive, great value.

Campagnola is one of the finest restaurants and we enjoy bringing our family, friends, and clients whenever we are in NY. Frankie makes us feel like we are special each and every time. This past 12/2/18 was so festive, warm and the Spaghetti Bolognese was out of this world. Oh and the Potato Campagnola you must try! Shelyn Mosseri Lee -

We visited Campagnolia with our daughter and son in law for a late night dinner. We sat at the great bar while we waited for our table. Wonderful bartender was really interesting telling us stories about hi thirty years there. The place was truly an old Italian institution. Our food was good but not great. I had a chicken and Italian sausage dish which was very tasty, but the chicken was overlooked and dry.

Well-known old Upper E. Side N. Italian. Pretty interior in a country Italian style. However when it comes to the basics, the food is decent but nothing exceptional, and the prices are through the roof! Hadn't been there in years until recently, and it seems that the place has become a big ripoff. Won't be heading back any time soon.

We made a reservation at this restaurant as a recommendation from a friend that had previously visited several times. I have to say they are a top notch restaurant. We had one of the first reservations of the night and were seated right away by Frankie. Frankie and all of the waiters were very attentive and made sure we did not go without anything. Even though the restaurant does not serve sweet tea Frankie asked the bar to put simple syrup in my friend’s unsweet tea so it would be a good southern sweet tea. We had oysters has apps, main courses: Veal Marsala, Chicken Piccata (which was not on the menu but they made it for me); spaghetti bolognese. Desert: crème brûlée. All the food was delicious and I would definitely recommend this restaurant over and over again. The atmosphere is old Italy and everyone makes you feel at home especially my new friend, Frankie!!

Food was great and the service was just as good. We were four people for a last minute dinner. The waiter had recommended some food and we just said yes. He was right.

Our dinner at Campagnolas was a truly memorable experience. The service was impeccable. The owner took care of us all night, bringing out dishes that he was sure to love. The veal meatballs and pasta sampler were delicious. Dessert was unbelievable. This is one dining experience I will never forget. If you want something very local and not touristy, come here.

My family and I ate at Campagnola last evening. The entire experience was OUTSTANDING!! There were 5 of us plus an infant! Not only did the restaurant give us a nice table outdoors, they went out of there way to accommodate my grandson sleeping in his stroller. Everything from the appetizers to dessert was delicious. Some of the stand out items from our meal included the clams oreganata, zucchini flowers, veal chop smothered in onions and mushrooms, veal limone and shrimp oreganata. Tiramisu, zabaione and napoleon topped off our meal! Our waiter, Frankie D., made sure we had everything we wanted including some items not listed on the menu!! All the wait staff was professional and expert in their service. The wine list was great as well! This was traditional Italian dining at it's best! My family and I look forward to visiting again in the near future!!

The food was very good. You can basically order anything you want . Most don't even look at the menu. The waiter will mention a couple of specials and the various fresh fish of the day. We started with baked clams and shrimp which were quite good. That was followed by a pasta sampler, 3 types with 3 different sauces. For entree, I ordered chicken piccata which was fantastic.

Slow dignified eating, with waiters who know how to treat you, don't intrude too much, and utter the wry comment when called for. The gnocchi won for me, but many good dishes.

This place is amazing!!! Great food with amazing service. When we arrived and sat for dinner, the server suggested that we didn't need menus and he will bring out some food. Plates of amazingness kept arriving with a wonderful selection of authentic dishes. The server was on and when I was complete with my dish they quickly removed it. We weren't rushed and was able to enjoy a very memorable meal.

Food is great. Service is too much and you feel like you are being scammed. Do not order off the menu or extras without clarifying price or you will be upset. I have eaten here 5 times now. Food is great, so I do recommend this place, BUT I don't understand why they feel the need to be sneaky with their pricing. One time we made the mistake of having some guy, "Frankie", order for us... $800 later we left very aggravated. They always have a guy who messes with your bill. The food is so good here it is completely unnecessary. Not sure who reading this has been to Naples, Italy, but in that sense its very authentic, but for the US even NYC it seems like a racket. Tonight I asked to modify my meal and ended up paying an additional premium for pasta which should have come with my entree. $50+ for shrimp with pasta is dumb. Delicous, yes, necessary to have some guy act like Dalton from Road House to regulate the order, no.

We were 6 people - they sat us in the back at a round table - they had a piano player when you walked in - it is better to sit closer to the piano so you could hear it - we could not hear anything in the back where we were sitting - the food was good and so was the service

This restaurant was recommended but my lobster linguine was tough and tasteless and I couldn't finish it and my partners veal was also tough. Very disappointed in the food and had one glass of wine each and one course for the privilege of paying $150. We have been travelling for 2 weeks and it was the worst meal we have had in that time. Service was good only old style interior was out of date.

The food at this restaurant was sub par except for the veal chop and pork chop which were amazing. The pasta was awful, the fish overcooked and the salad boring. The service was not what it should have been for this class of restaurant. We received the wrong pasta and when they tried to correct it served it raw. They did try to make up for it during dessert but it was too little too late when 5 out of 8 people couldn't even eat their meals.

amazing food, great service and great atmosphere! We come to this restaurant every time we come to New York. A MUST!

This restaurant was recommended by a friend of the family. Although a bit out of the way from where we were in the city, it was worth the 20 minute cab ride. We had 6 people in our party, we were seated right away. We were greeted by the front waiter/manager/host. The dinners were excellent, and very large portions. Great Service. The only thing I would recommend is insisting on a menu. We did not receive menus or hear any of the dinner specials, the waiter just said we could have "anything that we want". Although everyone had a fabulous dinner, I believe we would have made different choices if we had been given the option of a menu. Great place, but insist on a menu;)

For starters, we had parmigiano regiano and salami. Then, we moved on to an eggplant dish stuffed with cheese which was very good. Then, we had a plate with 3 different kinds of pasta. They were all delicious. Our main course was a fish dish which seemed ordinary compared to the starters. By this point, we were feeling full anyway. Just as well that the main course was light.

Lovely restaurant. Took my eldest Grandson for dinner when he visited me last year The restaurant has lovely service & great selection of wonderful dishes.

We recently ate here for dinner. I will say that my review is probably a bit skewed regarding service since my nephew is very friendly with the owner, but the food stands on its own. The owner was very friendly and the server was very attentive. I really liked that you could be dressed up or be casual and fit right in. The food was incredibly good. Absolutely loved the fresh spinach ravioli in a Bolgnese sauce.....Yummy. The chicken that my husband had (it was a special that night) was huge!! There were two large breasts and pasta on the side. The gnocchi in a basil cream sauce (we had on a appetizer platter) was the best I have ever had.

This place is fabulous and I eat here as often as I can As you walk in your welcomed Buy some great life piano playing and a nice fun bar The restaurant is usually crowded and it’s easy to see why The food is amazing and it’s actually difficult to decide what to have This is a classic New York eatery I’ve noticed some of the reviews saying the place is too loud that’s just complete nonsense this is a happy vibrant spot Have a bottle of wine and a T-bone steak you just can’t go wrong here

I had dinner here recently. Totally overpriced. Bad service. Firstly they showed us all the specials written on a blackboard. The good: all the dishes and prices were clearly listed. The bad: the waiter proceeded to read every single item from the board. Annoying. We ordered several items. The branzino was excellent but expensive while the Vodka Martini was perfect and potent. The pasta? A disgrace! I ordered the Penne Arrabiata. So overpriced. $29 for a small serving. Probably $1 per penne! But it was tasteless and like eating cardboard. Finding a server to whom I could complain was challenging. When I asked for the manager suddenly the waiter's service improved. I explained my dissatisfaction with the penne and he willingly replaced it with tagliatelle pomodoro. The tagliatelle itself was good, but it arrived drowned in tomato sauce. It was like having tomato soup with pasta inside. This restaurant is a typical UES Italian restaurant trapped in a 1980 time warp. Great atmosphere and comfortable seating. Sadly the food did not bear any resemblance to Italy.

Old style and old cuisine is sometimes very appreciated but this is not the case! Looked like being 20 years back, old service, bad "Italian" food and terrible wines!! Wake up to reality please!!!!!!

We dine out regularly and recently spent the Christmas week in NYC. We typically spend Christmas Eve in Little Italy enjoying a nice Italian meal. Upon a recommendation, we ate at Campagnola. My wife read the reviews and warned me about the prices and how the wait staff pushes unwanted food and drinks. I figured this would not happen to us. I must say the food was outstanding. We were all very pleased with our meals. The wait staff however were overbearing and circling our table like vultures at a kill. One of the problems which we encountered was when we finished our meals. We were discussing what we would like to have for dessert and we were looking around at other tables when a waiter literally grabbed my 12 year old son by he hand and said "you come with me". He lead him downstairs and told him to pick 3 sorbets, and then proceeded to prepare a large desert tray. My son told him "I don't know what my family wants for desert" and didn't want to pick anything. The waiter said, "no worry, you no pay for this". So my son chose 3 sorbets and then up they came with a large tray with a Napolean and a Tartufo cut in sections. We did not eat half of it because we were interested in other deserts. When they dropped the bill, they charged $45 after telling my son we would not have to pay for it. He felt terrible because we did not get the desserts we wanted and we got stuck with a $45 dessert that we did not ask for or enjoy. Nice way to end our Christmas Eve dinner. When I reviewed the bill, I realized why they were so quick to refill my wife's club soda and my kids 8 oz. cokes, they were $6/each. My son had something off the menu. He wanted gnocchi with some chicken. It looked like a children's order and they charged $34 for perhaps 15 gnoccki and a couple of pieces of chicken. I do not mind paying for meals but between the sodas for $48, an unwanted dessert which the waiter lied to my son about and the overpriced gnocchi, we will not go back to the restaurant. I enjoy good meals (Ruth's Chris and Jean-Georges earlier in the week) and don't mind spending money for it, but this was excessive and I don't like feeling like someone played me for a fool. It is sad because the food was very good however with all of the great restaurants in NYC, I will never return to Campagnola again and I would recommend finding a different Italian restaurant unless you enjoy being screwed.

Food was excellent and the service was excellent. My wife and I visited this restaurant for the first time in December, 2019, one day after Christmas. This is a top-end restaurant. The owner introduced himself to us and was very friendly. Our waiter was very attentive. My wife and I can't emphasize enough just how great our experience was. Menu had many food options. Wine list was too good, and we had a diffcult time making our wine selection. Highly recommend.

I am very apprehensive when it comes to eating Italian or Sicilian food in a restaurant. "campagnola" was a great surprise! it is a very old, rustic, type restaurant. remined me of "Louis seafood" in the Bronx, where a scene from the "godfather" was shot. the bartender "tommy" was very alert, colorful, courteous and polite. the "menu" was very "diverse." it offered all types of "authentic" traditional and modern home made dishes. anything from fish, meat, pasta, etc. the mussels posillipo was excellent. so was the "branzino" and "salmon." if you go, be sure to take a picture of the "cash register" behind the bar? ; ) that alone should be enough to entice you to try this establishment!

returned after a several year absence to Campagnola, and it didn't disappoint. Great atmosphere, delicious food, and attentive service. What more could you ask for. Prices are high, but completely as expected for Manhattan these days> What you get for your money is reliably great food and an excellent experience.

My wife and I at ate here a few years ago with another couple from Toronto, after we'd been to see the Jersey Boys Matinee show, and all I can say is that it completed our trip in New York and made our holiday a perfect experience. A genuine Italian restaurant with excellent food and real New York Italian atmosphere. The staff were very friendly but professional and the service was impeccable. Highly recommended and we'll coming back next year when we're back in New York.

Top Restaurant with Very Good Service. Good wine list and desserts are really top. Worth stopping by in NYC!

Experience overall is the best you will get. Food and service are truly second to none. I go every single time I visit NYC - hands down.

It's been years since I've been to the Campagnola. Last night we returned, hoping it would be everything we remembered - and it was! So hospitable, the waiting staff were very attentive and entertaining, the food was fantastic and the 'scene' is endlessly fascinating. So much fun!

This place is for people who appreciate fantastic cuisine and professional service. Frankie 'D' makes you feel like family and is the 1st choice when I am in the city.

Had dinner with friends here. Service was inattentive and slow, way too slow. The restaurant claims to be Italian....being Italian myself I tend to disagree. Mostly Italian (30%)-American(70%). Quality of food not bad, the pastas definitely underwhelming taste-wise. The use of cream was too diffused. Real Italian pasta often does not use cream at all. The fish soup was supposed to come with half lobster...which it didn't. The ossobuco was good, but it had nothing to do with REAL ossobuco. The branzino and octopus salad were quite good. Wines were significantly overpriced. Overall not impressed

We ate here Friday, 11/3, the weekend of the marathon. The city was very busy as was this restaurant, but it was worth the wait. Our friend Kevin had previously eaten here for a work event and enjoyed it so much that he said we had to try it. The food was amazing and the portions were generous. For us it was family style and we let them decide what to bring. It was all so tasty! Especially the mushroom ravioli, rib eye, calamari and desserts! I see a few negative reviews here, don’t believe them. As far as the prices... you are in New York people !

I went here last night with 3 sisters and my mom. The ambience was lovely...tablecloths and soft lighting. The food was delicious and made exactly to our requests. The recommended wine was a perfect pairing. The tiramisu was divine! I highly recommend this restaurant!

While the food at Campagnola can be quite good, we had been avoiding the place as we remembered the Maitre d' from past visits being rude and obnoxious, which was unfortunately still the case when recently returning for dinner with a party of 10. From the moment we were seated, the same Maitre d' (I believe his name is Frankie) began shoving menus at us while insisting on preparing family style platters we clearly told him we did not want. He was relentless, pushing food and wine and totally intolerant (if not deaf) to what various members of our party (all of whom are well heeled and accustomed to dining in upscale restaurants) actually wanted to order. We ultimately did get our meals as we wanted them, and the food was very good, but it was as if he was doing us a favor. Classless and uncouth are words which come to mind and takes a good (heads-up....VERY, OVERLY expensive...restaurant) and ruins the experience. We will not return. What a shame and how clueless of the ownership.

We came here for a birthday celebration and was disappointed. The food was good and service was ok. But they made a mistake with one of our dinners and they would not make it right! To make matters worse they charged us for the wrong meal. Very disappointed in this.

WAY TOO MUCH NOISE as the piano player (who is very good) plays loud and when he's on break they play music that's even louder. Tables were full and people were screaming..........in the end, we just couldn't enjoy the evening with friends as we couldn't hear each other (we were at one of the front tables). Food was fine. Service was fine. We just couldn't hear each other and that ruined the evening. Nicola's has it beat by a mile.

What a fantastic place to experience good food and excellent service.The best Italian food we have had and a great atmosphere. Big thanks to Frankie and his team who looked after us so well this evening.

We live in Miami and always dined here when in NYC. We have not been at CAMPAGNOLA recently and what was always a superb meal was ordinary on this visit. The ambiance and service is still excellent. Caesar salad was only fair. Our entrees of chicken scarpiello and grilled shrimp were only fair. The napoleon in the past has been as good as it gets, light and fluffy. Not so anymore. I

It was good Italian food but simple as you can find in almost any other Italian restaurant in New York it was tasty and the service was good but I heard a lot of good things about it and came in with expectations but it was a mistake because they didn't match them

Wonderful!! Great Saltimbucca and Mango Sorbeto! Frankie the Maitre d' and Frank took great care of us!!

This restaurant is very Italian on the positive side. When one walks in he feels he's in Italy. The writers speaks Italian and the food and atmosphere completes the picture. The food was tasteful and the deserts were just amazing, especially, the home Napoleon desert, which worth coming just to have it alone. The only comment would be to improve the ventilation in the restaurant. Will return...

One of the best old school Italian restaurants in the city. Wise guys and business men. Exceptional staff, all lifers and all no nonsense about their craft. Traditional, hearty, authentic Italian - the Beef, fish and pasta all fresh and prepared the old ways...in huge portions. Very pricy but always full. One of my favorites in the world.

My background: ethnic Italian/Irish professional who grew up on the west coast with a good exposure to authentic family style Italian from felatives, and who travels to Europe frequently including 2 weeks in Como, IT last summer. I was introduced to Campagnola 7 years ago from a fellow professional who lived in NYC. He told me "best Italian in NYC." I'm now returning that message to TripAdvisorites. From the moment you walk in, when Frankie D., the long-time Maitre'D greets you at the door, to being whisked to a table by Italian-speaking waiters wearing crisp white aprons, to reluctantly leaving the place after yet another consistently-delivered, piping hot and delicious meal that covers Italian cuisine from Sicilan to Venetian, you feel you have experienced the closest thing to being a being a boss in a Soprano's episode. I can't stress enough how consistent this place has remained over the years, making it one of the few stops I make EVERY time I travel here. Don't be afraid to come early, say hi to the staff, and let Frankie know you are back again from traveling afar. You're more than likely to end up with a complimentary drink or two from Tommy at the bar -- this happens with such regularity it has to be their way of welcoming guests who even take a minute to greet the staff by name. The food never disappoints in speed, temperature, and freshness. Order the Lobster Fra Diavolo (with black linguine if available) off the menu, and you're in for a treat. My favorites (now that I live in coastal California) includes also the Vongole Oreganata appetizer. Big international wine selection and a classy crowd rounds out the experience of a night you and your guests won't forget. Do yourself a favor next time you're in NYC and hit this place up, and it may become part of your life travels like it has mine.

Claudio is the best. Let them order for u.its half the experience. Worth every penny. Fresh and amazing.

This was our third time to this place in three yrs. We love the food here, the menu is huge. Yeah it's expensive, yeah it's a bit pretentious...but the atmosphere is classy. The veal chops are great!. We'll come back

We were seated at the front of the restaurant in front of the bar. Nobody told us that it would be impossible to hear once the bar filled up. We asked to change our table and were impolitely refused. The service was terrible. Our waiter was never available and failed to ask if I wanted a drink. There seemed to be no sequence or planning on how our courses arrived. The branzino was forgettable and very expensive. The caesar salad was ordinary. The mushroom raviolis were the one bright spot. A bottle of sparkling water was $9. Wine by the glass was way overpriced. Skip the noise, the food and substandard service. Spend your dollars elsewhere.

If you are in New York and seek the best Italian dinner experience, then you should go straight up First Avenue to 74th and take in the wonder of Campagnola. You will almost assuredly see someone you know!

My husband and I recently moved into area and were looking forward to dining in a neighborhood restaurant. We were seated immediately, but right next to the kitchen and we had to wait a very long time to get a menu, which was perplexing because it was early and the restaurant was practically empty. In addition, most of the waiters were standing around like they had nothing to do. The waiter who finally gave us menus was so busy waiting on a table of 5 or more that we were treated like an afterthought. I didn't understand why one of the waiters who was just standing around was not assigned to us. In the meantime, while we were waiting we received a basket of tiny slivers of bread and a plate of antipasti which looked like it was for one person. We observed however that all of the other diners, including couples like us, received baskets of bread and antipasti plates with generous portions. I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt, maybe the other diners were regulars? But it was so blatantly obvious that we were being treated differently. I'm not sure why we were treated this way, but it's unfortunate when a restaurant is inconsistent in the way they treat their customers. If you want to entice good paying customers to return, you have to treat them with courtesy and respect.

We went as part of a large group and were completely looked after by Frankie and his team. We left the food selections up to them and everything was absolutely delicious - from the bread and antipasti all the way through to the dessert selection. The waitstaff were all friendly, helpful and accommodating, and although we were the last ones to leave, we didn't feel they were pushing us out the door. Absolutely recommended - I'd go back every time I'm in NYC.

Old World Italian, coupled with a friendly atmosphere.. The presentation is awesome and the attentiveness of the staff is perfection. It is ALWAYS on the list of places to eat, when travelling to NYC. Try the Eggplant Rollitni!!!!!

Loved our first visit here. Friendly staff, terrific food and wine. Prices were fair for NYC. We feel like we finally found our new " go to" Italian on the UES 😎

Great energy at this bar - great neighborhood. 40's+ crowd. Smart, fun way to start an evening or just go home from there. Food gets 3 stars.

The thing that stood out most about the restaurant was the waiter who memorized a list of about 30 specials, what they were, how they were prepared, etc. We knew it would be expensive when we showed up as there was a Bentley and an AMG Mercedes parked out in front. We were sat directly next to the piano so it was slightly loud, but the entertainment was good and we enjoyed listening through dinner. The food was excellent, we split a porterhouse steak for two which was prepared perfectly. I would recommend this place as it was very good, but there are plenty of other restaurants in the Upper East Side where you can get a comparable dinner for a much lower price.

Always over rated and more of a "Joint" for Cops and Wannabees, this UES Italian is no better than your average pizzia joint that throws some pasta in water. Very over priced for what it is and not a smile aside from the bar. It's NOT cool to eat there. It's NOT cool to be seen there. Many better choices on the UES at 1/2 the price

Exceptional dining experience....fabulous food, service, environment! Extensive menu and specials. Fair prices.......will absolutely return here on our next visit! New York Italian at its finest! Simple elegance!

Walking into the early part of the 20th Century. Leave it to the staff. I say " you went to the market ". We came to enjoy , to eat, to be with family. Wine, appetizers, pasta, sauce, cheese, meats, all savory and tasty, An expression, some dolce. Satisfaction guaranteed.

My family and I ate here for dinner during our New Years trip this year. We had a friend who recommended and we were so excited to see for ourselves. We were not disappointed. My husband says he will come back on every trip to the City and we had a meal and an experience that our family will remember and laugh about for years to come. A very special family evening. The food is absolutely amazing. We never saw a menu and let Frankie take care of us. Every dish we were served seemed better than the last and each time we wondered how we would eat any more food but we did!! Our young son was even asked to help prepare our dessert platter so he was able to see the kitchen and come up with our waiters to present the dessert platter. Yes the bill was expensive but we were NOT disappointed. Our experience with our 3 children and 2 significant others was priceless. Run, don't walk to this charming, fabulous and fun restaurant next time you are in the City.

If you love high end, great quality, old school Italian then it's hard to beat Campagnola. The staff and the service are excellent - albeit with a little of that old school exclusive Italian attitude that only seems to exist in New York. Hard to go wrong with anything on the menu and if you don't see something exactly as you like it then they'll prepare it for you. Simply awesome!

I see that most of the good reviews about this place come from out-of-towners and the bridge and tunnel crowd. No self respecting NYer would eat here. There are plenty of better Italian restaurants within a 3 block of this dump. This place is filled with mobster types and the staff are actually scary with their attitude. The piano playing is worse than elevator muzak. The food is unbelievably expensive for less than average fare.

Dinner, dessert, 1 bottle of wine for 4 people was 480 before tip. Food was good dessert was great. Atmosphere was great as well. Have had much better food that cost fractions of this. Glad I did it once. Likely won't return, too many other options with better food at better price.

In the city on business, this was my first visit to Campagnola's. Nestled in between other small restaurants on 1st Ave. I almost walked right past it. It's small in size, but it makes up for that in charm. You enter into a quaint bar setting with live piano music playing in the corner. A cocktail later you will find yourself at a table enjoying homemade Italian bread as the wait staff fills your wine glass. Our server teased us with a sampling of pasta that was divine. 4 different types on my plate and each was better than the last. This was followed quickly by the main course. A tasting menu of porterhouse, chicken and sausage. One the pricey side this dining experience is not for the budget conscious. But if you can get past the price, the warm atmosphere and fabulous food will make you not care about the bill.

Great service, great food, BUT: the lowest price for a bottle of wine is an absurd 52. A glass of mediocre Chardonnay is 18. YIkes. THe food is at about 25 which is magnificent, CIanti and cab are 19. Is this Lincoln ? LE Bernadin? I shall never return. Jim mattimore

I love this restaurant. As a "Local", born and raised 2 blocks away and having traveled the world, this place is truly a gem in my opinion. This is the quintessential New York high end Italian experience, and you never know who you might see, or who that is seated next to you so mind your P's and Q's!! From the pasta to the sizzling steak it has stood up to the test of time. This is a place that understands what service is about and how to deliver it . For NY'ers and travelers alike, it's a MUST!!

I can tell you that if you've eaten in a fine restaurant in Italy, you'll feel right at home. One second after arrival you're family. Your table is right where you wanted it to be. Big hugs all around set it all up. No menus at this table. A starter of delicious Parmesan with Salami sets the pace. We're in no hurry. Pelligrino for everyone. The conversation is flowing. Next eggplant rollatini and Tube data with Pesto. Things are going real good. Let's talk about some red wine. The list is extensive. Great gig wines from the Piedmont and Tuscany. We chose a Brunello and backed it with a hearty Barolo. Served next, Veal Parmagiano, grilled Fish. Served family style. Delicious, presented beautifully. Slowly eating away the time. No rush jobs here. All are loving the whole experience. It's my sons birthday so out comes a desert tray. Tartuffo, Napolean Creme Cake, Lemon Sorbet, and the most terrific Lemoncella Creme. A memorable event.

We went to Campagnola as one of our group had been there before. It was his favorite place and it lived up to the billing. The host was welcoming and we let the place order all of our food. It was incredible from start to finish. The dinner was the best I have had in a long time. There was plenty of room at our table and we felt very welcome. The bar area a great place to finish off the evening. I will be back the next time I am in New York.

We have been here on countless occasions, always superior food. Staff is very accomodating, plus you never know who you might run into here.

Yes, a step back in time! From the old school waiters wearing bow ties to the fabulous reggiano parmigiana they put on the table when you are first seated. This is classic italian! Veal Chops are fabulous. Osso Buco if they have it is not to be missed. The wine list is expensive as is the food. This upper east side italian is reminiscent of an old italian country home. Great atmosphere.

From the moment we were seated, we were treated as if we were "in the way" - our server was haughty, condescending and inattentive. But for the bus staff, the service would have been comparable to an arrogant McDonald's. Food was super overpriced, but good (not great). Pasta was a bit bland, and there was a hair in it. Skip this place - there are far too many good Italian restaurants in NYC to waste your time and hard-earned money here.

My husband & son brought me here for my birthday . We had excellent service from the moment we arrived . The Pasta sampler was amazing as was our meal selected by Ronaldo . I haven't had a meal so sumptuous in YEARS !!!

On this trip I wanted an old fashioned Italian restaurant in NYC. No gimmicks and no little Italy. These chain themed restaurants are all the same and loud. The little Italy restaurants play the stereotype Little Italy restaurant theme too much. Campagnola is the place to go. The food was perfect and was one of the best restaurants I have ever eaten at. The staff was classy. Overall top notch.

A friend had raved about this place and I live in the neighborhood so I gave it a shot. It took forever for anyone to come over to the table, and even longer to get a menu. The service was poor the entire time as if we were imposing on the waiter. The food was mediocre and incredibly overpriced for what was served. I wouldnt go back.

Had a dinner for 13 . All family and friends sitting at one long table by the front window and pianist. The service was great as was the food. The pasta appetizers were excellent. The fresh buffalo mozzarella and tomatoes was really special. The background piano was a very classy touch and the overall atmosphere was perfect. Will go back again soon I hope.

After spending over $ 250.00 for 3 diners, the Mater D had the audacity to cruise by our table after 1 1/2 hours and say,"So, I guess you plan to stay here and reorder another dinner?". We got the unpleasant message and left. This place has a huge attitude that matches its prices. Don't expect to be treated fairly unless you are one of their regular favorites.

We came in for a late bite to eat so we were served quickly without any piano player. Usually you can't get into this place without a reservation. We had octopus salad, broccolini and Brancini fish cooked to perfection. Excellent service and finished with a wonderful creamy cheese cake! Atmosphere is like old farm restaurant but clean and tastefully done. Small bar in front where you can wait for table or eat at. This is a neighborhood favorite and food always consistent which I highly recommend. There is a piano player I think until 10pm. Bathrooms are in basement and stairs are steep!

Have not gone to C for many years but always loved it. Many of the old staff still there, excellent service and really great food. Still a happening place with a super buzz. Drinks and complimentary appetizers come fast. Pasta, steaks ,sides and dessets all excellent . Very impressive so many years later. Will be back soon.

The moment you enter this restaurant , you are in italy. Everything breathes the itailian cuisine, the staff, the smell , the guests. The service is great, and the menu is rich, with many great options.

It's wasn't my first time at the Campagnola.. everytime i'm in NY i live spending time at this restaurant. Great Pasta and first courses. a great variaty of wine, excellent mature service by great professional waiters that understand food. Good location, very fun for a couple to spend a nice dinner.

Frankie and his wait staff took superb care of us and served our party of four a marvelous meal. We started with a pasta sampler which included a tagliatelle in a wild mushroom sauce, penne in a tomato, cream, Calabrian chili sauce and a pesto gnocchi which complimented the other flavors perfectly. What followed was a perfectly cooked (that is, medium rare) T-bone steak that served all four of us. The grilled shitake mushrooms with onions, fried potatoes and garlicky cauliflower rabi/snap pea mixture were the perfect side dishes. We finished with a dessert plate that was heaven. Despite being more then full, the two kinds of sorbet (coconut and mango) with the toasted creme fraiche walnut cake looked too good to pass up. Fortunately, we walked back to the our hotel!

This place is always packed from 6pm until closing. Live piano in the front. Loud and lively. Not for a romantic evening. Filled with "wise guys" and celebs alike, but they take reservations for anyone. The cold anti pasta, seafood anti pasta as starters followed by their pasta dishes are exceptional. If you go that route, consider splitting the large veal chop butterflied parm with great mozzarella. Other top choices include T Bone steak, Chicken parm, Dover Sole. The best side dish is their potato pancake for the table! End the meal with the best napoleon in NYC. Frankie manages the floor as if you are eating at his home. They will create any dish you are in the mood for. Expensive, but worth it for special occasions unless you are rich and can go every week.

We celebrated our anniversary here and had a great time. Our server was new but very friendly. I've been here once before (years ago) and at the time, with no menu, they asked, 'What do you feel like having?" and seemed to whip it up no matter what we requested. Also, at the time, the eggplant rollatini was amazing. This time, not quite as good but I'll try it again next time. However, the gnocchi was fantastic. I have read the other reviewers and yes, I agree, they do try to serve quickly - it definitely is not a place to eat and then linger over a few additional glasses of wine. Regardless, we had a great meal and they gave us a special dessert on the house in honor of our anniversary.

Loud and lively and delivering excellent Italian food to an experienced clientele. On my visit, I worked with our waiter to design an entree completely off the menu. They were happy to make it for me and it tasted fantastic.

Great food. a bit pricey, but it is on upper east side, so that should not be a surprise!

We go often. Food is always delicious but drinks are way over priced. Over Eighty dollars for 4 glasses of wine. It's okay once and awhile if the bartender buys back but he/they never do.

Open Table rated number 3 out of 30 best New York Restaurants so we had to visit after avoiding for over 20 years. Not worth the visit and no reason for such a high rating Average at best

I have never had a bad ( or even mediocre) meal or experience here. The atmosphere is great... Piano player at nights makes for great ambiance. The servers and Maitre D (Mikey D and crew) are tops. They will order for you , if you like, AND do a great job of it. If not, they have a terrific menu, with daily specials. The porterhouse for 2 is unrivaled ( maybe Lugers). The Dover sole is finished table side, great touch and its fresh and delicious. Coming here returns me to my younger days when I lived in Italy while serving in the Military. Great Italian food, fantastic wines,....you'll not be disappointed. But bring your credit card, it's a little pricey. Though rest assured, it's worth it. Buon Appetit!

I am torn by my review of this place. The atmosphere was nice with a piano player during dinner. We were seated right by the piano and I expected it to be too loud, but it wasn't. The server was charming. The Pappardelle Bolognese that we had as a pasta course was delicious. The salads were fresh. The meals were good - we had dishes with chicken, sausage and fish. The wine choices were a bit on the high side with a seemingly high markup. I don't really have anything bad to say about the place, but the meals just did not leave enough of a memorable impression on me that I want to return on future trips to NYC especially at this price point. Except maybe for the Pappardelle Bolognese - I would eat that again.

New York City probably has more Italian Restaurants than Rome. So what makes an outstanding experience? Certainly it starts with great food. This restaurant has that. A wide menu plus a Blackboard of specials. Warm and comfortable atmosphere. A great wine list and outstanding service. The Manager, George, does a super job of watching over every detail. You'll not be disappointed.

Many customers go to a restaurant in the USA and they think that is an italian restaurant.. Few of them serve the "real" thing and unfortunately this is not one of them.

I was amazed at how packed this restaurant was on a Thursday night. The food was excellent- we had two veal dishes and the pasta with lobster special. We weren t know but still greeted very cordially. I was a little surprised at the age of the clientele as it seemed to be an older crowd than you see at the newer "hip" restaurants. But everybody was well dressed and having a great time. I would think the patrons have been coming here for years. There were a lot of large groups at tables near us. The waiter was very accomodating in splitting two salads for us in three portions- very nice. Wine list is excellent but expensive.

Some of you may be familiar with another high-end Italian restaurant that starts with a "B" down on Waverly Place. It is truly very good but I never bothered to review it b/c they have an attitude that speaks: We know we are very good and if you don't like us we don't really care; you must be the idiot. From the moment we walked into Campagnola we felt most welcome. And this was our first time. All the staff know their stuff from the well versed Captain who seconds as an excellent (and friendly, can you imagine?) sommelier to the waiters and even bus boys. Professional yet friendly and engaging staff. Our bottle of red wine came out at a proper temperature and did not have to be chilled like in that "B" Italian restaurant. Far more amazing was that glasses of wine did not come out warm but also at the proper temperature. Okay, okay you may not like wine...what about the food? For appetizers both the octopus and soft shell crab were superb. Our Captain recommended the soft-shell crab. We asked him if it was small or large. He replied in-between. When it came out it was literally the largest soft-shell crab I was ever served and mouth watering. (It is in season.) There were three of us and we all had veal dishes. All were delicious. We had spaghetti bolognese in the middle to share and it too was a sheer delight. The meat was cooked to perfection and the spaghetti cooked to perfection. All in all, if you are interested in fine Italian restaurant you will not leave disappointed. You shall leave with a smile on your face.

The atmosphere could be charming depending on when you are there and where you sit. In the back, there are large tables with loud talkers and/or young children. Depends on what kind of a dining experience you are looking for. There are definitely some tables that are better than others. There seemed to be several regulars which can be a good thing. Surprisingly, wine by the glass is priced very high. However, the food is really delicious. Sunday night live piano was a nice touch.

The boyz have been doing it for years. Get the pasta trio of Gnocchi pesto, porcini cream ravioli, and penne arrabiatta. Then do the porterhouse medium rare(one of the best kept secrets in nyc) then dona veal chop valdestano which is stuffed w prosciutto and fontina. Some broccoli rabe and you are set! Be sure to try the napoleon for dessert(second best in the city next to Il Toscano)