Elio's Restaurant Reviews

Great food, great service and a great amount of noise and claustrophobia. The food would make any Italian grandmother proud. The waiter was great and treated the 2 children with us like mini-adults. The reason for not giving this restaurant a 5th star is because of the noise and overcrowding. So many people were crammed into the "waiting / bar area" that they were standing over the tables which were crowded together to begin with. There was minimal room to maneuver between the tables, to the coat check or even the front door. Not sure that the great food and service are enough to make me return.

A very nice dining establishment that cater to a cross section of diners. You would feel comfortable dining in black tie or jeans. The Penne was very good and al dente as ordered. They also understand arrabiata very well and the sauce was spiced to perfection. The service is good..... it is New York and one has to understand New Yorker's. A nice dining experience of a good meal and decent service.

If they don't know anyone in your party don't go This is a restaurant that used to be a place for A listers now it is a place for used to be a listers

Always a buzz at this old timer on the east side. If you are looking for a restaurant with a scene, and celebrity spotting this is the place. An old time Italian, with in my opinion simple but delicious food with a large menu. I will only give four stars as upon arriving we were directed on a Saturday night to a table crunched between two other tables, each with children and babies. When I reserved our table I had specifically asked for a good quiete table. In defense of the restaurant they gracefully moved us to another table, where we should have been seated in the first instance. Food here is consistant and reliable with a very chic atmosphere. I think prices are not exorbitant. This is definitely a good choice for atmosphere. Waiters are very good, with lovely service. The wine list is comprehensive.

We always loved Elio's - both for the food and the scene - but it was one of those places that was hard to get into. Even with reservations you'd have to wait at the bar. We had no trouble getting in recently and the food was as excellent as we remembered. Good service, wonderful food and good ambiance....true Italian-American.

We ate here after a friend who works in NY part time told us this was his go to place. Now this famous actor can eat anywhere in the city and chose here so we had to go. This place is bustling with energy. The bar was packed while we waited for our table but the hostess made sure to clear a spot for me so I could put down my drink. We were seated shortly after our allotted time and the service was excellent. From start to finish we felt well taken care of. The food matches the excellent service standards. Loved the meatballs!! Get them if only for a small appetizer. Definitely on my return list.

We went there on a saturday night and I was not quite sure what to think of it....I actually still don't know... Place is packed to the rim- tables that can only seat 8 with 12 people squashed together, double "parked" people having drinks at the bar or just waiting to be seated. I honestly feel sorry for the parties at tables next to the bar, having to eat their meal with other peoples butt rubbing on their back or worst, their head! Apparently this is a place where celebrities dine and where one goes to see and be seen. Since I do not fall in any for those 3 categories, the place; atmosphere and people did not impress me. we got seated in a corner (thanks goodness!!!), we were a party of 6 squashed in a table for 4 but at that time I already had a cocktail or two and all was good ( my back was to a wall:) We each ordered an appetizer and an entree and there is where it really gets confusing to me...food is average and uninspiring to say the least but looking around I understood why the chef or cook does not put too much effort on the menu or preparation...I think 90% of his patrons probably...most likely does not own a wooden spoon or a pan, kitchen is a given...it comes with the apartment! Will I ever go there again? No but said that, I do go to packed; noisy and outrageously expensive restaurants but the food has to be outrageously equally delicious and no butts rubbing my back, please!

We had read mixed reviews but our Dining Experience was WONDERFUL! We started with Buffalo Mozzarella Caprese . The Wine and Mixed Beverages were top notch. The fresh bread and olive oil were so fine. Ivan and Duron took excellent care of us tonight. I ordered the Jumbo Shrimp, Calamari and Scallops on a bed of pasta with white wine sauce. The fresh pasta really made the dish. My wife had the Veal Parmesan. We also had sautéed Spinach and String Beans which were prepared perfectly. My Friend had a Veal Chop that was Amazing! The Gnocchi Appetizer was also delicious. There was a full portion to share five ways. We were never rushed to leave and had a great dining experience. The Restaurant was packed as it should be with such fine food. We can’t wait to dine here again.

Was told this UES was a delicious Italian. I am always skeptical because the UES rarely produces great food and the crowds are usually pretentious and obnoxious. Imagine my surprise when I was right!!! To begin the restaurant was packed and loud. Loud because most of the people were more concerned with having other people hear their conversations than actually engaging their friends. When we were finally seated I did enjoy our waiter. He was very friendly and very helpful. The food was mediocre - the veal paillard was decent enough but not worth the $42 tag. But the highlight of the night was really looking at all the plastic surgery! Usually there is a lot of head turning at a restaurant like this - but none of the women could turn their heads. Botox, hair dye and bronzer is really Elio's forte - everything else is nothing special.

Yes, I saw Tom Selleck here, and I thought he looked wonderful. There is a certain vibe here, but all the comments I read about service not being the same for non-famous, I did not get that. We were a party of about 10 so maybe they liked that but all the servers were great, very accommodating. Would recommend it, I had an off the menu dish of angel hair pasta with pancetta and cream sauce, very rich and delicious.

First rate Italian eats. A great upper East Side buzz. Excellent service. Theater with fine food. And see celebrities. Recently, Tom Sellick was enjoying dinner as we weree.

Saturday night, ok. And when we went in a customer had just called 911 because he had health problem. Sure it was not for the restaurant, but it was strange. The AC was setted at thhe top, so the restaurant seemed like a Siberian igloo. We asked to have a temperate climate but nobody cared of us. Then we asked for tuna grill, medium cooked. The same request, from me and my wife. My wife received a wellcooked tuna, I had a raw one. When we asked to our waiter if he thought that that tunas were the same, medium cooked, he said: "I don't know". And went away. Two tuna slices, a side of green beans, a bottle of sparkling water, a cold and a bad Saturday dinner for 109,96 dollars. Never again.

I would suggest going here if you want to see the "scene". It is quite a socialite crowd, and always packed. The food is decent, and prices are standard for Ny Italian restaurant. Service was poor both times I was there.

Love this awesome Italian busy restaurant in the upper east side. Bookings are essential this restaurant is always busy. The service is upbeat and excellent. The food is fresh and delicious with the standard Italian dishes one would expect. It’s small and cosy and busy with as many tables squeezed in as possible. The pasta is excellent and so is the seafood and cocktails. Always busy, always excellent!

This place is busy and has good reason to be so. Their menu is well written, classic, and their specials are interesting. Their wait staff is professional, and not just students who learned to smile but are really not interested in anything but a tip... I find it refreshing to know that places like this still exist. Elio's gets quite loud as it is small and people do crowd the small bar waiting for tables. But it is worth the wait. The food was very good - the wine list is a bit too pricey, but hey, welcome to NY!

Haven’t been in agile and won’t go back. Incredibly average to below average food and sky high prices. Service is still fun and old school. Tuna carpaccio was way past its sell by date-old and atop a weird lump of garlicky something. Soup was greasy. Veal Marsala was bland. Calves liver was decent. House Tuscan red was vinegary. Just overall really mediocre food. This restaurant is dining out on its past. Don’t go so you don’t have to.

I was shocked. Everyone I was with raved about the food at Elio's and about the people you might see there... Ok so you might see a celebrity. Yep - that can happen and did. But I was there for food! Very average. VERY average. There were 6 of us - two had the mushroom risotto - and it was good. But the presentation was awful - just a mound of risotto in a bowl - period. I had the spaghetti with meat sauce. It was less than average. Bland and boring. The service though! Wow! I get that it was a saturday night but they were completely inattentive and forgot items we had ordered. Not good service at all and for $450 - I would think they would be tripping over you. I guess not. Also - it is very loud - having a conversation was virtually impossible.

If you want excellent quality food in very small portions, head to this upper east side restaurant. You’ll pay for the quality not the quantity. You’ll need to order a salad and/or appetizer to feel satisfied. Lovely interior and great service. I can’t say it’s a good value for the price we paid.

Disappointing meal in an awkward crowded restaurant. Look for better Italian restaurant options in the area.

Food was excellent professionally served with warmth and a sense of hospitality. It’s a very popular place and not overwhelmingly large which makes it a little noisy. Would go there again and again.

Old school Italian restaurant; close intimate seating, packed in but quaint, took a while to order but food came quickly

I went into the city yesterday to see a matinee and then in the evening attend a book signing event on E. 86th Street. I did a search for an Italian restaurant on the upper east side and voila...Elio's appeared on my screen. So, several hours later we had a delicious meal ( at the bar because they were packed), a few glasses of perfectly chilled Italian Sauvignon Blanc, made some new friends who are regulars (2-3 times per week), and had a yummy dessert. It is very pricey, but with a delightful and knowledgeable bartender like Alberto taking care of you I will gladly pay the price. I definitely will be back with my husband!

Wonderful Northern Italian fare with a side of well-seasoned staff. This is a place I could go again, and again (except I live on the Lower West Side of Manhattan). It's great getting an early table and watching as the restaurant fills with old-time native New Yorkers with a splash of celebrities. Truly a great experience!

I stopped by on a weeknight and the place was packed. Asked how long the wait is and the man said 20 minutes. We waited close to an hour for our table and when we were seated, no one even gave us menus. Sat there for another good 10 minutes when someone threw down some bread on our table. The food looked fine but there is no reason to sit at a place with such horrendous service. Man next to us also had a reservation and waited 30 minutes past his reservation time and took forever to even order. I live on this block but I will never come back here. It's NYC, there are plenty of places with better food and way better service!

We had a great experience here. The pasta was fabulous and service was attentive. We went on a week night so I don't know if it would be different on a busy weekend. Next time we are on the UES we will dine here again.

We had late Saturday evening reservations (around 9), but showed up early (7ish) and we able to snag 2 seats and dine at the bar. This place just has a great feel about it. No website, no fancy advertising or decorations...just a lot of heart and soul put into classic italian dishes.

We hadn't been back to Elio's for years and were worried it wouldn't live up to the memory. Well it exceeded our memories. Dinner was great service was great. Can't wait to be back.

went there about 5-6 times. very crowded tons of folks standing on top of one another by the bar waiting for a table pasta just OK with surprisingly smallish portions wine list a bit overpriced (welcome to NYC) service perfunctory and rushed noise level loud there are much better for your money

Clearly a favorite of a large clientele, one can tell upon entering that the restaurant is filled with returning customers. We went with my son who was greeted as a returning warrior (he's eaten there 30-40 times). The food was excellent; the service personable; the value, for the quality of the cooking, excellent. I had the mussels in white wine sauce, which was savory and delicious; followed by the dover sole, which was moist and tender, not overcooked. The other guests enjoyed a beet salad, clam casino, a scrumptious veal parmigiana, and a spaghetti pomodoro. The teramisu at the end was very correct, well=balanced, with a hint of rum but not excessively alcoholized. This is a restaurant not only to savor old favorites but to try out other items, even the specials, which were tempting.

So average I couldn’t believe it. Salad was overdressed, past wasn’t Al dente and my veal was chewy. Lots of older folks so maybe their taste is off but there were much better Italian restaurants AND less expensive in the area.

We had a reservation for 7 for 8 PM. It was festive, very crowded and noisy. Dover Sole was tasty, but a smallish portion. Service was a bit slow. While menu was not prix fix, there was a minimum per person of $125, which we did not meet by a long shot. We could have ordered more, but we did not feel appropriate with people waiting for the table for the 10 PM group. We may try it again, but be more aware of the limit,

A gem since 1981. They must be doing everything right. Never lets us down. Great staff and ownership. Food always perfectly prepared. Cocktails and wine are substantial. Lively atmosphere. Wednesdays are meatball night and Sunday/Monday a great lasagna. Families are welcome specifically early dinner Sunday's.

I eat here often for business and you cannot find a better Chicken Parm or Sword Fish in NYC. - THE BEST! Cannot wait to crabs are in season as the do a great job with them as well. Brian is best bartender on the East Side. Price is steep but well worth it.

Over the last twenty years we have eaten at this restaurant VERY regularly and always enjoyed the service, atmosphere and food. I might add I am rated in the top one percent of restaurant reviewers on TripAdvisor in New York City. Last night was the worst service and experience. Our waiter an elderly Italian man, seemed so rushed and offered extremely poor service with food that was even worse. After our appetizers we each ordered a veal chop ,(fifty dollars a chop.) I asked for medium and my husband asked for well done. We also said as we had large appetizers portions of spaghetti please not to bring the chops out too fast. The waiter said fine just tell me when you want it. When we were ready to let him start preparing the chops we told him, within a half a minute they were presented to us, which means they were prepared and left sitting, and not only that my husband who had asked for well done got rare, I who asked for medium got rare too the assistant waiter said not they are exactly what we asked for. EVENTUALLY our waiter came over took them back and charred them, they came back to the table basically not edible. we were very disappointed with one of our favorite restaurants that we recommend to many people. One would think a manager would of been sent over, I guess they are a very busy restaurant, very independent, and they just did not care. A very disappointing meal last night.

There are so many better Italian restaurants in the neighborhood. Prices on TripAdvisor are not correct. I’d pass on Elio’s.

Great dinner and fun atmosphere!!! The menu had a variety of dishes, the staff was pleasant, and the food was great! I would definitely go back there!!

We were in NYC and meeting our kids for dinner. They picked Elio's, an upper East side institution. It was a Sunday night and the place was packed with mainly regulars who obviously have been coming here for years. Put they squeeze people in, no room between the tables. I was disappointed in the food. Started with mussels in a white wine, just ok. Also fried calamari, also fair. My wife loves chicken parm. She thought it was nothing special. I ordered a nightly special, veal scallopini with mushrooms.Just ok Everything is a la carte. They are just lucky they have a loyal following.

I've been here more times than i care to remember and i never fail to be won over by its charm and its chicken parm (its not on the menu and honestly the price varies but its worth it). The fish soup is outstanding and the wine list is very thorough. It feels like a bit of a who's who in there and I've been told there are often celebs in there so if thats your kind of thing then get a reservation. Its not cheap (bottles of wine start at about $75) but its well worth the experience.

Very nice and cosy atmosphere with great food and friendly staff. It is nit cheap but worth the cost if you want to go out and treat yourself and your family. There is a reason why some restaurants seem to survive all financial crises.. :-)

Loud ,crowded and eclectic NYC hot spot. Nice menu, definitely although overpriced, but meals are ala carte. I ordered a plain broiled sea bass to the disappointment of the waiter who offered several different preparation ideas. Small piece of fish was very good, but all sides are extra so it looked kind of lonely on the dinner plate. Service was questionable as the waiters aimed to please all the regular, entitled New Yorkers before the new comers. For the price I would expect more but this is definitely the place to rub shoulders with the NY elite crowd. Worth the price, just once, to watch the show. A little more excitement than your average NYC restaurant so 4 stars for that.

Have been going to Elio’s since it opened over 40 years ago, when the Elaine’s bartender opened Elio’s. The food is old school Italian, the servers are professional and the noise level is still loud. Michael Cohen sat next to ours and only 1 patron came up to speak to him. After his first visit last month the entire restaurant stood up and applauded when he was walking out. 😂😂😂😂😂 I always beef carpaccio and Fettuccine Amatraciana 🍝

Never had a bad Italian meal at Elios, but it helps to be a regular. Sometimes a bit too loud, but can never go wrong with the food, service and ambience. Whether you are a celebrity or not, if you are a regular, you get same exact service and that's why home away from home Try the chicken Scarpiello, carbonara, and something as simple as the plain pasta with tomato sauce.

Yes Elio's is very crowded on any given night but for good reason...... The food is frk'n amazing. Hi quality and large portions. A tad pricey but not really for high quality dIning in nyc. Our party of 6 did not overwhelm the wait staff at all. In fact our waiter was very attentive and fun. Hope you find this review to be useful. Bon Appetite

At first you wonder why this place is always packed. Then after the elegant Maître D seats you with the owner's blessing, the charm is on. Beware of the pricey specials, but, hey, who is counting when the quality is there and the service so good? The menu covers a lot of the Italian landscape and specials told by seasoned waiters are always great to hear and try. Great wine list, very few sleepers but this is where the fun is, keep on looking! The team of ladies who own this very established restaurant know a thing or two about hospitality and their neighborhood's. 40 years + in business anyone? You got yo respect that and much more. Bravo!

What a HUGE mistake selecting Elio’s for a family dinner with our two adult children last evening. We have dined here previously when visiting the city as our daughter lives in the neighborhood, so we were beyond mortified to witness firsthand the restaurant’s deep decline - on multiple fronts. After making a reservation well in advance (for a Tuesday evening) and arriving on time, we were ignored at the entry way and shoved about by passing emotionless servers, as well as the host/maitre’d. Eventually a gentleman in a suit approached us inquiring if we had a reservation. He told us to “give him a couple of minutes’. This wait extended to a good 20 minutes with zero explanation - all the while I watched other parties of 4 waltz in, slap this host on the back and quickly be whisked off to their tables. So humiliating. Eventually we were seated at one of the worst tables imaginable. Apparently since our last visit (a month or so ago), the “management” elected to squeeze about 30 more tables into the already jammed dining room, giving little or no thought to their customers’ experience. We were literally elbow to elbow with other diners. Chairs clanging into one another if you dared to move. Absolutely no space to dine, to speak or to breathe! The host’s attitude was clearly projecting a “take it or leave it” energy. Sadly, we tried to stick it out. After being seated and experiencing an extended wait to be acknowledged by anyone, a rude older gentleman approached our table to announce all of the dishes that were sold out. No, “pardon the wait” or “welcome to Elio’s”, he then disappeared to mingle with what must have been his chums at other tables. Absolutely one of the coldest “greetings” I have ever experienced in a restaurant. Wow. And this, after being so humiliated by the host at Elio’s upon our arrival. Needless to say, the meal went downhill from there. The server made himself randomly available, and when he did, he seemed to be laser focused on other tables and their need to socialize with him - twice he literally walked away from my husband while he was making an inquiry mid- sentence. Absolutely NO WAY TO TREAT CUSTOMERS. Embarrassing on so many fronts. The food was mediocre - my entree (Eggplant Parmigiana) arrived soggy and overcooked - as though it was prepared the previous day and reheated. We skipped ordering starters due to our server’s lack of interest in our table. In addition to these other incredibly disappointing aspects of our dinner, plunked on top of us at the neighboring table were three intoxicated gentleman who should have been shut off hours earlier. They were loud and juvenile, and the filth that streamed from their mouths was absolutely appalling. Despite having my 28 year old daughter with me, I endured their vulgarities as best I could until our meal was nearly done. However, when they began to loudly detail graphic and explicit sex acts I reached my limit and exited the restaurant, leaving my family at the table. Enough was enough. I did not fly to NYC and spend that kind of money at Elio’s to be treated so poorly by their staff and also be subjected to that X-rated banter. Upon making my exit I approached the host and shared my extreme disappointment and my disgust with the entire evening. I also shared firsthand the dialogue we were subjected to by the adult men at our neighboring table. It was met with a sort of puzzled mumble. This host then apparently approached my family offering a free dessert? No thank you! How about instead walking in the shoes of your customers, treating them equitably and curbing the drinking and horrid behavior of certain patrons? What a disgraceful evening. I will NEVER dine at this restaurant again. Spare yourself the humiliation and aggravation and head up the block to a number of other fine Italian dining establishments…

Old school Italian on upper East side. Stellar service. Had a question about wine and the recommendation exceeded even this wine snob's expectation. The veal piccata was brilliantly executed, with the bright lemon flavor shining through, and accompanied by perfect green beans. If I've ever had better veal piccata, I cannot recall when or where. This place ain't cheap. But then again, it ain't a chain restaurant in Times Square, either.

A good friend wanted to go to Elio's for dinner and being an Italian food lover, I was all in. When we arrived, we were quickly shown to our table and given menus. The wine was very good and the servers were lovely. We had: - Clams in Marinara Sauce - Very good - Tre Color Salad - Good but not great - Chicken Cutlet Parmigiana On the Bone - Not on the menu but delicious - Spaghetti with Marinara Sauce - Delicious The price was high, but the food was delicious and we had a few celebrity sightings. Fast forward to 90 minutes later - I thought I was having a heart attack. I never had heartburn like this in my entire life (even with 2 pregnancies). After several over the counter medications failed to work fast enough, I guzzled milk from the container and got some relief. All I had to eat was salad for lunch and Elio's. The hubby, who attended cooking school and specialized in Italian food, said it was probably the sauce. It was old and acidy. Thanks Elio's for the great food, an almost ER visit and a sleepless night.

My husband and I discovered Elio's years ago and it instantly became our favorite restaurant in NYC. It is so special to us, this is where my my husband chose to propose to me back in 2002. The food, service and atmosphere are all top notch. Elio's is always our first reservation when we book a trip to NYC.

So loud you can hardly taste your food. This is a NY legend. I have eaten here dozens of times over the past 25 years. Great staff, great service, food very good to excellent, buzzing scene, crowded and ear deafening. This is the best restaurant in town if you want to learn how to read lips.

They have a thing about time that I hate. They generally make you wait for your table with little regard for the time you booked it. That said, the best liver in New York City. And they have added gluten free pasta for those to whom this makes a difference. Otherwise, a terrific neighborhood Italian.

Friday night April 21. Seated promptly at 7pm. Unbearably noisy and crowded. Tables are uncomfortably jammed in. Patrons waiting for a table fill the bar area, impatiently staring down seated patrons with the look that says “hurry up and finish: we’re waiting.” Authorities should investigate how many people are crammed into this fire trap. There’s gotta be a violation here. Polite but perfunctory service. Food served quickly because they want to turn over tables as fast as they can. Don’t expect them to refill water glasses or replenish the bread basket without asking. They had tables cleared and reset in record time, with the maitre’d pitching in to fold napkins. What is the appeal of this restaurant? Food is okay/ordinary, but not worth the wait or the noise, or the price. Spaghetti dishes ($28 and up). Small dessert tartufo - $20. A glass of wine - $24. Seems this is a typical “Emperor’s new clothes” establishment. How it’s survived all these years is a mystery. If you must go, take earplugs and try to get a table in the front by the window, or outside on the sidewalk. Never again for us.

We went couple times to this incredible restaurant! They have an extensive wine card and the service it's really good ... if you like chicken Parmesan you must have to try in Elio's was one of the best that I tried in my entire life! Recommend this restaurant 100% ! Can't wait to go back again ...

Very bad experience. Very noisy, and with poor service. Not told of specials that others were informed of, received a dirty water glass before asking to have it replaced, not offered opportunity to order wine until we had been seated for 15 minutes, overcharged for my main for an ingredient not in it, and charged $80 for 2 glasses of Montepulciano. When I asked the price (no menu for wines by the glass) I was told $24. When I pointed out that this did not compute, I was told the waiter had “mistakenly “ charged us for 3 glasses. Also, completely bogus. No apologies. We have been there before several times, and I had read that regulars get good service and the rest crap, but hadn’t experienced myself. Avoid like the plague!

Rushed from the second we sat down. Waiter kept coming over to see if we were ready to order. Told us to hurry up with the menu so they could give to another party. Food was delicious. Check came and waiter came over 5 minutes later picked it up and put it back down and said again here’s the check. Very noisy and people were waiting and standing directly on top of us.

An institution serving its regulars, occasional celebrities, walk-ins and second generation families. Knee deep at the bar , with an average wait of 30 minutes for a table. Great meatballs on Wednesday, Chicken Parmigiana (not on the menu) and fresh fish specials, keep bringing me back

My family (3 teenage sons, wife and father-in-law) went here for dinner after a visit to the Met. First, it should be noted that in order to make a reservation at Elio's you have to call. Sometimes they're so busy, they can't pick up the phone. Fortunately, the second time we tried, they picked up. When you enter, it's everything you'd expect from a traditional Italian NYC restaurant - white table cloths, waiters scurrying about and plenty of bustling noise. We were seated just after our reservation time. They provided ample bread and the service came at a good pace. The best part of the service was their reaction to my wife's birthday (her Dad tipped them off). Not only did they bring complementary mouth watering tiramisu, but also treated her to an extra cocktail - both very nice and generous gestures. Our table had veal and chicken parmigiana, homemade gnocchis (one of their numerous specials), and raviolis. The portions were ample and the food delicious. The best part about Elio's is the experience. It's what you'd hope for in visiting an old school NYC Italian restaurant. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal and, most importantly, ourselves. We hope we have the opportunity to return in the future.

We are there for dinner and a group of 6. The food was great. The wait staff was ok the biggest drawback was the waiter just didn't listen when we were ordering. The owner was wonderful.

This upper East Side neighborhood restaurant appears to be super popular based on the hordes of people in the restaurant. Part of the problem is that there is no waiting area at the entry way so diners end up waiting in the middle of the bustling restaurant to be seated. The service was friendly but almost aggressive. The dishes we had were all excellent. Nothing too out of the ordinary although the specials have some flair. The wine list is excellent with a heavy focus on Tuscany and Piedmont but a number of well selected wines from major regions in France and the US. If you do not mind a crowded, noisy dining experience, this is a fun place to dine.

Place to see and be seen, to be crammed in and not be able to hear your friends speak, but enjoy really good Italian food and cheery service

To feel the true vibe of NY and to taste some amazing food this is the place to be. A busy fun atmosphere and a few stars to see also.

Great place upper eastside institution. Great fresh pasta choices, loud busy and good. Not sure if they take reservations.

Sufficient depth in the menu with all the “American Italian” classics, but also some dishes you would typically only find in Italy. Quality of food is very good, but not spectacular. Same for the service, they are just very very busy with packed seating, so do not expect intimacy. But that is perfectly OK because it “makes” the place. Nice wine list, also in the upper eschelons of Supertuscans and Napa cabs. If you are more into Pinot Noirs or 100% Metlots (or French) you will not find a lot, though.

We arrived having made a reservation, to find they had no record of it. Waited almost half an hour for table. Our waiter was almost the worst I've ever encountered. We had a bottle of wine and one glass was taken away "because it was empty". Consistently reached across one of us to clear or deliver meal. I was finishing my salad and he cleared everyone else's plate. I hadn't quite put my fork down and he whisked my plate off. The food was quite good; however it was so crowded and noisy we could hardly move or hear each other. Won't be back but I'm sure they won't notice.

We always love coming back here! Food is consistent - started with buffalo mozzarella, then veal parmigiana with string beans and garden salad, others had veal bolognaise , broccoli pasta, and finished off with Tiramisu. Luigi was our waiter, friendly and helpful. Service is excellent and fast. The restaurant is super busy so definitely book.

We had a wonderful dinner last night in this fabulous NewYork Italian eatery. Great atmosphere, great food, great wine and fantastic service. We look forward to our next visit to work our way through the exciting menu choices.

Simply Put... The Best Italian Restaurant on Planet Earth ! Tell them 'Duffy sent you !!! I can't get enough of this place over the past 40 years !!

I can truly say that this restaurant is the WORST restaurant I have ever experienced in my LIFE. Me and 3 friends were treated so disrespectfully by our server Stan. He spoke to us like we were children, degraded us and refused to help us understand the bill. Told us that "in America they do not split bills or bring debit machines to the table to have you pay with your card". We were visiting from Canada and had mentioned this to him. The entire restaurant was male ran. All male servers (about 18 of them which was super odd since the restaurant was basically empty and it is a tiny place) just standing around looking at everyone. All male cooking staff, bus boys, bar. Not a single female worked here. We were the only all female table in there. We were charged for a pasta that we did not ask for and when asked why it was on the bill was again degraded and talked to like we were stupid and not believed. At one point Stan told us that we do not know the way things work in this country or city, telling us he had lived there for 24 years and never once has he been to a restaurant where they have brought a debit machine to the table. I have worked in the restaurant industry for 20+ years in large cities and I have NEVER in my life seen or experienced anyone treated so poorly as a customer. The food was terrible, soggy chicken, bland pasta. We were starving and would have let that go if we were not completely demeaned and abused my this sexist, narcissistic man. We left ZERO and were in complete shock when we left.

The waiters who served us were very polite But not an amazing service , the tried ti rush us to eat and free the table fast , the food was average and too salty , the manager was very rude to us , when in the middle of out eating came very aggressive and told me I can not eat with an hat on , thought I told him I am a religious Jewish guy , most of the client there were Jewish from the upper east side , I will nott go there again

So very disappointing. Was looking forward to dinner with a friend who is a recent widow. She and her husband dined frequently here and her son-in-law either eats here or gets take out multiple times a week. The waiters were friendly and knew my friend by name. Service was rushed to put it mildly. They cleared table of our water glasses and drinks while I was still drinking my tea. Then they took away my teapot. My friend said something to the busboy and he pointed to the Maitre D who looked over at us with a scowl. Then they took the tea cup I was drinking away. We had been there less than an hour. Granted we are not young but we are women with multiple homes, enjoy the theatre, opera, dance and fine dining. We each have a wide circle of friends and I know I will not recommend dining here.

This is a place that illustrates what NYC is all about regarding food ! Wonderful atmosphere, great service, and most importantly excellent food.Tables are close to each other but somehow that adds to exciting mood in the restaurant.Food portions are very good, menu has a superb range of italian choices and the wine list is well priced for those who do not want a 3 figure bottle of wine.Reservations are essential but the end result is a well prepared meal in an excellent atmosphere with professional waiters helping you at every step.

Great neighborhood restaurant undaunted by the 2nd Avenue Subway. Food is great. Service is great. Crowd is great and the noise level is what you would expect......high energy. Dale loves the risotto. I think the liver with sauteed onions is best in NY. We brought one of our 24 year old friends and she was very comfortable with the mix of generations.

FIRST NIGHT OF THE CHICKEN PARMIGIANA CLUB. We went to Elio’s as Frank had been here before. So the restaurant is quite noisy and extremely crowded but also quite popular with a great vibe. We were attended to quickly and served our appetizers promptly. We starter with stuffed mushrooms which Frank and Paulie liked a bit and gave a 5/10 rating,Mike and I were well below. The baked clams were composed of bland stuffing and bread crumbs that were burnt I feel that was an item that never should have been served. On a great note the paglia e fieno which is considered straw and hay is egg noodles and spinach noodles with a creamy parmigiana cheese peas mushrooms and procuiioto. It was one of the best I’ve had. We all gave it a high rating. We also tried the ravioli which was tasting and our grading was a 4 to a 7 which was me. Mike said sauce and cheese was lacking ,Frank was also saying surely not enough cheese. I felt it was ok because it was an appetizer. Paulie is used to Bogattis. On to the Chicken Parmigiana our guest of honor. Well it was good but no wow factor. The only thing realized is Paulie doesn’t get out enough. Frank gave it a 5,Mike 6 ,me 7 and Paulie a 9. The grilled shrimp were dry and bland and certainly not anything to write home about. The Dover sole was average at best. Deserts of cheesecake were rated great by bear and crème bruele great by me A fun night in our new quest. Next stop pops joes September 23rd in Darien ct

Situated up on the East Side on 2nd Avenue between 84th and 85th, this classic Italian restaurant delivers exactly what you would expect and hope for. Typical Italian restaurant décor and waiters with a little panache. The bread is fresh and crusty and you could make a meal of it alone. We ordered an assortment of appetizers to share and they were all good, including the Shrimp, Oysters and mozzarella and tomatoes. Most at the table had a variation of veal and it was pronounced excellent by all. The wines include classic Italians and the Brunello di Montacello was as you would expect, excellent. A good time was had by all and I would recommend giving it a try.

There were seven of us at dinner on a Thursday night. The place was packed with regulars, which is always a good sign. Great atmosphere, traditional authentic Italian, and very attentive service (despite the packed house). Highly recommended. Tip: the Osso Buco was excellent.

Love this place! Breakfasts are excellent. Love the omelets. But, my favorites are the salads! Homemade dressings, high quality feta, fresh vegetables and fruit. Just the best.

Came to Elio’s after a night at the nearby Comic Strip comedy club. The show ended a bit late but they stayed open for us. The service was excellent and the food was delicious. I had the spaghetti and meatballs which tasted authentic to me. I’m not Italian so don’t take my word for it, just check it out for yourself :) Thanks Elios!

we had read some good things about this long time spot on the upper eastside of manhattan. so visiting from out of town we call 2 months in advance and were told all they had was an 8:30 PM reservation for a saturday evening. really? in any case we were seated on time. i have been to hundreds of NYC restaurants but never have i been in one as tight (people and tables per square foot), so tight it was hard to believe it was within the fire code. add to that it was one of the noisiest restaurants i have ever been in. my wife and i were seated at a small 2 top and could hardly hear each other, constantly having to repeat ourselves. when we got outside our ears were ringing...like we had just left a rock concert. the noise and seating overshadowed the food. separately, the service was very good (i don't know how the waiters do it with the noise and the tight spacing) my food was decent and my wife's not so much or as good as what we had at a nearby competitor (Primola) the previous evening. it us unfortunate that this place is not bad but the environment is really unacceptable and ruins the dining experience. i understand this a sort of old time sheik, sometimes celebrity hangout on the upper east side but really swing and a miss for us. plenty of other great places to go nearby.

The food is excellent and the service is quite good. It does seem like the intimate and quiet Italian restaurant is a thing of the past on the UES. The artichokes are quite wonderful, be sure to get them if they have them. The odd thing is the crowd who goes to the restaurant. They seem to live in a world of their own and look like something out of a fashion magazine. "These dogs are our children" would not be unusual conversation to overhear. If that does not bother you, which it shouldn't, then the rest of the evening will be just fine.

The pastas were large but not distinctive in taste. Salads were large but not distinctive in taste.Service was slow even though it was after 9 PM. The reverberating noise made it impossible to hear even the person next to you.

Second Avenue @ 84th Street - Food is always perfect. They pride themselves with fabulous food, but one of their most popular dishes is the chicken parm. The Caesar salad is wonderful too. The waiters know the menu and will help you decide what you would like to try. A place to see celebrities.

Great service and food was fantastic! Has a great vibe to it will definitely be back! Swordfish special was fantastic and so was spaghetti Napoli !

My family and I (3 of us total) had dinner while vacationing from Oregon. My kids were not super hungry so I asked the waiter to split a dinner for them. When the bill came, I was surprised to see a total of $168...this was for 3 dinners (actually 2), a glass of red wine, and a dessert. When I questioned the total with my waiter, it was explained to me that the chicken fettuccine that I ordered for my kids to have split cost $62!!! I felt ripped off.

this is a great restaurant. The food is delicious and it has a great atmosphere.. It is better for small parties.

We had a table booked for 8pm but we gathered that this was an estimate rather than a definite when we arrived on time. The Maitre D' acknowledged us and said 10 minutes for our table to be available. This was exactly correct. It was packed and there was no room to stand to wait for our table and no room at the bar to have a drink. We were jostled for a while but it was interesting watching the meals be delivered by waiters who were used to the tight spaces. The menu was extensive and we all found a meal we liked. The service was good if a little speedy but with the high turnover although you weren't rushed to finish, it was obvious that your table could be filled once more. The noise level was high and we had to concentrate on hearing each other - lip reading skills an advantage! However, we all enjoyed the experience and the food - the wine list was good too.

Had an 8:30pm reservation last night and they actually honored it. We were 2 couples (old hands) and we chose to eat indoors. Were seated at the windows (I remember Woody Allen sitting there all the time in the old days). I was yearning for liver & onions but they have taken it off the menu as I must have been one of only a few people who want that.....so I had a veal chop. Excellent. Everyone enjoyed what they ordered. Staff was excellent. We'll be back as Elio's always was a terrific Italian restaurant. They simply had a problem honoring reservations.

We went with the family for a new year dinner. Following the Italian tradition they were offering Cotechino with lentils. This is a typical dish from Modena and the legend is that if you had such meal the first day of the year you will have a lucky year, so I ordered such dish. Unfortunately after the dish was in front of me the waiter run over offering to grate some parmigiano cheese on top....NO...NO. On top of that the waiters had NO PERSONALITY for a so nice, classic and warm old fashioned place like Elio.

Another upper east side spot that never dissapoints. Had late dinner on sept 4 th with my wife and same waiter who served us at our first date in 1992 and numerous times in between is still there and going strong like the food. Bravo Elios

beautiful people in a very busy ambience with extraordinary food. it maintains its high quality standards through out the years

While obviously the place to be (as evidenced by the crowd and the noise level), I found the food just average. Not terribly authentic Italian—too bland and not enough garlic for my taste. And with a $47 (tiny) piece of swordfish, way too expensive!

The food is excellent, however, it is very noisy and uncomfortably crowded. It is also, I feel overpriced for what you get, example $15 for a lettuce only salad with a few pieces of gorgonzola cheese.

This place is so full of !@##$! I made a reservation for 4- 4 weeks ago for a holiday dinner with good friends, we got there last night and the place was so full, the bar was 4 people thick and the dining room full. They said that they were backed up and it would be a 15 minute wait, WHAT BULL !!@##$%! There was NO way they could seat us in 15 minutes past our reservation....The place was a total fire hazard and we should have called the fire dept to inspect...What a disappointment, DON"T GO NOT WORTH IT!! so many other great places who have gratitude for their clients and uphold their reservations.... MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT!!! btw we left and went down the street to Erminia a cozy italian restaurant who treated us with the utmost respect and the food equally as good....

Enjoyed the food but bad atmosphere. The waiters are rude and rushed through the specials and the service. Did not enjoy the experience and did not feel welcome. Felt this place is overrated and would not return.

If you go to this restaurant don't choose it for a quiet dinner . It is really busy and all the tables are very close to one another . The atmosphere is rather nice and it seems this is a classic italian restaurant . The food was not good at all . The scampis and fried squids were very oily and the pasta not properly cooked . This is rather basic cheap italian food served in a nice atmosphere . So don't go there for the food and only for the atmosphere if you have a small group of people .

The staff very friendly, the interior area is very nice, traditional but the food equis. Minestrone good, calamari good but my specialty ravioli bad and tiramisu equis. Consider 100 usd per person. I wouldn't come back.

First, everyone else is right: if you don't know a regular, I doubt you'll get through the door let alone decent service. The enemy and I went with friends (another couple) and sat at the bar early..6.30pm last Saturday night. The regular bartender was apparently out, so Josep looked after us like we were family. So many specials that my wife didn't even open a menu..and despite the fact I'm not a fan of Italian food at all, boy was it outstanding. Eggplant stuffed with ricotta, and beef carpaccio to start. Lamb chops, gnocchi with spicy sausage, white bean salad, rosemary roast potatoes for main. Tiramisu for dessert and he even threw a slice of their made cheesecake in as well. Didn't even pick the wine..he just said leave it to me, and the choice was fantastic. We sat there for 3 1/2 hours and were never asked to leave..was just impeccable all the way through. I don't suppose we'll ever get in again (alone), and the bill is hefty at $250 per couple before tip, but the overall experience was sublime. Oh, and shaking hands with Tom Selleck, saying g'day to Rupert Murdoch, and seeing Woody Allen and Soon Yi didn't suck either.

First of all, if you plan to hear a conversation on the weekend at dinner do not come here! This is a very lively place and so the noise level is at its best! BUT, if you want an exceptional Italian dinner, one of the BEST in New York, this is your restaurant. My husband and I have gotten use to the noise level so we come about once a week! The pasta dishes are all terrific as is the special dishes the serve. On the regular meuse all the chicken and fish are great! Reservations a must!

Four of us had a really wonderful meal here and as the heading of our review says we had quite excellent Italian food in a very busy and " buzzy " restaurant with top class service - We will return ...............

A staple. Always good!!! Beautiful people, Great Service. Sometimes there is a wait, but its worth it!!

We had dinner with a family of five. The tables are packed, with little space in between and the place was really noisy when we were there. People started talking loudly, which meant that we sometimes even had difficulties having a conversation at our own table. Food was ok, but the price was high. Check was also rather confusing with a number of surcharges. Overall, not a great experience.

If you are expecting a good, unpretentious place for northern Italian fare this is your spot. The only problem is the rediculous prices they charge for average portions of standard Italian cooking. Veal pamigian, while not in the menu, will set you back a cool $48! The menu prices shown on Yelp, trip advisor and Google are not representative of the current pricing and they do NOT have a website to reference. They push bottles of wine and extra courses to drive up the bill. Don't get me wrong, the food is top quality. For the same price I would sooner go to almost any other Italian restaurant in NYC with more ambiance. Not your local fall in Italian to me.

We had a wonderful experience at Elio's on a busy Saturday night. The waitstaff were charming, though a bit distracted as the night went on and the restaurant was filled. Wonderful stuffed mushrooms and possibly the best veal piccata I've had. I appreciate that, unlike most Italian restaurants, Elio's allows the veal to stand on its own, not buried with a mound of superfluous pasta. I briefly considered ordering dessert, but wonderful biscotti was served with the coffee, so who needed another dessert? We arrived at 6:30pm for our reservation and stayed until 9:00pm - never felt rushed or pressured to turn over the table, despite the busy night crowd. Can't wait to return!

Old school excellent Italian restaurant very enjoyable indeed. I had excellent service and the food was absolutely perfect. Would recommend this very good New York city restaurant to anyone. Really most enjoyable.

The restaurant became busy as usual and surprisingly we were never asked for Covid vaccination proof and worst of all, the waiters were mostly maskd below nose or entirely down. In truth some did mask as required. Also, rather than table spacing, it was almost more crowded than I can recall from many years ago. So far the food is good but we are very uncomfortable! Unacceptable !!!

I met a bunch of former colleagues and friends at Elio's for an early dinner. The food and service were impeccable, but the real draw is the atmosphere. It

This was my first visit to Elio's, my partner has been there several times. Elio's is reputed to be one of the best Italian eateries on UES. And it is. The cuisine is outstanding. We started with a special salad (included an Italian special, blood oranges), we each had veal piccata, and wrapped up with tiramisu. The cuisine attracts a big crowd. And the noise level on a Saturday night is through the roof. I could barely understand what my partner was saying. About what you'd encounter in a sports-bar. Like being on the tarmac at LGA deplaning a commuter flight. If you like "buzz", Italian food, and don't mind losing a few decibels of your hearing sensitivity, Elio's is for you. If you like Italian food and don't appreciate fellow diners shouting at each other, there are several Italian restaurants I can recommend on UES.

Planning a trip to Manhattan and Elio's is always the choice for my first night. Pick your era--50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's and dining at Elio's is so New York. You'll feel it--if visiting-you can be a New Yorker for a night. Usually packed with regular locals sprinkled with the Rich & Famous. The Food? It's Italian--no such thing as bad Italian in N.Y. --I rate Italian as Good--Better--Best & would rate them in the top two. Nightly specials are very good and famous for "Meatball Wednesday". The service is attentive but I opt to rub shoulders with the regulars and eat at the Bar. Gruff Tender to strangers,-but warms up if you have some patience when he's busy. in all a great Guy---I just let him order for both of us. Give the famous their space---good chance to eat with them early in the evening--Tom Selleck loves the meatballs Just Fun & Fine Food!. Just Rex

A firm favourite. A must on every trip to NY. The atmosphere is noisy and busy and fun. The waiters have all been there forever and the service is excellent. Sometimes hard to get a reservation on short notice. Most fantastic veal Milanese with rocket and tomato salad. Another favourite is the Paglia e fieno. Yum.

We came with. great expectations after hearing good things about it. I love good appetizers, we ordered the roasted peppers and anchovies (right out of a jar) and the fried zucchini (soggy) The waiter never bothered to tell us the specials, barely answered our questions about the menu and rushed us through the order]. The pasta was uninteresting and the chicken, not better than if it had come from a Chinese take-out. The prices are way above the quality of the food, entrees in the $ 40 and plus and a glass of wine is $ 23.

Great To get out of the tourist area and head to Elios. I ate there a few years ago, and hoped my husband would also love it. He did! We decided to splurge and have a bottle of wine. We usually have just one glass. Our bottle was one of the less expensive reds, but we had confidence everything on the list would be good. We were happy with the $52 bottle. We started with a delicious fried calamari. Ate it all. Bread was authentic Italian bread, and olive oil was terrific. I ordered pasta with pesto and he orderd a pasta with seafood. We were both ecstatic. Service excellent. No dessert, but brought complimentary biscotti and another delicious cookie. Yummy.Cappuccino's were perfect..we'll return on our next NYC TRIP.

We went to Elio’s last night for a combination Anniversary/Birthday celebration. We have been to Elio’s many times over the years, always for a special occasion since for us this is a big splurge. We have always found the food to be good despite the high prices. The restaurant is a big clique with people jumping from table to table and waiters doing the same. If they know you you get preferential treatment, otherwise a dog would get better treatment. Our waiter barely spoke to us, the table for two was so close to the next table that I was constantly being jostled. The chicken Parmesan was O.K. but with a price tag of $33 which they are known for was somewhat tasteless and was lukewarm. The soup was very good but small. On a brutally cold night it hit the spot! My husband liked his mussels and veal. My biggest gripe is the treatment. When you indicate that this is a double occasion and it is not acknowledged at all this for me is a huge problem. When we left the restaurant they didn’t even say thank you. My suggestion is they change their name to Rao’s and then we would all know that this is a Membership only restaurant rather than shelling out hard earned money to be treated with such disrespect. Shame on them this time. Shane on me if I went back. I will never ever go back!

elio's may truly be one of the most overrated italian restaurants in the city - service is fine but the food is not very good at all- every time I visit, I want it to be better, and it's just not.

Elio's is a mainstay of fine, upscale dining on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The food is reliably delicious. The atmosphere is sometimes frenetic, but that adds to the excitement of the establishment. It is not uncommon to run into your favorite movie or a TV star eating dinner here

Yes its pricey, yes there can be celebrities, and yes its small, but really for a true NYC italian experience you can't go wrong with this place. The food is all delicious, the service is great and for a fun date night or anniversary dinner this is a great choice.

I had to make a return visit after many years. Still the same old place. Great food tender veal piccata great pasta and a buzz that says you’re back in NYC

I recommend that you do not order the Zuppa di Pesce. It seemed like EVERYTHING in it was pre-cooked, resulting in a dish with little taste. When I order it at a restaurant, I usually tell them to leave out the Lobster and replace it with everything else. I forgot to do so this time, and as usual, it had been pre-cooked and had a tiny resemblance in flavor to one cooked to order.

Our friends have been coming there for years and LOVE IT so we went two days ago to try it out, The energy and the people were exciting and the place was decorated so beautifully. The level of noise in there is stiffling and could not hear anything the waiter or our guests were saying at all The menu is in Italian which is fine but since the waiter didn't want to explain anything and we could not hear him then I spent half the time googling what the dishes were on the menu. My friends had a really hard time and we wound up with the wrong dishes and they did not want to take them back and tried to say we told them. The other waiters seemed to be explaining things well but ours did not at all and was not rude but just displaced by our presence and questions. I love chicken piccatta and this was just ok. The chicken is usually pounded down at other places and thin but this was a thick breast and very dry. The sauce was good but the house chopped salad was not and that's not what I ordered but he couldnt hear me to take it back. We didn't stay for dessert or coffee and would have normally done so. For $500 it was not somewhere we would go back. Also the Coat check lady was very nice but she lost a mink hat that my friend checked and thank God we found it later on when we called back the next day.

It felt good to walk into Elio’s after some time away. The welcome, even without Anne, was warm, the service quick, the wine recommendation was excellent. The food, however, was mediocre. Pasta dishes were a blog o blandness. The price was excessive for the quality of the food.

Arguably one of the top Italian restaurants in NYC. Hard to get a table, but worth the wait. Unless you are waiting in the bar area and then it is painfully small. Try the veal saltimbocca or the chicken scarliello... both are fantastic. Appetizers are for sharing and are enough for dinner some nights!

This place is amazing! It is the best meal we had on our trip to New York! The waiters could not be more friendly and helpful and it is a true local Italian place. Everything we ordered was great and the waiter even created us a couple of special dishes for us! We will deathly be back to Elios next time we're in town! It was a decent walk from the south side of Central Park but definitely worth it and we needed to walk off to our dinner after eating all that great food!

Two friends who live in NYC recommended Elio's to me. I tend to think that really good spaghetti is hard to come by and I am pretty picky; however, I thought Elio's was excellent and some of the best I have ever had. The one drawback , if you consider this a drawback, is that it is packed to capacity with locals who have a sense of entitlement that they should be seated first instead of you and very noisy. However, I love people watching and enjoyed all of this! Another drawback was that our waiter was visibly upset about something and was pretty rude at times; however, we had the opportunity to observe other waiters near us and this was not the case. Although I wouldn't go back if all the waiters were like this, I will go back because I believe it was just him having an off night. The bread, spaghetti pomodoro, and pasta pesto were all excellent.

We were invited to dine with friends at Elio's on the upper east side in NYC. Upon arrival we were seated immediately. The restaurant is small and the tables are close to each other so don't expect much privacy. The waiters have trouble navigating between tables because the tables and chairs are so close to each other. The food was incredible! The waiter was attentive but because of the crowd it was sometimes difficult to get his attention. If you don't mind eating in a crowed, bustling, loud restaurant then give it a try. I prefer a much more relaxed, leisurely dining experience. The food is so good that it is definitely worth a visit. Then you can decide if the atmosphere is tolerable enough to return.

Sunday night is in my opinion the best night to go. The who's who in a causal atmosphere. Get the sautéed artichokes. Not on menu. And te ragu bolognese is to die for. Also Wednesday is meatball night. Tough ticket so worth the wait !!

We've been coming here for years. Always consistent - great food and great service. Make reservations!

We were a party of six with friends from DC. We started out with oysters that melted in your mouth. Salads were fresh and the mussels enough for a main course. Three of us had the veal chop. It was 2 inches thick, perfect charring on the outside, and pink in the middle. Dessert was ricotta cheesecake that melted in your mouth. Will definitely return.

There's nothing I've tried on the menu that doesn't work for me. Salads are fresh, the special salads are always incredible, too. The fish is excellent, cooked to perfection and not too heavy on butter, but light and filling and healthy. The pasta primavera - the best I've ever had. The chicken parmigiana - incredible comfort food. Veggies served family style and enough for the entire table of 5. The staff is friendly, but doesn't drag the meal out for hours until you feel like you've committed carbicide. I adore the atmosphere, too. Tables are in tight quarters, but it doesn't get overly loud or intrusive. This place is one we'll come back to over and over when we're in NYC.

I had a family dinner there and the food was fantastic. It was very packed with people, mostly locals but really enjoyed it a lot. We had 2 little ones with us and they allowed them to get sandwiches from the front to start eating right away.

The food here is always great. The chicken parmesan is one of the best in New York! A bit tight when it is busy but embrace the coziness and the bustle and have a great time. The waiters can seem a bit gruff but are super nice. When it is quiet, theh bar is a nice place to eat. Fun people watching too.

Well my friend recommended this restaurant since he used to live nearby. He frequented the establishment often. He liked it a lot. Well my experience was that unless you are a local and a regular customer they test without respect nor concern I will never go back to this restaurant as there are much better restaurants in the city especially Italian I would chose Il Mulino or Marea over this restaurant any day. At least there they honor your reservation at Elios we had a reservation for 8:30 and after repeatedly watching locals come in and be promptly seated we even heard one customer say they did not have a reservation and get seated right away. As many of you know I have many friends who are in the higher end restaurant industry and I have never felt so disrespected then at Elios. The good was okay but since we did not sit down until 9:30 with a 8:30 reservation it obviously left a bad taste in our mouth so go to one of many better Italian restaurants in the city there are plenty and don’t be disrespected by this one.

Great Upper East Side classic, always willing to please and still magnificent, if pricey. Eliot’s now accepts credit cards, because I recall it accepted only cash back a decade or so before. The bar is excellent for a drink or a meal and the atmosphere is warm and traditional. Waiters and the kitchen happily make accommodations for differing tastes or diets.

We recently had dinner at Elio's, outside, and it was a wonderful experience. The food was excellent and the staff could not have been more responsive or knowledgeable about the menu.

Dear Elio's, I'm sure you're unaware of some of the situations that happen in your wonderful restaurant. In 2024, my husband and I had the marvelous experience of visiting your place and enjoying your divine food! We came to NY 20 years ago in November and spent 15 days here. We came to enjoy NY and the rich gastronomy that exists in this city. Unfortunately, today, January 28th, 2026, we had the joy of taking our family to try one of the best pasta dishes we've ever eaten... but unfortunately, I have never felt so ashamed and humiliated in front of my husband and four children... We made a reservation for 9 pm, after the big snowstorm that happened in NY! My husband had an accident in August 2025, broke his leg skiing, and is slowly getting back to walking. One of the reasons for the trip was to celebrate his life... we decided to spend 25 days in the USA to celebrate life, family... and one of our choices was Elio's. We thought we were going to have another great experience… we were delayed exactly 15 minutes… because of my husband's difficulty getting around and the city being in chaos after the snowstorm… I confess that we sat down to eat because we knew there wouldn't be another option at that time of night… but we were mistreated, ridiculed, and mocked by the man in the suit, who even seemed to be the owner of the establishment… we ordered our main courses quickly… while we were the stage for this man's irony and disrespect, even towards other customers who seemed to be regulars… he spent the night laughing and looking disdainfully at our family. I want to make this clear! We behaved with great politeness and respect from beginning to end… we apologized for the delay! We ate quickly, paid the bill… and left with our heads down! In front of one of the most renowned Italian restaurants in NY! A terrible and humiliating experience! This man doesn't belong in this place!

There is no doubt if you want a classic, warm Italian restaurant, visit Elio's Restaurant on the upper east side in New York City. Yes, celebrities frequent Elio's but this shouldn't be the reason to go. After hearing many rave reviews about the food from my husband I finally got to experience Elio's myself. Sitting at the beautiful wood bar and immediately being greeted and served by the charming bartender, I clearly thought I had been transported in time. Once seated, the wait staff was pleasant and accommodating. The fried Zucchini was delicious however the blood orange and fennel salad was a bit flat. On to the main course, the Milanese Capricciosa my husband chose was outstanding. I opted for the daily special of Lasagna. The flavors were great but sadly, they chose to serve it in a crock at a temperature of about 400 degrees. Needless to say, way to hot to eat. And even after 15 minutes of separating it and letting it cool, the temperature was still too hot. And I love my food hot. It's unfortunate with fresh pasta being tender to begin with, the extreme temperature reduced it to nothing. What I ended up with was a crock of hot Bolognese. No evidence of any pasta (no, I didn't reduce it when I separated it.) I was very disappointed. So my dinner at Elio's consisted of green beans (which were delicious) and a bowl of hot Bolognese sauce. Not my idea of a great dinner. I would love to try them again, however my experience is why I only rated them an average.

It's clear that all that matters in this restaurant is having so many seats. It doesn't matter how you treat customers. We had a table on the waiters' route and were pushed by every waiter running back and forth. While trying to dine the waiters roll tables and move chairs frantically like during a move to seat more customers. You eat leaning on the neighbors of table and chair. There's no room to even move. The noise is unbearable. Customers scream at each other to hear each other, and even the waiters shout the commands. Very low lights and squawks. In all this you can't even understand what you're eating. Absolutely to avoid. There are a thousand better places in New York to dine.

I've never been one to complain publicly about a restaurants service. However, I have never experienced service like this. We had a waiter who stopped by every table around us to check on their meals. Not once did he stop by us. Our waiter was not pleased we did not order alcohol and ripped the drink menu out of my hand. Once our food was served, I asked for some cheese and the sever refused me cheese saying the dish was better without it. Mind you, the food was decent at best. I have never been treated so terribly in my life. My advice? There are hundreds of Italian restaurants in Manhattan, go somewhere else.

Elio's is superb as always! I have been dining there since the 1980's and it never fails to delight.

I have enjoyed Elio's for years. The dining experience has been one of my favorites. The staff is amenable and eager to please. The food is expertly prepared and always delicious (order the Paglia e' Fieno to start and share with a friend). Eat slowly and enjoy the flavors. Coffee and biscotti for dessert will send you home smiling and looking forward to your next visit.

We were in NYC apartment hunting and stopped for a drink at the Plaza. The bartender there (James - who’s also lovely) recommenced Elio’s as a place he takes his family too. Saturday night is packed, and our reservations were still an hour away, but we ended up making new friends who told us they’d been coming for decades. Within 20 minutes we were seated at the bar (highly recommended) and enjoyed the most amazing dinner and dessert! This is a family place, great for celebrations or just a nice dinner out.

We had a dinner there. Sat outside. Much less crowded. Service was nice! Attentive and polite! Food we had was very tasty! Wine by bottle is a reasonable price. By glass a little pricy. Would return to this place. Reservation is a must!!!

This is quite a "neighbourhood" place. Prices are high but the service is top notch. The wine list is also quite extensive.

Shocked!! We sat we ordered our dinner- Appetizers came and within minutes so did the main course it was as ridiculous!! They rushed us beyond we were floored Now goi g to Elios is a hard No! it was Completely noisy the scene is fair and the food is nothing remarkable !went for meatball night the mballs were so hard and dry also! we sent it all back! Bolognese was good the fish was good also but the Noise was Insane! There are so many other places where the scene is fun and you are treated you with respect! They actually threw the food at us! Now I never thought Elios was all that so I hadn’t been back i. a couple of years- they will definitely not see us again!

This is hard to describe especially once you hit all five stars. Everything about this night was superb. If your not in the UES, get here and try this place. Warm from the moment you walk in. A friendly and accommodating staff makes you feel welcome. Wine list was accessible with great choices in a varied price point. Food is the star here and there are too many choices to describe. The four of us shared four meals and appetizers that included two pasta dishes and Dover sole. It was a feast of food, all prepared with an abundance of flavor and freshness. Everyone made the night special, but the food stands out as one of the best Italian I've had here. And you can eat great Italian in this city. It won't disappoint you

We are long-time neighborhood residents (20-plus years), and we have walked by Elio's thousands of times without stopping in for a meal. We tried Elio's for dinner this past weekend, because our local favorite restaurant was closed for a private party, and they suggested, at their risk, that we try Elio's. I'm happy to report that the experience exceeded our expectations, and we will be back soon. Although the dining room was packed, we were seated immediately, and our waiters were friendly and attentive. We did not spot any celebrities during our meal; but Elio's was filled with happy, animated diners. The wine list IS pricey, but there are a few reasonable alternatives. Our meal was simply delicious. I had the "special" soup of the evening (spinach and lentil) and the veal scallopine. My husband had the grilled octopus and grilled swordfish. The desserts (we shared an order of chocolate cake and a cheesecake) were sublime. All in all, this is a terrific, genuine and unpretentious restaurant, and we are happy to have "discovered" it -- even though, for us, it's been in plain sight all along.

Worth a trip to the Upper East Side. A great neighborhood spot populated by mostly regulars. Very reasonable prices with very friendly and efficient service. Our reserved table was ready and waiting, our large party of 10 was seated immediately. The soft shell crab was perfectly sautéed-crisp and meaty. The kitchen put together a selection of pasta dishes served family style. Veal and fish were made with top notch ingredients, no wonder the place was packed on Tuesday night.

3 of us ate early. good nothing exceptional.pricey , but so is all of new york.as we were leaving it started to get the buzz of the city. not a bad thing. Sat Tom Selick at his usuall table as you walk in in the front.Handsome man.other famous faces but none i knew buy name.

It's impressive how busy this place can be in the middle of the week. The place was packed and very noisy, which made conversation across the table nearly impossible. That said, service was excellent (contradicting other reviewers) and food was quite good. We started with an assortment of salads, all good, and ended with the special soft shell crab. Our friend reported that his spaghetti with meatballs was very good. It is somewhat overpriced, but in line with similar places in NY. We plan to go back to this place and hopefully sit at a quieter corner.

Elios is a legend. A favorite for locals and celebs alike. The food is outstanding and never disappoints. Quite pricey but a great atmosphere and service. Busy and bustling, upper east side vibe. Usually a familiar face in the crowd. There are regulars who go every week and know the staff. It's fun and delicious. Have been going here for 30 years!

Though the restaurant was as busy as it normally is, they didn't make us wait this time. Maybe we're coming frequently enough that they are according us club member status. For thirty years, Elio's has delivered great Italian food and excellent service to a filled house of Upper Eastsiders and it looks like the next generation keeps coming. Last night, our 50 year old daughter was in New York and joined us.........she felt right at home. This is one of the few restaurants that successfully integrates three generations. By the way, I still think they have the best liver with sauteed onions in NY.

Definitely worth it! The ambiance and the food is top notch. It is an old style Manhattan restaurant that takes you back in time. My only disappointment was that the waiter and other employees did not smile once at us. We noticed that they bent over backwards to make conversation with what seemed like "regulars" but did not once smile or try to make us feel welcomed once. The attitude was more of " we will do our job but we really don't need your business. That is why the four stars!

Elio's has become our "go to" spot in NYC. The food is simply excellent and while planning a trip in to town this spot is a priority and normally our first stop. The veal parm is by far my favorite in North America and their risotto is to die for; last night we were lucky enough of have risotto with fresh porcini mushrooms---pure bliss. This is a tough table to score and the type of place one doesn't want others to know about because of the relatively small size and popularity but these people run such an excellent operation that they deserve nothing but the highest praise.

If you are a regular at Elios and they know you, then you are golden. If not, the food/ambience/service is not worth the aggravation. I sat at the bar and once the bartender finally finished his socializing, tel call etc. he condescended to wait on me. I ordered a drink and that was the last time we spoke. I was way early btw and he was not busy. A few minutes later a regular came in and the bartender sparked up, hopped to it, got the person a drink and "oh by the way, I thought you might like this bowl of parm cheese chunks". Well so would I but I was not offered and I would have been happy to pay! I was in a jacket btw and nice slacks, also had a rezzie so not a walk in schlub. They sat us at the worst possible table, directly in the kitchen doorway and I finally had to get frisky to get us be moved. The food was pretty average so not worth any of this.

Clearly the best Italian eatery in Gotham. Service splendid, quality of food tops, great buzz from UES neighbors. The waiters are great.

I went here to celebrate a birthday of a friend. We were late, but this is because we were with 15 guests. It is a busy restaurant. It felt a bit old school. But this is what we liked. The food was ok, but not mind blowing.

The food is standard. I think under standard for taste. The rice is cold, the portion very small, but the price is quite expensive. The service very minimum. The didnt ask you what you would like to drink. They stock out off rice while we ate.

This Upper East Side stalwart survives on its reputation for clubby exclusivity. Getting a table can be a challenge for patience and tolerance of surly, inhospitable behavior. We live in the neighborhood and as a compromise booked the earliest dinner reservation. The manager, whose shirt collar was turned up and his tie undone, did not greet us; he prowled the house barking orders to the staff. We are very experienced diners and knew just what we wanted; we also understood our obligation to vacate our table within reasonable time. Forty-five minutes into our meal our server attempted to clear our main course plates, although we still were eating. The food was adequately and professionally prepared, not quite at the level of the prices, however, and served by a phalanx of white, gruff, European-style men from a distant era of restaurant dining. Elio's appears to be an ATM for the owners but might benefit from all-around updating.

I have been dinning at Elio's since 1983 and it continues to be my favorite Italian restaurant in New York City. Loud and fun place to go - you will feel as if you are in Italy. The angel hair past is delicious, the carpaccio is delicate, the wine list large.

they really pack you into this neighborhood Italian restaurant the restaurant has a bar and maybe 15 tables....my chair was ricketty and leaned back into the group of 4 about a foot behind me...no one in the restaurant could lean back against the back of their chairs unless they were seated in a booth or against the wall the menu had a lot to offer but everything was just average...our group of 3 had chicken parmigiana, veal marsala, and veal sotobuco (sp?) as mains and stone crab and beet salad as appetizers...for the price, I cannot recommend any of these...the best part of the meal was the cheesecake for dessert the waiters were good and attentive 2 appetizers, 3 mains, 2 mixed cocktails, 2 glasses wine, 2 desserts, 2 coffees, 1 coke, 16% tip= $383...not worth it. (had a much better meal at Patsy's for half the price the night before) they want you to check your coats and tip for it afterwards..I felt bad for the woman that saw my expression when she asked for the tip (she deserved a tip...the restaurant didn't) this restaurant is not worth the price...I will not go back

Atmosphere crowded and lively but also charming and intimate. Wait staff attentive fast and friendly. You need to make a reservation on most nights. A classic Italian menu with numerous entrees and daily specials. I had the Sea Bass special with a light but savory sauce. Absolutely delicious.

I did not know about this restaurant. Probably because I do not live in Manhattan and I think it is a restaurant most know by the locals. Once I was listening to a podcast and one guy that is the owner of several restaurants in Manhattan said that when he is looking for inspiration he goes to Elio's. I made the reservation and finally got to know the place. It is located on the upper east side and it is very cozy. It was packed but the service is so good that it seems that it is not a problem. The appetizer was great my fettuccine amatriciana was great. The Tiramisu was marvelous. The whole experience was great . Well done!

A clear neighborhood favourite, and justly so. A delicious selection of Italian food shown clearly on a concise, comprehensible menu. High priced ordinary wines but very reasonably priced higher end choices. Personable, old line service. Respectable prices for the fare. Great place to appreciate the City's diner diversity. We did wait a bit for what turned out to be a fine table. Noisy.

We were deeply disappointed with our experience at this restaurant. Despite arriving only 15 minutes late during a severe snowstorm, we were met with rudeness and unnecessary hostility, likely from the owner himself. He addressed us loudly and in a humiliating manner in front of other guests, which made us feel extremely uncomfortable. We were then pressured to place our order quickly because the kitchen was, according to him, closing. The situation felt disrespectful and inappropriate — far from what one should expect in a hospitality setting. It is also important to note that we arrived late due to mobility issues after a recent accident, and navigating snow with a wheelchair was extremely difficult. Unfortunately, there was no understanding or consideration of this context. The food was disappointing, and the overall service lacked professionalism and respect. Based on this experience, we would not return and cannot recommend the restaurant. Guests deserve to be treated with respect.

I love this place, but.... it is way too expensive for what it is. The food is consistent, the service is great, the ambiance is convivial, but I really don't think it commands a price of $100 per person (with wine).

This place can be loud, but the atmosphere was good. Our waiter was very professional and offered excellent wine choices for our meal. Must say the Pesto Pasta was the best in a very long time! Expensive, though: 25 bucks for a medium-sized portion of pasta? But you can see everything was made in the house with top notch ingredients, so worth it if you can afford it.

Absolutely best Italian Restaurant in NYC delicious homemade food with absolutely wonderful service!

Disappointing. Below average food that was too costly for those deficits. —$17 for six very small clams oreganata. —$34 chicken parmigiana with green beans. —$12 for side of undercooked pasta (not al dente). —$24 for undercooked spaghetti Sugo Di Carne (Bolognese). Slight burnt sauce. Obscene $46 for chicken parm with pasta. Exceptional service. Very nice atmosphere. Won’t go back.

Not worth being crammed into a room full of snooty diners who may be locals who cannot even get their chairs in to allow waiters to pass through to serve.Food was good but not worth the attitude to get seated or interior noise level. Reservations were for 8:30 and we were greeted with having to wait 30 minutes for our table. When people are done eating they do not get them up and out which causes a back up. If you really want to eat here go at 5pm or 10pm.