Gelso & Grand Reviews

Still don’t get why people would give a good review to this place. Bad pizza, soft, cold. Expensive wine of poor quality. Just not good really !

Stopped here with my wife for a drink and appetizer. Got seated pretty quickly and ordered a couple of drinks. It was a pretty warm and humid day and they had all their doors and windows open to make the restaurant open air so even though we were inside, we weren't offered much in the way of air conditioning to cool off so it was rather warm inside. We ordered the burrata bruschetta which was very good, but quite pricey for only getting two pieces of bruschetta. We didn't stick around for anything else because it was still quite warm in the restaurant so we decided to go. The food was good and I would consider going here again.

The food was delicious and the place very nice. Everything We've tried it out, we've loved it. Service is amazing, great food and experience. I encourage you to come!!!

We ordered a Pepperoni and a Classic Margherita! These are thin crust- soft textured pizzas! The sauce and cheese is beautifully flavored!! The slightly charred crust from the fire adds another layer of unique flavor! Absolutely delicious! 3 of us shared 2 pizzas and had just enough room for Gelato! We enjoyed outdoor seating at this super cute location in Little Italy! Definitely recommend if you enjoy pizza! Only reason for 4 stars was because the service was lacking. A shame.

Went to Little Italy looking for a good Italian for Sunday lunch, without a reservation. They accommodated our party of 2, but after a good wait without any information. We sat outside, on Grand street, which was lovely. Their gluten-free pasta is vegan and it was delicious. Service, while friendly, was slow.

Had lunch here twice on a recent visit to New York. Both times the food and service were very good. Cool place with good pizza’s and pasta. Staff are all very friendly and helpful. Lots of outdoor seating as well as inside. Brilliant place for lunch on a lovely sunny day. Would visit again if we come back to N.Y.

This was a clean fresh contemporary Italian restaurant with excellent authentic Italian food and excellent service. Would highly recommend.

The service was amazing and so was the food and the drinks. They were super accommodating and the food came out almost immediately. Would definitely go back!

We were in the city for my 53rd birthday on Friday, June 14th. We went to Gelso and Grand for a birthday drink. Our server was Chloe. I’m not sure why she’s working with the public because she left a lot to be desired. She wasn’t very pleasant. She was actually quite standoffish.

Lovely little restaurant, helpful staff, reasonably priced beer $8 a pint and one of the best pizzas we’ve ever had. Also the roasted sprouts were amazing.

Stepped into Gelso & Grand for a late supper and it did not disappoint. Despite being quite busy, they were able to seat us quickly. The decor is beautiful, the staff was friendly and the restaurant offers a good wine list. My friend and I shared a delicious pizza and entree. We were saving our appetites for the famous foot long cannoli. We shared it and there was way more than we could eat. The cannoli comes with a small mallet, which we had fun using to smash it. Hence the cannoli's hashtag, #smashme It was a delicious and Instagram worthy evening!

Coincidentally, we were walking past here during a very warm dat in NY. We thought it would be nice to have a glass of Aperol here in the cool, but because of the nice atmosphere (and our empty stomachs) we also ended up eating here. The pasta was freshly made, the sauce delicious. Like everything else in NY, this has its price. But definitely recommended!

We visited this place twice during our stay because the food and the service was really good. We had seafood and pasta, both were fresh, tasty and just as good as it would be in Italy.

We ended up here by accident. The pizzas were very delicious, especially the prosciutto was great. Service very friendly.

We needed a place for a cocktail and chair. This was the perfect spot. Great wine and even better drinks. It had the perfect location for celebration or a romantic evening. We didn’t have any food here but it looked and smelled great.

Great atmosphere, good value and delicious truffle and mushroom pizza, would recommend and will return. Staff pleasant enough, but food is excellent!

Had 2 pizzas a regular which was good and the gluten free that was very good. They make both doughs as well as the pastas in house. Service was good. Nice spot for people watching.

The food at Gelso and grand was great! I got the meatballs and vodka pasta and loved both. But, if you aren’t into crowded tables and noisy restaurants this might not be the right spot for you. I came here on a date and it seemed way better for a large group. I liked it but wouldn’t go back just because of how close the tables are to one another. Although, that’s how many resturants are in the city!

A random visit as it had an outdoor area where I could sit in the sun. A rarity on Mulberry St. Lots of outdoor paces - non such a sun trap. The food I ordered was delicious. Mainly sides - I went for wine and sun. The service was good apart from one member of staff who brought my bill without asking if I wanted anything else. When I said, I haven’t finished, he got very snooty with me and never came back to my table and every time he walked passed, he completely ignored me. Which I found hilarious. He was wearing a cap - I say this as I think this is his ‘Signature thing’. All other staff members were an absolute delight. I stayed for three hours. Purchasing food and wine hahaha.

Came with the family to visit New York for a long weekend. After visiting Lady Liberty we decided to swing by Little Italy for a walk and ended up at this lovely place. The staff very friendly and attentive. We ordered a Prosciutto Pizza best one I had in my life and 2 appetizers of Crispy Octopus & Calamari. The food was to die for and for sure will go back again. Very cozy restaurant with a bar/ club feeling basement. Hats off!

My husband and I strolled through Little Italy and stumbled across this restaurant. Slightly more modern than the other restaurants nearby. Lovely seating area inside and out. I also noticed a fabulous private dining area downstairs on my way to the toilet. The staff were friendly but not overly pushy. Food was quick and very tasty

Nice place, busy, cosy and buzzy atmosphere. They do a great dry Martini although be careful if you like it dirty as it can be a bit too salty. I had to ask for a replacement, which was no issue. Suggest you book at peak times. Good food albeit quite typical fayre.

The staff is very friendly and attentive. They even pour you water here! The food was excellent.

We were hanging in little Italy, and stopped by at this beautiful restaurant, they served Italian food, had the pistachio pesto and was totally delicious, had pizza as well and was pretty tasty also! Totally a great spot ! Prices were right for the food, the only inconvenience was that they didn’t accept credit card ! Good services as well.

Quick service warm welcome but especially very good food and hearty. The smile of the Vilma is a plus Fast service, warm welcome but above all very good and plentiful food. Vilma's smile is a plus

Very good quality food. It made us happy to eat well without it costing too much. Excellent value

Service = excellent. Food = meh. Drinks = stupidly expensive. Walk by Gelso & Grand and find something better on Mulberry.

On our first night in NYC we had reservations here. We were almost 20 minutes, but surprisingly they still had our table.. We ordered calamari, which was delicious and a larger portion than we are used to, kids enjoyed it a lot. We also had margarita pizza which you can tell the ingredients are so fresh, the tomato sauce tasted like freshly squeezed tomatoes sauce. New York strip steak was ordered my 9 year old and he loved it. We took couple of bites and it is outstanding. Brown butter with braised lamb pasta was awsome.. ( not sure of the name though).. Over all the food was excellent, service was friendly and quick.. will definitely return.

Having walked the High Line and beyond we were more than ready when we fell on this place. Nice cosy atmosphere, very busy but tables a little close together. Ordered a pizza and asked for extra basil and a side of garlic mushrooms. Pizza was very thin but quite wet in the centre, so much so a puddle remained on the plate and am glad I asked for the extra basil as I got a total of 3 leaves! Felt rushed when the bill arrived without asking, it was all just OKish.

Loved this place- probably my favourite restaurant in NYC - great pizzas, best cheesecake ever in a fabulous Little Italy warehouse setting. To top it all they weren’t trying to drag you in - unlike most of their neighbours!

Not your typical Italian restaurant. More menu options that are traditional American fare. Exc we llent menu with wine selection. Had the lamb campanelle...was excellent. Campanella with Vodka was excellent as well. Kids welcome. Will b e back

Just perfect ! A little expensive but worth it! The pizzas are to die for and the staff is very friendly. I will carefully note this address for a future stay in New York.

The Mood of the restaurant is super friendly and in addition the Service was perfect!! We were there for noon and we do not regret. We had pizza and carbonnra. I highly recommend this restaurant!!

not upscale, hard metal chairs (except cushions along walls), cold air at windows, no condiments on table, no tablecloth, no bread and butter, no free soft drink refills, pasta very al dente, servers wear jeans and ball caps, unfriendly service, 3 large meatballs, large pasta portion. Not the place to go to impress your date.

Here for a late lunch, average food for the area and not that cheap! Food did arrive quick and cute Photo Booth downstairs x

I tried the gnocchi and it was the best one ever. My daughter loved their spaghetti and meatballs. Steak was a little salty but great. Tiramisu awesome!!! Friendly service too. A little pricey but it was worth it.

Booked in for dinner after our walking tour of little Italy and had booked due to the positive reviews on trip advisor- did not disappoint ambience service and food delicious- our favourite meal in New York

Italian restaurants in the USA usually have little to do with the original and disappointment is pretty much guaranteed. Not so here: the exterior and the interior are very inviting, it doesn't smell of garlic bread, a common nuisance in Italian-American cuisine. The serving staff are super friendly and efficient. The food: really great. Pasta is actually like in Italy, pizza comes from an original wood-fired oven, that makes the difference and you can tell. Great, crispy dough, well browned with nice bubbles. Tomato sauce is subtly automatic, only the mozzarella doesn't flow as nicely as in Italy. All in all, though, it's great. The prices are typical for the area (high) and absolutely reasonable for what's on offer. Only the espresso is forgettable, nice and authentic liquor selection.

I enjoyed the pistachio and pesto pasta with grilled shrimp—it was delicious! The affogato was great, but the raisin biscotti had an unusual sweet and sour twist that I’m not sure about. Overall, I’d give this place five stars!

Had a lovely dinner here after a tiring day of walking around the city. The outdoor seating area had a pleasant atmosphere and the food was delicious. Large portion sizes too. Would recommend to anyone looking for some NY Italian in Little Italy.

Stopped here for dinner with friends visiting the city. The pesto pasta and bruschetta were faves. Someone quickly filled our waters and we got our food in decent time, but the server wasn’t super present in our time at the restaurant.

Had a quick lunch here (4 cheese pizza and meatballs - with beer). Very nice patio on the corner. Staff very friendly and food top notch.

Popular Italian restaurant, nice infrastructure and decor. Service: 10/10 good service and friendly people. Cuisines: 10/10 very rich, well crafted pasta and very good pizza. Very good music set to the place, in the afternoon it gets romantic lower its lights and place candles. They should place a courtesy for the diners to wait. I recommend it 100%

Nice restaurant in a "tourist hotspot". The quality of the food was very good. Unfortunately, our service was not as friendly as you would expect in the USA. So it didn't get full marks.

The food is okay. The terrace is cozy. The water ridiculously expensive! $8.50 for a bottle. They just don't tell you this when they ask if you want plain or water with bubbles.

A good Italian in the famous Little Italy neighborhood. We ate good quality pasta dishes. Tiramisu was delicious. Very welcome, friendly setting Three negatives: oppressive servers, very noisy and expeditious service

We cannot thank Liza and her team enough for the amazing experience. No question was too much and everyone was warm and friendly. We booked via an exchange of emails over a year. We needed a small restaurant for a cosy reception of 25 people. We didn’t need decor, we wanted a family Italian style meal and we got more than that! Considering we didn’t try food or visit before booking we were amazed and blown away by the whole experience. The space was private and warm, the food didn’t stop coming and everyone enjoyed it - the staff were attentive and nothing was too much. We even had our own menus printed which we didn’t expect . I’d recommend the restaurant for an evening meal too - we did this a few days before to visit the location. We will be back during our next visit!

Very tasty starter (salmon tartar) and main course (parma pizza and pomodoro spaghetti). Service was efficient. Only downside is tomato sauce on pizza was replaced with fresh cream!

We had visited the nearby Tenement Museum and were strolling around Little Italy when we wanted to stop for lunch. On a nice sunny day this place was very welcoming with large open windows - some tables outside as well as in. My lasagne with aubergines and a crispy topping was delicious. My wife’s pasta with bolognese sauce was also very good.

Very well received Beautiful place Excellent meal we had pasta - it was excellent In the heart of Little italy Very good address

We were a little worried about tourist traps and therefore used TripAdvisor. That was reasonable. The service was good and we got three delicious pastarets. The toilets were nice and it always says something about the restaurant.

The restaurant was very crowded as a Saturday afternoon was expected, but a kind waitress got us a nice table in a couple of minutes. Exceptional food at a reasonable price. Definitely you´ve got to pass by in your next visit to Little Italy NYC, wont regret it!

If you go to Little Italy, this is a must. Very nice restaurant, wonderful food and drinks (the lasagna is a must) and lovely staff. Highly recommended!

Very good meal. Buzzy atmosphere. Fast and efficient, if a little cool, service. Pasta dishes were flavourful. Pizzas were authentic . Limited wine menu but what they did have was good quality and paired the menus well.

Delicious food, great atmosphere. Second time here and it was just as good. If you plan on using the Photo Booth. Make sure you have $5 as it doesn't not give change back.

A very nice surprise... Nestled in the heart of Little Italy (an eminently touristy district), we chose this address first of all for its post-industrial style decor (exterior and interior). Then, everything came together wonderfully: warm and attentive welcome, varied menu at affordable prices, tasty dishes; In short, a very nice address to remember if you pass through this area!

This place had the best ambience! I loved the exposed brick, open windows, vines, lighting, decor. The service was incredible from start to finish. I'm giving it 3 out of 5 stars because there were 7 of us - and 3 of us had food that was not good. The other 4 enjoyed their food. It was also fairly expensive for what we ordered. The food was not worth the cost. I'm guessing maybe it's a popular bar? I'm not a drinker but for ambience and alcohol, this place is probably top notch.

We stopped there because we liked the decor. Nice discovery. Good food and good prices. The welcome was great. I recommend

Atmosphere was great! Party of 5 was seated right at the booth near kitchen. Menu had great choices! We asked the server what was the beat choice and he said the in-house made pastas. We all chose the chicken Parmesan, but one person. Lol. Chicken Parmesan was tough and I don’t recommend it, neither did the server!!

Stopped by for a drink after dinner in Little Italy. Chad was the best! Excellent drinks and conversation! Will definitely return on my next visit.

Such a lovely spot in Little Italy! The service was quick and the food was amazing! My family are still raving about the food, to this day!

Tasty dishes (good pizza, excellent pasta). Cozy terrace. Friendly service. Negroni was as it should be. Not the first time we came and will come back

Excellent pizza - the best I ever had. Top desserts and fast, always willing and carying staff. Highly recommended for any visit.

A group of friends were having lunch on October 12. The food and service were correct but when it came time to pay they told us that our card was not valid and they asked us for another means of payment. We were surprised, but the meal was paid for with another card (from the same person). A few days ago the friend who paid received the charge in duplicate. He claimed it and the restaurant has refused to give him a refund, claiming that he does not have proof of payment, something that is not mandatory today and which, furthermore, can easily be verified with the card transactions and the restaurant itself can verify your payments. The two charges are made seconds apart for the same amount and to the same owner. What else do you need to check? I would be ashamed... Really, is it worth it?

Super Location. Nice waiters, very attentive. In the district of one of the best stores. Be sure to test! Great food, too.

What about??? It may not be the Italian pizza, but I ate a better pizza than so much bad quality in Italy. Friendly staff. A flaw...only English menu, which is not a drama, but if you are an Italian restaurant hire Italian staff and put the menu with double language The basics are missing, but I wasn't sick!

Great corner spot with indoor and outdoor seating. Tough choice, but we chose to eat inside. There were 4 of us, we got 3 meals and had plenty to pass around. Attentive wait staff and wonderful presentation of food. I would most definitely eat here again!

We came back after 5 years, very rich, maybe the music a little loud, reasonable prices, attention in Spanish... .

The restaurant was good unlike other Italian restaurants in little Italy that just want to grab you in. The bartender was super chill and amazing and recommended me a great veggie options ! Would definitely visit. The only thumbs down is no internet connection wifi . When you live in 21st century you should provide your customers with wifi .

This is a great location, somewhat away from the pushiness of the other restaurants on the street, which was excessive (enough that I won’t patronize them). We had great service and the food was good. We enjoyed out outdoor seats, but inside looked very nice, too.

This is a very nice restaurant- don’t try and drag you in. Staff are nice and the restaurant is decorated very well. Food is mostly good, margarita pizza needed more cheese and for it to be more spread out as it just falls off. Desserts were great.

We went for lunch one day, as soon as we walked in, the place felt incredibly hot. Regardless we sat down and weren’t overly impressed with the menu. We talked about leaving but we’d ordered our drinks so were committed. Struggling to see anything we fancied to eat, we just ordered 2 starters, arancini and meatballs. The meatballs had a strange texture and taste, almost like ground hot dogs and they repeated on us all afternoon. The arancini were a little better thanks to the chimmichurri as the arancini were tasteless. Wouldn’t return.

Very good quattro formagi pizza, and pastas were delicious. A good stop inside Little Italy where to enjoy good food in music.

We were aware little Italy could be touristy so researched and booked dinner here in advance. The setting is modern and staff super efficient. The menu shows some creativity giving us chance to try something different. To be honest we all agreed that we should have gone tapas style, the sharing meatballs and bruschetta left little room for the huge portions of pasta and pizza. We felt so bad leaving food but simply could not fit anymore food into our belly. The bill with cocktails and tips for 3 came to $200 but we felt the price reflected the quality. Our only recommendation really is make sure you have room to fit it all in.

Excellent Italian like cuisine. Normal pizza, margherita I must say very similar to ours and L’Espresso was also good. The experience of this cuisine in America must be done like the various fast food that we do not have in Italy

Busy, good atmosphere, good enough pizzas. The next door tables pasta looked good. Friendly wait staff. Would happily return.

Popped in for brunch/lunch Sunday, nice location and vibe-enjoyed the 80s tunes! They have a brunch menu 11-4 over the weekends as well as the normal menu, so opted for the smoked salmon bagel bowl which was nice and fresh, chilli oil giving a nice kick. Plenty of choice in Little Italy but this was a nice place overall.

After walking over 30,000 steps and not having a plan for dinner, Gelso & Grand hit the spot! I was apprehensive as it was so busy. We got a table immediately. The service was good. We shared meatballs and I opted for a prosciutto pizza. The pizza was delicious although really salty! They kindly offered us takeaway containers to take home half the pizza we couldn’t manage. Dimly lit, great music! Then all of a sudden my BF appeared from California as a big surprise! With a million restaurants to choose from, we would definitely recommend 🍏🇺🇸🗽

Our son took us here for dinner to get the "Little Italy" experience. I had the Pistachio Pesto pasta; it had a generous amount of pesto and pistachios; came pippen hot and was delicious. My wife and son had the Cacio E Pepe pasta, which according to the wife was "divine". My daughter-in-law had the Campanelle Alla Vodka pasta and thoroughly enjoyed it. We shared two appetizers of Truffled honey bruschetta to go with our drinks. I didn't care for it, but the others thought it was very good. Their service was outstanding. When our main course came mine was not what I ordered. It took them less than five minutes to correct it with a sincere apology. Browse the menus at other restaurants in Little Italy and they have many many entrees; this restaurant's is limited but I bet the quality of the food will beat any of the others. Definitely will return on our next visit.

Great spot in Little Italy with outdoor seating or sit indoors and enjoy the many original architectural elements of the building. Pizza was great but the Brussels sprouts were incredible! Friendly staff and immediate seating even on a busy Sunday evening. Highly recommend!

A fast stop here just for drinks at the bar on a VERY hot day. Friendly service, good range of drinks on offer, and a lovely atmosphere. We will definitely take the opportunity to eat here next time, the food looked great.

What a great find as we were walking about Little Italy. The service was fantastic, drinks were good and the food was outstanding. Perfect portions for lunch. Highly recommend and we will be back next time in NY

Visit to Little Italy and see this beautiful restaurant, very nice and welcoming, very friendly staff and clean place, menu for all tastes, we ate well. Advised

Top gnocchis. Soft and tender. Nice touch with the hazelnuts. Good atmosphere. Nice decor. Full bar. Pizzas too (but expensive ones)

Good pasta, all-terrain waiters in a matter of languages, gas-free food waiting. Recommended within little Italy.

Atmosphere is great and has so much potential but food was just ok. My friend had the gnocchi and loved it. My salad was also really good but the arancini had no tomato sauce (odd), my bruschetta was warm and soft with some melty cheese (also super weird, warm and hardly any tomatoes), and the Parma pizza....no sauce. All in, just mediocre. Not bad but given the choices around there I wouldn't go back. Margarita NYC is 10x better food.

Nice spot in little Italy with a great patio. We had the calamari and that portion was great. We also had a pizza and that tasted great. All in all a good place in a very touristy area

We discovered Gelso & Grand by accident, and were mighty glad we did! Initially just looking for a quick lunch bite in Little Italy, after a morning clocking up the miles on foot, we happened upon G&G and sat in for a late lunch. On seeing the menu we cancelled our evening reservation elsewhere and went all in with sharing plates and sides. The bruschetta and calamari were stand outs, but I would gladly have any of the menu again. Also the vibe of the place was very relaxing whilst the restaurant was clearly very busy on a Saturday lunch service, and the service itself great also. Top marks all round.

Maybe good but typical tourist trap. On arrival I ask for 4 glasses of water with ice, served automatically in all restaurants in New York and I am told that it is not possible there, so they bring me a bottle for almost 10 $, then I realize that the Americans at the neighboring tables all have carafes, then I am told that the tap water is not good so that is better for us…

Amazing find in our whirl wind trip to New York. Best find of our trip from Scotland. Service, drinks and food all fantastic.

We had dinner at Gelso and Grand during a holiday visit to NYC and were very happy with it. A child in our party has food allergies and I called ahead to make sure the chef could accommodate us. Sure enough, they did an excellent job of making a special meal for him with no cross-contamination or other problems. He was very happy and said it was delicious. We had an excellent negroni, mulled cider, meatballs and pomodoro sauce and chicken parm. Salads and simple bruschetta were delicious! The atmosphere was warm and lovely. Service was very good. A member of my party accidentally left her take home bag at the table, and they saved it for us! Highly recommend!

I’ve been to Gelso & Grand before and I remember the food being good. The pizza here is sensational, the crust has truffle cream added to it which really enhances the flavour. Service is excellent! Best Pizza I’ve found in NYC and I’ve eaten a lot of pizza in NYC!

Even with no reservation on a busy Saturday night, we got in with no problems. Sat at a counter but was treated great by staff. The food was amazing. We had tuna for an appetizer. And Brussel sprouts. They were both very tasty. The main courses for us were both pasta dishes. The homemade pasta made us feel like we were back in Italy. Great job!! Highly recommend!

Walking down Mulberry St looking for a place for brunch on a Saturday at about 11:30. Almost walked past this place as it was pretty empty. But the hostess was outside and she was pleasant and the menu looked promising so we gave it a shot. It wasn’t on the menu but they made me an espresso martini. It was terrific. We ordered a BLT. The multigrain bread was thick and delicious. The bacon was really good and the avocado slice they added enhanced the sandwich even more. The fries were thin, crispy and delicious. The service was excellent. My water glass was never empty. Will definitely go back.

We visited Gelso and Grand for supper whilst staying in New York. Jetlagged, we arrived with a reservation at 5pm. The restaurant was packed from when we arrived until leaving at around 7:30 so I advise booking in advance, regardless of the time. Menu is varied and has a lot to offer - pizzas were good, nothing special or memorable, but hit the spot – we did not order starters but those on other tables looked good. Cocktails were delicious and reasonably priced for NY. Like most of New York and the wider service industry, it felt understaffed. Recommend for a casual pizza in a trendy, buzzy downtown restaurant.

Nice Italian in a very nice property right in little Italy. Both the pizza and the pasta carbonara were delicious!

Horrible experience, it was like a fast food restaurant. We were rushed. You had to order your appetizer with your entree, server was rude. This is my 1st negative review of any restaurant.

Very good food, the pizza dough is exquisite and also the ingredients used! We tried pasta with meatballs out of curiosity and really good that too!

The atmosphere, food and service are all just right here! We enjoyed the evening in Little Italy again. The food at Gelso and Grand is delicious and the service is friendly, although the order taking could be a bit quicker.

In the heart of Little Italy where there is a lot of choice of restaurants this must be one of the better venues. A large restaurant with a large menu, friendly staff and tasty food.

All of our dishes, from the tuna carpaccio and bruschetta to the arancini and main courses like cacio e pepe and pizza, have been really good! The location is nice, and the staff is good! Great evening! Thanks for it!

Celebrating friendship we joined some (long time, no see) friends over lunch at Gelson & Grand in Little Italy. Ambience: With brick walls with exposed beams and wood-burning brick oven, there was a warmth and casual atmosphere that facilitated loud laughter and easy talk among old friends. Food & Beverage : We shared 2 pizzas and 4 pastas: CRISPY PEPPERONI (2) with fresh mozzarella and San Marzano tomato - hmm … with crispy thin crust, the cheeses and tomato sauce were perfect. FETTUCCINE BOLOGNESE with veal-beef-sausage blend, parmigiano - very tasty 
VONGOLE with bucatini, Manila clams, Fresno chili, and garlic - so much clams, so much flavor
SPAGHETTI POMODORO (2) with San Marzano tomato, fresh basil, and parmigiano - a must classic at every meal. Our table had Ice Tea (great standby), Sparking Cucumber Lemonade (very refreshing), Watermelon Mint Limeade (delicious). Over at the next table, some folks were enjoying & sharing Spicy Kale Caesar Salad, Crispy Octopus, Mulberry Meatballs. It looks very good. We must try that on our next visit. Service: The staff was friendly and accommodating for a group of 7. They gave us time to look over the menu as we talk about many of the interesting dishes with difficult choices. Our drinks came quickly and our selection made. Our water glass was checked frequently and filled as needed by the wait staff. We are friends for life and we are looking for another occasion to visit the CHEESE & TOMATO PALACE … at Gelso & Grand in Little Italy, New York City.

We booked a month in advance, arrived early and were seated on a table big enough for 4, yet there was 6 of us. The food came quickly and the whole meal felt rushed, plates cleared when others still eating. After paying glasses with wine still in were cleared. Really felt like we were just a pay check

We had a great meal in the middle of Little Italy. Sociable point and when you sit by the window you see everything happening. Nice restaraunt and friendly staff.

The food was good but the service was terrible. We felt rushed to eat our food. Our server wasn’t particularly warm or welcoming. When leaving no-one said thank you or goodbye. Service and ambiance is lacking.

Absolute terrible food and a joke to be called an Italian restaurant. Having been to Bologna we got the Bolognese and it was a typical tourist Bolognese with just pure sauce. The price for a peroni, aperol and 2 Bolognese was $78…. Living in London you can go to a top Italian restaurant and pay around the same. If you care about the food you buy then avoid

Great Italian food in Little Italy! We had Calamari, a Brick Oven pizza and pasta, and it was all amazing. The service was good, too.

We tried one of the homemade pastas and a pizza and we absolutely loved it both! Great restaurant with nice atmosphere and friendly staff.

The outdoor seating is the best. In the heart of Little Italy where “Crazy Joe” a member of the Colombo crime family was gunned down on his 43rd birthday. A landmark to visit if you are into mobster/mafia history. It used to be a seafood restaurant and is now an Italian restaurant. I recommend the pasta bolognese 🇮🇹🍎 Beautiful in the bit apple!

Super tight service, fast, friendly and very Well executed. We had pasta with lamb and pasta with tryffels. The wine had perfect temperature , the food came very fast and was very well executed. Overall a very plesat visit!

Visited this restaurant whist on family trip to New York from the UK , 7 family members with three children. We were not impressed at all . To be honest I dont normally leave reviews but felt it important in this scenario as I think tge restaurant owned should be aware of the poor experience especially as i have told friends not to go there if they ever vist NYC .I found the staff unfriendly and not accommodating at all in fact I felt the staff member serving us was a little rude . We simply asked if they had a child's menu and we were told they have a child's dish which was buttered pasta and if they didn't like that they would have to choose from the main menu, when asked if they could make child sized portion of a dish from the main menu we were abruptly told this was not possible and the words were " the kid will just need to have an adult meal and what they dont eat they can take home " well had they bothered to talk to us they would have know we were on holiday so cant take home and heat up ? The food was bland and tasteless , pommodora pasta was just a bowl of spaghetti with a little tomato sauce like you could make in 5 mins at home it was not worth the money and the pizza was wet and mushy like it hadn't been cooked long enough . There was nit much choice on the menu and when asked did they do lasagne we were told its a modern Italian so no ? I dont understand what thats about .....It really was disappointing . There are much better restaurants so I would avoid this and go somewhere better that is more authentic and where the staff are friendly

I cannot comment on the food. My friend and I saw their peach cocktail drink being advertised and decided to stop. Outside seating was spacious, comfortable and wait staff attentive. Plan to return for a meal when I return to NYC.

Grabbed lunch here on a Saturday with the family and a buddy. It was a little crowded sitting near the bar, but worked out since we had kids with us. Server was really nice, but service was a little slow since the restaurant was busy. Ordered some sandwiches and pizza, which were all good. Really liked the layout of this place and hope to visit again the next time I'm in the area.

Great location in little Italy, great service and the Chicken Parm Sandwich was very good. Perfect sandwich bread and the flavours were perfect.

We were treated to the most fabulous experience! The food was delicious and the service was phenomenal! Alejandra, our server was top notch! I highly recommend this place!!

Very nice home A very beautiful place Good value for money Prices for New York are correct Very good To recommend to date

The staff was very kind and considerate to my wife who uses a walker. Without being rushed, she was accompanied and escorted all the way to the private lounge for a wedding party. The venue, the service, and the food were all outstanding. But what we really appreciated was the sharp-eyed and personal attention devoted to her comfort. Thanks to everyone involved in her 8:30pm arrival on May 16th, 2025. You are all fine individuals.

We stopped by after dinner for a drink which quickly turned into several. Chad our bartender was amazing. Great personality and great drinks. We had an amazing experience.

Very good for a family meal, the pizza dough is good and the pistachio pasta with shrimp is delicious. The atmosphere and service were very pleasant.

The food was absolutely amazing!! Best meal we had while in New York!! We had read bad reviews about the meatballs but we were so glad we tried them anyways! Definitely cannot wait to go back to eat here.

Table service was pretty good. Staff was very accomodating and accepted to bring us 3 separate bills. The gnocchis were delicious, there was a lot of fresh herb and huge flakes of parmesan cheese on the top. Ingredients seemed to be of good quality and it was very tasty. The strawberries brownie was a little bit too hard and too dry for my taste though, but it was however not bad.

We realised that it was a Saturday night but even though we had booked the day before - and knew we were getting an outside table, not the most comfortable seats but ok, it did seem a bit ad hoc where you are placed. I recommend being inside for comfort and the atmosphere probably. I know we are tourists but having been to NYC a lot this is clearly a very tourist area and the atmosphere reflects that. Our waiter was attentive enough but the bread offered with the initial ‘water and bread’ didn’t arrive. We had to ask for ice for the table. The food was good quality though… but my partners pizza wasn’t very hot - to their credit when we were asked how the meal was and we mentioned the pizza, a lovely manager appeared and offered to make a whole new one but we opted just for it to be reheated.

We loved the size of the steak, the fact that the meal did not have many ingredients but that it was tasty. Here we listened very good music. Also, the interior design is an industrial one, which fits perfectly the configuration of the building.

As a well-traveled foodie, I expected authentic Italian soul in Little Italy NYC – instead, I found touristy gimmicks and overpriced disappointment. The Aperol was fake, tasting nothing like the real thing. Campanelle alla Vodka? Bland and worse than any NYC food market. The pizza had a good dough, but clashing mushrooms, artificial “truffle” cream, and pointless spicy peppers ruined it. Service was rude – our modest tip was silently mocked and shown to other staff. $106 for a meal that wasn’t worth half. Real Italians would be ashamed. Skip the hype – this isn’t la vita è bella, it’s a scam.

To my surprise ot was a great day to be here; St. Genaro festival. Lost of street kiosks with awesome food options. Manhattan must have been depleted of people causebthe place was packed. Great venue...mark your calendar people! Be here on this time of the year and embrace!

Tourist? Don’t go there! They made no effort to give you a nice evening. Probably because they think you don’t come back... or because we ordered pizza and that is not what they want to serve. Get it of your menu then! They bake and serve the pizza on aluminium plates... did they have ever taste that? I’ve had the Salmon Tartare, it was good and fresh but for my taste too much lemon. The waiter didn’t pay any attention and ignored our table until we stopped him. Long wait for drinks and long wait for check. He didn’t get any tip from us... Locatie is prachtig maar daar is dan ook alles mee gezegd. Pizza op een aluminium bord geserveerd, weten ze zelf wel hoe dat smaakt?! (geen pizzaoven dus op dat aluminium ding wordt het gebakken?) voelt voor ons als gebakken lucht dit restaurant. 1 van de 2 locaties in Amerika waar wij geen tip hebben gegeven! Wat een slechte bediening.

On a busy street corner, this eatery is ‘in the thick of it’, a slice of Italy on your American doorstep…that’s arguably nothing more than a tourist trap. Nothing about this place reflects anything of the magnificence of Italy. The service after that from the friendly & efficient front of house female was utterly forgettable - indifferent, lethargic, functional. Same for the food ; a soggy middled Margherita pizza and Fettuccine Bolognaise that was bland and packed no punch. Throwing in one large glass of Perroni and the bill came to $65. Intentionally helpful and with the most ‘focus’ from anything else we’d experienced, the bill had printed on it a selection of 3 suggested tips - 18, 20 & 22%. We reluctantly ‘suggested’ 15%, then paid up and departed. Perhaps because of tiredness from our arrival from London earlier in the day, but this place was one big disappointment.

Escaped a rainy day for an early lunch. Service was excellent and the food was tasty. Quite a draft coming in from the street whenever anyone opened the door though - and it was cold.

Victoria the hostess was so helpful and kind, helped us find a place to wait because we were a little early! We loved the bruschettas and pasta.

We came and had brussels spouts (based on a review and they were right) for an appetizer so incredible. Followed by a delicious Spaghetti Pomodoro also delicious (ask for bread to go with it). I also have to say the bartender Tony was the BEST. He made a wonderful lemon spritz and we also had the limoncello martini. This is worth a visit and really Tony has given us so many tips on NYC and is such a great guy!

My cousin and I have been to this restaurant twice now and the pizza is amazing. I've had so much pizza in my life all around the world, including Italy, and this was easily top 10 pizzas I've ever had. You can tell its wood fired; the crust/dough is done perfectly, there's just the right amount of sauce, the cheese is real authentic mozzarella and the crispy pepperoni is so good. I can't believe that it doesn't come up when you search up best pizza places in New York because in my opinion it's the best in the city.

I was headed to a different restaurant when the music here stopped me. I looked at the menu and we decided to give it a go. I am not much of a salad person but thought the kale caesar salad was excellent and tasted fresh. The truffle pizza was a hit with us and felt like it was thin and had a light crisp exterior just the way we like it. The portions were perfect for an Italian restaurant. Our waitress and busser was pretty amazing as well. The only complaint I had was that the AC was not on but hey it's NYC. The atmosphere is a nice mix of elegant yet still casual. Great lighting and bar display. Great value and delicious. We will return.

Just visited this restaurant in Little Italy and all I can say it’s one of the best I’ve ever visited, pasta was delicious and fresh, also thanks to Felipe for being so attentive to our table and recommending the best cannoli ever.

Was looking forward to a nice dinner. Food was very good. Atmosphere was nice. Service was not good. It was my husband's birthday so we had drinks and appetizers before dinner and wanted to go to Ferrara for dessert and coffee. That left the main dinner at Gelso & Grand. It seemed that because we didn't order drinks or appetizers , just the entrees, our server was never seen again other than to bring us a dessert menu and then the check. Our ice tea was delivered after our meals. We had to ask the person serving our meals for bread. Our server never asked if meal was ok or if we would like more Parmesan or ice tea. I truly liked what we ate, fettuccine bolognase and chicken piccata but I would not go back. If you go, make sure you either order drinks and appetizers or don't get Alexandro as your server.

Delectable food and super attentive staff in an inviting and beautiful setting. We were never in need of anything because there was someone there to attend to any need right away. The food was delicious, and our favorites were the brussel sprouts appetizer, the chicken parm and the date banana dessert. We are looking forward to returning soon. The manager, Rosy, and our server, Mariella, were especially friendly and on top of everything!

It was an incredible experience! I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it. The pizza and pasta were absolutely delicious, and the staff provided excellent service. The decor was astonishing, adding to the overall ambiance. I highly recommend it to others.

Local half empty absolutely not Italian. Prices on the menu are not indicated and when you go to pay they ask you 25€ for a bitter and you can not verify the cost because it is not indicated anywhere. 20 minutes to split a bill from 7 and they insisted on making one payment. To be avoided

Started off with the Burrata Bruschetta-OMG fantastic then we split the Spicy Ricotta Bolognese again another winner! The fire oven pizzas smell amazing and look so yummy, we will have to try it on our next trip out along with the charcuterie plate. Also their Mulberry Spritz was a Great Compliment to my meal. Great service too

We hit to the restaurant by accident and it was great! Atmosphere was cosy and was delicious! Small industrial venu.

The meatballs are amazing, together with the pasta pomodore a great dish. Unfortunately I was not able to figure out the spices they used for the meatballs. Maybe you can share that with me...

We were here for lunch on a cool, sunny morning in late October. We took a seat outside along Mulberry Street. One thing you notice quickly, at least at this time of day, is they aren't trying to be a traditional Italian place. The music is contemporary pop. It was a Saturday and brunch was available, but we ordered the gnocchi and the pistacio pasta. My wife said the gnocchi was some of the best she has ever had rivaling some she had in Rome Italy. The pasta I had was also very good and the pistachio pesto was unique but not over-the-top. We also had salads and dessert which were flawless. Considering the food quality, the cost was reasonable. We were very glad we choose this spot along the very restaurant "endowed" street in Little Italy.

Disappointing experience. The restaurant looked nice but was cold, dark and noisy. Staff was not very friendly and the food was average and expensive. Would not eat here again.

We are from Sydney Australia and this is The best pizza that we ever had in our lives. Wild mushroom and love the figs on Quattro formaggi

Last minute meal out in little Italy… I was attracted to this restaurant straightaway due to the outside seating area/table decor & it was really clean looking! Lucky for us the staff got us the perfect table outside so we could continue to watch the busy streets of NYC!!! Not a big menu which I think is a good sign! The food we had was really top class and we all really enjoyed it :-)) the price was the price but we was in NYC (lol) would definitely return 💯

I ate here with a group of 6 at 9pm on a Friday night. We had a reservation- which was needed. The menu had a nice selection. I had the gnocchi which was fine but nothing special. Everyone in my party was satisfied with their meals but wasn’t raving about them. Service was excellent. There was a room downstairs you could reserve for private parties which looked like it would be fun.

Me and my wife both had the bone in NY steak, and we were both not satisfied with it. I ordered my steak medium and received it well done, see picture. My wife ordered it medium-rare, and she got it medium-well. Also the steak tasted very different from what you’d expect from NY steak, hard to describe. However the restaurant reduced the total price with 20% as compensation for the steaks - I told the waiter during the dinner that the meat were over cooked. I guess it is a sign that they care about service. Steaks: 1/5 Sides: 3/5 Service: 4/5 Atmosphere: 5/5 My suggestion is that You either remove the steak from the menu, otherwise please learn how to prepare steaks.

Awesome food and our server Taryn was super helpful in guiding us with the menu and top-notch service! We’ll defintiely be back!

We were a big group and had the set menu when we visited on Friday 8 December 2023. For the amount of money we paid, it was awful. Staff were very rude after we questioned the bill with one member of staff actually giving us the middle finger!! Will never return to this restaurant again!

We were charmed by the looks of this restaurant. So nice looks were not everything they had to offer. The best experience we had in NYC. Waiter Gabriel is the best !! If you are in Little Italy try Gelso&Grand, you won't be disappointed.

Went for lunch. Great food and service. Nice menu selection, good drinks, and the atmosphere is upbeat. Snag a window seat and enjoy the views.

We were looking for a good meal in Little Italy and went here on a recommendation from a person we met at our hotel. We went on a week night at 6:30 and had no trouble getting a table outside. When we left, there was definitely a wait. We ordered calamari, the bruschetta (buratta), the pesto pasta, few pizzas, and the broccolini. All were delicious. Our server was nice but struggled when we asked about a recommendation for a bottle of wine. He was attentive but really wanted us to order quickly, and we were wanting to talk, enjoy our wine and appetizers. Overall, the food was great and we would return.

We stopped here after a street art tour. The service, food and drinks were really good. It's very modern. Great place in Little Italy.

I was not impressed. Food was ok nothing great. Place was packed, so very popular, and we had a nice table outside. It had been a while I had been to Little Italy, and I Was disappointed this lacked the ambiance of the restaurants that went before it. Service was good, and timely. Short wine list, very short. Our wine choice was very good. Food was average, nothing great..

An excellent Italian restaurant in Little Italy. Thought the burrata and bruschetta was fresh and tasty. The pizzas were very traditional and wood fired. We sat outside which had a great atmosphere under the festoon lights. A really good 4/5. I would have liked fresh cutlery after the starter and the sauce with the burrata could have been warmed.

We were visiting from the uk and Stopped by this cute little restaurant in little Italy as it was snowing heavily and we were starved, lovely staff very inviting, the food was outstanding and the portion sizes were awesome would highly recommend this place to anyone

Great place to eat and have a good time with loved ones. Food is very good, and service is even better. Great location in the heart of Little Italy. Easy to walk from nearest metro station. It’s a bit pricey, but worth it. Would definitely come again in the future.

We stopped by here after a day of exploring the city. We had a pizza and pasta as our mains and the food was good, however pricey for what it was. We were rushed to finish our food and pay up- no social atmosphere, as soon as we’d finished desert we were handed the bill and expected to pay straight away. We left feeling disappointed with the service and won’t be returning

Nice and lively place with cute ambiance, great for food and or drinks. Perfect place to drop by for after so before dinner cocktails.

We were on a walking tour and had a few moments for lunch; the server 'understood the assignment' and made sure our food came out quickly along with the bill, without making us feel rushed!

Beautiful well-stocked restaurant in the heart of the Little Italy district, terrace nestled on the pavement at the foot of the skyscrapers. Pizzas are good and crispy, fine Neapolitan dough. Prices not very contained, you pay the pitch 🍕🇺🇸🗽🚓

Little Italy gave us a fabulous meal at Gelso & Grand. Service was great and the pasta to die for. We will back.

We visited two restaurants in Little Italy because the food was so good! Personally preferred Rubirosa but the food here was lovely and worth a visit

Amazing pizza especially the mushroom and truffle. Good music. Only reason I don't give it a better rating is the waiters were not wearing masks and it should be obligatory.

While visiting Little Italy we came across Gelso & Grand. We had a great pasta lunch of Spaghetti Pomodoro with meatballs on the terrace. The service was very friendly and efficient, the ambiance very nice (just my type of music 80's one, the best) We so much liked it that we came back a few days later to try their Pistachio Pesto pasta, and we were not disappointed. In July, waiters were wearing masks, all windows were opened creating a fresh atmosphere.

Best location in Little Italy! The atmosphere was perfect for a couple drinks before our dinner reservations. The location is in the heart of Little Italy.