Grotta Azzurra Restaurant Reviews

An authentic italian-american quartier, with a lot of noise, with a lot of italian flavours. We took dinner in this restaurant. Nothing amaising, but with good taste. Quatro formaggi raviolli is very good. Good wine selection, good services, acceptable prices. And italian atmosphere!

We went last night under a consiserable snow fall because we wanted a nice pizza for saturday dinner.... We definatelly went to the wrong place for Pizza....if you buy a frozen pizza at your local market you will be better served.

Just visiting NY and we’re desperate to find a place to hang out and watch the Cubs play while enjoying some beers. Jeffrey didn’t hesitate to put the game on the TV for us. He was so fun and friendly. He was a very attentive bartender, made great recommendations, and treated each customer as a friend. We can’t wait to see him on our next visit in April!

We have been to this restaurant in Little Italy three times now on three different trips to NYC. Each time we have loved our experience. The staff is always welcoming and fun. The food has been amazing each and every time. Our kids especially love the Vodka Gnocchi. The indoors is charming but we have also enjoyed their outdoor seating too. I have recommended this place to friends who are traveling to NYC and want to enjoy an authentic Italian meal. We look forward to coming back!

Had lunch here today with my wife and 2 kids 19 & 16. The food was excellent, service was without fault staff very friendly. Would not hesitate to recommend

We arrived for the lunch special and we're not disappointed. We had the chicken parmesian and two orders of the bassa whitefish. There was a full basket serving of delicious bread with oil and balsamic vinegar which was easily replenished. Arriving at the start of lunchtime, the restaurant was completely empty. The service was excellent. Our host has been to this restaurant many times in recent years. There are many other restaurants down the street that also ordered the lunch special.

Lovely authentic Italian restaurant in Little Italy, Manhattan. When the majority of patrons inside are speaking Italian, you know you’ve come to the right place! Great food, great service. I felt like I was in Billy Joel’s Scenes from an Italian Restaurant! Loved it!

Ate here for lunch, so there wasn't much of a crowd. Excellent service, and wonderful food! There were several lunch special options - one menu for $9.99 and one for $14.99 - both offered a first course pasta dish and a second course entree dish. Great restaurant in historic Little Italy - definitely a place to return to on a future trip!

We came here right before the lunch hour was over at 3:45. They had a 2 course lunch special for $9.95-16.95. They gave so much, we couldn't finish our food. The spaghetti was very light in flavor and eggplant and Chicken Parmigiana was great. Both had a lot of cheese and very flavorful. We had the best iced tea where they filled our glasses regularly throughout our meal. This was a great pick and I highly recommend coming here.

Never have I eaten in such a poor quality restaurant in my entire life. Food was cold, pre made at least day earlier and tried to be kept warm. Garlic bread had no garlic on it, looked and tasted like pieces of french stick, with a bit of packet Parmesan cheese thrown on the top. All 4 main meals went back at least once as cold. Main courses were brought out whilst still eating starters - these were sent back straight away as not paying $22 for cold lasagne. Manager just Nodded when complained and was really not interested. Do not eat here as you are totally overcharged for extremely poor quality food and service.

A lovely lunch, best garlic bread so far in the USA. Pizza was awesome. Happy hour wine very good price and good quality. Highly recommend as a break in the city.

Met a business colleague during San gennaro for lunch, and wound up sitting outside here. They were not that busy as it was early. The pironi on tap was the highlight. Cold and tasty. Calamari was awful-perfectly round rings so processed. No taste, no feet. Sauce was bland. Mozzarella in corrozza decent but small. My friends son stopped by and he had riceballs. Did not try it but they were small mini riceballs. They looked like mac n cheese bites. Not sure about price or tagged on tip as my friend picked up the check. I used to go to Campagna on Broome street years ago(great but long gone) and always wondered about blue grotto. So disappointed. Seems like nothing left on Mulberry worth eating at.

WOULDN'T RECOMMEND IT TO MY ENEMY worst restaurant in Soho,better off buyin a hot dog Don't believe me? Check out how much they charge for a orange juice that BTW is not freshly squeezed it's tampico or Sunny delight,also I wouldn't b surprised if the lobsters are old 🤢

We visited here today as a family of four for lunch, hoping to soak up some of the ‘little Italy’ atmosphere and eat some American Italian food but unfortunately we picked the wrong restaurant! The waiting staff were in abundance, for a restaurant that wasn’t overly busy yet the service was terrible. They seemed disinterested when we were ordering as we ordered the lunch special, this should have been our first warning sign. The starter was ok but I’ve made better myself at home. They wanted to take plates away when we were still eating and they bought out our mains when we were only half way through the starter. We said that we weren’t finished and they just placed the food on the table and said that they had to serve it because of the vegetables!! The meal was terrible, three of the party had chicken parmigiana which was lukewarm and bland. The only decent part was the coffee and the garlic bread. The 20% gratuity was ridiculous and we didn’t pay it. I am sure you can get excellent food in little Italy, this certainly isn’t the place for it.

This has to be one of the best Italian restaurants I have ever been to. Recommended by a colleague who is a local, we visited on a three night stay for NFL. Was apparently one of Frank Sinatra’s favourite restaurants. So glad we came here. It was one of the highlights of our trip. I had the Bruschetta for starters, my friends had garlic bread and a bowl of mussels. They were all delicious. For mains I had Spaghetti Bolognaise while the others had Penne Arabiata and Lasagne. Service was excellent. Can’t recommend this place enough.

Little Italy is so scenic and beautiful, dinner is the best time to go. The chicken parmigiana and the homemade pizzas are incredible.

Four of us visited this restaurant on Friday 21st whilst visiting the San Gennaro festival. It looked an authentic Italian restaurant , as we were in Little Italy, with a good menu. We were seated inside where there were another 3 tables occupied, so not that busy although a number of the outside tables were were also being served. As we were flying home later that day we did not want a large meal so we all opted for the 2 course fixed price menu with three of the party choosing penne in vodka sauce and one the spaghetti bolognese to start. We were asked did we want water but when we said yes but just iced tap water the waiter looked aghast at this request. We should have taken his surprised look as a warning. We ordered drinks whilst looking at the menu, two of us had coffee which was awful and tasted like instant and the waiter kept hovering asking if we had made a decision on the food yet. We ordered the food and the starter came along very quickly, it was OK but better than the main course. As we were in the middle of eating it 4 waiters came with our main course, I pointed out that we were still eating but the waiter looked at me as if to say " so what " and when I said it again as he had not responded he said " it is not up to the waiting staff when the food is ready but up to the chef and as we are so busy I can not take it back " so all four plates were put on the table next to us- which was a feat in it's self as it was a small table - to go cold whilst we finished our starter. The waiters hovered again waiting to clear the plates as soon as they were empty even before cutlery was placed on them and then we were asked to keep our knives and forks to reuse with our main course. Three of the party had chosen the Chicken Parmigiana which was luke warm and bland with soggy breadcrumbs and what seemed like a bottled not fresh sauce and we had one Chicken in madeira sauce which was also like warm and the " advertised vegetables " consisted of two overcooked bits of broccoli - the whole meal was pre cooked and kept warm prior to being served. The waiter kept saying how busy they were, but at least four waiters stood around waiting for something to do. The bill included a 20% gratuity which we did not leave, I am always willing to pay for good service but I refuse to pay for bad. I am sure if we had not chosen the fixed price menu we would have been served better and the food might have been better and if I could leave a minus star rating I would - the worst food and service I have ever had in the US, the street vendors served better and with a smile.

Nice and elegant place with good food in abundant serving. Great selection of beers. Excellent attention from staff right from the moment of entering. Reasonable prices. Would definitely go again.

Great food, nice location, i always return when in town. This visit was nice to dine outdoors and enjoy.

Delicious pizza, calamaretti fritti, bruschetta and chicken skewers! The buffet was served downstairs in the “wine cellar”. I would come back to this restaurant to order a la carte someday, because this buffet food was delicious! Really enjoyed it!

We happened upon this restaurant by chance, Outstanding food at amazing price - our favourite meal from our recent trip to NYC! Thoroughly recommend!

We stopped for an early dinner. There were 6 of us. We were seated right away and the waiter had us drinks and bread quickly. They had a early dinner special for $14.95 that included a 2 coarse dinner. Most of the people in our group got that and they all enjoyed it. I wanted some good old Italian Fettuccine. The creamy sauce was just what I wanted coupled with some very fresh noodles. The serving was plenty full and filled me up. They also have a good selection of beer and wine. Great dinner for a great cost.

Apparently you don't order pizza in Little Italy. Shame I wasn't told this before I visited. I did order pizza and all I can say is don't make the same mistake. The base was just like the cheap pre-made ones I buy from my supermarket when I'm thinking of things to do with the kids in the holidays. I give a 3 just because we sat outside and I enjoyed watching everyone strolling around. Still I can say I've had a pee in the same place as Frank !!

My husband and I went for lunch here, it was the first time we had been to Little Italy. The food was lovely but very big. The service was great and good came out in very reasonable time. They had a good range of food and drink on their menu.

For the first time I leave a negative review. Went here for an early dinner, a family of 5. Well,I have to say that pizza was ok. The choice of pizza's is very limited, though. The salad was ok . But the rest of the order was really poor quality food. Bruschetta not nice. Pasta... Have they even heard of "al dente"?! Warmed up, It seemed. The worst were desserts and coffee. Coffee - watery. Desserts... Tiramisu was buttery, no coffee flavour, wrong cream. Canolli the same. Plain wrong. My husband is half Italian, we are in Italy several times a year. What we had as a meal at this place was not Italian. Sorry.

Had a great outside table on the corner and enjoyed the food, great weather and people watching! It felt like we were in a movie with the best view of all the street activity. We were there on a Tuesday evening so the crowds were smaller than weekend crowds. The mussels in garlic were very good and the eggplant and pasta was cooked cooked perfectly! Come hungry. Portions are generous. Very Good wine selection at reasonable prices. Service was great and very engaging.

I've eaten here several times. In years gone by when Little Italy was still really Italian, this was the go to place. Handsome Italian waiters right off the boat, Italian food like your Italian grandmother would make and tons of NYC locals eating. Today it's Hispanic waiters, tourists and tourist style food. Service was rushed, food so-so and nothing special at all. It's become a tourist trap. I had spaghetti, lemon chicken and tiramisu served in a plastic cup. All okay, but nothing rememberable. Little Italy is no longer Italian and neither is Grotta Azzura.

Great restaurant in Little Italy, Manhattan. I wasnt looking to dine as was too ealy for me but I was attracted to the restaurant and wanted to look for later. Owner was outside and was so friendly and invited me in to look around and view their Caruso memorabilia. I was really impressed stopped for beer. However my day took a different turn and I did not return for lunch that day. But I did go 2 days later. It was wonderful. Qulaity fresh ingredients . Efficient and friendly service.

We came by for dinner in this old world charming place. The ambiance was nice and the service was great. We scouted the restaurant during the day and came back at night. Little Italy was fun to walk through at night it was lit up and a little bustling.

We were here with a group of 4 friends and we chose this place randomly while we were walking in little Italy; we were not disappointed!! The pasta was very good, and the drinks were amazing. The 5$ aperol spritz was a great deal. One of the best part was definitely the staff, they were super friendly and made this a great experience overall!

This old Italian restaurant (since 1908) in the original Little Italy delivers! Good variety on the menu, nice staff and really good food. You get a little bit of Italy here.

As we stayed very near little Italy and as we often go to Italy, we were tempted to try the Italian cuisine in little Italy. We went to Grotta Azzura. Nobody spoke Italian, the waiter of Asian origine spoke something that resembled English and wasn't polite let's stay friendly. We didn't expect fine cuisine as it is very touristic, but this was beyond standard. In Italy a restaurant like this would immediatly lose its license. And it was very expensive for the food they serve. Same for the drinks at the bar earlier in the evening: drinks happy hour 9 $, tax 0,89 $, tip charged 4 $. Avoid this restaurant (and little Italy).

Looking at other reviews on Trip Advisor, we would conclude that our tastes are quite different! We had arguably the best burrata and tomato caprese ever, followed by an outstanding Piedmont risotto with pesto and smoked salmon. This is well worth it if you share our interest in Northern Italian fare. The place was full at lunch but service did not suffer! From as enthusiastic welcome at the door to timely delivery of courses, we felt that we were welcome as diners.

Nice location and it lovely sitting outside. the food was ok, but to be honest had hoped for (and expected) a bit better. The lasagne in particular was a little bit dull - pretty unforgiveable for a New York Italian!

Don't go here !I ordered two $14.95 specials that came out to well over $20 each. In my opinion the portions aren't worth the price Also I ordered cannelloni,... One was good and the other one seems like it was sitting for a week It was hard and the meat had a very peculiar smell in that particular one Also don't leave a tip as it is built right into the entire bill but you can't tell that by looking at the bill. Also to the waiter who explained the to me why the $14.95 specials came out to well over $20 a piece you weren't dealing with a dummy. You use words to confuse people and with that said I won't be back Also my advice to anyone is never go to a restaurant that builds a tip into your check if you can help it. How do you know if the food or service will be good enough to deserve a big tip

One thing about walking around during san gennario fest is you're gonna find a lot of Italian restaurants that know wow to make the classics spaghetti and meatballs. However, will they make it well? Only your taste buds will tell. I'm so glad after walking past ten different restaurants I settled on this one. One thing I like about this place is you don't need a reservation. You can just walk in off the street. The food was great. They have the nicest bartenders. The staff was also beyond willing to serve. I don't think I went more than 5 minutes without somebody offering me a napkin wondering if I was OK or if I wanted more fresh parmesan cheese. I got the classics spaghetti and meatballs, and it was delicious. The meat combination they used was so tender and flavorful. The spaghetti was great, so was the sauce and the bread was fresh. The only downside to the restaurant is there's very few restrooms available. So be prepared to be waiting a long time to go to the bathroom. Because I only saw maybe 4 restrooms in the entire restaurant for indoor and outdoor seating

I had an excellent experience at Grotta Azzurra. Our waiter was very attentive and MY meal of lamb chops, sauteed cabbage, onions & mushrooms we're fab.u.lous! Friend's ribeye was said to be as well. Not everyone in our group had the same meal experience. The calamari was rubbery and flavorless. The pork braciole was mediocre. Chicken parmesan was, well, chicken parmesan. Nothing memorable.

We dined here last night during the feast. It was a great night. We enjoyed appetizers, wine, pasta and chicken Parmesan. The food was great and the ambiance was energetic. It was a very fun night.

Fabulous food! Great service. Highly recommend. Christmas trip with all the family meeting up in NYC. Some family doesn’t like pasta and there are so many other options. We were all satisfied. Just excellent.

First visit back here in 47 years. Brought family back to Little Italy and visited this establishment trying to relive my youth. Meal was fresh, satisfying and overall delicious. Service by a young Italian immigrant was impeccable. Prices were quite high for the portions served and the mediocre quality. Disappointed that the food was not as good as in the 1960's. Don't buy the pasta with clam sauce, the clams are too large and chewy. 20% gratuity was added automatically to the tab. I had no problem with that, I usually tip more.

One of the best meals I've had in NY, we had gnocchi and beef braciole, both of which were melt-in-your-mouth good. The wait staff seemed to really enjoy their jobs, and even though they were crowded, no one rushed us to get finished and pay the check. Very nice experience.

I am so glad I did NOT read some of the reviews before we went here. The food was delicious and excellent service. We went mid afternoon and were surprised it was still considered lunch. We chose one of the "specials." In our case it was a choice of 2 items. Both my Brother and Husband chose the spaghetti and meatballs. They both loved it. I had a wonderful Caesar salad. Our second choice was eggplant parmesan for my Brother and my Husband and I both got Chicken Francaise - both excellent options. The portions were large and wonderful. I sometimes wonder what people are looking for. All we wanted was great service and delicious food and both were delivered!! We went mid week and it was not crowded .Would we go back? - definitely yes!

We went to Mulberry Street in Little Italy to experience the neighborhood and eat at Benito but they were only seating reservations (Sunday evening at 7:30) . We walked down the street to Grotta and was happily greeted by the host. The service and food was good. The potions were big.

Basic and unpretentious, this restaurant took us on a food journey to Italy and the local competition seemed to be effective in lifting the standard.

We arrive early for dinner since we had later plans. It was the first restaurant going into Little Italy. While we did not walk the rest of the street until after we made an excellent choice. The shrimp and pasta had large shrimp perfectly cooked. I had the cannollini and ate it all. Then all four of us had a different dessert. All I can say is yummy

When my brother visits from upstate we always try to take him into New York City. Since we have always loved the food here we have been back quite a few times with him and his wife. They offer a great deal on a two course dinner. It was restaurant week so they had specials on wine too. We all ordered from the special menu. Three of us wanted raviolis which was an extra two dollar charge. We also had two bottles of wine. We also had a $25 coupon. Service was lacking. We ordered our wine and garlic bread. We also requested the regular bread with dinner. The wine came and it was not cold enough so I asked for a glass of ice. Our appetizers were delivered and after we were almost finished The garlic bread was brought out. I was still waiting for my glass of ice. Finally I asked a busboy if he could get me a glass of ice. We were almost finished with dinner when again I asked a busboy, since our waiter was nowhere to be found, where our bread was. He then came with Breadat the end of our meal. We received our check and besides having quite a few things wrong on it the waiter had added a 20% tip. They were only four of us and I have never seen this happen before. He made a mistake on all the meals, charging four extras on the entrees, and overcharged us on the wine and did not take off the coupon. I called him over and he made three different attempts to rectify the bill. It still was not correct. By this time I was exasperated just left it paid it and left. I have been to this restaurant at least 10 times and have never had them put a tip on the bill with only four people dining there. He certainly did not deserve a 20% tip. I usually always give a 20% tip on the service is good. The service that night was far from being good. It was poor to say the least and the place was not even full!!! Very disappointed!

A truly authentic Italian restaurant. Great food, friendly and efficient service. We were part of a very large group of several tables and they were great! Saw a very large group go to the basement room and were surprised how quickly they got served. Highly recommend!

On a very wet miserable evening we found our way to Little Italy and Theo hustled us into this restaurant. Traditional NYC restaurant, old and comfy, and large enough tables. We started with bruschetta, pretty good, and I ordered a mushroom risotto - pretty good, a friend the meat lasagna which he loved, and my wife a very tasty Bologna’s gnocchi. The waiter Fausto was exceptional. Reasonably priced and worth the visit.

We were quite late for our reservation due to ridiculous traffic but they kindly held our table. Wine list is short but there are few nice choices. Complimentary garlic bread was great. Arancini were very good. Seafood fra diavolo was great. Bolognese left a lot to be desired…disappointing. Not made with a bit of soffritto which really makes the dish. All in it was a nice way to spend time in Little Italy.

What a great place to be. We had diner here and the service and the food was excellent. The waiter, Sammy, did an excellent job. He advised us exactly right in food and drinks. A professional! And the food was exquisite. We all (4 pax) had a different choice but everything was great. Excellent night. Italy away from Italy. Buenissimo.

We had pizzas here and those were way below average quality. Clearly not self made base. And they put automatic 20% tip top everyone (which is told in menu so not real surprise). Starters we took (garlic bread and bruchetta) were good, but pizzas were really one of the worst. I am not sure if other dishes would be better, but if you go here do not order pizza in any circumstances!

Nice place to eat some italian food, which might not be typical but worth to try. The staff is welcoming but discrete, I would recommend it as italian :)

We were heading to Angelo's of Mulberry when we stopped here to review the menu, the host came to greet us and explained the specials, we decided to stay and eat at The Grotta. The service was very good the waiter was not overbearing but was attentive. The food was favorful and plenty. The drinks were well made with good alcohol. The price for the specials was well worth it. I would return again. The Ambiance was very nice.

Lovely dinner at Grotta Azzurra. This place was recommended to us by people that live in NYC for years before retiring to SE Fla, so we gave it a try and really enjoyed the meal. Anthony was our server and gave use great recommendations so we split a full Caesar salad (and it does come with anchovies). Then we split each others meals - The Veal Picata was out of this world, tasted great a was very tender. The Cannelloni comes in a huge portion made with home made pasta and sauces. We had plenty of leftovers but no re-fridge in the hotel room so it went to waste. Be aware -- the bread is out of this world fresh, so don't fill up on it before the real meal shows up. We will be back to NYC and Grotta Azzurra is one of 2 restaurants on our 'We Got To Go Back To' list in a few month.

We read a number of reviews about little Italy and identifying the best and even some saying there were only a few Italian restaurants. Not the case little Italy as a large number of restaurants to choose from and this one was just great food service and the background music was great You will definitely eat well here

While visiting Little Italy, we stopped here by chance. We were made very welcome, had desserts and drinks there. Oreos so good!! And the server was very nice.

Sat down right away, icecwater and bread served. Menu was expansive. Very good wine list, unvludung soeacilly priced bottles. The lunch and dinner specials prices are excellent.

We really enjoyed our recent visit to Grotta Azzurra in Little Italy. The restaurant took reservations which allowed us to plan ahead. Our group thought the four different pasta dishes we ordered were quite good. The restaurant offered complimentary bread and olive oil before the meal, and waters with our beers. Our waiter was friendly and attentive and did not rush us out after eating, but allowed us to talk in our group, and kept continually refilling our waters which must be a first in New York City--a restaurant that actually refills your water?! What a concept! The waiter was accommodating in splitting our bill three ways without complaint. The restrooms downstairs were in good condition/clean. This seems like a well-run restaurant to me, and we would go back on another trip into the city. One of our better restaurant experiences in New York, where there are plenty of average restaurants on every corner.

Was a lovely morning and my wife and I grabbed breakfast outside. Food was brilliant and so was the service. Not the most obvious place to stop and eat, but would really recommend as a hidden gem.

My date wanted chicken Marsala. So we walked through Little Italy during the Feast of Genaro. It was a good time, but our lunch was not good. Chicken Marsala had a very average gravy and not good at all. I had a Ceasar salad that was OK. The service was very good. Don't recommend it with all the choices in that area for Itlalian food.

Me and my friends came to New York in September. We were very excited to visit little Italy. Once we arrived in little Italy we all decided to choose this restaurant as we liked the look of the place and the menu. 2 of my party opted for main meal and garlic bread where as me and my friend opted for the 2 course option. After ordering our food the starters came very quickly. Once we started eating our starters they brought my friends main meals to the table. They was eating garlic bread but accepted the main. Both of there meals were cold. We immediately sent them back. They should not be bringing out the main meal whilst we’re still eating starters. Again whilst me and my friend was eating our starter. They brought out our main meal. I asked them to take it back as I had not finished my starter. The waiter was very rude and said it was not up to him when the kitchen staff prepare the food. My friend asked him to bring the main course back in 5 minuets once we had finished our starters. The waiter replied with no I will bring it back in 25 minuets. For the second time my friends main meal then came back and it was Luke warm . My main meal came back and this was freezing cold. I asked the waiter to return this and not to bring another as our party was so fed up. The manger apologised and we refused to pay for the food that we had not eaten. They still put a 20% service charge on the bill. I would recommend you not to eat here. Terrrible service, rude staff and cold food.

Half the reason you come to Little Italy is for the atmosphere, and Grotta Azzurra serves up exactly the feel you're looking for, plus perfect food. The place is cozy and oozes old world charm. With spring rain falling outside and Sinatra piped in softly overhead, everything about my night here was delightful (dined alone and wasn't made to feel weird about it). Don't fill up on the bread, because your entree portions are plentiful and you'll want to take advantage of every bite. The vodka sauce was simple but perfect - exactly what I needed in the way of comfort food after a long, tiring day and drizzly, dreary night. The wine selection was fine, and the tiramisu was OK -- not a drenched in espresso as I like, but a large slice for the price! Great coffee with dessert, too! I miss this place just thinking about it. Do yourself a favor and choose this place for your night in Little Italy - you won't regret it.

This was not my first visit, and with all the options in the city. That says something. This was my sister's first visit, and on our first night. We both had excellent meals and great service. I only wish it had been warm enough to sit outside.

The dishes were very fat, all included cream cheese and cheap non Italian cheese. Waitress were ok but not Italian. The only good was the bread with butter. I really don't recommend this restaurant !!

Salads were good, pizza was average at best. And when the bill came, they added a 20% tip (without drawing attention to it) and then provided an option for me to add another tip. We were a family of 4. Adding an auto gratuity is not normal for a party of that size. Many people wouldn’t notice it. And 20% is a presumptuous tip to add in any circumstance. Take your business elsewhere.

Cute resto in little italie, good food :) we sat on the terasse and got to watch NewYork daily life great ambiance and good service.

There is no shortage of "Italian" restaurants in New York. In some of them, the cook is Spanish or Chinese...! In this establishment, the food tastes just like in Italy and the service is at a high level. Everything was good for the price you pay. Highly recommended.

We were 5 people as a family and we enjoyed the Italian food. Good treatment and good quality at a very good price

If you like mirelit pizza, it is your place! We had to send our NOT italian pizza back. 2 points for the chicken in Caesar's salad.

I can't understand the poor reviews. We stumbled across this lovely place today and had a lovely meal. Service was great, friendly staff and amazing food

Were hungry on the stroll and decided to eat due to the nice ambience and good weather. Have eaten wine, a penne arrabiatta and a pizza. The food was good but not necessarily wow. Prices were in the frame. Service was attentive, however, we do not have to go here again.

We ate a very complete menu-type dish for €14.95 with water and bread included. The service and food quite good. There was happy hour and we had 2 glasses of white wine, not very cold but decent. They bring the bill and we decide to tip 20% instead of the 18% that was on the bill. To my surprise, when he charges me the total, he adds 20% to the account that already had 18% paid, I ask him and he tells me a movie that has made me doubt and search on the internet. After making sure, I told him that it was nothing and that I was paying him 20% of the total, not 38%, they had to give me the money back and ruin the end of the meal. For all this, be careful when paying!!! REGRETTABLE

We did not eat here but we did stop for drinks. The atmosphere was very comfortable and we enjoyed it. The wine was great! Next time we just may have to eat here.

The lasagna was very good, but the ravioli and Cannelloni not so much impressive. Also the caprese and bruschette had a bit too much balsamico on. However the whole atmosphere in the restaurant was very cosy and pleasant.

A few of the reviews here almost scared me away, but glad we tried it. Food was good, service was good. Basic Italian in a nice atmosphere in little Italy.

DELICIOUS food and complimentary bread is awesome! Nice lunch menu and open late for dinner. Had the lunch menu eggplant parmigiana which was loaded with cheese with a Caesar salad...on the corner of Mulberry and Brooke.

nothing similar with real-authentic Italian cuisine. Just marketing trick for tourist people because place located in Little Italy. I got seafood pasta and seafood wasn't taste like fresh, pasta (linguine) wasnt good, all taste like it was frozen. Service was ok but they all look like they didnt care because tips already included in check. But you can find delicious little stores in that location and they have the most delicious sandwiches with fresh salami and other stuff.

The service at Grotta was poor. My mother and I sat for over 15 minutes without even a glass of water. If we weren't so tired from walking we would have left! Prices were expensive for both quality and quantity of food. Eat somewhere else!

If you are looking for a fun place to stop, relax, have a glass of wine and people watch, Grotta Azzurra is a good option. Right on the corner of Broome and Mulberry!

Stopped in to cool off and get a drink. The beer was cold and the bartender poured a very very generous shot!

This restaurant was recommended to us by family who had been to NYC last year. I had one of the specials that was well priced where you could choose one pasta and one entree. I chose the carbonara for my pasta, which was great. Then our entrees came- a lemon roasted chicken with veggies and veil cutlets with penne. The chicken was not very good but the rest was all fine. We later ate at a different restaurant in Little Italy and it was no where near as good as this. It seems like Little Italy isn't really the best place in the city to find Italian, but if you do want to go to that area I would say Grotta Azzura would be your best bet.

The beers were disgusting, warm and without gas, the waiters were mean and ordered us to leave in pushing me after a few minutes ... just don t go there folks

We were doing a bus tour of the downtown area, and decided it would be fun to eat lunch in Little Italy. We did not want anything too pricey, or with a menu that we did not care for. Grotta Azzurra had the right amount of atmosphere with a $9.95 lunch menu. The restaurant is attractive and clean, including the rest room. There is plenty of seating, inside or out. The food was fresh and delicious, and nicely presented. We would highly recommend this restaurant.

The food was great and service was good.i probably wouldn't go back a second time. The best part was the security out front. He was fun and personable. He even walked you in and sat you at a table. It was too funny that he brought in a group of women to sit next to us from Alabama as well. It was a great time.

Wish we could have spent all day here! Came for lunch, but would have stayed all day if we didn’t have prior obligations. Great atmosphere and service. Food was AMAZING!

Very nice place to have Italian food. The staff was amazing, very polite and ready to answer questions, the food was great, big portions and not expensive at all. I would love to come back!

We arrived in Little Italy around lunch time and there are so many restaurants to choice from and we wanted Italian restaurant with Italian waiters.and stop.at the Grotta. We.ordred fried clamary and each had main course with seafood which was very tasty and we had good serivce. And the prices where ok about $60-70.for couple.with desert. Would recommend to my friends and family.

We visited in early December. Prices were reasonable and service was good. I ordered lasagna, and my friend ordered spaghetti. The portions were huge! Our initial reaction was, "We'll never manage to eat all that!" Well, we both left a little on our plates but ate way more than normal because it was so good. I never knew lasagna could be that creamy. Best I ever had!

Service friendly and on point. Food delicious and a real value. All good but bread could be upgraded. 👍🏻

I have to say one thing about Grotta Azzurra, I have been coming here for years since I was a kid and the food and service have gone way down, even in the last few years. No one on staff is even Italian and everyone in the kitchen that I saw the night I went there (the bathroom is on the same floor as the kitchen and you can look in on the line) was Hispanic. Now I am not saying they can't cook the food but the cooks that night did not have a handle on it. The Fried Mozzarella came out the first time perfectly on the outside and uncooked on the inside. The mozzarella was not even cooked. I had to send it back for more cooking and they were nice enough to send out a fresh batch. While that was going on, the customer next to me was fighting with his waiter and the waiter got huffy with the customer, which at the end of the day you will never win that battle. I was surprised at the waiter for all that. The second batch came out perfectly cooked on the inside but a little overdone on the outside but still passable. When the manicotti came out, it was a generous portion and the sauce was really good but the expeditor who was serving the food asked if I wanted cheese on it and loaded a whole pile on it and it drowned the flavor of the food. All I could taste was the parmesan cheese. The server was nice but not very well trained. Between the food and service and the fact that I had to use up a gift certificate, I don't think I will be coming back here any time soon. The place needs an overhaul in food and service. It is not just catering to tourists that don't know real Italian food.

We are visiting Little Italy and my husband read Grotta Azzurra was a great place to pop into. Izzy made us 2 amazing drinks, my husband absolutely enjoyed his espresso martini and I loved my Maker’s Old Fashion. Both prepared with perfection. We are from Ohio and would recommend stopping in here. Izzy also was very friendly and accommodating. Today is the first day of the trip it has cooled down and the cross breeze is amazing.

This isn't the most attractive restaurant when viewed from the street but in my experience it delivers what you need. It offers excellent happy hour discounts in the early evening. We also took breakfast here which was fine(see photos). Good value for money.

Had a great Saturday but a disappointed lunch experience. Stale bread, tiny paper napkins and a mandatory 20% tip already calculated in the bill. Service and quality doesn't justify a 20% tip!! Waiters seemed rushed, food very average. Shocked to see patrons wearing ball caps in the dining room, not as upscale as I would have hoped.

No one was unfriendly, but the service was really lousy. Things came out erratically, first the bread came twice, but the olive oil for dipping came out well after bread was already gone. Dishes were inconsistent. My gnocchi were perfect, but the rest our party had overcooked pasta - a sin in a proper Italian restaurant. We were never offered cheese or pepper, it was just not the experience you would expect at these prices and in Little Italy. We waited a long time for our check in a relatively not busy restaurant, and the automatic 20% gratuity serves as a warning to read the fine print on the menu, and was very generous given the quality of service we received. On the plus side, the place was clean, and the bathrooms were well-maintained.

Mondaymorning - went there for espresso - left because of servants problem with customers. It is a nogo.

It's in the middle of Little Italy. A really nice restaurant and has a fancy vibe but it's actually very casual. The food is great. I enjoyed my ravioli so so much! They were so cheesy and the tomato sauce was delicious. If I visit NYC again, I would definitely go again. The prices are very reasonable and service was excellent.

We enjoyed the location, sitting outside. My wife enjoyed her Caesar Salad and we both had eggplant parmigiana. My first course was spaghetti with meat sauce. I would note that in the case of the pasta sauce it was thin with a dusting of meat, which is fine with me. It was, however, salty as was the eggplant parmigiana. Service was slow and at times reluctant. Hard to get water. Appeared challenged and had to ask for cheese for the pasta. Would like to have been treated as more of an honored guest than we were.

I went here for lunch with four people. The decor was nice and the place was larger than many other restaurants in Little Italy. The place was packed and the service was excellent but the prices were a bit expensive even for NYC. The food was hit or miss. Two of us thought our meals were outstanding and two of us did not like it.

We visited here due to its historic story, opened in 1908 and a favourite eatery of Frank Sinatra and Caruso!!! Lovely welcome from the waiters, extensive menu set in authentic old school Italian décor. Food was delicious with pasta cooked perfectly. Tiramisu was an absolute winner, best I have ever had. Great venue for a special occasion meal.

Having discovered Little Italy around the corner from our hotel we were very excited to dine at an authentic American Italian restaurant with heritage stepped in the hey days of the Rat Pack era. The atmosphere in both Little Italy and the recently refurbished Grotta Azzura did not disappoint. Unfortunately any Italian dishes we sampled did not match their surroundings but as we holiday in Italy every year maybe it’s an unfair comparison - although UK Italian restaurants are also good. My burrata starter was ruined by the copious amount of balsamic vinegar poured over it; the seafood linguine was large - as per all American portions served - but the seafood was rubbery and over cooked and probably frozen. My daughter’s clams were impressively big but again very rubbery; her lasagne - heavy on the cheese. The best meal served over two visits was my husband’s calamari followed by steak - so stick to what the American’s cook best. Service was mixed: we had a young, engaging waiter on our first visit but an older, weary gentleman on our second. I would recommend a visit just don’t expect a culinary treat.

My husband and I were recently in New York and wanted to experience a meal in Little Italy. We chose this restaurant and I am very glad we did! They had a special where you could choose two items for $19.95, I chose the Gnocci and Chicken Masala and I figured that would constitute my meal. Well, the gnocchi came out first in a big bowl and at first I thought, well, that's kind of strange but I guess they will bring my chicken later. I started to eat it, and it was so amazing, but I just could not finish it all. My husband ordered ravioli and he also loved it. When our meal showed up I was astonished to see a place with roasted potatoes, broccoli/cauliflower medly and TWO pieces of chicken - wow!! Everything tasted amazing and we both really enjoyed our meal! My husband had some type of breaded veal cutlet and it also came with all the trimmings! The quality of the food was very good, and the prices were very reasonable

Made very welcome. It was recommended to us my a new york lady. Starter was delecious. Kalamari (huge portion) and Bruscheta. Accompanied by a nice bottle of wine. Msin courses canneloni and meatballs and spaghetti were truly yummy. Service excellent, couldnt do enough. Overall...... FAB

One of the best meals I have eaten out, with excellent service, large portions and a very reasonable price! Would recommend going during happy hour (before 7pm I believe?). We had the pasta starter, carbonara and marinara, both of which were delicious and filling. Followed by our mains that were beautifully cooked, which unfortunately we could not finish! The staff were attentive and pleasant and I would 100% return if in the neighborhood again and would therefore highly recommend to others .

My sister and I were looking for a traditional Italian restaurant so came into Little Italy. We were not disappointed at all. The food was delicious. The restaurant was lovely and the atmosphere was great. The staff were so nice and friendly. We will definitely be returning on our next trip to NYC. Thank you for a great experience!

We were a party of 3 and went for dinner during the San Gennaro feast on a Saturday night. We ate outside and didn't wait long for a table. We had the prix fix 2 courses for $19.99. You get the choice of a pasta and entree. We had pasta with vodka sauce, chicken parmesan, chicken marsala and pork scallopine. Pasta was cooked to perfection; al dente. The entrees were very tender and perfectly prepared. Impressed that our food came out in a timely fashion considering how busy the restaurant was due to the feast.

This place is at the border of little Italy. Very delicious garlic pasta. Good size of chicken. Service is good. Price is excellent. 20% tip is added even for two people. Maybe because they think foreign tourist tend not to tip.

We stopped here when passing. The guy on the door was really friendly so we were shown to a table for 2 in the darkest corner of the restaurant. The arachini and the calamari were tasty and very generous portions for starters but the mains were lacking some love and flavour in particular the chicken and the gnocchi but again generous portions. The waiter wasnt rude but he didnt really converse with us which adds to the experience in my view. Engaging with customers is a vital part of customer service. The restaurant itself was well presented and clean and certainly appeared popular.

The last three reviewers are all from the same place with similar names .... looks like spam to me! I had such a wonderful, delightful dinner that I came here to write a positive review. While walking around Little Italy, my husband spotted this restaurant from his youth. We made a reservatilon and brought our daughter. Our expectations were not high given that it’s in a tourist trap and the menu hasn’t changed in 40 years. What’s surprise that Every dish exceeded our expectations. What an incredible meal!!!

We bumped into this place one day on a beautiful fall day in Oct 2021 and every trip to the city, we go at least once. One time, twice in one day. We love this place and the staff. Even when short staffed, they may be a little slow on the get go, but when they come to you they are quick. Just get a bottle of wine the first go round. They are not rude and rushing you along. Gab is awesome and so is the rest of the staff. We been there Oct 21, Dec 21 and Jan 22.

Grotta was delicious. The sauces, pasta, and breads were fresh, flavorful, & absolutely delicious. We are from out of state & GROTTA was recommended by our Food Tour Guide so we came back for lunch. Great recommendation!!!

Seriously bad pizza. My wife and I both ordered the pizza supremo. I can only assume that the word 'supremo' was lost in translation and what they meant was pizza terribile. The base probably came in a frozen multipack and was covered in horrible tomato sauce and loads of cheap cheese. The veg seemed to be thrown on as an afterthought and the whole thing was just very unpleasant. If my feet weren't killing me from walking around all day we'd most likely had eaten from one of the amazing looking stalls, but because I needed a seat we ended up having this rubbish experience. Service was at least good but the pizza completely detracts from that. Oh yeah, and the people next to us had eaten (some of) the carbonara that was made with cream. CREAM!!! Disgrace to Italy.

Probably one of the best restaurant in NYC. Great food, great service, excellent prices and fantastic renovated restaurant. Located on Mulberry Street in Little Italy. A must visit when in New York. Enjoy!

We were looking for a classic Italian restaurant to eat at in Little Italy. We were tired and cold so stopped at the first place we came to, Grotta Azzurra. We struck GOLD! Warm, friendly servers made our meal one to remember. The food was good but the service staff is what made the meal. It was my daughters 13th birthday. They sang, the whole place sang along, happy birthday and brought a ginormous piece of tiramisu at no charge! Truly a gem in the city, don't go looking for a fancy, gourmet meal. Go for the ambiance, friendly wait staff and classic Italian NY feel.

At the corner of Mulberry Street/Broome Street, the restaurant is in a good location. Staff were very pleasant and efficient. For New York, the prices were not too excessive. The food was ok but nothing special - certainly not to the quality of food sold in Italy. I enjoyed lunch but not a memorable experience.

Enjoyed a weekend family lunch. Our choices included soup, beat salad, home made cannelloni, and a 3 types of pasta. All was delicious. Good sevice, ignoring the unusually high pitch voice of the waitress...

Does not have all home made pasta. However the chicken parm was very good and they have a vegetable substitution option instead of pasta. Dish was very good. Fettuccine Alfredo was excellent. Service was a little slow. Outdoor seating available.

We just love this restaurant. 3rd time here and always satisfied. Their homemade noodles are super. The sangria is out of this world. Jennifer our server is always awesome. RS

I very rarely write a negative review, but this is one. First off, I want to say that the service was excellent. The food: The appetizers were very good...and it went downhill rapidly from there. I had lasagna - bland, a pile of pasta, mozzarella and tomato sauce. Eggplant Parmigiana - The worst ever. I'm not even sure it was eggplant - it looked Iike sliced cucumbers. When questioned, they averred it was indeed eggplant, but it looked and tasted like none I've ever encountered before, and was chewy to top it off. So, dessert. Have you ever had a cannoli that had absolutely no sugar in it? Italian cheesecake that was gritty and sans sugar? Weak coffee? Well, if you desire the above, stop by.

We walked around Soho then through Little Italy and saw people sitting the sidewalk drinking Aperol Spritz. We wondered over to discover $5 Aperol 11am - 1pm! Yes that was lunch with a peppypizza that beats Gramaldi’s in Brooklyn 😉 big call I know but it was the whole experience-sitting in Little Italy people watching on a summer day. A must do when in NY 🍕

Our group of six all enjoyed our meals. The menu is vast but I ordered the $19.95 two-course dinner. Each course has about 8 choices AND each course is a meal in itself. Very generous portions. Staff was very efficient. Food came out quickly. The bread was delicious!! The restaurant has an interesting history. It was Frank Sinatra's favorite worldwide restaurant and he and all the "rat pack" met here often. It's an easy location in Little Italy.

We got an early booking here (5:30PM mid-week) and it was pretty quiet, so service was fast. Food was varied and good quality with an emphasis on traditional Italian staples (pastas and veal cooked in traditional style). Atmosphere was 1960's Italian-American with Frank Sinatra crooning in the background. A good choice for atmosphere is visiting New York.

Whatever you do, don’t order the pizza. Small, thick solid crust, slippery topping. Looked and tasted it was frozen in the 1970s and reheated. A tragedy.

The People in Grotto Azurro are great. We are germans and have been there for some times in the last years! Despite of a touristic hotspot the guy recognized us as regular guests. Thats not usual in Little Italy! Its nice there to have Lunch outside in the early summer! Great Team!

4 of us get together every year for dinner , San Gennaro zeppoles, music, & a good time. We randomly select a locale to try, this time it was Grotta Azzurra. The wine, food ,all tasty! Very accommodating for large parties of 4 +.

Got to the restaurant and it was packed. First thing we thought of of was last time it was busy service was terrible. Not this time. We were seated immediately. Waiter came and brought us water right away. Our drinks and orders were taken and food was brought in a timely manner. Food does not disappoint. We will go back.

We stopped here for lunch. It was awful. Ordered drinks no problem. There were 3 of us, two had pizza and 1 had sausage and peppers. Pizza bases were pre bought. Tomato soup as the base and plastic cheese! And it was overlooked and awful. The other person has homemade sausage (3), one of which was raw! When we tried to pay trying to get someone's attention they just ignored us. I know it was San Gennaro feast time, but they haven't done themselves any favours, it was a rip off.

My wife and I were walking around little Italy and China Town and after looking in so many places we decided on the Grotta Azzurra. This is a typical Italian place, not flashy. We found the service good and the atmosphere fun, there was a large table next to us with a lot of loud Italian talking, but they left shortly after we arrived and the noise level was back to normal. The food was good, we ordered a pizza and then a pasta plate with wine. It is a nice place for a group or family, it is not s stuffy place, very welcoming.

Several great recommendations from friends - to our question: What is the best restaurant in Little Italy? - Grotta Azzurra 177 Mulberry St - skip lunch as portions are generous, appetisers (entrees) all fantastic (Harry 16yo loved scollops in bacon with rich sauce); then all mains delicious but the highlights the Grotta Signature dish Lobster pasta with seafood and rich tomato based sauce - probably the best seafood pasta I have ever had! We enjoyed bottles of the Italian Rose & Sangiovese (circa $35 each) - service attentive, friendly and we were the last to leave as it started to snow - we love NY!

Had a wonderful experience in Little Italy. Gotta Azzurra sits on a corner which has a wonderful outdoor patio to sit and take in all the sights. Outstanding menu of authentic dishes and extensive wine list at reasonable prices.

We were expecting much better for a restaurant right at a prime corner in Little Italy. The margarita pizza is disappointing (I think it's a store bought crust), could have made a better one myself! Bruschetta and garlic bread were the usual. We were not pleased. Waiter was attentive and polite--that was the only positive of our meal!

Absolutely terrific restaurant in Little Italy. My wife and I liked it so much we went back for a 2nd night in a row. An impressive menu with all of the favorite Italian dishes, along with a variety of different items. Very good surface, tables inside and on the side walk.

There are so many choices of Italian Restaurants in Little Italy, and for some reason we never tried Grotta Azzurra until today. It was a Monday afternoon and they had quite a few lunch specials, some $9.95 and some $16.95. I had penne arabiatta with basa oreganata (9.95). The arabiatta sauce was nice and spicy, just the way I like it! The basa oreganata, came with some veggies and red potatoes. The basa was delicious, and the veggies were very good too. The others had spaghetti carbonara, chicken milanese, four cheese ravioli, and eggplant parmigiana. We were all very happy with our dinners! Also someone had a tiramisu and loved it!! The waiters were very attentive and the atmosphere was very nice. I can’t wait to go back again!

Overall good place. Romantic atmosphere. Nice and authentic looking bar. Nice.and.helpful staff. Good wine! Best to order- homemade pasta! Not anything special. Good salad and I reccomend the fettuccini with cream sauce and shrimp. Touristy yes. Do your research before you eat at little italy.

Had a family dinner inLittle Italy picked the Grotta because of its location, we didn’t have to wait long for a table of 4, the service was great and the menu had plenty of choices and well priced. We did the calamari entree which was a good sized serve. The kids had pizza and spaghetti bolognese which was a hit. I had the spaghetti marinara that was full of seafood. Would highly recommend the Grotta

Great service and great food with a clean nice environment and ambience. Really service makes it stand out and the handmade pasta is authentic as it gets!

If you're looking for a great meal in a great locale, you can't go wrong with this place. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our meals, and with it being August, we got to sit outside too. Highly recommended.

A great place to have authentic Italian food. Located in the heart of Little Italy, it is a great place to have lunch or dinner. We ate outside and enjoyed the ambiance of Little Italy. Try the pizzas. There served as personal pizza, however two people can share four large slices. Our server introduced us to a great Italian beer and the wait time was minimal for our pizza. This is a great place to relax and rest during our exploration of Little Italy. We will definitely go there again, when we are in the city.

Was in New York City's Little Italy a month ago and popped into this Italian restaurant for lunch after a bout of shopping on a chilly day. Had cappuccinos while deciding what to eat and they were one of the best in NYC! The four of us had different dishes - risotto, pasta, and they were all really delicious especially the lobsters and mussels baked in cheese! The restaurant had a nice European/Italian like ambiance and decorations and there was a bar at the back too. The service was also excellent and the security guy outside was jovial and helpful. I would definitely recommend you try them if you are in the area.

We happened upon this restaurant and what a fantastic surprise, best meal we had in New York and really good value. Pasta is fresh and delicious with delicious cocktails and wine all well priced

looks good but one felt like it is more of a tourist place , service is ok, food is ok, but nothing more that really impresses one to visit again. plenty of other place in the area to try on our return.

Excellent Italian restaurant. Hearty food. Very good quality products. Crockery and impeccable atmosphere. Excellent table service, friendly, pleasant, attentive

Nice restaurant in Little Italy. The food was good italian food. The service was good. Coming from overseas I found it expensive, but not as expensive as other restaurants in New York. So overall, a positive experience

Relaxing restaurant at the North end of Little Italy. This place is bigger than it looks. Friendly and attentive staff. We appreciated the relaxed atmosphere and not being rushed thru dinner. The food was fabulous.

I love this place!! Staff was very polite, the garlic bread was beautiful. The chips was crispy and the lasagne was amazing! I can not fault this place one little bit! The food was that amazing that I totally forgot to take a picture of it!

Try to visit whenever we can. The early bird dinner special is great. Place was pretty empty. Seated right away. Bread was hot and wine was cold. Food was great and service was good.

I would like to say 4 of us had 2 course lunch few drinks cant find fault with any of it including price and service food was lovely wish we had more time to go back

We wanted a quick break from walking around and found this to be an excellent place for some enjoyable late-night drinks. Our server Skema was delightful. Just sorry that we did not have a chance to eat here - maybe next time!

Try to go here once a month. It reminds me of being in an old world restaurant. The food is always great. Pasta is all home made.

Authentic Italian cuisine!!! Good pastas, good meats, good happy hours and specials after 4pm. The service was excellent. Would definitely comeback!!!

Authentic food. Good wine selection at reasonable prices. They offer a price fix menu for lunch and dinner. Service was good but not very engaging. A nice outside area for and large open doors throughout give an airy feel even when dining inside. Food was very good and well portioned. and as expected the pastas cooked perfectly!

Not impressed. Somewhat on the bland side .. chicken dishes do not come with pasta, will have to order on the side. While not terrible, i would not return. Fair prices 20%gratuity included in the bill.

The food here was amazing! Great service too. I had the bolognese, which was spectacular. Real Italian food too. It wasn't just a knock-off restaurant, there food was real and pure. Overall, it was a great experience.

We had dinner at this restaurant during our visit to Little Italy. Excellent service, great food and a very pleasant atmosphere. Prices were reasonable and the food plentiful. We ordered garlic bread, spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna and linguine and clams. The clams were very fresh and they included a lot in the dish. We sat inside with an outdoor view. There were tables out on the patio, as well. Great place to eat!

Was looking for a place to have breakfast and came across Grotta Azzurra - without a queue ! So we decided to stay and it was one of the best traditional breakfast in NYC !

Not too terribly romantic but nice. Good wine selection and fair prices. Chicken Milanese, ravioli, carbonara, gnocchi and Chicken Marsala were all REALLY good. The Chicken Parm was not. Over cooked and flavorless. The server was knowledgeable, prompt, and kind. Big misstep? We are 25-30% tippers for the kind of service she provided, but a 20%tip was ALREADY ADDED to the bill. Not cool. 😒

I should have known, but hope springs eternal. The best part of this lunch was the beer special. I couldn’t even finish my chicken parmigiana. In fact, I’m writing this review from the restaurant in the hope that I can spare someone else my mistake. Any other restaurant in Little Italy would be better.

Great lunch for 9.95 that includes specialty pastas then a entree. In season a great time to sit outside and take in the Little Italy experience.

Eat here quite a few times a year. Place was crowded. We sat and sat while our waiter took orders around us and gave people their checks. Finally ordered. Wine was not cold, bread seemed like it was reheated over. Friend calamari was limp and not crisp. Neither meal of chicken or fish was very hot. They were tasty, but, only warm. Very disappointed this visit. They should hire more waiters if a crowd cannot be handled. Too bad as this was a place we have enjoyed in the past. Undecided if we will be back.

I went there for a coworker‘s retirement luncheon. All prepared and planned for 1 o’clock. I had to get back to the office, and by 2 o’clock, not one of the 40 entrées had come out yet. So I left. That’s going to be the last time I see many of those people. So to Grotta Azzurra, thanks for ruining it. We had the private room downstairs, and I passed through the main dining room upstairs on my way out. There were hardly any customers there. So they can’t use the excuse that they were busy. I should go back there, order the most expensive entrée they have, and then walk out before it arrives. And to Grotta Azzurra, a big fongoo !

Lovely Thanksgiving Dinner in Little Italy NYC . Classic Italian restaurant that been around for ages and still great. Traditional Italian dishes and more. Good service!

Web site showed linen table clothes which is what you’d expect in Little Italy or nicer Italian restaurant... not what we as party of 5 got at Dinner time (8:00 pm reservations) Antipasti was good but how can you mess up deli meats roasted red peppers and olives on a plate? Two split a pizza magerita which was just Papa John quality.. wasn’t even cooked in brick oven. One had gnocchi with pomodoro which the gnocchi was “slimy”. One had ordered the beef brachiole and was so excited to try it only to be told they were out of it... it’s a Saturday night for goodness and it’s on the menu so they said they had pork brachiole so he figured pork “roll bundles “ instead of beef.. cool so he ordered it only to get pork meatballs with spaghetti and sauce. I had the Sole Florentine with potato croquette and spinach.. Meh...Spinach was just wilted unappetizing..croquette was a mashed potato “log” run thru bread crumbs but No seasoning whatsoever... on the rating scale my sole was very good overall ... take a pass

Me and my family were looking for a traditional experience in Little Italy for lunch and we were not disappointed. Outside and inside was busy with locals and we took that as a good sign. I had the spaghetti and meatballs and my fiancee had the lasagne - both delicious and huge portions. If you are looking for traditional Italian fare with good music in good relaxed surroundings then I recommend this place.

Had a very enjoyable meal with great atmosphere at Grotta Azzura. My wife commented not only how well her pasta and prawns were cooked, but the sauce they came in. However, what had been a truly wonderful dining experience came crashing down with the attempted scam. On presentation of the bill, I could see 20% service was already included and I was asked to quickly accept, and the waiter went to the next screen, which offered me an option to pay a further 20% plus two higher service charge options on the total bill (which already had a 20% service charge added). When I challenged that I wanted to look back at the original screen, I was told just to sign, but I refused and eventually the waiter conceded 20% has already been added. If I had not challenged when I did, I would have paid at least 40% in service charges. Having lived in the US many years ago, I understand the need to have the service charge system, but this left a distinct bad taste in both my mouth and that of my wife. A throughly enjoyable evening was ruined by people taking advantage of tourists to their city. I will not be recommending this restaurant to anyone and I will be reporting them to the New York Tourist Board.

Worst ever meal in New York. Our main meals came whilst we were still eating our starters and two of us had our starters removed before we had finished! Three inedible, cold meals followed and had to be returned and one failed to turn up until we had all finished! Then, we had to check the bill and found two drinks had not been charged at happy hour rate. There are much better Italian restaurants around- avoid at all costs.

Well my sister had a birthday celebration here and many of our family came from DELAWARE. Also on her husband's side many drove in from HOLBROOK, LONG ISLAND! Some of us from Queens! Anyway, the food was delicious and if you can't eat it all. I love left overs! Chicken Francaise was unbelievably DELICIOUS! I told many of my friends. One day we have to come here!