Il Violino Reviews

Had lunch here recently on a Saturday. Was greeted warmly and the service was attentive but not intrusive. Loved the specials of the week written in Italian on a large blackboard behind the bar. I started with the carpaccio and it was very well prepared and very tasty. I then had the veal which was very tender and very tasty. For dessert I had tartufo. The wine (served by the glass) was Orvieto (a white wine). I'm sure this place gets a lot of business from nearby Lincoln Center but it really had a great "local" feel as well. I recommend this place very highly.

We tried it for a restaurant before a Lincoln Center concert. Table was not ready at my reserved time. Very tiny bar area to wait at. Tables are tiny and very close together. Very mediocre Italian food for the price.

This was our favorite restaurant of all the places near Lincoln Center, although Atlantic Grill was a strong contender (see there). We were there very early, since our opera started at 6:30pm. There were few people there at that early an hour, so our seating was excellent. We started of with calamari fritti and caprese followed by scallops, fttucine scampi. I don't remember my friends dishes but we all absolutely loved our food. And the wines by the glass were delicious. And we ended with chocolate torte and panna cotta. While the restaurant offers a reasonable prix fixe, they don't force you to take it. And the service is excellent as well. Walking to the MET is only 7 minutes, so this is an excellent choice for a pre- or post-performance meal. Highly recommended! (B.t.w. a lot musicians seem to like it too!)

Nice, unpretentious and more informal restaurant close to Lincoln Center. Service was excellent and food was definitely very good but not what I would consider special or exceptional. We had not dined here previously. Prices are generally reasonable for NYC and the prix-fixe dinner that our friends had seems to be a particularly good value. We had a more quiet table by the right front window. Although crowded on a weekday night and getting near opera curtain later on, the noise level was still moderate unlike many other venues nearby. We would go back.

I was convinced by my son (10 years old), abstinent from pasta with sauce, to enter an 'Italian' restaurant abroad, something I never do to avoid obvious disappointments... disappointments that I did NOT experience in this restaurant , chosen after checking on Tripadvisor obviously. We ate a good plate of spaghetti with sauce (him) and one of braised lamb (me), both above my expectations. Even the 'glass' (very generously sized) of Pinot Noir turned out to be excellent: it was recommended to me by the senior waiter instead of the usual Chianti&co that everyone asks for (and which is probably not the top that the name promises). For dessert we shared a nice coffee affogato and I must say that the coffee tasted like a real (lungo) espresso, not the American caffeine-flavored drink..! NY prices, which are expensive by our standards. However, the two of us - eating the above - got away with less than $100 +20% tip (well deserved). Ultimately: a place recommended to everyone, including Italians (even if in general I prefer to continue advising not to eat Italian abroad)

Many tables along the windows of restaurant are nice for enjoying the view of the busy streets. Have been twice, very happy with meal each time. Fine service. Close by to Lincoln Center.

Loved the waiter and the atmosphere but under-impressed with the food which also came in rather small portions. Would not choose this again, I think they could try a little harder with the various dishes.

The wait staff were very sweet, but it is very fair to rate the food as mediocre and overpriced, and the same for wine list. Surely, there are better places on the UWS. I concede that the place was very busy on a Saturday evening, but I can’t understand why.

Good food, not the best italian restaurant in NYC. The place is always full so try to make reservations in advance. It's very easy to get there and has an awesome view of columbus ave especially during Christmass holidays. It's a bit expensive but everything is expensive en NYC

Neighborhood restaurant fairly close to the Lincoln center. Be sure to look at their daily specials and very good choices on Friday nights. Service is good and you can sit and watch NYC go by. Eaten here several times, good consistently prepared food.

We found this restaurant by chance when looking for Century 21. We both really enjoyed our lunch and the waiter was friendly. Complimentary bread served and both our pasta dishes very tasty. A good random find.

Located just a short walk from Lincoln Center, this lovely little trattoria has a charming ambiance, good service and delicious food. My husband's shrimp oreganata was superb and so was my bucatini All'amatriciana There is a good wine list, too. Try for a seat in the window to watch Columbus Avenue walkers. This is a place we like to return to when we visit NYC.

Great food! Ate a special Ravioli with my girlfriend. Very romantic, very local (full of new yorkers), not a turist trap, great service from the staff and near a Magnolia Bakery.

Il Violino occupies a corner location on Columbus Ave in the heart of a busy commercial/tourist area. There are inside tables and those facing the street behind glass walls. We were promptly seated with no reservation (it was early) and our baby stroller was accommodated with no problem. My lasagna was a large portion, as was my daughter's chicken parm. The accompanying bread was fresh and satisfying. There is lots to chose from. Highly recommended.

My wife and I decided on the spur of the moment to grab an early dinner at Il Violino tonight before catching a movie. Wow, was that a great decision! We've been in NYC for three+ weeks, and while we have not eaten out all that much, we have made the rounds to about 7-8 restaurants for late lunch or dinner. This was by far the best we have visited. The homemade pasta was terrific, and the flavor of the fettuccine con scampi all' arrabita was indescribably good. Preceded by appetizers of tricolore salad and grilled vegetables, accompanied by a terrific mid-priced pinot grigio, well, we were in "il paradisio." The tartufo was outstanding, the coffee was even great, and to top it off, the service was impeccable. (Did I mention that the setting, alongside the outside windows, was beautiful?) There's no question this moves to the top of the list of reasonably priced date night restaurants for us. We loved it.

We had a wonderful experience here with a delicious dinner prepared exactly as we requested, enjoyed a Sicilian wine the waiter recommend, in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. The service was excellent and exceeded expectations when they rescued package we left so we ate there again. Our 10 yr old grandson had picked this restaurant from it's street view and we were all glad he did.

Our veal picatta and shrimp pasta was delicious. Our meal was served in a timely manner and the service was great. We had a window table which made the small space roomy.

Went before ballet for dinner. I like the way someof the main dishes are served with mashed potatoes rather than a side of pasta! Had a delicious chicken special with spinach, prosciutto, and a lovely sauce that went well with the spuds! Nice variety of dishes, efficient service.

We sat by a window to enjoy the view while having dinner. Nice selection of wines. We had as an appetizer grilled seasonal vegetables that were delicious with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Our pasta dishes (Spaghetti Al Pomodori & Gnocchi Alla Bolognese) were very flavorful and large portions. Looking forward to coming back when visiting NYC!

Came here after Joanne Trattoria across the street did not honor our reservation. We only had about an hour for dinner and were very grateful Il Violino made room for us. Food was excellent. The Caesar salad and pasta were brought out promptly after we explained we were in a bit of a rush, which was much appeciated. The linguini vongole with red sauce was amazing. Got tiramisu for dessert which was excellent too. Will definitely be back here! Super cute indoor decor as well as a great outdoor dining space. Loved how decked out the place was with Christmas decorations too.

Stopped by here after meeting up with friends in NYC Fabulous food, and great service Will return again if I can

So so glad that Violino has opened for takeout and delivery, including drinks. They have only been back open for about 10 days and we have already ordered 3 times. Food and drinks are excellent and now they have iced, perfect for summer. Carmen and her staff are truly lovely, special people. Support your local businesses and go get some delicious food and drinks from Il Violino!

This restaurant is just three blocks from Lincoln Center, which we were attending ,so we tried it for the first time based on favorable reviews .It lived up to the reviews. The prix fix menu, although limited , met out needs: soup, salad, entree ,dessert and coffee or tea.The food and service were excellent. Since we arrived at 5:50 pm , I can not comment on the noise level since the restaurant was not full at this time. The full menu has many vegetarian choices so it would meet the needs for non-meat eaters.Overall, a very enjoyable experience

We were searching for a place to eat and stumbled upon Il Violino. It proved a perfect introduction to eating in NYC for my daughters, ages 10 and 7. There was a lot of activity and although the restaurant is cozy, we did not feel cramped. We enjoyed seeing violins in various states hanging on the walls. My daughters had the penne ala vodka and I tried scallops with lemon and white wine sauce. The bread was warm, crusty, served with olive oil and delicious. Our server was knowledgeable and attentive.

Well located on Columbus, right next to the 68th Street AMC Theatre so great for a bite before or after - cute - they are trying hard and it's worth it - food was above average - very tasty - waiters were on the job - helpful and friendly - great neighborhood alternative

This quaint neighborhood restraunt is solid every time!! Everything is fresh and of the best quality. Wonderful and friendly service. So many things to try! And you can always top it off in the true Italian way with some wonderful Limoncello!! A wonderful part of our Christmas in NYC 2016.

Wonderful food, cooked by a chef who really cares, and not stinting on the portions either. Great service too. Price was very reasonable for the upper west side.

We came here for dinner on New Years Eve and it was really nice. They gave us complimentary bruschetta with tomatoes, mushrooms and fish as it was our honeymoon! The chicken Parm is lovely with their home made pasta. Would have given them 5 but we had to pay for our drinks at the bar instead of putting it on our table tab..maybe because the barmaid wanted the tip?

Spent Thanksgiving day Lunch at this restaurant. We had no reservation, but they were able to accommodate the 5 of us for lunch. Waiter was a seasoned one who was to the point, respectful and very knowledgeable of the menu. He interact with his guests as if they were family - Italian style. The Linquini Vongole white wine sauce was very good. It would be excellent, but something about the linquini which was I think overcooked as it was lumping, but did not deter me for making it bad. Now the Spaniach Ravioli my son had was to die for. I wished I had that. No refill on soda as I was not offered any. Tight spots, but it is NYC. People were streaming in and I noted the people who often the place as they took care of them well. Too bad I don't live in Manhattan as I would otherwise often this establishment. They made my first experience a positive one. Thank you II Violino.

We came here on a whim, we had gnocchi with pink sauce and chicken Parmesan. Service was impeccable as well as the food.

This is a nice little restaurant with great Italian pasta. Nothing here is overdone, the decor is simple yet sensible, the service is good but not overwhelming, and the pasta is not overcooked (like so many places). This has been a solid place to go and we always walk about thinking it was a great meal.

Second time I have eaten here. First was myself and my oldest son. His choice for Italian one evening. Amazing. So we decided to take Dad, Grandma and my youngest son. My sons live in NYC. First of the service here is impeccable. Second only to the food. I know it’s pricey but get a bottle of wine, entrees and ask for bread. You will not be disappointed.

The outdoor dining area was delightful. The service and food were wonderful. We had the brunch special for $29.95. Everyone loved the food, service and experience. We can't wait to go back. In the past we had dinner here and loved its.

My friend and I went here following his playing the organ at the nearby Christian Science Church. I had the minestrone and the scallops dish, which were both delectable. The prices, in my view, are fairly reasonable for New York. Our server, Daniella from Colombia, is a sweetheart. Oh, the tiramisu was quite good, too!

Ate there on spec, waiter was really friendly and helpful, food was great, and to crown it all, tiramisu was to die for!

Overall a good experience and great service. Great bread and frittata. Burger was lacking it was not charred or have that great beef taste. It has been 6 months since my last burger and now i need another.

The chicken parmigiana was amazing, the salmon was tasty, with friendly staff and cozy place make this place worth a visit for dinner!

The pasta was average, the service was snobby and unhelpful, the portions (especially of the starters) were minuscule, and the coffee machine was broken. Beyond the large glass windows that were ideal for people watching, there was nothing about this place that impressed or pleased me.

They have a nice lunch special that includes soup or salad, glass of wine, main course and coffee. It is a good deal but the prices have just gone up and the portions seemed to shrink a bit. Very lovely staff and what seems to be a loyal clientele. Very good location as well near Lincoln Center and the big AMC movie complex on Broadway.

Very nice restaurant, food was tasty, service was good without any extraordinary experience. The show started once we paid the bill. We did not have a lot of cash, about 6-8$ what was about 10% of the bill value what we gave to the waiter. The waiter made a big scene in front of the other Clients that our tip was below expected 18% gratuity limit. I understand the disappointment and I made it finally up putting full gratuity on my debit card as I was not aware it was an option. Nevertheless it was so unprofessional, embarrassing behaviour and stressful to my daughter that I will never come back and will not recommend this place. It spoils not be acceptable and management of the restaurant should take an action but nobody really reacted. I felt like I robbed the place paying full amount. I want everyone to think twice before picking this place as this behaviour is below anything what we call a standard

We went here because we were going to the Imax cinema nearby. We sat at a small table by the window where you could watch the world go by. The food was well cooked with vegetables which hadn't been overdone. The service was attentive and although the place was busy we didn't feel under any pressure to hurry. It was a pleasant experience.

The food is OK (but probably reheated in the microwave), the service very fast. Very high prices, resulting in very poor quality/price ratio.

Went here last night (4 of us). The calamari was good and the two seafood pastas we got were good. The veal and the breaded shrimp were just eh; the breaded shrimp was a bit bland and the risotto was heavily over-salted. After 1:15 they asked us to please leave so they could seat other tables so we left. I didn't find the waiter friendly but he did the job okay so no major complaints there. I'd go again since it's close to Lincoln Center and convenient but this is not a place to go out of your way for.

The food was just ok. We had the meatball and potatoes app and lasagna for dinner. Mediocre food. We had a reservation for a Monday night, ate there before going to Lincoln Center, which is walkable from here. Restaurant is on the corner and has nice views of Columbus Ave to people watch.

My wife and I were in New York to see Placido Domingo in La Traviata, so we thought that a quaint Italian ristorante was a perfect place for a pre-opera dinner. This was our first time at Il Violino and our experience was rewarding and delicious. I had the Risotto ai Frutti di mare which was creamy and filled with a ample variety of clams, mussels, salmon and calamari. My wife had the linguine with clams and mussels and she said it was perfectly done. We went midweek and were glad we had made a reservations since the place was quite busy. Serive was also very good.

I didn't eat much here, but what I had was great. The frittata was perfectly done, as were the roasted vegetables.

We ate here some time ago but hadn't visited again for many years for no particular reason. When checking TripAdvisor for a place for dinner before a performance at Lincoln Center I identified it and made a reservation. We shared carpaccio and then I had soft shell crabs over linguine (which was a special) and my husband had shrimp scampi served with saffron risotto. We split tartufo for dessert. I was impressed by the house made fresh pasta but the soft shell crabs were very bland. I was offered fresh pepper but I guess it was a rhetorical question because I never got it. Also, the meat in the carpaccio dish seemed more like rare sliced roast beef than real carpaccio. Nevertheless, overall it was pretty good and I would return before a performance because it is one of the better options in a neighborhood of surprisingly limited choices.

We were stumbling around the Lincoln Center area in need of a quick meal. Il Violino far exceeded our expectations. We enjoy good italian food. We found everything at Il Violini to be fresh and tasty. The ambiance is neighborhood Italian. Not touristy. It felt comfortable. The service was efficient if not a bit cool. But we did not mind...all the basics of good service were well covered. Prices were as expected for Manhattan. Not cheap, but good value. We’d go back again if in the neighborhood.

I was really looking forward to eating here before a performance of the Philharmonic but the food was just okay. We both had clams and mussels and linguine. It was salty and not as good as what I had at Il Cortile.

Good UWS location, very close to Lincoln Center. However, food is mediocre at best and overpriced for simple pasta dishes. Also, the wait staff forgot our main course order. We waited for over 30 minutes for two pasta dishes. We had to ask about it. No apologies offered. The main courses then appeared five minutes after we questioned the server. We will not be returning to this restaurant when visiting NYC.

I have eaten several pre-opera meals here over the years. You can order from their regular menu or their prixe fixed menu. I always opt for the latter. They are generous portions, almost sinful. Their pasta fagioli was dark and rich in flavor with homemade pasta. I had a delicious verde salad with the most delightful lemon dressing and the John Dory was absolutely delicious. Delicious cheesecake. We were absolutely stuffed, we could not finish our meal or dessert, probably from eating too much bread. Honestly, I can't wait to go back.

I tried unsuccessfully to find a restaurant on the upper west side that would take reservations for brunch on a Saturday until I came across Il Violino's website. There were 11 of us, they had a reasonably priced 19.995 brunch that included choice of mimosa, screwdriver or blood mary. Many good choices on the prix fixe menu from frittatas to french toast to burgers. Service was great, food was delicious. Total including tax and tip was $350.00 for 11 of us....can't beat that for the upper west side.

Dined here before going to the Metropolitan Opera a few blocks away. To be honest, we would have loved to dined at the Met itself, but prices and dress code were game breakers for us. Anyway, Il Violino is a very cozy spot - seems that tables in the window are in high demand, but honestly, we don't really care for views of the U.S. Postal Service across the street and people walking past looking at your meal. We 'lucked out' and sat in one of these tables. It was fine. Food was well done and reasonably priced for the neighborhood. We started off with the Caprice, which was a combo of mozzarella and tomato slices with a wonderful pesto sauce. We both had the Caesar salad which was very good, and included small capers - a nice twist on the classic salad. I settled for the tried and true spaghetti in pomodoro sauce - not in Scarpetta's league, but quite tasty nonetheless. A special fresh pappardelle with salmon was quite nice, but heavy on the pasta and light on the fish. Service very pleasant and efficient. Wine pours generous and inexpensive. Would come again when in the area.

Perfect for brunch or casual dinner - Sweet, friendly atmosphere, consistently good quality food, the place isn't big but has cozy vibe

The penne alla vodka with chicken was delicious. The food is more special than in other Italian restaurants because they make their own pasta. Nice apple pie with ice cream with cappuccino. Try to get window seats. Just be prepared to be a little cramped and crowded since the restaurant is small. However the service and food were very good and I highly recommend this place.

Came accross this small restaurant and decided to give it a try. Was very crowded but the very friendly hostess managed to give us a table quickly. We started with the fried calamari, was good but needs a bit more seasoning. Followed by the fettucine with shrimp and al'arabiatta was sooo good. My grandma had the chicken with marsala sauce. Very generous portion. The wine glasses are generous too. We shared the tartuffo for dessert but it was so good that we ordered an other one. Our server was professional and efficient. The hostess does a good job in this crowded place. I will return there next time I visit New York.

We stopped for a late lunch on a weekday. They offer a prix-fixe lunch menu that features a salad, an entree, wine (choice of white or red) and coffee/tea for $23! A full menu of home-style Italian fare was also available - and even tho it was late in the afternoon - there was a good crowd of guests relaxing over their meals. We were impressed with the fresh greens with tasty dressing, I choose the Chicken Picatta which was delicious. My friend chose the Spaghetti Alla Carbonara that had a light cream sauce - also delicious. A most pleasant experience - I recommend a stop!

We had a few hours to kill before going to watch a film. We were looking for somewhere to eat but nothing really captured our eye. Until we got to this lovely place! As soon as we walked in we were greeted, and seated next to the window. The server brought us some water and took our order for drinks. We still needed time to decide what to eat so he came back a few moments later. My partner had the lasagna and I had the scampi with risotto. We both thought the meals were presented well and were delicious. We also shared a dessert which was also great. In fact I'd go as far as saying it was the best meal we had in New York! The service was great and the atmosphere was also good. Definitely worth a visit.

Two of the four of us liked what we ordered. But I found my dish, a pasta, overcooked and the other person found the fish dry.

We arrived late on Thanksgiving Eve after viewing the Macy's Parade balloons at the museum. The staff was very happy to seat us well past our reservation time. The food was superb. The only trouble we had was choosing from the many delicious options. Some of us had pasta, some had steak, and all were happy. The servings are large and you can easily share/sample. The pesto over linguine was excellent, as were the meatballs and spaghetti. Our waiter let us take our time and we did not realize we stayed past closing time until we left the restaurant.

Reasonably priced and great Italian food...Very close to Lincoln Center for concerts or opera. We went before the opera with 5:00 reservations...turned out to be perfect for a relaxed dinner. There is a $39 fixed price dinner...soup, salad, main course, dessert, and coffee. Perfect. It is then a short 5 minute walk to the Opera. Could not have made a better choice.

Our general go to restaurant after the movies. Wonderful food, excellent service. Everything here is great.

A few blocks from Lincoln Centre on Columbus Ave this comfortable Italian restaurant continues to serve very good food. Quick seating, daily specials, an extensive menu and wine list, and excellent personal service. The food was very good and portions were quite generous. Highly recommended

Salads Only… had the burrata salad very good, pepperoni pizza average felt and tasted like like premade… desert tiramisu a bit of a laugh … okay tiramisu surrounded by a half a can of canned cream. Decoy Merlot v good.

Sat evening. very busy. reservations needed. table and chairs close together.meatball/spaghetti meal very delicious.ample servings.tiramisu dessert very tasty.a little pricey but this is Lincoln Square.service was a little slow but place was packed so? all together a good experience.

first time here and walked in at awkward time between lunch and dinner (4:30), but they we prepared to serve from dinner menu. The menu had plenty to choose from and the service was excellent. We eat out alot and can be critical, but this place did not disappoint. The Pasta Fagiolo soup was awesome, thick and hearty! Generous portions and fresh quality products. Salmon was cooked to perfection and husbands eggplant and pasta was delicious. Good sauce. recommend!

A great choice for Lincoln Center. Neighborhood vibe, good Italian with rather extensive menu. Service was fast and adequate. Would go back.

Our first visit did not disappoint. We were party of 4 on a Sunday evening sitting at a window with a view of city life. Service was excellent. Everyone enjoyed their food choices. The special John Dory fish entree was delicious. We plan to return on our next visit to NYC.

This restaurant has our favorite pasta dishes in New York. While not cheap, the prices are competitive for the location. The place has an established neighborhood feel, and caters to the classical music crowd. Wait staff are very good. I love the Sicilian wine Nero d'Avolo with any of the red sauce pasta dishes. Seafood pasta dishes are a specialty.

I had a wonderful lunch with friends of mine who frequent the Columbus Centre on a regular basis and Il Violino. In fact Il Violino is their restaurant of choice before attending the Columbus Centre. The food was delicious. The lunch specials were very reasonable. The atmosphere was great. A wonderful place to "people watch" in the neighbourhood. Great tables by windows. Our service was a bit slow on the day we lunched but I understand that it may have been an anomaly. Would not hesitate to recommend the restaurant.

We were in NYC the night before Thanksgiving and planning on seeing the Macy's Day Parade the next morning. We took at chance and made a last minute decision to book at table here for Thanksgiving Day. Best decision we ever made!! The waitstaff was so friendly and attentive. Seriously, our water glasses were never empty and we were constantly attended to even though the restaurant was packed. It was wonderful! The food was so fresh and our four course meal was delicious. The pasta course was phenomenal.The ravioli melted in my mouth. You can tell the pasta is fresh and homemade.I had asked if I could substitute mashed potatoes for the sweet potatoes on the holiday menu but the waiter stated they couldn't do substitutions. Since it was a pre-set Thanksgiving menu, I totally understood. Well, when my meal arrived, the waiter had given me mashed potatoes! I was thrilled! I always had mashed potatoes when I was home for Thanksgiving and this just made me feel like I was eating with family, not strangers. I will definitely recommend this place to all my family and friends when they are in the city!!

I discovered Il Violino early on when I moved to the area around Lincoln Center a year ago in April. I was comfortable with their outdoor seating as well as the socially distanced indoor configuration. But it was the food that kept me coming back. The homemade pasta is excellent and the scallops are particularly tasty. I've had pasta with variations of sea food on several occasions and am always happy. Prices are reasonable and my in-town and out-of-town guests have all thanked me for introducing them to Il Violino.

We've been here almost every time we've visited New York and it is one of our favorite restaurants. Food and drinks are always amazing and the service is excellent too. I recommend this place to everybody.

Have a great time, very good food and nice birthday celebration. It's locate at UPW near to Lincon Center, window table, excellent service. Will be back.

This is a follow-up to my 2018 review. I sat outside for a very relaxing two-hour lunch. The prix fixe lunch is a steal at $26. It includes a glass of wine (a generous pour, in fact), a salad which was fresh and more than ample, and main course... I chose the chicken parm which was great as always. I enjoy this restaurant so much that I just have to have their tiramisu and an after-dinner amaretto. The service is professional and impeccable... very welcoming and unhurried.

Everything was delicious: exceptional all veggie soup, wonderful tri color salad, fantastic primavera sauce on pasta, wonderful wine AND good service-

Went here with my daughter before a Lincoln Center show. The food was outstanding! Great wine list, delicious appetizers and penne alla vodka! The service was perfect, warm and prompt from the first moment to the last. It is an absolute gem, and I can’t wait to come back.

Ate here on Saturday before seeing a matinee performance of the Nutcracker at Lincoln Center. Il Violino is a relatively small restaurant on the corner of 68th and Columbus. We had made reservations in advance which secured us a table right in the window nook so we could eat and people-watch at the same time. Service was good, restaurant was filled to capacity, and a number of people were turned away while we were there. Our party of four came away from our meal relaxed and full. We all dined on varieties of their homemade pasta (either as a side dish or main dish) with various sauces/gravies. The pasta is excellent. In addition, we enjoyed veal scallopini and shrimp scampi and the soups of the day. All were very good. Our meal was not at all rushed despite the demand for tables, so if you come here pre-performance for Lincoln Center expect your meal to be delivered somewhat leisurely. This wasn't "dine and dash." Our reservation was for noon and we spent a little more than an hour and a half here enjoying our meal.

We found this place randomly and apparently it’s considered “good” Italian food. Anyway. Before we even ordered our food I went to use the ladies room when I was walking To the bathroom the Matre De thought it was more important to cut me off and put the food down he was holding and sandwich me between a waiter and himself. So rude. I know right there I was going to hate this place. He should have step aside and let me walk passed him. So being patient my husband said don’t worry about it and we stayed .. appetizers tasteless. We sent back the meatballs because they were absolutely disgusting . Then my husband ordered a lamb ragu sauce a pasta to share. It looked like brown stew with pasta. I wouldn’t even try it. Then our main dish came out and I ordered fish with almonds encrusted and my husband ordered veal. I took 1 bite of the fish and it was tasteless and terrible. I wasn’t eating it. My husband was so pissed he sent it back and asked for the check. Not once did anyone come over and apologize to us besides the waitress. We called the next day and complained and demanded our money back. Which they gave back to us right fully so. Do yourself a favor and don’t come here. If you don’t have any tastebuds. This is the place for you.

I had a hearty bowl of pasta fragile soup . It was very tasty. Our entire table ordered the chicken parmasean and we all enjoyed it very much. It comes with a generous portion fresh pasta. The sauce is well seasoned. The atmosphere is quaint.

Was not bad, just not good. Service was ok, ambiance nice, but the food was just nondescript. We had the lasagna, gnocchi, and ravioli. Started with the antipasto plate. The olives tasted like they came from a can from Costco. I just think that if you are in nyc and charging a premium price you better have a premium product.

The food was delicious, I can recommend the spinach ravioli in cream sauce. The service is excellent and the location is great!! I recommend it if you want to try italian food in NY.

We visited Il Violino after a recent Saturday evening NY Philharmonic concert. It wasn’t as good as we remembered it from a few years ago. Both cocktails we on the small side. Our salad was average. Our pasta dishes, a seafood linguini and a ravioli, were also both average. It might be a while before we return.

Since the husband and I took a Wednesday day trip to this particular area of NYC, I found this restaurant and made reservations for an afternoon lunch. Upon our early arrival, we were given our choice of seats and opted to sit along the glass in the window room. Although the restaurant itself has a quaint, romantic vibe, it felt very crowded. There wasn't much room to move around in our seats, as the tables behind both him and I were almost on top of us. The gentleman who sat us and the assistants were very friendly, but I can't say the same for our waitress. Instead of making small talk or even informing us of any specials (soup of the day, etc), she quickly took our drink order and left. When returning with our drinks, I couldn’t believe my wine glass had lipstick on it! After bringing a better glass, she asked blatantly if we knew what we wanted to eat. We started with the Caprese salad, which consisted of large circles of fresh mozzarella and even larger slices of tomato drizzled in a light pesto sauce. For our entrees we both requested gluten free penne pasta with tomato sauce (al pomodoro - simple and surprisingly not watery at all) with grilled chicken added on top and a side of asparagus (however, this came out with the Caprese salad). The only problem with our meal, other than a smaller than expected portion of pasta, was that there wasn't any chicken. Our server apologized and ran off telling us to give her about 5 minutes for the chicken. Since we didn't want our food to get cold we started eating and finished at least 20 minutes before the chicken came out. 3 people tried to clear our plates from the table, but we had told them that we were waiting for our forgotten chicken breasts. I was beginning to think our server didn't put our request in, until finally the chicken arrived, juicy and fresh. (I'll be honest though, I was hoping for a little extra pasta to accompany it….) Throughout our meal, a woman who I assumed was a manager was walking around clearing tables, greeting people and asking how their food was, but she never stopped at ours. All in all, other than our dilemma with our chicken, Il Violino does offer a variety of appetizers, salads and entrees, including a pre-fixe lunch menu. The prices are reasonable, food fresh and good and the ambiance enjoyable, especially by the window if you like to people watch.

Well, I exaggerated a little; the Lincoln Center area is not exactly a wasteland, but you would think that there would be high quality, reasonably priced places to eat near Lincoln Center. But alas, this is not the case. There are a couple of good but overpriced options, and a lot of so-so establishments. Il Violino stands out, providing high quality food and selections, reasonable prices, and even a reasonably priced wine list. There's a 4 course, pre-theater prix-fixe menu that's only $35, plus a more expansive menu and daily specials. Service is impeccable, the environment pleasant and quiet, and most of the tables have a clear view of the active neighborhood. And it's only a 5 minute walk from Lincoln Center.

I loved the food at this place, but I was a little disappointed with the service. Simple things like getting Ketchup was a very hard thing to accomplish. In fact, it did not arrive until asking for a 2nd time when I literally had 3 fries left on my plate. Getting the bill was another challenge as the waiter just seemed to ignore us for very long periods of time.

What can be said about Il Violino ... first of all the wait staff is attentive, well-informed and nice -- they instantly served us quickly as we let them know we had a show to go to ... having said that the food is just ... okay. It's nothing special and the only way it survives is by being located so close to Lincoln Center. The burrata special appetizer was uninspired, the burrata itself was great but the presentation of the peppers, tomatoes and olives accompanying it looked like it had just been tossed on the plate with no thought. The amatriciana dish I got was much better than the Fettuccine con scampi All'Arrabbiata that had virtually no taste to it at all. My Bucatini All'amatriciana was nice, with big chunks of Italian bacon but again, the taste was just so-so, not something one would expect for a $20 pasta dish. Honestly the best thing about dinner was the bottle of Cianti we got for $36. The Torta al cioccolato flourless chocolate cake with vanilla gelato wasn't bad either, but again it was missing anything to make it stand apart -- standard middle of the road fare that with a little inspiration could be something more. The window seats are nice to watch people going to and coming from Lincoln Center, and the dogs heading to and coming from Central Park, but there are literally dozens of other restaurants in the vicinity. Chose another option.

Il Violino is a first choice for dining near Lincoln Center. So many of the local restaurants are mediocre, overpriced, or both. But Il Violino is in a small group of eateries that are neither. The food is excellent, the service attentive, the wine list is short, but reasonably priced, and the location is perfect; just 3 blocks away, in a residential neighborhood. The menu includes most "standard" Italian dishes, and a few specials that stand out. It's one of our favorites when attending performances at Lincoln Center.

My aunt and I visited this restaurant just a block from her apartment building for my 18th birthday dinner. The atmosphere is wonderful, especially in the evening. The lights on the street look lovely from within the candle-lit, intimate dining tables along the glass windows inside Il Violino. I had an excellent shrimp truffle dish and the decadent chocolate cake for dessert. Perfect for date night or a girls dinner! I will be returning in June 2017.

We frequented il Violino often back about 7-10 years ago, choosing it when we attended an event at Lincoln Square. Last night, we thought we head back to see how the old girl was doing. We found she is grinding along, but just doesn't have any pizzazz. Don't get me wrong, the food was OK, nothing wrong with it, but it just didn't rise to expectations or the other fine restaurants in this neighborhood. Our drink order was delayed as the bar seemed out of Aperol. We could have ordered something else, but we weren't given that opportunity. Someone ran out to get a bottle either at the local store or from another restaurant. Good service? not if you have to wait over 15 Mins for your drinks and no one tells you whats up. Bread was served, one small piece and one large piece, that was ridiculously large for the small salad plate. A rethink is needed here. Pet peeve: there is never an excuse for serving bread that isn't at least slightly warm. The Cesare was boring at best, no kick, lack of flavor, no anchovies, a handful of capers at the bottom of the salad, in one lump, pointing to not being fully tossed. Wife had the shrimp over risotto. The rice was under-seasoned, and not very creamy. The shrimp were slightly over-breaded, flavor was good, nothing to write home about. I had the veal piccata. Good portion, veal was tender enough, but the plate just lacked full flavor. Veggies weren't seasoned, and the mashed potatoes were close to a diner version. Coffee was good, and plate of biscotti were ok. Service was good, though a bit slow. In my experience, the meal was OK but there are other places in the Lincoln Square neighborhood that I enjoy more.

Our group of five happened upon this restaurant for lunch after spending a couple hours wandering through Central Park. Service was prompt and pleasant and the food was terrific. For a $20 prix fixe, you get a glass of wine, a salad/soup, main course and coffee.

We come to Il Violino every time we visit New York and we are impressed every time with the high standard of both food and service. This time we visited the city with our Italian friend and he agreed to come with us and give his expert opinion. He was very impressed with the food and said it tasted just like home for him! This continues to be our favorite restaurant and will continue to be our number one choice every time we visit. A definite definite must!

Located two blocks ahead of the Lincoln Center and already used for many lyric singers (see the pictures on the walls) it has good and not pricey choices of italian food. I've had a lunch with my family (party of three) and it all costed around US$ 65,00 for entrance and main courses (w/o beverages).

Yes I was there a few times. That's the closest restaurant to me from my apartment. Very nice and friendly . The food?? It is good 😊. Nothing very special but good. The service are very good. The place are friendly. Probably there are a few better restaurant ( Italian) but that one is very close by. It is popular in the neighborhood. Worth the try.

Great find near lincoln center. The alfredo ravoli was great, as was the bucatini amatrechiana! We loved the unique, fresh pasta choices.

Il Violino is a nice, tasty place. The waiters are cheerful and nice. The food is yummy and tender. Il Violino is close to the Metropolitan Opera House, but is not very close to a train station. This review would have been 5 stars, but here is why I made it four. You can be a little squished, and when I ran out of water, the waiter with the pitcher walked right past me! Other then this, this restaurant is fantastic!

We were thankful that a friend referred us to this restaurant or we may have missed out! Delicious food at a great price. Space is limited but service is great. Will definitely visit again when we are back in the city!

We stayed at the Empire Hotel and noticed this restaurant on our way there. We decided to try it and were not disappointed. We both had a pasta dish and did not expect freshly made pasta! It was delicious! We would definitely go again.

Our foursome had dinner here before seeing Handel's Messiah at Lincoln Center. The place is a short walk from Lincoln Center - so very convenient. We had a reservation for 5 PM, but due to traffic into the city we had to change it to 5:30. We called from the car, and there was no issue about the change. The table was ready when we arrived. The restaurant is small, but very charming. Our server was Gerardo, and he was outstanding! We all ordered from the prix fixe menu, and were not disappointed. The soup was very good, as were the salads. Entrees were generous, and came out hot. Gerardo was attentive, but not pushy, and we never felt rushed. Wine by the glass is a nice pour - not chintzy. We would definitely go back again, and would recommend this to others.

Being born and raised in NYC can make you a cynic about most things, especially a restaurant that's hung in there for many, many years. But circumstances landed us in front of this restaurant and after checking out the lunch menu on the window, $22 for a salad or soup, entree and a glass of wine we ventured in. It's a buzzing area of town which usually translates into not a bargain at all but not this time. We were there about 2PM, got a nice table by the window and then we were totally surprised to get a really great and FRESH salad, nice glass of wine and a very large and tasty entree (we both ordered the chicken parmesan) It was more than we could finish but we tried because it was so good. The service was very friendly as well. I only gave it 4 stars because the place does look a bit tired. But we would definitely return. We use to hang out here in our 30s now we are in our 60s and it still works!!!

The food was wonderful, the service was great. Loved the atmosphere. Great location. Recommend especially if you are on your way to a show at Lincoln Center..

The food was good. Lasagna had a lot of meat, spinach ravioli was good in cream sauce. Chicken parm was the best dish. Chicken cutlet was excellent and tender. Spaghetti tasted home made. They messed up our open table reservations by a 1/2 hour, but it ended up working out ok. Price was right. Best part was sitting on patio and people watching.

We went there for dinner tonight and had chicken Parmesan. I asked for some extra sauce and he said OK and brought it. when I got the bill they charged extra. We told the waiter that he should have told us that there would be an extra charge. He argued with us that it was our responsibility to know that there would be an extra charge. I never paid extra for a little more sauce. I asked to speak to the manager and he said she would be coming shortly. Instead he continued arguing that he was not at fault that I should know that it was going to be an extra charge The manager never came and he continued to argue with us. Finally he took the charge off the bill with a nasty attitude. He just did not understand that for $3 he lost a customer for life, not to mention his tip. The food was not cheap and just ok.

Based on the many good reviews, we had high hopes for a good meal at a reasonable price near Lincoln Center. But for us, the food didn't live up to the reviews. The bread and salads were good, but to our surprise, the pasta, touted as homemade, was really poorly cooked -- sticky and rubbery and way overcooked. The chicken parm was good, but not outstanding and the inedible pasta served with it didn't help. The panna cotta dessert was just plain bad -- gelatinous, with a strawberry topping that definitely wasn't freshly made. None of our group were inclined to give this one another try.

Great menu. Great prix fix options, 4 courses for $37. I ordered a la carte (2 courses) for a little less. Food was delicious. Would go back again even if I was not attending a show at Lincoln Center.

Very nice neighborhood restaurant. Prices were a little high but that's New York. Our party included a baby which meant we could not linger. Staff recognized issue and service was prompt but did not feel rushed. Food was quality Italian. A pleasant experience!

The service was very very slow. The food was at best mediocre and the prices were absolutely ridiculous. I would stay away.

Really wanted to like this restaurant since it is located near our apartment. However, after 2 recent visits we doubt we will return. On both occasions my husband had the Bucatini pasta dish. Each time the pasta was overcooked. It should be al dente. It was not. Fish dish was just okay. Nothing spectacular.

While staying in Manhattan we wanted someplace close enough to walk to. Looking on line I was overwhelmed with the number of options. Picked this one and it was fabulous. It's a tiny place, tight quarters with little room to move. But that said, the food was wonderful and we totally enjoyed the meal. I chose off of their price fixed menu which had a wonderful fish option and loved it. This place is perfect for couples or small groups.

We've eaten here several times and have found the food, service and wines to be consistently very good. They have different specials every night which vary based on the season.

Staff was attentive....meal was very good....and the cost is reasonable. If you are picking a place to eat before going to Lincoln Center....make a reservation here.

Dined here for dinner before a show at Juliard. Food, service and location were perfect. The resturant is on a corner, short walking distance from Lincoln Center and Juliard. Inside are tables and a small bar. Inside was a little dark so we asked to sit near the windows. At these tables we could people watch and enjoy the nice weather. For dinner we could pick from the menu, the prefix menu or the daily specials. The pasta here is homemade. The daily soup, carrot/potato, was delicious. The bread is served with olive oil, it was fresh and crusty. Entrees, homemade spinach ravioli, lasagna and chicken parm, all were delicious. Our waiter was attentive and did not rush us. Would come back to try something else on the menu.

Bem here with the family before. The food delicious, impeccable ! But the thing that really bothers me/family is how crowded the place is! One can hardly move around!

Stumbled upon this quaint little restaurant while roaming through upper east side. We had the prix fixe lunch and it was excellent. A good portion of pasta with salad, wine and coffee. The pasta carbonara was fantastic! Homemade fresh pasta with a very rich but light sauce. The restaurant is very small but were seated quickly and wait staff very attentive.

We were promptly seated upon arrival. The restaurant is cozy, but at least the tables are well spaced, and the restaurant is quiet. We ordered chicken parmigiana and two glasses of wine. Be aware that one can order either off the lunch menu or the brunch menu, on Saturday. The Chicken was well cooked and tender, the pasta fresh tasting al dente, and the sauce nicely prepared. The wines were reasonable pours, and the service prompt and professional. We were out of there in plenty of time to go to the opera matinee. We'll consider this restaurant when in the area for shows.

We found this restaurant just by happenstance and were surprised how much we enjoyed our meal. We were going to see some music at Lincoln Center and wanted a bite to eat before. We went for a walk and the menu looked like it would suit our needs. Ambiance was nothing special and it was a bit crowded where we sat . With that being said our meal was very good. I had a seafood soup that was excellent. It was a tomato based soup chock full with salmon, mussels, clams and shrimp and was delicious. Everything we ordered was very good and the waiter was very nice. The restaurant totally surprised us and I would definitely recommend if you are looking for something in that neighborhood before a show.

We have tried quite a few of the restaurants in this neighborhood. This was one we had not tried before, because our daughter whom we are visiting said she had an awful meal there some years ago. Because we wanted to try it, our daughter, a friend of hers and our granddaughter came with us. All five of us were pleasantly surprised by the quality of our lunch. My daughter had a grilled fish dish which was cooked the right way on a fire. My wife thoroughly enjoyed her gnocchi . I tried their prix fix menu which for $17 includes an appetizer, a main course, and a glass of wine. I had a salad and one of their pastas. The salad was clearly freshly made, as were all our salads, and my pasta dish was quite tasty. The service was a bit slow, but very friendly and pleasant. All in all, a good find, and one that we will be happy to try again.

food was good, not great, but definitely good. the service really makes this place worth it. seem like a family-run restaurant and everyone, from the front of the house, to bartenders to servers, was really customer-focused, friendly and helpful. with all the mediocre and overpriced restaurants around Lincoln Center, this place is a welcome relief

From the wine to salad to entree to dessert to coffee one amazing meal. Ana was a wonderful server that made the experience awesome. Highly recommend. Fresh pasta. Leave room for dessert !!!!

We wandered in here when the restaurant we had planned to eat at had no tables. It was pretty good: tasty food, very attentive staff, and well priced for the area. Nothing remarkable, but a good option for a casual meal.

We had a nice dinner in a pleasant atmosphere. The restaurant is situated on a corner with big clean windows looking out onto Columbus and 68th... a great spot. I enjoyed the excellent pasta e fagioli to start. The green salad is quite amusing... it is red!... mainly red cabbage and radish... very tasty. The chicken was splendid... prepared both parmigiana and marsala style. Gelato for dessert completed the wonderful dining experience. The service was perfect and professional.

An early dinner with family that has visited the restaurant often. Great buffalo mozzarella as an appetizer. An different shrimp, mushroom and pasta dish I heartily enjoyed. The low carb eaters had broccoli and carrots which were gone by the end of the meal. Although sitting by an outside window overlooking the sidewalk was a bit warm on a 90 plus day it was enjoyed by the seniors in our group. I would visit this restaurant again any time I wanted good service and enjoyable food.

Just a little info. If you know good food this is not the place. Good service and very attentive staff make the horrible food bare able. Close to Lincoln Center and nice decor but not great for the foodies out there

Based on TA reviews, made my first visit tonight for dinner with 13-1/2 year old granddaughter. We both enjoyed our food very much -- she spaghetti bolognese (spaghetti pomadoro was on the menu and gnocchi bolognese, but they happily accommodated her request to put the bolognese on the spaghetti) and I veal picata. The veal was perfectly cooked and the sauce neither too rich nor too lemony as often is the problem with this dish. Dessert was a winner also -- she Tiramisu and I Flourless Chocolate Cake with vanilla gelato. Service was prompt and attentive on a busy Saturday night. Will definitely put this on my places to revisit when in NYC.

Stopped in for a quick bloody Mary on the way to tavern on the green - likely should've just ate here instead, but that's a story for another review! Service was great, bartender was friendly and colorful. Vibe of the place is awesome; we have two musicians in the family so loved the strings and music infused environment.

We were walking in central park when we realized we should find a place to eat. We cut through a residential street and found this restaurant on the corner. It was Sunday and we didnt make a reservation but were seated right away. We ordered the caesar salad, gnocchi, and braised lamb (so delicious!!!!). Service was great and very reasonably priced.

Stumbled across this quant Italian restaurant on the Upper Westside of NYC, it’s small and has great local feel, with a small bar it’s like family cooked specials. the menu was great the staff were fantastic and very well priced. It has a great bar attached, I would go back again

The food was good. We came with children and there was no children’s menu. We therefore ordered an adult portion for them to share. We had a misunderstanding with our waiter at the start with what plain pasta meant. We believed plain pasta was plain pasta but tomato pasta arrived. Our children don’t eat tomato pasta. No problem - we got it changed for plain pasta. However it was a small portion of pasta not enough for 2. I asked for a little more and more came. We were charged $13 for the privilege of a ‘half portion’ of plain pasta. I do not understand this. Unfortunately I was in the restroom when bill was settled by my wife. I only noticed right at the end and the waiter was defensive of the charging. With a compulsory 18 % tip I really expected more. He did offer to get him a manager over but at this point I was frankly too cross about the defensive manner and compulsory 18% Service and just wanted to leave Nice food for adults but avoid if you have children

This was the third time we have dined here. Delicious meals, fine selection of wines to choose from and Sara our server was great. The tables by the windows are a plus. Highly recommend this restaurant.

Ordered: 4 Cheese Risotto, Vodka Penne, Bucatini w/Ham, bottle of Chianti. All very, very good. We were given complementary Limoncello to end our meal. $140 for two.

My husband and I ate here, most recently, on a snowy/sleety/rainy night. We sat near the windows and we were able to see the people and dogs outside facing the elements. Our dinner was very delicious and the staff were welcoming and informative. I had mushroom-filled ravioli (heart-shaped for Valentine's Day!) which could have used a bit more garlic, overall, and my husband had a seafood linguine dish which he said was fabulous. It was a wonderful meal.

As always, the food is very good, and the service excellent. I have been going to thsi restaurant since before it changed its name at least once a week with my spouse and/or friends and we always enjoy it.

Great Italian Food, especially the pasta- just a few blocks from Lincoln Center. We all ordered some kind of pasta dish and everyone loved what they had. Plus we started with the Baratta cheese with peppers, olives, etc. We split it between the four of us and it was plenty as an appetizer. The service was good, the place isn't too loud and the wine list has some very reasonable choices. Overall a very good experience.

I chose this restaurant because I was getting hangry at 3:30pm & needed to eat ASAP. I ordered the frutti de mar linguini with white wine sauce. While the pasta tasted fresh made, the rest of the dish - the sauce & seafood- tasted bland - not enough garlic, salt, and other flavors. I had to add extra salt & pepper to make it acceptable. Maybe l should have stuck with the original red sauce.

Excellent italian food in casual environment. Some homemade pastas and delicious eggplant parmagiana. Service attentive and friendly. Can be crowded on weekends. Across street from Lincoln Center so convenient before a show

Amazing and memorable meal this Valentine's Day. The hostess showed me a special menu the day before without any fuss - off peak time. The service, quality of food and price were all outstanding in try opinion. This restaurant was relatively busy and all staff were efficient and able to accommodate patrons' needs - an observation whilst dining. The main feature of this restaurant was its staff. They collectively, made this occasion special and although it was Valentine's Day ensured that all interactions were personable and jolly. I would highly recommend this venue for any type of function. Thank you to all the team of Il Violino! The Lobster Bisque was to die for!!!

My husband and I had dinner here with a friend. I was going to see a show at the Metropolitan afterwards, so the location was great (as was the setting in the restaurant, which was very influenced by the fine arts). We all had pasta, but different types. We were all very glad with our choices, as they all tasted lovely. I had the Parmesan chicken, which truly is for Parmesan cheese lovers such as myself. The waitress was very helpful and attentive. We had a lovely meal and I wouldn't mind returning to Il Violino.

Went with friends for pre-opera dinner. Food was judged great, even by our official " pick eater". Awesome bread excellent pasta, very good antipasti and veal. Interesting place for visitors - lots of celebrity photos spanning decades. Complaints were spacing with people jammed into too small space and very high noise level. I will return on a Tuesday night to see if the food experience is still good and the noise level is a bit moe manageable.

We stopped here for an early dinner. It is a small place and doesn't look like it has much seating for a large party. The menu is extensive with all of the traditional Italian dishes. The food was good and the prices, for Manhattan, were quite reasonable. Our server was kind of abrupt and made us feel rushed. In spite of that, we would go back.

Came here on Sunday, December 14, 2014 around 1:45pm without a reservation after walking out of Joanne Trattoria where we did have a reservation but were treated like crap (See my review of Joanne Trattoria). We were seated right away and everyone was really nice and attentive. They were pretty busy, seems like a popular brunch place but the service was still fantastic. I had spaghetti bolognese, others had penne Alfredo and chicken parm. Everyone loved their meals. Prices were very reasonable and their service was top notch. I'm sorry I even attempted to eat at Joanne Trattoria when this gem is right across the street. We will be back.

We found this place after a recommendation from a nearby store employee. The decor looked fantastic and the atmosphere seemed nice so we decided to give it a try. I was very glad we decided to come here as the food was lovely. I ordered Gnocchi Bolognese which was fantastic, and the three other meals were also great. For four people the meal came to $100, which we didn't mind as it was an anniversary celebration, although for one course plus sides and a starter it was leaning a bit more to the pricey side. The one complaint I have about this place is that the very polite waitress' attitude turned a little sour as soon as we gave her the tip. As Brits, we are not used to tipping so generously, so we made an extra effort to give the waitress more than we would back home. This was still rejected and we ended up adding more. Other than this, great visit.

The portions are very big, so keep in mind if your bringing the kiddos they could probably spilt something, you could even split with someone else. My kids got the spaghetti and is was amazing! They make their noodles fresh daily! I had the lobster ravioli which was a special and it was also very good! We really enjoyed their calamari! The customer services was good, we really enjoyed this restaurant!

Friendly attentive service but did not make up for overpriced mediocre entree. My Shrimp Scampi literally came with 5-6 small shrimp, much smaller than what you would expect with an entree featuring shrimp and priced at $38. Flavor was lacking; I expected delicately broiled shrimp in a garlicky buttery sauce. But it is almost impossible to broil shrimp this small without overcooking. The entree came with risotto, which was OK (not to die for) and no sign of anything green. Best was table service bread. I don't plan to return for dinner.

Best choice for a meal before a Lincoln Center event (or any other time). I had a very large group for lunch at Il Violino before an event at the Met. The food was delicious and the service was outstanding. The owner was on site and made sure everyone in my group of 30 was happy.

Table of 7, various orders from fillet steak, lamb, pasta etc, all cooked perfectly, really tasty with the house red. Waiter was very polite explained the specials and was a very good host. Restaurant coped well for a busy Friday evening, would definitely recommend this restaurant in this part of New York.

Loved to eat here. A bit expensive though. The lasagna was wonderful and the gnocchi specially good. The restaurante is really good for a intimate meal.

We eat at Il Violino at least once or twice a month. On Sat April 8 we had a 6:15 PM reservation made via Open Table. At 6:05 I called to say we might be a few minutes late due to traffic, they said thanks for calling, see you shortly. We arrived at 6:22 and they had no table and none appeared to be clearing out soon. Three people at the reservation computer denied that they had spoken to me. I think they just gave away our table to a walk-in or else did not like that it was an Open Table reservation. We left at 6:40 and went elsewhere because we had an 8 pm curtain. And I have recommended this restaurant to so many people. Big disappointment

Excellent food and service. Ambience very friendly and casual. Prices reasonable. Overall a gem of a place. I shall be back… soon!

This very nice restaurant, a favorite of friends we were with, is within a couple of blocks of Lincoln Center and the Julliard School where we had attended a concert. We called ahead, we’re told that there was seating, and upon our arrival a table was ready for us. Il Violino has a $36.00 price fixed menu which was more food than we wanted, so we ordered from the regular menu which offered a wide variety of Italian specialties at reasonable prices. No soup, two of the four of us had a drink each, no salads, entree, and coffee or cappuccino. The tab was $27.00 each before tip, very reasonable by New York standards. The service was excellent, neither slow nor rushed. The wait staff were friendly and helpful. The food, excellent and there was enough to take some home. I strongly recommend this venue.

My wife and I were going to Lincoln Center and researched a number of restaurants in the area before selecting Il Violino. The restaurant has old world charm, but we opted to sit in the glass enclosure that looks onto 68th street so we could watch the activity on the street. When the waiter brought the bread for the table we realized we may have made a mistake in selecting Il Violino---it looked and tasted like commercially packaged bread. This was unexpected, because the restaurant said they made their own pasta. My wife and I shared the Sautee Di Cozze, steamed P.E.I. mussels & garlic bruschetta that was nicely served, but tasteless. For an entrée I selected Scampi Oregonata, shrimp with bread crumbs, sautéed with white wine, lemon and garlic served with saffron risotto. My wife opted for the seafood salad. Both were acceptable, but not special. We thought we saw a winner in the lemon cheesecake, but it lacked flavor. The restaurant has the look of an authentic Italian family owned restaurant and so we were disappointed, but maybe we should have tried the pasta which is home-made

We spent this past weekend in New York and with tickets for My Fair Lady, we looked for a restaurant near Lincoln Center. Everything we heard made this a perfect choice and we were looking forward to an enjoyable pre-theatre meal. Our reservation was made through Open Table and was even confirmed by the restaurant. Nonetheless, when we arrived on Saturday night, there was a sign on the door that the restaurant was closed for vacation. Another gentleman standing outside had the same experience. This shows an attitude toward their customers that is simply unacceptable. Make reservations at this restaurant with caution.

Party of 4, Visited after Lincoln center show Started w caprese salad, nicely presented with crusty bread and tasty olive oil 4 different mains, spaghetti pomodoro, 3 cheese risotto, lasagne, and sausage orrechietta . all delicious ! Service quite attentive and nicely decorated for Christmas.

It's hard sometimes to find a place for lunch in this busy part of town just after Christmas so I guess it may have been a bit of a clue when there appeared to be quite a few free tables at this place. We suggested to one of the waiters (their didn't appear to be anybody at the door to seat patrons) after about 5 minutes of waiting that we could sit at a table near the window. We were having a late lunch and asked the waitress if the pasta's were big serves as a few of us were hungry,we were reassured that they definitely were. When the food arrived I wondered if they had mistaken our order for appetisers! My wife and daughter ordered minestrone, what they got was watery vegetable soup. Was probably the worst vegetable soup they had ever tasted and a long way short of minestrone. My daughter suggested to the waitress that maybe they had our orders mixed up because what they were served was not minestrone - there was no beans, no pasta etc. Her reaction was to shrug her shoulders, so she asked again, she explained to us that she was "fairly sure" what we had was minestrone - sorry it absolutely was not. As we walked out the door a small group was looking at the menu in the window and asked us what we thought of our meal. "Look elsewhere was my suggestion", that's what I would do next time too.

We found this restaurant just walking by. It is a nice option for dinner when in the Lincoln Center area. The service was good and the food was excellent. No complaints at all.

We often eat here when near Lincoln Center. It's just a few blocks north of there. The soups & fresh bread are always a treat treat to start. We just had brunch there and everything was (again) delicious. It's a little more reasonable that most of the restaurants right around Lincoln Center and we've never had a bad meal there.

It was Father's Day and all of the Italian restaurants in my neighborhood were booked. As we were strolling on Columbus Ave., we saw a group of people leaving the restaurant after their meal. We waited a few minutes while the table was cleared and then we were seated. What a treat to have real Italian waiters! Our meals arrived promptly and were delicious! After living in this area for many years it was the first time that I had been to Il Violino but not the last!

Located near Lincoln Center, it has become one of my favorites. One I visit each time I am in NYC, which was earlier this week. The salmon was delicious! Never disappointed while dining at Il Violino.

Comfortably busy at 4 before a 6pm opera. Shared antipasti made a good light meal. Calamari and roasted vegetables both better than average. The streetside glassed-in gallery is pleasant.

Had tickets to Lincoln Center, so we decided to eat at Il Violino. Small, intimate restaurant. Great atmosphere. There were no tables available, so they suggested we eat at bar. That was just as good. Food was amazing. Cannot wait to go back again.

My granddaughter and I had tickets for the ballet and were looking for a restaurant nearby. We happily discovered Il Violino. She was happy with her pasta with marinara sauce and I with my spinach ravioli. We shared a chocolate gelato for dessert. Everything was very tasty and the service very attentive. We sat next to the window and enjoyed people and dog watching.

Il Violino is as close to a family restaurant on the upper west side as you can get. My daughter loves this place. They have great food and good service. Our total bill was $43 excluding drinks. Entrees were Broccoli Salsiccia and Spinach Ravioli. Both were great. Also we split a Pasta e Fagioli soup - excellent. Great service. Nonpretentious,

The restaurant's name is apt: Il Violino, since it's just 3 blocks away from Lincoln Center right on Columbus Ave. I'm puzzled there are so few fine dining restaurants near New York's cultural center; but good for those that are. Though it's a bit tight; ask for a table on the Street side of the enclosed windowed area. Cuisine is straight from a loving grandmother's kitchen Salads are adequate. Entrees are traditional trattoria style. We've varied our choices over our several visits and have been delighted with all. Wine by the glass yields a generous pour. Espresso is authentic. We'll be back, as Il Violino is solidly in our Lincoln Center restaurant rotation.

There is plentiful outdoor seating, both on the side street and on Columbus Avenue. We ordered an endive salad, a soup with frutta di mare, shrimp scampi, and tiramisu and tartuffo for desert. Food was very good, and it was nice to sit outside. The music was also relaxing and not overpowering, which is always nice.

We enjoyed the window seating and being able to people watch. Busboys are very attentive. Food was good but I wouldn’t say great. The calamari was not greasy but it and the sauce lacked flavor, very bland. Spaghetti and meatballs dish was hearty, very filling but just too ‘thick’, meatballs were dry and sauce was bland. Seafood linguini was probably the best of our dishes, lots of fresh fish.

My wife and I stumbled upon this restaurant during our visit and were treated to some great Italian food. My wife ordered the minestrone and I ordered the Bucatini All'amatriciana (pictured). Just a few minutes walk from Lincoln Center, it's absolutely worth a visit!