Osteria Cotta Reviews

We stopped in spontaneously after viewing the Thanksgiving Day parade floats on a freezing evening. It was very crowded, but we lucked into a spot at the upstairs railing. We overlooked the downstairs bar and dining area. I don’t usually like to sit side by side, but as we were sharing small plates and we’re family, it was actually interesting to look down on the candles flickering (real) and the tables below. Highly recommend the meat balls and rosemary wings. Wine selection was interesting and our server, who had most of the upstairs, was excellent. Only down side we’re the large flat screen TVs downstairs- don’t understand in a place with atmosphere, exposed brick and good food, having distracting and obtrusive media. Out of place here. That said, we would return!

What a great dining experience! We met another couple from the east side here for dinner on a Saturday evening. We had reservations for 7:00 and they honored them on time. As a matter of fact, we were 30 minutes early so we went to the bar and had a cocktail before they arrived. Nice intimate bar located on the first floor and the bartender was welcoming and friendly. For dinner, we were escorted upstairs to another small and intimate dining area with exposed brick and candle lit tables. We began with the fried calamari. It might have been the best calamari I've ever had. It wasn't greasy, the seasoning was addicting, and it was fresh. I didn't need marinara or lemon on it. I was told the marinara had a nice kick to it. The portion size was acceptable. I ordered the house made Pappardelle pasta with a pork ragu while the rest of the table ordered the Linguine Vongole, the Rucola Pizza, and the Meatball Pizza. Each dish was outstanding. I loved my pasta dish. I wish the portion was bigger. The pizzas were big enough to share but easily enough for one if you have a nice appetite. The pizzas were cooked to perfection and very tasty. I thought the prices were very reasonable considering it's NYC. Almost too reasonable. The service was excellent and friendly. The waitress knew the menu and addressed any concerns about allergies. Remember to make a reservation! I'll be back.

Went on a Monday night,early. No problem choosing our seat, we went upstairs in the front area. The back was much quainter but was reserved for a private gathering. The atmosphere was fun, cozy and clean. Our server was polite, she could have been a bit more helpful as we expressed it was our first time there. We ordered a Pizza to share among the 4 of us as an appetizer, it was lite and tasty. As a meal I may have felt It wasn't enough. Salads and some various small plates to share for dinner. The food was excellent, the meatballs being the favorite. Delicious! The banana bread pudding was awesome. As others have mentioned, the atmosphere and food are the draw here, service could be better. This would not keep me form going back though.

happening to be passing by Cotta one day and noted to self "wow that pizza looks good".....a few days later hankering for pizza and drove the 20 blocks from lincoln center to 85th and columbus to have their margerita pizza.....absolutely the best....as good as i have tasted in italy....even the mozzarella tasted fresh...would definitely return and try the pasta next time which i hear is as good as the pizza

Whet to meet friends to discuss trip plans, the restaurant is easy and comfortable as soon as you walk in, cozy. Service is excellent and prizes are very affordable. The Piazza is great, made just right. Wine and food selection delicious. They don't rush you out and the table setting allows private time.

This restaurant is awesome. Great outdoor seating, delicious food and great service. The happy hour from 6-7 w/ 1/2 price pizza's and wine cannot be beat. Run, don't walk.

Superb Italian in a good area, with good interior, great service and great food. Cosy feel, good prices also. Recommend.

We popped in here because we were staying nearby and liked the look of it. Very tasty straight-forward Italian food with a good beer selection.

Slightly trendy upper west side place with good, fairly priced food, Got there for dinner and we were greeted and seated promply on the balcony, overlooking the main level-a great place to sit. Good mixed drinks and good Italina food reasonably priced (Manhattan comparisons). Server was pleasant, attentive and efficient. Only problem, I need to finish my dinner with a cup of coffee-we were told they don't have coffee. We skipped desert, walked to a nearby place and had coffee and dessert.

I visited Osteria Cotta with my family in the evening of December 28 2021. To my outrage, all but one of our food was served cold. These were the conditions of our orders: 1) Pizza - Crust was already softened by steam and pizza was soggy, suggesting the pizza was pre-baked and kept in an enclosed place. 2) Truffle fries - Fries were cold, not crunchy, and most of the bottom ones were cold & soft, suggesting they too, were pre-fried and kept in an enclosed place. 3) Fire-roasted cauliflower - Cold and limpy. Suggesting it too, was made hours ago and kept in an enclosed place. 4) Gnocci - Lukewarm. Seemed like they turned off the warmer for the sauce pot some hours ago. Since the gnocci was still chewy and there was no steam coming off the plate, it probably suggested the gnocci was plastic wrapped and microwaved for mere 30 seconds. This sound exactly like we were served leftover of the day, and/or cancelled orders from other customers. I decided against ordering their dessert as I came into serious doubt about their food safety handling & practices. The restaurant manager/owner clearly had a role in this, as he tried to blame the whole fiasco on his kitchen crew. Our waiter was the only positive experience from this place. I insisted on paying the full check because I wanted your people to get paid. But this alone would not excuse your active role in endangering the health and safety of your customers, especially during the pandemic, by serving food that was not cooked fresh and was already subjected to contamination and food safety-hazard temperature at the time of serving. The waiter deserved 6 out of 5 star, but the "restaurant" deserved absolute 0 star. I contracted stomach ache and discomfort within 2 hours after eating at the restaurant. I'm sorry for having to post this, but you have failed in every way imaginable at serving food. You weren't even trying. Eat at your own risk, but Osteria Cotta put the life of my family in danger this very evening

Went here after a visit to the AMNH on a tip from a local. On a Sunday afternoon we had a leisurely lunch outside. Charming without seeming disingenuous. Pizza was great. Staff was fine for us.

A family of four, we had dinner at Cotta. The food was great. We were approached quickly by the waiter and had a very short wait for the food to be served. This is not, however, the place to bring a family. It is extremely loud. This is a great place to meet friends, have a few drinks and a bite to eat. Atmosphere is loud and dark. We were greeted by two very unhappy and uninterested hostesses. The waiter, however was friendly enough. Great place for great food and a very upbeat New York City atmosphere. Not a great place for a quiet, intimate dinner.

How on earth does this place get so many customers? I guess the upper west side food scene is so awful that this is considered good food. Service was friendly, but discombobulated. We noticed that other tables were given bread and oil and we never did. We asked our server why and she said that bread was only given if you ordered certain things. WHAT? We didn't order pizza or bruschetta...nothing with bread. What on earth are they thinking!? We asked for some and she gave it to us. The fried calamari was unseasoned and tasteless, though the tomato sauced helped. The arancini were fine, but, nothing special. The appetizers were very small for the money. My friend said her ravioli were overcooked and had barely any filling. My pappardelle (this was actually thinner than pappardelle should be...closer to fettucine) with pork ragu, was decent...the mint was a nice touch, but the noodles, though fresh, stuck together and I got sauce all over me trying to get them apart. The brussels sprouts were very plain and burnt with a few cubes of pancetta. It just made me wish I was at Ilili. Best sprouts ever! The tiramisu was actually one of the better ones I've had. Though some of the food here is decent, it's nothing special and I don't think I'll be going back...well, maybe just for the tiramisu.

We've been to Cotta a few times now and it's been consistently good. The flavors are spot on, and fresh, very fresh ... I'm thinking about the bruschetta appetizer on this last visit, in particular. Service was excellent ... our most recent server, Tatyana, was juggling several tables at a time and we never felt neglected. It can get loud, since there's a popular bar downstairs, so just be prepared for that.

This place is amazing.We found it on accident walking around our second night in the city and had to go back before we left. Now we go there everytime we are in nyc. It is the coziest atmosphere, very romantic or good for a close gathering with friends. You can eat on the couches, small tables, bar, so many cool spots. The food is delicious. We had pizza with ricotta cheese, mushrooms in a white truffle oil and then a plate of pasta with a hot gelato desert. The food comes out pretty quick and the staff always is ready to refill you drinks and are knowledgeable about wine. Have to come here everytime we go to the city.

We very much enjoyed the pizza, pasta, and truffle fries! Great meal after a long day walking around manhattan!

Dropped in for a pizza. Both the pizza and the vine was a very nice surprice. Also the tiramizu was good. The uneven surface under the chairs made it a challenge to keep balance while eating, without spilling food or drinks.

I was there once with a friend with no pretensions and ordered the truffled creamy polenta with porcini & crimini mushrooms which remains in my dreams. Later, I returned to Ny to celebrate my birthday and chose the osteria to be the place of our dinner. I highly recommend the polenta. It is wonderful. The staff is friendly and even gave me a candle and sang "happy birthday" to me.

Tasty but small portions. Expensive for what you get. Was still hungry after we left. Atmosphere was good, but we ate outside. Would most likely not return.

This is a pleasant Italian restaurant. Ambience is good, food is pretty standard but perfectly OK, and service is fine. You have a choice of eating outside, eating downstairs, which is noisier and buzzier, or eating upstairs, which is quieter. I had no complaints, but am not sure that this place distinguishes itself among a number of other restaurants in the same neighborhood.

The food is rustic and really good. We had roasted branzino with mashed and a really fresh fennel salad dressed with lovely homemade citrus vinaigrette. A simple fusilli piselli and a side of olives. If you like good wine you will struggle to find one here, but they have a good selection of craft beers and the cocktails looked enticing. A great place for brunch and dinner!

I have actually visited Osteria Cotta twice--once when in NYC with some friends about a year and a half ago, and then again on July 5. I was with my daughter on this most recent visit. When we first entered I didn't think there were any available seats, but the hostess said there was seating available upstairs. It's definitely quieter upstairs and it was really nice and cool (NYC was having a heat wave so the AC was fantastic!!). Downstairs is a bit more lively, but the upstairs was in no way boring--there were several people up there. I would say after being both downstairs once and then upstairs, I probably prefer up. The food is tasty and there are good choices on the menu. The service, as someone else mentioned, is a bit slow. Our server took her time coming over initially, and then when we finished, she was nowhere in sight. It wasn't really a problem--we just told someone else we were ready for the bill--however, service could definitely use a little improvement. But all in all, a really nice little place and I will definitely go back. My daughter actually lives on the UWS, so it's great to find little neighborhood spots to enjoy!

We dined outside for lunch. Great lunch specials. Wonderful service. We had salad, pizza and paninis. Delicious!

Hard to beat soup or a salad (a large one) and a pasta dish or a pizza for $15.00. Nice ambience, not crowded but fairly busy on a Friday early afternoon. A comfortable place to have lunch on your own.

We were a group of 9, celebrating a graduation. But, Osteria Cotta made it a memorable occasion. They treated us like honored guests. The food was all pre-ordered and it just kept coming. It was all great and everyone seemed to really like the family style service. Highly recommend for groups!!!

Good atmosphere and food. Very attentive service. Pasta was very tasty. I'll come back to try the pizza.

This is a go to in my neighborhood for good food and wine. They serve Italian fare at a reasonable price. It becomes expensive because you want to have it all!!

Let me begin by saying as long as it partially sunny, we go here almost every weekend. We are all you can drink mimosa brunch regulars. We love its proximity (close), we love the two hours of refills, we love the sidewalk seats and fun people watching (UWS stars and has beens walk by all the time), we love the delicious if predictable food, and we love that no one rushes us or hassles us for the check. Inside is not the same as the sidewalk, although the food is always solid and I've enjoyed every meal I've had whether inside or out. If you are at museums or the park, I would recommend it. Fairly kid friendly too, I've brought out of towners 3 times and no one left screaming. Major fan of the arancini balls, the tartufo pizza, and even the Cesar salad. The Nutella calzone sounds better than it looks (needs more goop, less dough), but the French toast is pretty good.

I've been here several times and love the food, and have brought friends who liked it as well. The prices are really reasonable by NYC standards, especially given that it's in the UWS. The upstairs back area is cozy and quiet, and the outdoor seating is nice, too. Try the meatball pizza and the truffled egg and marscapone/honey crostinis. I could never go there without ordering these again.

My husband and I went to Cotta this summer with my sister and brother-in-law and we were THRILLED with the experience. The décor is “traditional meets eclectic” and I felt like everywhere I looked there was something more to see. But, what I first noticed is that the place is buzzing with excitement! It’s very high energy and lots of people were there but it felt more “cozy” than “crowded.” I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the prices on the menu…for the quality of food and portion size, (not to mention it being in New York City,) this is a steal! I won’t run down the list of what we had to eat because, suffice it to say, we had A LOT, but every single dish was incredibly delicious. From the appetizers, to the pasta, to the pizza and entrees, one after the other was seasoned perfectly, fresh and right out of the oven. Two dishes I will mention just because you really shouldn’t leave Cotta without having them are the Wood Fire Roasted Chicken and the Nutella and Ricotta Calzone. The chicken is crispy and flavorful on the outside and once you cut into it, it’s so moist the juices pour out of it. I don’t know how they do it! We finished our meal with the Nutella and Ricotta Calzone all I’ll add was that there is powdered sugar on top. To. Die. For. I felt compelled to write this review because there are millions of restaurants to choose from in New York but THIS ONE is worth mentioning and worth trying. The atmosphere is warm and friendly, the staff is informed and attentive, the prices are just right (dare I say almost “inexpensive”) and the food is unbelievable. Go to Cotta on a whim or for a special event, you won’t regret it!

Pizza was good enough and mostly similar to real italian pizza. But I was surprised by the quality of service. When I asked a waiter for a WiFi he told me that they don't have WiFi and just shared wifi from his own cellular phone. That was surprisingly pleasant moment. There is a cozy place. 4 - because they don't have wifi.

Looking for a nice brunch spot and this place delivered. Unique entrees and tasty mimosas. Service and atmosphere were both good.

Eight of us spent New Year’s Eve upstairs with a set menu (choose three of these six options etc). It was brilliant - really busy, fabulous service, really delicious and authentic food. Reasonably priced. Given NY on NYE is a series of large rip offs, this was a seriously good find. Highly recommended.

Cotta was a great place for our large group of family and friends. Party room upstairs is excellent and worth calling ahead to reserve. We had a bunch of pizzas and salads and everything was done perfectly. We will be back!

Need I say more? Pizza was bad and the service was rude. Don't ware your money or even worse don't waste your evening. Only nice person was the hostess.

Had dinner on a Friday night at Cotta while visiting my daughter in NYC. Was a bit cautious at first (as anyone would be when their vegetarian, on a budget college student daughter tells them that she found this great restaurant). This place WAY exceeded my expectations - not only for a college student's taste - but for a true foodie's palate. We sat outside - although she did send me in to check out the inside. Bar was packed and lively. Upstairs was phenomonal. Next time I do a dinner in NY - this is the place! Food was amazing. We stuck to small plates and the portions were huge and the prices reasonable. Great wine list. Baked ricotta was incredible - so simple but SO good. Wait staff and host were great. Definitely on my list for future visits and will recommend to friends and business associates.

I have been here atleast 3 times already and have never been disappointed. I always ask for a table upstairs. The area is alounge type room with large oversized chairs and sofa, also a few tables. The food is always on point and I will return. Definiteky a great restaurant both ambiance and food.

Arriving in New york late in the evening we wanted a meal at 10 pm.This did the job, Very welcoming, helpful and fun staff, excellent menu , top food. Well worth a visit

This place is terrible. I planned a party for 35 people. When we arrived, I checked in with the hostess, and said we were there for the party of 35, and she asked if we had a reservation!! I should have fled then. About 25 guest arrived at the same time, went up to our table and there were place settings, but there weren't enough chairs at the table for us to sit at. So everyone just sort of stood around the table awkwardly for a good 10 minutes, shuffling and confused.. Very awkward! I called the manager over, fully expecting her to apologize profusely and whip up in the enough chairs, and begin a wonderful evening of yummy dining with good friends. But instead she said to me: "Well there is enough place settings, just not enough chairs" and she just stood there - huh?!!! She didn't even try to organize or remedy!! Which left it up to me to go around the restaurant, scavenging for empty chairs for my 25 guests to sit down. All not leading to any sort of fine dining experience. It was an incredible exercise in how not to run a restaurant. My parents had flown in from California and were hosting this party, the whole thing was a nightmare. I would never go back.

Visited late on for some drinks and appetizers on a Friday night. The interior is very elegant, cozy, with a romantic vibe. The wait staff was pleasant. The wine my wife selected was excellent, as was the IPA I ordered. We fried calamari and a sausage pizza. Both were very flavorful. I would highly recommend trying this place.

Food, especially the apetizers, was very good. I especially enjoyed the polenta with mushrooms (not a summer dish but I rarely see polenta on menus and love it!). The caponata was ok, tasted out of a jar and not home-made. They delivered meatballs in error - has asked for arancini aka rice balls but I guess because of the noise level the waitress misunderstood. No big deal, the meatballs were very good, rice balls you can skip! I then ordered pizza with mushrooms and it was thin and well cooked, just as I like it!!! Ambiance is warm, cozy and welcoming upstairs. Downstairs it is loud and crowded! Nice to have outdoor seating during nice weather as well.

Not greeted on the way in, tried to sit upstairs because the bottom was nearly full and they denied me without explanation. Staff was not looking to give advice on dishes but just wanted you to order something. Appetizer was good but cold. My house made pasta was good, my friend's chicken was just ok pretty dry. After being checked on in the beginning literally every minute, they disappeared when it was time for anything else. The waitress/waiter tried to take my food away while i was still eating TWICE, even reaching for it. I guess it was so dark in the restaurant they couldn't see I still had food on my plate (nothing about my demeanor said I was done). In the end they brought the check when we said we didn't want anything else at the moment. We might have got a coffee. I should have listened to the negative reviews

This is a great Italian restaurant just off the Park Midtown NYC. Food was excellent but small portions. Most of us had Linguine Vongole which was extremely tasty but could have done with a little more. Good selection of wines.

We have eaten three times in recent months at this restaurant and we have been mostly pleased by the food and service. Tonight though we ordered through Uber Eats from this restaurant. My husband’s pasta was fine , but the Caesar salad was skimpy. The bigger disappointment though was the small piece of Branzino that had on the menu cannellini beans with the fish. There was nothing with the fish except a piece of lemon. When I called to complain, I was told this was Uber Eats’ problem, not theirs. I said that they had made the food. She said “sorry,” but it wasn’t their fault.

Whether sitting upstairs or down—they both have their own charm—the food is good, the portions are good-sized, and the appetizers delicious. Ask for specials! The good news is, they’re open late, and serve more than bar food. What a find!

My friend and I went here for brunch and had GREAT food and unlimited cocktails. I had spaghetti and my friend had an egg/cheese dish and they were both good. It was a nice cute restaurant and the location was great.

Surprisingly for UWS they use cheap oils. Caponata is not made right. Branzini is actually half of the fish, overcooked. Red beets have too much of vinaigrette.

Hard to imagine that anyone could rate this 4 stars, let alone 5. Our family of 3 ate here for dinner recently and were met with completely indifference and unpolished service by the support staff, namely, the too-cool-for-school hostess and the busboy who took our empty bread basket and olive oil bowl away without asking if we wanted more--before we even got our salads. By far, the "star" of the evening was our bored waiter. The arugula salad was decent as was the orecchiette with sausage in a pesto sauce. As has been noted in other reviews, the place is attractive but super-dark and loud. Hard to imagine that I'll be back soon with the plethora of restaurants within 2-3 blocks.

Most recent visit 1.8.17. Having previously had only the pizzas from Cotta, we gave it a try for lunch. The daytime menu during the weekend is very limited to egg dishes, pastas, and pizza with a few panini as well. The steak and eggs, risky perhaps at only $19.50, proved worse than expectations with scrambled eggs so full of butter as to be inedible, and a steak that was flavorless. The panini was completely soggy as were the french fries. For some reason the music was blaring (on a Sunday afternoon) so loudly that conversation was a challenge. While the pizzas are terrific, the brunch was awful and the environs unpleasant.

Love this place so much! Reasonably priced, yummy food. We got the fried calamari, margarita pizza, and spaghetti. Great service and awesome outdoor seating!! Will keep coming back!

A short walk from our hotel in 81st, we loved the atmosphere. Sat in the bar area which was loud, but we were OK with that. Service was slow - my husband had to remind our server to bring his 2nd glass of win - but friendly. Food was good, but not outstanding. My husband's zucchini fritters were basic, my salad of arugula, parm and pickled onions was good. Our entrees were also tasty - but nothing special. Had to ask and wait for fresh grated parm.

We were recommended this place on the UWS by a gym buddy. After a movie, we decided to go up there and try it. We are very glad we did. We sat outdoors on a perfect summer evening and started to tuck into some terrific eats. DO NOT miss the pizza verdure. Good pizza is not (for me at least) easy to find. Anywhere. The best ever was in Trogir, Croatia, at Pizzeria Mirkec. We had a seafood pizza there that was impossibly delicious. Alas, such treats are entirely absent from menus here. What a terrible shame. The verdure here is of the same calibre. Intensely delicious on a perfect, thin crust. I dream of it when we aren't there! Listen. It may not float your boat, but do give it a try. I don't think you will be disappointed at all! The entrees are good, too, including the salmon (perfectly cooked, and I mean perfectly) with intensely delicious caponata served alongside it. Addictive. Really. We have now eaten there several times and it has become one of our favourite spots for good Italian/Mediterranean fare. The atmosphere is always festive and the price is right. Don't miss it, OK???

Unless you order the pizza and bring ear plugs, we wouldn't recommend this place. VERY noisy downstairs, quieter upstairs. The only Italian place I've ever been that didn't know the meaning of AL DENTE. The pasta was cooked in mush! Avoid this place!

Great wine. The selection is pretty good. Food is really good as well. Best if you are sharing. The appetizers can be on the small side but they are worth it. The baked ricotta is particularly delicious. They have sizable outdoor seating even in the fall since they have heat lamps.

not sure if this is Osteria Cotta on the UWS. if so, it's the kind of quirky, dark neighborhood place New York used to be full of. good food, nothing fancy.

Food wasn't bad but nothing memorable. The pizza was too thin in the middle and too thick at the outside but tasted fine. The salmon was overdone. It is very loud and dark but had a good atmosphere. The service was great until we got our main course and then everyone disappeared.

As a New Yorker, I come here all the time for HH on the weekday. Great Happy Hour. The special is 2 for 1 glasses of wine. The wines are pretty decent. The small plates and entrees (reg price) are great, fresh and a good value. Service is great too. After 7p, it is PACKED!

Cotta Restaurant on the Upper West Side, NYC, is a great, romantic place to visit. The service was phenomenal. Our waiter (Gerardo) was professional, yet friendly to our ordering needs. The food and drinks were amazing. The price was unbelievable. We are definitely going back. Next time, we are going straight to the second floor. It's got a cozy, romantic setting. We highly recommend it.

Dine al fresco. Awesome Italian cuisine. Good pizza and also get the bruschetta. Great neighborhood - the place to be. I'm adding more so I can submit this review - you will enjoy your meal!

Once the sun went down, outdoor dining was tolerable. Started with decent calamari, pizzas were ok but the service was inconsistent. Probably won't be my first choice.

This is a bar, it is not a restaurant, let’s get that straight right off the bat. There are speakers (cheap) everywhere in the upstairs dining area blasting pretty awful “music”. The lousy dining experience starts right at the door where the hostess greets you with with frown and acts like you’re ruining her day by taking you to the table. Cue the dirty menus. Ask for extra anchovies on your Caesar salad and you’ll be informed that they don’t have anchovies- so bottled dressing at an “Italian” restaurant- major fail. No bread with dinner. My truffle pizza arrived cold with cheese unmelted. My cocktail was served in the smallest cocktail glasses I’ve ever seen- big rip off. Again, this is not a restaurant; it’s a bar with mediocre Italian-sounding dishes. In New York City, there is no excuse for this.

This place has the best happy hour. Always full of people. The food is delicious and fresh. Prices are reasonable. Service can be hit or miss but never horrible. Just sometimes better than others. I recommend especially for HH. No reservations for dinner or brunch:(

I must applaud the staff who made our experience memorable. Three of us sitting at a small ''gueridon/low boy" table. Our waiter made sure we were comfortable. They have an incredibly affordable wine list with great choices. I highly recommend fusilli, calamari and arancini. For old people like me and friends, a little more lighting would help to read the menu. But a place i highly recommend.

Consistent winner. Reasonable happy hour prices, and the small selection of appetizers are delicious. Noise level is usually acceptable at happy hour, though it might get louder as the evening rolls on.

We have been here many times. A small few of the dishes like the lamb tagiatelle are excellent. Salads are very average. Bread is average. Cocktails are good but pricey. We like it as a go to dinner place that is easy to walk to, but I would not make a special trip just to dine here. It is a solid neighborhood place. Service is always shorthanded and therefore somewhat slower. Once the order is placed, the food comes quickly, the problem is getting someone to take the order. Seating is awkward and cramped, typical in NYC though.

Quick and friendly service. Affordable wine options and nice small plates, apps, and shareables! Enjoyed the Amatriciana pizza - thin and very crispy crust. Would eat here again when in NYC! The

Wonderful atmosphere, good wine list, and AMAZING pizzas!! For dinner, be sure to also try to gnocchi -- they melt in your mouth!

We were at the museum and took a walk through the park before craving pizza with a place to sit and relax. Sat at bar during lunch hour on a Saturday and we were quite pleased with prompt service and good pizza. The crust was awesome (I'm fussy and it was the nice wood-fired thin style) as was the attentive bartender who ensured our wine glasses were full.

We came across Cotta after spending the day in the Park and walking around the Upper West Side. We were pleasantly surprised to get a last minute reservation on a Friday night. We ended up sitting in the bar area. We had a pizza Margherita, arancini for appis, and then we shared a lamb ragu dish and carbonara both made with fresh pasta. More than enough food for the four of us. The food was very good and when I'm back in NYC, I will definitely go back.

Had a perfect night to dine outside. Our waitress was friendly and efficient. I had gnocchi and roasted cauliflower and husband had wings and the tartuffo pizza. Everything was very good and we had enough to bring home to enjoy again tomorrow. I can recommend this restaurant, but I did not get to see the interior!

A great place to grab a glass of wine and some tapas with a friend. Location is great for walking and people watching

Visited here with three others and al agreed that this is a great place to eat. All of the dishes ordered were delicious and reasonably priced. The varied wine menu with good specials pleased everybody and provided good matches for all the food ordered. If you're from out of town and wondeirng whether to visit, don't be afraid. The inside is very cool with an old-world charm, yet slighlty hip. There is a wood fired overn for great pizzas and the menu has great food. Specifically, I had the farfalle with fennel italian sausage. It was fantastic.

We decided to try Osteria based on Yelp reviews-and once again we were not disappointed. We enjoyed our brunch alfresco on a cool Sunday afternoon. The interior is small but inviting. I didn't get to see the upstairs, but it isn't a large restaurant. Our server was pleasant and even saved us a few dollars by suggesting the brunch with drinks special. We savored: Mimosas A tasting of bruschette Eggs Benedict poached eggs & prosciutto over foccacia w/ hollandaise Baked Truffle Eggs creamy polenta and mushroom All were excellent. My husband really enjoyed the truffle eggs. We were very satisfied and would definately return.

We sat outdoors in the large street side patio. It is a comfortable space (though tables are one next to the other and most are full). We shared a few small plates. We had creamy polenta with mushrooms ... Very well prepared, shrimp scampi ... Great sauce and plenty of bread to soak it up, and chicken spiedini (grilled skewers of chicken, onion, zucchini, and eggplant) ... Everything was very tender. The service was attentive and friendly. I would definitely eat here again.

Had a table for four here, everyone really enjoyed the food, we had a mix of chicken dishes and lasagne, great atmosphere and good staff team, would suit small or big groups, definitely will go back.

We came here for brunch. The ambience is very rustic and serene. We were seated right away. The Brunch options are really good specially the egg preparations. I had Eggs in Purgatory and it was delicious. Sangria was ok. My friend ordered mimosa and it was better.

We came here for an early dinner with our kids. The atmosphere is lovely and the decor is cosy. Perhaps a wee bit dark as we had trouble reading the menus! The waiter recommended a wine which I really enjoyed. The food was delicious and came quickly which suited us with hungry children. I had the pumpkin ravioli which was delicious. The fries were also very good.

Walk in and you're immediately understand how inviting the atmosphere is in here. The room behind the curtains offers even more! The prices are very reasonable, as long as you don't order the french toast (four small slices for 12 dollars!). I had the steak and eggs; very tasty. Overall the prices and menu options make it worth another visit. Not to mention the atmosphere!

My friends and I had a great time at this place, food was excellent! Definitely recommend the Pesto Orichiette and the Parma Pizza, outstanding!!!

Perfect example of dis intrusted cooking. Worst Italian food I ever had. Staff is arrogant service is as if they are doing big favor. Just avoid this place. Food was uncooked and tasteless and cold. Bad bad bad is the place.

My honey and I have been here soooo many times! And every time we've had an AMAZING experience. The staff is unaware and uneducated when it comes to discussing drinks and items in the menu, but who cares we're in love- therefore as long as the drinks are right we'll keep coming back! I highly recommend this place to couples that are obsessed with each other!

This is a very charming restaurant in the UWS that has good quality food and fair prices. The pancetta brussel sprouts pizza was the show stopper. Great. The roasted fish dishes were just OK. The roasted free range chicken was very good. Service was good, not great.

Stopped by for a late dinner with our two teenage boys. They loved the pizza. Decent wine list for casual place. We enjoyed the small plates.

I love steak. Last night I had a steak that was as good as any I've ever had! I would put last night's dinner (the steak in particular) on a par with any top steak house. In particular, if you've ever eaten at Al Biernat's in Dallas - it was that good!!! And that's GOOD!!! This is not a fancy or expensive restaurant; we sat outside on the sidewalk in perfect weather. The service was friendly and the manager, Steve, introduced himself which I think is very classy. Last night was just an A+ dining experience. The Caesar salad was also outstanding.

Beautiful thin crust pizza. House made, fresh pasta. Genuinely great service from several staff. This restaurant restored my faith that there are places in New York interested in more than just a tip. Absolutely packed with locals not tourists so obviously popular. If it had a downside, the music was a bit loud. Would love to go back and sample more of the menu.

It's one of the best Italian joints on the UWS! The food, drinks are good and the service is quick and friendly!

I had a lovely pizza and my had a delicious pasts dish. The service was outstanding, friendly, unhurried, relaxing atmosphere. On my first night in New York, we were very impressed

Food is ok, outside tables are a plus. Inside gets very busy and loud. Still, a good staple in the neighborhood.

Recommended by friends, we tried Osteria Cotta for lunch during a casual day out with our teen son. Apparently not ordering fancy drinks or a "high end" menu items meant we weren't worthy of the servers "A" level service. Thin lipped smiles and "barely there" service ruined out experience despite the good food and inviting atmosphere. We did not even warrant a "have a nice day" when the server obviously ignored us as we left...never to return.s

First trip to NY, first night in town. Guest services at the hotel recommended Cotta for dinner after our walk through Central Park. It was Saturday night but we were seated rather quickly in the outside patio. Small table and tight quarters but didn't feel crowded; had the feel of a local hang-out rather than a tourist destination which was very nice. The food was excellent and very reasonably priced. The waiter's recommendation for appetizers and meals were spot-on. Waiter was very nice and engaging to the perfect point, and the other service personnel were friendly and personable. The only drawback was speed, or really the lack of speed. After ordering everything was painfully slow; drinks took ages for delivery and our appetizers were a long wait. Can't speak to the time it took to prepare our meals; after a very long wait the waiter advised he forgot to put in our meal order. Honest mistake though, and his confessing the error made the wait much more easy to take than had we not known. All in all this was a a great meal in a wonderful location; the staff were excellent and the affordable food was extremely good. Highly recommended, we hope to return!

The food was good but the experience was stressful because 1) so dark you need a flashlight to read menu and see what food was dropped on your table and 2) the waiters clearly had better things to do then wait on tables. Seriously, I couldn’t get the attention of the waitress and I had to ask for bread (stale) and 3 times to get the check. She never really even spoke to us after taking our orders. Management: pay your electric bill, put up the lights, and tell your servers to pretend they want to be there.

I've come here many times, sometimes with just one other person and other times with group as large as 10 or more, yet not matter what every experience has simply been wonderful! The wait staff is so helpful with recommendations and every time I'm amazed with how fast the service is. The food is excellent and fairly authentic. I usually get a pizza but always make sure to save room for dessert!! I know I'll be back soon! My advice is to get a table outside over the summer.

We where visiting NYC and needed a good place to eat. Not being local we had no idea where to go - so many places to choose from...We stumbled upon Osteria Cotta by accident and we absolutely loved it! The staff was awesome and the food was absolutely delicious. Definitely a place we will be going back to any time we're in town. Their tartufo pizza is the best!

The loud trendy bar downstairs hides the cozy, candlelit room upstairs. We chatted over tasty pizza and a gnocchi special with delicate cream sauce that danced on the tastebuds. Both were fresh and delightful. The menu has enough variety - although the lowlight makes it hard to read. Bring your phone flashlight app. Their wine list is short but well-rounded…ask for a tasting before committing to an $8-14/glass. Our staff was very efficient and friendly. (I read the other reviews and assume that they did too.) It was an uncrowded Tuesday night …… and we enjoyed a good discussion, good service without being rushed. The bar downstairs has a completely different vibe

The idea appears to be get customers in and out as fast as possible. This is like Italian fast food. The waiter never greeted us or asked us if we wanted anything to drink. His first words were "are you ready to order?" and then we never saw him again until he brought the check. Service was rushed, unfriendly and uncaring. The food came too quickly, as if it was already prepared. The food was actually better than I expected. Overall, it's not a fun or even interesting place. The outdoor tables are pushed together on a dirty sidewalk. No one seemed to care anything about service or the customer. It was all about getting the table turned as fast as possible. I won't return.

My friend recommended this place for our night of celebration and I am so glad she did! We sat at a cozy private table at the back of the second floor - amazing ambiance! I would say the food was tasty (although not the largest portions), friendly staff and good location! We'll certainly go back!

Loved this Upper West Side Restaurant. Vibrant bar, hip and energetic atmosphere, and most of all great food. Had the "Funghi Misti" Pizza (mozzarella, mushroom, tomato & white truffle oil) - which I highly recommend. It was about 6-8 pieces of wonderful thin crust pie, and the white truffle oil was amazing. For only $12.50 - especially NYC standards - it was the most reasonable meal that I had during my 5 day trip to NYC. Paired with a Caesar salad and a carafe of Pinot Grigio I left full, happy, and taste buds begging to go back again. My entire meal and drinks was approximately $40. Service was good. Bar was crowded so it was a bit loud on a Friday night. Had no trouble getting in with a table for 2 sitting at a high top table surrounding the bar at prime dinner time.

High energy place - not too loud inspite of it being full - brick oven pizza - can't go too wrong - got a table tucked in a corner but close to the oven area. Dimly lit place has its own charm once in a while and helps create its own atmosphere. Patrons are young - just joined the workforce, but not students, just wanting a quick drink and a bite to end the week on a good note.

I love the selection of their salads and pizzas. My favorite is the Arugula Prosciutto pizza; I get it every time and for the past 1 year it has been consistently very very good. My only issue with the place is that it is rather noisy, but you may get lucky and end up in the "back room" on the second floor, which allows for a more intimate conversation without yelling at your friends. I am looking forward to go back there. I also enjoy the decor of the place - sort of rustic with a modern vibe (not like your grandma's house).

We arrived for Sunday dinner, and by the time we left, it was hopping both inside and out. The wine selection is vast and affordable. The seating is cozy eclectic, good date place. Our group all started with a standard mixed salad, good, nothing unusual. Two of us opted for the homemade pappardelle with pork ragu, which was terrific. It sounds heavy, but its not, just the right balance of pasta and ragu, not smothering it like many places do. Also we enjoyed a delicious salmon with a ratatouille of eggplant, very good accompaniment to the fish. Trust me on this one: we are not dessert people, but when you see something as strange as a Nutella calzone, curiosity takes over. Three of us split this, great sharing plate. The only way to describe it is that it arrives, looking very much like a hot calzone, big, curved, but with powdered sugar on top. Slice in to this treat and it has the consistency of a pastry, but filled with a mix of Nutella and ricotta. You will be fighting over the scraps at the end. We enjoyed this interesting wine bar in the upper west side, will return for sure!

In the space that used to be Senor Swanky's is Osteria Cotta, an authentic, warm and charming Italian on Columbus Avenue. Unlike Senor Swanky's, the food and service are absolutely top-notch, and the atmosphere is fun. The front of the restaurant is a rustic, barn-like facade, opening to a relatively open downstairs with an open kitchen in the back. Upstairs are tables with plenty of space between them. Wherever you sit, the food is delicious - the pizzas are excellent, but our favorites are the small-plate appetizers; we've made meals from just a variety of these, from the salumi to the formaggia to the house specials. Friendly and pleasant staff, laid-back authentic Italian atmosphere, and excellent food - what could be bad? A great addition to the neighborhood and a terrific choice if you're looking for a good value Italian.

Nice Italian restaurant in a rustic setting. However, we were rushed in ordering and the food came much too quickly. The portions were awful. I ordered the chicken Milanese and received one chicken cutlet with mounds of arugula. We also ordered ravioli, which came with a total of 8. Given the price, I expected much more. It tasted pretty good, but certainly not a memorable experience. Won’t be returning any time soon.

We stopped here at happy hour (how fortunate! !). Great atmosphere, friendly staff and a good selection of beers and wines. Although we didn't eat here, the food looked great and was complimented by those around us that were eating. Will be calling in here again

During our family visit, i reserved at the Osteria Cotta on the 2d floor. Second floor is more quiet than the 1st floor. The lasagna was magical! very good. Pizza was great and the pasta was just perfect. The kids loved their meal. Prices our also very afordable . great diner can't wait to go back!

Great atmosphere and really good Italian food, but the service is definitely lacking. We come here quite often because it is around the corner but order everything the first time the waiter comes as we know they will not be back for a while.

A warm and happy spot; dependable menu with great wines at fine prices. A fan for over 10 years, we're always happy to have a lunch or dinner at Cotta. The rosemary wings & shrimp scampi appetizers are excellent. All pizzas and pastas are always a hit. With a group of friends, date time, or with kids, a fine place to enjoy a good meal with good wine. Adrianna is a lovely waitperson, and overall what a good value for money at Cotta.

This bustling place is worth the wait...great pizzas and pastas! Our default Italian stop on the UWS.

Restaurant offering good quality dishes for both pizza and pasta. Despite a reservation problem initially, the boss has managed the situation perfectly with professionnalism. He even offered us the desserts. we spent good Time in that very nice place. thank you

As an NYC outsider, I was anxious about the prices for happy hour (or any restaurants really). I was pleasantly surprised we could walk in, have a great seat, had some amazing brick oven pizza and drinks without breaking the bank! By 7, it was packed, so get there early! The cozy atmosphere set the vibe for a great night!

We had booked a table but when we arrived our party of 3 were shoved into a 2 person table in a corner. Rude and incompetent staff then ruined the night. Slow service. We had to ask to order. No apologies. No smiles. The staff hardly spoke. So so bad it was embarrassing.

We had a great evening at Cotta - the prices were good at the bar during happy hour and we had a great appetizer board. The assortment of cheeses and meats is very good and they have a great jellies etc. The wood fired chicken was tasty and tender, the pizza had a thin crust and great flavor. Great evening for our group.

A friend and I happened upon Cotta while walking through the city waiting to attend an event in Central Park. We sat upstairs which was cozy but a little dark for the afternoon. We were delightd and surprised to find the brunch menu included an entree and unlimited brunch cocktails for $24.00. We had the meatball panini and 4 sangrias each (delicious) and couldn't believe it was for $24.00. Didn't expect to find that value in the city.

Cotta is a neighborhood favorite - I really like their fresh pastas and the roasted chicken is spectacular. There's a little four-top right near the kitchen that's my favorite spot, otherwise I love the ambiance in the first floor/bar area.

Went there for a private party, upstairs. We had a variety of Pizza's and hors d'Oeuvres and a wine bar. Everything they served was very good. The place was busy downstairs so obviously they have a devote neighborhood clientele and it seems for good reason. Can't comment on price because we didn't pay for anything. Management seemed to be on top of everthing.

The most amazing eggs benedict I have ever eaten, accompanied by a refreshing Mimosa. Nice atmosphere and very friendly server. Good value for money.

Just ate here for the first time and liked it a lot. It looks a bit like a honkie tonk bar when you walk in, but it actually has an authentic, dark-woody osteria atmosphere. The food is solid—we had fried calamari, a smallish meatball pizza, and two pastas, all quite good—and reasonably priced; the service is low-key and pleasant; and the concise, mostly Italian and French wine selection is fine (and affordable, with a welcome carafe option for many wines). In short, a very nice neighborhood joint.

Nice restaurant with great food. Make sure you are prepared to be bombarded by staff regarding when you need To give up the table. Had a brunch reservation for 11am, left by 130pm -we had a show to catch at 2pm. Constantly reminded by pushy staff about the need to leave by 2pm sharp. Yikes.

Went here the first night in NY and wasn't disappointed. Pizza and pappardelle were both great choices. Really good pizza crust. Cheese platter after was good, but we were more than surprised to find that what would have been olive oil in Australa was maple syrup. Cultural differences ...

We had the linguine with clams, the Brussels sprout pizza and the pasta with tomato sauce. All of the food was OK. Prices are fair. There must be better Italian on the Upper West Side.

Ok this place is not bad, but is the approximate Italian style unfortunately common in NY. I can suggest the pizza with truffle that is really good. Pizza with rucola was not bad but they put some lemon juice on top that killed the taste. Arancini are just fake not suggested while decent quality polpette are available. The place is a bit too dark for my taste but.. De gustibus...

Come here with friends, family or as a couple. This place has great authentic food at really reasonable prices for NYC. Amazing ambiance, especially in the secluded lounge on the 2nd floor. It made our evening.

Delicious Italian Food, nice place. I was impressed by the creative dishes. Salads, appetizers, entrees, everything is fresh and they have original flavors.

A local feel.....fun, hip, casual atmosphere with great Italian food. We dine at Cotta every time we visit NYC. Typically, we walk to restaurants near our hotel, but we are more than glad to take a taxi to Cotta. Great bar atmosphere, too!

Pros: Our server, Victor, was very attentive — a pleasant surprise given how busy the restaurant was. The wood-fired rosemary wings were flavorful, though slightly over-charred. The spaghetti pomodoro was excellent! Cons: The margherita pizza was bland and unremarkable. We requested fresh basil as a topping, but instead of chopping it so each slice had some, the kitchen simply placed three large leaves on top. It felt careless and not up to the standard one would expect from a NYC restaurant.

We decided on Italian fare for our last night in NY and after looking around we decided on this place It has a bar vibe downstairs and restaurant upstairs and a large outdoor seating area which was not suitable as it was drizzling and very humid out There were no seats available in dining area till 9.30 but a bar table available to sit at so we sat there The service was poor our waitress seemed more interested in a large group sitting on a big table drinking ,my late friends daughter doesn’t drink and I only had a beer I guess she figured where her bigger tip would come from We took Kerr suggestion and had the pizza and pasta special the burratta pizza and pasta with the bolognese sauce both came out in record time , both were very bland , the pizza crust was very good as was the fresh pasta but even after adding tons of parmigiana and chili flakes it just didn’t do it for us We needed something to end the meal We ordered the baked calzone stuffed with ricotta ,Nutella and walnuts and served Bonaparte gelato Wow was it delicious and made us forget how bland the pasta and pizza were

Very cool vibe, the decor is neat, dark, background music. The pizza was insanely good. Loved the atmosphere for a both a 1on1 and a party in the back room. Staff was super hard working and attentive.

Nice atmosphere,great location. Food was excellent. Not overly Italian which is good sometimes. I liked it.

A group of four of us enjoyed dinner at Osteria Cotta. We were seated in the upstairs section which was quieter than the buzzing ground floor bar area, and was romantically lit by candles, though just a little dim for me as it was hard to read the menus. We had plenty of room despite all tables being occupied. Service was prompt and attentive. All four of us had different dishes and all were very good. Three of the 'to share' dishes served the four of us as an appetizer. The menu was limited but included something that would suit most people. I must mention the tiramisu dessert which was superb. Wine list was good and reasonably priced. In all a really good night out at a good price. Highly recommended.

Wow. Shockingly delicious and warm atmosphere. Went for brunch with kids--no trouble finding things to please everyone. Can't stop thinking about the truffle baked eggs with polenta...will be back SOON.

Upstairs has private dining areas, as well as little nooks and crannies to relax in. Very comfortable ambience. Very clean. The bruschetta choices are a favorite of mine. Prices are very reasonable, staff is attentive (and adorable)!

Excellent Italian restaurant, with great appetizers, pastas, and pleasant service. We were really pleased.

This restaurant is deafeningly loud with annoying, dated music (slightly less loud in the back room upstairs though there is no ambience up there at all). It is so dark you can barely see the menu or your food. It's basically a bar with some food thrown together as an afterthought. The pasta with clams is literally pasta sitting in a salt solution with some rubbery clams on top. The roast chicken is dry, overcooked and flavorless. There is not an herb or spice to be found in this restaurant. The vegetable pizza is both soggy and rubbery. The crust on the Pugliese was burnt. The broccoli rabe was fine.

Have you ever been to a restaurant that's just not that into you? It's been awhile since we felt utterly unwelcome & in complete disbelief that such subpar service and food is even tolerated in NYC. Came here on a friends recommendation. We were very disappointed that we wasted a night out with poor service, mediocre food, and underwhelming italian wine. The waitress was inattentive and on occasion would walk by to ask how we were doing, but never stopped to actually hear our response. The waitress or the bus boy would literally drop each dish (more like slam it on the table) and run off, not explaining what we were being presented with or to warn us if anything was hot. I went to bring one of the dishes closer to us and burned my finger. The plate was even hotter than something you'd expect to receive at a steakhouse and no warning at all about how dangerously hot and excruciatingly painful this dish was. The dishes were mediocre at best. We couldn't wait to get out of there. Not sure if a manager was even on site. If so, then shame on them for running such a horrible and untrained team. Clearly there was no passion or care for the food or service that was presented in the UWS establishment. Solid 1 star across the board. The decor / ambiance however is a 4. But since food and service were so horrible I can't imagine giving this establishment anything hire than a 1.

Their brick oven pizzas are great, my favorite is the verdura pizza with bunch of veggies and kalamata olives. They have great market sides 2 for $11, I always take the truffle fries and broccoli / cauliflower rabe. Excellent outdoor sitting during the summer. On the down side, sometimes you have to wait for as long as 40 minutes to be seated. I highly recommend this place!

ARRIVAL: Upon arrival, the place was hopping. We encountered the hostess, whom looked us up and down, as if judging whether we were worthy of entrance. She asked if we had a reservation to which we replied "no" because we were not aware this was required. We were asked if we wanted to be on the wait list, but then after looking at her list, the hostess saw she had a reservation whom hadn't shown and kindly gave us their table, which redeemed our initial experience. SEATING: It's a warm, quaint place, with quite a buzz (there were many people packed into a small area). They have typical Italian-style seating downstairs (long tables, family style) but upstairs there are individual tables. ORDERING: We started with arancini balls which were small and pretty average tasting. The shrimp scampi was FABULOUS(a little spicy). The Orecchiette was also delicious. The margarita pizza just so-so. We only ordered this item because when we checked in on Yelp we received a reward for a $5 margarita pizza. When we received our check, the waitress couldn't be inconvenienced to make our bill reflect the discount, which was annoying, but consistent with the service we received from her throughout the evening. She seemed to smirk and judge the items we ordered. We've loved our visits to NYC and have never felt such distaste from a local for being a tourist. It was pretty disappointing. Though the food was good, and we enjoyed the atmosphere, we will likely seek a place more welcoming.

The Chicken Milanese is famtastic! We loved the mashed potato and red skin potatoes sides. The meatball appetizer is delicious too!!! We will definitely be back!!

On the whole my experiences here have been good. The most recent time was a bit disappointing, but it might have been the dishes selected. The sangria was mediocre. The Cesar dressing was stronger on the anchovy paste than a typical Cesar and the ravioli was surprisingly small in proportion to the typical dishes served. I will probably go back at some point, but it won't be soon. Previous experiences were exponentially better so it was disappointing.

We wanted to have dinner here so went on their website and saw reservations available for 7:00, 7:15, 7:30, 8:00. In other words, wide open, so we didn't book a table but walked in (we were only two blocks away when we looked). When we got there, they said there was nothing available. I went back to the website and took a 7:00pm table. The "hostess" gave us some attitude and told us we would have to wait until 8:30 to be seated, even though I had the reservation confirmation. I have been here before and the food is good, but after this, not likely to return. There are a dozen other restaurants in the area with good food and better customer service.

Not only was the food outstanding but the decor was prefect. Fast friendly service was a plus. We went for brunch on a Sunday we will go back for sure..!!!

Go for brunch, get the cheeses and the bread, get the mimosas!! everything is really yummy here. service can be slow but what's the rush on a beautiful summer day. cant wait to go for dinner one day. it is on my list.

The food was delicious and served quickly. We were able to get seated quickly on a holiday evening at high top by the bar.

Sometimes you see a place and think 'formula'. Rarely do you get inside and believe 'diamond'. What looks like the average osteria from outside feels the same inside. It's only when you feel the vibe, talk to the staff and taste the food do you feel the magic. My wife and I sat at the bar waiting for the table to become available, as we were told we would have to when we booked. At the bar the bar man knew his wines and his beers, he was polite, friendly and 'on the level'. Before the beer arrived we were being seen to the table. Our food sounds ordinary, an orchiette pasta, a san danielle pizza, a totally odd choice of roasted brussels sprouts with pancetta, 2 glasses of red and a chocolate dessert; the event was perfection...if there is such a thing. From the service to the quality of the simple food to the atmosphere all the right ingredients were there in abundance. Recommendations: Pay the premium and get one of the special Italian beers e.g. Moretti Rosso or the Menabrea Bionda ... have 1 and savor. For the wines they'd run out of the top end Nebbiolo instead they supplied another off menu one at $16/glass that was delicious and strong. I only needed one. For dessert take the dark chocolate ice cream and match with the red dessert wine Pomele Rosso; its better than Puys Banyuls and almost as good as recioto della valpolicella. Terrific. My only thing to improve? They don't need TV in the main restaurant. People are enjoying time with their friends, the food, the wine and the other guests. Drop it. The meal was inexpensive at $40/head inc tip. We'll be back. It's a NYC favorite.