Pietros - NY Reviews

Good old fashion food - not fancy dishes. True Italian cuisine. Nice atmosphere in the small quarters. Great bar. Great for a business meeting or just to enjoy true Italian cooking. Large portions of food - presented very nicely

Great service from Omar and clubby atmosphere, the menu is large and traditional Italian steakhouse. Four of us enjoyed the chopped salad, chicken parmigiana, veal Milanese, veal piccata, and veal saltimbocca. Portions are large. Prices are not inexpensive, but you do get what you pay for.

Very reliable, great tasting Italian dishes. Very good steaks as well. Probably my 5th visit to Pietro's and it never disappoints! Excellent fresh pasta's, and steaks. The lamb chops were excellent as well. Service is very efficient and friendly. This is the way Italian steakhouses should be! Recommend Highly!

Pietro's is one of only a handful of GREAT Italian restaurants in NYC that I would recommend. It's simply fantastic. I went there with three of my work colleagues recently, and the food was simply awesome. Each of us had their amazing Caesar Salad, which is the best I've ever eaten - anywhere. For the main course, three of us had their world-class lasagna, which just melts in your mouth and surpasses even the best homemade lasagna from nonna or zia. Our other colleague had the veal parmigiana, which he was convinced was the best he'd ever eaten in his life. We then had the Tiermisu, which was light, creamy, and otherwise perfect. The entire staff are incredibly helpful, friendly, and professional, and truly make you feel like a long-time 'regular.' All-in-all, our entire meal and experience could be best described as "magical."

Other than the "basic" decor, everything is A+ at Pietro's. Perfect service by veteran waiters, solid cocktails, perfectly prepared Southern Italian classics and possibly the best aged sirloin in New York. Wish it were a better-kept secret, but it isn't any more.

As other reviewers have noted this is an "old school" restaurant. I like that. The wait staff is obviously professional and appropriate -- neither absent nor overindulgent. The decor is mildly upscale and appears clean -- in an "old school" way. The problem is that the average food has well above average pricing. So I give Pietro's a 3 for food, increase that to a 4 for service, and drop it back to a 3 for pricing.

1965 was when I first went to Pietro's on the 2nd floor on 45th Street and we kept going until they closed and moved to 43rd street when I gave them a 10 year time out. We returned and kept going until the Covid Virus and hadn't been there until last night when one of our friends made a reservation. It was packed. I hate to put it this way but the crowd at 43rd Street has always been a Bridge & Tunnel crowd..........noisy and shaggy. Service has always been the same and food too. So Dale & I share Shells a la Nat as an appetizer and Chicken Pietro (white meat, boneless, skinless) as an entree. Nothing has changed in the food department. ONE CHANGE..........THAT LOVELY WOMAN IN THE COAT CHECK ROOM HAS RETIRED. My first reaction was "how could she" but then I remembered that I'm almost 80 years of age and she must be too.

The Veal Parm is great, the white clam sauce is too. This is a terrific place for either a business or personal dinner in NYC. A little pricey, but service, food and drink are all good. The only negative? The restaurant needs a remodeling. It looks it age and not in a good way, but even the obvious when you walk in the door hides the quality of the food. Lots of regulars, but they greet the new customer in a wonderful and friendly way. Not open for lunch.

Great neighborhood feel with minimalist decor. Well-heeled crowd seems to be attracted to the bar scene and to the solid performance from the kitchen. In NYC one can locate great steaks in a variety of places. The beef here is fine quality, but not the clincher. Pietro's prepares solid Italian fare with ease. Veal parm and a traditional Ceasar salad as good as anywhere I've been. Waiters are real pros and they've obviously been serving here for quite a while. That's a good thiing. Take a step back in time without any sacrifice in food quality or service.

Bit tired. Waiters were fine and attentive but food and wine was overpriced for the quality. I had clam linguine which was bland and the clams were so tough and chewy.

Neither fancy or pretentious, Pietro's is a solid Italian restaurant. It offers large portions of Italian standards, good service, and prices you expect in Midtown Manhattan. The chopped salad was quite good, the spinach was terrific, but my veal Milanese was unremarkable.

The six of us had dinner here Christmas week. Very attractive dining area with nice white tablecloths. The food and service was excellent as well. Service was not rushed and we had a wonderful time. A little bit pricey compared to the other restaurants on 3rd Ave. but still a nice place for dinner.

The lasagna, veal parm and Caesar salad are just what all reviews have claimed. Meatballs are the size of baseballs, the shells with brown sauce were fine.... I tried the veal saltambucca and it was as good as any I've had in Rome or Florence. Bring your appetite....

This is exactly how Italian restaurants in New York used to be 20 to 30 years ago- the food is predictably delicious and the portions are very generous. its close to Grand Central and the UN. The staff is very attentive and one can easily have a relaxing meal and hear each other talking so its great for business lunch also.

20 years elapsed since eating at Pietro's, and for absolutely no reason, as my dining experiences had all been superb. By chance I was in the neighborhood the other nite and decided to open the wooden door and take a look inside. Like a Proustian experience, the unpretentious scene of people really enjoying their food, and the whiff of those french fried onions all at once hit me. I asked if I could sit at the bar and order a little something. Dining solo is not always comfortable, unless you have established a bit of a relationship with your bartender or waiter and the environs. But all of that stuff went away at Pietro's due to dear Sal ( who has been there for 25+ yrs ) attending to me. I went for the veal parmagiana, (cringe here slightly. apology for ordering veal, but I did) that used to be prepared with a generous coat of parmesan cheese, making for a crust unequaled. No sauce? Absolutely sauce, but Pietro’s would serve it on the side. Upon asking if it's still done like that, Sal said it was the 'dry' method, and of course it was still made that way . It seemed to have pleased Sal that I remembered this point from so long ago. Sal suggested an Italian pinot noir (which i did not know existed), and poured me a taste. It became the yummiest accompaniment to the legendary dish. By the way, and it is by the way, because the quality is in no way inferior to the quantitiy, portions are huge, which had also escaped my memory. With cell phone in hand, I dialed up a very old friend , now in Florida, who was also an aficionado of Pietro’s. , “You will never believe where I am right now”. She reminded me about the portions, ‘ ...don’t you recall, we would refer to our leftovers as grocery shopping.’ With old New York being chipped away, it's comforting to know that Pietro's still exists. How did I let it go forgotten for so long? gulp. I cannot wait to return with friends so that we can order up sides, the famous Chicken Pietro, some steak, and pasta. And it will be soon. Meantime for tonight, my leftovers await me.

We were delightfully surprised. Had reservations at another restaurant in the area but due to a flooding problem we had to make a quick change. Wanted to dine near the Grand Central Station since friends were coming in from CT just for dinner. This received a good rating from Zagat but didn't say much about the decor. The four of us found it delightful. We don't demand new we like the ambiance of older restaurants. The point is the food was excellent. Portions were large and prices were good. We are looking forward to returning to this great Italian restaurant. ALSO, I love the front door. It was a special touch and unexpected. I felt like I was entering someone's home. Nice touch.

Referred here by a friend, my wife and I had one of if not the best meals of our lives here last Wednesday night. We shared a chopped salad - delicious with onions and anchovies. We ordered veal saltimbocca and that night's veal parm special. Both outstanding. Be sure to order at least as a side the Shells a la Nat. A wonderful pasta dish. Service was friendly, from not only our waiter (44 years of service) but from others as well. My wife's Cosmopolitan was the best she had in NYC. Most everyone in the restaurant but us seemed to know one another, and we had a very pleasant conversation with the 3 couples dining next to us. Pietro's will be a guaranteed destination in all future trips to the city.

Excellent food and service with a classic NYC restaurant feel. Was brought here for lunch by a midtown local and can’t believe I have missed it all of these years. All four of us raved about our dishes! This will be one of my new regular spots when I’m in the city.

Recommended by our daughter, she made a reservation for the three of us. It almost looks disguised from the street level view, but looking closer it is a true Italian treasure. Cordially greeted by their Manager David Bruckman, who, incidentally, visited our table several times to make sure all was perfect. Good Italian wines both red and white, went down well with our apps. My wife had the Pasta Fagioli to start, a meal in itself, even enough as a share. Main courses varied between Fillet of Sole, Pasta Tortellini and Veal Picatti, all superb. Finish the meal with their special style cheesecake, light and so delicious. Thank you, Pietro's, next time we are in NY you are top of our list. Special shout out to David B.

Revisiting a favored place brought renewed pleasure. We became part of New Yorkers after work: the finest food and comradery. Veal piccota and shrimp scampi were fabulous. Service was professional and friendly. Dinner with appetizer, shared desert and a half-bottle of wine was $158.

I was invited for lunch and was taken to this place. It's old school Italian and the food was very good. There were a bunch of pictures on the wall and it was almost a thowback in time. The place was a bit pricey but the food was good. They start you off with a basket of bread. I tried their pasta fagioli and chicken special which came with mushrooms and a brown sauce. Both were good. It would have been nice if the dish came with a vegetable or salad but everything was a la carte. I later found out that there aren't so many good places in midtown to go for a business lunch that take reservations.

The place is a throwback to the 1950s (and the decor feels like it is from the 50s). That being said, the service was terrific and the food was even better. This is an old-fashioned stick-to-your ribs Italian joint. The baked clams were sensational and the shrimp fra diavalo was really, really good. Nothing new or inventive here - just solid "red-sauce" Italian!

Lively old school atmosphere. Warm welcome. Very good Seafood Salad and Caesar Salad. Very good main of veal parmigiana. Poor service and tables are a little small. Good option in NYC where it is difficult to find local restaurants but they need to improve service to justify the prices.

We stayed across the street at a new Hampton Inn and just walked over to Pietro's for dinner after a long day of travel. Came back twice more during the week for outstanding food and service. Special Lasagna was the best I've ever had with the sauce deeply complex. Veal Parmigiana over-flowed the plate and was oh, so good. Even a simple chopped salad was extraordinary. The table shared the seafood appetizer and everyone raved about it.

It doesn’t have any interest, the meals aren’t good: antipasti were the worst I have never took and pasta were the same. But even worse the wine! I couldn’t end my glass. All that mixed with prices high level. I can’t understand how they survive.

My son-in-law has been raving about Pietro's for months -- not far from his office on E 43rd, between 2nd and 3rd. So, with wife in CA, he and I went for dinner and it more than lived up to expectations. We shared a pasta appetizer and then I had veal marsala -- both were delicious and the portions were more than ample. The greeting upon arrival was very pleasant and the service was prompt and helpful. This place is a bit on the expensive side but it's worth it. it's the kind of Italian restaurant with a longtime and committed clientele, found most often in NY and SF and rarely elsewhere. I will definitely return.

Pietros is a great Italian restaurant/steakhouse. My kids love the filet. I love the bolognese. Experienced, professional severs with just the right New York attitude. There are plaques at the tables of customer's names that have been going there forever. If you want a delicious meal with many choices and a GREAT Caesar salad, you won;t be disappointed.

Went to Pietros a week ago. First time in years. Terrific food (veal parm, ceasar are outstanding) in an old school environment. That is worth going back for. What wasn't worth going back for? A waiter with an attitude who seemed more interested in gossiping than great service. I think his name was Andy or Andrew. We'll be back but looking for a different waiter.

Start by sharing a tomato & onion salad with blue cheese dressing or Shells a la Nat.. Have Chicken Pietro (order white meat only, no skin, no bones) or a steak for 2. Have them slice the steak and put on a plate for sharing. It's enough for 3 or even 4. Creamed spinach. Lyonaise potatoes. Terrific. I started eating regularly at Pietro's, upstairs in the small second floor dining room on 45th St., in 1963 and have never gotten over the move. Then again, I don't like change. Most of us are on Medicare but they don't take it.

I love this restaurant. It is by far one of my favorite REAL ITALIAN restaurants in manhattan. So amazing. It's not foofy it's real italian cooking. From the antipasti to veal parm, gnocchi, to the fresh fish, hash browns, and amazing wait staff and owner I always have been returning for many many years!!!!!

If you want bland italian food- king sized portions where you cannot finish it- come here. Service slow--prices high--not worth it. Would not eat here again.

A well hidden restaurant in a jewel of a neighborhood that we were introduced to by another couple. Even at capacity, the noise level was far from overwhelming. Fantastic service matched every dish. From the lump crabmeat, Ceasar salad apps through the spinach ravioli (not normally a favorite), veal parmigiana and 4 incredible lamb chops that made up that entree. While far from inexpensive, well worth a return trip.

Party of six had a great dinner at this amazing place. Each course was cooked to perfection, with substitutions and special requests easily accommodated. Service was attentive without being suffocating. Tables were close to each other, but conversation across the table did not require shouting. If you are smart enough to eat here, remember that reservations are critical.

Caesar Salad, Chopped Salad, Chicken Pietro, Meatballs & Spaghetti, Shrimp Scampi, Best Steak in NYC, Chicken Parm and everything else! No place like home! THE BEST!!!!!

We sat in the back of the restaurant with a larger party. All the food was excellent - good portions, great flavor. Everyone should experience this. But our waiter - Anthony or Antonio I think - was odd. We ordered a few bottles of wine and I'm pretty sure he helped himself to more than just a glass. I didn't say anything but I noticed it. We'll come back and get a different waiter.

I have been to this long standing Italian fine dining place at least 15 times over the years. It is the type of place where the guests are mainly New Yorkers, not tourists. The soups, pastas, and chops are first rate. The service is professional. The ambience is relatively quiet so guests can enjoy their conversations. The only risk is that it is expensive in keeping with its corporate expense account customers. This is a quieter and less showy version of San Pietro’s which is a few blocks north.

This is a very old restaurant that has not been renovated in 25+ years. I had linguine with white clam sauce that was served without the shells and very well may have been canned - the clams tasted like rubber bands! Way too expensive for mediocre food.

I just loved having dinner here with a friend who knew it from her early days in NYC. Pietro’s has been around a long time. The block is a rather odd, but there halfway up the block on the south side, looking every bit like a charming Italian restaurant, is Pietro’s. Inside, the sterility of the neighborhood vanishes, and the warmth of Italian hospitality envelops you. My friend was seated and waiting for me at a large table in the back dining room. Even though the hour was early for dinner in Manhattan, Pietro’s was easily half-full already; a good sign that. Our waiter arrived within moments to give us menus, bring us bread, and take our drink orders. The waitstaff here is charming and professional. At our waiter’s suggestion, I had a glass of the Montepulciano and not the Chianti. His guidance was good; the Montepulciano was deep, dark and rich. My dinner companion recommended the chopped salad which she also remembered from her early days. It was easy to understand. The salad was excellent and so lightly-dressed as to leave no trace of dressing on the plate. I finished it, and it was not a small serving. It should have been a warning, as my Veal Bolognese was also a large serving. It was simply delicious. Handsome Companion and I shared the ample leftovers for dinner the next evening. Pietro’s is now on my list of go-to places in midtown.

We were here for a family reunion and this could not have been a better place to have it . Everything was delicious . We chose the family style of serving which was great . Everyone was able to taste all the dishes and they were great.

Pietro's is a longtime Midtown East citizen. It could serve as a set for any mob movie; that is not a criticism. But there are so many better Italian restaurants at the same price point that it seems nonsensical to settle. The menu is tired and uninspiring. The food is just ok. But just OK doesn't provide a memorable dining experience.

My wife has been going to Pietro's for the past 45 years and I have been going for the past 28 years. Food has never changed. You go to Pietro's to EAT not to dine. the food is unbelievable. We have brought friends and relatives there and never had a bad meal. From steaks to any Italian dish to anything you might ask them to make for you. They are very accommodating. Most of the wit staff have been there for many years. The woman at the hat check has been there almost 40 years and does not give a coat check no matter how busy & no matter how many people no matter what kind of coat. Even if you have a mink coat NO COAT CHECK...otherwise don't leave it with her. She was written up in the NY Times.

Start with Shells a la Nat or chopped tomato & onion salad with blue cheese dressing. Have a filet or Chicken Pietro (order white meat only, no skin, no bones). Have a side of fried onions. I've never had dessert.....who can eat that much. I started eating regularly at Pietro's, upstairs in a small dining room on 45th St., in 1963 and have never gotten over the move in 1984. Most of us are on Medicare...but "early onset"

We popped in without reservations, and got a table in the bar area very promptly. We weren't looking for swank, but we were looking for excellent food and better service. This was a birthday celebration from my kids, and our waiter, the manager, and our fabulous bartender kept rounds rolling in on the house. Truly coud not have asked for a better night!

Pietro’s is the place to go if you are looking for old world Italian dishes in a cozy atmosphere. The meatballs are huge & the sauce is like I have never tasted before, excellent!! The wait staff is on it but not intrusive. No real frills just a wonderful authentic flavorful meal at Pietro’s (established in 1932).

Great little NY place. Looks like nothing on the outside. Inside is quintasential NY. Three of us went on a Wednesday evening about 7pm. Nearly full, but we got a table right away, but up front near the bar. We should have made reservations. This is the kind of place where it seems most of the diners are regulars. The portions are large. We should have ordered two entrees to share and three salads. We had three entrees with three salads, just water, no desert, no appetizer; $210 including 20% tip.

Absolutely excellent from the reception,setting,service,atmosphere and food Old school proper Italian

Real italian cuisine, thanks our wajter from Peru, he was very professional and the attention is like a family. great food and really enjoyed. Augury.

I have eaten here a few times, mostly on business. The first time I had the veal scallopini knocked me off my feet. It was so tender and delicious! They pound it flat so it takes up nearly a whole plate but I always polish it off it is so good. You have to order a side if you want a vegetable etc.

This is not in Little Italy, but when you go here you fairly expect to see Tony Soprano and his boys at the next table. Pietro's is an institution in NYC. Fried clams, New York steak, their house specialty, chicken with onions and potatoes, veal scallopini, are a few dishes not to be missed. The names on plaques on the walls are people who have been coming to Pietro's for a LONG time. I don't think the interior has been redone in the past 25 years, but that is part of the charm.

Classic network. Old time Italian favorites. Waiters look like they have worked here for 40 years, good service. Chopped salad was good, nice veal parm. Italian cheese cake was a nice finish. If you want old school Italian restaurant in mid town, this is a good one.

Met some business friends their for dinner. Had great meals. Very happy with it Staff is friendly. The coat Check lady has bee. There forever and remembers everyone and what they wear. Had clams casino very good plus veal saltimbocca. Very good. Also tried pietros chicken special. Very good plus their chicken parm is well worth trying. Chocolate cake wasn't bad either

Start by sharing a tomato & onion salad with blue cheese dressing or Shells a la Nat.. Have Chicken Pietro (order white meat only, no skin, no bones). Portions are large so you should consider sharing everything. Can't tell you about dessert as we've never had room for it. I started eating regularly at Pietro's, upstairs in the small second floor dining room on 45th St., in 1963 and have never gotten over the move. Then again, I don't like change. Most of us are on Medicare but they don't take it.

While staying in the Hampton Inn United Nations, we noticed Pietro's directly across the street from the hotel. Had a delicious dinner with a friend. The waiter was very accommodating splitting the large chopped salad and an order of spinach manicotti. He even offered to split the bill before we asked.

What an awesome find. Old school Italian restaurant in traditional, packed space. Typical, sophisticated New York crowd enjoying the awesome food and ambience while old school waiters aren't shy to recommend some of the delicious, large dishes. Menu is comprehensive and delicious - loved the salad starter and tended, delicious fillet (as good as any I have had). Despite expensive prices, value for money is still reasonable considering the incredible food quality and also potion sizes. Definitely arrive hungry! If you like old school, traditional, high end Italian, this restaurant is a must. No surprise it is well known as one of New York's finest Italian restaurants. Looking very much forward to returning.

Upon walking in, you'll feel like you're on the set of Goodfellas, so enjoy the experience! The service is outstanding - the wait staff really take care of you and the food is even better! Although I've had a few different dishes here, what stands out is the shrimp parmesan. A plateful of large shrimp, which taste as though they were just freshly caught, then bar-b-qued. Then the shrimp are covered in a blanket of mozzarella cheese to perfection. No side dish of pasta is necessary - you'll be full! A great Italian place for either a business meal, a romantic dinner for two, or a group of friends. You will not be disappointed with Pietro's!

At Pietros you feel like you have stepped back in time to a traditional italian neighborhood restaurant! There are a good selection of items on the menu including all of the "traditional" dishes. The food is high quality! We have been coming here for years and we have never been disappointed. They have the best ceasar salad, great veal saltimboca (as well as other great veal dishes!) and I love the Shells Alanad (spelling?). Their steaks are cooked to perfection as well! The decor is not fancy, but you feel at home and like you are dining with your neighbors.

My husband and I enjoy going to Pietro's from time to time on our visits to NYC. The portions are large so we share a wonderful smoked salmon appetizer that is plenty for two people. The veal dishes are always tender. We ordered a veal and chicken specials and it seems as if they were substantially more expensive then similar dishes on the menu. The chicken Scarpariello has sausage in the dish but they disappointingly were like the breakfast sausage you get a the grocery store rather than being chunks of good italian sausage.

Five of us dined here last night. My partner and I arrived 30 mins early and were graciously seated at our table. The dining room was busy, but tables are spaced nicely. While it got loud as people were enjoying themselves, it wasn’t as bad as plenty of other restaurants are. The service was spot on, very attentive. The menu had a nice selection and each of our dinners were delicious. The only funny thing was the coffee I was served was cold!

I have been going to pietros my whole life and it is truly amazing. Everyone should go. Although the decor is a bit tired, the food is incredible and they are great with allergies.

We had read good reviews and figured we'd give it a try when we were in the area. You have to look for it! It's not cheap but cheap certainly isn't a measure of how good it is. The service was very good. It's a very attentive staff from the moment you walk up to the door. The food is quite good as well, Italian is their strong point. I had the steak, some people rave about it and I thought it was very good though I have had better. I guess I was expecting too much. The salads and their ravioli were fantastic, some of the best I've had. The decor hasn't changed much and I guess that's the way they want it. We will go back.

Invited to dinner here by friends on a recent visit to New York City. The food was utterly vile - lukewarm, greasy, bland and virtually inedible. In addition it was very expensive.

my friend and I were going to Pietro's to celebrate my birthday. we live in the neighborhood and never had the chance to go there for dinner. The ambience of the restaurant is very old style, with many waiters mostly in their sixties, efficient without even a smile. Some younger waiters were more communicative. Our waiter, Julio, was very nice, friendly and helpful. we ordered our food - classic dishes of old school: chicken parmigiana, and chicken capriccioso. The dishes that were served were gross looking, had no relation to the recipe they were supposed to follow. The capriccioso appeared like a Chicago deep dish pizza floating in oil. the Parmigiana appeared like a thinly smeared mass on a plate, covered in a rediish/brown color paste looking like tomato paste out of the can, that was barely cooked to make a sauce. sorry not to have taken photos. I bet the camera would have been insulted too. The food was swimming in fat and oil. It was beyond bad. It was literally the worst meal we have ever had, and at a cost of a pretty penny. Oh what a horrible birthday celebration. My email is babka101@yahoo.com.

This place is a sure NY institution, it is old looking like something out of a movie, the food is great, and all the servers do a great job. It is not fancy, but this is just hard core good food, always consistent which is a sign of a great place, next time in ny I will go back there again. For a ny place, I think the prices are very very reasonable - I think the rat pack would like this place to sing Italian songs

We had dinner here with dear friends, arriving an hour before our reservation and spending that hour at the small but delightful bar. What fun. It’s been a long time since I sat at a bar in a restaurant and it always feels special. By the time our friends arrived, we had moved to our table. We had a mostly lovely evening. Pietro’s is an old-fashioned Italian restaurant, with experienced waiters, and excellent service. I ordered my usual Chopped Salad and Veal Bolognese. Handsome Companion ordered the Spaghetti and Meatballs. The food is excellent; the serving sizes large. I brought 3/4 of my Veal Bolognese home and had it five more times! H. C. had his meatballs and spaghetti another night. Even as leftovers, the food from Pietro’s stands up. If I had one criticism it would be this: we sat in the first dining room, to the east. The ceiling there is low. Late in our dinner, a party of six arrived; parents, grandparents and two young grandchildren. The noise and commotion of this group made it almost impossible to carry on a conversation at our table. The three-year old granddaughter wanted her hair done and the grandmother got up to brush and braid the child’s hair in the middle of dinner. Really? That’s a no, people. You don’t brush hair in a restaurant. This group should have been seated on their own in the very back of the restaurant. Is this the restaurant’s fault? I’d say, in part, yes. A good restaurant knows to seat young children apart so as not to disturb other guests.

If you are looking for a trendy hot spot this would not be it. If you want an old school, good to very good but not great, Italian restaurant Pietros fits the bill. The good: meatballs, fettuccine alfredo, veal parmigiana and spaghetti with meat sauce. The average: shrimp fra diavlo, shrimp scampi, salads drenched in too much dressing and the cheesecake. The service and the charm of the restaurant make up for some of the average dishes and in fairness the selections recommended by our waiter were very good. I did enjoy the back in time clubby atmosphere of the place, it reminds me of places I went with my parents as kid in the 70s and 80s. I would go back for the red sauce dishes if I was craving Italian and needed a last minute reservation which are not an option at places like carbone or the original il mulino.

Our boss took the team for dinner here & it didn't disappoint. I had never heard of this place -- even though I had worked on the East Side for a while, but it's certainly a place I will be returning. The place looks like it hasn't changed much since the 50's -- but that's a good thing. There's a certain old-school charm there that makes it quite cozy. The food? WOW!! We did a 'family style' type of order & had the mozzarella/tomato/pimento & the breaded shrimp for apps. AH-MAZING! Then, we ordered the Caesar salad & it was pretty good. Boss said it was the best Caesar salad he's ever had. Not quite the same for me, but very good nonetheless. Then came the main course: Veal parm (dry -- sauce on the side), chicken & their house pasta (which is shells with cheese). THIS was quite tasty. Our server, Bruno, was attentive, knowledgeable & he also had that 'old school charm' going for him. The rest of the wait staff was fantastic! We called at about 6:30PM, made a reservation for 6:45PM (party of 5) & were seated right away. A true gem!! A fabulous, little place on Manhattan's east side. Highly recommended.

On our recent trip to New York City, we met with my family from Bavaria and thought that this restaurant would be a perfect introduction to New York's finest. We were not disappointed and everyone had a great time.

We enjoyed a lovely meal here. Not cheap but great Italian food. It's in a quiet street and almost hidden away so easy to miss. Don't be put off by the basic decor. Would recommend.

This is not my first dining experience at Pietro's. I find myself unable to pass it up when I am in New York. The service is decidedly European, attentive, professional and correct. The food is authentic northern Italian. The veal Parm is the best I have ever had. I always recommend this place to friends and clients. It is Zagat rated.

I met a college here for dinner at his recommendation. It turns out he had been going to this restaurant for over 50 years with his family. I was not disappointed. We ordered the stark for 2 meal and it was perfect. The service was excellent with many of the staff working there for over 25 years. The prices were New York prices but the meal and atmosphere were worth it. Next time I'm back in New York Pietro's is on my list.

We were there for a mid 60's college fraternity reunion. The food was all family style, and we didn't get to order as it was all pre-arranged. The service was very attentive. The food was mid sixties; so if that is your passion, you are good to go here. Over the years my wife and I have moved onto more contemporary Italian; actually we do much more French so we would much have preferred to have control of the menu to do some more exploration. The ambiance was just fine. I would go back to pick and choose their offering myself as my choices might have been a bit different than what we had.

We went on the recommendation of a family member. It was most of our first time at this old style Italian place. The waiters have been there for years and were very pleasant and attentive. The menu is very old-school and classical Italian but everything is prepared exceptionally well. The dessert menu is very limited but good. Certainly worth going to!

Abundant and inedible food: greasy, without any finesse and cold. Rude service, we don't understand why this place is packed! It completely ruined our evening in New York, what a shame. Avoid if you don't want to get sick.

I’ve been to this restaurant numerous times because the food is so good. My recommendations are the chicken Pietro, and their sautéed clams. Their chicken and veal parmigiana are amazing as well. Our waiter Lino was very attentive last night.

Went for lunch and of the three dishes, the spaghetti and meatballs was delicious. The other two dishes were okay: chopped salad and clam pasta. Service was fine. Just had a higher expectation.

Have gone there for lunch twice and it was enjoyable both times. Great service, big menu with all the traditional Italian dishes one expects in an Italian restaurant. My caesar salad was excellent and huge and the veal scallopini was tender and delicious. The prices are closer to steakhouses prices than Italian restaurant prices, especially considering that these are lunch prices.

Pietros is an old school establishment in NYC that still serves Italian and steak better than anyone. The food is terrific. Everything first class. If you want trendy try something else. If you want a classic place with great food, this is it.

Pietro's is the place to go to witness traditional N.Y.C. after business hours. Wonderful food, fair pricing, a bit noisy, but an atomosphere to die for. While not Sedalia or Cincinnati, the change is grand for an evening.

After a long absence I recently revisited the restaurant for lunch with business associates. Always consistent, somewhat old school and not the vibrant atmosphere of all the cool places in NYC but a great place for business conversation and consistently good service and food. Prices are on the high side but the chef will pretty much make whatever you want if you ask nicely. The Veal Milanese on greens is awesome and highly recommended. If you want consistent, easy and quiet laid back this is the right restaurant.

Pretty good little Italian place in NYC. Seems as though it's been around forever. Food was very good, price just a tad bit high (even factoring in NY pricing). Would go there again, great service!

Happened to be staying right across the street, what a wonderful surprise! Our first impression was the great friendly staff, things only got better from there. The shrimp cocktail was outstanding! The house chopped salad was just as great as the reviews say. Although not on the menu, we ordered the lemon chicken, our waiter didn't blink an eye and told us it was no problem at all, it didn't disappoint! The chicken parm was also perfection, perfectly pounded thin with plenty of sauce and toasted mozzarella. Wish we had room for dessert - definitely will leave some room for it next time. Other reviews mention the prices - hey it's NYC, what do you expect? The portions are tremendous so the prices are right in line. Definitely a must visit!

It's been closed for many months and they say they are looking for a new location. To date, nothing. Hope they will find one and hope they have the money to set it up and open it. New York without Pietro's is a real loss

Ate at Pietro’s for dinner with a friend from New York. It is one of his favorites. Would probably not selected it otherwise. The food was fantastic and so was the service. It gets crowded, so I would suggest making a reservation. It is only a couple of blocks from grand central station. Very gernious servings. I had the filet mignon. Huge and cooked just right. Price was excellent for New York City. Would highly recommend and will definitely return.

this is the best traditional Italian restaurant in manhattan; it's been around since the 1940's and offers all the classic dishes-----start with the excellent caesar salad, next go to the tender veal scallopini, and finish with the most delicious tiramisu you have ever tasted........featured on the food channel.......you won't be disappointed

Best meal in NYC and best overall experience. This is an older very quaint establishment. Beal and penne vodka fantastic! Wait staff were fantastic! Don’t miss it!

Filet and strip Steaks "as big as they can make them". Perfectly prepared. Sides of mahed potatoes and creamed spinach along with delicous baked bread and a great bottle of wine made for a perfect evening with good service.

I stopped in by myself on a Friday night late and managed to get a table in the full restaurant. Interestingly, lots of the clients seems to know each other so this is clearly a local gathering spot. The food was excellent and very well prepared. While I was alone, the waiter was attentive and very efficient. Enjoyable dinner and didn't find myself waiting for anything.

First of all note that I have a limited palate. They are always busy. It’s also loud unless you go very early. They also cater to a bar crowd. My wife always eats fish there and anchovies and loves it. Their chopped salad is great. The menu is vast and have every drink imaginable. For years I have been taking clients there and they always fall in love with it. They have the best chicken parm ever. Go there for a try, make reservations for sure and enjoy. Noteworthy is that they were able to cater to my two year old grandson who eventually settled on two different kinds of French fries.

It's a great place to go for old school Italian. Everything was excellent, we had the strip steak and ceasar salad and we ate at the bar it was so crowded. Our bartender (Ray I think his name was) was excellent and knew the menu well. Would highly suggest.

Conveniently located between 2nd and 3rd in Midtown, a nice quiet street. Walk in and sit at the full service bar while waiting for your table. This place is reminiscent of a classic 50s / 60s dinner place. Colleagues raves about their lunch service as well. Meal selections were varied with reasonable prices and huge servings. Service and pacing were great.

Glad we found this place. We were looking for a nice place to dine within close distance from the hotel we were staying. Food quantity is generous. It’s a mom and pop restaurant that’s been open for over 80 years. Very authentic Italian.

Longing to dine out in NYC once again and visiting the reviews of this classic, quintessential Manhattan italian steakhouse, one of the original and lasting “restaurant row” classics, I read recent reviews of poor favor and dissatisfied patrons that are far diluted by so many that appreciate this establishment for what it is and what it represents: a bastion for New Yorkers to come for the fare, drink and food, among common guild. The slights of the few searching for orgastic culinary experience or to be served as special can never appreciate the Pietro’s experience. Those who know, who have patronized Pietro’s for decades will be back. I miss this place and am certain that many feel the same.

Unfortunate choice for dinner. One of the worst expensive dinners I’ve ever had. Old shoe, old school Italian that clearly appeals to a loyal clientele, but the rest of us would do better at the 99-cent slice joint down the block.

Pietro's is the real deal. The old time Italian waiters give the place an Italian ambiance that is second to none! Ate filet mignon and my wife had a sirloin chopped hamburger. All great

We loved Pietro's Italian restaurant in NYC. It's a real old school American Italian serving parmigiana dishes as well as steaks and grilled seafood and chicken. We had fish and shared a eggplant parmigian between four of us and there was still some left over. Our friends had the chicken with peppers and the potatoes were also fantastic. If you love old school Italian decor and food try Pietro's in mid town east. Very good, very professional and very friendly.

Once again this is our favorite all around restaurant in New York City. You can order from great steak to any Italian dish on the menu and if it is not on the menu, just ask and they will make it for you. We had 10 people for a special birthday and we all were from out of state. We all started with 4 of their chopped salads and 6 of their made from scratch Caesar salads! We then went to Steak for 2 sliced for the whole table to taste and then everyone ordered individually. My favorite is specialty of the house Chicken Pietro, my wife and two daughters had chicken parmagiana white (no sauce,) my son-in-law a 2 lb. lobster fra diavlo, the other son-in-law chicken parmagiana, granddaughter had chicken picata and twin gradsons each had sirloin steaks. the side dishes were served family style, onion strings, potatoe chips, & creamed spinach.

Pietro's is solid. The food is old school and the quality amazing. The best veal in New York. Highly recommend the veal parm. Huge and perfectly pounded, breaded and cooked. Makes me hungry writing this.

My husband and I have been going to Pietro's on occasion ever since we moved into the neighborhood almost 20 years ago. They seem to have a few new people serving in the dining room but service was excellent as always. We had not been in quite a few months (it is pricey) but decided to treat ourselves. Salads were delicious and large as always (the ceasar is one of the best you'll find anywhere and the chopped salad is very good as well). My husband's sirloin was particularly tasty on this trip; I ordered the veal parm as I often do. It was huge as always, but I found something to be different about it. Something about the cheese on top has changed (or at least was different for me). Can't quite put my finger on it, but I did not care for it as much (the veal itself was excellent as always; I brought 1/2 home as usual and just scraped off much of top prior to reheating).

My first experience at this place produced a mediocre dining experience. I tried the highly touted Caesar salad and veal parmigiana. Nothing special about either. The salad is a big plate of greens with a few croutons, some shredded cheese, and anchovies. I've had better at several NYC steak houses. The veal parmigiana is a long, thin cutlet with a pale sauce and thin coating of mozzarella cheese. Not nearly as good as I've had at several Italian restaurants in Manhattan and the outer boroughs. Arthur Avenue in the Bronx, Hyman Boulevard in Staten Island, and Bensonhurst in Brooklyn all have restaurants with superior veal parmigiana dinners. But the fact that these highly touted dishes were just okay is not the main reason for my disappointment. The bread basket is below standard for a top Italian restaurant. The linguini we tried was not al dente. All four diners at our table were served main courses that were warm, not hot. The main courses come with NO side of pasta or vegetable, and the prices are out of line for what is offered. $12 for a bottle of Pellegrino?! Also if you drive there, beware of the "valet parking" scam. The restaurant has a sign in the window disavowing any responsibility for the valet parking, and that vendor charges $20 to valet park your car. Since there is a parking garage across the street, the restaurant could choose to offer discounted parking there for dinner, but it doesn't. Also there is metered parking in effect only until 7 on Second Avenue. So that's a better option if you can get there by 6. On the plus side, service was pleasant, prompt, and attentive. The coat check woman is legendary for remembering your coat without any receipt.

The food is great! A friendly place but it is beyond dated. The owners need to put some of their money back into the physical place.

My father loved Pietros. We ate here whenever we came to New York. I have eaten here for over 40 years since I moved to the city . The original owners are gone but the food is still excellent and the decor is a typical New York steak house/ Italian of a foregone era. The customers all seem vaguely familiar. Most important the food is still good. My favorite: shrimp scampi with tons of garlic is the best I’ve had . I had a salad as well and one of my husband’s lamb chops which was perfectly cooked. My other favorite used to be the linguine with clam sauce. The owners are so nice and carrying on the tradition of making their customers happy. This place is all about the food. It’s good to know it’s still delicious. Don’t forget to order the scampi. You can share entrees as well if you want to add the sides. Just keep eating- you will leave happy.

Asked the waiter to split a seafood salad into two portions, instead he brought two plates of salad for 54$ (No warning ) I’ve been sick all day, classic food poising since I ate there.

A plus is the midtown east location. And there's valet parking after 6. And the food portions were quite large, but then again, you are paying every dollar for that large portion. The steak looked quite good and big, but when sliced up, it seemed smaller than the slab of meat they showed you before cutting it up. The Shells a la Nat seems like it's recommended in these reviews, but beware it's in a brown gravy, not a tomato sauce. Had a reservation, but was still seated in the tables by the bar. Would have liked to sit in the main dining room for the experience.

The service was totally terrible, the waiter was slow, unfriendly, and extremely uninterested to give us any attention. The food was ok, but the total experience was really bad.

I came here to eat on an indulgent excursion. The history of this place is amazing, any where that was frequented by Joe Dimaggio and Marilyn Monroe had to be good, and good it was. This is easily the best steakhouse I have encountered, they have it down to a science. The service, food, ambiance. Everything was impeccable. Pricey but well worth it. Great place for a romantic dinner or special occassion.

Think old school Italian!! The service was terrific and food amazing. We all had to pass on desserts and shuffled ourselves back to our hotel!

I've never had a bad meal at this place. Old School ambiance with charming waiters and fabulous food. Steaks, salads, and Italian classic come out in huge portions and bursting with flavor.

Terrible service. It is at best pseudo Italian. Managed by Equadorians and Mexicans. Extremely poor service. House wines are so tart that you can drink vinegar instead. The food was so so. Overall will never come back. Run by amateurs.

On a rainy Manhattan Friday, three of our group of five were at Pietro's for the first time, invited by two of those loyal patrons. Three of us enjoyed chop salads, while the other two splurged with competent shrimp cocktail and prosciutto and melon. Veal dishes were fork tender and one fish platter cleaned up with gusto. A special for the evening was the only very large portion; a light eater will be making one or two meals out of the leftovers. Pietro's deserves neither the raves some give it nor the ravaging of other reviewers. It is a comfortable, solid, rather pricey, Italian-American restaurant in midtown; not a "destination" place, unless your destination is "relaxing." Unfortunately, none of us had one of the much-praised steaks, so a further visit may be in order.

Pietro's may have been "here since 1934" but a walk down memory lane is virtually the only reason to patronize the place. The interior must date back to the 50s, with cheesy tablecloths and the kind of utensils you ate with at college. When my wife asked for the names of the wines served, we were told "red" and "white." Imagine my surprise when I reviewed the bill and learned that we were paying $12 a glass for wine that obviously came out of a 55 gallon drum. I was looking forward to the individually-prepared Caesar salads but they were drenched with a slightly-sweet dressing, made with iceberg lettuce (not romaine, as is traditional). The menu prices are at least 1/3 more than other Italian restaurants serving staple selections. My spaghetti & meatballs ($21) must have been from the last of the batch as the sauce had a slightly burnt taste. The side of spinach was about 1/2 a cup, for $9. Bottom line: $175 for two mediocre Italian meals is an outrage...your money is better-spent at one of the many fine Italian restaurants (like Nonni's, not too far away)

We walked in without a reservation and while the restaurant was filling up on a Friday night they were helpful & found us a nice spot for two. We loved the friendliness of the staff & the old world atmosphere. No menus. Our waiter recited the options! We had the Caesar salad (excellent), spinach ravioli and the veal parmigiana. Everything was wonderful. The house Chianti was very pleasant.

Beautiful old family type restaurant. Great old bar, old style waiters and maître d. Definitely an Italian flair to it. Food was excellent and large portions. Casual dress ok. We had a great time here and was able to get in without reservations, only waited through one glass of vino at the bar! :-)

We were looking for a convenient local Italian place. Pietro's was suggested. We made a reservation for 6pm. We were greeted by the manager and there were few people there. By the time we left at 7:30 the place was jammed. For good reason. The food was out of this world. I had the Caesar salad and the linguini with white clam sauce. It was outstanding. Our waiter was Ramone. His suggestions and great sense of humor made the experience truly memorable. We'll go there again.

Pietro's has been in its current location since 1984. Prior I first encountered it "one flight up" in midtown east in Manhattan in the early 1970s. It was a true Wall St. traders' haunt. The lady at the door took your coat--no coat check--she remembered you and your coat! I was a junior trader at Salomon Brothers and the guest of a notorious bond broker with TPO (for those of you who remember when bond trades were settled by hand!). The full garlic scampi starter was delicious as was the veal piccata. Johnny Walker Black tasted like Johnny Walker Black--all four ounces of it. The cottage fries were memorable as was the NY Strip. I hadn't been back since the early 1970s! I ordered what I remembered. Nothing has changed save the coat check lady who now gives out coat checks and lacks an institutional memory! It was crowded, noisy and wonderful--as it was 50 years ago! I couldn't finish my Black Label (I am a bit older) and the one time raucous Wall St. crowd had become older (it seems) as Millennials seek out Gluten free and far more healthy fare (what suckers!) . It's nice when memory fails to disappoint! A. Morse

Terrible... Had a reservation, got there early and couldn't seat us, ignored us, while waiting they didn't even offer us a drink or to go to the bar, didn't explain or try to reassure in anyway, then a dozen people sat down. Still hadn't had a spot SO long after the reservation so we left.

i always wanted to go to Pietros my grand parents talk about this place I took my chances I made a reservation for Saturday night for 7pm for 4 people I got there firdt eith my girlfriend we when to the bar to wait for my friends we had a drink each 20 minutes later my friends arrive I ask the bartender to transfer the check to my table maybe he didn't understand what I say he was busy tell me his private life we stand up to go to the table he got mad and ask me to pay the check at he bar because the waiter don't tip him my girlfriend ask him to put the bar bill together with the dinner and he say no that we have to pay at the bar he was very arrogant with no personality I don't have any idea how can he work there this place is not for this bartender maybe he can work at a diner maybe if he is lucky the dinner was great the service was excellent but the bartender su----s I will never seat at the bar if he is there

Quite simply excellent food and service. Others complain about the old school decor, the servers, etc., etc. I have been here on several occasions, usually around the Belmont, and have never been disappointed. A bit pricey, but you won't have a better meal in the city no matter how much you pay. This last trip I came in on Thursday evening June 4 with a friend of mine. No reservations and it was packed. We asked if we could eat at the bar. No problem. We both had the chopped salad and I had Veal Scaloppini and my friend had the Veal Piccata. Both without fault! Top notch service and food. Local atmosphere. I have had everything here. Steaks, Veal, Pasta. Never a disappointment!

Been going here for over 25 years and it is still superb! Baked clams, chicken parm, sirloin for 2/3 are all MUST haves!

I have been eating at Pietro's for a few years now. Its an Italian Steak Place but everything is good. Career wait staff, lots of food and always reliable.

Watery martini at the bar, slow, indifferent service by the barman. The maitre d’ at the door failed to tell me when my party had arrived. The “classic" Caesar's salad” was anything but -- just basically a tossed green salad with vinaigrette sauce. The main course, veal parmigiana, was covered with such a thick pile of cheese and tomato sauce that it was as if there was no meat beneath all the stuff heaped on top. Way overrated operation and “cuisine.”

We've been here twice so far since we were told about this place. The staff is what you want in an Italian restaurant. The Caesar salad is great! The shrimp scampi is great! The atmosphere is comfortable! A new favorite!

Have been going to Pietro's for a very long time......... as far back as when Leo was running it initially on 45th off of 3rd in a walk-up and then 43rd off of 2nd Avenue. Never have had a bad meal here, great staff, friendly and just can't say enough good things about the place and people running it. Favorite dishes are shrimp scampi appetizer, sauteed clams appetizer, chopped salad, caesar salad, string bean saladlobster and shrimp marinara over linguine, chicken a la pietro, shells a la nat, all the veal dishes and I can go on and on. Moved out of the city so haven't been there in a while but always made me feel like family and miss the people and food a lot and loved sitting for a while at the bar having a drink while chatting with Sal the bartender. I would go to Pietro's for lunch, dinner on weekdays as well as weekends for both business and personal. Dave M

My Uncle took me to Pietro's during our most recent market trip to New York. He told me we had to eat here as this is where my great uncle Morris always came when he was buying for our 88 year old family business. Although in an new, larger location than when Morris came, it felt like I was back in the past eating with my Uncle Morris. The food was fantastic classic Italian fare. The service made me feel like I had been coming for the past 40 years. The Shrimp appetizer was delicious and the Shell pasta with cheese was so creamy and delicious. I had a classic cabresi (sp?) salad that had such flavorful tomato and mozzerela that I would have ordered more if it was not for the enourmous Veal Chop they were bringing me. Pietro's is the original and classic New York Italian eatery!

This restaurant is always packed and even if you are a regular they will send you packing without a reservation. The food is good, they are expensive and a little arrogant but its still worth it for some traditional Italian favorites and probably the best chicken parm ever...

Outstanding dinner - had shells and strip steak. However, service was poor. Our waiter Andy was telling unprofessional jokes and was not very professional. In addition, when I asked for the check, Andy asked to leave tips in cash, which I thought was odd. I'll go back for sure, just with a different waiter.

This is one of those frequently overlooked gems in Mew York that is sooooo worth going out of your way for. We got a recommendation for lunch and arrived at 2 pm before a flight. The chopped house salad is excellent and superbly seasoned. The Parma ham with melon was perfect. But the Chicken Parmessan and the New York strip loin would led put anywhere else to shame. Had a side of Portabello mushrooms with mash. Some wine and beer and all for $160. The style is simple and homely but the service and food are outstanding. Local gem. Don't miss and say hi to Carlo.

This restaurant has been around for a long time, and food is very dependable and classic. The ambiance is classic also. The waiters are friendly and happy. We had the Clams Casino ($22) which were good,Chopped Salad ($16) was basic, the Special...Chicken Limone (need more lemon but good), Fettuccini Alfredo ($26) was good but missing something, and a side of spinach ($10) which was OK. Service was very good.

I was disappointed first time I was here several years ago. So gave it a second try. Food was no better than at some of our local Italian restaurants. The big difference being the prices . Average food at extra ordinary prices . My veal parm was served warm and did not resemble any of the better I've had elsewhere. Waiters were blase' if we communicated a negative. Last time here restaurant had arrangements with parking lot across the street to park at a discounted rate. Now total "rip off" charging $20 to valet park your car . Bring your own bread as bread basket does not befit an expensive Manhattan restaurant.

I read an article in the NYT about this place and decided to try it. I knew it was a very old restaurant with old style Italian food and steaks. I had read it offered the best Caesar as well as a highly acclaimed chop salad. So we ordered both and they were good... not "the best" but good. The pastas were OK (one with clam sauce and HUGE amount of garlic; the other was the meat ravioli - quite good, not extraordinary). The service is excellent old style - professional. I think I will be back to try the steak as, for pasta, I like other places in NY above Pietro's.... Marea, Cipriani, Il Mullion to name a few....

Pluses: wonderful, experienced service team; outstanding owner, great drink selection and terrific food Minuses: somewhat difficult to get a cab

It was excellent. Food was great. The steak was as good as we've at any New York Restaurant and the service was very professional. First Class all the way.

We were a large party and our table was ready on time. Management is evident and the place runs very smoothly. Our waiter was professional and helpful. The food choices were wonderful and attention was paid to dietary restrictions Dishes are large and many can be shared. We had fish, chicken and pasta and everyone enjoyed their meals. A big plus is valet parking!!

Modest place with old decor which could be a good thing but food was certainly inconspicuous: a steak was good but the the veal milanese was very thin and tasteless. Sides were also not interesting. Decent service. Price was excessive for the food.

We went there on recommendation of our hotel. Food was good, especially the salad was excellent. Service was not friendly and also not professional.

Taking a quick dinner before heading to the airport for an evening flight I stumbled upon Pietro’s. What a great experience. Great food, generous pours at the bar, and very helpful and fun wait staff. To top it off, an old friend from Texas happened be there too. Delightful in every way! Highly recommended.

Over in the UN area is Pietro's which is an absolute New York gem. Professional service, well done. Terrifically strong drinks. Steak, veal, all the meat is outstanding. I also like Club A and 21 Club and I think Pietro's is right there. Get the chopped steak, seriously, with a crust on it that is perfection. So tasty. One of my favorites in NYC.

My wife and I had dinner at Pietro's on a Friday night. We were seated immediately even though we didn't have reservations. The restaurant atmosphere was authentic Italian, as if you were stepping back into time a couple of decades. In fact, there was a newspaper article on the wall featuring the coat lady because she'd been there for 42 years. When I commented on the article, she smiled and said she'd been there 43 years now! There were several larger parties enjoying dinner and conversation. My wife ordered a shrimp dish, and even though it didn't come with pasta, the waiter said it would not be a problem for the chef to add the penne pasta she wanted. The shrimp were huge and her dish was delicious. I had the red snapper. It was good, but not as tasty as my wife's shrimp. This is not a trendy spot; it's an old-school restaurant that serves good food.

Walked from Helmsley Hotel and we were so glad we did. We arrived at 5:30 and there was hardly anyone there so we were a bit nervous. But it filled up as we had dinner. Definitely an older restaurant. The curtains and pictures all hanging in a row all very "old school." But all in all the place was delightful. The service was wonderful. Waiters were attentive and friendly. And the food was amazing. The caesar salad was delicious but I must admit I was disaapointed in the lettuce. Looked like iceberg. I would still get it again. Very tasty! I had the veal marsala. Loved it. We ordered broccoli rabe and potatoes. Both wonderful. We eat a lot of Italian food and the food here is really delicious. The portions were large so we had too much food (we probably shouldn't have ordered the potatoes). We had to leave it since we had no refrigerator in the room :-( I would definitely go back if I was in this part of the city. We were impressed.

Last night was my second visit. Same perfectly decent old-school Italian food, but I was particularly impressed by the outstanding service and friendly welcome. That will bring me back whenever I'm in the City.

First visit to this mid town eatery and it didn't disappoint. Bar area is relaxed and comfortable and for dinner we had a large corner table. Wait staff is extremely knowledgeable and didn't offer us a menu. Instead he basically asked what we liked and steered us to a great meal.Capresse salad was wonderful as the mozzarella was so creamy. The veal chops and steaks were done perfectly and are very large. Portions are big for the sides. We were treated to a free round of drinks at the end of the evening but we did spend a lot.

This is a traditional Italian restaurant with good old fashioned service and beautifully presented food. We shared a starter between three which based on the size of the serving was ample. Two of us had the house special of the day which was chicken breast marinated in lemon and has to be the best chicken dish I have tasted. The sides were equally tasty.

We were a party of 7, adults and kids. The food was absolutely lovely, nice, straightforward Italian food. Everyone happy with their choice. Portions are very big, some of the plates would have been enough for two people. We loved the restaurant itself. It was old fashioned and with a great atmosphere. Service was efficient but could be friendlier.

We had no reservation and came to the restaurant just by coincidence. There was no door handle at the front door therefore we had to knock until someone opened which we found great from a style/atmosphere perspective. The restaurant itself is decoreated very old-fashioned. It looks like some Italian restaurant in a Martin Scorsese Mafia movie. The staff perfectly fits to this style. You feel like Tony Soprano himself is bringing your orders. Great. This was really fun. The food is good, the red wine also. It is a little bit overpriced but for a one-time visit the old style waiters and decoration of the restaurant are worth it.

Pietro’s has become one of our favorite Manhattan eateries. It offers every standard Italian dish, with friendly service. The ambience of Pietro’s is a private club, since so many regulars treat it that way. But there are no dues or admission rules.

Pietro's is an unassuming, old-school Italian restaurant. The staff is friendly and made me feel like I was a regular from the neighborhood. Great wine selection, well-poured drinks, and excellent food. I had the chopped salad (delicious!) and ravioli (delicious!). Portions are good. Usually when you order ravioli, you get 4 or 5 pieces. This was a full plate of homemade goodness. No room for dessert, unfortunately, but I'll return and try and save room! In terms of atmosphere, quiet enough to have a conversation easily, enough buzz that it doesn't feel like everyone else is listening.

Good basic old style Italian food, just like Nonna used to make.

Went to this place for first time. Food was over priced and flavors average at best. Service was attentive but could not make up for average food quality and dated decor.

This place is amazing if youre looking for an old school NYC italian experience. It is VERY expensive - $200 for 2 people (1 appetizer, 2 entrees, 1 side, 3 cocktails). Huge portions so be ready for left overs, i do believe they offer half orders which i would have ordered had i known how much food was coming out. The servers are very professional and top notch.

My wife has been going here for 46 years & I have been a loyal customer fore 30! Best Caesar Salad anywhere in the world! Everything on the menu is great & never had a bad meal. Our favorites are "chicken Pietro" which is half chicken cut up & lightly flour dusted, pan fried with plenty of onions, peppers & mushrooms. My wife's favorites are chicken parmigiana "white," ask the waiter to explain or old fashioned parmigiana.

My wife and I had dinner at Pietro's during a weekend trip to NYC. I found Pietro's through my Yelp app and called to see if we could make a last-minute reservation. The gentleman who answered the phone (may have been the manager or owner?) was very accommodating and offered to take care of us, no problem. Just as some other reviewers commented, what I found to be really neat about this place was the "old school" authentic Italian restaurant experience. It seems like the ambiance has been the same for 30 years. Normally, this would be a bad thing ... but in this case, it's absolutely a compliment! The salads were really good. I ordered the spaghetti and meatballs at the recommendation of our waiter; my wife ordered the fettuccine alfredo. Both were excellent! Normally, if you order fettuccine alfredo at an Italian restaurant, you get noodles with a heavy, goopy sauce. That was not the case here - the sauce was very light and buttery. The spaghetti and meatballs was one of the best I've ever had. I recommend Pietro's to anyone looking for authentic Italian food in NYC. We made a reservation on short-notice and got lucky, but I recommend booking ahead of time!

Start by sharing a tomato & onion salad with blue cheese dressing or Shells a la Nat.. Have Chicken Pietro (order white meat only, no skin, no bones) or a steak for 2. Have them slice the steak and put on a plate for sharing. It's enough for 3 or even 4. Creamed spinach. Lyonaise potatoes. Terrific. I started eating regularly at Pietro's, upstairs in the small second floor dining room on 45th St., in 1963 and have never gotten over the move. Then again, I don't like change. Most of us are on Medicare but they don't take it. Only knock is that the waiters are "brusque" and often don't listen and pay attention. But, as others have said, think "red sauce Italian restaurant from the 60's"

I had a great filet mignon steak. The meat was tender and tasty, the price was $51 for 14 ounce. I joined a couple who ordered the chicken martini, they really enjoyed it. The restaurant is nice, elegant with a taste of the oldies... Will definitely come back in my next visit to NYC.

We had a pleasant dinner with fairly good service but with so many excellent Italian restaurants in NYC, this is not a place I’d likely return. Old school decor, which is nice, but the food was just not memorable.

An exceptional NY Italian restaurant located on 43rd St between 2nd Ave and 3rd Ave! The food is amazing and is wonderful. The Scampi, Clams on the Half Shell, Mixed Greens, Tomato (Caprese), Meat Ravioli, Chicken Parmigiana, Chicken Pietro, Veal Marsala, Shrimp Marinara, and Filet of Sole are ALL Wonderful. Of course this is only a few items we have tried. The service is exceptional and you will feel like you were taken to an Italian friend's home for dinner. Pietro's has stayed in business for 80+ years because of the great food, and service. If you are visiting the city for the first time, or simply have not found this special place . . . you should stop in and have dinner!

It seemed like we were the only patrons that did not know someone else here! Most of the tables had been named after long-time customers. Service was efficient and friendly. A quiet and comfortable place that has been in business for a long time. Large portions of Italian fare. We had veal parmigiana, peppers/anchovies and pasta. We would go back. The tab ran a bit over $100.00 without alcohol.

Delicious, excellent Italian restaurant that's been around since the 1930's. Cesar salad was superb, as was the delicious bread and butter. I enjoyed my chicken catatorie and my dining companion enjoyed his ravioli. The garlicky green beans were a good side dish. Wonderful service..

This was our first visit with friends who live in NYC. We waited at the bar and had cocktails which were very generously prepared; vodka martini and scotch on the rocks. The staff is very friendly, old school not stuffy at all. You have the option of eating at the bar as well. We were seated promptly when our friends arrived. We ordered veal, Dover sole, snapper, steak and shared clams casino, broccoli, asparagus, potatoes and a half portion of Nat's shells. Tons of food!!! Everything was delicious; my favorites were the steak and clams casino. The shells which are a famous dish were very good but not extraordinary. If that wasn't enough food we shared tiramisu and apple pie for dessert followed by an after dinner drink of sambucca. Great experience! The staff is friendly the prices are a bit expensive but you get a lot of bang for your buck. My advise is come hungry and share everything because the portions are huge!!!

we recently ate at piers. it is clearly a club with many return guests. everyone seemed to know the waitstaff and management. this is a good sign. friendly and inviting. the bar area is ample and really inviting. one could hang there for an evening. my group was seated and a very capable server took great care of us. the food arrived in perfect timing. the pasta appetizer was a bit overcooked. the fish main course was a bit soupy and bland. the atmosphere more than made up for the food misses. I will return because the environment is so cozy and inviting.

Fish spectacular and pasta just dreamy. Sauces delight and compliment with a good red .Chef rocks and very personable.Go again in a heartbeat

Went again on June 9 for my annual Belmont trip to New York. This time I took my two daughters who were first timers. I have the Veal Scallopini which was fantastic. My oldest daughter opted for the Lasagna which I had never tried here before. Well, I've tried it now and all I can say is it is easily the best Lasagna I have ever had. My youngest had the spaghetti which she loved. They both raved about the food for days after. The service was top notch. All of the guys here must have been here for 20+ years. Everything was perfect. I will, of course, be back.

The chicken parmesan and the seafood salad tasted like RUBBER! Terrible and so disappointing. In addition, the service was horrible.

If you're looking for old school Italian, this is the place. It has a no frills decor, but the service is impeccable and the food outstanding!! I took a SVP client of mine here for dinner a few weeks back. He seemed unimpressed as I'm sure his typical business dinner is Capital Grill or some other overrated, overpriced restaurant. I told him I choose it based on reviews. He ordered a veal dish as did I -- it arrived and I couldn't believe how amazing it was, provably the best veal saltimboco I've ever had ! He nearly licked his plate clean and proceeded to say how much he enjoyed his dinner! I talk to him weekly and he still talks about his dinner and says how much he enjoyed it!! Try it, you'll love it too!!

A really nice place that is a bit off the main path. Food very good and reasonably priced. The veal is great.

The service was great and the waiters are very attentive. The restaurant was rather empty on the evening we went on 12/26/2025 at 8pm. However, I live in the area and this restaurant is always mostly empty upon passing. The restaurant that occupied the space prior was also an Italian restaurant that looked very similar to Pietro’s. I think it was Angeletto before the place was changed to Pietro’s. This restaurant is not even listed on Apple Maps or Google Maps as of the date of this review! The appetizer choices were very limited…there wasn’t even calamari offered on the menu. I ordered an overpriced salad that had too much vinaigrette and not even a cherry tomato for $20 bucks. My entree was the file mignon medium rare and it was cooked perfectly charred on the outside and pink on the inside. My wife’s favorite ordered the shrimp scampi which was excellent. This was not your typical butter and garlic slap around Olive Garden scampi. The green sauce made this dish special and authentic! Not to mention the freshness of the ship and presentation. The only disappointment was my salad… I know it’s hilarious. We spent top dollar on our entrees and they were perfect, but I feel shorted on the salad. The place is pricey but I will return. I attracted to its atmosphere of exclusivity. A Hidden gem if you can afford it.

Pietro's is a dying breed. It is a comfortable and friendly traditional southern Italian place without a lot of frills with reasonable prices. From the moment you enter and leave your coat with the famed coat check lady with the perfect memory ( no check tags required) or her affable grandson in training who is working in her place mid week and trying to develop her skills , you realize you are in a family-type restaurant. The old favorite spaghetti and meatballs - which is getting harder and harder to find on other menus - is terrific here. The chicken and veal parmigiana are classic dishes with light cheese and breading and fresh tomato sauce. The wine list is not extensive but is reasonably priced. Also great is the seafood salad. The crowd is classic New York. It's fun to be part of it.