Sandro's Reviews

The noise level in this low ceiling UES standby is horrific, even when one arrives late in evening. We arrived at 9pm (kitchen open until 11pm). Menu is interesting and could be good. However, mixed vegetable appetizer was over-cooked into mush as if it had been on back burner all evening; two pasta entres we're more than al dente. Grassini (bread sticks) best I ever had and they do sell them - special order. Sadly, we probably won't go back, except to pick up pre-ordered grassini.

We ate at Sandro's restaurant tonight expecting a really good experience and we were very disappointed. The service showed a total lack of training for a higher end upper east side place. The food was served without an offer of fresh pepper or cheese (we had to ask) even though the restaurant was only half full. We ordered the fried artichoke that many reviewers had raved about but found it over fried and difficult to eat. The chicken livers balsamico was outstanding as was the raw artichoke salad. We ordered the main courses telling the waiter that we were sharing them. The bucatini amatriciana was very good but was served in a full dish with a small plate for us to split it, a no-no for a good place. When we mentioned it and ask that the prochetta, our next course was to be split also but alas it was served in a large plate with 2 other large empty plates. This really did not matter as the pork was so dry as to be inedible, The captain took it back and was bringing the menus so we could select something else which took about 15 minutes. We ordered the shrimp in red sauce which alas was served the same wrong way as the other dishes. The shrimp was slightly iodine tasting without shrimp goodness for $33.00 in a weak red sauce.. We may be really picky but cannot see how people can review this or other restaurants so highly when thay do not deserve it. I guess the 1 to 5 system doesn't allow enough rating space. I would also like to see a box asking if we would go back. Sandro's would receive a definite NO !

I have follwed Sandro from each of the restaurants where he was always the top chef. I count seven restaraunts in all over the years where I tracked this larger than life culinary artist. He seemed to be looking for a place that would be his very own, one where he could excel without any limitations on his genius. This super roman, actually an expat from right outside the eternal city, schooled established Italian chefs from his Queens basement. At times he is called to whip up extravagent meals at NYC media award affairs and make no mistake about this guy, he is a Da Vinci in the kitchen. He is at home now with wife Anna acting as a more than pleasant greeter in his digs at 81st off of second avenue and is going on seven years in his own venue. We revisted Sanders a week ago and were greeted with rice balls and eggplant meatballs, followed up with mussel (cozze) and white bean soup that was over the top. Then as an intermetso came spagetti con limon and rigatoni with fresh lobster before the main course which for the men was a special baby lamb roman style. Though we were stuffed to the gills we ventured into deserts - gelato covered with espresso, semi fredo ( pistachio musse), espresso ice chips covered with whipped cream, fresh berries with balsamic vinegar. Done not quite yet, the homemade, still hot, cookies and espresso come next without ordering. Ok, we are done when Giovanni, the mgr., leads the super Sandro to the table holding a tasting plate of spagetti cacio e pepe ( cheese and black pepper). We surrender. I tell as many people as I can about our revist to this temple of authentic cusine and friends want to go last night for their anniversary. So off we go again and though the seasonal menu doesn't feature any soup, he has some carciofi (artichoke) and cheese salad, pulpo salad (very fresh) and mussels in white wine. Thie time we know to order the spagetti cacio e pepe along with the limon so our friends could fall in love with Sandro like we are. From there we have the always whole branzino with potatoes and one of us ventures into chicken livers with balsamic vinegar. We hit the desert menu and get treated to capucino grapa and of course the cookies reappear. It is no wonder that on any given night there are Italian visitors to the city who longing for a dinner that they can appreciate flock to this place. They know good italian food better than we New Yorkers and following them will lead you to Sandro. The quality of food makes the place a little pricey but good imported food and its expert treatment commands and merits that.

Sandro's has been an absolute favorite of ours for decades now .... and while the address has moved several times, this family run gem has always at the very top of our NYC restaurant list and in any given week-long trip to NY we have dine at Sandro's at lease twice! Home-made pastas, veal chop, deep fried artichokes, Milanese, antipasti, dolci ... you can't go wrong! Literally anything and everything Sandro puts his spin on is truly AMAZING !!!

This is a lovely, busy little restaurant. The wait staff are all Italian, so you feel like you're in Italy! There's an extensive, reasonably priced menu. The food is good and the staff helpful and friendly. The grappa to end the meal is delicious.

I went there with my girlfriend and I can easily say that this little pearl is one of the best Italian food I've ever had in NY

An unusually calm nyc restaurant for those that like well prepared, tasty Roman cooking. The place is small and a reservation is suggested. The specials are many and I would always suggest you pick from them even though the menu dishes are also excellent. Fried artichokes are a specialty but there so many dishes offered that there is something for everyone's taste. You can hear yourself talk here which for nyc is a special treat. Sandro the owner is often in the kitchen and he is a dedicated and expert chef. Highly recommended for those who want a really first class meal without the pretense of many of the other overpriced restaurants nearby.

there are some nice appetizers--we didn't order them. Ditto the main dishes, for the most part. Apps--the Jewish style friend artichokes were a mouthful of pinecone cotton balls. The codfish was a rubbery mass impervious to pain (but the accompanying potatoes were great!). Veal scallopini was terrific. The service was sweet and attentive. Deserts were huge and yummy (berries with balsamic something plus vanilla ice cream = stratospheric). On the house bruschetta, little lemon cookies, home made grappa?! Nice. The least expensive wine was $55 but hey...it was tasty. I'd say have a salad and pasta (10 dollars cheaper than the inept cod) and you may have a really nice meal in a pretty place with sweet service.........

Sandro's is a very small restaurant with tables tightly packed together so it is very loud and difficult to have a business or personal conversation without shouting across the tiny table seating four people. The "daily specials" list is annoyingly long -- the number of daily specials is as long as the menu -- and it was confusing for us to remember everything the waiter told us. At some point I just stopped listening. And, on the daily specials it is awkward to keep asking for prices -- the waiter should state the price along with the food description. I ordered the waiter's recommendation of their "best pasta dish," the Bucatini Amatriciana and it was terrible. I did not enjoy the flavor, the pasta was stiff, and the "spicy" Italian vinegar did not help improve the flavor. There are much better Italian restaurants in Midtown on 9th street for both food quality and at lower prices. I will NOT return to Sandro's and I do NOT recommend it to anyone. The wine selection is OK.

Good original italian restaurant in th Upper East Side. Wide choice of italian wines (i ordered a good Barolo from Piemonte) and good food (i had a Steak with fired mushrooms and my girlfriend a good "amatriciana" pasta)....I have to say that it's not a cheap place, but it's worth to go !

Sandro knows how to cook his food, but the noise engineering in this place is miserable. Thankfully, there is no background music, but people speak loudly in NY and women scream to show that they enjoy. So a conversation becomes impossible. Of course the only reason to pay NY prices for a meal that in Italy will cost a fifth is to have a social evening with an intelligent conversation. And the prices here are high. So, what is the answer? Cook a good pasta at home and invite your guests to a relaxed happy evening.

Sandro’s has fabulous reviews. I was expecting a great meal. Food was very good. Service professional. Restaurant very noisy. Wine excellent. Dessert very good.

I’ve been to this restaurant four times already and I cannot get enough! The seasonal specials are numerous and delicious so the menu is different every time, the house red is great and service is good. The restaurant owner and chef, Sandro, will occasionally make an appearance in the dining room which is always a treat and you’ll get complimentary bruschetta to start and grappa and lemon cookies to end your meal. The most delicious pastas are the cacio e peppe, tagliatelle with truffles, rabbit ragu and amatriciana. For starters, the beef carpaccio with shaved truffles and the octopus and endives salad are superb. In terms of price, I have to note that the food is a little expensive, with an average of $80-$100/ person for a meal (shared appetizer, main course and shared dessert).

Real Italian ingredients and recipes made in a simple but excellent way by a great chef. The atmosphere is 100% "romana" and the service is truly friendly and refined. The best "bucatini all'amatriciana sauce" ever eaten abroad. If you are willing to a real italian trattoria experience in New York city do not look further Sandro's.

Everyone likes to find that local restaurant that few others know about. Sandro's is one of those places. Tucked away below street level on E 81st street just off of the corner of 2nd Ave., you could easily miss it but that would be a shame. The room is not impressive but the food is. There is a full bar and a nice wine list. Service was very good and the list of specials was longer than the items on the menu. My Insalata Contadina was simple but quite good. the vegetables were fresh and the Chianti vintager dressing tasty. A Buffalo Mozzarella appetizer special was also a hit. A venison rags over some type of ribbon pasta was another special that was worth ordering again if you see it. The Branzzino entree done perfectly and filleted expertly. You will like the food and if you are lucky, the chef will come out and ask how it was. He didn't come to our table but he did shuffle through the dinning room and was quite entertaining.

I discovered Sandro by accident since on a side street and what a find! I have returned multiple times and always have a great meal. Truly the best pasta with lemon I have had. The dining experience is good-nice staff and of course Sandro comes out to check on everyone. A restaurant not to be missed.

Friends who live nearby took us to this fabulous little gem of a spot. The chef came out to greet each table- and he is quite a character. This is NYC small- which means tight seating. But the quality of the food and wine is top notch. My tip is to listen to the specials. The menu if good, but the specials are we here the action is. We don’t eat red meat- and there were no no problems here. Great seafood! You can’t go wrong here.

We discovered Sandro's about 8 years ago and quickly realized how special it is and have been back many, many times. The menu is large and very creative featuring many unusual dishes not on typical Italian menus ( eg, fried Zucchini blossoms stuffed with ricotta; spaghetti with sea urchin sauce and tagliolini in lemon sauce to name a few). Service is terrific and the kitchen is presided over by Sandro himself, a larger than life figure

When "The Man" himself is in the kitchen I'll eat here over ANY Italian in NYC. Could take you 2-3 times to learn the menu and how to navigate the place. Once you learn the ropes you'll be VERY happy.

This place is all about the eccentric chef, Sandro Fioriti. Simple, rustic fare washed down with house infused grappa.

The title of this review summarizes three important attributes for a restaurant. Is it welcoming? Is it authentic in what it does and is it professional in its menu, staff and pricing. At Sandro's,the answer to these questions is Yes, Yes and Yes! Pricing is fair, especially as regards the wine list, where many NYC restaurants try to rip off the unwary. The menu is wholly authentic Italian, and to be more specific, authentically Roman. And as for welcoming, New York City has few places to compete with Sandro's. I had a sea bass Livornese, which was superb, and my colleagues had the Veal Milanese, which was also superb. Ending the meal with some exceptionally light grappa and chunks of parmigiano reggiano was a perfect ending. This place is on my "must return to" list.

If you like authentic Italian food prepared with the finest ingredients, cooked and served as in a Trattoria this is the place.

Sandro's is a small restaurant in a nice neighborhood on the Upper East side. After ordering some wine from the decent wine list, our waiter handed us a paper menu and then proceeded over 5 minutes or more to tell us about the 15-20 "specials" that were available - all without mentioning the price of any of them. After the first 10 dishes it all became a blur. We felt quite irritated that we should be expected to remember so much detailed information when it would have been easy to present a daily menu sheet that included prices. Our waiter then actively steered us away from many of the dishes we requested from the regular menu, strongly suggesting we were making the wrong choice and should go with the "specials". By the time the food arrived, the volume in the small restaurant with closely placed tables was deafening. We could not hear each other speak, even while shouting. The food was mediocre, and the recommended "specials" turned out to be nothing special and - not surprisingly - were at the highest range of all the items on the menu. We left before dessert, with hoarse voices and after looking at the bill feeling like we had been subject to a scam. All in all an unpleasant experience. We would not recommend Sandros to anyone.

My wife and I stumbled upon this find. We didn't have reservations and the restaurant was packed on a Friday night. We were able to sit at the bar and had a great experience. Sandro came out and sat with us. Pictures on the wall with him and Sean Connery, Dom DeLoise, and Placido Domingo in the restaurant. It was a great meal in a wonderful environment! More specials than items on the menu. You have to try it!

Sandro's on East 82st Street in New York City is an "Upper East Side" [UES] restaurant that is homey and more affordable than many of the more posh UES restaurants (like Sant Ambroeus). The cuisine is Italian, the service is prompt and quite good. The tables are in two long rows and if the restaurant is crowded it tends to get a bit noisy. Apart from that the food is very good. My wife usually gets the branzino; I get their veal scallopine - which is invariably excellent. The waiter starts you off with a frightfully long list of "specials" - which takes a long time to recite and whhich one can't remember them all. And the prices are not given along with the recital (there are of course prices in the menu). The wine-list is good and reasonably priced. Bread -consisting mostly of long grissini sticks - is excellent. The chef and the receptionist greet the guests; they're very friendly. There is a small bar at the front, but primarily Sandro's is a restaurant - and a very good one - not a place for drinks. There are of course many many Italian restaurants in New York and Sandro's is one of the better ones - that not many people know about (unlike Marea's which is more fancy - and high-priced - but scarcely superior in food-quality)

Amazing food and service was excellent. Our pasta was absolutely delicious and the Veal Chop was even better. The dessert was amazing. Recommend Sandro’s without exception.

Great place if you are on the upper East-Side. The place only seats about 50 persons max. A bit noisy when full but the food is very good. I had the Garganelli with tomato sauce and burrata. Other selections are not your typical ones found in traditional Italian restaurants therefore you will be surprised at the many other dishes offered. Since the place is small you need to make reservations. I went in by 6PM and in few minutes the place filled up completely. Enjoy!

We found this jewel three years ago. Keep coming back and always put ourselves into the hands of the Sandros who serve perfect Roman food with much love. On a Tuesday evening the place was lively and full of jovial customers by 8pm- many speaking Italian. Our servers were attentive and answered all questions. Always order from the specials as they will be top; you can find a wine from the wine list to compliment the cuisine - plenty of options by the glass as well. We just returned from Rome where we dined at three restaurants suggested by Mrs. Sandro, each of which were excellent. We paid homage by returning to Sandro's last night where we enjoyed yet another fabulous Roman dining experience on the Upper East Side of NYC. Don't miss this!

Definitely the Best italian food in NYC! Sandro is a great cook with a refines palate! Attentive staff and great wine list!

Excellent old school Italian in an unassuming, kind of beat up, looking space. The pastas are truly amazing.

Short, fresh, authentic menu served by a Roman chef of substantial portions who himself loves food-- obviously. Exuberant guy. He's very precise about his food and the way you are going to get it is his way, but it'll be worth it.

Very lovely and attentive service. Tables inside are nicely spaced apart. Broad menu that should accommodate all food preferences. The balsamic chicken livers are absolutely fantastic, more than enough for one person but certainly adequate to share. The prawns were tasty but a bit on the dry side. The salad that goes with the dish was a good addition. Dessert was a disappointment; tiramisu had little flavor, not bad but rather bland.

This is a cosy Italian place with great Italian food, definitely a place I will come back to. It did not happen per accident that tennis-legend Roger Federer sometimes has his meals there during the US Open. It is pricy but worth it

I have been going to Sandro's for many years and I am always impressed with the quality of the food served!!! carciofi alla giudea,( artichokes) veal chop,tagliolini al tartufo,antipasti,dolci ......amazing BRAVO SANDRO. I really recommend this amazing little place with lots of charm,quality and warm atmosphere.

Sandro's is my all-time favorite restaurant in NYC! They have a fabulous menu, as well as several nightly specials. I tried the Calamari Pasta last time and loved it! As a bonus, my friends and I were served complimentary grappa and fresh baked cookies after our meals. YUM! You won't find friendlier service and more delicious Italian food than Sandro's!

We first fell in love with Sandro's cuisine back in the 90's when Sandro's on East 58 street was hugely popular. When that closed, somehow he disappeared and we no longer knew where to find him cooking in Manhattan. Friends recently told us of the new location, which we found to be totally different in atmosphere from before. This small, rather crowded restaurant features many of the old menu favourites including pennette a la vodka, branzino etc, but somehow the sparkle has gone. Service was erratic and we felt abandoned at times, so disappointing.

You have to eat Italian food when you go to NYC. This was a great authentic Italian restaurant. I got the chance to try their Pasta with White Truffels... a delicacy, and great, although very pricy. I don't think I will be doing it again, just for the price... but I can now say I tried them. I would recommend this restaurant for a special occassion.

If you want authentic Italian food, run, don't walk to Sandro's. Freed from the spaghetti and meatball, stereotypic Italian fare, the menu here reflects the best of Roman cuisine. Sandro Fioriti offers his diners homemade grissini, CARCIOFI ALLA GIUDEA O ROMANA (Crisply fried artichokes or with wild mint, white wine); and a SPAGHETTINI AL LIMONE that is divine. The service is attentive which is not a surprise since Sandro chats and sits with his guests. The place is small, so be sure to make a reservation and don't forget to top it off with the house grappa!

We have been going to Sandro's for many years . I am always amazed by the great, warm service. The food is delicious and there is always a great variety of daily specials. Will for sure be back!

It was a very good choice for me! I did not know the place, it was just suggested and I decided to try. The place is quite expensive, but we are in New York and we all know this city is not cheap. The entrance of the restaurant is not too nice: they should restore it indeed! When you get inside, the atmosphere is nice and calm and the food delicius. I had a wonderful appetizer made with artichokes and a great dish of pasta. The pasta was a little bit hard but nice. Also the desert was delicious. Wines are good (limited selection, though) but very expensive. I would definitely go back! Very good service as well!

We came here on our first date by happenstance (we met for a drink at bar nearby then walked over) and come back every year. It is always excellent.....and always crowded. Pasta is exquisite. We always leave wanting more. Wish we lived in the neighborhood...we'd be here every week.

While visiting my daughter who lives on the UES, we were looking for a restaurant close by to grab dinner. What a find! Meal started with homemade breadsticks that were delicious. Then came a plate with crostini, topped with tomato, evo, and pickled hot peppers if you wanted to add that. Delicious! A bread basket was also put on the table... Very generous start to a fabulous meal. We both had cacio de pepi with homemade pasta......sooooo good! No room for dessert but we received complimentary peach grappa and powdered sugar dusted cookies....felt like I was in Italy! Great food, leisurely dining, no rushing....had to ask for check or they would have let us sit there all night....lovely!!!

Really great Italian food. Nice neighborhood, really nice staff and the food is superb! It's a good idea to make a reservation as the place is small but if you have to wait, it's worth it. Go hungry!

Amazing, sophisticated Italian home cooking! Every dish was absolutely outstanding and service was very attentive and friendly. Great selection of specials and excellent wine list. Highly recommend and can't wait to come back!

We had heard so many wonderful things about this restaurant that it became a must visit for us. The atmosphere is cozy, the service is very professional. The conversations at dinner with friends were priceless and for me enhance the experience! We had the Beet salad and zucchini flowers for appetizers. Both were absolutely excellent. We chose the pasta entrees. I had the fettuccine special which was prepared in a tomatoe and chanterelle base. It was superb. My wife had the Cacio et Pepe which she found too peppery...we traded and I felt while bracing, it was good. I'm not sure what I'm will to pay for good food but to make an analogy to fashion, I get paying for haute couture and this wasn't that. I would recommend a visit, nonetheless.

We had the luck to discover Sandro's great trattoria with friends. The dinner was....very, very good and it made us feel as in a Roman home. EVERYTHING was great, fresh, cooked and served to perfection. Sandro is a unique cook - in size - and expertise. He manages to have original Italian/Roman ingredients plus very fresh and tasty meats, sausages, ham for local farms. A treat. Suggestion: dont eat for two days and then...go to Sandro's.

This has been a go-to place for us, always excellent. Now we've had two mediocre meals in a row. The latest was especially disappointing and what was more disappointing was that no one there seemed to care. My sense is that maybe the owner is getting close to retirement or maybe is bored but it all felt mailed in.....We are giving up and will find another go-to Italian spot. Sorry to say this because we always loved the food. It just feels like no one cares now.

Beautiful space on the upper east side. Appetizers to die for, delicious Entrees, great real Italian service. Great, fairly priced wine list,Reasonable food prices.Really as good as you will get.

Excellent Italian restaurant! We spent a nice evening with American relatives and had a wonderful dinner. The restaurant is located in a quiet area, with the metro stop just a few steps away. The specialty of the restaurant is spaghetti with lemon, really good! Prices in line with New York. Advised!

Once again, my foodie son took me to this new spot (new for me). The pasta preparation was so worth it. We dined on fresh pasta, the mozzarella di bufala, and the sliced steak with mushrooms. Simply outstanding. The meal ended with the Torta Di Mele Della Nonna (Grandma's Apple Cake) and the overall experience was perfect.

Do you really want to eat in an italian restaurant and not be disappointed......go to Sandro's and you will never complaint,you will have the best experience of your life.This is probably the best italian restaurant in New york and i can say this without over rating this place.The quality,the service, the ambiance is superb...Sandro is always present to make sure that your experience is going to be the one you will never forget !!!!!

Have not been there for a while now. Food is excellent! Service not so much. Expensive, good food, with an poor wait staff, not conducive to returning too often. Signature pasta with lemon sauce is to die for. Almost worth the ridiculous price for a tiny little portion! Too bad...

Well due to Covid etc. I had not been in this neighborhood place for well over a year. Dropped In to have dinner solo by the bar. Jr was here with his Mom and they were Pretty full. I started with the fennel salad which would seem to be a simple dish but it was excellent and very inspiring to my palate. I had a broiled veal chop prepared pink, And it was divine. Not one bit overcooked, tender and moist and still able to get the thicker part and the bone cooked as well. The potatoes were excellent as was the broccoli Rabe. I am so happy to see that they are open again as I live very close and can always count on an extraordinary Italian meal even if I am solo.

Excellent neighborhood place. Homemade pasta, good service, very tasty meal. The gratis cookies and grappa after dinner were a nice touch! Highly recommended.

we split incredible red snapper, pear/gorgonzola salad, buffalo mozzarella. impeccable service & specials

Last night, for the first time, we dined at Sandro's on East 81st with our New York friends near their home. What a tasty and warm experience on a cold night! We started off with a glass of excellent Prosecco followed by a delicious artichoke salad and large tasty shrimp in a spicy red sauce and a whole Bronzino. Our friends had veal Milanese and their specialty, lemon pasta. Great desserts too, pistachio gelato and apple cake. The service was great including a visit from the chef! The restaurant is Rome inspired and small and cozy. We're surely heading back next time with our son who loves pasta, though we watch our carbs! A little pricey but worth it. Better than our local Italian back home in our immediate neighborhood. That's probably one of the reasons our friends choose to stay up North!

I follow Sandro since he opened a restaurant in Chelsea, the food is excellent, the right ingredients, the dishes are traditional and innovative at the same time, the services it is excellent, professional, polite and warm, they respect your time for the reservation and the privacy when you are there, elegant ambiance, very good variate of wines. I go there for my personal celebrations and when friends from others cities or countries are in NYC, I know everything will be perfect.

Heard all the hype. Homey, warm, upper east side, etc. All true. Everything was fine until the food was served. Awful. Pasta, al dente yes, but no taste. Fried Cornish hen? Greasy and basically inedible. And worst of all, the house Baccala. One look and you lose your appetite, which, by the way, I did. There has to be better Italian food somewhere on the upper east side of NYC. Oh, to add insult to injury, the prices are... I'll let you judge for yourself. I'm not going back!

Good food even if they forgot to offer a wine list. Expensive food and very expensive wine list. I liked the setting but it got very noisy as the restaurant filled. Service was very cordial but scattered.

We've been to Sandro's a number of times over the last few years and I'd say that it has been good but uneven. Our most recent visit in January was just OK, while a meal there a few months before was quite good. It has a vast Italian menu with endless specials and friendly service. The one thing I would say is that it is not cheap.

They know how to make pizza and chicken parm heroes better than any other pizza place I have ever been to. I was lucky to have lived around the corner from them for several years and when I return to NYC to visit, I always make a Sandro's stop.

Excellent spot. Came after Broadway show. Had to have the spaghetti with lemon sauce… superb. The ambiance is good.. attentive staff not overbearing.

I reserved a table here for a night out with my wife and two friends while we were vacationing in the city. The food here is amazing. The bucatini amatriciana was the best I've had. The list of specials was very long, and we had to commend the server for having it memorized. Of the specials, I recommend the rabbit bolognese, the rice and mozzarella balls, and the veal, pork, and pistachio manicotti. We didn't have room for dessert, but they still brought us complimentary lemon butter cookies and a shot of grapa for each person at the table. Will be a must visit whenever we are in town.

I have been a loyal patron and enthusiast follower of Sandro Fioriti (who is the owner and chef of his namesake restaurant) since I settled in New York City years ago. I first got to appreciate Sandro's unique talents at the Serafina branch on East 58th St.in the 1990's and have followed him up till his current location in the Upper East Side. Don't let us forget that Sandro has proudly brought with himself to Manhattan that unique,special genuine " romanità' " into his cuisine based on his years previously spent in beautiful Frascati at Cacciani restaurant,a great Michelin recommended restaurant located in the city of Frascati,outside Rome ,which I knew since my childhood in Rome. The mouthwatering insalatina di puntarelle (a special variety of Catalonian Chicory),when in season and the way Sandro prepares it,is simply unique and a rare find in Manhattan. Not to mention,the fegatini all'aceto balsamico ...or the spaghetti al limone...the fettuccine alla bolognese or the branzino arrosto...each one deserving a prize in its own right. Sandro himself is not only a great ,talented Chef ,but an impeccable,genuine Host in the real sense of the word . His charming wife and daughter as well as his Maître,besides Sandro himself,monitor constantly and interact individually with each single table to ensure that each one is satisfied with the dining experience in this hidden gem in Manhattan. As they say in Italy: " Tanto di cappello ed Auguroni,Sandro! ",which means "I take off my hat to you and congratulate you,Sandro!"

We went to this restaurant during our visit to NYC. I was surprised by how small the place was despite its popularity. The food was okay but nothing special, I would certainly say it was overpriced for what it was. The pasta we ordered was really very heavy and oily, although the portions were unsurprisingly big. Having been to many Italian restaurants especially in Europe, i think it would only be fair to rate this restaurant as average.

I happened to follow Sandro in 3-4 different restaurant until he opened his own place. A real Italian food with Italian soul! Always creative, reach tastes to all dishes. There is something new and special every time. Must try Dow Jones pasta:) Open only for dinner.

Arrived to a very friendly bartender who poured me what was effectively a double while I waited for the rest of my party. A nice start. The room is long and narrow in what is really the basement of the town home. We were seated in the middle of the room and like many reviewers have mentioned, it was very difficult to hold a conversation. Our food arrived and it was decent. The waitress was friendly and efficient. Although the experience was good, I was shocked by the steep bill at the end. I there are many options for good Italian food in NY that is just as good for a more reasonable price

A relatively small Italian restaurant, with limited tables -- but not a feeling of being crowded. It was relatively noisy with all tables taken -- no sound dampening due to low ceiling and flat walls. Ambiance was a bit stark -- no decorations, paintings, etc -- just bare white walls. Food was good to very good and the huge variety of special;s and on the menu gave us a large selection. Prices on the high side but not exorbitant -- consistent with what one would expect in NYC for a good, neighborhood Italian restaurant. Average price per person is about $85 for drink, wine, dinner, tax, tip. Worth a try!

I will never get tired to visit Sandro's ,is probably my favourite Italian restauranr in New York !!! Small but nice and warm atmosphere,this is the place in which you can find the best quality anywere.Always there Anna and Sandro are welcoming you every day,the ffod is what make this beautiful restaurant what it is today....7 STARS

Now that Sandros has moved to 86th Street i expected the new premises to strengthen their cuisine....... unfortunately not ! Space has brick walls so it is extremely noisy when full and the menu has not really changed or been updated from the previous space. We ordered a green salad with pears, feta cheese and walnuts as a starter special and it was really a second class dish: a lot of greens, one tiny walnut and literally no feta. My main course was Spaghetti in a lemon sauce and that was also a big disappointment, while my wife had Grilled salmon with virtually no choice given for vegetables, and it was dry. Staff were rushed and not very professional in their manner. The main dish was not placed on the table rather just plonked down. For a restaurant that is striving to be noted as a smart fresh " upper east side establishment" this whole experience was not appealing. They need to tighten up their approach and improve the food qualities. Will not be returning any time soon.

Yet another one of NY's hidden town house located restaurants, may of which serve the best Italian food in town. This focuses on Roman delights as in Rome but everything is good. Only issue is you can't hear you table partner - that's an exuberant crowd in a hard surfaced space

Sandro’s A neighborhood gem Sandro’s is a family owned restaurant which is convenient to The Metropolitan Museum on 2nd Avenue and 81st street. The staff is warm and friendly. We were greeted with a cup of complementary warm lentil soup. The dishes were divine. They had several dishes with shaved black truffles, divine salads, and a very large menu. My wife had the veal picata which was delicious and perfectly cooked. I had the rigatoni with meat balls. The home made bread sticks and grappa were divine. The had very nice red and white wines by the glass which were reasonably priced. Sandro’s is one of our New York favorites.

lemon pasta..yum! fried artichokes..yum! branzino..you guessed it! everything ive had here has been excellent. Add the warm service and you've got the recipe ( ugh) for a great meal. We have been going to sandros quite often lately and it is consistent. The only thing is they sometimes don't have the fried artichokes.

Sandro’s prices pretty much correspond to those of Babbo, Felidia, etc. and the restaurant pitches itself as high end Italian. The menu is much more limited and more standard, but eating in his restaurant as a whole is a much more pleasant experience than in those tourist traps. The spaghetti with meatballs is a classic and the meatballs are as good as I have had. The spaghetti al limone has now outlived its course (for me) and I found it pretty bland, so I would perhaps go with the amatriciana. The cacio e pepe was not just with pecorino and pepper, but had butter which dulls the flavour. This is just being lazy and a Roman should know better. The salads are fine and the carciofi alla giudea excellent. I find it hard to shell out nearly $50 bucks for veal milanese, when you can get better in Milan itself for 20 euros at even high-end places like Damm-atra, but if you don’t mind spending around $150-200 a head for a very good Italian meal, then this is certainly better than places like Babbo and Felidia. At least Sandro is there in his pajamas looking after the plates and trying to charm his customers rather than administering his empire from afar for tourists. Still, I find it a lot to pay for what in Italy would be a third of the price. Pleasant and professional staff. If money is no object, better here than in many more trendy places in NYC.

My brother spent 4 years in Bologna, studying medicine and immersing himself in the culture, art, erudition and aestheticism of Italy. I should mention the Bologanaise food because it was indeed an educational bonus. He has spoken often of Sandros and last week we had the opportunity to enjoy an extraordinary dining experience. The food was excellent and the atmosphere delightful. Sandro's wife greets the patrons with a smile and the staff is attentive and eager to please with typical European abruptness. The menu is a gem....really I recommend getting a preview on the web site beforehand and preparing yourself for a decision....or picking one of the specials which we all were happy with.....sensational. It is expensive, commensurate with the quality of the food;...the wine list excepted. .

I've been to Sandro's a number of times, and I've not once been disappointed with the welcoming atmosphere and fantastic food. The bolognese is the best I've ever had. The pasta is all made in-house, and always tastes delicious. The Caesar salad is great and so is the prosciutto mozzarella: thinly sliced, fresh meat with scrumptious mozzarella balls. And don't miss the mini penne with vodka sauce and pancetta. Whenever I go, I feel like I'm in Rome: the stecco and brick walls give an authentic feeling to the restaurant. This high quality establishment is named for one of the top chefs in the city. Sandro Fioriti is a fantastic chef: I feel like I can try anything on the menu and be not only satisfied, but amazed. He often comes out from the kitchen to greet the patrons in always-crowded dining room. And the service is impeccable. A familiar staff, friendly and professional. It's safe to say I've never been disappointed at Sandro's. A little pricey, but it's worth a visit to this authentic Roman gem.

I have to respectfully disagree with the review below. I have been eating at Sandros for years and love the place. The food is delicious, I've never had a bad meal. The fried cornish hen is my absolute favorite dish on the menu. Their carciofi a la judea is the best I've ever had outside of Rome. I'm sorry to hear that the reviewer below had a disappointing experience but don't let this stop you! The prices are a bit on the high side, but it's worth a splurge once in a while.

This small, unpretentious restaurant in the upper east side of Manhattan is truly a gem. Their food is well prepared, well presented and simply delicious; you can taste the fresh food bought that same day. We had salads, pasta, and different meat plates, all with a nice bottle of 2012 Fanti Brunello di Montalcino, and espresso. Couldn't be better but the price was very high (about $172/person).