Mixed reviews, and oh, these Yelp people,--or else this place is just plain inconsistent.
Midtown prices, i.e., fairly expensive. That may account for some of the sour apples.
Gente
153 E 45th St
(between Lexington Ave & 3rd Ave)
New York, NY 10017
Neighborhood: Midtown East
(212) 557-5555
(between Lexington Ave & 3rd Ave)
New York, NY 10017
Neighborhood: Midtown East
(212) 557-5555
Announcement
Gente will be taking part of the new Google Offers! Take a look at: http://www.google.com/of… and select the midtown zone.
Photo by Jack N.
Risotto Seafood
- Nearest Transit Station:
-
Grand Central - 42 St. (7, 7X)Grand Central - 42 St. (4, 5, 6, 6X)Grand Central - 42 St. (S)
- Hours:
- Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 10 pmSat 4 pm - 10 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
- $$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
78 reviews for Gente
Review Highlights What's this?
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"The service was fantastic and the food was delicious." In 4 reviews -
"Dessert was included and we had the tiramisu and coffee." In 6 reviews -
"...value -- for the hard-by Grand Central location, the pricing is very..." In 4 reviews
Rating Distribution | Trend
78 reviews in English
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Review from Adele P.
Bayonne, NJ7/15/2013
OK, something I am not understanding here is the mediocre reviews from the Groupon/Bloomspot crowd. This place was great and very accommodating.
We went for lunch on July 5. I had the day off from work, the husband had to work but met me there for lunch. We made a reservation only because it was suggested, since the place is very busy at lunchtime. Most of the places in the area (a block and a half from Grand Central) has a lot of take out and cheap places, and Gente is much more sophisticated than the other things on that block. It gets the business clientele, which is why it's more busy at lunch than dinner, but being that it was a holiday, it wasn't full.
We arrived early and were seated right away. Service was great. Solicitous without hovering, allowing us time to decide and to speak without interruption. Our waters were constantly refilled. I asked if we were limited due to the Bloomspot certificate and was told no, we could order anything - either the prix fixe lunch or ala carte. Our certificate was for 70, so we went with the prix fixe lunch.
Starter: Insalata Caprese, which had delicious buffalo mozzarella and the best heirloom tomatoes. We really enjoyed the tomatoes and wondered where they got them. I ordered a glass of pinot grigio, he had a chardonnay, both were quality.
We both chose chicken, me a piccata and him a marsala. Both were great (we shared). His comment to me: one of the best piccatas he's ever had, and he has had many. He's also a great cook, so this is a very high compliment.
Dessert was included and we had the tiramisu and coffee. I think we sat there for a total of 2 hours, enjoying being out together and not having to rush back. The food was delicious, service was great, and I think everything was very high quality.
Lovely lunch service and I would be happy to bring clients there if the opportunity arose. -
Review from Frank G.
Somerville, MA8/30/2013
Twenty two dollars for a plate of spaghetti with three small meatballs is robbery. Even if they're purported "Kobe beef"- which I know is complete crap since real Kobe beef doesn't exist outside of Japan. Check out this link
http://www.forbes.com/si…
This just highlights the greater inauthenticity you find at Gente. A good looking interior isn't going to make up for your miserly portions. But maybe some of you would rather eat your money than a full plate of food, so go ahead. -
Review from Annie R.
Brooklyn, NY7/15/2013
Gente has a nice atmosphere and the pasta is decent. It's not the best I'd ever had, but it was good. I had the spaghetti and Kobe meatballs and it was better than I expected. My boyfriend had the NY Strip Steak with Penne and he thought the steak was well seasoned and tender as a medium well steak should be. We had cappuccino's after dinner and they were excellent! The desserts were good also cheesecake and tiramisu.
I wanted to rate 3.5 starts, however the app wouldn't let me. -
Review from Brian R.
Manhattan, NY8/25/2013
My wife and I had a great meal here; would strongly recommend the food terrific! -
Review from Melissa M.
New York, NYDecent all around but nothing to write home about. A more calm if a bit too pricey lunch spot in midtown east.
Service: Good.
Food: The kobe meatball appetizer was super tasty (definitely my favorite of everything we got). The pastas tasted fresh and were well-cooked, but unfortunately somewhat bland (risotto also a bit on the creamy side). Portions were pretty big though. Gelato desserts seemed to be pre-made, frozen and brought out whenever ordered, but on the other hand they weren't bad at all and are served lightning fast.
Don't go out of your way for this place, but it's certainly not somewhere to avoid either. -
Review from Tony J.
Stanford, CAI came here to use a Groupon with a friend. We shared the Piatto di Antipasti. I got the Gamberi alla Griglia, while my friend got the Melanzane Parmigiana. Overall, food and service was good, but nothing too memorable. -
Review from Lorelei D.
Queens, NYGreat carpaccio, good wine selection. Awesome prix too. -
Review from N T.
New York, NYJust very mediocre, and considering the price - then terrible.
Cross the road to Cafe Metro and have a pasta which is better.
We took the $26 lunch - the mixed salad had no taste and wasn't worth it, the risotto was also below average and the tiramisu was probably the worst I've ever had.
They also have Hygiene Grade B, which means that they are not clean.
Italian food should be good. This one I could cook myself in 20 minutes and have better results. -
Review from Jerry H.
Forest Hills, NYThe meals were good but my wife and I order the creme brulee for dessert and well, it did not look good. I grab a spoonful and I almost burnt my tongue because it was soo hot. I sent it back and told them I didn't want another dessert and I wasn't paying for this creme brulee which they agree. I seriously think they microwaved the dessert.
But the meals were good. -
Review from Darlene R.
Glendale, NYDid this for a groupon and it was worth it. At first we almost missed it because its not lighted and the store front does not jump out at you, but once inside its very nice. Staff was friendly and food was very good. I had the sea bass yummo!!!! Great for bus. and small group. would go again -
Review from Rachel M.
New York, NYGot to the restaurant and only 2 other tables were seated (never a good sign). Bought a Lifebooker deal for 3 course meal for 2 so the menu was limited. No Caesar salad option as an app- fail. I ordered the sea bass and bf ordered chicken piccata- both came out in similar sauces with the same veggies- fail. Was looking forward to the mixed berry sorbet, only to find out after we ordered they only had mango- seriously? Mango not so good. We ordered cappuccinos which were decent. The service was also pretty terrible. Got the bill and a 20% gratuity was already added. I can't make this stuff up people.
This place was ok at best. Glad it was just a Lifebooker deal because we probably won't be going back. -
Review from Warren J.
Mount Laurel, NJI went with a few coworkers on a late evening where it was near empty inside. The service was good and the food was decent. I wouldn't say the dishes were amazing, but I'll definitely go back again. -
Review from Tonia F.
Brooklyn, NYMy experience with Gente was amazing that Saturday night and the service was excellent. No contest this restaurant is on top of my list. -
Review from Kathy B.
Powell, TNVery impressed by the food and services! -
Review from Yolanda S.
Manhattan, NYi went there as a last minute option on the way home with a friend. We walked in were seated immediately , the waiter made excellent suggestion for the wine.
i ordered the Ravioli entree and it was excellent. My friend ordered spaghetti frutti di mare and loved it.
The Bartender and manager were very welcoming and entertaining would definitely come back -
Review from J C.
FOREST HILLS, NYThe food was good but nothing brag of it. The manager was excellent, really friendly and entertaining. The wait staff was attentive too. I would definitely go back away. -
Review from AJ W.
New York, NYThis is one of the best Italian restaurants in Manhattan. I once thought Il Nido was the best but this place beats it by far. First off the pasta was cooked perfectly al dente which is very difficult to do. We went there on a Travel Zoo voucher and for $2 more had a bottle of Prosecia. PROsecia to balance the ANTIpasti. My wife had the seabass and she actually finished it. Loved it. I had the lamb chops. Fantastic. They have a prixe fixed meal which I intend to go back for. Wow. Great view of the Manhattan street life too. I hope I gave them a decent tip because by the end of the bottle I don't remember squat except not to get "runned" over (as we say in Brooklyn) while walking home. -
Review from Shaun V.
New York, NYMehhh. This place was probably awesome in 1998. The food was average. The service, while polite, was just kinda... indifferent and didn't check up on us enough. The design of the space is very bland and dated. The food took forever even though there were only 4 other tables. The bruschetta was REALLY good. Everything else was $5 too expensive for the quality of food. The deserts were all FROZEN from bindi. MEH. The only reason this place still exists is clearly due to a very very favorable legacy lease and corporate cards. If you really like Italian food, you should not eat here, it will make you sad. Just take a cab to Eataly. -
Review from Jewel L.
North Hollywood, CAI had lunch here with a friend. I loved my meal, salmon, and we had nice appetizers. Lovely place. -
Review from Karin C.
New York, NYI had the prefix dinner with the bf and we both agreed we should have gone somewhere else.
we ordered the bruschetta for appetizer, which was okay. the salad was also very basic- some mixed greens tossed with a few pieces of cherry tomatoes with vinaigrette dressing. my bf thinks the bread was the best part of the meal since it was fresh.
for the entree, we ordered Penne alla vodka and the Chicken Marsala. the Penne alla Vodka tasted like it was drenched in cheez whiz. the chicken marsala was okay, nothing special.
for dessert, the tiramisu was a definite miss- not worthy of a second bite, since it wasn't worth the calories. I was disappointed, since I usually love tiramisu. the raspberry sorbet was good, but that alone wasn't enough to convince me to return.
food was ok, but since there are so many better options... I don't see the point of coming back. -
Review from Julia D.
Gente is really a 2.5. I definitely HAVE had better Italian, but it provides a nice ambience and the service was on point. Although there was nothing really memorable from the prixe-fixe menu, the dishes people were eating around me seemed much more appealing, so it might be worth a shot if you absolutely cannot leave the area to get dinner elsewhere. I'm really trying to make this place sound like it's worth going to but I don't think I'm doing a very good job. Decent food, nice ambience, pretty good service -- a good place to catch up with a friend where the company is more important than the food. But otherwise, get your ass downtown and feast upon the much better selection of options for good Italian. -
Review from Marta A.
Brooklyn, NYTagliolini Black and White, $22 for 3 shrimps?????? Really????? Never again!!!!!! -
Review from Apeksha M.
Manhattan, NYThis is like any standard Italian restaurant. The menu selection had nothing special or unique, and the food tasted good. There was nothing on the menu that I loved so much I would order again. The pasta sauces were way too creamy and lacked any spice.
Our waiter was weird. He was rigid, to put it simply. Did as he was told without a smile or any extra interest. Didn offer us drinks until we asked, didn't come get our order until we called.
All in all there are way too many good Italian restaurants in the city, I would never come back to this one. -
Review from Amanda S.
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