Saturday, October 5, 2013

Becco Restaurant ( on "Restaurant Row")

Lots of restaurants on the block of West 46th between 8th and 9th Avenue--the official name for it now is "Restaurant Row"

Very good reviews with a sour apple or two

Becco Restaurant

4.0 star rating
1096 reviews Rating Details
Category: Italian
355 W 46th St
(between 9th Ave & 8th Ave)
New York, NY 10036
Neighborhoods: Hell's Kitchen, Midtown West, Theater District
(212) 397-7597
Make a Reservation
Photo by Vivian W.
5 of 246
Nearest Transit Station:
42 St. - Port Authority Bus Terminal (A, C, E)
50 St. (A, C, E)
49 St. (N, Q, R)
Hours:
Mon-Tue, Thu-Fri 12 pm - 3 pm
Mon 5 pm - 10 pm
Tue 4:30 pm - 12 am
Wed, Sat 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Wed, Sat 4 pm - 12 am
Thu-Fri 5 pm - 12 am
Sun 12 pm - 10 pm
Price Range:
$$$
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Street
Attire:
Casual
Good for Groups:
Yes
Good for Kids:
No
Takes Reservations:
Yes
Delivery:
No
Take-out:
No
Waiter Service:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
Yes
Wi-Fi:
No
Good For:
Dinner
Alcohol:
Full Bar
Noise Level:
Average
Ambience:
Casual, Classy
Has TV:
No
Caters:
No
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes

Review Highlights   What's this?

  • "Very accessible wine list, great variety of menu choices." In 167 reviews
  • "Pasta special all u want from three selections were all superb." In 141 reviews
  • "The Caesar salad was also excellent, one of my favorites around." In 136 reviews
Show more review highlights
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1094 reviews in English

  • Review from

    • 16 friends
    • 14 reviews
    Valley Stream, NY
    9/26/2013
    I had dinner here this evening with my cousin. We arrived a few minutes before the reservation and stood in the very crowded bar area before being seated. It was like a sauna, partially because I basically ran from Penn and partially because the bar is the size of my bedroom.

    We were brought into a back room where it was like the fresh air gods descended upon us! We sat, were brought menus, bread, and bean dip,and waited a few minutes to order drinks and food. It took us a while because we were talking and catching up, and they asked us quite a few times before we finally answered.

    We each ordered a glass of wine, and we both got specials-- my cousin the striped bass, and I the short ribs. We both thoroughly enjoyed our meals, and as a cook that's not something that comes often to me (especially in a more touristy area). We finished by sharing the "eggless panna cotta" (which was strange simply because I'm used to egg yolk in my custard) but was super tasty.

    After we paid the check, we sat a bit longer with the intention of leaving shortly... Until a manager (who's name I regret not getting!!) came over asking if we would mind moving to the bar as they were looking to use our table and surrounding tables for a large party, and she offered us a free drink. No problem!! She could have said "get the fuck up because we need to turn over" and I would have left, but this was nice.

    The bar was crowded so we sat on some small couch-benches, and they ended up giving us a whole bottle of rosé prosecco! It probably wasn't a huge loss to them but it was a very nice gesture. Shortly after we moved to the bar as a spot opened up. We stayed probably an extra hour as we enjoyed our (free!) bottle and the manager came to thank us again and again for moving (which like I said was no problem but was clearly a huge help for them).

    Overall I would definitely return, even if I didn't get a free bottle, because the experience was very nice and the food was great. The negative one star is simply because of how crowded and noisy it was in there, and also how often they asked if we were ready to order/pay the check. I understand that they were looking to turn tables though, but the noise and crowd was definitely my biggest issue.
  • Review from

    New York, NY
    10/4/2013
    Pleasant service, Good Osso Bucco - Their pasta special (all you can eat, 3 types of pasta) is something that everyone seems to love.

    That being said, it wasn't mind blowing.  It was good, just not that special - Though, Becco, is perhaps the best restaurant on Restaurant Row.  A good find on a tourist trapped street.
  • Review from

    Long Island, NY
    10/2/2013 Seated via OpenTable 2 check-ins here
    Pretheater Sunday afternoon and Becco was packed to the gills. Luckily we had reservations and were promptly seated.

    My second time here and frankly it just wasn't the same experience I had in the past.

    Our waiter was inattentive and we sat for a long of time before we were acknowledged.

    We both ordered the pasta special which  included ceaser salad or a veggie/seafood appetizer and three different pastas.

    I went with the veggie/seafood app and was  disappointed.  A few scraps of octopus a piece of dry tuna (I think) along side some marinated veggies, eh.

    The pasta dishes were just ok. There was a linguini carbonara, a ravioli with some sort of cheese and a fairly (maybe too much) al dente ziti in red sauce. Timing was not great, service was slow and I just got that "your just another table to serve" feeling.

    The waiter did come around to ask if we wanted seconds however I was just not into it anymore.  Of note, too many different waiters, busboys, servers, dessert and cleaning people coming to the table. It made for a very confusing meal.

    We did an apple strudel with cinnamon gelato which was delicious.

    Can't put my finger on the whole experience other than it just wasn't the Lydia B type of meal that I'm sure she would expect it to be.

    Maybe next time.
  • Review from

    • 22 friends
    • 17 reviews
    Woodside, NY
    10/3/2013 Seated via OpenTable
    This restaurant is one of many in Hell's Kitchen. Decided to try it since I was in the neighborhood due to the high yelp reviews. I ordered the unlimited table side service and thought the pasta was good but didn't exceed expectations. Definitely a good amount of food for the price.
  • Review from

    • 0 friends
    • 5 reviews
    Forest Hills, NY
    10/4/2013
    I love Italian food, so I'm obviously a huge fan of any restaurant that does it right.  I've been here a few times and have not one complaint.  The Ceasar salad is the BEST I've ever had (and I consider myself to be a huge fan).  They also have a pretty reasonably priced special ($25) where you can sample their three homemade pastas of the day (and have a Ceasar salad to start) and the pasta is unlimited.  They serve it table side and you can try as much or as little as you'd like.  And it's all incredible.  The restaurant is bigger than it looks from the outside and it takes reservations, which is a plus.  It's a cozy, romantic spot that always draws a crowd.  I highly recommend it.
  • Review from

    Brooklyn, NY
    9/20/2013
    This place should be  probably be listed as 3$ instead of 2, but that is neither here nor there

    This place is cool, the price fixe special didn't have any meat options so we ordered off the menu. It apparently wasn't that memorable because I forgot what we ordered.

    What I do remember was the ambiance. It is very impersonal. Its the kind of place u bring ur mom when she comes to town. Its the kind of place a stuffed shirt goes after a play. In going there, I felt as if we were just and in and out job like the rest of em.
  • Review from

    • 67 friends
    • 53 reviews
    Chicago, IL
    9/9/2013
    We decided to carb up right before our bike ride tour.  We came right at the time of opening.  My husband ordered the lasagna while I ordered the three pasta special.  Our waitress was disappointed that we did not order any wine.  We can tell from the tone of her voice and her asking us more than once.  Besides that, she wasn't a very good waitress.  We didn't get the welcome vibe from her.  The food was just OK.  My husband's lasagna was a huge portion.  I suppose that was worth the $17?  My pastas were nothing special.  The clam linguini was super salty.

    For the prices that are charged, I would pass on this and go elsewhere.  You don't even get your money's worth from their service.
  • Review from

    • 0 friends
    • 120 reviews
    New York, NY
    9/7/2013
    Ended up here b/c we were going to a show, like everyone else. Unfortunately dining in the Theater District is almost always disappointing, of course.

    Becco is really just a more expensive Olive Garden, which includes:
    - all-you-can-eat pasta
    -huge portions with too much sauce/dressing
    - a list of cheap wines in case you're "intimidated" by a real wine list
    - way too many tables crammed into the restaurant (which of course results in the restaurant being too loud to converse with anyone at your table)
    - a meat-filled menu; if you're vegetarian or just not in the mood for meat, you can get a couple of appetizers

    Our server was great though so I'll give them that.

    If you're looking for an Italian TD restaurant I'd suggest Trattoria Trecolori or Dopo Teatro instead.
  • Review from

    • 2 friends
    • 54 reviews
    Aurora, CO
    9/19/2013 Seated via OpenTable
    Always looking for Italian when I'm back in the city so this one popped up close to the hotel.

    I got the stuffed peppers (very tasy just like grandma's) and the pasta sampler. I definitely left full.

    Place was beyond packed, literally packed like sardines. Awkward to sit so close to your neighbors that it's hard to have a conversation sober, wine fixes that :) The tunnel vision will enhance your experience if it's a party of 2. Speaking of wine, $25 blend bottles!!! Tons to choose from as well.

    Not bad for Times Square area, and larger parties might have a better time.
  • Review from

    • 27 friends
    • 42 reviews
    Brooklyn, NY
    10/3/2013 1 check-in here
    So good!  I got the green pepper stuffed with meat and the ricotta for dessert.  My friends and I left completely stuffed and more than satisfied.  Wine and the little bread stick thingies and olives included were so delish too.
  • Review from

    Melrose, MA
    9/2/2013 1 check-in here
    I was in NYC recently for a Salesforce event with colleagues, and a bunch of us had decided to go out for dinner after the event. A local colleague recommended Becco and I'm so glad she did!

    We had a party of 7 and we were seated within 10 minutes at a cute little corner table in the back room. We all got the all you can eat pasta.. the chef even made me some vegetarian substitutions! Everything was amazing, especially the Antipasti. The $25 wine list was awesome too! I can't wait to bring my husband back here next time we're in the area.
  • Review from

    • 0 friends
    • 2 reviews
    Mountain View, CA
    9/13/2013 Seated via OpenTable
    Starter - breadsticks and bread was good, grilled vegetable and seafood platter was interesting.

    The amount was little less.

    Then there was an option for one entree with unlimited pasta of 3 types. A little confusing about what to order, but taste was good.

    Little crowded place, but overall experience was nice.
  • Review from

    • 17 friends
    • 36 reviews
    Old Westbury, NY
    8/30/2013 1 check-in here
    I first heard about Becco from my pasta-loving Italian parents, who called me raving about the all-you-can-eat pasta special. When I finally paid a visit, I was seated in an unbelievably hot and cramped room and told the specials. Seeing as everything on the menu seemed ordinary for their price, I went for the (unlimited) pasta trio: cavatappi bolongese, gnocchi with a cream sauce and spaghetti with a plain tomato sauce.  The pastas were all just okay, but the gnocchi confused me a bit- it was actually an overcooked polenta cake, which would have been absolutely delicious had it been properly cooked.

    My cousin ordered a chicken dish which was served over polenta, and I wish she were the kind of woman to pull an "ol' switcheroo" because it was freaking amazing. The chicken was succulent, beautifully presented and cooked to perfection.

    A personal suggestion: don't get the pasta unless you've studied the menu and see nothing else more appealing. The pasta dinner is more of a "hungry man/woman's" thing.
  • Review from

    Austin, TX
    8/21/2013
    Recently had dinner here on a Thursday night @ 8pm. Reservations were made and we were seated promptly. Our dinner was Simply Excellent!!

    Appetizer: Calamari Fritas, absolute PERFECTION! And served a generous portion for our group.
    Dinner: Pesce Spada (grilled swordfish) the entree is fairly small but delicious. Highly recommend the Costolette di Maiale alla Maniera dello Chef (double cut pork chop) the entrée was LARGE and AMAAAZZZING!!

    I recommend ordering the wine by the bottle, it's not much more than ordering by the glass which can Add up. And the Mixed Drinks are AMAZING!

    NOTE: The restaurant serves its food, family style so don't come here for dinner if you're in a rush, our group took about 2 hours from start to finish. Remember to bring Good Company!

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