Translation from English

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Canaletto- Midtown

Small restaurant that gets good reviews with a sour apple or two

Canaletto

3.5 star rating
19 reviews Rating Details
Category: Italian
208 E 60th St
(between 3rd Ave & 2nd Ave)
New York, NY 10022
Neighborhood: Upper East Side
(212) 317-9192
Nearest Transit Station:
Lexington Ave./59 St. (N, Q, R)
59 St. (4, 5, 6, 6X)
Lexington Ave./63 St. (F)
Good for Groups:
Yes
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Attire:
Casual
Price Range:
$$
Good for Kids:
Yes
Takes Reservations:
Yes
Waiter Service:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
No
Good For:
Dinner
Alcohol:
Full Bar
Noise Level:
Quiet
Ambience:
Intimate, Romantic, Classy
Has TV:
No
Caters:
No
Wheelchair Accessible:
No

Review Highlights   What's this?

  • "We ended our dinner with cookies & biscotti and iced cappucinos." In 4 reviews
  • "Small, intimate, cozy atmosphere and good italian food, tables..." In 3 reviews
  • "What a hidden gem this place is." In 1 review
Rating Distribution | Trend
Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites' | Facebook Friends'

19 reviews in English

  • Review from

    • 1 friend
    • 3 reviews
    Manhattan, NY
    9/5/2013
    The food was great and the service was friendly as well. The only problem is the menu on Yelp has not been updated and listed Penne All' Arrabiata which was not on the restaurant's menu. Our server was nice and offered to make it for me but then it was $21 which was more than what I had expected (the Yelp menu listed the price to be $10). Other than this, I would go back as it was definitely more authentic Italian food.
  • Review from

    • 5 friends
    • 27 reviews
    Manhattan, NY
    4/9/2013
    Traditional Italian food, good but overpriced for what it is.  Bottles of wine are marked waaay up also.  The large portion of shrimp & asparagus risotto was tasty.  Veal scaloppine dish was small.
  • Review from

    • 287 friends
    • 332 reviews
    Brooklyn, NY
    7/17/2010
    What a hidden gem this place is! You know when you almost missed the entrance because it's overshadowed by its American burger/diner neighbor!

    Walked in off the street 'cause a friend who was visiting from out of town was craving pasta...and this may have been the best spontaneous move yet!

    The owner/manager in a suit sat us promptly the second we got in...a round table with us both facing the rest of the tiny quaint place...candlelights and low ceiling with italian art and paintings all around made us feel like we were in Italy! The delightful cheese platter with bread that came first...with the menu...got us all excited! The cheese are aged so well, the bread was all warm and soft and the breadsticks are to die for. I kept munching on it.

    Entrees were perfect. Lobster linguine with white sauce was the right amount of creamy...not the heavy, sleep-inducing kind. Decent amount of lobster. The special sea bass with clams and mussels in a light tomato sauce was not too salty or tomato-ey! My friend was raving about the food non stop!

    Dessert was just the way to go. We had two: the tiramisu and the blueberry panna cotta! Omg...the BB panna cotta was the right amount of light! The tiramisu was just the right amount of sweet.

    Service was great...all the staff worked as a team and were extremely attentive to all our needs, whether it was refilling drinks, cleaning the table or clearing plates.

    I suppose the right amount of everything made this place perfect! I would certainly come back here again...for a date or a small dinner party. I think the fact that the owner is working the floor and tables is always a good sign that this restaurant takes pride in its service and customer satisfaction!

    Tip-bits:

    Be prepared to be blown away by yummy Italian food and service!
  • Review from

    • 34 friends
    • 43 reviews
    Brooklyn, NY
    6/2/2008
    I've just recently dined at Canaletto. The food was good. It was not the best Italian food that I've had but it was good. We beat the usual dinner crowd by about 30 minutes so we got to our table quickly with no wait. I had the steamed asparagus w cheese (not on the menu) to start and the veal milanese w lemon and capers. We ended our dinner with cookies & biscotti and iced cappucinos.

    The only downside? Our waiter was kind of rude.
  • Review from

    Beverly, MA
    3/28/2010
    Perfectly seared thinly fileted salmon with thinly sliced seared brussels sprouts that were buttery and delectable, pinot grigio, tender baby greens salad deliciousness, and good bread with good butter.

    Great service for our large party, and cappuccino that made me weak in the knees that came with  Little Cookies.

    Small, intimate, cozy atmosphere and good italian food, tables outside in warm weather.

    Worth the trip.
  • Review from

    • 33 friends
    • 62 reviews
    Manhattan, NY
    1/5/2012
    If you are looking for authentic Italian food come here.
    The wine is delicious and food is amazing.
    Complimentary thin home made breadsticks are to die for.
    If you are by yourself and need a good laugh or just want some conversation, sit at the bar and the bartender will keep great company!
    This place is very intimate...nice for family, a date, or quite business dinner.
  • Review from

    • 0 friends
    • 5 reviews
    Manhattan, NY
    12/16/2010
    The food was overpriced while the quality and taste were only average. On top of these, the service was poor. We had to wait for almost an hour to be seated and the waiters were appallingly rude to us throughout the evening.

    If you are looking for a tasty Italian and a friendly place to dine, this restaurant is certainly not for you.
  • Review from

    • 5 friends
    • 56 reviews
    Orlando, FL
    Updated - 10/14/2009
    Was just there this past Thursday and still stand by my original review.

    Expensive scotch, but reasonably priced food, specially for New York.

    We had spaghetti frutti di mare, risotto frutti di mare, and a salmon with mustard sauce. They still include cold cut, cheese, bread, and biscotti as pre and post meal compliments.

    Still recommend!

    1 Previous Review: Show all »

    • 6/2/2009
      This restaurant is what makes New York special. You take a few steps down, you're not quite in a… Read more »
  • Review from

    • 14 friends
    • 1 review
    Manhattan, NY
    12/17/2012
    Not just that I love Italian food but there are few places that I would recommend in the city. Canaletto is definitely one of the spots... Make sure you get a reservation and a great food will be served! Ask manager about a choice of wine if you are not sure and you will not be disappointed! If nothing else, bar is my favorite place to rest and eat after long working day....
  • Review from

    • 128 friends
    • 228 reviews
    Forest Hills, NY
    9/25/2010 1 check-in here
    Smonk-O picked this place out and it was FAB!

    Ya, we work out and watch what we eat but Canaletto makes it hard to behave- starting with that yummy dish of salami with cheese and the basket of warm irresistible bread to the Arugula Salad and Penne with Funghi.  We were bad, bad, bad....and the 2 glasses each of Cabernet didn't help either.

    Smonk-O warned me not to post this review, fearing her fave place would be found out and overrun by Italian food aficionados.  Too bad- I must share with my fellow Yelpers.

    We'll be back- GO!
  • Review from

    • 5 friends
    • 17 reviews
    Brooklyn, NY
    8/22/2012 1 check-in here
    Absolutely adore this place for classic Italian with high quality ingredients. Even had a small 25th Anniversary party there for my parents years ago and had the greatest time.
  • Review from

    • 0 friends
    • 3 reviews
    New York, NY
    12/11/2010
    The food here was very good, although overpriced for the portions offered. Unfortunately, the entire staff was extremely rude. I was honestly embarrassed to have suggested this restaurant to my guests. When we arrived at the restaurant none of the staff even made eye contact with us while we stood there awkwardly for about ten minutes. Even though we had made a reservation the night before, our party had to wait over 35 minutes before we could be seated. Not only did no one apologize or offer us a complimentary beverage, the host kept rudely glaring at us as we waited at the bar. After we were seated, we had to wait an additional half hour to see a menu, even though we asked to see one multiple times. The waiter then left without telling us the specials for another long period of time, coming back only to bark "YES?!".

    The worst part was when our check came and they finally mentioned to us that they only accept American Express or cash. So several members of the party had to leave the restaurant and find an ATM. As people passed around the check and put in their contribution the waiter stood leaning over the table, watching us. He watched us count the money and kept standing there while we discussed how much to tip, saying "don't forget my tip!". Then he took the money off the table and counted it, AND SCOWLED AT US, and then counted it slowly again in front of us, giving us one final dirty look and walking away. I might add that we tipped generously, especially considering the horrendous service....

    In summary: Don't go to this restaurant if you want to get your money's worth,
    Don't go to this restaurant if you want to be seated within a half hour of your reservation,
    Don't go to this restaurant if you expect to be treated like a human being!!!
  • Review from

    • 0 friends
    • 3 reviews
    New York, NY
    8/21/2012
    Certain things I'll put up with.....an "attitude".....if the food is really good - or - a stuffy outdated decor.................if the food is really good - or- specials that are two and a half times as expensive as the regular menu....if the food is really good.  But not only isn't the food really good....it's really NOT good.  The "insalada gorgonzola" was a joke.
    What was that white stuff sprinkled on top?  Not any gorgonzola cheese I've ever tasted?  And a dressing that made me ask them whether there was dressing on the salad? (as opposed to just some water on the leaves) The Pasta with baby clams and mussels was o.k......IF you removed the uncooked clams and mussels.  True, we made the reservation with SAVORED (which they claimed they didn't have despite our producing the confirmation) but did they really have to cut the portions as well as the price by 30% compared to the few (and I do mean few) diners around us?  I give this place one year before they shutter.  GO ELSEWHERE.
  • Review from

    • 4 friends
    • 13 reviews
    New York, NY
    12/14/2007 First to Review
    Food-wise, absolutely amazing and creative central Italian cuisine.  Their nightly specials are a must!  I love how this place gives you little "extras" with your meal, such as cheese and prosciutto to start and amaretto cookies with your coffee or after dinner drinks.  With that said, the staff can be distracted and rude sometimes.  The last time I went I had made a reservation, and waited for 20 minutes to sit down even though there were a handful of empty tables.   I obviously complained to the host after sitting there for about 15 minutes, but was compensated with free glasses of port for myself and my party afterwards.  To be honest though, no matter how rude they are I'll continue to go back because I am hooked on the food.
  • Review from

    Brooklyn, NY
    10/5/2011 1 check-in here
    Very good food and attentive, if perhaps slightly rushed, service. It is very easy to walk right by the entrance, but once inside the room has an intimate and cheery feel. Everything was fresh and if not precisely light, not overly rich either.  My dad ate every bite of his eggplant Parmigana, which is great since his appetite hasn't been where it should be. My pasta with shrimp and lobster sauce was full of nice chunks of tender seafood. On an unremarkable Wednesday night, the room was full of regulars who seem happy to view this place as a second home.
  • Review from

    • 0 friends
    • 1 review
    TRINITY, NY
    12/4/2011
    This has to be one of the best, consistent restaurants in the city.  The food is great- don't forget to order the baked clams. It's great to get a really good meal after shopping at bloomingdales.
  • Review from

    • 0 friends
    • 3 reviews
    Staten Island, NY
    11/25/2011
    I have been to this restaurant many times and I really do enjoy it. The free extras like the cheese and cappacola (sp?) and the cookies with after dinner drink are a nice touch.

    I have taken many people to this restaurant, and no one has ever said a negative thing about the place.

    I would recommend this place and also the quail dish (my favorite).
  • Review from

    • 0 friends
    • 15 reviews
    Chicago, IL
    1/1/2012
    What a hole in the wall, but my family really enjoyed our meal here. Service was attentive and accommodating and everyone enjoyed their meals. It seems like whenever you avoid those main street touristy Italian places, the best Italian food comes from little places like this.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Please leave a comment-- or suggestions, particularly of topics and places you'd like to see covered