Came here for my birthday celebration last week. Despite being very busy, they were very accommodating to a party of 7 adults and 2 infants. The food was delicious (I loved the Tilapia), but the salad was nothing special My parents used to be regulars at Stresa, the Italian restaurant a couple doors down, but after this experience I think they have converted! The servers also got the whole restaurant singing Happy Birthday so it was a very special night!! read more

I had a company dinner here a few years back and it was amazing. The level of service was absolutely phenomenal and the food was so delicious. I also liked it because it felt like we were eating at a close friends home rather then a restaurant, great vibe! read more

Had my father's 80th birthday party here with an agreed upon price for open bar and food. In the middle of our party, the owner sent the waiter over to tell me he had to increase the per person fee because we were drinking like drunken sailors! My uncle didn't drink, my father was 80 and his nephews, like me were in our late 50s; how much could we drink? Not to spoil my fathers birthday I just paid the extra cost and then wrote a letter how unprofessional this kid owner treated us. Unfortunately the waiters were the best, but I'll never go back because of ownership. read more

Walked in here on a Friday "girls night" and was blown away by the noise levels. Then I opened the menu, saw the prices, and thought the place would be a double loser. I was totally wrong. The food is AMAZING. Salads were fabulous. The papardelle funghi - pasta was fresh as can be, mushrooms like steak. Portion sizes are generous. I also find that many good italian places have terrible coffee and worse espresso, but theirs is stellar, plus they gave me a triple size side of sambuca with it on the house. The biscotti is also gratis, and quite good. I'd recommend for sure...they only lost a star because of the high prices and noise...literally had to shout to be heard across the table. FYI I heard a rumor that they run some kind of card game/gambling night there. read more

Italian food very authentic and delicious. Seems clean, good bartender. My martini was perfect. However my disabled mom couldn't get downstairs to the bathroom. Close tables so wheelchair access was difficult. read more

We've been here many times. Family members managing the place all the time and consistently good food. Staff attentive, what more can we want? read more

Was here a few days ago for lunch after a funeral mass. Everything from start to finish was delicious! The appetizers were Eggplant rollatini, portabella mushrooms, mozzarella and tomato and baked clams. Possibly the best baked clams I have ever had! Next course was the pasta. I'm super picky about my penne ala vodka but this was exceptional. My main entree was chicken parmigiana with a side of potatoes- both delicious. I stole some of my boyfriend's asparagus and it was to die for. The staff was friendly and attentive. Will definitely be back! read more

An all-time classic one of my favorite places the owners are warm and endearing it's a nice regular crowd from the neighborhood I could go on forever James the bartender maybe one of the funniest guys on the planet. and veteran waiters who really know what they're doing not many places like this left read more

Many thanks to all the wonderful staff for a very warm service they provide for their costumer. I had really bad service the day before at a different restaurant...and it makes me really appreciative of the excellent service and food at Cafe Continental. read more

It was so good I was almost insulted. Best gnocchi I've ever had. And the snapper special was so special I almost snapped. I couldn't stop eating. By the time dessert came through I felt like the blueberry girl from Willy Wonka, ever expanding at an alarming rate. It was glorious. read more

Simply put I love this place!!! The waiters are amazing, happy people, who love what they are doing and serve it up with class and style. Business men stop by to say hello or show off a new suit tells me this place is a second home for an abundance of regulars. We ordered the artichoke and special salad and a bottle of white. We moved on to the spaghetti white clam sauce, fresh pasta special and spaghetti squash special. No need for this place to put out salt and pepper on the tables!! Seasoned chefs know what their clients ask for and they do deliver impeccable flavor at cafe continental. I unfortunately had no time for dessert, but I will definitely come back for more. read more

I think this is the first time I write a good review for anything. It's a great place. I'd say that if you are in your 30's and above, it's a saturday night fun thing to do. It is a little too loud though. but fun Congrats to the manager and the staff for making of this place a really good vibe one. read more

Love this place! Food is great and the atmosphere is even better. Once its 10 PM the lights dim down,m the music is on blast, and the real fun begins with everyone dancing. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because the space is tight and narrow. Definitely a must visit when out on the island! read more

i had the Pappardelle with the mushroom sauce, it was excellent. I had the shrimp cocktail, the shrimp was large, could have had more shrimps, there were only 3. the main reason we went there was because of the Zabaglione desert. my brother made sure they had it. it looked good, my brother said there was too much strawberries. the service was great early when it was pretty empty. once the regulars came, the service went down a bit. I had to wait for my ice tea refill, which was not free. the espresso was great, I had a double and a single one. there was lemon peel with the espresso, no bottle of sambuco on table. only one place has done that. read more

Love Cafe Continental. The food is very good Italian cuisine, but what make this place really stand out is the service. Owner/manager and staff so attentive and friendly, they make you feel so comfortable and relaxed. Never been rushed out, even when busy. And they are not shy about filling your alcoholic beverage glass to the top. Tip: Saturday night they turn down the lights and remove some tables late night for music and dancing. Definitely fun with a large group of friends and the bar actually picks up late night because of it! read more

Totally unexpected great time. Went for my wife's birthday group of 12. The food and service were awesome. Warm friendly atmosphere. After dinner unexpectedly the lights go down music gets loud tables are pushed back and the party begins. Highly recommended. read more

We have been here twice. Our first time made such a great impression we couldn't wait to go back. We had some really well made cocktails. They bring hard cheese, olives and soprresata (I'm a bad speller) to start. We ordered the clams casino. Very good. We each had a different fresh pasta dish. Amazing. From the service to the quality to the gourmet food. All is top notch. The dessert was also good. I highly recommend this place. Expensive but worth it. Not for kids. We went with another couple they bought a gift certificate for their parents. read more

Dining at Cafe Continental is an amazing experience. The staff greeted us as though we were old friends and made us feel welcome and comfortable. I ordered the sea bass special, which was delicious. Everyone at our table enjoyed their meals and appetizers. The minestrone soup was a particular favorite. Since my aunt and uncle were celebrating a special anniversary, the waiter brought out a special dessert and the entire staff sang to them. It made the evening all the more special. We can't wait to go back! read more

Was there last night, and have been here many times before that. Gotta be honest, the food has been slipping further and further down. I know that they got a new chef about 9 months ago, and that's when I started noticing. Food in general is inconsistent. Sometimes it's the greatest meal I've ever had, sometimes it feels like it was made earlier and heated again when I ordered it, and that includes the daily specials. The pasta dishes are often times mushy and reheated in the microwave and are not fresh. If you doubt my claim, an easy giveaway is how hot the plates are. Go ahead, touch it for yourself. But now that we've got that out of the way, the waitstaff and owner Mike are very nice, and if you make a reservation (which is definitely encouraged, as they fill up on most nights) they definitely won't try to shoo you out the door. They basically do one seating and that's it, which from the customer point of view, is a good thing. I like sitting at dinner for a few hours and enjoying my time there. All in all, I used to really love this place. And I just wish it was as good as it used to be. But the truth of the matter is the Manhasset crowd does not know good food, they just come here to prance around and flash their jewelry and "be seen", whatever that means. read more

Be careful at the bar.....The first drink goes down real easy, and then the second, then the meal...I handed the keys over, and said to my wife ...were the drinks that big or strong?....she said both...I told you not to have a second... Oh, and by the way, the meal was on point, and the service, very very good... I had the Chicken Continental, my wife the Talapia......some pasta and a basic salad shared first...no room for desert or a night cap read more

Prices are steep but the service and food make it worth it. Really nice vibe and as mentioned before, the food is great. My only peeve is that the place is a bit cramped. read more

Too expensive, since the food wasn't fresh. Yes I got there half an hour after it opened, but that is no excuse. If the price is the price, then the quality must always be there. If it was cheaper, I'd give it a better rating. The host/manager was more talkative than I like, but that didn't affect my rating. read more

I've been excited to go since we came in here on a Saturday night for drinks and the place was packed and everyone looked like they were having a great time. read more

Favorite spot, delicious food (be sure to ask for the specials and items that aren't on the menu). Friendly staff as well as customers. Baked clams are delicious and changes to standard dishes are accepted warmly. Worth making the trip. read more

Cafe Continental continues to be a great restaurant in all aspects. A warm greeting always awaits you as does the warm ambiance of the decor. Mike is a caring restaurateur. A bread basket and cheese plate are immediately placed on the table. Ceasars salad was crisp and tasty. Mains included a bass fish and a scallop dish. Both were delicious. I like that a nice vege and mashed potato were included. The menu and specials were pretty varied. Kudist on the soft piano CD music. I wanted some photos and my waiter couldn't do enough to make certain he took really nice pictures. I know I will continue to eat here many times in the future. read more

The food is exceptional! And so is the owner and the staff. The cuisine is elegant, original, delicate and delicious! Have been there several times including Mother's Day!! Hope to visit there many times more. read more

One of manhasset' hidden gems. Mike the owner is always smiling and always makes sure you're happy. Food is amazing and you're never let down. read more

One of our favorite spots for a consistently delicious meal. Very popular with locals and new visitors alike. The wait staff is super friendly, and the owners, Michael, along with Julia, are gracious and welcoming. They go out of their way to please you. I can't recommend one dish as everything is worth ordering. read more

One of my all time favorite Italian restaurants. I've been going there since I was a little kid with my family. The food is absolutely delicious and the atmosphere is great. I highly recommend the clams on the half shell and the seafood fradiavlo. read more

We recently dined at the Cafe Continental at the bequest of our good friends. Michael, the owner, welcomed us at the door and, and was happy that we came back to give him the opportunity to make things right. Michael was very accommodating, and gracious. By end of the night it was obvious to us that our prior dinning experience at the Cafe Continental was not the norm but an aberration. We enjoyed our evening, which included excellent service, extraordinary food, wine and drinks, a great time with our friends. As such, we like to thank Michael for making our evening special and for going out of his way to make things right. We truly appreciate his hospitality. Finally, we will be back to the Cafe Continental, along with our family and friends. read more

This restaurant was highly recommended. The service was slow. The food ok. However, the noise level from the bar was like a sports bar during the NCAA. The owner tried to quiet it down but was not successful. These were people were there for the bar. They were not waiting for tables. I was there for my spouse 's Birthday. Not a great night. Will not be back. Food may be good but not a place for that special dinner read more

This is a family style that collided with upper class. The seafood and pasta numero uno. I suggest to not eat a lot then have dessert. I used to get the mousse cake. read more

Just had a great meal the short ribs were awesome! The. Oysters were fresh and the lemon cake was a great finish to a great meal and as always Mike and his boys are the best! You gotta go there and check it out right now! read more

The food at cafe continental is really authentic italian food. It has an excellent spinach pie which is almost identical to my grandmothers (who lives in Italy) only better! I highly recommend this place. read more

I have eaten there many times which suggests we really really like this place. There is lots of parking behind the restaurant and if stairs are a problem try to enter directly through northern blvd. The decor is kinda drab but it's easy to overlook when the food arrives so don't focus on the blah wall coloring. For starters I always love the spinach salad. They just do it better then anyone else and it's just tangy. The octopuss starter is also real good and a nice size portion. I had a raspberry duck main my last time there and liked it a lot. The duck was crispy and the raspberries were plentiful. I was very happy with it and the slightly sweet sauce it came in. I have also had the chicken scarperiello tons of times and it's always a winner. I once tried the halibut but would not race to order it again. The red sauce for pastas is outstanding and a great side dish or mai. Also diet wise the shrimp served over a bed of spinach is very very good for my tongue and my waistline. The wait staff is very friendly and helpful and the same guys have worked there for years. The owner Michael is also personable and tries to talk to the customers and help out. I have been told they turn it into a night club sometimes late at night. I didn't know if it's still going on or it was a hit or not but I have never been there for it. Overall it's an old standard I am always happy to eat at along with lots of other regulars. read more

This place is the best Italian food around. My husband and I have be going here for years and never once had a bad meal. Michael is wonderful along with the entire staff. They all make you feel like you are at your dining room table with family. Thanks for continuing to be the best! read more

In one word, horrible. Considering our drinks were very strong and we were easy to please that says a lot. No difference between the waiters and bus boys at this restaurant. Unable to understand what they were saying and they all hung out at the bar getting drunk and chatting. No specials given, orders taken with spaces of 20 minutes between. Dinner order only taken at 10:00 on a 9:00 pm dinner reservation. Complained to the waiter, he said sorry we are busy. The place was half full at that point since people ate their dinner and cleared out and you've been open for years on Saturday nights you need to be able to handle the flow of patrons. Now on to the food...which was actually bad. It's been a long time since I dined at a restaurant that I can say the food was just a plain NO. We ordered beef carpaccio, a burrata salad, and mozzarella with tomatoes and peppers as an appetizer. Beef carpaccio was pretty tasteless, served on a bed of lettuce and wrapped with raw sliced mushrooms. We couldn't decide if the mozzarella was really mozzarella or a different cheese. The better of the sad bunch was the buratta but also not fresh and oozing like real buratta usually is. Entrees were a gnocchi in vodka sauce, pappardelle funghi, spinach ravioli in marinara sauce, and two bronzino filets. We hosted a competition to see who received the worst entrée. I think the winner was the gnocchi vodka which was not a vodka sauce rather a watered down marinara. The pappardelle funghi which is supposed to be made with fresh pasta felt like we were eating watered down broken apart lasagna. The bronzino was overcooked and dry. We visited on a Saturday night and after 1030 pm they are known for their fun dj and dancing. We had another group of friends join us for that part of the night. The music was not contemporary and when we complained and got a few better songs, the night was rudely brought to a halt by some crazy guy who knocked down an old man on a bar chair and started punching him. Let's say my buzz wore off when I heard a skull slam into the floor. Thankfully our friend was there to stop them since waitstaff and manager were unhelpful until I yelled to bring this guy some water. At that point we were also waiting for the dessert we ordered because we were celebrating a birthday and didn't want to just get up and leave. Ordered cannolis and chocolate cake. Surprise surprise, only the cannolis came out. All in all my advice if it isn't obvious by this point is steer clear of this restaurant especially when there are so many better options on northern boulevard in that area for that price point. read more

My husband and I don't always go out to eat. But when we do this is one of only 2 restaurants on the Island I absolutely LOVE to go. I truly appreciate that the owner says hello, is very pleasant, and seems to remember us. The waiters always say hello and welcome us back even if they haven't seen us in a month or two. It make us feel so welcome and I am amazingly impressed that they always remember our faces. I, at times, avoid certain foods. Because they make almost everything to order they were even able to customize delicious linguine and clam sauce without garlic! Their tiramisu is home made by the owner's mom & is delicious as are their home-made pastas... Ohh and one of the best old fashioned's I've had. The prices are very reasonable & you leave feeling like you just went home for dinner. Could not recommend enough. read more

My husband and I went here this past Valentines Day after a long time as we felt the food had gone downhill. Since it's been in business for quite a while we thought we'd give it another try. We were very disappointed. The prosecco, wine and bread were good. There was a complimentary tasting which was a nice thought, but included 4 olives, a few more wouldn't hurt. We ordered the hot antipasto which was not hot. The shrimp (1) was good that's about it. We mentioned this to our waiter and he said he would tell the chef. My husband ordered rack of lamb which was not a very good quality and I ordered veal Milanese, which had absolutely no taste. Again, both were not hot. We advised the waiter and he said he would bring it back to heat it up. I did not think scraping the salad off and heating tasteless veal would improve it and my husband did not think heating up meat which was not a great quality would either. The cappuccino was very good but we did not want to take a chance on dessert. The food was overpriced and not very good. read more

My family and I were at Cafe Continental last night. I tasted two dishes I had never experienced. The first was a delicious French-Italian onion soup. It was described as the classic French onion soup, but with Italian onions. The soup was unique. The second was the very best tiramisu I have ever had. Michael, the owner, informed me that it is his mother's special recipe. My main course was the scallops and shrimp, which, of course, was magnificent. read more