Best to go on Sundays...for Parking. Otherwise, this quaint, intimate enclave of delicious fresh…read moreItalian fare is the perfect date or family gathering spot. Pastas are fresh, wines are Italian and Service is familial, comforting and personable. There's bar space for solo situations or to grab a quick bite and sip. Short Ribs Paparadelle, Fettucine Alfredo with Grilled Chicken were fresh & delish! Had the Fried Calamari and Shrimp to start. Very light battered, fried and clean. Also, had the divine Roasted Brussel Sprouts. Ended with the Olive Oil Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream and the 3 Mini Cannolis, which provided the perfect bite to end the feast. Just sweet enough to leave you wanting more. No matter the occasion, Barbalu is GOOD to you!

The pasta is very good, all of it. The pizza is good. The calamari is great. The restaurant is…read morebusy, the guy bussing tables was very good, he brought us more water, a light for the table, and more. Our waitress was super busy, luckily we had what we needed. The tables are not on top of each other and the noise is lively, but manageable. The food came out in a reasonable time, the bread was good. The hostess was disappointing. She acknowledged walk-in parties and later reservations of the same size that came in the door after us, lining up behind us. We had a reservation for 4. We arrived on time. This happened not once, not twice, but four times, the hostess looking past us to talk to people inline behind us or next to us, as if we were invisible. It wasn't until the 5th white couple she attempted to assist told her flat out that we were waiting before them, and the others she helped. I was looking for the owner or manager but thanks to this kind couple, that wasn't needed. Their blunt comments maybe embarrassed the hostess because only then did the hostess look at me rather than past me, and ask "how many..." she was ready to tell us there was no availability when I answered that we were a party of four as she looked around the dining room and gestured as if to say 'no seats'. I added that we had a reservation for 10 minutes ago. She asked my name and checked her tablet, then said "ok" and sat us at the table by the door. Once we were seated and situated, my young daughter looked up from her menu and asked me why was everybody else helped before us? She honestly didn't know. For those not familiar with having these types of conversations, let's just say that they can make even the best tasting pasta and pizza unsavory if you dwell on it. It's bad when a 7 year old notices they were "othered". Your mileage may vary, I'm sure there is more than one hostess working. I don't think I would recommend Barbalu to everybody unless you're getting take out, or you don't mind a "fight" to get service, assuming you insisted on eating here.

Ammazzacaffe is truly one of the better Italian restaurants and a hidden gem…read more My take? To preface, I'm not a big fan of Torrisi (overhyped and too many flavors being mixed), Misi went down the Carbone route and has gone downhill in the past 1-2 years, and Rezdora was really delicious, but they skimp on portions. L'artusi also in my opinion is decent, but doesn't have the wow factor to make me come back. I also tend to lean more toward authentic Italian tastes with less salt and el dente pasta (Alfredo also doesn't exist in Italy...) So, really, Ammazzacafe executed well in regard to portions and being generous. Their sauce with pastas was well seasoned, flavorful, and their pasta perfectly el dente with quality pasta. So far for Italian food, I recommend Don Angie, a Pasta Eater, Piccolo Cucina, a Pasta Bar, Rezdora, Forma Pasta, and Ammazzacaffe. Definitely will return to Ammazzacaffe - there's also a deli/coffee shop/bodega near Frost Street as their sister establishment in East Williamsburg by the way!

I live in the same block as Ammazzacaffè and have been hearing about it more and more so decided to…read morecheck it out when my cousin was visiting town. We came on a Sunday night for dinner and they had two jazz musicians playing in the corner. Super cool vibe, nice interior, and good service. I got the Pesce dish and it was really good. I was debating on getting the chicken parmageddon which is their Sunday night specialty but will probably try it next time. I will say, the jazz music got a little bit loud at times, so they either need to turn it down a little bit or you can ask to be seated in the back. They've also got a really cute outdoor patio in the back that I wanna check out next time.

Came here for Christmas dinner on Thursday. I searched for a restaurant semi-close to me that had…read moregreat reviews and was Italian. This was high up on my search, and with reviews like what they have, we decided to give them a shot. Its very easy to get to with a decent amount of street parking. Seems a bit out of place next to a deli on a residential block. You can kind of miss it if youre not paying attention. We were a party of 6 and had a 5 PM reservation. You have to pass through this dark curtain and go to the middle of the bar where the host will greet you and bring you to your seats. We were seated promptly with no wait. The restaurant is VERY small. So much so that at our table, all I had to do was reach my hand out and I would have been touching the kitchen counter. It does get a little crammed/crowded, but not in an annoying or unbearable kind of way. The vibe is actually really cozy and rustic. Very dim lighting so either whip out the flashlight on your phone or hold up one of the real candles they have on the table to read the menu. The food menu is straightforward and simple. They have an extensive wine list. I love how on the food menu, next to each dish, they tell you the region of Italy that dish gets its roots from. They have lovely dinnerware here. They brought out a foccacia bread for the table with a tomato dipping sauce. Absolutely delicious foccacia. The sauce was a tad too salty for me. I started off with the mocktail Luisa. It was passion fruit, lemon, agave, ginger beer, and mint. It was $10 and very fresh and mouthwatering! For my appetizer I had the Calamari alla griglia. Grilled calamari with guacamole and carasau bread. I've never had grilled calamari before. Only either marinara or fried. I also thought pairing it with guacamole was an interesting twist. I was so pleasantly surprised by this dish. The calamari were perfectly fork tender grilled. The guacamole went well with it. The carasau bread was more like a tortilla chip. They give you a decent amount for $24.95. That app slid down my throat effortlessly! For my entree I had the Maccheroncini alla Norma. Maccheroni with eggplant in tomato sauce with ricotta cheese. The pasta was so fresh and perfectly cooked. The sauce reminded me so much of my Calabrian grandmother's. The ricotta made it rich and creamy. Filling as well. So much so that, even though it wasn't a huge portion, I had to take home half of it because I was verging on being stuffed! My mother had the Cotoletta alla milanese. Keep in mind that if you get this chicken cutlet dish that it serves about four people, even though its for 1! HUGE portion. About 4 enormous cutlets that gave my mom 3 days of leftovers! All of the desserts were $12.95. A nice selection to choose from, but I had the classic Tiramisu. They make it here tableside. He made it with such care. Loved watching him put it all together. Let me tell you, that was the BEST Tiramisu that I've EVER had! Wow, just amazing. Very balanced, quality ingredients. The marscapone was so decadent, creamy and fresh. I could have easily taken down 2 of them! I tried some of my mother's chocolate cake. Delicious and decadent. Service throughout our dinner was above and beyond. Attentive, kind, concise and our waiter was such a cutie! Smooth sailing throughout the entire meal. We barely had to wait for anything. Amazing restaurant and staff. Prices are just fine and the quality goes way beyond. Can't wait to come back. Highly impressed and recommend!

Charming Italian restaurant with a rustic vibe. Came here for dinner one night, and was lucky…read moreenough to be able to sit outside on this not too busy street. This place does get busy so recommend making reservations if you can. They have a pretty nice wine list to choose from along with different cocktail options. From the start, the food was delicious starting with the house bread which was warm and soft but still felt light. For dinner, I ordered the special for the night which was cacio pepe ravioli, while my husband got the tagliatelle verdi con ragu. Both of our pasta dishes felt extremely fresh. The ravioli was unlike anything Ive had before, with flavorful cacio pepe filling and a butter sauce with pancetta complementing the flavor. The tagliatelle was also delicious in a more ragu centric way, still offering a good balance of flavor. Both dishes were pretty filling and so neither of us could finish it. We ended the night with cannolis, which was a pleasant surprise to find 3 came in 1 order. One side is pistachio while the other had a coco dusting. These were again delicious but pretty filling and sweet so we could only eat one. The staff here was also very friendly and service was quick with food coming out much faster than I expected. Overall I would come back and try even more on their menu.

So a friend and I decided to dine out on a Tuesday, thinking that most places would be empty, well…read morenot EVELINA. We were able to snag an early seating at 6:30. Note: reservations are not required but definitely suggested!! This place was packed. Every table sat, but a few chairs at the bar. I give this place 5 stars, EVERYTHING was lovely! The dim lights, (I love a dark and moody restaurant) noise level, talk-able but good music in the background, food, drinks, service.... all of it TOP NOTCH. Let's get into the deets.... I ordered the Portia cocktail... if you like Mezcal, you should definitely try this one. Smoky and a little sweet, it was a delicious drink We order Pinsa Bianca for appetizers, the bread, roasted peppers and whipped ricotta all made for a light but delish start. We then dove into the rib-eye (for 2) DELICIOUS ! One of the best steaks outside of a steakhouse I have had. The marbling gave it great flavor, salted well and the perfect char on the outside, it was accompanied by French fries and broccolini. All a great addition; The broccolini was surprisingly not too bitter which was nice. To round it off we ordered their version of a Lemon tart! It was the perfect level of sweet and tart! Yummmo Overall a great place for dinner, run don't walk, you won't be disappointed! You'll thank me later

We went for a Mother's Day brunch. The place was packed. Lots of families with kids and babies…read more 9our server was friendly and sweet and helped guide our decisions. We got the lobster with white asparagus with eggs to share. Yum. It really did not need the eggs. The hollondaise was delicious. We ordered. Oxtail rags, carbonara, and the fish pasta -Sardinian nod. All were excellent. The carbonara could have used a bit of pepper and a bit more pecorino. Guanciale? Or bacon? Also had the scallops which we loved. I ordered a Bellini but it was not a Bellini. No peach. Just a cherry - odd. The Lemon scone was the best we have had - served with cream and lemon curd. Amazing The Carmel custard dessert - was rich but a bit one note. It did come with a crunchy buttery cookie. The ice creams were homemade. The restaurants is lovely. Food wonderful. Service friendly and quick. But it is so loud you are literally yelling at your companions. Maybe they could turn down the music ? Regardless. We love this place!

We had the best night at Michael's!…read more I knew Michaels was an iconic restaurant deep in Brooklyn. I've seen their sauce sold in stores before, and we finally made the trip out for dinner. We went around Christmas and it was decorated inside. The restaurant was packed. Every single table was full. Everyone was having the best time. Even the bar was totally full of people ordering drinks before they were seated. The food is classic, New York Italian. Everything is a very well done version. The veal Parm was one of the best I've ever had. The caramel cake at the end was truly beyond. I can't recommend this experience enough. We ate for three hours had amazing cocktails, great bottles of wine and a really delicious meal. Looking around, you could tell the diners were locals enjoying a beloved neighborhood restaurant. It's such a special restaurant that serves real New Yorkers.

You can tell this is a staple Italian restaurant in Marine Park, Brooklyn. Lots of regulars and…read morefamilies. I always pass by and finally decided to try it out. The interior looks like a classic Italian restaurant and service is very formal. It was quite busy for a weekday night. There's valet parking so you don't have to stress about finding street parking nearby. We ordered fried calamari, baked clams, baked vodka penne, and the Fisherman's Platter. We were served bread and some antipasto to start. The calamari was a classic and I loved the sauce -- it had a good spicy kick to it. The baked clams were okay. The Fisherman's Platter is a must and good value with its generous portion of seafood. It can definitely be shared amongst two people. The baked vodka penne was also good but portion was on the smaller side. I would say Michael's is a must try at least once.

I've become a regular at this place, both solo and in groups or pairs. The food is reliably good,…read moreand the service is very courteous and friendly without being intrusive. I recommend the black spaghetti, and the pasta with the short rib ragu -- this last dish has become a trend in several Italian eateries, and theirs is one of the best. My GF loves the shaved brussels sprouts. I was never of fan of this vegetable but she made me try them and I am a true believer now. Piccoli has become my go-to for Italian whenever I'm in Park Slope. I highly recommend it!

Great neighborhood spot with fantastic food. Came here on a Saturday for lunch and the weather was…read morebeautiful so would recommend sitting outside. We ordered the duck ragu with tagliatelle, avocado and tomato salad with grilled chicken, and the spinach ravioli (not pictured). The salad was so refreshing and you can tell that the EVOO was very high quality. Grilled chicken was cooked well. My fiancée really enjoyed the ragu and his dad said he was a big fan of the ravioli. Service is attentive but not intrusive and prices are super reasonable. We will be back!

Reservations are harder to come by so I had to settle with an early 4 pm meal. I was seated…read moreimmediately as they opened. Service was attentive and friendly, and I did not feel rushed at any point. I wasn't too hungry so I shared their popular focaccia bread with green butter and sheep's milk agnolotti. Focaccia 5/5: best focaccia I ever had, it came hot and fresh out of the oven. Crispy on the outside but so soft inside, topped with a delicious parm. The green herb butter was so smooth. I loved this dish and would come back just for it Sheep's milk 4/5: they're like ravioli stuffed with smooth, melt in your mouth cheese... the sauce was light and sweet from the honey. It was so unique and delicious (technically a 5/5 but I personally am not a fan of sweet pasta and would likely try something else next time) I hope to come back another time for that bread and to try one of their other pastas

I came to Lilia for dinner with my sister and we had a great time! We had a reservation, and…read moreeveryone was incredibly kind. The service was great, and our server gave us great recommendations. Inside has lots of seating and it is moody, more of a date-night vibe. We ordered three pastas and two appetizers. All were overall great! They are known for their focaccia, and it was good! Definitely one of the focaccia I have had, most end up being too oily but this was perfect. We also got the mussels, and they were good as well, the butter sauce it is dosed in is not too heavy and pairs well with the bread. The Mafaldini was the biggest portion size, and it was also good, but we preferred the other pastas more. The best pasta was definitely the agnolotti!! Though the portion size was smaller, every bite was so delicious. Overall we had a great time here!

I'll start with a few caveats. No Bathroom on premises. Cash only, and no booze…read more But if you're willing to take a chance, you'll be rewarded with a solid, Italian homestyle meal in a tiny and cozy restaurant that won't break the bank. Standouts include the artichoke side, the Amatriciana, and the Tiramisu. You wont be disappointed.

This cute little Italian restaurant is pretty awesome in a quiet little neighborhood. The staff was…read moresuper nice and made the vibe feel like a chill place to hangout and enjoy your meal. I got the cacio e pepe which was great. The fresh cracked pepper and the pasta was very fresh and more al dente the way I liked it. This place takes cash only so make sure you have some on you to pay.

Cuisine: 7 Service: 8…read moreDecor: 8 Value: 7 Overall: 7 I wonder how many 100 year old restaurants are still left in NYC. It can't be easy to stay true to who you are in this ever changing world. With today's social media heavy and influencer dominated marketing, this restaurant sits on a quiet street in Brooklyn just going about its business. Known as an Italian red sauce shop that served all walks of life, including possibly the mafia, this place has seen it all. If only the walls can talk, I could imagine all the stories it holds. Our friendly waiter has been there for 20+ years and shared some of his experiences and memories. It was a nice bonus to our meal for four. For appetizers, we had some Clams Oreganata (8/10), Fried Calamari (8/10), and Roasted Peppers w/ Anchovies (8/10). I would say that these three starters were the highlights of the meal. The entrees were not bad, just not as outstanding as their appetizer counterparts. My favorite of the bunch was the Eggplant Parmigiana (8/10), which was delicious and well made. The other three items, Pork Chop alla Bamonte's (6/10), Ravioli w/ Meat Sauce (7/10), and Rigatoni w/ Sausage & Broccoli Rabe (7/10), were all decent, but nothing special. By the end of the meal, four of us all agreed that it was a fun experience. With all the great options for Italian cuisine in NYC, it's not somewhere that stands out enough for regular visits. However, I would stop by if I was in the neighborhood.

I think the only way to really express how great the food here is would be to simply say that you…read moreshould try it for yourself. Make a pact with yourself that before you die you experience culinary paradise. Maybe it's laying it on thick for some of you but my dish of veal scarpariello was the best thing I've ever had at any Italian restaurant ever. Nor do I think that is an exaggeration at all. The veal was thin enough and with an equally thin layer of eggplant and mozzarella covering it and emerssed in a white wine sauce I couldn't decide what part was my favorite. I still can't decide but I will say I must go back and try it again. I thought that the dish looked small but I couldn't even finish half of it pan my own even though it was compelling me to devour the entire thing! Truly, don't even think of going without trying that dish for yourself. The staff was some of the most attentive I've ever come across. We had fresh plates and silverware after every course. We didn't need to look for a waiter at all for they were there seeing to our every need. And the patrons all looked like they were enjoying a special night out because this is truly a special place. Great food, great atmosphere and a wonderful night out!

Really great service, food, and ambiance!! I especially…read morerecommend the calamari appetizer as well as any pasta on their menu. I will be coming again!

Drinks are good. Recommend the ribeye and carbonara. The carbonara is exceptional. The service is…read moreexcellent. The ambience was great for dates.