Decent portions for crazy Upper East Side prices. Perhaps this explains why it was just me during the chill period between lunch and dinner. Seriously, it was just me. Yes, the food is good. I had a tortellini soup (good, but small), and veal tortellini (doubled up, but still a good portion in a good sauce), everything is tasty, but this is all stuff I can get in Brooklyn for a fraction of the price. Oh, the rosemary focaccia bread is absolutely delicious and unlimited, but the amount they give you is stingy. In fact, the whole experience is measured and stingy. On a hot day like today, they barely kept me hydrated, which I needed to be kept because you can have grated, salty, Parmesan cheese on anything you want. At least the owner is a nice guy. He is partly why this is not a three star review. I am not putting this as a favorite, but if somebody were to ask me what is a good Italian restaurant in the Upper East Side, I would not hesitate to give this one a shoutout. read more

Caffe Buon Gusto - Veal Tortellini - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Visited Caffe Buon Gusto and had a really enjoyable time The dishes were fresh well balanced and full of flavor Service felt warm and attentive without being over the top and the atmosphere was calm and inviting Nice place for a relaxed meal in the area read more

Loved it here! Nando the owner greeted us and was very nice! The wine glasses were filled to the brim. I had the ravioli special which was delicious. My mom is really critical of red sauce at Italian restaurants and she loved it! There are so many options on the menu and it's very well priced for the neighborhood! The warm chocolate torte for dessert with ice cream and the tiramisu were amazing! They have a cute outdoor seating area as well as indoor seating. I'd recommend a reservation on a Friday or Saturday evening! I can't wait to stop back! Such a neighborhood gem! read more

Caffe Buon Gusto - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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So the 3 stars is moreso for the upfront experience and not for the food. Food was 4/5. My friend made a reservation at 7:30 pm on a Saturday. We were on time. There were a couple parties of 2 and 3 also waiting outside the restaurant (which was quite small). We found out that they had a reservation at 7 pm and 7:15 pm... and they were still waiting for a table. I'm not sure if they overbooked online but it was startling how behind they were. The owner came out periodically to ask people what time their reservation was. He offered glasses of wine for those who were waiting and said we could go to his sister restaurant instead. My friends and I stayed and waited 30 mins for a table. As mentioned, the restaurant is small and packed. I wanna say it sat 40 people. We were at a 2 person table where they added a third chair. We ordered: - 2 diet cokes: it came in a cute little glass bottle - crab ravioli: there were small pieces of crabs in the ravioli and a good amount of shrimp. There were more pieces of ravioli than I thought there would be. I really liked the sauce! - vodka pasta: my friend made her own and this is her go-to - mushroom sausage truffle special: my friend enjoyed this but wishes there was more truffle - affogato: I love affogato and this hit the spot! read more

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First things first - the vodka sauce was really great! The chicken cutlet on top was pretty good, too. I was so happy to finally have proper vodka sauce in NYC! Previous restaurants here have disappointed me, but not this place. I liked how the waiter just administered parm on top without asking - it was very official. Nice touch. The cacio e pepe was also very tasty. Bread? Soft and flavorful. Arugula salad? Exactly what we wanted. Chocolate souffle? Wonderfully chocolatey. Service? Well, they tried to upcharge the chicken cutlet and the water was a little hard to come by, but in the end it was ok. The negative comments from other reviews on the service are believable. Overall, the food is great, the service is meh, and I would definitely recommend it. read more

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Great first date spot. I had the fettuccine alfredo and it was good. The gnocchi was also great! Service was fast and attentive. Lots of seating and great drink selection. I got the pinot grigio and it was good. read more

Caffe Buon Gusto - fettuccine alfredo - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

What a great place! The food was very good and the service was excellent. I love the way you can make your own pasta bowl.

What an experience! So to start with the food, I genuinely cannot speak highly enough about everything that we had. Everyone at the table got a different entrée and some of the exclamations were "This is the best X that I've ever had" whether that be the chicken Parm, the veal Parm or my oricchette with vodka sauce. The bruschetta and prosciutto with melon appetizers were also phenomenal and the chocolate soufflé that we had for dessert was absolutely to die for. I genuinely have not a singular note about any of the food that we had. It was all wonderful. So touching on the service this is where things got interesting. We had a reservation at 8 PM. Upon arriving to the restaurant, we were told that there were no tables available and long story short, had to wait outside in the cold until about 8:30/8:45 when we were finally seated. Now I must say that the restaurant was incredibly busy and the staff were working extremely hard to try and turn over tables and figure out the situation. While I do fault them for overbooking as this reservation was made weeks ago, they tried their hardest to accommodate us - and I genuinely do appreciate that. Once we finally sat, it did take about a half hour to finally get a waitress to come, but after that, it was smooth sailing and service could not have been more impeccable. The manager was working extremely hard and comped us some wine for our troubles, which was greatly appreciated. Our waitress whose name I failed to get (a lovely woman from Chile) was one of the best waitresses I've had and truly elevated our experience. The ambience of the restaurant is quite small, which is the obvious reason for the delay in seating. While we were seated on the front patio, we did go in to use the bathroom and the inside looked quite nice. Overall, the food is amazing. The service was great once we were sat and the ambience is lovely. If they could just figure out their booking system, this place would be a 10 out of 10. I will 100% be recommending Cafe Buon Gusto to anyone and will be back for sure. read more

Caffe Buon Gusto - Oricchette with vodka sauce - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Made a reservation for late on a Thursday, being in New Rochelle for work and knowing I wouldn't make it into the city until late. First of all - being open very late on a school night is commendable and I really appreciated it. So I made a reservation and hopped the subway after work. I was the only in the place, which is somewhat small to begin with, but the staff was very friendly and accommodating. I ordered bruschetta to start. With being the only table, food came out quickly- and with them closing up things for the night, they were serving me in the hopes of finishing their night. Not a problem, let's get it going. The bruschetta was great - fresh and bright flavors in the tomatoes, bread was good and flavorful. Top notch. I was in between a couple of dishes but settles on the cacio e pepe. It came out quickly, and really was the highlight of the trip here. Al dente pasta, sauce was good and seasoned, great flavors. For dessert, I had the chocolate pie and a double espresso. Both were good. Quick meal, but well-executed. Would highly recommend here, but with the small size of the dining room- especially in winter - make a reservation! read more

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Caffe Buon Gusto exemplifies the best of Italian hospitality and cooking. With warm and familial service, it feels like you're eating at nonna's house. We were in need of a good bowl of pasta and this spot delivered and then some. Drinks were delicious. Our waiter said he made a great espresso martini and I agree with him. The complimentary focaccia was a standout, and you might be tempted to eat it all before the main courses come. I'm glad I saved a piece to sop up my vodka sauce. They are known for their vodka sauce and I can see why. It was silky perfection that coated and clung so nicely to the thin spaghetti. Get it topped with the mozzarella to unlock its full potential. They brought out a small slice of tiramisu on the house. Such a wonderful gesture and damn was it a good tiramisu. I would recommend this place to anyone! read more

Caffe Buon Gusto - Spaghetti alla vodka with mozzarella - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Incredible ambiance, service, and food. The owner, Nando, is so warm and welcoming!! The burrata, vodka and bolognese pastas, and tiramisu are DIVINE. Can't say enough good things about our experience. We will absolutely be coming back!!!! read more

Caffe Buon Gusto - Tiramisu - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

We were greeted by Nando who made us feel welcomed and appreciated at the table of our choice. He immediately got us setup with water and delicious focaccia and olive oil. Dinner was perfect. A fresh Caesar Salad... crisp with a good ratio of cheese, great red sauce with the Eggplant Parmigiana and a nice portion of Chicken Francese... with some fresh lemon. A complimentary dessert sealed the meal. This place is a little worn on the edges but definitely worth a visit for some solid Italian dishes. read more

Came here for a midweek dinner and had a good experience overall! Only thing keeping this place from five stars was some inconsistency between dishes. The highlight of our meal - by FAR - was the homemade crabmeat ravioli, which was generous, fresh, and complimented by a perfect, not-too-creamy sauce. The veal marsala was a solid contender and I'm a sucker for a good marsala sauce (which this was!) but I thought the veal was very dry/overcooked. Could have been a one-off but still was a good dish overall. The burrata appetizer, as others noted, was very small for the price. Service was friendly, and while I did bring up the burrata and the veal to the server, nothing was done or offered (nor did we ask). I'm also not the type of person to smile in a restaurant and say everything's great and then go turn around and say something else online either! Anyway, we'll be back but will probably stick to more of the pasta dishes (which looked amazing at neighboring tables) and share those around. read more

Caffe Buon Gusto - Burrata - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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The food in this restaurant is good, but I was with a group and we had an awful experience at the end of our meal. Not only would the server not split the check to our satisfaction, but he refused to take a cash payment from a senior. He brought over the manager who was loud and rude. I'm sorry, but you do not talk down to customers that way, especially seniors. I let them know that by law they are required to accept cash, but I was disregarded. I will be filing a complaint with the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection agency. That's seven customers who will not be returning. read more

Loved this place! The host yesterday (Thursday) was so sweet and welcoming and just had a wonderful energy. My mom and I loved our pasta and the chocolate souffle cake was HEAVENLY. read more

This is my favorite Italian spot in the city. The truffle limoncello ravioli is to die for. It's a very cute and quaint locally owned spot giving it a warm environment. Everyone should try this spot at least once!! read more

Caffe Buon Gusto - Burrata Limoncello Ravioli - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Second time coming here - came after a friend's wedding and the group of four of us loved everything. The pasta is killer, the wine was reasonably priced, and it's in a cute quaint cafe-like place. Only downside in both times coming here, the waiters are a little short with you and you get the sense you're being rushed. Other than that, I love this spot and will definitely come back after the Met or if I'm nearby! read more

Caffe Buon Gusto - capellini vodka - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

I've been to this restaurant a couple of times. The food and service is always good. Give it a try.

Came here to just get some Italian food. No real expectations or agenda. I was hungry and wanted to eat. My group and I all picked different things, I chose the pear and Gorgonzola salad because it looked tasty and it truly was divine. My group got the gnocchi with bolognese and one with pesto. Both having great flavor and portions. We were seated outside so we couldn't get an interior view but the service was great. They had made a mistake on the order and brought out a new one at no cost. This place has everything youd want in an Italian restaurant: good food, good portions, and a commitment to service. I would gladly go back and try more of their menu. read more

Service is great and food is very good. Love their spaghetti and meatballs. Salad only ok. Wonderful place in the neighborhood!

Nice lil spot. Bolognese was A1. Little bit cozy and uncomfy but service/experience made up for it in spades. Stop by.

Food: Pastas were great! Id highly recommend the specialty ravioli OR black ink linguine and burrata. The pastas were all good and they had great al dente texture. Service: Service was great we had accommodating staff and they even gave ha free tiramisu after :) read more

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This place was so good. The service was exceptional! The food was very tasty I didn't get to take pictures of my meal (linguine al vongle) because i ate it so fast but the quality was great. Staff were extremely friendly and the ambiance was lovely, a bit small..., but very warm and friendly. The dessert was also delicious! Tiramisu and chocolate lava cake :))) I highly recommend to anyone to come here and try!! P.s Nando was the best :) read more

Came in recently for a birthday dinner and left with very mixed feelings! Service was wonderful, so attentive, friendly, accommodating, even brought us complimentary limoncello at the end of our meal. I had the chicken sorrento which really lacked luster. The sauce didn't have a very powerful flavor, and there was not a lot of eggplant. The chicken dishes come with a small side of steamed vegetables. Two friends ordered pastas and I tried each of them. The pesto pasta made me rethink my experience. Could taste the homemade noodles and the fresh pesto sauce was rich and flavorful and fresh! Then I tried a friend's Bolognese, which was right back to medium in taste and quality. All in all, I think the pasta dishes are the star of the show here, and other entres can probably be skipped. Finally, wine bottles are WELL priced, so you can offset some of the cost of the $31 entrees there. read more

Food was good but the staff became very rude when we needed to split the bill in ways to meet our needs as a large party. The manager/owner was extremely rude and does not know how to speak to customers. We used to eat there often and had stopped going because they were not child friendly. We will not go back again obviously the customer service is not worth it to us after revisiting after many years. We can get great food and much better service at plenty of other local Italian restaurants we love. read more

Very quaint neighborhood itialin spot. Homestyle pasta. The owner is a sweetheart. All the pastas were absolutely delicious! Can't go wrong with this spot. read more

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This is our 3rd time eating at Caffe Buon Gusto and it was phenomenal! The food is consistently delicious and the service was outstanding, especially today!! Marcello is truly an amazing host and waiter, he MADE our day with his sense of humor and genuine desire to make sure we had a great experience. If you enjoy homemade pasta, focaccia and desserts then Caffe Buon Gusto will not disappoint you!! read more

AMAZING! Classic red sauce Italian joint with such a cozy classic casual vibe. The pastas were incredible, I've heard people say this place was overhyped but I think it has the perfect amount of hype. Can't recommend the chicken parm and the fresh house made tortellini with vodka sauce and fresh mozz enough. The staff was great and so friendly. I will definitely be back read more

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Such a gem of a spot! Literally one of the best Italian meals I've had in a while. Their homemade pasta is to die for. I got the veal tortellini with carbonara sauce (they do not skimp on the onions and pancetta - 10/10), and the portion size was AMAZING; I even had leftovers to take home! Also obsessed with the bread - so fresh and moist, especially dipped in their garlic infused oil and balsamic. Shout out to Nando!!! We absolutely loved our limoncellos!! read more

Caffe Buon Gusto - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Stopped by Caffe Buon Gusto last Friday night with a reservation, but it definitely wasn't needed. The spot had a cozy ambiance, with kind and attentive staff. I ordered the fettuccine carbonara, which came out to around 35 dollars after tax and tip (without adding any form of meat/mushroom topping). Therein lies my main problem with Caffe Buon Gusto - at that price point there are so many other options in New York that'd I'd be hard pressed to say I'd come back. That isn't to say that Caffe Buon Gusto was bad. It just wouldn't be my first choice. read more

Caffe Buon Gusto - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Hidden gem on the upper east side! Do I dare to say the best pasta I have had in NYC. ( went on July 22,2023) Exploring UES, I found this place. Small, quiet, intimate restaurant with great food and good company. I went at a great time because there was only me and another couple inside. To be honest I forgot the name of my pasta but it was flavorful, large serving, and satisfying. I got bread and a glass a wine. The menu was large it was hard to pick what I wanted but I believe I custom made my pasta. Service: The staff was friendly and you can tell it a family owned restaurant. read more

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Great food and ambiance, and very kind staff! Service was great. We even got a little complimentary tiramisu. Would definitely recommend!

My fav restaurant in NYC! Authentic Italian food & staff. Our server had personality plus and ordered for me. The food was incredible!

Hidden gem on the Upper East Side. I took my boyfriend here to celebrate his promotion and Caffe Buon Gusto did not disappoint! Everything from the service to the food was superb. I made a reservation earlier in the day and when we arrived we were sat immediately. The server came over and after a few minutes to make some recordings on dishes that we might enjoy. Here are the dishes we had during our visit: For starters: - Grilled Portobello Mushroom (really amazing dish with mozzarella) For our main courses: - Lobster with truffle in a cream sauce (special menu) the lobster was heavenly and hit the spot! - Sausage mushroom Pappardelle noodles (special menu) the sauce was on point and she mushrooms made the dish. Dessert: - Affogato (how can you go wrong! Espresso and ice cream, yum!) The food was just amazing and I cannot wait to come back and try more of the menu items. The ambiance is very laid back and they have a gorgeous outdoor area where you can enjoy the fall weather. So happy I decided to make Caffe Buon Gusto the place to celebrate the person I love. Thanks for an amazing evening. read more

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home. food amazing. service amazing. ambiance amazing. home love it here so good

I felt very welcome and the food is stellar! Others there seemed to be regular. We almost felt we were in an episode of Cheers!

Amazing food, service and atmosphere. Five star recommend and definitely will be back.

I made a reservation for Christmas dinner. I called on Christmas Eve to confirm Was told all was set Arrived for CHRISTMAS DINNER next night at 7. Restaurant was closed. WHAT????? Everyone has a right to close on Christmas. What isn't right is accepting and CONFIRMING reservation only to not be open. CBG ruined our Christmas. There was no need for this. Simply informing me on Christmas Eve or even Christmas morning would have been an annoyance but we would have worked out a solution. After preparing for a wonderful Italian dinner on Christmas, we ended up with deli sandwiches. CBG is non caring for its customers. If I could give zero stars I would. Their sloppy work ruined Christmas for me and my family. Unforgivable. read more

I came from out of state to visit my son in NYC for a special night. We made a regretful last-minute reservation. My chicken was spoiled, not a little off, but rancid. I discreetly told the server. Next, the owner stormed out of the kitchen, enraged, with a full plate of raw chicken, and accused me of "running him over with a truck" with my words. His hostile, unsafe behavior ruined our evening. I paid for everything except the spoiled chicken and tipped the server and left. I would have so graciously just had a different meal and enjoyed my night, but after having raw chicken shoved in my face, that was impossible. Now that I've seen all the Board of Health violations from 2023, I'm glad I didn't eat more than one bite. The owner is a lunatic. He didn't just ruin my dinner, he ruined a rare night with my son. Out of genuine concern for safety, I'll be contacting the Board of Health. Skip this place if you care about safety and respect. I'm sure the owner will reply and try to reprimand me again for speaking up. If you have any questions, just look at the BOH violations -- they will tell you the entire story. read more

Was absolutely INCREDIBLE!! I have never experienced hospitality the way they provide here. Our server, Marciano was fantastic and made sure we were catered to. The owner I believe is so sweet and we definitely felt at home in this restaurant. The food was delicious! I got the prosciutto wrapped scallops and they were cooked perfectly. They accommodated my allergy well and made sure my meal was still top tier although I needed substitutions. The actual space is incredibly cozy, and you truly feel like you're going over to a loved ones for food. Highly recommend if you're traveling or even from NYC. Next time Im in NYC I will 100% be returning! read more

Caffe Buon Gusto - Bowtie carbonara, Veal Diavolo, Fettuccine Alla Vodka with Chicken, Seared Sea Scallops - Italian Near Me - New York, New York