my boyfriend and i were feeling hungry a little early into the afternoon, and canto has been a place that's been bookmarked for a bit. came in mid afternoon and was seated quickly despite having no reservation. it was surprisingly crowded for the middle of the day, but we were attended to consistently and in a timely fashion. service for the most part was friendly and swift. the ambiance is intimate yet social -- it's dimly lit and music is playing at a medium volume in the background, but most of the background noise is made up with chatter from each table. we had: wellfleet oysters, arancini di risotto, bucatini alla carbonara, and branzino. the free bread gets a special shoutout for how nice a surprise it was -- soft (even the crusts not too hard) with a delicious dip of tomato sauce on the side. oysters were fresh and pleasant, also a steal at $1.50 a piece for happy hour (before 5). arancini was as good as it gets: breaded nicely to have a good crunch without being too abrasive, burst of savory flavor with the rice and cheese within (supplemented again with the tomato sauce). pasta for the bolognese was delightfully al dente, with the sauce being creamy without being overly rich, and decadently savory. overall, great experience and delicious food, would absolutely come back again. read more

Canto - Upper West Side - bucatini alla carbonara - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Loved Canto. We walked in and there was no wait for a party of 2. Restaurant is very dimly lit and intimate. Floral decorations were beautiful. Not a very large restaurant, but had plenty of tables and bar seating. Service was very friendly. Our server answered all our questions and made some awesome recommendations. We ordered the beef carpaccio, gnocchi in a creamy truffle sauce, warm octopus salad, and the tagliatelle bolognese. Everything was delicious. Restrooms were gender neutral and desperately needed attention. There was pee all over the toilet seat and floor, and no paper towels. For a very nice restaurant, the restroom was absolutely disgusting. - 1 star, sorry. Still would highly recommend. read more

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Ok for a quick dinner before a show Packed because no one cooks at home in nyc Food was acceptable but not memorable Service was fast, efficient but soulless Someone scorched the sauce for the chicken ala nonna and it tasted like it I'd go again if I had no other choices read more

Walked in and was able to get seating outside! The inside looked super cute and would love to make a resy in there one day. The food overall was solid, the pasta was cooked well, but I feel that the bolognese could have had a little more flavor. Service was just okay for me, our waiter wasn't friendly and seemed to just want to take our orders and leave. Overall, would come back to sit inside and try other items on the menu! read more

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The hostess was really great and so was my bartender. The oysters were really good. The wine was on point and the vibe was good. Cute decor. read more

Just came for happy hour on a Sunday...HH is everyday which is amazing?!!! $27 bottle of rose and people watching so awesome. Thought service was fine but didn't order any food. Was given lots of information from Fernando on the menu so will be back! Seemed liked the popular item was a frozen espresso martini! read more

Canto - Upper West Side - Happy hour $27 bottle of rose - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Anna and Andre were a delight. Great experience and the food was amazing. Thank you! read more

Canto - Upper West Side - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Really enjoyed the option of indoor or outdoor seating. Sat just inside from the outdoor seating and made the atmosphere engaging with the bustle of the restaurant and the city night. The service was quick, started with some bread and the food was delicious. read more

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Came here for happy hour on a weekday. Whether you sit at the bar or at a table you have to be seared by the hostess, which I can imagine what that is like when they are busy. The decor is dimly lite clean aesthetic vibe. Got the frozen espresso martini which is strong in the espresso and weak on the alcohol, the serving glasses for these are smaller than average so be aware you don't get much for the price point. It definitely left me with a brain freeze, I liked the concept of the straw that you can eat. The spicy martini was good and had a bit of a kick. The oysters came with ketchup which I found very odd and an odd onion/tomato sauce, I would have preferred the classics. Service was good, the waiter checked in on us. read more

Canto - Upper West Side - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Initial impression of Canto was great - beautiful interior with a nice intimate atmosphere. Then, it kept losing rating points as the meal went along... First of all, in terms of service, our waitress was quite pushy and was rushing us to make a menu choice in a rather unfriendly way. Then, they only brought us the salt and pepper after we were mostly done with the meal already. They also never even asked if we wanted to see the dessert menu. As for the food, I ordered the Pappardelle Cinghiale ($26), which was a generous portion size with a good amount of tender and tasty wild boar meat. However, the actual pasta itself was very mediocre. The sauce (Tuscan wine sauce) in particular was rather watery and tasteless, which really took away from the dish as a whole. I also tried the Green Pappardelle Al Frutti di Mare ($28), which had seafood in it. The spinach pappardelle was a bit better than the other one, but the seafood was average quality at best. The complimentary bread with tomato sauce was pretty good though. Overall, the nice environment is really the saving grace here, but with this kind of service and food (for the price), I probably will not be returning. read more

Canto - Upper West Side - Pappardelle Cinghiale - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Made last minute reservations at Canto and am honestly so disappointed in myself for suggesting this restaurant... Outside of the service, everything about this restaurant was mid. Everything lacked flavor and it reminded me of why people think Italian food is insipid (gre word lol) or lackluster. I could have had a more inspiring and flavorful meal at home, so very disappointed. We ordered Calamari, kale salad, and french fries to start. Calamari wasn't properly battered and didn't feel fried at all. Also for some reasons apples were fried and included in the basket... the Kale salad wasn't actually good, but lacked enough toppings. And fries were fine. For our mains we got the Carbonara and we couldn't find the other main on the menu, but both needed a boatload of salt/pepper added. I haven't been disappointed like this in such a long time.... But the water, complimentary bread, and service was great! read more

Canto - Upper West Side - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

It was my first time at this canto location, we stopped in for drinks. The bartenders were absolutely wonderful, especially Andre! It was Valentine's Day and the restaurant had decorated the place accordingly with tons of red and pink decor. They have happy hour daily, including their frozen espresso martini which is my favorite. Their regular espresso martini is also perfectly done. We snacked on some truffle fries, which were good but not a must-have. Overall, I like the place and the people. I really love the frozen espresso martini. Will likely come again. read more

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FERNANDO was EVERYTHING! Knowedgeable, kind, and an Empire State of mind! I might still be tipsy from the frozen Aperol spritz or having a heat stroke because it's so hot in manhattan but if I die it was a great final supper! read more

I came during happy hour on a Saturday, one hour before having to leave for the airport, to try one thing and one thing only: their frozen espresso martini. It was definitely worth it. read more

Canto - Upper West Side - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Perfect place before visiting Lincoln Center. Such a balanced flavors. Amazing Thursday night with great food and "Turandot". It would've been better experience if servers were a bit more attentive though... read more

Canto - Upper West Side - Burrata with Prosciutto and Peach - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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I really liked it here! I was just waltzing around the UWS and told myself I would just eat at wherever looked good. I walked by Canto and thought it looked interesting so there I was solo dining at the bar. They have some pretty neat decorations for the holidays. I got the fettuccine ai funghi with a medium rare steak for my meal and a raspberry spritz mocktail. Both were really good and hit the spot! The food came out quite quickly. I got the apple tartlet dessert which was pretty good, although I wish the tart was heated up a little more to contrast from the cold gelato. Other than that, service was good and I overall enjoyed my time here. I spent $86 here inclusive of tax and tip for my little solo date that night. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to my peers and I would be interested in coming back to try other things on the menu! read more

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We stopped by Canto on a whim last night after a movie and were able to be seated outside immediately. The weather was a bit chilly, but our table had a heat lamp, and we were provided with blankets, which was super cozy and nice. I didn't really have any expectations - just wanted a decent bite to eat - but everything we had was delicious! I had the branzino, which was cooked perfectly and was served with a zesty, lemon-cream sauce, mashed potatoes, and spinach. So good. My partner loved his lasagna. I paired my meal with a wonderful glass of Super Tuscan. For dessert, we had tiramisu and cappuccinos. The coffees were great. The tiramisu was served as a square cake and a good size for a party of two just looking for a few sweet bites. It wasn't the boldest tiramisu flavor I've had, but definitely a tasty version. I liked the moist, cakey ladyfingers portion at the bottom. Came with a few strawberries and mint on the side. Everyone who works here is incredibly nice and the vibe of the restaurant is just really chill overall. Our server was friendly and gave good suggestions. read more

Canto - Upper West Side - Outdoor seating with blankets and heat lamps. - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Everything tonight was DELICIOUS! The waiter, Mateo, was fantastic, attentive and made sure everything was all ok. We had raw oysters, burrata and prosciutto, beef carpaccio, lobster ravioli, and carbonara. A party of 2 and we were delightfully full. Not stuffed, justttttt right! Would definitely say this would be a spot I would bring people to, and it is a perfect date spot. read more

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If you're hunting for frozen espresso martinis, Canto is the spot. Truly, 10/10 for the drink game. The food, however, was a mixed bag for me. We were seated quickly, but it took about 12 minutes before we could wave someone down to take our order. After that, it felt like we had about four different servers--maybe part of their teamwork approach, but it did make service feel a little scattered. That said, the female manager was incredibly kind and attentive, which was appreciated. Food highlights: * Kale Salad - fresh and flavorful * Truffle Fries - crisp and indulgent * Pesto Pasta - well-balanced and delicious Food I'd skip: * Calamari - not very crispy and pretty standard in flavor * Bolognese - needed more seasoning to really shine The ambiance is beautiful--semi-upscale with a lovely aesthetic--perfect for a night out with friends. Personally, I'd come back for drinks over dinner. But those frozen espresso martinis? I'd make the trip just for them. read more

Canto - Upper West Side - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Such a cute restaurant. Staff was great, very friendly. My friend and I was not here hungry so we ordered the eggplant parm and the pENNE ALLA PUTTANESCA. The eggplant parm was tasty but it needed some more sauce. The penne was delicious. read more

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The frozen espresso martini was so good. Loved the texture and the flavor with cream on top. The Cacio e Pepe was pretty good but not the best. Loved how it was serve out of a cheese wheel though. Service was pretty good and loved the ambiance. Would highly recommend. read more

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Beautiful space, but service was a little slow and the sauce in the pasta I ordered for brunch was a little too watery/runny. My friends ordered waffles and steak and eggs and those looked good! Saturday noon on a snowy day saw minimal crowds. read more

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THE BEST ESPRESSO MARTINI HANDS DOWN!!!! It's a craving at this point. Location is a lot more spacious than the lower east side location. Great pacing between drinks, appetizers, entrees. Never had to call for someone to come to our table. Constantly checked on the guest before needing to ask for anything. read more

Canto - Upper West Side - Frozen espresso martini with tequila - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

So so good. The frozen espresso martini was insane and the carbonara was delish. Love a place that gives complementary bread. We sat outside and it was great. Perfect weather and in a chill area so no loud noise and people walking too close. The servers were good but nothing crazy. read more

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Canto is fine but pretty forgettable. The space and drinks are nice, but the food didn't really stand out and felt underwhelming for the price. Nothing was bad, just not memorable. Works if you're nearby and want a decent atmosphere, but there are better Italian options around. read more

Cute restaurant, good for a date or meeting with some friends. It feels trendy and they seem to be known for the frozen espresso martini. The beef tortellini was very average, and a little overpriced for the portion size. We were lucky to get a reservation two days in advance and they were flexible about adding someone to our party which was nice. Service was friendly and fast. read more

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Shout out to the busboys who did AMAZING!! (Please give them a raise!) They actually served us the food, and sometimes drinks, in addition to water. The waiter seemed a bit stretched- I could see that he had to go all the way to the corner to enter orders, which might have contributed to him not utilizing his time to the best effect. Service (the waiter/hostess) was fine but not very friendly. We never got asked if we wanted another drink- in fact our drinks arrived after the food (because the busboys were amazing!!). Ambiance is fun, especially in a nice day when the windows are open. Pasta was solid, with the carbonara especially good. Cocktails were also really good. I can't wait to come back for happy hour. read more

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Delicious bread and vongole pasta! Service was great and inside was nicely decorated for Christmas read more

Canto - Upper West Side - Vongole - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

The food was amazing! Pasta was so fresh you could tell it was homemade. The drinks were great. Very cute vibe and aesthetic inside. I'll deff be back. read more

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Must haves: fried artichokes and arancini to start. For the main, the pastas are a must have. My favorites are the lobster ravioli and orecchiette Italian sausage with broccoli rabe are AMAZING. Highly recommend both! The bartenders are incredibly nice and attentive. And the warm ambiance decorated for the holidays does not hurt :-) read more

Came after a nighttime movie, grateful to quickly get a table at the late hour. Restaurant was pretty full but not loud or super crowded. Quick and attentive service with lots of menu options. We got arancini as an appetizer and my main complaint is that they ran out so quickly. Someone at my table got the lasagna and they loved it. I got the tortellini, I was pleasantly surprised at the portion size. Dish was a little too salty for my taste but overall a good late night meal. read more

Canto - Upper West Side - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Came here before going to the Met as it was super convenient. Wow! Are are SO glad we did! We were sat outside as the place was PACKED. They were so kind in giving my twin boys blankets as the weather had just started to get a bit chilly. We ordered the bolognese lasagna, chicken Milanese, the carbonara and for starters the arrancini. The food was all amazing. Every single dish was great. For desert we ordered two chocolate soufflés and wished we had ordered one for each as to not to share! They were phenomenal! The best soufflé there is! If you like chocolate you can't pass the chocolate soufflé! We can't wait to be back! Highly recommend! read more

Canto - Upper West Side - The best chocolate soufflé! - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Service was phenomenal, food was delicious and made just right. We got there earlier than our reservation & were seated immediately. Good thing we came early because by the time we left there was a long line! Only thing that was an unfavorable was the noise level, probably acoustics, and we had to raise our voices & lean in to hear each other over the nearby tables. (Not pictured here: my friend's lamb chops, beautifully done as she requested, and the potatoes substituted for spinach p/ same request. Small dish but perfect for my small eater friend.) read more

Canto - Upper West Side - Bread & tomato ragu with ricotta - complimentary - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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It has a great ambience and music, the food was really good, we ordered a few pastas and I could say it is one of the best places in here, the service was great, our waiter (Ray) was really attentive and frequently asked​ if everything was fine read more

Our server Rey was very helpful and very attentive and was very respectful. Amazing service.

Came with friends for brunch. The food is decent but the service was all over the place. I would swear they just opened. Good: food for the most part is solid. BEC sandwich with rolled eggs, pancetta, american cheese, aioli on a brioche bun - you can't go wrong. Side note - they didn't seem like rolled eggs but more like cooked in a sheet pan and cut into squares. Burger and french toast enjoyed as well. Complimentary bread basket was nice. They are making a very good Espresso Martini! Waitress was kind. Needs work: there are a lot of people working here and no one seems to be communicating with each other. When we walked in a many greeted us and tried to seats us but then a woman came over to greet us and seat us. When they brought our first round of drinks, they brought them to the table next to us. Later they brought us food that was for the table next to us. Frittata was a thumbs down. Oddly there are peas in it. The burrata special was fine, had better. We were handed multiple menus - 2 drink menus. A lunch/dinner menu which we could only order salads or meat plate from. A brunch menu where a few items were sold out. A specials menu, but only 2 items on that available. When we ordered food we found another item was sold out. Ordered a second round of drinks, bloody mary also sold out. A short time later a bloody mary randomly came to the table despite being told no more?! I ordered a prosecco which came in the tiniest little coupe glass and it was flat. Should have sent it back. Many people checked on us throughout the meal which is nice they care. Wasn't sure if we had 2 waiters. Felt like there were 2-3 managers on duty. The restaurant looks like they just took over the space. Mostly white walls aside from a tree painted on a wall upfront and some minimal tinsel for the holidays. read more

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We finally made it to Canto on the Upper West Side after months of meaning to go. The space is attractive...nicely lit and well appointed...but it's loud. Conversation required raised voices, which took away from the experience. Service was prompt and friendly without being overbearing, though the meal ended on an awkward note when the server presented the check prematurely on an electronic keypad before we were even asked if we wanted coffee. The food itself was forgettable. The eggplant parm appetizer leaned heavy on the cheese and lacked a real flavor punch...crushed red pepper helped, but it shouldn't be necessary. The chicken francese special arrived in a generous portion but fell flat: the chicken wasn't as tender as it should be, and the mashed potatoes were oddly soupy and more sauced than mashed. While Canto's Lincoln Square location is convenient, the Upper West Side has far stronger Italian options. For us, this was a one-and-done. read more

This place had the best steak meal I had in a long time, where I was dreaming about going back for more. Everything about it was so delicious and flavorful, I'd recommend this to my mom, who's a harsh food critic and loves to eat at home. The place had a great vibe and volume was deficient for a bunch of people chatting away. The service was great and I was so happy and content, I was dancing in my seat, a true indicator for anyone satisfied with their food. read more

Canto - Upper West Side - Steak frites - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

We decide to have a quick dinner here before heading to the opera. Service was fantastic and the vibes were great! We ordered 3 dishes to share. Overall, the appetizer was good but the pastas were mediocre. - Burrata and prosciutto: 10/10 (this was our favorite dish that we ordered. Burrata was creamy and the prosciutto was super tasty.) - Carbonara: 7/10 (carbonara was so so... I've had better carbonara elsewhere) - Lobster ravioli: 6/10 (meh ravioli... I feel like the pasta was a bit too overcooked. The sauce was mediocre too.) - Frozen espresso martini: 8/10 (good for the experience but I think I prefer regular espresso martinis) read more

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Popped in here on a whim before seeing a choral concert across the street. It was fitting that the name "Canto" means "sing" in Italian, so I took it as a sign. I sat at the bar because I was dining solo and had a lot of time to kill. James my bartender, and he is also who created all of the cocktails. I ordered the Padrino, which is a spin on a Manhattan, but with Scotch and some allspice. The allspice was so different and perfect for fall. It was a beautiful hint of cinnamon clove and made a familiar cocktail a totally new one. For my meal I ordered the fresh pappardelle with wild boar ragu. I thought it would be like a Bolognese with red sauce but it was closer to a beef stew (with peas and carrots too). It was not what I expected but it was very tasty. The boar was cooked very well and the pasta is made in house. Before leaving I decided to try James' espresso martini for dessert. It was perfect. Not too sweet like some others I've had before-definitely coffee forward and i loved the shaved dark chocolate on top. The restaurant is beautiful. Light and open, decorated in a modern style. It just opened a few months ago but this is their second location. I took off one star because for the first half of my meal, the owner/manager was talking VERY loudly (almost yelling) near the bar about their finances, bills, paying their contractor, etc.... I almost left after my cocktail to go next door to eat. Just stuff that i felt should either be happening in an office or at least quieter so diners did not need to hear. That being said, the owner did say hello and welcome me to the restaurant, and he was very nice. I wish Canto the best of luck in this new location and I will return next time I'm seeing a concert at the Kaufman Center! read more

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