We had an amazing meal! The shrimp scampi and the pasta in a spicy shrimp sauce were both absolutely delicious. The homemade cheesecake was to die for, and the sangria was perfect. It was a wonderful experience all around. Our waitress was lovely, and we even had the pleasure of meeting the owners--very nice young men. Wishing them much success! Looking forward to coming back again soon. read more

Have been dining at Cavatappi since it opened and have not had a bad meal yet! Every time whether we're a big group or small, we have had a phenomenal experience. The price and the portions are perfect, we sometimes even leave with leftovers! Each pasta is better than the next. The linguine with clams and the "cavatappi" with pesto are favorites and must tries. The Calamari agro dolce (not on the menu anymore but sometimes available if you ask) is the best of the best and I will literally make it my meal it is so so so good! Keep up the amazing work, so glad you're still going strong! Can't wait for our next meal there! read more

I'll start with the service - top notch, the people were so nice and very sweet and always made sure we were satisfied. The ambiance was a very cute spot, the entrance was very cool and sheltered which I thought was a great touch. Now the food was also unbelievable. Some of the best meatballs I have ever had and the sauce was amazing. read more

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Stumbled into this charming restaurant on the corner of 81st and 13th Av early Friday evening. The space is a little small, so I would definitely recommend calling ahead for reservations, especially on weekends. Luckily, they were able to fit us in since we came early, but by 7p, it was a full house. We started off the calamari ($25), which was absolutely delicious. I prefer my calamari lightly breaded as I feel it prevents the breading from falling off. it was not too oily, and the calamari was tossed in an herby seasoning which by itself was fantastic. But, I highly recommend adding the fried cherry peppers and spicy cherry pepper sauce as the vinegary tartness will wake your taste buds up. For our entrées, we ordered the linguine di mare ($36), the eggplant parm ($21), and the porky pasta ($32) from the specials menu. The pasta were all cooked perfectly al dente and had a chewy, bouncy texture that was indicative of fresh pasta being used. I particularly enjoyed the porky pasta, which had braised ossobuco and crumbled sweet sausage in a red sauce-- it is bolder in taste compared to the linguine and the sauce is perfect for mopping up your bread with. This is not the say the linguine di mare was not good, as it had a very subtle natural sweetness from all the seafood. The eggplant parm also was a group favorite of the evening, with meaty slices of eggplant that melted in my mouth, sandwiched in between tons of cheese and marinara. I particularly appreciated that the eggplant wasn't breaded and that it also came with a side salad so it still felt somewhat healthy. The portions are very generous at Cavatappi, but we made sure to make stomach space for the cheesecake ($12) at our dining neighbor's recommendation-- they swore it was the best cheesecake around. I personally am not a huge cheesecake person, but I did enjoy it and found it milkier in flavor and lighter in texture compared to Junior's version. Overall, I really loved the food and service at Cavatappi and will definitely be returning in the near future. PS- There is a slight discount if you pay in cash! read more

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Absolutely our favorite restaurant of all time. Cannot be beat for quality of food, lovely service, and excellent presentation. Not only are staff super sweet and accommodating, but so are our fellow diners. read more

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We ordered for delivery, and while the amount of food is alot, that's where all the good ended, we got the linguini de mari, mussels, pasta and meatballs and beets salad. The pasta was NOT Al dente so it was overcooked, the seafood was all gummy and over cooked, and pasta as a whole was bland it did have the right amount of spiciness, the mussels wasn't cleand well I was still biting into really hard pieces. read more

I had an amazing meal at Cavatappi NYC. What you might ask was so amazing about a meatball appetizer? First of all, I am VERY fussy about my meatballs and I always take a risk when I order them. These meatballs were PERFECT! Not too fluffy, heavy, bready, dry. It was the perfect balance of flavor and texture. My compliments to the chef for a memorable meatball that made me say, "Yum". I had some leftover and ate at home and I said out loud, "That's a damn good meatball". Well enough about the meatballs. I'll be back for that app alone. Everyone except one person in my party loved their dish and we were a very big party. So I'm not taking any stars away from her dry chicken. I love the ambiance and the service was excellent. I realize we are not the ideal guests. We didn't drink a lot but we will recommend and absolutely would come back. I rarely give a five star rating, reserving only for a perfect experience for me. Kudos to the business owners and the chef. I heart Cavatappi NYC. read more

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Small restaurant with big flavor. Inside it has a modern look with low lighting chandeliers and a small bar where various hot, caffeinated beverages are being prepared. It is a relic of the old Dyker Heights, one I can appreciate and look forward to having at every turn. The food backs up the atmosphere and the service backs it all up. Sure, it is about $25 a plate, but the portions are generous. Six jumbo shrimps with a spicy sauce, unlimited bread, and cute, highly intelligent Italian waitresses? Tell me this is not special. I also took the time and took all the staffs' suggestions. The Linguini Di Mare (seafood pasta) is great go-to. The sauce is okay, but the seafood is succulent and delicious. I really like that the pasta is cooked to a perfect al dente. Next time I would like to try their Bolognese for size. They offer plenty of dishes that are worth ordering! Afterwards, walk to Tasty Pastry (if it is still open) and get a good dessert for your night cap. A cappuccino or expresso works nicely here if you want the hot stuff. Chalk up another satisfying Italian restaurant in southern Brooklyn! read more

The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente and the calamari was great. Out of the two pasta that we ordered the bolognese was my favorite, we should have listened to the server and got his other favorite. For whatever reason we decided to get the cavatappi cause it was named after the restaurant we figured it can't be bad. Personally was my least favorite dish here, the pesto was ... different. However service was attentive and our server was friendly. Loved the cozy feel of this place. read more

price - $80 including tax and tip food - 4/5 service - 4/5 ambiance - 4/5 overall, it was a nice experience. the food was pretty good! my favorites were definitely the mussels and the penne vodka. i loveeee their spicy mussels. they cooked it so well and it has so much flavor. their penne vodka is so tasty as well but their pasta is definitely cooked differently. its not fully cooked so that its a soft pasta but its rather a chewy pasta instead. the cavatappi was not my favorite. the mixture of pesto and the cheese was weird in my opinion so i dont recommend that dish unless youre a fan of pesto. the waiters were nice and attentive as well. the ambiance was really nice. it has a nice soothing space where you can bring your family members or even your partners on a little date night! read more

Cavatappi NYC - Zuppa Di Mussels, Penne Vodka, The Cavatappi - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Delicious food. Authentic Italian dishes in a quant atmosphere. Our appetizers and pastas were perfectly balanced with the drinks.

Happy we celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary here at this lovely place! Reservations are highly recommended if you're thinking about coming here on the weekends, since they do close down the place for private parties and events. We booked our time for 5PM for early dinner to be home in time for bedtime, so we were unfazed. They are more than accommodating and have a great staff. We started off with sangria and I couldn't say no to my red and hubby got his white. Their calamari is a MUST even though it's $24, it's absolutely worth it in every way! The freshness, the quality and the portion are unbelievable. Every table surrounding us had done the same; you won't regret it! For entrees, I opted for their special bucatini pasta in a pesto sauce with zucchini and hubby got the Pasta Alla Norma. These two pastas were total polar opposites and were unique and delicious in their own ways. Mine was earthly yet light and Steve's was fresh and tasted like Sunday sauce. We cleaned our plates; no questions asked. Dessert I got my beloved tartufo - stellar! Hubby knew I wasn't sharing and got the cheesecake. Simply perfect evening! read more

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First time trying this place and it's absolutely fantastic! Food was hot, fresh and flavorful! A hidden gem in Bensonhurst that serves a punch of flavor. Service was outstanding very caring staff! Will definitely return again! read more

Cavatappi NYC - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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The food was fresh, hot and delicious. My niece has food allergies and they were very attentive to her needs. The server was friendly, courteous and gave great honest recommendations. The owner checked in to make sure our experience was as it should be. The music was awesome, we were dressed casual fit in great and we had lots of fun! I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. The calamari not pictured was awesome, fresh and cooked to perfection! read more

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Charming small restaurant. Service was quick and staff was quite attentive. Food was excellent.

Elegant presentation of characteristic Italo-American dishes. Top notch cuisine. Local gem. Delicious desserts. Limited wine selection.

Found this place here on Yelp, and decided to stop in before touring the neighborhood Christmas lights. We could not have been more pleased. Our server was great and everything we ordered was delicious. From the chianti wine to the beet salad and pasta. Even our children ages 8 + 5 loved their linguini and meatballs. It definitely made our trip to Dyker Heights even better! read more

Great food, great staff, great service and the cheesecake is the best in this area of Southern Brooklyn.

When I set out to plan an intimate little gathering for two milestone birthdays I immediately thought of my favorite locale and as expected they did NOT disappoint. From the excellent and attentive service to the delicious meals to the wonderful hospitality of the owner it was by far a great celebratory gathering. Thanks again for providing amazing mouth watering dishes that EVERYONE enjoyed (and I brought some finicky people) and for making our celebration extra special. You guys rock! read more

Cavatappi NYC - Thanks again for making my Mom's big birthday celebration so special. You guys never disappoint! - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I've never eaten here many times. The ambiance, food and service is always excellent.

I don't understand the good reviews of this place. It doesn't really look like a restaurant and trust me it lives up to the image. The servers were truly terrible, no bread service is ludicrous in a neighborhood restaurant. We ordered three dishes, their attempt at bolognese literally tasted like it came out of a jar the weird gnocchi dish was odd and just flat and the filet of sole just didn't taste like sole at all. I left feeling ripped off and insulted. Find another place to take your money this place just isn't worth the bother. read more

Wonderful service, great food, a wonderful place and great location!!!! Owners were beyond sweet and caring.

Cavatappi is a gift to the people of Dyker Heights. The food, staff and atmosphere all the primary reasons for a wonderful and delightful meal at Cavatappi. We commend Chef David for the wonderful creativity of his dishes and the weekly specials we look forward to view. It's a secret to the neighborhood but it Name is spreading thru popularity. Very much suggest you make reservations when you go so you will not miss the opportunity to dine here. read more

This review is about a year overdue. Don't judge me, lol. I was introduced to this place by a friend and very quickly became addicted. I really enjoy several of their dishes but my all-time favorite is their calamari with spicy marinara sauce. If you haven't tried it, you need to get you some! In addition to the delicious food, the staff (including management) is simply amazing. They are professional, pleasant and personable. This restaurant feels like home. If you've never been there, do yourself a favor and pay them a visit. You won't regret it. You're welcome! read more

Thank you yelpers for awesome reviews. This was our 1st visit at Cavatappi & we were extremely pleased with food and the service they've provided. It's a beautiful new chic restaurant with an awesome waiter & servers. We started of with calamari which were perfectly cooked & delicious. The pasta bolognese sauce was just perfect! The sauce is outstanding. The Bronzino was so fresh. I would definitely recommend this dish. The chicken cutlets with arugula salad with tomato & mozzarella was another favorite. Good luck your off to a good start. read more

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Excellent service. Delicious food. Aunt Lori's cheesecake is a close 2nd to junior's.

Good food , good service , guys in the kitchen were a class act. Very comfortable and close to many roads

Looking for a great place to take my mom for her 82nd birthday. Previous reviews of Cavatappi NYC helped me make my decision to dine here. Perfectly located on the corner of 80th St., and 13th Ave. in Brooklyn, my old stomping ground. The ambience was comfortable, classy , quiet . Tastefully decorated , spacious seating , bright and airy with the most soothing music to dine by . I was tapping my toes under the table , and singing in between bites . Cavatappi NYC in my opinion possesses the Italian American essence of Family Style Dining . Family owned and operated. Very friendly and personable. We chose grilled Octopus and beet goat cheese salad as an appetizer, the servings were very generous. To follow , we ordered Shrimp Parmesan Hero on Italian bread that sounded ( oh the crunches ) even more delicious with every bite taken , I wished I ordered my own. Mommy had Meatball Parmesan platter , ( the bomb) just like Nonna used to make! I had eggplant Parmesan with a side salad , so delicious. Time for coffee and birthday cheesecake, with cafe americano and cappuccino! Cavatappi NYC is truly a gem of a restaurant right here in Dyker Heights . When you're in Dyker Heights or visiting Brooklyn you really need to check out this restaurant you will not be disappointed. Moderately Priced $ Five. Stars all the way around. read more

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The Food is Amazing & Service is friendly & very attentive, desserts & cappuccino was delicious as well, a must for anyone in Bensonhurst to Bay Ridge to try without the hassle of circling around for 20 minutes looking for a parking spot Only wish the place was in a bigger space but otherwise perfect! read more

I've been eyeing Cavatappi for a while after seeing the raving reviews, & decided to bring my parents here for a quick father's day dinner! We made a reservation a few hours in advance and I'm so glad we did - it was packed! Upon arrival, we were seated immediately in one of the booths. Cavatappi has cozy but modern vibes, & all the servers are incredibly friendly and welcoming. Between the 3 of us, we decided on the bambini arancini, sicilian orange and fennel salad, bistecca con funghi, salmon in vino blanco, and the penne ala vodka. Huge shoutout to Cavatappi, because everything we ordered was YUM! For my dad to say things were delicious (and believe me, he's difficult to impress), it really reaffirmed my thoughts that we found a new neighborhood gem. Each dish was flavorful & balanced, and the marinara with the arancini was *chefs kiss*. Steak was cooked to a perfect medium, & the salmon was also perfectly cooked and not dry. The salad could have used a little more dressing in my opinion, but no complaints otherwise. Service was great and attentive even though it was father's day. Overall, this was a great dining experience and we'll be back for sure!! Also - the sangria here is delicious. read more

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The cooking shows both knowledge and care. Cavatappi NYC is positioned in a prime area. The staff provided quick attention with genuine kindness. This place ensures excellence in cooking and serving. Your efficient service, personable employees and wonderful dishes deserve praise. read more

Inviting neighborhood restaurant with the feel and the taste of an upscale restaurant in the city .. The staff and owners make you feel like family. I had the bronzino and my husband had the Kansas City pork chop with hot peppers!! I highly recommend this place, you will NOT be disappointed read more

Cavatappi NYC - Bronzino - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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I rate Cavatppi "AWCPE" - for ASOLUTELY THE WORST CHICKEN PARM EVER! The only place it should be served is in a comedy club - because that's what a joke it is. The portion is so incredibly small that this is what they must have served the Dad in the movie "Honey I Shrunk The Kids!" - after they shrunk him! No exaggeration - you get one cutlet - that's about the exact length and width of an Iphone - and not an iPhone plus either! And the cutlet is no thicker than the width of 2-3 credit cards - that's including the breading! They have Chicken Milanese on the menu and that's how that cutlet is prepared - pounded thin and served with salad. Whether they ran out of nice thick cutlets or also use the credit card thin Milanese cutlet for the parm regularly is wrong however you slice it. That's why they serve it atop the pasta side, because if they served it traditionally - alone on a plate with the pasta side in its own dish - 95% of the customers would send it back! And they have the nerve to charge $23 bucks for a portion so small that even on a Kid's Menu it couldn't be listed as anything more than an appetizer! The single slice of mozzarella atop the cutlet was a perfect small rectangle as if they had half a pound sliced at Key Food's deli counter. It too was no thicker than a credit card and it not fully melted either, but I will say it was of quality. Chicken parm is my go-too dish. Its great when you're hungry because it's a very satisfying tummy stuffer. The cutlets are usually always of a nice thickness no matter where you order - well except here. At Gargulio's in Coney Island you get either two thick ones - or one large one. Roots in Bay Ridge gives somewhat thinner cutlets, but for $26 you get a whole round plate filled with the cutlets - where taking home a doggie bag is guaranteed. I dug in anyway but had to bring it all up to the sweet hearted waitress. We saw her go back to talk to the chef and you know what was done? Nothing. She never came back with a word either way. I will say this though its an attractive looking place with a pleasant wait staff. It's very clean, bright with natural light, and a good sparse style to the décor. The waiters could've been trained better - empty dirty plates stayed parked on our table no matter how many times they passed. But as a former restaurant owner I blame management for their lack of training. Honestly, as an entrée their chicken parm is pathetic - but as an appetizer I'd give it 4 of 5 stars. However, to serve this toddler sized portion as an adult size entrée can only earn them what they deserve - a ONE STAR REVIEW - which is still overly generous. They just luck out because a ZERO STAR review is not an option on Yelp. read more

Cavatappi NYC - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

We enjoyed our meal and the food tasted fine. It just another one of the good restaurants in this neighborhood.

Rice balls, calamari, eggplant parm, sangria-literally everything was absolutely perfect! Staff was lovely

Had another amazing dinner tonight a bucatini special with sausage , cauliflower, walnuts and cheese in a light sauce. Also the skirt steak which was cooked to perfection. I have to mention Jovani's last weeks creation which was incredible in taste and presentation. A spaghetti crab dish presented in the shell of the crab. Going away for 7 months wishing the entire crew a great summer!! See you in Nov. read more

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The food, service & ambiance were amazing... The restaurant itself was nicely decorated, clean, and cozy. we'll definitely be returning soon! read more

Was surprise of the near perfect rating around the neighborhood but finally had the chance to try this place. I am not impressed and not sure if its the takeout but one dish had minimal flavor & dry asf. The other bolognese was good thought. So overall it was worse than other neighboring Italian venues read more

Ate here for my mom's birthday June 21, and I have to say that the food here is really good. It's the only Italian restaurant local to Dyker Heights, so when my mom wanted to come here last year, we were delighted by their food. Since then business seemed to boom for them, as they had a full service June 21. We had gotten the calamari as our appetizer, and it was very crispy but not drudged in oil like some places make it. The marinara sauce it came with was not too acidic and not too sweet. It was so good with the calamari. Next, I personally got the branzino (although memory slips as to the name of the dish). The fish on its own was a little bland, I cannot lie, but when eaten with the sautéed onions and sauce, it was delicious. I ate all of it. Also, the portion sizes here are quite generous, thank you! Our waiter was a nice guy. Attentive and checking in on us every now and then, even with a full dining room. The restaurant itself is small, but it's very nice. You can peer a little into the kitchen through an archway which is nice. And they have some tvs if you want to chill here, drink, and eat for a while. It has a nice modern atmosphere in it. Overall, definitely will be coming back for a third time. read more

Cavatappi NYC - Calamari - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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This restaurant was so cute and the staff were amazing! Everything on the menu looked so good. For an appetizer we split the stuff peppers. Delicious!!! For dinner I had the cherry pepper chicken parm. It was spicer than I thought it would be, which I didn't mind. It was incredible. The portion sizes were huge, I could only eat a quarter of my chicken and took the rest home with me. Can't wait to have the leftovers tomorrow! The staff were amazing, super friendly!! We had my 10 month old nephew with us, the waitress offer us so many different things throughout the meal for my nephew. We said yes to the fruit. She list off what they and then came out with a nice plate of orange slices and lemon slices (he loves lemons) for him. And packed up the left over fruit for the ride home. My nephew was getting tired and fussy at the end of the meal but then One of the workers played peekaboo with him for a few minutes, my nephew loved it and was all smiles after! Thank you to the amazing staff for their kindness and wonderful service, delicious food! read more