Even better the next time I went. Better then the other "new" restaurants in the nabe!

Great local family southern Italian spot. Great service super personable, promp and attentive . Rafaelle is the owner and you'll see him on the floor speaking with customers. Pasta made from scratch amazing. Rigatoni with cheese and red sauce. Scallops tender and well cooked on bed of risotto. Cannoli amazing and light. Branzino well seasoned and filleted. Burrito and arugula salad both were great. Quiet place w spacious tables you can hear yourself think . Highly recommend: read more

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Very good, basic food like your grandmother cooked. Warm, friendly service and a quiet spot in a busy area. We would definitely return.

A truly authentic Italian eatery actually run by a family. Smells were enticing and the service excellent. The food was amazing as well! read more

Da Raffaele - Cheesecake - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Da Raffaele is one of the nicest restaurants in NYC if you want creative and also authentic Italian food. We were walk-ins on Saturday night, and they immediately helped us wth a table for two. While I ordered a special (the burrata), the quail (best in the city, hands down) and the homemmade fettucine duck ragout, they are willing to make any pasta and sauce you ask them to make. My friend ordered penne alla vodka, and it was possibly the best I've ever had. Service was excellent and the ambiance is lovely because it's quiet but also warm and jovial. Great desserts too, the affogato is also my favorite in the city, and I've lived and dined Italian in NYC for over 30 years. Great date spot, great friends spot, just all around fantastic -- and within one block of the UN, so it's a cool place to walk around after dinner. read more

Great restaurant he will make you want if it's not on the menus good prices great location

The food and the service were wonderful. There were 4 of us and each of us enjoyed our dinner.

Great neighborhood spot. Owner is there and really takes care of you. Reasonable prices and excellent food! I will return!

What an amazing experience!!! I chose DaRaffaele for my birthday dinner while in the city after researching for days for an owner chef establishment and small business where I would get personal service and amazing Italian food in Manhattan and I found it!! The Holy Grail that checked all the buttons. Raffaele came out to or table and gave us his specials list along with the most delicious house made bread. So good I did not even want to swipe it through the olive oil. He also made my husband a delicious Manhattan and a lovely pour of the classic Chianti for me. I started with Chef's Minestrone Soup and devoured the generous bowl while my husband had a special of grilled octopus over arugula with lemon. Soo good! For mains I thoroughly enjoyed the gnocchi (pillows of ) in s ragu sauce and my husband had another special, lemon pappardelle in duck bolognese. amazing. For dessert we split the Torta di Ricotta, a homemade Italian cheesecake with pear snd delicate orange sauce along with a cappuccino for me and double espresso for my husband. We we also each given a yummy limoncello gratis!! This was such a great experience and so worth traveling away from midtown. Prices here are reasonable and you will meet the owner Chef Raffaele. You won't get that personal experience at a celebrity restaurant. I will definitely return!! read more

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We went last night and the food was AMAZING!!! Best service we've gotten our whole trip!! So pretty inside and you can order anything there and you'll love it!!! Servings was perfect!! Me and my sister shared the appetizer and main meal and still so much food! The owner was so sweet and so was our waiter they were so attentive!!!Highly recommend!! read more

Da Raffaele - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Best authentic Italian food Chef Rafael very attentive and great host his wait staff very knowledgeable and excellent service skills. read more

If you're looking for a family restaurant with genuine homemade Italian food, this is it. We loved every bit of it from the service, to the food and nice discussion with the owner. We will definitely come back! read more

Fantastic meal here. The owner / chef is a real character, welcoming, and passionate about his food. Like the other reviews say he walks around the cosy dining room checking on tables and saying hi. It has a comfortable European vibe. The menu is seen online was the lunch menu, prices were a little higher for dinner. read more

If you want a genuine Italian experience, then Da Raffaele is where you want to be. Raffaele himself cooks and tends to tables with an awesome waiter who speaks the essentials "pepper? Cheese? More wine?" I could not be happier knowing, seeing, and speaking with the man that is making DELICIOUS meals with excellent precision, we had a handmade noodle, the specialty Branzino, and specialty calamari, all which blew expectations out of the water. Topped off the night with Raffaele's home made Arancello.... I would come back just for the arancello, it was life changing, thank you!! read more

In town to dine with long time friends on June 4, 2025. Very disappointed in our meal and in our experience after reading such positive reviews. I asked if the gnocchi could be made with pink vodka sauce. I am not sure what they put on my gnocchi but it wasn't that! My friend ordered the pollo con carciofi and the chicken was so tough, she only had 2 bites. The grigliata (grilled mixed seafood) was extremely salty and rather inedible. My husband had the wild salmon which was overcooked. The waiter NEVER came by to see how our food was, nor was he visible during the duration of our meal to see if we could order something else. Surprised, and not in a good way, to also see a gentleman dining with his dog ON HIS LAP. We were inside. All in all, we were expecting better service, better food, and a better experience. read more

This was some of the best food I've ever had, the service was incredible (everyone was so so nice!) and the atmosphere was beautiful--one of the best dining experiences ever! read more

Service was amazing, chef always comes out to talk to his customers and is so welcoming. Amazing food mwah bravo!

Ate here alone between 8 and 9 pm on quiet summer evening. Food okay, nothing special. Felt definitely rushed,which was suprising, because restaurant not at all busy. Probably consistent wtith general operation laking in friendliness. Quite suprised this place rated so highly by Yelp. read more

This was a local restaurant that I more than likely will not visit again. My initial impression was not great due to the fact that there was no host at the entrance and when the host came to greet me, he was wearing shorts with crocs. I can understand being a small restaurant however, for the price point everything about this place was too relaxed. After being seated, it took some time for our order to be taken. At this point, it was very obvious that the service was not going to be great and that there was only one server who is taking orders, delivering orders, and cleaning tables. The one server did have proper clothes while the manager who seemed to be an owner and cook helped where he could. Unfortunately the food was consistent with my first impression , not great. I could've gotten a better at the hotel I was staying at. A lesson learned to not venture out when you have so many other opportunities and recommendations. read more

I so wanted this to be a good restaurant. Had to send back the stuffed scallops, they were old and overcooked. Tasted horrible. Tomato salad was tasteless. Halibut special was cooked properly with boring sauce. My wife cautioned me when we saw how empty it was at 8:00 on a Friday night. Wasted $120 on the worst meal I ever had in NY. FYI, I have never written a bad review! I felt compelled to this time. read more

This place is tiny but the food is amazing. We walked in at almost 8 pm and were able to be seated quickly- grilled octopus to open over a purée of roasted zucchini and eggplant was so delicate and flavorful it could have been our meal. We followed it up with stuffed meatballs over linguine for me and my husband had sausage risotto- both were wonderfully flavored and filling. While we generally aren't dessert people- the ricotta cheesecake is not to be missed. A wonderful night in NYC and we will happily return our next time in! read more

My first time in NYC and my wife son.and I had dinner at Da Raffaele. It was a beautiful experience. From the delicious food and wonderful service. The service and conversation with the owner made the night something to remember. Everything from the octopus compachi to the wonderful desserts including the homemade orangechello was so good. Highlight of our trip. read more

Da Raffaele - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Very pleased, overall! We celebrated my hubby's birthday here, and I called weeks in advance to plan for a table of 10. The food was delicious, abundant, and the service was so warm and accommodating. We felt very well taken care of, and it was so nice not being forced to order from a prix fixe menu. read more

It's a nice hidden gem in the neighborhood! The place is very warm and inviting, and it has a very romantic playlist. The waiter is very friendly and offered amazing recommendations. We end up getting monkfish, chicken breast with roasted peppers, and the escarola. The portion is generous and the flavor is right on spot. I will be back to try the Bronzino and the Nutella crepe for sure! read more

We were staying at a hotel just a few blocks up the street and I found Da Raffaele on Yelp. Everything I read in the reviews rang true. What a sweet little restaurant! Go here and you won't be disappointed. You really will be treated like family from the second you walk in. We shared a burrata appetizer and they plated it for each of us without even being asked. The bread basket was warm, fresh focaccia. We had gnocchi and the short rib cavatelli special. Both were amazing! Then cheesecake with a citrus sauce, beautifully presented. The owner chats with every table. It's clear this place is his pride and joy, and he wants his guests to enjoy his creations and their time in his restaurant. We will definitely be back! read more

Da Raffaele - Italian cheesecake - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

The food and service were great. We had the Polipo, grilled octopus with eggplant puree, dry ricotta, red onion and tomato. For entrees, we had the linguine with baby octopus, zucchini puree, mussels & cherry tomatoes which was fresh with a good flavor. The second dish was swordfish with fresh vegetables. In general, the service was great and food was good. Would come back for sure. read more

Great food. Great people. Wonderful time. Got pasta, chicken parm and desert. All were very good.

Just strolled back to our hotel, pleasantly full and delighted with our experience at Da Raffaele. Kicked things off with a smooth Chianti and Caesar salads. Gnocchi bolognese and sausage & mushroom risotto for mains. Finished with panna cotta and chocolate lava cake. While we stayed within a bit of a culinary comfort zone, the quality and attention to balanced flavors really surpassed expectations. Cozy, unpretentious atmosphere, attentive and charming server. Will absolutely return. Bravo! read more

Lovely little restaurant. Service was great. I ordered a glass of wine that was not good and they brought me another glass of something else that was so much better. Green lasagna was spectacular as was the tiramisu. They had homemade pasta. It's a little gem on the east side. read more

Food is superb. Tuscan wine is excellent. Aracını iş very good as well as pasta We enjoyed everything Quaint and charming. Owner/chef very accommodating. read more

It's been a rough few weeks for me and this weekend was no better. I had a medical procedure yesterday and was very hungry after it. Wanting to have company and not spend another day all by myself, I asked a girl friend to grab dinner with me. She suggested this place so we went. I got the spaghetti and meatballs with not much expectations but wow! For someone who has completely lost their appetite, this was delicious! The pasta is homemade and cooked perfectly. Al dente! The meatballs are very special! It's stuff with raisins (I know, don't knock it before you've tried it), pine nuts, and smoked mozzarella! When you cut into the meatball, it's like an oozy piñata of goodness! Super delicate and soft! It's probably the best spaghetti and meatballs I've had! We got the artichoke special to share before our meal and it was simple and clean. Two artichokes with sun dried tomatoes served with some type of cheese thinly sliced dressed with evoo and balsamic vinegar. This is why I love Italian food. It's simple but delicious! No drama, no make up! When we were done with our meal, my friend and I were planning on getting dessert and drinks somewhere else, but the owner brought us limoncello and biscotti cookies like we were his nieces visiting. The staff and owner are so sweet and you feel like you're visiting an Italian uncle for dinner. I am so upset I didn't know about this place when I used to live right around the corner! I plan on coming here for any occasion. Dates, casual dinners, or whenever I am craving Italian food. Oh! Forgot to mention their New Zealand Sauvignon blanc is delicious! Two three four thumbs up! (Borrowed my friend's hands) read more

Loved everything about this local gem! The chef walks around the restaurant welcoming patrons and telling them about the daily specials. The waitstaff are friendly and service is great. The food was delicious. We decided to share the pasta of the day as an appetizer, each of us ordered a different entree which were all delicious and then for dessert I had a he homemade coconut ice which was devine! read more

Excellent dinner. Monkfish with fresh artichokes was outstanding. It had a chicken like texture. Grilled octopus with eggplant purée another winner.Pachierri stuffed with cheese and meat rolled and fried - moist and tasty - not a hint of grease flavor. There is something for everyone here - pasta, fish, game, salads. This remains one of my neighborhood favorites. You can actually have a conversation. read more

I was really excited to go to this restaurant given its high Yelp review. However, I was quite disappointed with the food quality. The stuff calamari was bland and chewy. The pasta was undercooked and salty. The meatballs that our boys got were cold. We really wanted to send the pasta back but didn't want to be one of those difficult customers. On a positive note, the staff was extremely friendly and attentive and the ambiance was nice. read more

If you're in Midtown East and craving Italian food, this is THE place. Food - "wonderful, delicious, authentic Italian" Perfectly captures the food experience. Service - Attentive & friendly. The owner is Classico Italiano - he will make the rounds to your table as a friendly host in between inspecting and running the food orders out of the kitchen. If you speak Italian, you can have a great convo with him. Ambiance - its quaint, and doesn't have enough tables to make it overcrowded & loud. This is old school Italian so I don't fault them too much for it, but the decor is a bit bland & old. Regardless, still a perfect place for a romantic date , or even a casual one. read more

This was my second visit to Da Rafaelle's and in addition to a delightful pasta dish with perfectly cooked pasta (Al dente) I was treated to a wonderful slice of chocolate almond flourless torte. It was the best slice of flourless cake I've had since my sweet 16 party 60 years ago! The ambiance is perfect: small, not too noisy even when full, and attentive staff. We shall return! read more

Fanc-ay! Glad I was dressed well enough. Very cute place with interesting decor. The service is excellent. They let me sit when my entire party wasn't there and I was impressed (not many fancy dining places do that). Went with their special for appetizer- the smoked salmon, artichokes, and prosciutto. It's pricey but you won't regret. They had these most wonderful fried seaweed.OMG this complimentary dish was the star of our dinner :) I got the pappardelle with meat. Pasta was excellent. Sauce was just right. It was comfort food. Pistachio ice cream is nice. I liked the touch of putting actual pistachios. The tiramisu wasn't out of the world as I was expecting after reading other Yelp reviews. But maybe wasn't their best batch. I'll live :) Our Chardonnay went well with all our food. I wish I could go here more often but it's a little pricey for that. read more

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Great old school Italian restaurant in midtown east! Quiet ambiance and great service as well!

If you want authentic Italian food this is definitely the place to be. The food was amazing, the service was great. read more

Da Raffaele - Dessert - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Outstanding food, service and atmosphere. We visited Da Raffaele a few times, most recently while in town for a family girls weekend. The atmosphere is that of a smaller family restaurant with tables placed so that they are not on top of each other, reminiscent of how things were once done in NYC (opposed to many newer restaurants where tables are on top of each other) Raffaelle personally greets patrons and visits with tables throughout their stay, as appropriate...he doesn't hover. The staff are personable, efficient and professional. The wine list is wonderful, the food outstanding. We had a wonderful evening and will return when back in town. If you havent tried Da Raffelle you really should. read more