love this place I adore the lava cake it's just mwah chefs kiss and the staff there are very kind and I love the energy i can feel there!

Great service, food and wine list! Decor is old school Italian restaurant and is right for this restaurant. Every food selection was great: antipasto platter, calamari, rack of lamb, lobster ravioli, and the desserts. The wait staff was knowledgeable and professional. Prices are not cheap but if you've done any research beforehand, you know what to expect. Definitely worth more visits. read more

A friend and I have been wanting to try Il Cena'colo for over a year. Since it's about an hour away, we'd put it off. A few weeks ago we made a reservation for a Friday night at 6:30 p.m. As yesterday approached, I began to wonder how it would stack up to Arthur Avenue experiences I've had or meals at other NYC Italian restaurants. (Little Italy, Lidia's restaurant, and some pre-issues Batali restaurants) When we arrived at 6:30, the ample parking lot was mostly empty and we got the sinking feeling that maybe Yelp (and every other review source) had finally failed us. Given that we were an hour from home and starving, we pressed on. We were greeted by the first of a very friendly and professional staff and began a quite memorable evening. The restaurant has an old-fashioned feel in the best of ways, you immediately feel that you're in the right place for a couples night out. Having read that the specials menu rivals their regular menu in size, I was prepared for a difficult experience of listening and mostly forgetting everything as they went. But that's not what happened here, instead our excellent waitress rattled off the dishes in a knowledgeable fashion which showed how much she respected the restaurant's food. She answered a litany of questions with humor and skill. She was also supported by the restaurant's team approach to service, including a knowledgeable manager that aided in the wine selection and another young man that made sure the evening went smoothly. It's hard to imagine I've typed all this without getting to the food but for anyone who is still reading, here goes. The four of us began with a burrata and mushroom appetizer that we supplemented with their delicious roasted tomatoes and the fried calamari. The burrata was amazingly creamy and the mushrooms were perfect in earthy flavor and texture. The fried calamari was the best we've had, it managed to be the crispiest while maintaining a tenderness. We moved on to a shared pasta course even though we didn't know if it would leave us over full for the main course. We asked for rigatoni with tomato and basil to keep it light and they delivered one of the best pasta dishes we've had, perfectly al dente pasta in a heavenly sauce. The main course included the duck breast, a red snapper with shrimp, mussels, and clams, osso bucco, and chicken with fontina and mushrooms. All of which was served with an ample portion of sautéed spinach. Each of us was extremely happy with our choice as they were all served at optimal temperature and were very well crafted. Somehow I've neglected to mention the wine. Impressive wine list and solid wine by the glass. We selected an organic Italian blend of Cabernet, Sangiovese, and Merlot. It was smooth and excellent. I added a glass of Montepulciano, and it was also quite good. Although stuffed, we couldn't pass up the dessert that we saw while walking in (good marketing move) and selected flourless chocolate cake, tiramisu, and their lemon cake. Huge portions landed on the table and a frenzy ensued, each bite was better than the last and I'm still unsure which was best. What I am sure of, we'll be back. read more

Il Cena'cola (translated, meaning, "Ten donkeys") was a really great experience. By the way, it doesn't really mean that. But it wouldn't matter. They still could pull it off. I had been hearing about this place for a few years and decided to go on a Wednesday night. I made a reservation which was unnecessary but advised on their site. From the moment you walk in, the authenticity of the environment speaks to you. It's almost as you're in a little restaurant down a cute alley in Italy. The cold antipasto platters are to the left along with the dining room, the bar to the right. The waitress and a fellow waiter both greeted me. It turned out the female was my person but it seems they all help each other out. They demonstrated that. I had a menu, water, and drink promptly. The waitress returned and asked me what I was feeling. With some more questioning, she explained they have many specials but could make whatever I felt like. She then told me about another gentleman who just ordered veal Milanese (Not on menu). I simply said "make it two ". It just happened to sound good. I started w Pasta e Fagioli. The soup was perfect. It was hot and had great flavor accented with just a touch of pancetta. It was slightly under seasoned even w cheese, but I realize seasoning to some extent is personal. The veal Milanese was a work of art. The tomatoes were the reddist (Not a word) garden tomatoes I may have ever had. They were tossed with arugula, salt and pepper, not even sure there was olive oil as it didn't need it. The portion was substantial and I enjoyed every last bite. For dessert I enjoyed a slice of cheesecake. It was not American Cheesecake but it wasn't what I'd call Italian cheesecake either. Either way, it was very good. I'm sure they used some ricotta in it. The side of pasta was oddly underwhelming. The waitress proposed with red sauce and basil. I expected a simple marinara. This almost tasted like It was finished with some cream. It was a bit under seasoned and over sauced so I passed. I assure you I didn't leave hungry. Coffee was hot and delicious. I'd definitely try this place. They do a great job and their pride shows. read more

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The service was impeccable and the food divine. We lunched there . Had grilled calamari and grilled octopus. Seafood pasta, and their signature pasta with truffles. Unfortunately we couldn't make it to the second course. Our waiter, Forgive my spelling, Eyola, was awesome. I am going back with a plan to share appetizers, and pasta pritti, so I can order the second course. Dessert was light and so delectable, tiramisu and ricotta cheesecake. Great coffee . It's expensive for the area, but oh , so worth it. Tiramisu read more

Service is amazing Food is authentic Ambiance is comfortable You can be fancy or casual depending on your occasion read more

The service was top notch. Our waitress had a thorough knowledge of the menu and the kitchen aimed to please any palette. The food was authentic, northern Italian cooking and delicious. We would absolutely come back for a casual dinner or for a special occasion. Great find in our area. Definitely give it a try. read more

Great find! Lovely setting, delicious food, great service. I'm not impressed by a lot of restaurants but this one definitely is worth the stop. May need a reservation if you come during dinner rush. read more

Food was exceptional along with the service. Did feel a little cramped. Otherwise very authentic decor. The only reason i don't give it 5 stars is because i am a little thrifty and for me it was pricey. If money isn't an issue then definitely 5 stars. read more

We ate here at 6;30 on Saturday night August 5, 2023. Met my cousin who picked the place having lived here 40 years. What a classy, quiet, upscale Italian restaurant with superb food. We started with their homemade antipasto Mista for three which served four with their generous portion. Wine was served. We talked, ate and drank with detailed oral choices of specials from our server. Be forewarned many of the former specials are now on the menu. I have not seen such a copiously detailed menu in years in an Italian restaurant. We chose osso buco after we were sad to learn that the bone on stuffed veal chop was gone. They only make so many and we had to go to plan B. Three osso bucos and one scallops which were 5 pieces and not as huge as some other dishes. We had a lovely quiet romantic dinner . Il cena' cola was full at 6:30 At 8:00 it emptied out. We had dessert and cappuccinos. The caramel chocolate cake was huge and a must order. We had chocolate lava cake. I want to say we stayed 3 hours. Plenty of time between courses. No one rushed us. Service was attentive and excellent with ample staff. I can't wait to return. read more

The restaurant served my wife raw chicken and the waiter claimed it to be cooked that is was prosciutto even though the prosciutto was in a pile in the middle of the chicken. The waiter didn't even mention it to a manager but he did replace it with something different. The waiter just wanted to argue would not let it go. read more

Came here while in town for work with my colleague who loves this place. Walked in to a very old school Italian vibe restaurant. Dimly lit with brick and wood everywhere. Louis our waiter couldn't be nicer and was super efficient. We checked out the menu and then Louis rattled off the specials menu that was probably longer than the actual menu. The portion sizes were big, so we got the Goat Cheese Tomato Appetizer to start and then shared the Osso Buco. Bread was brought along with these pickled zucchini that were amazing. The goat cheese app was also very good, lots of fresh herbs and very fresh tasting. The Osso Buco portion was absurd, even shared we got a full shank each and then pasta and veggies underneath. It was super tender and very flavorful. The pasta underneath was just ok but I didn't really want to eat the pasta anyway. Too bad I was too full to try the table of desserts they had out, everything looked amazing. read more

Il Cena'colo - Osso Buco 1/2 portion - Italian Near Me - Newburgh, New York

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Amazing food! Nice ambience and the wait staff are incredible. It's expensive but it's worth it! Dress nice too. No jeans. In fact, one night I saw people wearing jeans once and they looked so out of place. I've had the prawns, chicken and lava cake. Everything here is delicious and the specials always sound mouth watering read more

Cozy northern Icarian restaurant. Good food, good service . Too much lemon in the sauce on my chicken . Make a reservation, it fills up fast , even on weekdays . read more

The service, the food and the ambience are top notch. If you want a wonderful dining experience you can't go wrong.

One of the best restaurants in the Hudson Valley. Authentic Italian food (not Italian-American) with incredible flavors and impeccable service. The inside is rustic and cozy and transports you to an Italian trattoria. Loved the generous antipasto with meats and cheeses, the ossobuco, and the rigatoni alla buttera. They have lots of daily specials, which makes each visit exciting and different. Friendliest service, no rush to eat or leave. Can't wait to go back. read more

I have been all over Italy and Sicily and I can tell you that this restaurant is absolutely wonderful. A lovely wine selection and a traditional high class Italian meal. The few bad reviews I see I can only attribute to those who were expecting "Olive Garden" Italian and were shocked to spend over $10. This is not just a meal but an experience. The wait staff is incredible, kind, and intelligent. This is my favorite romantic dinner or special occasion spot. P.s. It's especially nice on restaurant week! read more

Great food great service Little noisy always jammed Make reservation early been a customer for many years read more

A friend recommended this place so on Friday we decided to visit here - OMG we were not disappointed!! We finished working on a project late and didn't have any reservation but they were still able to get us in even though they were super busy. Not sure if it was the manager or owner but they were really polite and helpful when we called. Our waiter was awesome!! He was super knowledgeable about all of the dishes, knew all of the specials and food by heart. I appreciated him going over some of the specials with us again as there were a lot to choose from and we had some questions. We ordered the clams for the appetizer and they were absolutely delicious!! Great amount for the money. We ordered the ink pasta with Dungeness crab in red sauce then the scallops and duck in cranberry sauce. The food was all amazing!! My husband and I were using bread to sop up all the sauce from the scallops and clams. To finish we had the flourless chocolate cake which was the perfect end to dinner. My only complaint is that for $40 my husband only got five medium sized scallops. Usually there are six large sized scallops when we order a dish like that. read more

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My husband and I were spending a long weekend in New Burgh. This restaurant and the Lake View House appeared to be the two best restaurants in the area, though totally different cuisines and atmospheres. Il Cenacolo feels like such a classic Italian restaurant. Looks like many celebrities have been there too. Waiters / waitresses know the super long daily specials by heart. They were also very nice and made us feel comfortable. Most importantly, the food! We got the Spanish octopus for appetizer. Then the pot roast and pasta were also very delicious with the perfect flavors. Highly recommend! read more

I've always enjoyed the food at this restaurant and the ambiance is lovely. Excellent service and a properly stocked bar and the most delicious pecan pie in the Hudson Valley. If you haven't been here yet then you are denying yourself a real pleasure. I highly recommend this kind of culinary adventure. read more

WOW!, Outstanding food and service. My wife and I enjoyed our 34 wedding anniversary dinner here. She ordered the halibut in butter sauce, ...to dye for! I ordered the grilled octopus, ...it was huge, three tentacles, each the size of my leg. I think they caught the octopus you see in old paintings of sailing ships being pulled under the surface by a monster squid. I love seafood and have tried just about every grilled octopus in Orange & Rockland counties (NY) as well as in the Bronx, Staten Island, and Brooklyn. I stay out of Queens, never did like the place since I was a kid in the 60s. They always seemed to have a chip on their shoulder that they weren't Brooklyn...anyway, I digress. As an appetizer, I ordered the antipasto for one. Now I'm a big guy weighing in at 230 and have taken down many a cow with a knife and fork, but finishing my serving for 'one' was a battle royal. I lost count of the different things on the plate after identifying 5 different Italian goodies. My wife had a salad... I forget which one, but it was impressive. For dessert, my wife had the chocolate/coconut/walnut torte. I went for the chocolate/Kahlúa cake, ...I say 'went for', however by that time I was barely hanging onto consciousness from gluttony. Both choices were spot on in taste, portion, and quality. Now for the 'financially encumbered' I must point out that it is very pricey but absolutely worth every cent for people who don't mind spending extra for excellence. The coffee was EXCELLENT (imported Italian.) I don't know what brand of wine they serve as the house Chianti, but it was excellent and they gave a large full glass. The waiter was extremely humorous, polite, gracious, and knowledgeable about everything we queried him about on the menu. He even knew the social security number of my octopus... that's smart! Friendly, cozy, and very attentive are three words that come to mind when describing the staff and ambiance. The owner passed by three times asking how everything was during our dinner. Every table was taken so it wasn't as if there were service people standing around doing nothing. I'll be returning twice a week to hit everything on this menu...that is if the new administration or Cuomo doesn't shut down the economy for another 4 months. In that event, we'll be returning in the summer. read more

Il Cena'colo - Italian Near Me - Newburgh, New York

We went here with my dad and stepmom. I'm from the Hudson valley but have never been here. Cricket was our waitress and she was just absolutely phenomenal. I highly recommend requesting her when you go! The food great. We had the smoked trout appetizer which was enough for two people. They have so many delicious options. Their pasta courses can be done as half portions and they can even cut the half portions in 2 for sharing as an appetizer size. I had the seafood pasta special over risotto (half portion) - wonderful and just the perfect amount. My dad had lamb shanks that looked huge! And my boyfriend had veal. Equally as huge. All had rave reviews. For dessert they were out of the apple streusel we had heard about. But the flourless chocolate soufflé did not disappoint. Unfortunately they are very short staffed so we were there a while. Hopefully they staff up. It's definitely worth a trip though. read more

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OMG! LITERALLY THE BEST FOOD I'VE EVER EATEN! I got the spaghetti with meat sauce, goat cheese appetizer, and chocolate cake and gelato. Everything was amazing. Just amazing. The staff was spectacular. I wish I didn't live 500 miles away. I need to eat here again. Go here for the best meal you will have ever eaten! read more

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Love this food and atmosphere, so pleasant and the waiters and waitresses are so sweet and patient. The owners is so great he comes around and checks on all the tables to ensure all customers are comfortable and enjoying the food. I definitely recommend this establishment to all people. read more

Excellent Italian food. Nice and different dishes. Prices a little high but worthwhile.

Totally unexpected even after reading the good reviews. I was not awed by the menu or long list of specials, but many just appealed to me. Great experience, negroni cocktails, appetizers, bottle of wine, entrees and dessert. Props to our waiter, Louie, who had comprehensive knowledge of the wine list, food and all facets of working the floor. Our order included burrata, vongole, prawns, soft shell crabs and ricotta cheesecake. The prawns were amazing, fresh and the size of my forearm.A Super Tuscan cab/merlot complimented the meal. The balsamic zucchini was addicting. We are close by, so we'll be going back very soon. My only regret is it took me 12 years to get here from Beacon. I wish Beacon had a place like this. read more

Fantastic food. Great service. Drinks were very good. We had the Filet mignon, pasta, and salmon. Every dish was delicious. Will come back for sure read more

This was by far the most amazing restaurant in the Cancun the food was delicious and so were the drinks and OMG THE SERVICE ...amazing this place was top notch read more

Been anticipating my first meal at Il Cena'colo for a while, as I have heard such great things. When we arrived, we were asked for our name on the reservation. We gave our last name. They could not find our name on the list. They asked for a first name, I provided it, and was located, with just the first name. The owner proceeded to scold me as to the importance of "making sure you give your full name when you call". When I advised him that I most certainly DID provide my entire name, and that perhaps his staff neglected to grasp that fact, I was laughed at. After STEWING for 15 minutes over the incident, and the wife asking if I wanted to go somewhere else, I elected to stay and give it a try. The staff is extremely attentive and knowledgeable. There is a wide variety of selections on the menu. I had the smoked trout appetizer, and the pappardelle amatriciana, which I have had before several times at various restaurants, and each of these blew me away.... both in quality and quantity. The chocolate flower less cake was outstanding. The only complaint food wise is the fact that the same martini I get all over town for 10$ costs 14$ here, same size quality and brand. I would have given 5 stars had it not been for the scolding I received upon entry, and I was going to give 3 stars being I was so pissed off. I expressed my displeasure while leaving to the owner (the scolder) and he apologized. I'll meet half way and give four stars. Bottom line, don't rub new customers the wrong way before they even sit down. All this being said, great food/service (pricey), but worth it. read more

I liked it. I have always wanted to go here, and I decided that I wanted to go for my birthday. Luckily, my birthday fell during restaurant week so I decided why not? For my appetizer I got the smoked trout salad. It was awesome. The flavors were great and the trout rocked. My main meal was the veal shoulder that had an amazing sauce that had orange juice in it. It was amazing. The veal just fell apart. Finally, my dessert was the flourless chocolate cake which rocked. The whipped cream was killer. The only downfall was service, which was entirely lacking. I am going to blame it on the fact there was not an empty seat in the place because it was restaurant week. Otherwise, the food ROCKED. read more

Excellent food with TONS of ambience! So DELIGHTED to find Il Cena'Colo, unexpected in so many ways...: from the outside, it's understated. Descending the stairs, the first of it's charms unfold: the dessert corner, each one more luscious than the next, plated beautifully & all incredibly fresh! Their aromas do the welcoming! You'll feel like you belong there as you're brought to your table, and there served a leisurely first-class dinner you can truly savor as the dining room disarms you with it's semi-subterranean intimacy, it's gentle quietness. Dining at Il Cena'colo is like taking yourself on a retreat...if you appreciate a well-plated gourmet meal, Il Cena'colo will minister to your psyche while it feeds your soul. Plan a long evening, leaving room for dessert so you have no regrets. read more

My wife and I went to this locale for my birthday. Reservations were made for two. When we got there, the hostess had two tables waiting for us in an otherwise packed restaurant. We had options for seating, as we did for the food. The menu looked great but the specials were unbelievable. We have been to a lot of great restaurants but the food was fantastic - fresh, full of flavor and served perfectly. My wife said it was the best restaurant she's ever been too. That's a bold statement but it was tough to argue. read more

Fantastic! Amazing! Ok , it's all about the food. The owner picks the local fruits and vegetables himself to bring to his four local restaurants. At this "starship " restaurant of his ,He cuts the sopressata and prosciutto cheese by hand in the dining room . The entire staff works together as a team. It's not rita's table , it's everyone's table. You don't wait for anything. Your not rushed. It is fine dining with style. Romantic, fresh , hot , delicious, Italian pastas , lamb, duck , chicken seafood. FORGETTE about it , make the reservation. Sali and the staff will take care of the rest . read more

Honestly, this pains me giving one star given my previous great experiences. I hardly give bad reviews. My wife and I had dinner Monday evening. My waiter was absolutely amazing and extremely professional and knowledgeable. HOWEVER, what ABSOLUTELY ruined it was this teenage server-helper kid was ruining our evening. Our server was introducing a series of different vintages and wine, when the server-helper kid barged in and was completely unprofessional. Then, he tried to grab a completely full glass of white wine away from my table. I had to stop him from wasting a completely full glass of white wine. He was completely unprofessional, tried to squeeze into conversations where he had NO KNOWLEGE of, and just was a total pest. Im not sure why he was trained to work at such a classy restaurant to begin with, but he does NOT DESERVE to work there. He completely downgrades the ambience of a quality restaurant. Or the Owners should train him better. Tasteless/classless, the restaurant should get rid of him. read more

Rather ordinary, albeit better than the big chains, food at overblown prices. Seems to cater to people with pretensions who are not very discerning. At the end of the meal the staff made a point of saying what a pleasant table we were to serve, which was nice, but it would have been nicer if they refilled our water glasses when requested (even nicer if the glasses were refilled without a verbal request). We ordered and shared the lemon chicken and a filet in a black pepper, brandy cream sauce. Neither were fully flavored. I wanted more lemon on the chicken, and only the cream came through on the beef. To be frank, I enjoyed the filet at the Ward's Bridge Inn in Montgomery much, much more (price was equivalent). I am in no hurry to return. read more

We have been here once before it was good made a reservation got there and they told us they couldn't find the reservation even though we had a text telling us we were all set. girl was quite snotty and wanted to sit us outside in 62 degrees. Ridiculous never coming back here. read more

This place is the real deal! The food is so good you could tell it's made really fresh! Not to mention the staff treat you like family and the inside makes you feel like you're in Italy! read more

Some of the best Italian food I've had outside of Italy. Welcoming, knowledgeable service and a blinding and tasty list of desserts. This place actually offer a genuine Italian decor with delicious food. Our family lives upstate and we meet here for dinner, it's halfway. Pastas are cooked perfectly, al dente. The sauces are delicious and varied. I had Italian pot roast and it was excellent. Ignore the menu the specials are many and varied. Have a good time. read more

Its our first time here and we will definitely return! Love the ambiance and the food is AMAZING!!! Thank you Sally. read more

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