La Nonna Bella was a great find during the stay in Garden City. The Pasta Fagiole was as good as my…read moreNonna Maria's (maybe better). A great wine selection also helped start the meal, with an entree off the specials of the day presented by my waiter. The paccheri pasta with sautéed sausage was amazing. For desert I teetered on tiarmisu or rum cake and went with the former. It was different with a Bailey's cream but a delicious change. The place has a classy local feel and I was impressed the chef came out to see if I enjoyed the meal. I will definitely go to La Nonna Bella again!

Absolutely delicious. Well, run Italian restaurant…read more You know it's good when you leave at 9 o'clock they were still people waiting for a seat Definitely reminds me of New York City restaurant where people are coming in late at night which I loved. The waiters and the staff were dead on perfect servers with extremely well prepared food. The only problem and I'm searching for a problem is the acoustics. This restaurant has mirrors on the wall, which reverberates The sound and makes it very difficult to hear the people at your table put some painting on the wall to lower the sound. Next time I visit and I will come back. I'll bring my hearing aid cause it's very noisy, but that could've been my mouth chewing the delicious food

Filomena's has always been a friendly family restaurant to me and my family for years. Always…read morewelcoming people in to enjoy a delicious wonderful meal from the freshest amazing mouthwatering dishes they prepare. I was there recently for a luncheon after my father's burial and they took care of my entire family and friends with great appetizers, wine and main courses. We did the same in 2024 for my mother's funeral and it was just as pleasant and delicious. I grew up in Franklin Square and we have been going to Filomena's for years and our parents and their friends. They never disappoint.

Service 5/5 We had their special calamari in the tomato…read moresauce 3/5. I felt like it was nothing special. The compliment focaccia bread 5/5 Clam pasta 4/5: huge portion of clams on my paste. Flavor is mild . Needed salt. Meatball pasta 4/5 Tirasumi : 4/5

Novita in Garden City, NY, is a five star Italian stunner that teleports you straight to a sun…read moredrenched Amalfi terrace where the wine sparkles like the Mediterranean, the pasta twirls like a love song, and every second feels like a celebration handcrafted by the warmest famiglia on Long Island. Tucked into a chic Garden City corner with floor to ceiling windows that flood the room with golden hour glow, this gem radiates modern romance, white marble tables gleaming under crystal chandeliers, olive branches bursting from sleek vases, and a living green wall that climbs the back bar like an edible vineyard. The ambience is pure upscale elegance with a heartbeat, soft jazz piano drifting over the clink of Negroni glasses, exposed wine cellars glowing with Super Tuscans, and velvet banquettes the color of eggplant parm that hug you like Nonna at Sunday supper. Candles flicker in mercury glass, the open kitchen fires pizzas in a blazing copper dome that sends waves of basil and San Marzano perfume, and the marble topped raw bar glistens with crudo towers that look too pretty to eat, until you do. It is lively yet intimate, perfect for power lunches or proposal dinners, the kind of place where solo diners feel like VIPs and groups feel like they own the room. The cuisine is a symphony of seasonal Italian genius that had my fork dancing the tarantella from the first bite to the final limoncello drop. We launched with the burrata special, a creamy orb split tableside over heirloom tomatoes so juicy they burst like summer fireworks, draped in 25 year balsamic and peppery arugula that sang harmony. The octopus carpaccio arrived shaved paper thin, citrus kissed and tender as a first kiss, dotted with Calabrian chile oil that added just enough heat to wake the palate. For pasta, the cacio e pepe was wheeled out on a cheese cart, tossed in a hollowed Pecorino wheel until the strands glistened like silk, pepper popping like tiny firecrackers. My branzino was filleted tableside, skin crisped to bronze perfection, lounging over lemony caponata and roasted fingering potatoes that soaked up every drop of Ligurian olive oil. The veal Milanese towered like a golden cathedral, pounded thin and fried to shattering crunch, perched atop a rocket salad that cut the richness like a sports car on a coastal road. Pizza from the dome? The tartufata arrived blistered and leopard spotted, blanketed in fontina, wild mushrooms, and shaved black truffle that perfumed the air like a Tuscan forest after rain. Desserts sealed the romance, the tiramisu deconstructed in a martini glass with espresso soaked ladyfingers, mascarpone clouds, and cocoa dust that melted into pure joy, while the bomboloni trio arrived hot and sugared, oozing Nutella, pistachio, and passionfruit like edible lava lamps. Portions are generous yet refined, prices feel like a Roman holiday steal ($28 to $52 entrees), and the wine list is a 300 bottle love letter to Italy with a Barolo vertical that paired like destiny. Service was the Michelin worthy encore, a masterclass in hospitality that turned strangers into insiders before the bread basket hit the table. Our server Luca greeted us with a megawatt smile and a complimentary prosecco toast "because beautiful nights deserve beautiful beginnings," then guided us through the menu like a Roman tour guide, suggesting the perfect Vermentino to slice through the octopus acidity. He timed courses with Ferrari precision, bread refilled warm and rosemary flecked before we noticed it empty, and when I mentioned a dairy sensitivity he orchestrated cashew based tiramisu without missing a beat. The sommelier swooped in with a Super Tuscan flight decanted tableside with theatrical flair, while the chef patron emerged to present the truffle pizza shaved live like black diamond snow. Water glasses stayed topped like the Trevi Fountain, plates cleared ninja style, and the manager glided by in a tailored suit to gift us housemade limoncello shots "for the stroll home, or the Uber, we celebrate both." Every staff member radiated genuine warmth, remembering our names, celebrating an engagement with a sparkler topped affogato, and turning dinner into a memory we will replay like a favorite Fellini film. Novita is a five star sanctuary where Italian soul, sensational flavors, and service that spoils you silly collide in a burst of pure delight. Whether you are toasting a milestone, wooing a foodie, or simply treating yourself to la dolce vita, book a table by the window, bring your stretchy pants, and prepare to fall head over heels. I left with a belly fuller than a Roman emperor, a pocket of grissini crumbs, and a calendar already marked for my next visit, this place doesnt just serve dinner, it serves happiness on a hand painted plate. Grazie mille, Novita, you have officially ruined all other Italians for me forever!

Food was SO insipid and unlovingly made; everything from the atrociously tough focaccia, the…read morelukewarm ketchup-like pizza sauce, to the minced side of broccoli rabe that tasted as though it had been taken out of an MRE. I had to subsequently apologize to my mother for having taken her to this place on Mother's Day.

Food= 3, Value=5, Service= 4, Ambiance= 4, Honesty of Staff= 5…read more Came here on a weeknight to celebrate a relative's birthday, although business was slow that day, the service quality of staff was quite good. Food quality wise, definitely portion size was extremely generous (family style), a few items could've tasted better, but overall it was fairly good. Wine selection weren't that extensive, could've probably replace some of the wines with better tasting ones at the same price level.

Came here on Mother's Day after making reservations a week in advance. When I checked the app to…read moreconfirm my reservation, it was gone. I thought I was losing my mind until I checked my text messages and saw they sent a confirmation text asking me to press 1 to confirm or 2 to cancel. I pressed 1 and somehow the system canceled my reservation. I honestly think it's crazy for a restaurant to automatically cancel a reservation because someone doesn't respond to a text right away. I was sleeping and didn't even see it until about an hour and a half later. Huge turn off. I called and thankfully they added me back, but it definitely started the experience off wrong. Once we arrived, we checked in and sat at the bar while waiting for our table. The bartender took about 25 minutes just to acknowledge me and take my drink order, which was disappointing. When we finally got seated, I realized they were only offering a prix-fixe family-style menu for Mother's Day. I understand limited menus on holidays, but I think each guest should still have the option to choose their own entrée because not everyone likes the same foods. I asked if we could add an extra appetizer, and our waitress who was very nice checked with the manager and they accommodated us. The issue was they didn't bring the extra appetizer out until after the entrées came. At that point it made no sense, and when I asked if they could remove it from the bill, they wouldn't accommodate that. Now for the food: Chicken Parmesan: slightly burnt and lacked flavor Beef medallions: needed salt and seasoning Lasagna: way too much ricotta cheese Shrimp scampi: honestly tasted like a 3-year-old made it -- just noodles and barely seasoned shrimp with almost no butter sauce Not everything was bad though: The bread was amazing Calamari was decent Meatballs were really good Cheesecake was amazing Sangria was very good and definitely gave me a little buzz The table service outside of the bar was actually great, and the portion sizes were generous. Ambiance was ok, bar just looked messy. They probably should have more than one bartender at a busy restaurant like this. Especially on Mother's Day. Overall, I probably wouldn't return unless I specifically wanted the meatballs and sangria.

The place is a little busy but worth waiting. The food is delicious, service is top notch…read more Restrooms need a little extra attention. Our meals had plenty of food, we were able to have lunch the next day.

Came here for Happy Hour on 5/22/26-the Friday before Memorial Day Weekend. Ordered steamed…read morecalamari and received a complimentary bread basket. The portion was large for both, but the calamari was overpriced at $28.90, and I only got rings--none of my beloved tentacles! I sat at the bar, where Jillian was the bartender. I was blown away by her service because she made me an off menu Old Fashioned with Angel's Envy, a premium Bourbon, for a Happy Hour price--$9.95. This is a good place to go for Happy Hour, which is only on Fridays. I love the eclectic crowd. Everybody from all walks of life comes here to eat. There was no wait for a seat at the bar around 4:30 pm. The cutlery was spotless, and I did not feel rushed There is ample parking, and it shares the same strip mall with Planet Fitness.

Hidden gem! Truly a great spot, the service is incredible and inside has a cozy atmosphere. The…read morebread service was much appreciated and they had a very nice wine selection. I had the linguine and it was one of the best pasta dishes I've had all year. They did not skimp on the crab at all and each bite was more delicious than the next. Their tiramisu was great a way to end the night. You'd be missing out if you didn't stop by.

Great Italian-American spot in Mineola. Absolute pleasure to dine in with such warm hospitality and…read morefamily vibes. Yes the food is amazingly delicious. Full bar and large selection of wine.

I've always passed by Cafe Baci and my little brother has been hyping it up, so I went with our…read morefamily and visitors. The parking situation was not too bad on early evening during the weekday, but I could totally see it get out of hand on the weekends, so plan accordingly. We were sat right away and the lovely server dropped a basket of bread while we peered through the menu. The free bread is quite good. We were all starving, so the cheesy chewy bread was great to munch on. I am also much more forgiving about a bit of wait for food if there is free bread being offered. It was also nice because we were seated right by the kitchen window, so it was like getting a dinner and a show. We got the Saporite, which reminded me of a Costco chicken bake with its creamy innards punctuated by grilled chicken. This is my brothers favorite, and I could see why. We also had the spaghetti seafood, which was so richly flavored with the seafood. I'm not sure I ever had Italian pasta so full of that umami seafood flavor. Truly wow. The ravioli verde was something we got to add something not-tomato based & it was an excellent choice. The sauce was verdant and creamy. The ravioli filling didn't feel like straight ricotta but I liked whatever they had done to it! The chicken parm was also a solid choice, good breading on hefty cutlets of chicken and a nice helping of charred cheese on top. We liked every single dish, and the portions were more than enough to feed all of us and leave leftover for the next day. I was especially touched by the professionalism of the young servers during what was becoming an increasingly crowded dinner service. We got extra bread, waters filled, and to go boxes promptly. The hype was surprisingly real. I guess I should not be surprised that a place that's been around since my childhood has withstood the test of time because it was good. Will revisit soon for lunch service.

Updated review long overdue…read more Last three times I visited... i had planned on updating this review; however, always forgot until now. Food 2/5 very overpriced for not so great quality. Portions are fairly still large if the food tastes bad... it takes a lot of effort in eating it. Service 2/5 workers are young i guess if that is a pro... but lacks common basics... too busy talking amongst each other and talking negatively about the job. Ambiance hasn't changed for years. They offer a cash discount. I am leaving this review for a self reminder tbh... everytime I visit i think to myself why did I do this to myself.

Alex was awesome! Food was really good. Go Mets. I need at least 85 characters for thisread more

Sam was amazing. Great service. Great attitude. Restaurant was beautiful! Answered all of our…read morequestions and we had a fantastic meal! Will def be back an asking for her!!!!

We selected Cassariano's to host a 90th birthday celebration and we could not have made a better…read morechoice. From start to finish, everything was on point. We booked with Danny who made great menu and arrangement suggestions and our 35 guests were comfortable and well attended to. Christian and Sal were fantastic. The "little" things make a difference, like replacing silverware between courses and keeping beverages flowing. And most of all the food was fantastic!! Thank you Danny for making our special day even more memorable!

Mother's Day, overall consensus- underwhelmed- mom selected this place after enjoying attending a…read morebirthday a few months prior. We went for first seating before it became very busy. Regular menu being served. Portions were small to average, food mostly good- notably carbonara, salmon, milanese- chicken scallopini, some pieces tough. Dishes did not include sides or anything extra like a starter salad. So $28-$32 pasta dish, just complimentary bread, took over 30 mins for dishes to come out too (and we were among first diners of day) so kitchen not backed up as far as we could tell. Not a lot of checking up or water refills. Desserts were costly $14 for small slice cheesecake, not enough to share. Roving photographer offered photo for purchase- really? we just dropped over $500. Nothing special for moms (a flower? glass of wine?) Restaurants are struggling but so is everyone else, didn't feel special, tables very packed together, probably not always, maybe just extra tables for MD -definitely an occasional type of restaurant - the "value" was just not there for us to return.

The food is fantastic! This is the real deal!!!!…read moreI highly recommend this place. Everything we had was outstanding!

Wow I totally forgot how good this place is. Went to Luigi's…read morelast night and ordered the salad and penned with the meatballs. I really want to shout out from the rooftops how good these meatballs are. Made with Kobe Beef, an awesome and memorizing flavor and texture these meatballs are just like you arrived in heaven. The penned was cooked to my liking and the sauce was perfecto. The large salad was full of fresh vegetables and an amazing dressing. Vinny the owner did an excellent job in creating such amazing dishes. Jill the Hostess was Fantastic and Amazing and Full of Charm. Out of All the Italian restaurant's that I've ever eaten in Luigis is still top notch.