We had an incredible dinner at IL Posto Bistro last night. The food was so good that I actually stopped eating my rigatoni so I could bring the rest home for lunch today! We started with the crab cakes and homemade focaccia bread, both delicious. Everyone at the table loved their meals, and the portions were generous. I also really appreciated that they offered several alcohol-free drinks -- the raspberry mule was excellent. Overall, this is a cozy restaurant with great food, reasonable prices, and a welcoming atmosphere. We'll definitely be back! read more

Delicious, everyone thought everything was delicious! Our server was lovely, light hearted, warm. The meatballs were good, the polenta was the perfect texture. The chicken milanese was a favorite. The rigatoni had a little heat and hearty flavor. read more

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First time dining here. Eat out at restaurants in NYC and the Finger Lakes quite a bit. It was a 50/50 experience. Saturday night (June 20) in June.. High season for the Finger Lakes. 5:30 reservation. Waitress tells us no specials (really?). The first appetizer I order for the table .. "sorry.. we ran out of that.." (what? It's not even 6 PM... so no specials and you've run out of a menu item before 6?). We order entrees - everyone is satisfied with their meal. I have the octopus and it is excellent. Waitress, who I won't name, was nice but aloof.. asked questions and walked away before we had time to answer. Didn't really seem interested until it was time to bring the check. Overall, what we did eat was very good. Cozy little spot. Disappointed in lack of effort from the chef and our waitress. I'll go back and hope the second time thete's a little more umph. read more

While visiting family in Canandaigua Lake, we found ourselves with a quiet night to ourselves and wandered into Il Posto Bistro. The moment we walked in, it felt like the perfect Italian escape, warm, inviting, and full of charm on a cool autumn night. We started with the Ricotta, creamy and rich with herb infused honey and roasted pumpkin seeds, so good we ordered extra bread just to savor every bit. The Potato Gnocchi with acorn squash cream, herbed goat cheese, and crispy prosciutto was comforting and beautifully balanced. Our mocktails were refreshing and thoughtfully made, and the service was delightful. We later learned our kind server was the owner's daughter, which made the evening feel even more personal. Il Posto captures everything a neighborhood Italian restaurant should be, cozy, heartfelt, and filled with food made with love. We can't wait to return the next time we're in town. read more

Had to make the drive to stop in after craving Italian food and seeing all the great reviews. I had the fra diavolo which does not come with pasta, but you have the option to add it. I also tried their bolognese. Both entrees were good sized portions. There's bar seating options as well and they were able to sit walk ins for dinner, but I do recommend a reservation on a busy weekend night. read more

Il Posto Bistro - Fra diavolo - Wine Bars Near Me - Canandaigua, New York

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Warm and friendly service. Everything we ordered was fresh and cooked perfectly. The service kept pace for us to enjoy it and make it to our concert. Thank you! read more

Delicious food. Pasta Al dente. Sat at the bar for dinner. Good service. Causal setting. Dimly light. Small place. Nice location for a date read more

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I've lived here my whole life and just managed to make a visit! Ambiance is very cozy and comforting- almost feels like you're in NYC rather than Canandaigua. Our waitress was very friendly, and the service was great. We had the burrata, which was a special, as well as some focaccia. Most of us ended up getting the Carbonara- it was delicious! Drinks were good as well. Of course, it's a little pricey, but well worth it in my opinion. Great for a date night or a special occasion. Make sure you make a reservation! read more

We loved Il Posto! The atmosphere was amazing - very cute for the winter. The service was really good as well. I appreciated the breadth of mocktails that they had! We absolutely loved the food that we got. The octopus was super tender and flavorful. The vognole was also a bit hit. Can't wait to come back and try more menu items! read more

Everything about the evening was thouroughly enjoyed. Kaylee, our server and host, was helpful with her recommendations and her timely service. The pasta Carbanara was homemade and true to its expected flavors. Our other main plate was the Zuppe di Pesce. Wow!! The best seafood dish we have enjoyed in a long time. Thank you for a great night out in Canandaigua read more

Il Posto Bistro - Zuppe di Pesce. As good as it looks, tastes even better!!! - Wine Bars Near Me - Canandaigua, New York

This place is a hidden gem! So cozy and cute inside, excellent service, and fantastic food! Never had a bad meal here. A must try! read more

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Great place! Great food! Highly recommend it. We don't live in the area, unfortunately, or it would definitely be a regular place for us to go. read more

Working from out of town and happened across this diamond in the rough! Couldn't suggest a better spot for food. Everything I had from the carbonara to the bolognese was to die for! If I'm ever in the area agin I know what's for dinner! read more

Il Posto Bistro - Blackberry Mint Mojito - Wine Bars Near Me - Canandaigua, New York

This is my favorite restaurant in Canandaigua. The food, desserts, and beverages are delicious. The owners and the waitstaff are excellent. They make you feel welcome and they tend to your needs. The place is immaculately clean. You will need to make a reservation as they get busy. Sometimes if they don't have an available table, you may be able to sit at the bar and order food. Their meatballs and polenta are to die for. read more

Foodie quality food and drink in a charming, upscale and inviting space. Gracious hosts and staff. Outdoor tables also available, right on scenic main street Canandaigua. Excellent flavors and plating. Recommended. I had a Caesar salad, Chicken Milanese, and chocolate panna cotta dessert, all excellent. Chef really knows how to cook. Recently purchased by a new chef-owner - I wasn't in previously, but I think you would have to ignore all reviews before 2023 here on Yelp. read more

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Come here! The food was amazing and the service was excellent. We sat outside and started off with the braised octopus and the meatballs - unbelievably good. He had the antipasto sandwich and I had the vodka chicken sandwich as our mains. Everything was so fresh, well seasoned and tasted delicious! read more

This place is amazing! Great service and amazing food! Try the gnocchi! We had the meat ball app, and they are HUGE! Also got the ceasar salad, delish! Wine and cocktail list is up to par! read more

Me and my husband went on Monday night and were surprised how busy it was! No corkage fee may add to that. Cozy and they set the tables up so you aren't directly seated next to anyone else which is nice, but you can hear everyone's conversation loud and clear as a heads up. I will start with the good. Our server was excellent! She also seemed to be tending bar, making me an excellent martini, but also paid attention to us the entire time. The mussels are a 10/10 must have. She chose a glass of wine for my husband and he also enjoyed it. That's where my recommendation ends. The focaccia bread was not proofed properly and was both dense and undercooked. We both ordered pasta as it was recommended to us and was asked if we minded it "al dente", which was confusing because that's how you usually want pasta, right? Their version of bolognese for $27 was burnt and the pasta was rock hard and raw in the middle. Pasta was the same with the Utica chicken dish only that sauce was fine. Very underwhelming main entrees. Other reviews were glowing and our experience was meh. Service and drinks 10/10 though! read more

What an experience! Amazing food and drink (even a mocktail menu!), FANTASTIC service and a really nice atmosphere! The trifecta! Handled a party of 21 with ease and even ordered off the menu! A def must if anywhere near Main Street Canandaigua! We will be back! Highly recommend! read more

When IlPosto unexpectedly closed we were looking forward to their reopening under new ownership. The former IlPosto was more of a wine bar with a diverse menu, some traditional Italian entrees but not exclusively Italian. You could choose between having an expensive meal or a pizza, salad and a bottle of wine. They also had a Happy Hour at the bar with reduced wine and appetizer prices. The two times we have eaten there since their reopening have been disappointing. There are very few Italian entrees with Red sauce, the prices have increased, and the lighting is no longer dim. It seems they have become less of an Italian Bistro than a family restaurant with a large children's menu and the brighter lighting. read more

Best italian food we've had in a long time. Everyone was beyond accommodating. The setting is warm and inviting. Go here if you are looking for a great meal with a friendly feel! read more

Food Poisoning. It was my boyfriend and I's first time here and we really enjoyed the atmosphere and the appetizer we ordered was delicious (muscles). My boyfriend ordered a steak ($40) and it was not tender at all. We looked past that and were offered a free desert which was kind! However I have to give this place 2 stars because we paid near $200 for our bill and we both woke up that night violently ill. I'm assuming it was the muscles we shared but for our bill to be that much and to get sick like that it is really disappointing. Probably will not be returning here. :( The manager was very kind and able to refund us for this so that means a TON. read more

My husband and I decided to go here kinda on a whim, and we are so glad we did. The ambiance is cozy, the service spectacular and the food even more so. I had the vongole, my husband had the bistro burger and we shared an appetizer of braised octopus. All showcased the skill of those working in the kitchen. Upon finding out that the menu rotates fairly often, we can't wait to go back and experience more of their creations. read more

Visited over 2 years ago, but finally remembered to write a review. Very good Italian restaurant in Canandaigua. Sad to learn through their website that they are closed for the winter due to the pandemic. I remember being surprised by the quality and quantity of food at Il Posto. The appetizers, pizza and pastas were all very good. I had one dish that was particularly decadent - the piccata. It was a chicken cutlet served with whipped potatoes, sautéed mushrooms and a Marsala-like wine sauce. I'm hoping they'll survive the winter and reopen in the Spring. Definitely a gem of a restaurant in the area. read more

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the best bolognese in canandaigua. the best bolognese in new york. the best bolognese in North America. death row type meal. the owners and employees are great. i wish i could hire the cooks to live in my house. read more

Great restaurant ....cozy atmosphere with fabulous food. We have eaten here many times and are always happy with the our dinners. The octopus appetizer in particular is fantastic. Service is always friendly and helpful...our favorite restaurant in Canandaigua! read more

Great quality food, excellent server and value! Small place so seating is a little too close. Our meals took a bit long to come out - but were hot & delicious. We had 3 glasses of wine, shared a salad & appetizer, and two entree's for about the same cost as 2 pizzas & wings via delivery - a way better meal at Il Posto ! read more

We had a fabulous meal here tonight. House wines were very good. Meatball appetizer is a MUST! I love meatballs and these were as good as I've ever had. The chicken cutlet in the Chicken Milanese was fabulous! Nice, cozy place. read more

Very good experience. Appreciated a smaller menu with many interesting dishes. Had the bolognese which was tasty. Impressed that chef/owner came out to talk to a vegan member of our group, and created a special dish for her dinner. Will go back! One thing: menu said Utica Greens as a side. As someone who has eaten LOTS of Utica Greens in my day, what we got was beans and greens, which I loved, but not Utica style. If it was a one-off change in menu for the night, no problem. Service was good, ambiance was good for a small dining room. read more

Four of us had dinner last night at Il Posto, all absolutely delicious, I had Utica chicken, husband had tenderloin tounedos, friends had the Carbonara, Harvest salad and a bowl of Delicata squash bisque!! All were fantastic!! read more

Ate here for the first time tonight for our anniversary. I had their lemon drop and my husband the chianti. Both were very tasty. Then we had the rice balls. Light and delicious. I had one of the nightly specials, a rubbed ribeye with mushrooms, Swiss chard and potatoes. Perfectly cooked the way I ordered and seasoned well. My husband had the chicken milanase. He also thoroughly enjoyed his meal. We ended it with a perfect dessert of a scoop of ice cream with a shot of espresso poured over the top. Perfect end to the meal. The servers were friendly and attentive. Will definitely be back. read more

I went to Il Posto for the first recently and it was excellent! The food was amazing... especially the meatball appetizer. Our meals were cooked to perfection. The service was 10/10 as well. Wendy, the owner stopped by our table to make sure we were enjoying everything. I highly recommend & I'll definitely be going back! read more

Beautiful cozy place, warm ambiance. Very attentive servers. We started with some house cocktails, the paloma was a nice refreshing tequila drink. The burrata appetizer was very good, milky burrata and peppery arugula with sautee peppers and onions and great bread. I had the fra diablo, huge shrimp perfectly cooked in a delicious sauce that had nduja spicy sauge mixed in. My wife had the veal osso bucco served on polenta, so tender, and the sauce was fantastic. The orrichiette with sausage and broccoli rabe had a great buttery wine sauce. We'll definately be coming back. Put this place on your list of must try Canandaigua restaurants! read more

We had dinner there last Saturday as a party of eight people. The service was outstanding with a good selection of cocktails and wine. Our entrées were all delicious. There wasn't a single complaint about any of them. Our only recommendation would be to serve warm bread and butter with the entrées. We topped off the meal with delicious desserts, making for a great evening with friends. read more

Interesting experience. We went to try it out as an Italian restaurant which my brother recommended because he said the chef had come from another restaurant and said he was an excellent chef (didnt come from an Italian restaurant). Now my brother had never been here but gave us the heads up on the chef IF it is the same guy he remembers moving over there. Gotta say, I wasnt too impressed. We went on a weeknight to avoid insanity of crowds. It is quite a small place but there is outdoor seating which makes more room. My wife ordered what the menu says are Utica Greens. What she got was the normal, soupy type greens and beans available at almost every other restaurant. Utica greens are unique in that there are no beans, and are much drier. Almost no liquid in the mix and topped with a thin layer of bread crumbs. So if you have your heart set an actual Utica greens, skip this place. This is also where our evening got uniquely interesting. The table next to us had a couple that were a touch older than us and were pretty quiet as they finished their meal and we waited on ours. We received our meal at the same time our neighbor's husband got up to use rest room. My wife looked at the "Utica" greens she received and immediately looked up to me and said that these werent what she ordered. She spoke in a soft tone directly to me, no shouting, no ranting, etc. The tables are quite close and the restaurant pretty quiet so our neighbor heard her and agreed, that these werent the Utica greens they were used to but they had a good flavor. So she had them before on a previous visit but avoided them now because they werent what the menu called them. So the wives compared notes and discussed it and when the waitress came back, I told here what was up. No one asked for anything special, no refund, no replacement because unbeknownst to us, the menu under the title does say beans. No one raised their voice but was just informing her that these werent Utica greens. I am not sure what happened next to us at the neighbors table but they were told they had to leave. They were done anyway but she said on the way out that they had never been asked to leave a restaurant (and they were no spring chickens). Their waitress said something about throwing bread but we saw nothing while we were there even remotely worthy of being asked to leave aside from the 2 wives comparing notes about the "Utica" greens. So, now the Utica greens mystery is solved. We had ordered drinks. I had an aperol spritz and wife, riesling. My spritz was very light in color. I had them in Italy and it is a great, refreshing drink. Upon return to USA, I wanted to make them for myself so I checked several websites for the recipe. The vast majority said it was 3 parts Aperol, 4 parts prosecco and 1 part club soda (the other recipes had more Aperol to prosecco mix). After making them at home for a year and a half, you can almost do it by color (Aperol is a deep orange color). What I received was a very light orange drink (Aperol is the priciest of the 3 ingredients). Needless to say, it had almost no Aperol flavor. So, I got kinda chiseled on that one also. I ordered Vongole for dinner which is pasta with clams and a white wine. It had 10 clams in the bowl which is probably good in this day and age of high priced everything however, the bowl as a whole had almost no flavor. Pros Our server, Vera was excellent server, pleasant, etc Nice ambience Outdoor seating Greens were tasty but salty Cons Throwing out elderly couple that didnt demonstrate any problem Greens mis-titled Flavorless pasta and clams Watered down drink Spent $71 on 2 meals and 2 drinks and totally unimpressed Lesson learned tonight, just go back to Joey's Pasta house in Penfield for next Italian meal read more

First try and we found the dinner very good and the service better. Though small on the inside we had reservations at 7 and it was clearing out so we had a super nice dinner a chance to actually talk with the owner and met all the staff. They were engaging and outgoing and discussed their business, the food, and their backgrounds. The owner offered tasting of the wine before I decided on one and we also had a super desert. We like to drive to canandaigua for dinners several times a year (off-season) and il posto bistro will be in our rotation. When we are at the lake it will be a "must dine". read more

This place was so good! I had the Moroccan Stew with chicken and it was super yummy. I tried the Chicken Milanese as well - it was delicious and had a variety of flavors. I would definitely order one of these dishes again. My server (and the owner) were very friendly and courteous as well - the ambiance here was very inviting and cozy. For dessert, I had the Bacon and Bourbon cheesecake. It was so good! But this place gets four stars because they didn't have any chocolate desserts. :( read more

Wow! Just got back from Il Posto. A delightful, cozy bistro with terrific food. Some of the best gnocchi I've ever had, great Milanase, and carbonera. Lovely attentive staff. We'll be back read more

Wow! My fellow Yelpers were not wrong. This place was great! Every cocktail was well-crafted & the food was on point! We loved the appetizers & the entrees we chose & would go back there next time we are in town in a Canandaigua minute! Great Italian- you will not be disappointed! You can tell the food was made with quality & care & love as everything was well done. Nice job team! read more

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Such an awesome place!!! Food was awesome and staff and service were just as awesome!!! Can't wait to eat there again!!!