While visiting town, I decided to try my luck at Ventura's Restaurant even though I didn't have a…read morereservation and it was getting close to closing time. From the moment I walked in, I was impressed by the hospitality. The host greeted me warmly and, despite the late hour and lack of a reservation, graciously found me a table. The excellent service continued throughout the evening. The waitstaff was attentive, friendly, and made me feel welcome from start to finish. To start, I ordered the fried calamari, and it was absolutely delicious. It was cooked perfectly, crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and not chewy at all. For my entrée, I chose the veal Parmesan, and it was just as impressive. The veal was exceptionally tender, and the marinara sauce was rich, flavorful, and complemented the dish perfectly. What stood out most was that I never felt rushed, even though the staff was clearly beginning to wrap things up for the night. They continued to provide outstanding service and made sure I enjoyed my meal at my own pace. Ventura's Restaurant delivers excellent food, outstanding hospitality, and a welcoming atmosphere. I would definitely return the next time I'm in town, and I highly recommend giving this restaurant a try. You won't be disappointed!

Went in for a nice lunch with a friend today and we were both happy we finally tried it out! We…read morewent right when they opened for lunch on a Saturday and found we had the place to ourselves. You can tell there is a huge amount of pride of ownership by the way everything is set; there are also really cool pictures on the wall of many famous people, some who have visited (many Yankees!). Our server was really nice and attentive. I got fettuccine alfredo and my friend got the tortellini alfredo. I was a big fan of the sauce and my friend felt the same. The bread was the best part for me. I got a slice of cheesecake to go and it was delicious! We would love to come back in some night for dinner to check it out the evening vibes and try some other items on the menu.

Trattoria Calabria in Utica was an experience from start to finish. Everything was amazing. The…read moreowner serves you family style and comes out to talk to you between every course, which made the whole night feel so personal and unique. The food was incredible the soup from the first course was actually my favorite, and then they just kept bringing out mussels, eggplant, meatballs, sausage... literally SO much food I could barely breathe by the end There were 17 of us and every single moment was a great experience. I will 100% be back and will be telling all my New York friends about this place. Definitely one of the most unique dining experiences I've had!

The chef is amazing. The food is beyond anything I have ever had. Especially the soup. This was…read morean eight course 5 star meal. I also like that you BYOB, so we brough a couple bottles of wine from home. This can really help you save a lot of money. The food was endless. It was like you are having Sunday dinner at your Italian grand mother's house. You need to make reservations a few weeks in advance. He is only open on Friday and Saturday. I really can't say enough. If you're in the Utica area consider yourself lucky to be able eat here. Great food in a unique setting.

I have not been to this restaurant in over 20 years. The atmosphere was just as I remembered. Same…read morebar, decor, same menus on wall. I literally felt like I stepped back in time in the best possible way. They are only open Tuesdays & Saturdays. I went with a coworker for lunch and the place was packed. Not a spot at the bar and only a couple tables open lucky for us. Everyone was the NICEST! Service could t have been better. We ordered the spaghetti & meatball which comes with a whole loaf of breads with 2 cokes for $24. Sauce was outstanding and we ate most of the bread. Can't wait to go back to try the vodka riggies & eggplant parm!!

This restaurant and bar has been a Utica staple for many years and is also fondly known as…read morePellettieri Joe's, thanks to its location at the corner of Jay Street and Pellettieri Street. Dating back to 1910, calling this place an icon is truly an understatement. I've been coming here for years, although I have to admit it had been a couple of years since my last visit. With my upcoming move out west, this was at the very top of my Utica bucket list. There are just some places that hold too much history and too many memories to leave town without visiting one more time. A little heads-up: While the bar is now open multiple days a week, the kitchen is currently open only on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Nothing fancy here, but you'll find good Italian food steeped in history, tradition, and a genuine love of food. I do have to admit, though, that I miss the family who used to run this restaurant. The granddaughter was the server, another family member ran the bar, and two elderly gentlemen handled all of the cooking. It was truly a family affair. Back in the day, they even sold meats by the pound from the basement. Those days are sadly bygone, and unfortunately, the restaurant has changed hands several times over the years. While they have kept many of the traditions and familiar touches intact, I do feel the Italian gravy/sauce has changed. Personally, I'm not a fan of the new sauce and definitely miss the old recipe. They still bring a partial bag of fresh-baked Italian bread to the table ... no butter, and don't bother asking for it! Cash is still king here, so come prepared. It may have changed over the years, but if you want to experience a little piece of Utica and enjoy a meal steeped in Italian history and tradition, this is still a place worth visiting. Some restaurants are more than just a meal, they're a piece of the community's story.

Well... it had been a very, very long time since I last visited Delmonico's. And sometimes going…read moreback to a restaurant from your past can be a little like looking at an old photograph....you remember it one way, only to realize that your perspective has changed. Back in the day, Delmonico's was the place to go when you wanted to dress up, celebrate something special, and enjoy a higher-end meal without having to travel far. At a time when there weren't nearly as many upscale dining options around, this definitely felt like an occasion. And let's talk about the atmosphere because there is absolutely no mistaking the theme here. Think Italian mobster meets supper club. Mob-related actors and photographs adorn the walls, Frank Sinatra is playing, and the dining tables are tucked into little private nooks. They really lean into the whole experience -- and honestly, you either love the theme or you're going to find it a little... cheesy. Coming back with fresh eyes, I found myself realizing that what I once considered an upscale dining experience now feels more like an expensive, heavily themed steakhouse chain. This particular location was once an Applebee's, and while they have certainly given the place a complete makeover, I couldn't help but feel that a tiny bit of the Applebee's DNA was still hanging around. The restaurant has also had its share of challenges and negative publicity over the years, particularly surrounding staffing and cleanliness. That said, our experience was actually very good. Our server and the staff were terrific, the food came out exactly as ordered, and everyone was attentive to our needs. I ordered the Classic Delmonico, their signature steak, and it was cooked perfectly. I requested no pepper seasoning and they got that right ...always a win when a simple request actually makes it to the kitchen! The steak was enormous, and I had enough left over to make another meal out of it. Meals come with pasta as a side, but I opted to upgrade to a vegetable. Enter the asparagus... which apparently had gotten into a serious relationship with the pepper shaker. It was covered in pepper. Luckily, nothing a little napkin intervention couldn't fix! So after all these years, where does that leave me? The service was excellent, the steak was good, the portions were generous, and the atmosphere is certainly memorable. But when I look at the overall experience versus the price, I think my dining dollars would go elsewhere. For a special occasion, I would personally choose a smaller, more intimate steakhouse or upscale restaurant where the food and atmosphere feel a little more elevated and less like a chain experience. But I'm still glad I went. Sometimes you revisit an old favorite and discover it isn't quite what you remembered. And sometimes that's okay. The restaurant may have changed or maybe my definition of a special dining experience has simply evolved. Either way, it was worth the trip down memory lane. Would I go back? Probably not for a special occasion. But I'm glad I finally went back after all these years, if only to see whether Delmonico's could still live up to the version I remembered.

Not just a good meal but a real fun experience for our group of nine people. We came here for our…read morefinal night in Utica after taking the wonderful Adirondack Train Tour. The restaurant has plenty of parking in their lot and was close to the train station and also our hotel. (right in the middle. This is a very hometown feel restaurant loaded with regulars and visitors to the area alike. Our goup came in to wonderful hellos and we were brought to the "Tony Bennett Room." What a great setting... Plenty of the America Songbook being played at the restaurant which included Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin singing many tunes. Our room also had plenty of photos of Tony at all stages of his career. Our wonderful server came over to our table moments after we sat down, introduced herself and immediately took drinks orders and followed up with menus and water. She was great throughout the entire eating experience and deserves a whole lot of Kudos! What did we all eat? Without going through each item, here is a list of appetizers and main meals. Appetizers: - Mozzarella Fritta - Fried Mozzarella hand breaded to order with fresh Marinara Sauce. - Calamari - Golden, crisp, fried Calamari served with Marinara & Honey Dijon, enough to. share. - Zuppa Di Stracciatella - Chicken, Escarole, Meatballs & Ditalini in a homemade Chicken Broth. - Roma Tomato & Mozzarella Salad - Fresh Buffalo Mozzarella, Vine Ripened Tomatoes, Red Onions, Basil & Balsamic Vinaigrette. Entreès - Sliced Sirloin Steak 14oz of Choice or Better Sirloin with Cabernet Mushroom Sauce & garlic Mashed Potatoes. - Chicken Parmigiana Thin breasts of chicken with Italian Breadcrumbs, topped with marinara Sauce & Provolone Cheese over Angel Hair Pasta. - Fettuccine Delmonico Fettuccine Alfredo Tossed with Grilled Chicken, Mushrooms, Broccoli & finished with A Touch of Marinara. Everything was perfect. Calamari, crisp coating tender fish - Chicken Cutlets were thin crunchy with tender meat and delicious marinara sauce - slight steak was tender, cooked well and a delicious sauce. Everyone was extremely happy with their choices... Service was excellent and they monitored us throughout the night. It was a pleasure to be here and I look forward to my next visit KUDOs to the team at Delmonico's Italian Steakhouse

As a person who travels alot for work you never really know what to expect when going to eat…read moresomewhere new. The hotel I'm staying at recommended Tavolos to our group On Monday. I must say upon sitting at the bar I was greeted by one of the most bubbly individuals I've ever met. That reason alone we have been back multiple times this week alone Sabrina has made us feel right at home, gave us great food recommendations and even a few ideas on activities to do in our spare time here in Utica. Thanks Sabrina! we will see you soon!

I chose this place due to it being open on a Monday, but apparently it's the place that invented…read moreUtica Greens??? In any case, I've wanted to try Utica Greens for years. I'm not sure if my 4* rather than 5* is for the preparation or for what the dis his--I wasn't expecting a dish called "greens" to be, basically, junk food. There's escarole in there and the ingredients were super fresh, sure, but the pile of oversalted bread crumbs was really most of the texture here. Is it a way to disguise a green vegetable under a mountain of fat and carbs? Probably, and they do a good job of that, but the salt and fat did get a bit overwhelming for me.

This pizzeria is a quintessential pizza parlor and is the second oldest pizzeria in the country…read more This is not your typical pizza and they are the originator of the upside down pizza. I have been coming to this establishment for far too many years to admit to and it never disappoints. Not much has changed here over the years other than the prices. They have been around for over a 110 years. The restaurant is nothing fancy and most of their business is take out but to me nothing beats one of their fresh out of the oven pies with their gooey cheese on the bottom and crispy crust. On a warm summer night you can find me sitting outside at their picnic table enjoying a fresh hot pie.

On my way into Syracuse International Airport while picking up my rental car, a very friendly…read moreEnterprise manager recommended a pizzeria called O'scugnizzo. He mentioned it is the second oldest pizzeria in America, so I had to check it out. I'm so glad I did. This is a really cute, community-oriented spot with a warm and welcoming feel. I ordered a small pizza, but "small" definitely does not feel small here. It was actually a great size. More importantly, the pizza was super fresh and extremely delicious. What stood out just as much as the food was how kind everyone was. As someone visiting from out of town, I really appreciated how warm and friendly the people were. It also felt like the kind of place that would be great for hosting a casual party or gathering. Highly recommend. If you're in Utica, this is definitely a place you need to try.

It was a good experience. I had their Rome staple Chicken Riggie and a tomato pie…read more The Riggie was ok. Way too much sauce. It could have been 4 star wo all the sauce. The tomato pie was tasty. The service was very good. Server was responsive, friendly, and balance of attentive but not overly bothersome. The vibe is very familial. Most people were here in groups of 4+ and just enjoyed themselves. Fam friendly place. I recommend

Delicious delicious food. Classic riggies with just enough kick....antipasto salad that has a…read moredelicious dressing....and meatballs I am still thinking about. The sauces were exactly what I was hoping they would taste like! The staff was amazing and helpful too. Next time I will try the lunch buffet.

Always the best and must authentic Italian food east of the Mississippi. Cozy atmosphere with…read moredelicious food. One of Uticas finest!

Wow! Amazing service and terrific food. The Chicken Daniele, gnocchi with vodka sauce and fusilli…read morewith red sauce and a meatball were all delicious. We will definitely be back next time we are in Utica.

Fidal, owner greeted us, like we were there yesterday…read more Been awhile and glad we made it back. Anthony was an amazing server. Friendly and very attentive. 10 stars on his service. Their Utica Greens are good, but different than your typical Utica Greens. Chicken breast in spicy brandy sauce was very good. Get it over pasta same sauce next time. Vodka Riggies with Filet was great. Chicken soup was fantastic. Large bowl full of chicken. Parking is their private lot. Place is large but dated. Part of the charm. Would recommend and will return. Menu is large.

Ambassador's exterior and parking area are rather unassuming, blending quietly into the…read moreneighborhood. However, upon entering, you'll find a classy and classic Italian decor with a well-thought-out layout that creates smaller, more intimate spaces. It's definitely a place where you could bring parents, coworkers, or that special someone for a nice meal. The service was excellent (I believe the young lady's name was Alma). My veal parmigiana was tender, perfectly cooked, nicely sauced, and covered with just the right amount of cheese. The side salad was average in terms of content and presentation, but the balsamic dressing was quite good. The garlic bread had a nice flavor and texture as well. While I didn't have a chance to try any drinks, there is a full bar on-site. Overall, I'd be happy to eat there again, but stop on in and see what you think.

Just another fantastic meal at Georgios... this time I had the fish fry and the piece of fish was…read morehuge. The waiter seated us and took our drink order and we knew what we wanted so we immediately placed our order. Georgios is always full, doesn't take reservations and loud inside but the food is always delicious and it's so nice to see they're still packing people in every night. Will return... not soon enough!

They do NOT take reservations and there was a half hour wait already at 5:30 on a Friday night…read more However, there are tables in the bar area that make for a comfortable place to sit and wait. We came here specifically because another reviewer mentioned the calamari being gluten free and amazing. Turns out, it's one of the only things they don't do gluten free. Went with some basic gluten free pasta and it was OK. Would try something else next time. Hubby said the bread before the meal was amazing.