Came back home and decided to celebrate a family member's birthday at Rafele. I grew up in Rye, and I can't remember the last time I actually ate in the Town area aside from Longford's and Sunrise. Our party of 9 was seated in the dining area in the back of the restaurant, where it's a little quieter and more intimate - perfect for our occasion. The area's changed the last 10-15 years or so - small boutique stores replaced by banks and a lot more franchises popping up in the area, but I'm glad that there's something repping the hometown people. read more

I've been to this location twice. Once for a birthday dinner for a friend and another time for a solo dinner. I had a fabulous time each time. The schizzetto is what made me come back. It was so delicious! I still think about it often. I am not a fan of watermelon but I found the watermelon arugula salad to be very refreshing. The calamari and shrimp were delicious. I also enjoyed the sausage and beans. I ordered a blood orange margarita both times I've been here and the drinks have been consistent. I also had their chocolate tortino a la mode, which was pretty good. It wasn't overwhelmingly sweet which I appreciated. I definitely will be back for the schizzetto. Looking forward to returning soon! read more

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Had dinner here and it was good. It's a cozy nice restaurant but can be a bit noisy when it's busy. I was impressed by the fried seafood and Rafele pizza. But the braised pork chop main course was just okay. Dessert was also a bit underwhelming. Service was decent. read more

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Food: okay but too pricey for just being okay. My chicken was cooked well but the fritto misto was way overcooked and dry. No rings just ends and burnt zucchini. This is a classic dish that failed badly. Ambiance: I don't understand a giant TV running video of Tuscany in the main dining space. Shouldn't that be relegated for the bar? Distracting. Service: waiter took our order and came over twice but never to fill our water. Said "do you want pepper". I said yes but never got it. So how's that for service? Do not recommend. read more

Food and service was good! We started with the octopus, the arancini and the fried calamari. We had margarita pizzas which were excellent! A pear salad, branzino, gnocchi, and a carbonara. Everything was very good. read more

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Food is always good and the service very nice. There are a lot of variety and options for gluten free. Their daily specials are often a great choice. Depending on the time the place is quiet. Early dinner around 5-6 pm is not as loud as it's later. read more

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Went here for Mother's Day with a group of six, including two youngsters. The food and the service were both excellent, and we had a great time. No complaints. We were all happy with our choices. I had the gluten free gnocchi, which was quite good, and I had a marvelous glass of Montepulciano. Five stars. read more

I was there last night for dinner with a friend then I have to say first off the f food is amazing, but the staff was terrible, basically ignored us. We had asked for things and they were just very unfriendly. I am not one to not leave a tip and I yes I left a good tip because I've worked in the food service industry and I know how important tipping is. Now I know why I don't eat there but I do get takeout from them. It was really ashamed because it's a beautiful place, but I was very dissatisfied with the staff. read more

Well, this is another one of those unexpected gatherings that turned into an epic meet! We were looking for a place in Rye near the train station to meet the sommelier/manager of Crabtree Kittle House for an "outside of work" gathering. This fit the bill, especially given the deep wine list and chef's rep. So we grabbed three bar seats snd embarked on our journey! We ordered a couple of appetizers- burrata with peaches and a cheese board, plus an older light bodied Italian Barolo. Then chef Rafaele (of MSNBC and Chopped fame) popped over and after chatting for a few minutes went to the kitchen snd cooked up an amazingly delicious pizza that he thinks he'll add to the menu! Pics all around, full and happy! Great spot! Thanks Chef! read more

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What an amazing dinner at Rafele Rye. The food and drink were spot on. Gnocco Fritto may be my new favorite appetizer of all time. It is Prosciutto di Parma with fried dough and the plating is impressive. There four pieces that look massive but is so light and fluffy. You'll need two orders if you are more than two people otherwise you'll be fighting for the last piece. For the entire, I would recommend the Schizzettp (Spaghetti, clams, scallops, cherry tomatoes, garlic, olive oil,chili flake) but all of our dishes were great. The ambience is more casual than stuffy but still very nice. Brightly lit. Definitely make a reservation because they seem very busy which led to less than optimal service. It was a long time between our waitress checking on us so it was hard to get service. It still did not impact our great time but it could have definitely been better. read more

VERY DISAPPOINTING birthday dinner.treated unfairly and rushed. They care more about packing people in than pleasing the customer. I have never been here, so I decided to make a reservation for my birthday on Resy. I had an early reservation at 6:45 and I had asked for a table somewhere on the side in a quieter area. I had gotten multiple texts confirming the reservation, and even one 30 minutes prior. when I got there, the host said ,"I don't see it."hmm... he eventually found it, but obviously never read it. We were about to be seated right behind the host stand in the loudest possible area. I asked immediately if we could move somewhere else. The restaurant was pretty empty!(see pictures) The host would not allow us to sit anywhere unless it was a small table for two! There were only two of those available next to the pizza oven! One was actually by itself in the hallway that goes to the next room! So by default I had to take the other. We were in a high traffic area next to the kitchen. Ok, so we decided to make the best of it. We ordered our drinks and then wanted to order our appetizers. We had decided upon the crispy artichoke hearts and a margarita pizza for our apps. The waitress told us we cannot order the apps unless we order the entrées at the same time. We didn't know what we wanted to have yet, and wanted to take our time figuring as we ate our appetizers. Part of the fun in going out for dinner is taking your time oerusing the menu and deciding what you might want next. Not possible here. We were feeling extremely rushed. We ordered the zuppe di pesce and the rigatoni Bolognese for our entrées. I was so excited to try the crispy artichokes, but they were sharp, dry and pretty INEDIBLE! My husband commented on how dangerous it was to even try to eat these without choking. The pizza was good and entrees were fine. As the restaurant got busier, my chair kept getting bumped from behind by waiters bringing out food. I did, however, see 2 people sitting at a table for four by the Wine cellar and two people seated at a four top by the bar! Obviously, they do seat parties of two at four tops.! (See pictures attached.) Not nice! This is not the birthday dinner that I dreamed about. We decided to pass on another round or 2 of drinks and dessert. We didn't want to be rushed and we ended up going down the street to another restaurant for drinks and dessert. It's a shame they treat some people better than others. read more

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Following up on my friend's review, I would rate it a solid good but nothing very special. it is a cool very nicely set up place but the noise level is simply horrendous. We were there on a busy night and it's virtually impossible for a table to have a discussion. I know being noisy is what restaurants want today but I don't quite understand why you would set it up so that no one can hear anyone else. And yes the cheese and salami platter is extremely meager for 26 bucks. A few small chunks of cheese and slices of two types of salami that's it. Having cold anti pasta platters at numerous Italian restaurants which normally come with cheese salami peppers and a few other things, this dish rates an "I" for severely inadequate. read more

My wife and I our dear friends sat in the back of Rafele because the front was as noisy as MSG during a late-game Knicks rally. The Michelin rated signage for 2021-23 were hard to miss and raised our expectations immediately for the dining experience to come. Our server efficiently brought us a tangy and impressive eggplant spread that we loved on fresh bread. Following glasses of pricey and unremarkable wine ($14-$16/glass), we dove into some exceptionally delicious roasted Brussels Sprout appetizers. The cheese and meat antipasto that followed was exorbitantly priced ($26) and severely undersized. Enough antipasto for someone with the appetite of a sparrow. My main course was an excellent mushroom pasta dish. My wife had a salad entree, our friends chose hearty and freshly topped pizzas (veggie, prosciutto) that were both yummy, perfectly, brick ovened. All in all, the meals were worthy of four stars. Alas, the decibel level, even in the back of this pretty space, was excessive. Why is it that so many upscale restaurants, including Rafele, are so freaking loud? We spend good money not just for the food, but to enjoy an evening of conversation with our dear friends. Rafele passed the first test, but I have no idea what we talked about all night. read more

I have a love for Italian places, and this restaurant is another to add to my list. The atmosphere of this restaurant is lovely with a family feeling to it. As for dishes, I order the Pappardelle Bolognese and a portion of the special of the day. I do not remember the dish's name, but it had spinach, white fish, and a creamy texture. The pasta was delicious and filling with the creamy sauce and perfect amount of cheese. For dessert, I had vanilla ice cream to seal and cleanse my palette. The wines are good here as well. As for service, the staff were attentive and ensured your needs were met during the lunch hour. I have been to this restaurant with a group of 3 (including myself). We were served quickly under 5 minutes during the lunch hour. read more

Rafele Rye - Special of the Day - Italian Near Me - Rye, New York

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My husband and I were invited to a rehearsal dinner here the day before a wedding. I was incredibly impressed by both the quality of the food and the service of the staff given that there were 75 people or more who attended. We had mushroom pasta that was stunning, followed by fish and then slices of tender, medium rare steak. There was also salad and broccolini as vegetable sides. For dessert we had both cheesecake and tiramisu. I wish I lived closer so I could come back again. I highly recommend their event services. read more

Solid. Good service. Good food. Sometimes a little noisy but honestly who cares? Shows people enjoy it and are having fun. Recommend

Came here based on a recommendation from a friend. This restaurant has a nice modern feel to it. It's a bit on the louder side. Service was great. Beer menu was limited. The table I sat at in the middle of the room, I had the AC blowing right at my neck. The calamari was not crispy and at the bottom of my list from the many, many I tried. My pork chop was over cooked and I was specific about liking it pink. Portions were small considering their price point. Would not drive back to this place. read more

Absolutely amazing! Me and my now husband came here few times. Food was always great! We also were planning a wedding in Greece, so wanted to makes a small dinner for our NY friends who cannot make it abroad. Elisa helped us to plan the small dinner with friends, she was super responsive, friendly and accommodating. She set us a table at the back, so we had a semi private event. Service was absolutely outstanding and they were able to cit our cake for no extra charge. We had a lot of food, they accommodated vegetarian people with no issues. We had calamari, meatballs to start, we had pasta and ravioli, branzino, steak, and dessert. We were so happy with a meal so as our guests! Definitely will be back and will recommend to others, date, small event or just drinks. read more

Amazingly authentic and amazing flavors abound in this local favorite. Pastas and protein dishes are always flavor bombs that are very satisfying. I especially love the lamb ragu, veal milanese and arancini. Also have very nice salads. Service s good, attentive but can feel rushed at peak times. Space has a brasserie vibe, can get loud. read more

We made a mistake and made a reservation at Rafele in New York. we were there for my daughter's birthday, so it was really disappointing not to have a reservation. The hostess screwed around and came up with a table near the pizza oven, which was comfortable and warm. I love the food and the service and I think the people are very friendly and kind read more

Checked this place out because it claimed Michelin credentials, but.....no. Got a fried artichoke appetizer that was so tough it was inedible. Cauliflower salad was tasty but super heavy and oily. Seafood pasta dish was oily and tasteless. Mushroom / Truffle pasta was oily and tasteless. One of our drinks had tons of crushed mint which was like drinking pulpy orange juice. Rarely does a restaurant strike out so hard. Very sad. At least they had the respect to not charge us for most of it. For some reason the place was packed so.... who knows. read more

We stopped in during the rain storm on July 1 2021 and visited with Francesco at the bar. We ordered the sausage pizza as truly weren't hungry and were so glad we did. It was prepared perfectly, quickly and tasted wonderful. The restaurant is beautiful and we look forward to coming for a lovely evening meal in the near future. read more

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Delicious food & drink. Excellent service. Beautiful setting and yet one does not have to dress up.

I dined here last night with my husband. Food was excellent and service was very attentive. We started with the artichoke app and also the Arancini, both excellent. They also give all tables complimentary eggplant caponata with both fresh toasted bread & focaccia- sooo good! My husband and I both shared the amatriciana and the chicken Milanese- very good!! We will definitely return! In addition, I have to mention how honest the staff is. I left my purse there by accident and called the next day. It was returned to me with my full wallet untouched. I've never forgotten my purse before and was so appreciative to get it back!! read more

Rafele Rye - Chicken Milanese - Italian Near Me - Rye, New York

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Maybe it was a Sunday night a possible off night for this "Michelin" reviewed restaurant or maybe a missed typo on ingredients. In an area where you cant throw a pizza without hitting a great Italian restaurant. We were a little taken back by the soggy pizza and eggplant mellazane which was mostly 80% red sauce that was more soup like. Maybe just maybe the chef was home with the flu like 80% of the county. Benefit of the doubt. read more

Rafele Rye - Italian Near Me - Rye, New York

Noticed they did not have five stars , and here I am giving them five, unusual for me to be the odd one out! Stopped in and sat at the bar, the bar man was friendly and amazing as he went about keeping up with business, cocktail shaker making a show for all. Our meals were excellent, large portions that were delicious, two meals, four beverages just under a C-note Took a photo and can't find it, sorry read more

It was a bustling Friday when our group of 6 had dinner. It was busy when we got there. By 7:30 every table was taken. It's a well planned restaurant and it wa bustling. Maybe it was too busy though. Service was slow, but we were also relaxing and taking our time so we were OK with that. But we had to ask for butter 4 times - twice from our server and twice from the bus team, before it came. That nice warm bread was cold by then. The food was very good and well priced, but have better at the same prices with better service. Probably a one and done for us. read more

I wish I took photos - I've been here literally countless times. Time prior wasn't great (watery amatriciana pasta/usually a standout), but we decided to try again last Saturday night - celebrating a birthday. We were seated in the back room even though I asked for front, so we were off to a bad start. Waiter was rude and impatient. I ordered a half order of pasta to start, as I always do. Waiter was difficult to deal with and it didn't arrive with all the other appetizers and when we asked he said he'd bring a full order with my entree. I explained I ordered a different entree and didn't want them together, so he brought it anyway but everyone else had already finished their starters, so it was awkward and awful anyway and a full order charge. This is the menu description - SCHIZZETTO-Spaghetti, clams, scallops, cherry tomatoes, garlic, olive oil - It's always light and delicious but this one was overcooked and had a BROWN sauce - no idea why. I've eaten this at least 10 times and this was just wrong. The waiter was terrible really, so it was hard to get over the bad food. Very loud and deafening atmosphere. I don't know when the bib gormand people came, but definitely not the day we visited. read more

This relatively new Rye location of Rafele has quickly become a local favorite. A hive of activity on most nights, but especially during weekends and the festive period, I would definitely recommend booking ahead. Despite a galore of Italian restaurants operating in the vicinity, Rafele distinguishes itself easily. Its stylish and elegant ambiance has great pull factor while an organised and friendly team ensures seamless service. Its contemporary menu, although distinctively Italian, is noteworthy for its originality. Other positives include the quality of its ingredients and its emphasis on fresh natural flavours. Our favorites include : Fritto Misto, a delightful platter of lightly battered calamari, shrimp, zucchini, fennel strips and sage which we always order as an appetiser to share. Gamberoni Salad, a melange of arugula leaves and endive, dressed with a light lemon olive oil dressing and topped off with 3 delectably grilled jumbo prawns. Carciofi, irresistibly moreish crispy artichokes sprinkled with Grana Padano cheese and parsley. Salsiccia e Broccoli Rabe Pizza. Rafele's signature pizzas are more like flatbread in style, rectangular, thin and crispy. We love this combo of homemade sausage, mozzarella, broccoli rabe and chilli flakes. Funghi e Gorgonzola Pizza, another great pizza option, but with a slightly richer flavour owing to its mix of mushrooms, Gorgonzola cheese, truffle oil and mascarpone cheese. Spaghetti Schizzetto with clams, scallops, cherry tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and white wine is the go-to pasta dish for seafood lovers - fresh, tangy and light. Regrettably on our last visit our pasta order arrived with the spaghetti a little overdone, hopefully this was a one-off. Tagliolini Con Funghi, served with mixed mushrooms, garlic, truffle pâté and Grana Padano cheese is the perfect comfort pasta dish on chilly days. We have unearthed so many lovely dishes at this gem of a place that it is impossible to name them all. Being adventurous can be rewarding, indeed that was how we recently discovered that their grilled New York strip loin was also delizioso! read more

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Do not come here. Not only was the service terrible as I sat with an empty wine glass for 30 minutes, but I also found broken shards of shells in my risotto. It would have been one thing if the broken piece had come from any of the seafood in my entree, but all those shells were entirely intact. The seafood was also full of sand. We had a party of 7 for a birthday and everyone felt disappointed in this meal. read more

Rafele Rye - Italian Near Me - Rye, New York

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Had a really lovey dinner, it's a nice and cozy space, amazing service, all the people there were so warm and welcoming. Fungi e Gorgonzola pizza was just heavenly!!! Shaved artichoke salad w grana Pádano was perfect w our pinot noir. They start you w bread plate w focaccia and crispy white bread and a vegetable eggplant dip - it's really delicious. Absolutely inline with what a great dining experience should be at prices that are quite moderate. read more

Ate here last night for a family celebration. For the first time ever, it was disappointing. The grilled octopus, usually a favorite, arrived tepid and very fishy tasting. Then the John Dory special arrived, also tepid, with the skin on (quite unappealing and the first time I've ever had it served like this) and also extremely fishy. We found the waitstaff to be very rushed and not overly friendly. It was a busy night, and they were all slammed, but that was a turnoff for us. We love this restaurant and will return, but it will be a while after yesterday evening's experience. read more

We have enjoyed our dinners and service at Rafele's since they opened. We have been so welcomed over the years. We love the food and the service. Over the last year though, we began planning our daughter's wedding with Elisa, William and Rafele. Elisa and William shared in our excitement. Elisa has style and her enthusiasm is contagious! She and William gave wonderful recommendations regarding seat arrangements, booth for our DJ, food choices and time management. They accommodated all our wishes and last minute changes. The night of the wedding was magical. We walked in and the private back room was set up exactly as we requested it to be. They accepted the cake and florist deliveries that day. They put all the table cards in the correct order. They placed the welcome board/easel, gift table, and cake table in the exact locations requested. William directed the staff and bartenders the entire evening. Diego and Carlos, along with all the others behind the bar prepared our food and made sure there was never a line for beverages.They cleaned up every spill with a smile. Our guests were amazed at the quality of the bartending and drinks. The food and service was amazing and served by an extremely professional staff. All allergy and food requests were addressed. The flatbread pizza appetizers continued to be passed around until I told William we were ready to announce the bridal party, parents and first dances. The Caprese appetizer was served family style and replenished if requested. The two pastas were cooked and served in the room with no wait time between pan to table. The presentation was as beautiful as the taste. The wait time between these courses and toasts/dances was based on our requests. The individual dinners had tastes of the two main courses we chose along with vegetables. The guests enjoyed watching the staff make the fennel/arugula salad behind the bar that topped the chicken milanese. There was never better food service and food quality at a celebration dinner like the one that night. Once again, thank you so much for helping make this magical evening a memory for our family that will always be cherished. We thank you for making us feel like family whether we are regular diners at Rafele's or planning a Family Celebration. read more

Bad service... Food was okay... I would not come back to this restaurant again... I was so disappointed about the service..

Benvenutoi! Buon appetito! Rafele and his staff are so welcoming and kind..and the fellow patrons are wonderful. My friends and I had a reuion dinner there last night (3/16/2019). What a dinner! We were not rushed, we were so happy and the staff went out of their way to keep us happy. The restaurant is so clean, the staff is kind and the food is really something to brag about... so delicious, that I can't even compare it. The gnocchi, so light and tasteful, the sauce...YUM. Broccoli Rabe, artichoke salad, Arancini balls, Ravioli(homemade) The caponata is so delicious, I didn't want to stop eating it with the homemade bread that Rafele serves with it. You have got to try this place, it is first class and scrumptious! read more

Beautiful place ... first time there was back in 2019 .. went back yesterday and was glad to see they were still there , the place is beautiful , the food is great and service is always so pleasant . Their Fried Gnocchi with prosciutto is to die for !!! Clean and positive atmosphere , great for a summer afternoon or an evening on the town . Two thumbs up for sure read more

10/10 will not come again. The experience was horrible. I've never experienced such terrible customer service in my life. You would think because of the ambience at this place was a nice comfy rustic restaurant, but you will be wrong. Not only is every single person that's working there one specific race but they also pick and shoes who they want to give the specials to and who they don't want to. I was the only person that was a minority there and I was the only person that was not read a special and I found out at the end towards leaving the restaurant, but they had specials because they were telling everyone else except my table. Unless you want to be treated extremely unfair and you want extremely subpar food not worth the price then do not come. I apologize to the owner, but obviously she needs to hire a better management and he needs to hire better. Customer service waiters. read more

Get the fish stew and thank me later. Servers are friendly and some know exactly what we want to order and make us feel welcome.

I've been here before and the food was good; my rating is about the service. I had friends coming up for dinner, so I made a reservation months in advance, knowing around the holidays, it gets crazy. Day of, only an hour before we were supposed to go, I got a reminder text that my reservation was for the following day and they wanted to confirm. Puzzled, I called and they said "oh yeah, we have a private party today, so there can be no reservations". There was no apology and I had to scramble to find another restaurant, last minute. This was very inconsiderate. read more

Great food!! Friendly staff and good hospitality. Perfect for special occasions! Reservation needed.