This was my second time at Tessa and we had such a lovely experience. I am a big apps girl and I love their apps, specifically their house dips and cauliflower fritto. I got these during my first visit and it was a must to get them again. The burrata is also very good. I want to highlight the mussels, they were DELICIOUS. I don't typically like mussels but the sauce that it sits in really was the star of the show. Our server was AMAZING, her name is escaping me right now I believe her name was Annalise. We went to celebrate our "proposalversary" and I was having a really difficult week, but Annalise turned our evening around with her excellent service. She brought us complimentary prosecco once we told her we were celebrating, which was very kind of her. Lastly the lemon cheesecake is SOOOO good. We were already stuffed by the time dessert came but Annalise insisted and we did not regret it. The ambiance is dark and moody. I love their bar seating or any table against a wall, it is private enough where you can have a conversation and not be yelling, etc. In my opinion, the UWS lacks good food but Tessa is a solid option! Will definitely be back :) read more

Tessa - Meyer Lemon Cheesecake - New American Near Me - New York, New York

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What a find! We were looking for dinner near Beacon theater and found Tessa and as a result we also found our favorite cacio e Pepe. The host was so kind and nice and found us a table even though we did not have a reservation. They do have bar and a community table which was our backup plan. The restaurant is so cute and the service was great throughout. On top of that food was absolutely amazing. 1. If they ask if you want the bread, say yes. You get these warm rolls you can dip in melted butter. So delicious 5/5 2. I got the tuna tartare. This is my appetizer of choice. This was amazing and among the best that I have had anywhere. I think it had some olives in it too. I love olives so that helped but if you are in the other category then just check. 5/5 3. Cacio e Pepe pasta. This was my favorite ever. It was an elevated version with a basil crunch on top and Parmesan foam. What made this great though was the amount of pepper. Very peppery with a kick. I would come back to eat just this. 5/5 4. Ricotta gnocchi- soft and pillowy with a tomato sauce and pesto and mozzarella. Absolutely delicious. 5/5 And here we have rare 5/5 for all dishes I had! read more

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pretty good new american place! got the papardelle, burger, and calamari. - be warned that the calamari was not fried! still yummy though lol complimentary bread was really good and warm :) good service considering how busy it was! read more

Tessa - New American Near Me - New York, New York

Service was great! Friendly. Food was good... wine was better. Super crowded. SUPER loud!!!!

Listen, I wanted to like Tessa, but the menu was lacking and my experience was lackluster. The gnocchi was popular but honestly lacked flavor and depth. The only redeeming dish was the Cacio e Pepe and the breadbasket. Service was alright but again; nothing extraordinary. Our entire experience was just very mediocre. read more

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I love sitting at the bar at Tessa to start with a cocktail (thanks, bartenders!) and move into dinner food. The choices are very appealing, and the menu offers something for everyone--vegan, omnivore, kosher, etc. The ambiance is friendly, the drinks delicious, the menu open to all. The truffle French fries alone are worth the trip. The burgers are delicious, memorable, and served as requested. My husband and I regard Tessa as our neighborhood "Cheers"--and are thrilled for it. read more

HH from 3-6pm. $5 delirium. How could I say no? Also cocktails for $10. It's a cute place, perfect for meeting up with friends and having a drink, especially happy hour prices read more

Tessa - New American Near Me - New York, New York

Had An amazing dinner at Tessa! When we went was Monday night prior to heading to the beacon theater which was about a 5 min walk. We were seated and waited a few min for a waitress to come over, to my surprise they were fairly busy for a Monday. I ordered a dirty martini and my mom ordered a blood orange martini. Both were very good, hers tasted like a creamsicle. To start we ordered the dip trio. It was just ok. It didn't come with any pita chips, just veggies & lacked a little flavor. This was the only downfall of the meal. We did also receive bread, and that was complimentary and It was warm & delicious! As our second app we can an app portion of the Cacio e Pepe, OH MY GOSH It may have been the best pasta I ever tasted. The crunch on top with the delicious pepper taste, really so delicious & could have had a whole bowl to myself lol. For dinner I got the branzino which was filleted and delicious and came w broccoli rabe and potato. The broccoli rabe was delicious & had red pep flakes. My mom got the cod & loved the cauliflower mash. We both enjoyed a glass of wine with dinner & they brought It over to us to try beforehand. Really delicious & definitely would go back! read more

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I came across Tessa while looking for a spot that offered both cocktails and dinner. The meal started off on a good note with freshly baked complimentary bread served with a side of butter. I was craving something refreshing so I ordered the Watermelon 'Tini, made with vodka, watermelon, basil, and agave. Unfortunately, it fell flat. The drink lacked flavor and tasted more like a watered-down vodka shot than a crafted cocktail. For my entrée, I went with the Seared Scallops, which came with asparagus, cherry tomatoes, and an orange beurre blanc. While the scallops were nicely seared and the citrus sauce added a pleasant brightness, the dish was missing potatoes and was overloaded with tangerines. Service left something to be desired. We were still eating when a server attempted to clear our plates. When I politely mentioned that I didn't enjoy the cocktail, the waitress seemed caught off guard and made no offer to replace the drink or suggest an alternative. Very disappointing. Despite having a reservation and seeing more comfortable two-top tables available, we were seated in the back near the server station. Throughout the meal, I was repeatedly bumped from behind and distracted by staff chatter. By the end, I opted to skip dessert to wrap things up. Tessa has potential and a lovely ambiance, but from the lackluster cocktail and inattentive service to the uncomfortable seating, it left much to be desired. It's a one-and-done for me. read more

Tessa - Watermelon 'Tini | Spicy Lychee 'Tini - June 2025 - New American Near Me - New York, New York

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Had an intimate dinner to celebrate my civil ceremony here. They have a beautiful semi-private room decorated like a cellar (semi private because it is a wall with openings separating you from the rest of the restaurant). Service was absolutely exceptional throughout the dinner and they helped accommodate any of our requests quickly. We did a prefix $90/pp menu and it was quite a lot of food. Standouts were definitely the Cacio Pepe, the Wagyu burger, and the apple crumble dessert. Drinks were also good (and strong). Absolutely recommend for a nice group celebration that won't break the bank. read more

Had a private grad party and could not have been happier in the space, the staff and the food. Annalise and Zach were incredible from helping with the decorations, serving food and drinks to just being so kind and accommodating. I worked with Sarah leading up to the event in deciding on space, menus and timing. she was fantastic and so helpful. Tessa had gluten free and vegetarian options so no one felt left out. The food was delicious and all our guests enjoyed their meals. I highly recommend stopping in for a meal, having a private event or just to sit at the pretty bar. Definitely will be back! read more

Service with a smile; an immediate smile from the hostess when we arrived and a thank you when we departed. Maybe the best risotto I've ever had, including at some hallmark eateries around the globe. Vegetarian, with peas and artichokes, extremely creamy + it was a substantial portion. We shared the roasted cod and a side of Brussels sprouts ( they made ours to order without the bacon). Both flavorful , arrived hot, and each dish had a distinctive taste. Stylish decor. Very good wines at reasonable prices. We will be back! read more

All time favorite afternoon bar & small area still under scaffolding for outdoor dining. New HH and small bites menu, the Cauliflower Fritto is just perfection. Every drink is made with precision, fig old fashioned is a favorite, as well as the Spicy Lichee or Garden Martini. Mussels, burger, trio of dips also nice bar food. Staff couldn't be nicer, only flaw are the horrendous acoustics !! The metal decor ceilings are beautiful but need some soft material to absorb the cheerful chatter. Upscale wine bar but screens over the bar typically have sports on. read more

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Went for a quick drink for a first date. The bartender was great, helped me order exactly what I wanted. Would love to go back to try the food read more

Food was delicious, as well as drinks! Happy hour was a delight before heading to a show at the Beacon. Salvador was a great bartender as well! Highly read more

After dining at Tessa on several more visits, I am updating my review to 4 stars. They are losing 1 star for lack of consistency. Sometimes, we dine at Tessa and have a fantastic experience, other times we leave with a hit or miss experience. Service is particularly inconsistent, but we have discovered you usually get better service in the bar section for some reason. We still LOVE the tuna tartare w mango, yum.! The pasta dishes are also great- and we appreciate having the option to choose a small or large portion as well. The steak we ordered on our last visit was just okay, definitely can get a better steak nearby, and the mixed drinks are almost always poorly mixed to the extent that we now only order Wine at Tessa if we want a drink. read more

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Delicious brunch, great service. Drinks were great and it's super accessible by public transit. Honestly just a great brunch spot. read more

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The food was unique and delicious, the service was excellent and the ambiance was nice!

My daughter and I went to Tessa on a Monday evening. I'm so glad we had reservations! We arrived at 5:45, and the place was jammed pack. The bar was full (probably because they have a fantastic happy hour menu), and there were three empty tables; one was ours. Within 15 minutes of arriving, the other two tables were filled. The restaurant is loud, but intimate and cozy. I noticed so many people drinking an orange martini, so I tried one. It's actually a blood orange martini, and it was delicious. It tasted like a creamsicle. That could be dangerous! We started out with the house dips. It was nothing like I expected and actually kind of disappointing. The whipped ricotta, although creamy and smooth, and and spinach artichoke dip lacked flavor, but the hummus was one of the best I've ever had. The dips were served with spears of cukes, carrots, celery, peppers and I think white radishes, which were delicious. Next we shared a small portion of cacio e pepe. It was served with a basil crunch of top along with fresh cracked black pepper. Surrounding it was a parmigiano foam and when mixed altogether, it was creamy and very, very flavorful. It was so good I regretted not ordering a full portion. For dinner I had the icelandic cod. What a great choice! Perfectly cooked, it sat on a generous portion of potato puree, again, cooked perfectly. I also enjoyed the roasted cauliflower and the lemony picatta sauce. I also want to mention the wait staff was friendly and attentive. Between each course, our table was cleaned and new silverware was brought out with each course. I would definetly go back. read more

Great spot in UWS for brunch. The restaurant is big and has a nice vibe to it. The service was good and prompt. We got both hot and iced coffees (the hot is better - iced was watered down) and tried the ultimate brekkie, steak & eggs, and the gnocchi with chicken. Everything was delicious and very filling. The ultimate brekkie was a particular standout with the size of the sandwich. We also split the rosemary fries and loved them! I definitely recommend this spot for brunch. I'd love to come back and try their dinner menu. read more

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I recently hosted my wife's surprise birthday party in the private wine room at Tessa. It was a spectacular evening. The room was warm and welcoming. The service was impeccable. They took good care of us. And everyone raved about the food. The catering dept was very accommodating and made planning the party easy. read more

My wife and I love this place. All the food was great and our server was wonderful. Appetizers were great. I had the cod, which was perfect and my wife had the risotto - a hit! The wine list is good and the prices were moderate. read more

Reservation at 5:15 before a show at the Beacon last Friday night. Came in a little early and we were seated right away. The restaurant quickly filled up throughout the course of our meal. Bread and butter to start - delicious! The butter just melted right into the warm bread. We opted to start with the octopus and some rosemary fries. The fries were alright, we could only taste a hint of the rosemary. The octopus was delish, with a little bit of a spicy flavor to it. My mom had the branzino and she loved it. I had the cacio e Pepe with steak added. The pasta was DIVINE. It is buttery and with just the right amount of peppery taste. My mouth is watering now just thinking about it. We opted to share the asparagus and that was good too, grilled perfectly with a hint of lemon. No dessert - we were just way too full! But maybe next time. ;) The restaurant overall was inviting, especially on a cold night. Only complaint was that our table was very close to the tables around us. So close that we could eavesdrop with ease and join in the other tables conversation. Next time I'm in New York, I'll definitely be coming back. read more

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My family and I agreed that we had one of the best burgers of all time. It was amazing. The fresh cut fries were on point. I didn't feel the menu was impressive hence the 4 stars. If your in the neighborhood and want an amazing burger stop on in!! read more

I've always loved their Cacio e Pepe, still the best in the UWS I think. However most recent visit, we wanted seafood as well. Our server, was amazing helpful and gracious. We asked which is better- Salmon or the Branzino? Confidently said; COD. so we trusted it. At first bite, I understood and it was CLEAR they were trying to get rid of the batch. Ambiance always give luxe yet vibrant and fun. Just be careful. read more

A great brunch spot with a variety of options depending on your cravings. I had the omelet with spinach and cheese. It was prepared well and came with a side of hash browns (crispy and didn't stick together) and a small salad (light citrus dressing). I also ordered the Bloody Mary that was not heavy on the Clamato. Try it! read more

Tessa - TESSA Omelette - New American Near Me - New York, New York

Came on a weekend day for brunch after a race. The service was friendly and the restaurant was full. We had a reservation and this is highly recommended. French toast - Big portion and comes with syrup but did not need it. Overall, a solid restaurant for brunch that you can't go wrong with! read more

Tessa - French toast - New American Near Me - New York, New York

"Happy Hour" is my middle name. Joking aside, who doesn't love a good deal on drinks and food? My friends and I love to look for happy hours around the UWS. Tessa has to be one of the most enjoyable happy hours I've been to in a while. They have a vast array of choices for happy hour at really prices for this day and age. Cocktails and small plates for $10 beer for $5 and wine for $8 from 3pm-6pm food starting at 3:30pm in the bar area. We ordered three apps-all delicious. My friend ordered the chocolate tart with ice cream and honestly that was the only disappointed as it was too sweet but that doesn't bother me at all. I orders 3 of the blood orange martinis. Enjoy said on how good they are! Service here deserves 10 stars if I could give it. When do you not love a server/bartender who's not only knowledgeable, nice and funny? Both servers were super sweet. The restaurant is definitely spacious and warm with the lighting. You can't tell from the outside but the back is huge. Will definitely be back. read more

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My friends and I stopped here before checking out a show at the Beacon Theatre, very convenient. Cutesy, hipster vibe and the food and drinks were yummy. I didn't grab any pictures because my phone died but I had SHRIMP SCAMPI and an apple cider spritz. Delicious. My crew had EGGPLANT RIGATONI, TUNA TARTARE, FETTUCCINE BOLOGNESE,WAGYU BURGER and a variety of desserts and drinks. Zero complaints. Our waiter gave great recommendations. The bathrooms were clean. If I'm in the area I would definitely come back read more

I cannot state enough just how delicious the food is here !!! Soooooooooo good !! Everything was full of soo much flavor and the steak had to have been one of the best cooked steaks I've ever had perfect temp and seasoning. It's pretty inside and perfect to go for a date night the ambiance is nice and the service is prompt and very courteous.Definitely recommend this place read more

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Tessa has been my favorite restaurant in the city since I stumbled upon it 2 years ago. I bring friends and family here and everyone has loved it. I particularly recommend the Pickletini, UWS Manhattan, beet salad and their bread with warm butter/oil combo. Yum! Please never close! read more

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Going with 4 stars. First off the service was outstanding from our waiter, I believe his name was Ken but not sure I caught that right All in my party enjoyed an assortment of appetizers and main courses which were beautifully presented. My friend was disappointed in the duck. I wish they had a few more chicken options available for picky eaters like me but they will accommodate you as best they can just ask. Nice cool vibe and would definitely visit again when in the area. read more

Great vibe and ambiance, but overall we had a very lackluster experience with service and food. At night, the ambiance of the restaurant is cozy and warm. It is dimly lit but feels very inviting. The place was buzzing with people and fully packed, with no empty tables when we went. The hostesses were friendly and welcoming. Unfortunately from that point on, we were let down in many aspects. Our servers were in a rush to remove our plates, with appetizers unfinished and plates still in use. We were asked back to back by multiple people if we were ready to have plates removed when there was clearly still food on our plates, food on the plates the appetizers had been brought in, and people still actively eating their appetizers. The appetizers themselves were good but somewhat bland. We could taste the herbs that each dish had, but overall they were lacking salt. Because of how they have the seats arranged, every time the servers rushed past us they ran into the back of 2 of our chairs. And I don't mean lightly brushed against them. A couple apologized but most didn't. This happened at least 10 times. If the chairs are too tight against the walkway then they need to move tables back towards the wall or at least make an effort not to ram people in the back of their chairs. As for the entrees, a few of our steaks arrived cold, though the fries on the same plates were piping hot. It felt as though they had the steaks sitting out for a while, waiting on the fries to be done, but had not kept the steaks warm in the meantime. They also had trouble organizing which steak went to each person, as we had all ordered different temperatures. By the time they handed them to us, they had forgotten which was which and we ended up having to pick through the steak to figure it out ourselves. We really loved the ambiance of TESSA, but in many other ways things fell short of expectations. For the price, we likely would not try again. read more