Outstanding from start to finish. Their service was excellent, the ambiance was so warm and inviting. The food was absolutely amazing and made as we asked perfectly. read more

The Willows - Carrot cake 100/100!! - Italian Near Me - Utica, New York

Every time I've eaten at the willows I've absolutely loved it. I love it so much it's hard for me to try all of their dishes. But I can highly recommend the seafood riggies and veal lukatelli! Great service to match. read more

The Willows is one of my favorite restaurants ever! The service is always outstanding, with a nice mix of friendly and formal wait staff. The food is always delicious, well presented, and interesting. I always get their salad with the perfect ratio of greens, blue cheese, apples, etc. and vinegarette. Their menu changes seasonally, and I've tried many items over the years. I'm partial to their seafood risotto, duck and lamb, which have been great. And there are always enough for leftovers the next night. Desserts are also delicious. Oh- and the cocktails are really top notch! The restaurant is a very tasteful, sweet place, with a lovely fireplace. We are going there for dinner tonight and I'm excited just thinking about it! Top notch! read more

By far the best meal I've had. The willows never fails. Service and food is always outstanding read more

The Willows - Filet - Italian Near Me - Utica, New York

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It's always a absolute pleasure dinning at The Willows. The food and service is outstanding! read more

The Willows - Cod and ribeye special - Italian Near Me - Utica, New York

Very nice dinner with great people! Heard about the Willows for a while but due to our laziness never had the motivation to drive up. The setting is decent and the food is great! Orders the brown sugar grilled salmon, which tasted great with nice flavor. My flower ordered the entree special wagyu steak with black garlic. Very tender beef and cooked perfectly. But the horseradish mashed potato is super strong. Will definitely recommend and come back! #thisisutica #grilledsalmon Other friends' dinner were also nice with great plating Service is nice and the waitress did a great job in introducing all the specials today. The bread was very good, with nice texture (crispy outside and chewy and soft inside) paired with sweet butter. Price is on the higher side but definitely worth it. I enjoyed the dinner and my group here. read more

The Willows - a plate of food on a table - Italian Near Me - Utica, New York

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Great place food is very good Nice place for X-mass party Service is wonderful and friendly I'm glad we ate there read more

Definitely one of the nicer spots in Utica - a small restaurant but delivers on experience and service. Came with a group for a work dinner, the staff was very attentive and friendly. Took their time and answered any questions we had about the menu, which ranges from local dishes (Utica greens) to fancier things you'd find at upscale restaurants (Osso Buco, Scallops). I went with the Osso Buco, and it was extremely tender and flavorful. A generous portion that should satisfy anyone looking for a filling and heartwarming dish. Also go to sample some of the other dishes my coworkers ordered, and they were all very good. We ended with a smattering of desserts, such as their pumpkin and maple ice cream and lemon cake. Overall a very enjoyable and welcoming experience at The Willows. read more

So this is what I think of the Willows. It is an absolute wonderful place to dine. In this photo is a picture of a filet mignon that would absolutely melt in your mouth. When it comes out to you it looks like a piece of artwork. Mr. Barrett does a fabulous job with every meal that he prepares for his customers. Mr. Barrett does a fabulous job with absolutely everything. My wife always gets the chicken lukatelli. read more

The Willows - Photo is filet mignon a perfect piece of artwork. - Italian Near Me - Utica, New York

Excellent service and friendly. Ethan was great. Lamb and fillet was tasty and worth the price. They Don't skip on portions.Clams and broth appetizer could not have enough bread to soak up the flavors. read more

Visiting from Massachusetts. I had the veal Luke. Without a doubt the best meal I've had in months. Hospitality and service was amazing.

Honestly, I don't know why the high reviews. Guess it's because it's Utica and there aren't a lot of options. The salmon came out overcooked and well-done, a big no-no. To me, that's like cooking beef well done. They didn't even ask for a temp on it and I admit, I forgot to make sure. In a quality establishment, the default should be medium-rare unless otherwise requested by patron. The Caesar salad was the best part of the meal. The house salad with champagne vinaigrette was bit uninspired. I can't even remember the other dish we ordered (oh a pasta of some sort which was too watery and not memorable). I admit also that I did not eat any meat dishes so I can't comment on the other menu items which were predominantly meat-oriented. That may be a different experience entirely. I definitely suggest all pescetarians who are hoping to have options here look elsewhere. read more

This is the best restaurant I've found after a year in Utica. The duck with bing cherry sauce is incredible. Sometimes duck works for me, sometimes it doesn't, but this really blew me away. I dont know that chicken gets much better than their 1/2 roasted chicken with thin strips of vegetables and creamy mashed potatos. It would be an impressive meal in LA at twice the price, so it shines that much brighter in Utica. A good meal doesn't guarantee a good dessert, but the 8 layer chocolate cake is definitely worth a try. On different visits, I've had the last piece, and the first piece, still slightly warm from the oven. It's not too sweet, rich and dense yet fluffy. It comes with a scoop of vanilla ice cream that is, again, not too sweet and absolutely smooth and creamy. The frosting on the cake doesn't overpower but makes a nice compliment. The ambience is on the nicer side of forgettable. However, the staff are clearly professionals. read more

A nice small establishment, that really seems to want to provide you great crafted food. The best part is they do just that. The food was all excellent all around. I was able to sample the crab cakes and had the lamb chops. Both were the best I can recall having. The calamari was more on the average side, though it's aioli dipping sauce made it stand out. I look forward to my next visit, and any one who's looking for a great hand crafted meal, should give this place a shot. read more

Lamb was good, service was slow but very good. Menu selection excellent food. Presentation superb. read more

The Willows - Italian Near Me - Utica, New York

Excellent restaurant. Atmosphere and service are A+ the three times I have attended. Great for special events. The filet is extremely good. I have also attended the tailor and the cook and I still prefer the willows. read more

I think this is one of the most underated fine dining places in Utica. The scallops were unreal and the service was great. We were going to share on entree and they brought the entree out on 2 plates. A g read more

The Willows - Italian Near Me - Utica, New York

Love this place. Love, love love. Everything is made fresh to order (so it takes some time for your order to come out, but that is a good time for conversation). Food is delicious from start to finish and the staff is very hospitable. Please check out this place read more

Went with a party of 6, everyone got something different and there were zero complaints. Everything was delicious!

Phenomenal meal with fresh ingredients and attention to detail. In a party of 6, we all enjoyed our meals and the atmosphere as well. Very relaxed and welcoming by the fireplace. They have a good thing going here...fantastic! read more

This is one of my favorite places to eat in Utica. Great menu of Italian specialities-all cooked to perfection. Staff is great both in the restaurant and at the bar. Atmosphere is a little blah, carpeted dining area with fluorescent lighting---sort of reminiscent of a nursing home. That seems harsh, but the food is so good that you can surely overlook the atmosphere. It is very clean and well decorated, just could be a bit more modernized. The various types of Riggies are definitely a stand out item. Lobster Riggies are a favorite amongst my wife and I, but have really never had a bad meal in well over a dozen visits. read more

I've had two occasions to dine here thus far and anticipate many joyous returns. I am a NYC transplant to Little Falls and am used to having my choice of excellent foods at almost anytime of the day or night. The Willows could 'make it there' as Frank Sinatra would say. The eggplant parm is the best I've had; ever. read more

Love this place. Best food in Utica. All menu items are very good. The dining room is a little bland but the ambience is nice. Bar is lively and bartender gives good wine recommendations. read more

I am one of the few people on here who have never had a good experience here. I have never received a meal that I was "wow-ed" by. I have given this place 3-4 chances but I always come home feeling unsatisfied. I once asked for a beer recommendation and the waiter looked at me like I had three heads! I can understand if they have no had much experience in this area, however, if it were me I would tell my customer that I am will go check with the bartender to give them the best possible answer. I was disappointed with how underwhelming this establishment was and definitely bummed me out. read more

HORRIBLE! Service was terrible. We were seated at 8 and didn't receive our entrees until 9:15. Apparently a dried chicken breast and veggie risotto takes that long to cook. We were told the wait was because they cook with "fresh ingredients." Ha! And the waitress seemed homophobic and not comfortable waiting on a gay couple. Based on other reviews, it's clear that it takes so little to impress Uticians. read more

Owned and operated by a 33-year-old chef, Willows should be better known than it is. Dishes reflect influences from all over the world, and they are prepared with a distinctive touch that is neither bashful nor ostentatious. My wife ordered duck confit, I had orecchiette with sausage, and we reveled in how much flavor was delivered. Willows is also fortunate to have a staff that is equal to the task of informing diners about the intricacies of each menu item, so guesswork is eliminated. In addition to a great meal, we had fun, which is a gift that I value as much as the food. I would recommend Willows without hesitation. Portions are ample, so arrive hungry. read more

From start to finish, the best meal we've had in Utica since we moved here. Everything, from the bread and butter to the dessert, was fantastic. Service was relaxed, but attentive. We will be back! read more

Great place for quiet atmosphere. Very good menu selection for all tastes Food was prepared well and tasted good. Service staff was friendly and attentive. Only hick up, the service was a little slow for our group. Kids menu was available if requested. read more

One of the best restaurants in Utica. The "Utica greens" are out-of-this-world! They're made with Sicilian sausage. Outstanding!! Food has a great presentation along with a great taste. Attire is casual, but the place has a fancy feel to it. Friendly staff. You will not be disappointed. read more

This is one of my favorite restaurants in the area. My favorite thing on the menu is the Hots and Sweets, it's amazing, a must try. Even better than the food was the service. My group of three all agreed that it was the best service we've ever had anywhere. read more

Group of eight on a Thursday. Place 2/3 full. It took TWO HOURS AND FIVE MINUTES before we got our meals. The noise is shattering, we could only try to communicate by screaming. Headache City. read more

Great food from a talented young chef. The place also sports a discerning wine list. If you are looking for a good meal then stop by.

My wife and I had dinner there for the first time. The cuisine was fabulous and the service excellent. Highly recommended.

We are here visiting from Ohio and decided to go on an adventure...found The Willows!!!!! OMG!!!! Price is right. Atmosphere is outstanding! Ruth was our waitress and she is good!!!! We loved this place so much we came back the next night!!!! read more

Fabulous experience this past week at The Willows. First of all, it was packed on a Tuesday night, always a great sign! It is always a wonderful dining experience with delicious food that's presented beautifully. Our server was the best! Knowledgable, attentive, without overdoing it, just perfect. The greens here are out of this world, cooked to perfection and not greasy. The Bordetto(?) a seafood cioppino was delicious, in an aromatic red broth. Can't say enough about a great dining experience. Can't wait to return. read more

Appetizer - hot sweet peppers and garlic tasted great. The dining room was sparse though - they could use professional decorating to give more atmosphere. Linens are beautiful though. The server we had was very good, and he came around often. We had a longer wait than we expected for the food but it was delicious when it finally arrived. Spiced lamb with a side of roasted cauliflower was excellent. The Ahi tuna with wasabi was delicious. The lemon cheesecake could have had a bit more lemon seasoning, but it was otherwise great. Fantastic meal! Highly recommend it. read more

The food was good, but the service and atmosphere left far more to be desired. It's billed as a comfy restaurant with fireplace, which makes you believe it's romantic, when it's anything but that. It's far too noisy, crowded, and cramped. read more

I had the opportunity last evening to dine at the Willows with a meeting for our practice and it was well...stunning. Having been to the location last when it was Cafe Canole (and that too was incredible lol) The Willows menu is diverse and their presentation just outstanding. I personally had the duck, and I have never had duck in 20 years, but I realized after having the dish at the Willows that I HAVE NEVER HAD DUCK LIKE THIS! I normally dont do desserts but with the others I felt compelled a bit to try and had the apple and grape cobbler ala mode. It was insanely good. My peers got the prime rib special and all raved about it as well. Kate our server was responsive and completely spot on and the ambience was excellent. We are lucky to have a place like The Willows in our area. Dont wear jeans, I think it would dampen the quality of the experience ;) Oh and you have got to try the calamari before dinner. WOW. read more

i live in nyc and frequent the best restaurants PER SE--DEL POSTO--etc. This place equals or surpasses all of them..I love the food and service .. What atreasure read more

I'm sure it's lovely. I drove from Rome to Utica tonight in pursuit of that loveliness, only to find they're on holiday until 16 January :( So - I went to the Secret Garden down the street, which was very good and incredibly friendly read more