A 3.5 star restaurant in my book. Ambience is very 'old-school' and it seemed like 90% of the restaurant were regulars. In fact, the couple that came in after us greeted everyone by name and were ushered to their seats before we were even acknowledged by the host. In all fairness, the couple pointed at us multiple times saying we had gotten there first, but the host insisted on seating them. Granted, loyalty is great, but we also live in the area. As a couple many decades younger than the average clientele, we could also be potential regulars...now, not so much. Apart from the host, the service was decent. We shared the Clams Oreganata which they thoughtfully split into two portions before it got to our table. We ordered the Farfalle ai Scampi and the Buzara (traditional Dalmatian seafood stew). The farfalle was supposed to have truffle oil but we tasted none. The buzara was delicious and the seafood was plenty. However, the shrimp in both of our dishes were cooked beyond death. They were so rubbery and hard that I couldn't look past it (hence the 3.5 stars and not higher). I wonder if it's because that's how the regulars like it, because the rest of the seafood (calamari, mussels, clams etc.) were cooked perfectly. We shared homemade tiramisu for dessert and it was delicious. If I come back to Villa Berulia, it would just be for the tiramisu and a drink or two. Basically, don't order shrimp in any form and you'll be okay. read more

The food has been the best Italian I've had in New York. The ambiance was perfect. Additionally, both my entree and pistachio cheesecake were delicious. Service also can't be beat. Thanks! read more

As far as New York City goes Villa Berulia maybe under the radar: Not in Murray Hill. VB is our top classic restaurant in the neighborhood. The Italian/Croatian menu is too die for. I do not know why their minestrone soup is the best in the world but it is: The 'Buzara' is as good as it is in Dubrovnik. Wonderful family owned MH treasure. Bon Appétit. read more

I would give 6 stars if I could, or ten. We looove coming here. The staff is always very warm and welcoming. We haven't had a bad experience here and we come here at least three times per month for the last two years. We have brought our parents visiting and they loved it too. We always have the same dish because we love it, but having tried different stuff it was always great. I go for the grilled salmon with red sauce and my fiancé for the Dalmatian Buzara (seafood pasta with marinara sauce). They make it spicy per request and are flexible to accommodate any changes. My fiancé has tried similar dishes in NY buy says no one compares to the one here! Hard to beat! And we love the Croatian wines and desserts cart :D For more years to come!! Save our spot this weekend! read more

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We came on a trip to New York and we just happened to run into this place as we walked the streets. It has an extremely cute exterior and it is even cuter once you walk inside. We came in without reservations on a busy Saturday night and they were still able to accommodate us right away. The manager was extremely pleasant and the servers were quite attentive. We were given several options for food and drinks, which by the way were delicious!! I am not sure what I ordered but it was the chicken special of the day. The chicken and veggies were so tender and had the right amount of seasoning/sauces. The spaghetti sauce was the best I have ever tasted! All in all, this place was amazing! When I return to New York from LA, I will make sure to stop by again! read more

Villa Berulia - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

This cozy "Old School" Italian restaurant continues to shine amid challenging times. From the warming welcome to top line service to - of course - the extensive menu family and friends will leave with smiles. Our recent dinner for three included shared appetizers of Baked Claims Oreganata and the Mozzarella Caprese (mozzarella, tomatoes, red peppers) - plently for the table. Two orders of "Vitello Alla Griglia" (king veal chop) was tender and flavorful. The grilled Atlantic Salmon was a winner as well. Looking forward to our next visit... read more

You will not find better service than Villa Berulia. Owners Alex and Steve make you feel like family. The restaurant is pure warmth, authenticity, and serves up fantastic food and drinks. Perfect romantic date night spot in Murray Hill! read more

Recommend 100% for anyone who loves Old School Italian in a Midtown neighborhood spot.

Had a wonderful anniversary dinner at Villa with my wife. Great food, service, and atmosphere. Will definitely eat here again when back in NYC. read more

This is the best Italian restaurant I've eaten at in New York City. The outside is a bit unassuming but the food and service is top notch. You'll have some of the best hand made pasta, and the veal is perfect. It's all done amazingly classic Italian style and I haven't had a meal here I haven't liked. The service is amazing. They're accommodating, ensure you like everything you're served, and love to give you their full attention. Needless to say, this is my new to go. I'll be coming here as frequently as I can. Oh, and need I say happy hour M-F 4-6pm with tasty wines, beers, and perfectly mixed cocktails? Seriously, check it out!!!! read more

I've lived next door to this gem for 4 years and can't believe I just had my first meal there last night. Amazing thoughtful service (a very clumsy guest at our table spilled his drink and we were promptly handed a new one) with even better food. The Caesar salad was so crisp 10/10 and do yourself a favor and order all the dishes that have the word "Beruila" in them. Vibes are super cozy and they basically let us shut the place down. Will absolutely be back to see my new friends Alex and George! read more

I went for lunch during Restaurant week and got the soup of the day (a vegetable purée), chicken piccata, and dessert (a chocolate cake). Food was very good, service and ambience were excellent. I told the hostess when I arrived that I had to be in and out quickly, and I had a 3-course meal with excellent service in 40 minutes. Overall was very pleased. Note that the vibe is more "tried and true, classic done well" than exciting or novel, but that's the draw. read more

Villa Berulia is a quintessential New York restaurant. Delicious, fresh and fantastic service. The dining rooms are cozy and intimate - like a vacation on 34th street. A great place for large groups or a date night and they have the perfect private dining room where I can't wait to host my next party! read more

I should start off by saying what Villa Berulia is not: It's not a celebrity chef Italian restaurant. It's not a scene. It's not trendy or cutting edge. It is a very good local Italian restaurant that puts a premium on gracious service. I have been going to VB on and off for about 15 years. The crowd is older and there are a lot of regulars. John, Marija and the waitstaff greet many of the customers by name. The dining area is divided into a few smaller spaces, giving the restaurant an intimate feel. The service is friendly and professional. We had a couple of bottles of well priced Croatian wine (Bibich, maybe?). The special whole artichoke appetizer was excellent and different- It was served drizzled in lentils and brown sauce which tasted better than it sounds. Agnolotti as an appetizer was very good, as was the cold seafood salad. The branzino drew raves. I had an excellent special of veal chop Milanese. We didn't delve too deeply into dessert and shared a plate of biscotti. Villa Berulia is a great place to spend a couple of hours over dinner with friends. You will get to know the friendly owners and staff by the end of the night. You won't become famous by eating there. read more

February 2023 My daughter and I ate here our first night in New York City. We love Italian that is authentic but different than what you find typically just anywhere - and Villa Berulia really delivered. Our waiter, Al, was delightful and entertaining. The food ( I had Pollo Berulia- large portion), the wine, the dessert and the service were top notch. The tiramisu was made in house and the best I've ever had. Loved it! read more

Easily 5 stars, not only was the food amazing, but the service was that much better!! Best Italian in NYC read more

Villa Berulia - Chicken Parmesan with Penne pasta - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Yummy osso buco. Fast and pleasant service. Really delicious. I had it to go due to our traveling and they accommodated our request. Will be returning. read more

I've eaten at Villa Berulia for over 40 Years! Always a terrific experience. Food, never disappoints, owners are like family, warm and welcoming, staff is professional and friendly and attentive (without being a bother) We've had several parties there over the years and when my father died, John and his wonderful sister, Maria(the owners) opened up early on Saturday to accommodate my family and relatives for a private repast luncheon. The food was excellent and John, Maria and their staff went above and beyond to ensure that my Mom, my son and myself were well taken care of. I'll never forget them for this. Sadly, John has passed away but his daughter and son-in-law are now in charge and they are the dynamic duo. I highly recommend Villa Berulia. Once you go, you become like family read more

What a wonderful experience! Such a classic restaurant! Service was impeccable and the food was excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed my lobster and shrimp linguine. I'm surprised I didn't come across this place earlier. There aren't many delightful eating options in Murray hill and so I was very pleased to come across this timeless restaurant. read more

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Sometimes a restaurant knows how to treat their customers right so they'll want to return. This was true of Villa Berulia. In making a reservation online, I casually mentioned we wanted to sit in a quiet area and also that we'd be celebrating a birthday. So we went and the food was very good. The service was exceptional from the moment we walked in. That was a good feeling. After dinner, and to our surprise, the hostess brought out a slice of birthday cake with a candle and offer us after dinner drinks on the house! I was totally and pleasantly surprised. How nice. We'll be sure to be back soon. When we eat out, we love a dining "experience". That's exactly what we got at Villa Berulia. See you soon. read more

Great ambience, food and service. Close to ferry from NJ and convenient meet up in the city spot.

What a spectacular place! We hosted a milestone birthday here for my great aunt, and from the very first email to the minute we walked out the door after the party, the service was impeccable. Alex and her husband Stephen make you feel like family. They made exceptional recommendations throughout planning, the party packages are a great value, the food was to die for, cocktails and wine were outstanding, and we are truly sad the event is behind us. We will be back (a lot). Highly recommend for anything from dinner with friends to a special occasion celebration! read more

Villa Berulia - Beautiful private room with window, set for 21 - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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KenScale: 8.0/10 When my wife and I tried to organize a weekday dinner with a couple she had known for years, I tried to find one of the hot spots in downtown Manhattan not realizing that they were staying in midtown. At the last minute, I had to cancel a reservation for a restaurant in Chinatown area I had been meaning to visit (although I will make sure to visit that place soon) and find a suitable alternative in the last minute. My work is in the Grand Central area where good restaurants are hard to come by. Murray Hill, other than the Indian restaurants on the Curry Hill block, doesn't offer much either. While searching for a restaurant, I stumbled upon Villa Berulia. It has been around the neighborhood for decades although the reviews were scarce. I couldn't tell what they offer as an "Italian-Croatian" restaurant but figured the place might be worth a try. In fact, the dinner at Villa Berulia turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The menu at Villa Berulia is predictable old school Italian with a lot of familiar looking dishes. The difference that they made was in consistent level of execution and being faithful to authentic Italian cuisine. Italian restaurants in America often rely on using strong flavor and fancy ingredients at the expense of showcasing the true identity of Italy's rich culinary tradition. I learned as much when I traveled to Italy last fall and was genuinely shocked that the seasoning tends to be moderated in dishes there, focusing instead on the freshness of ingredients. While not always perfect, I can tell that Villa Berulia does try to remain faithful to that principle. Mozzarella with sliced tomatoes and roasted red peppers didn't have bold flavor, but I enjoyed the silky smooth cheese with the fresh vegetables without any additional condiments. The simple crispy calamari also provided wonderful bites. The best dish of the night in my opinion was the tortellini with light cream Bolognese sauce and mushrooms. The ladies on our table wanted to add cheese on top, but I felt the dish really didn't need one. It was a rich but not uncomfortably overpowering dish that made me feel like I was dining somewhere at a cozy restaurant in Tuscany. On the other hand, risotto with gorgonzola was a bit too creamy. For entrée, we shared the gigantic broiled double cut king veal chop, apparently the restaurant's signature dish. It was cooked very nicely medium well and the juicy texture was something to remember. While the seasoning was on the moderate side, I still wished the kitchen decided not to use salt at all because the texture of the meat could've even been better. For dessert, I preferred the refreshing key lime cheesecake over tiramisu, which was surprisingly not moist enough. I was able to get a reservation at the last minute and by the time our meal ended around 10 p.m., the dining space was nearly empty. Perhaps this place is a popular spot for weekday lunches by corporate crowds? The wine selections are understandably Italian-centric, and the cozy vibe of the restaurant with inviting attitude of staffs in suits was another pleasant element to our dining experience. In this day and age where people are looking for the next Mario Batali hot spot in the city, Villa Berulia was a welcome break bucking the current trend of foodgasm. read more

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Awww this was the sweetest place! Came here in fall 2017 to celebrate me getting a 770 on the GMAT exam :D Romantic, fancy little restaurant, very sweet older waiters (who said we looked cute! And seated us so we could look across the table and see ourselves in the huge wall mirror), white tablecloths on circular tables. Very nice atmosphere, calm and sophisticated :) There was almost no one in the restaurant besides us, so once again it was just us haha ^.^ I got the Tortellini Alla Berullia (Ring-shaped cheese-filled pasta in a light cream bolognese sauce) and he got the caesar salad with chicken and a glass of wine. Portion was good and food good also! Would be happy to come back here :) read more

Excellent food, atmosphere, and service. It definitely deserves a try. Highly recommended.

A friend of mine recommended this place. We enjoyed it but it was not great - but it was good. The lasagna had way to much cheese and less meat then expected. I ordered veal with spaghetti and got mashed potatoes. The veal portion was small but tender and tasy.The veal parmesan the other folks got and mushroom risotto got rave reviews. The bread choices were excellent. We did not go for dessert - and frankly the waiter, whose charge this is - did a less than stellar job in trying to convince us to be tempted. The manger was friendly and gregarious, the wait staff cold but efficient. However, I like to be asked if we are finished and if the plates can be cleared, not string a finger in a circle over the table with a singe word, "done"? Overall just ok, would like to try again and track and trend how they are. read more

Excellent date night spot. the place is an institution. Get the Chicken parm it's just incredible.

A great restaurant in midtown Manhattan. If you don't look closely you might pass it. Service is great and food is even better. One of my favorites in New York. read more

Excellent dining experience. My family has been eating here from almost the beginning. Service, food, atmosphere and the friendliness of the staff is wonderful. read more

My friend and I enjoyed our meal here (aided by the fact that the two of us downed a bottle of prosecco). The eggplant rollatini appetizer was terrific. We shared it -- but next time I'd probably get one just for me. I had chicken parmesan and my friend had sole. The entrees were a tad expensive, but we were happy and full. read more

Fantastic atmosphere with candlelit tables, knowledgeable servers, myriad authentic Italian food options that are delicious. Owner is a great guy, too! read more

Fabulous food. Fabulius service. Fabulous homey comfortable feel. Cannot wait for Covid to go away so I can go back. I'm thinking Chicken Berulia...no, Veal Parm...no, Lemon Sole...no, clams, salad, pasta, eggplant, risotto... think I will want it all! read more

This was the perfect date night spot! The food was absolutely delicious! All staff members were friendly and attentive. We were given complimentary wine after dinner. We will definitely be back! read more

Atmosphere was nice but the food was truly pedestrian. Nothing so out of the ordinary that it would warrant a trip into Manhattan for it, e crept to get together with friends. read more

This is as authentic and old school Italian as you can get. The owner greets you with a warm welcome and brings you to your table. He gave me the "special" table because we were celebrating my birthday and also a single rose as a gift. We ordered a bottle of Cortese di Gavi to start with a birthday toast which was a great pick. The food was superb and very flavorful! We had the avocado shrimp and crab appetizer special the Italian seafood stew with sauteed spinach and chicken with peppers and broccolini. The staff was attentive and very friendly, made us feel like family. Jovanni the owner then came out with a complimentary dessert, nutella crepes. Everything was Exquisite! Definitely a place you go and take your time at. read more

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Good service. Good food. I ordered soup and salmon and it tasted well. Bread and butter was good too. When I entered the restaurant, the smell wasn't too pleasant. When the server lighted the aromatic candle at my table, it is ok. read more

Villa Berulia - Salmon - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Unclear why this restaurant is so highly rated. We ordered 2 pasta dishes (ravioli and spaghetti) and one chicken francese, and were severely underwhelmed. For starters, the bread was stale, dry, and lacked flavor and we were served cubes of prepackaged butter. However, the bread was the best part of the meal. The spaghetti and chicken were flavorless and the ravioli was dry inside. For the steep price tag, we expected much better quality read more

I thought this was a real hidden gem. Unfortunately its a bit hard to find because of dumb scaffolding outside, but god damn this is excellend Italian food. Started with the mussels which were in an excellent white sauce. Ordered the tortellini as a main course which really blew me away. The portion was huge so you def get your bang for your buck. The tortellini was perfectly cooked and the sauce was so unique and tasty. I generally dont even like tortellini that much but hot damn this was good. Service and overall atmosphere were great as well. read more

Food: delicious. Service: impeccable. We started the meal with an eggplant rolantini, which had the perfect balance of cheese to eggplant. Then I ordered the mushroom risotto and my girlfriend ordered Agnolotti in marinara sauce. Both were excellent. Lighting is romantic. We didn't order dessert, but they brought out biscotti for us to try and I loved it. read more

Service is homey and polished. Traditional Italian. Felt similar to the places I went to as a kid. Eggplant is a A+ best in NYC Ravioli is a B good sauce but think they need a better supplier Grated cheese is a C tasted as it it had a lot of cellulose in it Osscobucco A- generous portion but a bit gamey read more