Maiella

3.5/5<br><br>Came here on a Friday date night with my husband and was excited by the concept, especially with the belly dancing entertainment. The ambiance was lively and enjoyable, creating a fun atmosphere for a night out. Unfortunately, the service left a lot to be desired. We felt pressured to place our entire order immediately after being seated, which made the experience feel rushed rather than relaxed. The food itself wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t particularly memorable either, especially given my high expectations. Overall, the entertainment and atmosphere were highlights, but the service experience prevented the evening from reaching its full potential.

We visited on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, and it was the highlight of the weekend. The atmosphere is beautiful, the service is incredible, and the food is phenomenal. We had a 7:30 reservation, and ended up going with the Sunday Sauce option. It seemed like it would be a lot of food for just two people, but because we never felt rushed, and the service allowed time between each course to enjoy and digest, we managed it well. This was such a great way to enjoy various items on the menu and every single thing was delicious. All the while, our server was attentive and kind, and the atmosphere with the decor and live music playing just added to the ambience and incredible evening.<br><br>We had originally made plans to visit the city and had reservations here in December, all part of my plan to propose. Unfortunately, Mother Nature’s winter wrath changed those plans. She said “Yes” at Christmas, but when I shared the original plans with her, we wanted to make the trip in the Spring. So, while the original plans didn’t work out, our visit made for a great celebration of our engagement and exciting life ahead. We can’t wait to return here next time as Mr and Mrs, and cannot recommend this restaurant enough.

Excellent evening out! Great jazz ensemble on Thursday evening made our meal even more enjoyable. The wagyu beef meatballs were tender. The shrimp cocktail was colossal. Steak was perfectly seasoned. The linguini con vongole was exceptional because the fresh pasta is silken and velvety with a perfect balance of garlic and plump clams. Brownie was served warm, with vanilla ice cream, and a variety of nuts. Wow!

Fantastic restaurant, so glad to have this in our neighborhood. The food is fantastic, try the Tomahawk, you won’t be disappointed. Amazing ambience and views of Manhattan too.

We stumbled upon this place looking for a nice Good Friday meal after the park. To me, it was another stuffy, posh, white linen Italian restaurant. Maybe I was jealous because I had my toddler with me and it wasn’t a date night res and we had to eat dinner at 5PM. But it definitely delivers for great Italian food. Rustic brick oven pizza, nice wine selection and handmade pasta was chefs kiss all around. Really came here for the octopus appetizer per toddlers request and he enjoyed it so much that he ordered a second round because it was cooked soft and tender. They serve warm focaccia bread with ricotta cheese to start. We all shared pizza, pasta, Mac and cheese and lobster risotto. Everything came out sublime. I wanted to taste every pasta sauce they had but the waiter recommended the fresh table side Parmesan wheel with truffle and It was great! I think I was craving à la vodka sauce so I asked for a small taste, which they charged extra for, which is fine. But, when the food came they put it next to my partners plate and the person who brought the food said, “extra sauce,” so he thought it was his sauce. Whoops. Luckily, I got to try what was left and it was still really good. We had the cheesecake and affogato for dessert, and it was okay.<br>Overall, this seems like a sweet place for a date with scenic views of the city in front of the Coca Cola sign. Sun sets behind the city so the dinner ambiance was very smooth. Their indoor decor is very appealing as well with their big statement pieces with Italian flair. I feel like the service could’ve been more laid back or personal but everything went well and we saw they were getting busy for dinner service. I saw a couple managers or some big shot walking from inside to outside of the restaurant, vaping a storm and maybe he was on one? Felt like a modern scene out of goodfellas, classic Italian for sure lol<br>The food and drink were fantastic, Nonna would be proud.

Food was delicious. Special shout out to Matiese. He was an amazing server at Maiella. attentive, friendly, and made my birthday dinner feel extra special. He provided excellent service throughout the night and really added to the overall experience. Highly recommend asking for him!!

Hands down best Italian in LIC. Delicious ragu rigatoni and chicken marsala. We love the short ribs too (soft and melt in your mouth!). You can’t go wrong with any of the appetisers. We’ve been here on date nights and for weekend lunches with a baby in tow. I had my baby shower here. It’s a fantastic spot! We are working our way through the entire menu, slowly but surely!!

We had an amazing experience at Maiella! It was just the two of us, and we went for their Tuesday night special featuring the 40-ounce tomahawk steak-absolutely incredible and cooked to perfection.<br>We started with the Caesar salad, which was fresh and delicious, and paired everything with mashed potatoes and asparagus that complemented the meal perfectly.<br>Every bite from start to finish was outstanding.<br>A special shoutout to our waiter, Matiss, who was truly phenomenal-attentive, friendly, and made the entire experience even better.<br>My husband and I genuinely enjoyed everything and will definitely be coming back!

What can I say about Maeilla that truly does it justice? It’s a place that welcomes you with so much love and care, you’ll never want to leave.<br><br>My wife and I came here to celebrate our anniversary, our last one alone before our daughter arrives this summer, and it could not have been more special. From the moment you walk in, the interior is simply stunning. The aesthetic strikes a perfect balance between elegance and comfort, from the blossom trees to the thoughtful décor. It’s truly something you have to experience in person.<br><br>We were greeted and seated by Anthony, the manager, who I can confidently say is the soul of this place. In just a short conversation, he makes you feel like you’ve known him for years. That kind of genuine hospitality set the tone for the entire evening.<br><br>A major highlight right from the start was the focaccia bread with pecorino. It’s served complimentary, and I was blown away to learn it’s all made in-house. Honestly, it’s the best bread I’ve ever had, so good that I’m still surprised they don’t sell it (and I’m still thinking of it right now ) As someone who can be a tough critic, this alone set the bar at a 10, and the experience only got better from there.<br><br>Our server, Heidy, was incredibly attentive, thoughtful, and full of great recommendations. We started with the calamari fritti, which was lightly battered and perfectly cooked, paired with a marinara sauce that was savory without being overly acidic. A fantastic start.<br><br>For our mains, my wife ordered the chicken parmigiana with spaghetti, and I had the cavatappi with sausage and broccoli rabe. While my dish was excellent, perfectly cooked and full of flavor, the true star of the night was the chicken parmigiana. It was, without exaggeration, one of the best we’ve ever had. I don’t say that lightly.<br><br>We loved everything so much that we had to try dessert. Everything is made in-house, and we went with the five-nut brownie. Paired with vanilla gelato and caramel, it absolutely melted in our mouths. The perfect ending to an already unforgettable meal.<br><br>Safe to say, as long as I’m around, this place will have my support. Amazing location, incredible food, and even better people. And one day soon, my daughter will be having her first meatball here. Maeilla has earned not just our loyalty, but a place in our family for generations to come.

We had a private party here on a Friday night. They reserved a space for us with a gorgeous backdrop, and everything was great. They helped us plan, were super flexible with food and everything during the planning process. During the event, the service was attentive, engaged and professional. The food was all fantastic - we had chicken parm, spaghetti pomodoro, salmon, short ribs, beet salad, Caesar salad, wagyu meatballs, and more. There was an eggplant appetizer that was a bit too salty, but that was the only thing that wasn’t to perfection. The atmosphere is really nice, lively but warm. Highly recommend this place!

Went here for Valentine’s Dinner. Overall - it was fine. I think it’s reasonably priced, but I’m not sure I understood the space. There were 2 big cherry blossom trees (which are fun), but playing awfully loud DJ music, and the ambience was just confusing overall.<br><br>Luis was our waiter. No issues per se, but felt a bit ignored. Service of food was also slow (could be bc of Valentines).<br><br>Arancini appetizer special tasted just like fried mozz balls. The “risotto” got lost in the cheese and was overdone.<br><br>The filet mignon was actually very done, but served with cold mashed potatoes.<br><br>The pastas were unmemorable. I recall taking a bite of each and being very underwhelmed.<br><br>Have no real reason to come back. Food is mediocre, space is confusing, and the only thing it has going for it is the price. There’s plenty good Italian spots in NYC, this isn’t it.

We had our wedding at Maiella Restaurant, and it was absolutely perfect! Tyler, the manager, was incredible—so professional, attentive, and accommodating. He went above and beyond to make sure everything ran smoothly, and Maiella is truly lucky to have him on their team.<br><br>The food was phenomenal—fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Every single guest raved about the dishes, and we couldn’t have been happier. The atmosphere of the restaurant is warm and elegant, making it the perfect setting for a special occasion.<br><br>Thank you to the entire Maiella team for making our wedding day so memorable—we couldn’t recommend this place more! Robby & Stefany Pagano!

We hosted a special dinner for my stepdaughters 16th birthday in the private area here and it was great! The staff we were accommodating, the food and drinks were good and our guests enjoyed themselves. They allowed me to bring in decor which added a special touch to the tablescape and space. If you’re looking for a semi private space or place for a night out (we came prior to booking for date night), I would recommend Maiella

We had the pleasure of eating at Maiella after my now-husband proposed in the summer of 2016, while visiting NYC from Ohio. It was delicious and we always wanted to go back. In 2025, we finally made our way back! They sadly no longer had the delicious cannolis from 9 years ago (best i’ve ever had to this day) and the outdoor patio was under construction, but our meal was still fantastic and the staff were lovely. We will always make time for Maiella whenever we are lucky enough to find ourselves in NYC.

What a great place to sit, eat and have a great view of manhattan! The food was spot on, it was not pricey, and we got a show because I ordered the caccio de Pepe It was really good. And because we arrived there before our reservations, we were able to walk down next to the east river and get a special view of the city.