Had an amazing experience at this Italian restaurant. The food was fresh, flavorful, and made with so much care. From the pasta to the dessert, everything tasted authentic and homemade. Our waitress, Adriano, was outstanding — friendly, attentive, and made the entire experience even better with excellent service and a great attitude. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, perfect for a date night or dinner with family and friends. Definitely one of the best Italian spots I’ve been to, and I’ll absolutely be coming back. Highly recommend!
Italian restaurant
Patsy's Italian Restaurant
Lincoln SquareManhattan


Lincoln Square
Manhattan
The brief
About Patsy's Italian Restaurant
Vintage Neapolitan eatery near Carnegie Hall with a history of entertaining high-profile patrons.
Health inspection
NYC DOHMH Grade A
Score13(lower is better)
Inspected12/28/2023
Grade A is the highest mark from NYC's Department of Health — about 90% of restaurants earn it.
Community Rating
4.3
out of 5
2,104 community reviews
Rating aggregated from community reviews across platforms. Read full reviews on Google or Yelp for detailed diner experiences.
Reviews
What diners say about Patsy's Italian Restaurant
15 verified Google reviews
3.9
15 reviews
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While in ny,I booked this restaurant for a night out solo. Staff were very attentive and the food was outstanding. Met Sal and bought one of the cook books. He even signed it for me. This is a must go to when you're there.
I genuinely do not understand the hype around Patsy’s on West 56th Street. This place is supposedly a New York institution, but our lunch for two came to nearly $150 with tax and tip, and the quality was shockingly mediocre.<br><br>We ordered the eggplant rollatini appetizer, chicken parmesan, ravioli, and one mimosa. The chicken parm came with no side dish whatsoever and was bland and absolutely swimming in sauce. I actually salted it to try and get some modicum of taste out of it. The ravioli honestly tasted like something that could have come out of a can. Nothing tasted fresh, special, or remotely worth Midtown Manhattan prices.<br><br>The ambiance felt frozen somewhere in the 1970s or 80s — and not in a charming “old New York” way. More like it simply hasn’t been updated in decades. The waiter wasn’t rude, and he was accommodating when we made a last-minute change to the order, which I appreciated, but he also wasn’t particularly warm or attentive either.<br><br>For almost $150 at lunch, the food should be exceptional. The service should feel welcoming. The experience should feel memorable. None of it did.<br><br>Honestly, I’m baffled by the glowing reviews. Maybe tourists love it because of the reputation or history, but as someone who lives in New York, I cannot imagine choosing to eat here again with so many vastly better Italian restaurants in this city at lower prices.<br><br>If I could give zero stars, I would
We had a party of eight and they did an amazing job getting a seated and serviced. Food was fantastic and plenty to eat. Most of us took leftovers home.
If you want to experience Italian-American comfort food at its finest, Patsy's Italian Restaurant in Midtown Manhattan is an absolute must. This iconic, family-owned gem has been serving up classic dishes since 1944, and it continues to deliver a memorable dining experience that feels straight out of a New York time capsule.<br><br>The moment you walk through the doors, you're transported back to a nostalgic, warm atmosphere—photos of famous patrons like Frank Sinatra and The Sopranos cast cover the walls, reminding you that you're in a place with serious history. The ambiance is cozy, family-friendly, and full of character, offering that true old-school vibe that’s hard to find these days.<br><br>But let’s talk about the food—wow. Every bite feels like a trip straight to Italy. The portions are generous (a true hallmark of Italian-American comfort food), and you can’t go wrong with the classics. We tried the Sal Special, and it was a revelation—fresh, flavorful, and packed with authenticity. The spaghetti and meatballs are legendary, and the veal parmigiana and chicken marsala are both absolute standouts. For dessert, the tiramisu is an indulgence you have to try.<br><br>The service is friendly, attentive, and feels like dining with family, adding to the charm of the place. Be sure to make a reservation, especially before theater shows, as Patsy’s is always buzzing with hungry patrons looking to savor the iconic flavors.<br><br>Whether you're a regular, a tourist, or just looking for a taste of old-school New York, Patsy’s will not disappoint. We can’t wait to go back!
Has that old school family owned vibe. The owner greeted every table that came in and thanked them for coming upon leaving. Food portions were big and very good. Lots of signed celebrity pictures on the walls dating back to the mid 1900s, very cool stories with each that Sal, the owner will tell you about if time permits. Loved it!!
Disappointing value, even by Midtown standards. The food is average at best and doesn't justify the high price point. The Chicken Cacciatore was tough and dry, lacking the tenderness you'd expect. To top it off, the tiramisu was $16 for a tiny portion that was overwhelmingly creamy. You can easily find better quality and reasonable prices elsewhere in the neighborhood.
I went to Patsy’s Italian Restaurant, just south of Central Park. A place that has been there since 1944. Places like this don’t survive by accident. They survive because they do things the right way, and they do them consistently.<br>The room speaks before anyone says a word. Old-world. Respectful. The kind of atmosphere where conversations are low and the walls have heard everything. This is traditional Neapolitan cooking, the kind that doesn’t need to explain itself. It simply shows you.<br>I ordered the Uccelletti Filet Mignon over pasta. When it arrived, I understood immediately. Rich, indulgent, unapologetic. Perfectly cooked filet, sauce that clings to the pasta the way it should. This is not a dish you argue with. You accept it, and you’re grateful. Just don’t bring your diet into this room—it won’t leave with you.<br>I also tried the Chicken Fettuccine. Creamy, deep, comforting. The Rigatoni followed—solid, honest, done the way it has always been done. Every plate carried weight. Nothing rushed. Nothing careless.<br>The service was professional, quiet, and attentive. They know when to appear and when to disappear. That’s not taught in a day—you learn that over generations.<br>Now I understand why Frank Sinatra loved this place. Men like that don’t waste their time. Patsy’s earns your trust the moment you sit down.<br>If you’re looking for history, excellent food, and an atmosphere that commands respect, you come to Patsy’s.<br>This is not just dinner.<br>This is tradition
Only markdown comes from the bland green beans that came with the entrée. Would have preferred a little pasta. Clams Oreganata rocked. The Veal rocked. The Cannoli Cake rocked. And the house Montepulciano was nicely priced and held up well. Service was prompt and proactive. Came before a show at Carnegie Hall. Would recommend and return.
It was our 29th anniversary. We wanted to go to One if By Land Two if by Sea but they close pretty early. This place definitely draws you in by dropping Sinatra's name. Keep in mind he has been dead for FOUR decades! I doubt the food or chef have endured. The food and drinks are MEH. I ordered Linguini and claim sauce which was a big mistake. My spouse was NOT wowed by his dish either. Look I'm African American I cook better Italian than most restaurants. We also have 5 stars palettes not to mentioned we have traveled to Italy 3 times. I traveled for work weekly all over the US. So my palette is not easily impressed. The desert was far better than the food or drinks but there are only two options Tiramisu🥱 and Canoli. At $200+ tip I would never ever come here again.
Tldr: way too overpriced for what it delivered<br><br>The food was disappointing right off the bat because the bread was cold and hard.<br><br>We ordered 2 lunch sets, which were $47 each.<br>We had a Penne alla Vodka, an absolutely abysmal dish—a 5 year old kid can make a better pasta. Not only were both the sauce and the penne cold, but the presentation was disgusting. It was apparent that the chef didn’t put much effort into it.<br><br>For the second entree we had the Chicken Frances, which in all fairness wasn’t that bad. At least the chicken was not too dry. But I didn’t like the sourness of the sauce.<br><br>The only commendable part about the food were the desserts. Good portion and taste.<br><br>But the bottom line is I won’t be visiting again.
Unfortunately won’t be ordering again from this Patsys. It’s way over priced for small portions. I called before I ordered and the lady said each portion was “large” and probably enough for 2. I thought for $30 to $40 dollar dishes, it should be pretty big portions. The ceasar salad for $17 was pathetic. The leaves barely covered the bottom of the takeaway plates. The worst was the calamari for $28. It says “for 2”. If you look at the picture, it’s barely a half portion. The fried mozzarella for $28 was also pretty small ( just those 2 pieces ). All the pasta dishes ( each around $30 to $40) barely filled the containers. Btw, I took all these photos before eating any of the food. I spent over $450 and my guest left hungry. I don’t think it’s right to charge so much and give so little. These are not expensive ingredients.
We just randomly found this restaurant and found out this was like Frank Sinatra’s second home back to that time. Food is delicious and smooth. We love the vibe in the restaurant, the staff and even the guests are like family have very cute humor. Eto served our table with his caring and humor made our experience special and unforgettable. The eggplant parm and penne vodka were like homemade by grandma , very tasty. We finished the whole food then ordered eggplant to go and another bottle of vodka sauce just because we really love the food ! Definitely will come back again soon!
For my first proper dinner in NYC, I chose to book a table at Patsy’s, and from the very beginning, their excellent staff (seriously, in a city full of people really great at hospitality, these guys might take the crown) made us feel right at home.<br><br>Since the food was delicious (the flavors, wow), and as the drinks were flowing (kudos for making Old Fashioned the old fashioned way, no pun intended), it was clear to me how this restaurant has kept people returning again and again decade by decade. A true institution for over 80 years, here’s to many more!
Patsy’s is the real deal. Not long after arriving we met Chef Sal, third generation owner. He and his staff were so warm and welcoming. The eggplant parmigiana was easily the BEST I’ve ever had. Bring your appetite- the portion sizes are very generous, you will not leave hungry. Thank you Michael Bublé for the recommendation, we loved it as much as you do! Be sure to call ahead and make a reservation- this place was bustling even on a Monday night. ps) Chef Sal even went outside so we could take a selfie with him in front of his iconic sign🙏
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Patsy's Italian Restaurant is listed in the Eat Real Food NYC directory — a curated database of healthy restaurants in Manhattan, verified with official NYC Department of Health inspection data.