Lattanzi Ristorante

We made a reservation through Open Table and arrived on time. There were no tables available on the main floor, and we were escorted to a very steep, highly polished wood staircase to the second floor. One of our party was not able to navigate the staircase, so we asked for a table on the main floor. We were told that there would be a very long wait. We offered that we had made a reservation in good faith. The maitre d' then replied, "If you can find a table, you're welcome to it!" We left and had a lovely dinner at "Don't Tell Mamma", just down the street. Too bad. We won't go back.

Pros: Looked good

Cons: Accessibility not good

Posted 05/01/09

I had dinner at last Saturday. The food was amazing and the wait staff very attentive and approachable, just really nice. I also liked the atmosphere very much. We were seated on time and it was very romantic . It is amazing how the cooks can make pasta taste that great! This place is definitely worth waiting for! And it won't even cost you a fortune. The best Italian in town. Just amazing!

Pros: food,service

Posted 02/25/09

My husband and I have been Lattanzi fans for nearly 15 years. We have eaten there with friends, family, clients and colleagues. I lived in Rome, and I am selective about which restaurants I recommend and where I eat Italian. I know that eating at Lattanzi will satisfy any (and every) Italian food lover ?even my boss.

My husband and I recently hosted a friend?s birthday (a big one) party at Lattanzi. Planning the party with Lattanzi was a breeze. The food ? artichokes, red snapper, veal chop with mushrooms, fettuccini and other dishes, some vegetarian- was fantastic. The service was warm, informative and really good-natured. We had some hard to please eaters on the guest list, but the staff patiently recommended and explained dishes, and everyone had a wonderful time. The party was everything we wanted it to be and while not inexpensive, definitely worth it and a great experience.

Pros: great Italian food, great location, staff super friendly and informative

Cons: none, I'd go any night ---thinking about it right now!

Posted 02/19/09

I love Lattanzi! It's my local restaurant. I go their when I am entertaining friends and clients. I work in sales and need a restaurant which is going to be consistently great each time I go there. Lattanzi does the job!
I love the little bar in the back of their restaurant. I usually start with an appetizer of sauteed artichokes ( i think it is their house specialty) and a cocktail. Then for dinner, I love to share a plate of homemade pasta (if dining with friends and family)and then something else, like veal scallopini marsala. Yummy!
Eddie is one of the maitre d.'s. He's a charmer! The service is great, and the price is reasonable.

Pros: great food and ambience. The real deal for Italian dining

Cons: can get busy for pretheatre on the weekends. Reservations suggested

Posted 02/16/09

Those who do not love this reataurant do not know real Italian food. One of the best in America, not just New York. Roman-Jewish cuisine with a Sicilian background. The best Mozzarella, Artichokes, White Clam suce in town. To taste it at it's best go after 8 O'clock and not on Monday, when the head Chef is usually off. A real treat, besides the food, is It remains a Ristoranrte that you can talk in and be comfortable, a trait slowly evaporating in New York. A must go to if you love real Italian food. P.SW. if you have room the Napolean is the best anywhere

Posted 01/20/09

My secret: If you are not going to the theater, then go to Lattanzi Ristorante after 8pm.
By that time, the pre-theater crowd will have left, and you will be able to calmly enjoy the warm and comfortable atmosphere and really great food without the pre-theater rush. i have been going for years for many different occasions, and still i think the food is as authentic as roman cuisine gets. I always want to get everything on the menu but i always end up ordering the same: bucatini alla amatriciana, (perfectly al dente), carciofi alla giudia (their signature artichoke antipasto) and last but not least, a combination of their desserts (i try to stay light).
i love it and would recommend it anytime!

Pros: food, service and parking, extensive wine selection

Cons: don't go before 8pm if not going to see a show

Posted 01/19/09

We were mistreated from the second we walked in the door. The coatcheck woman was rude, we were seated by the bathroom, and our server became more hostile as the night progressed. He clearly did not want to be bothered with us. I will not set foot in that place again. I don't recommend it unless you're maybe wearing a mink coat.

Posted 01/17/09

The food at Lattanzi Ristorante was lovely, but the service was comically bad as they tried to get people in and out as soon as possible. We really got a sense that they were just greedy and cashing in on the location. I think that from the moment we sat down at the table it took only about 40 minutes until they brought the bill, before I had finished my coffee.

We were still eating our starters when the mains arrived and they snapped, you done with these or not? And being rushed, I didn't notice that it was this expensive. So I will never ever return to Lattanzi Ristorante and I recommend everyone looking for a relaxed meal to avoid it. Impersonal and unwelcoming.

Pros: pasta was delicious

Cons: not a guest-friendly place

Posted 04/23/08

The restaurant was prompt in seating us and the wait staff was very friendly and attentive. My only qualm was that the table was very cramped for four and all the tables in the restaurant were closely spaced. The food was very good and the portions were perfect.

Pros: Knowledge staff, good food

Cons: Small tables, expensive appetizers and deserts

Posted 12/23/07

Theatre crowd favorite, however; most people don't know it's the true secret - great service and great food AFTER everyone has gone to the shows. The decor and service makes you forget that you are in Midtown. Never feel rushed whenever I visit and am very rarely disappointed with the food. The wait staff allows you to enjoy your company compared to most places that are just trying to turn over the table. Would recommend it to anyone as a must visit if you are craving Italian food.

Posted 04/15/07

I know my title appears sarcastic, but it's really true. I don't have strong opinions on the food one way or the other -- it was ok, not amazing, but then again we ordered very standard dishes. But, please tell me that whoever is hiring the staff at this place had a personal debt to repay, owed a favor to a family friend, had one too many from the wine bottle ... something. There has to be an explantation because this was outrageous. I had no idea there were specials until I left, I dropped a fork as our waiter walked by and he just looked at it without offering me a new one, no mention of dessert before giving us the bill, and I was told there was no more fresh parmesan for my pasta -- even as another patron, who apparently was more important than me and my friend, was getting some. I pressed him on it, and he made a ridiculous excuse along the lines of "oh, i'm glad he found it." As much as I tried to control myself, I had to laugh.

The bottom line: 9th Avenue is the best. If you are thinking of stopping at Lattanzi, keep walking a bit further . There are many great restaurants right around the corner.

Pros: Would make a great buffet

Cons: Service ruins entire experience

Posted 03/10/07

I love dining at Lattanzi restaurant because when I'm there, I truly feel i'm back home in Rome. Rustic and romantic decor together with a courteous staff and attentive service accompany the exquisite authentic roman cuisine. My favorite choices are the carciofi alla giudea, (the restaurant's signature dish) and then bucatini alla amatriciana which you will definetively want to have again should you go back, and the simple fresh mozzarella with tomato and basil, and last but not least, the veal with prosciutto and fontina cheese. Try not to eat all at the same time because you need to leave room for their homemade desserts which you will appreciate more if you can sample a bit of each! (dessert combo). buon appetito!

Posted 02/01/07

I am usually one to afford any restaurant a second chance. I particularly do not like to publicize my bad experiences because I prefer to believe that it is not the norm. However, this was unreal. I have never sat so long without getting a single glass of water, and the waiter practically rolled his eyes after every question I had. The food was not only bland, but cold. Again, the waiter made a disgusted look when I asked him to heat it up and when he finally decided he had some spare time to bring it back, it was still cold. At this point, my husband and I had to laugh, and we only salvaged the evening by seeing how pathetic this restaurant could be. Well, it did not disappoint. We weren't even asked if we wanted dessert (probably because the waiter could not wait to get rid of us), and he stood over the table as my husband signed the cc bill. If it was up to me (my husband is too nice) I would have left him a penny.

If you want to have a relaxing evening with someone you love, please go elsewhere. The great thing about New York is that with every bad restaurant, there is another great place around the corner. Maybe it was just me -- there are plenty of people submitting reviews here that seemed to have a great experience. But, I just felt obligated to share mine.

Pros: Sturdy silverware

Cons: Service, Food, Service, and Service

Posted 01/26/07

My mother, sisters and I were looking for a nice restaurant in the theater district before seeing Mary Poppins (which was awesome!). I tried to get a reservation at Carmine's and after waiting on the phone for 15 minutes, they told me they were booked. It was a blessing in disguise. I checked on Citysearch for a highly rated Italian restaurant in the Theater District and found Lattanzi. What a great find - from the service, to the food to the ambiance we had one of the nicest dining experiences I have had in years. Some of the meal choices that stand out: Fresh mozzarella appetizer was oustanding (still warm and was made onsite). There was a daily special - Parpadelle homemade pasta osso bucco that was out of this world. Lattanzi is a wonderful restaurant and I will definitely be back!

Posted 01/04/07

This restaurant is perhaps one of the best when it comes to Italian food and authenticity. It is personally hands down my favorite. I recommend it to anyone longing for perfect Italian food. The quality of service is superb. You are treated like family the min. you walk in. Everyone is so friendly. (always smiles)

It is very cozy and makes for a very romantic dinner. But it is also perfect to take family and friends. One of my favorite things to also enjoy aside for the food are the cocktails. The have the highest quality of ingredients that makes for fresh cocktails. My personal favorite is "Carla's Sangria."

If you have not been to this restaurant to eat, then you have not eaten at a true Italian restaurant.

Pros: Easy to get to.. and never have to wait.. your taken care of right away,,

Posted 01/02/07

As my parents said Lattanzi it's a beautiful ,cozy restaurant .I was trying to make a reservation for New Year's eve but they were closed.
so, i made it for the day after for lunch before leaving for Chicago
i asked the waiter for the house specialty ,so he send us an appetizer combination of delightful homemade mozarella and tomato, artichokes, asparagus and mushroom follow by a sampler of homemade pastas....mmmmmm.
As a maincourse the fish of the day ..... was outstanding!
Definitely a good start for this year !!

Posted 01/02/07

I have always viewed restaurant row as being a tourist trap, but I decided to try Lattanzi anyway. Unfortunately, the experience was so bad that I felt compelled to write my first review. First, we waited almost 15 minutes after being seated before seeing a menu. It took another 10 to get a glass of water, and bread only arrived after we asked twice. The only reason we heard the dinner specials was thanks to a more attentive waiter a few tables away from us. Aside from the almost offensive service, the food was mediocre at best. The chicken was bland, and the pasta flavorful only after burying it in 5 layers of parmesan. Admittingly, if this was not New York I would speak more highly of the food. But, with such a plethora of other Italian restaurants, particularly in the Hell's Kitchen area, I am baffled at why anyone would pay this restaurant a second visit. Even the decor is below average.

Pros: Location

Cons: Service, Food, Ambience

Posted 12/27/06

I had dinner here with my wife before we caught a show and both were pleasntly surprised with Lattanzi. They have a very large restaurant that has a nice romantic setting and the food was cooked perfectly, tasted great and a nice size portion. We will definitely come back for dinner next time we are in NY for a show!!!

Posted 07/13/06

I simply LOVE this restaurant!!!
The ambiance is beautiful! Very romantic and cozy.
The food is fabulous but make room for dessert and try the Napoleon. I've never tasted such an exquisite dessert. Don't miss it!!
Try Lattanzi after the theater rush. It is a lot more quieter and the staff is more attentive.

Cons: crowded at pre theate, time

Posted 04/12/06

the concierge in our hotel offered to make us reservations after the theater for dessert.
She sent us to Lattanzi on Restaurant Row. What a surprise when they walked us upstairs to the terrace room. It was pretty and intimate. I had fresh strawberries and cognac and my boyfriend had the chocolate mousse and a sambuca with coffee. The staff really made us feel welcome. We will be back!

Posted 04/07/06

I travel back and forth to Italy several times a year and so I was truly pleased with my dining experience at Lattanzi. Not only was the food genuine and wonderfully prepared but the service of the staff, in particular the maitre' d who treated us (we were a group of 7) as if we've been dining there for years!! was warm and inviting. Lattanzi has a very familiar feel to it .. because of the staff and the food is wonderful.

Pros: staff, maitre'd, food

Cons: can't go every nite

Posted 04/04/06

we have dined at lattanzi's aprox. 6 times, since we believed it was one of the best restaurants on restaurant row.....but unfortunately our service last night was essentially ineffective. in summary the artichokes were grand .the chicken dishes were very good, the veal valdestona was slightly better than average, and the zababaglione was only fair.I expect that the poor service was a sign of poor supervision by the maitre d'. We probably will return because of convenience to the theatre district, but not with same gusto as before...... jbarie

Pros: atmosphere, artichokes,, price

Cons: service

Posted 03/11/06

I had been lloking and searching for this restaurant for a long time, but a colleague at work finally told me the secret of this beautiful hidden place. The atmosphere is very cozy and italian. Once you are in it seems almost like being at home. Funny because I am from Italy and the food is fantastic and the most of the staff speaks very well italian. It is a "must" to see if you are in New York. I highly reccomend you to eat the artichokes or the bucatini alla Matriciana which are delightful tasty and authentic.
Ciao
Giovanni

Posted 12/28/05

The warm cozy and classy decor wowed us when we stepped into the restaurant, and friendly service further raised our expectation, but alas did the dishes come as a disappointment. The appetizers were decent -- asparagus with parmasean cheese was flavorful and tender, but the mozzarella with grilled peppers lacked consistency and the artichokes were simply too greasy. Came the main dishes, and the Risotto con Funghi was just as greasy if not more and tasteless, while Ravioli ai Funghi was way too salty. Another dish (cant even remember exactly what it was, with tomato sauce) had pasta cooked only halfway and the sauce short of the rich flavors Italian cuisine calls for. Only the lasagna was remotely commendable and even that we couldnt finish. Overall, great place for the eye but not for the tummy. The service was very gracious and attentive though, maybe recommended for a date.

Pros: Decor, Service

Cons: Bad food, Bad food, Bad food

Posted 11/03/05

After a wonderful trip to Rome I was hoping to relive some of the culinary pleaseures back in NYC, but alas, it was not to be. Lattanzi is very cozy, but the service was distracted and the food was ordinary Ital-American and EXTREMELY expensive. The famed fried artichokes were horrendously greasy, not at all like their delightful Roman cousins, and my Veal Romana (though supposedly Roman, it was described as Milanese-style, go figure) was also super-greasy and topped with a thick slab of rubbery mozarella. A tab over $100 for two, without dessert, means I will never return.

Pros: Nice room

Cons: High prices, Nothing like Roma, Average food

Posted 01/04/04

AFTER LIVING SEVEN YEARS IN ROME AND BEING ITALIAN, I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD FIND AN AUTHENTIC ROMAN RESTAURANT IN NEW YORK. THE SERVICE IS JUST LIKE ITALY VERY RELAXED SO THAT THE DELIGHTED FOOD CAN BE ENJOYED. I WAS ABLE TO FIND A TRUE ROMAN WINE "FALINGINA" FOUND ONLY IN ROME AND NAPLES. THE ASSORTMENT OF FOOD WAS AMAZING AND THE TASTE OF ROME WAS IN EVERY DISH. THE PASTA IS PERFECT NO MATTER WHICH ONE YOY GET AND THE SECONDS ARE ALL PREPARED IN THE ROMAN WAY. THE PERSON WHO RATED THIS A 5 JUST DOESN'T KNOW WHAT ITALIAN COOKING IS ABOUT FOR FOR THAT MATTER WHAT ANY COOKING IS ABOUT.

Pros: FOOD, SERVICE, PRICE

Cons: NONE

Posted 11/08/03

Our family has been visiting New York for over 20 years. After we discovered Lattanzi Ristorante, we have gone back every time we are in the city.

It is almost like going home. The service is always impeccable, and the food has been consistantly delectable.

I have recommended this restaurant to many, and none have come back dissatified.

Pros: Consistant, Delicious, Variety

Posted 08/01/03

Shrimp scampi....how about shrimp ... four of them overcooked with their shells on...no sauce and an small side of arugala salad for about $24 (just awful)...or one heaping tablespoon of cold zabaglione on a 1/4 cup of strawberries for $8 (very good but a bit overpriced in a mini cup) or house wine at $8 a glass that was pathetic. A veal dish with fresh mozarella was fine but of no great merit. Big disappointment...artichokes, yes, three roasted quarter hearts were tasty for $8...you decide!..

Pros: nice service

Cons: overpriced, nothing special

Posted 01/25/03

This place was amazing! I came with a girlfriend and we did not have reservations, but the manager found us a table anyway. Food was absolutely fabulous!

Posted 01/18/03

There are a lot of restaurants in the Theatre District, but this is one of the few that is worth going to even if you are not going to the theatre. Food is always excellent, I have yet to be disappointed in a meal here. Especially wonderful is the homemade mozzarella appetizer--truly the best I have ever had.

Posted 10/03/02