Brio

I started going here with my co-worker Saba months ago, and became obsessed. Love the ambiance, reasonably priced, the food is AMAZING! I get the truffled polenta to start with every time I go. Anything I've ever ordered there has been delicious.

I normally go with friends or coworkers, but recently I went with my boyfriend, his mother and his sister. His mother is a tough critic, but was blown away by the quality of the food. She ordered the spinach salad and the frutte di mare pasta. even my boyfriend, who is a health and gym nut, finished his food and was picking off my plate of pasta.

The service is sometimes good sometimes not- I've had some fantastic waiters and some crappy ones. The good thing is that everything else is so superb you barely notice!! And the Italian family who owns it, including Massimo and Damien, are SO nice, so welcoming, greet you by name and walk you to your table, sometimes even sitting down with you for a bit.
It makes you feel like you walked into a neighborhood trattoria in Italy.

This is my go-to dinner spot. Great for going with friends, family, or on a date.

Pros: Truffled polenta, cozy candlelit atmosphere, friendly owners

Cons: defeats my gym-going efforts!!!

Posted 05/08/09

Located slightly off the avenue, Brio offers a little side-street peace in the middle of a busy shopping area and their outdoor tables are appealing without the avenue noise and traffic. Once inside, though, the room is drab, undecorated and in need of some paint and sprucing up. Cain chairs that look beautiful are uncomfortable and we found it odd that they don't open for Sunday brunch until Noon. Worst of all, though, is the slow and indifferent service, with waiters more interested in talking to each other than addressing their customers.

Despite all this, the food was good, the weekend prix fixe brunch is a bargain and the bloody Mary's were generous. The price includes a drink, a choice of salad or tasty soup and a delicious entree. Their take on eggs Benedict and tomato frittata are exceptionally good and the dessert menu offers many tempting choices. While the molten chocolate souffl? was a bit over-cooked, the homemade millefoglie was scrumptious.

A coat of paint for the room and some training for the staff could quickly turn this into a regular haunt. But perhaps they have little incentive to improve. With generous drinks, tasty food and reasonable prices, the restaurant quickly filled and tables turned. For us, though, New York offers too many options to return to Brio in the near future.

Posted 04/20/09

I ordered a pizza and it was delicious. Other people in my party ordered pasta and fish dishes. They all said that their food was very good and would come back again especially for the Napoleon dessert. Our head waiter was very energetic.

Pros: Delicious Pizza and Tiramisu

Cons: What are the drawbacks?

Posted 03/21/09

Interesting menu and the food was reasonably good, however the waiters were not very friendly.
I may be going back to try their pizza, but I will not order any overpriced fountain soda refills which really cought me by surprise.

Pros: Decent Atmosphere

Cons: Poor Servise

Posted 01/12/09

The restaurant was good, but if I may, what's with the whole bunch of glowing 5 star reviews from people who never reviewed any other restaurant, can't think of one negative aspect of brio, and the one guy who has only reviewed both of brio's locations? If you're going to spam a site with positive reviews at least try to make it believable, you know?

Back to brio, the food was good if a bit pricey for what it was. Staff was friendly enough, nothing particularly memorable. Service was timely. It might have been just a little bit too cozy but I had no problems with the spacing. All in all a decent neighborhood place to try if you haven't been there before but not worth a trip if you are coming in from out of town.

Pros: Good food, acceptable service and timeliness.

Cons: A bit small, a bit pricey.

Posted 08/24/08

This is the best Italian restaurant I've been too - it does not fall under those Italian restuarants where they smother everything in marinara sauce. Your food palette will be very much fulfilled with anything you eat. I LOVE pizza!! I love all of them here, but they also have great main dishes and wonderful specials. I go back everytime to try something new... I recommend it to anyone looking for a new place to go to.

Posted 05/29/08

i go to a restaurant for the food and i must say the food here is superior... i've tried all their pizzas and never have been dissatisfied!! the entree dishes are good too... waitstaff is friendly and attentive as well... will always go back and recommend...

Posted 03/24/08

Great place to go! The thin crust pizza is the best I've ever tasted! My two favorites are the one with baby spinach, speck ham and gorgonzola cheese and the vegetable one. Besides the pizza, the food is really good too! Have recommended this place to many and they love it as well. Definitely a place to try.

Pros: Service, Price, Food, Wine

Cons: None

Posted 03/11/08

Great place to go to for a meal or glass of wine! The food is spectacular and the service is wonderful!
Definitely a place I would make a regular stomping ground!

Posted 02/29/08

You can come back here any time of day, on any day and have a delicious meal....how many places are there like that in New York city......the wait-staff is efficient and fast, and the atmosphere is fantastic...full of good looking people......The pizza is one of the best in the city, and the artichokes....well try it for yourself..simply fantastic....a truly italian experience........

Pros: great overall experience

Cons: service can be a bit slow

Posted 09/20/07

The decoration is just perfect. Very romantic and cozy. Perfect for couples or families. Seating is always available, servers and hosts are incredibly cordial and respectful. The food is amazing. I ordered a salad, and it was one of the best ever. My fiancee ordered pasta and he couldn't resist eating the whole thing. The owner of the restaurant is constantly walking by to make sure our dinning experience was good. And they really did their homework with this restaurant. I will always wanna goback and recommended to all my friends.

Pros: thumbs up. Parking is very easy at night.

Cons: Parking could be a problem during the daytime

Posted 07/23/07

Consistantly good food. Amazing Pizzas with lashings of Trufflle Oil. Good wine, friendly staff and a nice owner.
Definatly worth a visit!

Pros: Its near all the Shops

Posted 06/03/07

Good food and nice ambience without the hassle and the attitude. I like the menu---lots to choose from. Both my appetizer and entree (lobster pasta) were great. The waiter was sweet and helpful. The restuarant was very busy even though it was Sunday night. I would definitely go again!

Pros: good food, courteous service, pretty decor

Posted 11/20/06

Went here for lunch recently. The service was snobbish and slow. The tables are right on top of each other. I couldn't move my arm without hitting the people next to me. Better to starve oneself than waste what was supposed to be a nice lunch here. See for yourself.

Pros: food

Cons: waitstaff, tables

Posted 09/11/06

They never give up. The service is super friendly, the food is always top notch, and the prices just cant be beat. Find me a better place and dinner is on me................

Pros: inexpensive, quality food

Cons: small

Posted 01/26/06

My wife and I have been regulars for years. We have "our" table and the waiters love our 2 year old. Without a doubt, Brio is the best moderately priced Italian place on the upper eastside. The pizza is the best in the city; pastas are fresh and tasty; the salads are vibrant; and the specials are always exemplary -- particularly the rib-eye, when they have it. We even order in from this place. In fact, don't eat there -- it'll get more crowded than it already is.

Pros: great ambiance, great service, nice city block

Cons: crowded nights

Posted 06/02/05

I have eaten all over the city, and no restaurant offers the food that is present at this midtown Italian eatery. The pizza is by far the best in NEw York city, even though not many know that they offer pizza here. Whether you live out of town, or right next door, it is an unforgettable dining experience

Pros: Incredible Food, Trendy Atmosphere, CUstomer is #1

Cons: , Small Wine List, Cramped

Posted 05/11/04

I have been to many Italian restauarants in my 24 years of living in NYC, but this one takes the cake. The service is great, they are nice, and very accomidating. A small bistro, with 4 star food. Each time is better than before!

Posted 03/21/03

I just don't understand the previous two reviews. I am a regular at Brio (have been for about fifteen years), and I keep finding that everytime I try some new, more expensive place I am wishing that I were back at Brio. The food is second to none and the service, in my humble opinion, is excellent. The servers are extremely friendly, the food comes as quickly as it feasibly can (without pre-making it and keeping it under a heat lamp), and the staff is happy to think outside the box and change dishes accoring to your desires.

Despite the fact that Brio is a "neighborhood" type restuarant, I regularly entertain clients from out of town there, and they love it.

I can't think of anything remotely negative to say about this restaurant.

Pros: Fresh, delicious food, Warm atmosphere, Good value

Posted 12/27/02

The food at Brio was really great. The service however was lethargic to say the least. We waited for menus, we waited for a drink order, we then waited for the drinks and bread to be served, etc. The main came out quickly but then we waited for coffee. We were going to get desert but then waited, AGAIN, too long to even have the desert menu explained to us. We were just tired of waiting. I'd rather starve...

Pros: great food, ambience

Cons: SLOW service, you're also paying, for the service

Posted 12/16/02