Isabella's

My friends took me to Isabella's for a birthday brunch and I had the most amazing eggs benedict with salmon. Brunch here on the weekends is very crowded, but the hostess accommodated a large party without reservations. Definitely the best place for brunch because of the food, good service and warm atmosphere.

Posted 08/25/08

Was there for a meeting and had to comment! The food is what you expect from a wonderfull location like this. I will return with my husband to enjoy his traditional meal. The service was great and I told the owner was going to give him a great review.

Pros: alot

Cons: parking

Posted 07/27/08

My family and I happened in here after a recommendation of someone we met on the street. The atmosphere is wonderful, clean and cheery. The salmon and butternut squash risottos was out of this world. The hanger steak sandwich was phenomenal and there was some kind of tricolor pasta with chicken that was the most flavorful pasta dish I've ever had. Wonderfully helpful waiters too! Close to Museum of Natural History. Would love to eat here again sometime.

Posted 12/29/07

I threw my sister Ophira a bridal shower here in July and had the best EXPERIENCE!! After looking for a month at possible places to throw a bridal shower brunch and having no luck I remembered having a great time at Isabellas a few years back. From the time I contact the head of events represenative to the day of, they made sure my sisters day was perfect! The pre-fixe menu they gave us had a considerable amount of options to choose from and the prices were extremely reasonable. The day of the event they made sure they were fully staffed and they kept the drinks flowing and the food came in a well timely manner. The waiters and manager were very personable and made us feel at home. Isabellas made sure that the day was memorable for all of us and I can't thank them enough again!

Posted 12/01/07

I've dined at other upper west side places for Brunch but this busy place was a big thud. Our meals were fine but nothing to get excited about. The service was Pushy-With-A-Smile. Our waitress gave us more attitude than attention. There were loud children seated nearby which was obnoxious. We had to flag someone down to replenish our beverages and then again to ask for the bill. Not impressed at all.

Pros: we were seated quickly and our meals were fine

Cons: lackluster service, the ambience is blah

Posted 08/14/07

Seated upstairs, carrying our coats, because they wouldn't check them at the front area, instead we were told to check them at our table. The ceviche speical was a star appetizer. The chilean sea bass was perfect. The sesame crusted tuna needed to be sent back because it was stringy. Second try was perfect even though I had to eat my meal while my husband waited at least five minutes for his food. Wine was delicious. Trip to the bathroom was like walking into a sauna with water droplets from the heat forming on the walls and the sink and toilet were wet. Skipped dessert because, why bother at this point?

Pros: ceviche appetizer special

Posted 01/13/07

I come here for brunch a lot. The restaurant is very clean and the staff is always friendly. In the summer it's nice because they have outdoor seating. The decor is pretty and unfussy. Their menu is standard and their food is always good. Good prices for the Upper West Side. Highly recommendable. I like most of the BR Guest Restaurants (Blue Water Grill, Dos Caminos) except for Blue Fin. They usually have super service.

Posted 12/21/06

I think this is really nice place. Food ok and it's a nice atmosphere. Had a nice fun time with friends here.

Posted 11/20/06

Went to Isabella's during the summer for brunch and it was fantastic. Aside from waiting 30 minutes for a seat (which was worth it), my fiance and I had the opportunity to sit outside in the cafe-style seating and enjoyed an incredible brunch special consisting of mimosas, coffee, and the most delicious eggs benedict I've ever had. More importantly, the waitress was incredibly friendly and helpful and the ambience was perfect. Will definitely return soon!

Pros: Great atmosphere, great brunch, incredibly helpful and courteous staff.

Cons: None!

Posted 09/02/06

Went for brunch yesterday for the first time, though had previously dined at Isabella's for dinner and loved it.

Brunch did not disappoint at all...though this is quite a popular spot, the wait was not too long.

Great food, service, indoor and outdoor dining options (outdoors is great for brunch) and proximity to the park.

Pros: Great brunch, decor and dinner

Cons: Brunch gets crowded on weekends

Posted 07/16/06

This place is great. My boyfriend and I went there for our first date two years ago and ever since we have been going back, and going back, and going back! The bread basket is really great. The tuna is wonderful! Goat cheese salad with walnuts is very light and a great starter. I personally like to sit by the window when they have it all open - but in the winter I love sitting upstairs because it feels more secluded (my preference). LOVE IT!

Pros: Food, staff, wine!

Cons: sometimes can be a wait if you dont have reservations!

Posted 06/22/06

Best value and fabulous food. Every time I go I order the eggs benedict which comes with home fries and an alcoholic beverage. The Bloody Mary is perfect and the basket of breakfast breads is a great starter. This is my favorite brunch spot and the only place worth the wait.

Pros: outside seating, food, value

Cons: wait

Posted 04/16/06

This is one of my favorite restaurants in the Upper West Side because of it's great service and wonderful food. The wait staff is great, leaving you feeling attended to but not cloying. The only problem is getting a table, so make sure to make a reservation.

Pros: Great Service, Good Food

Cons: Wait

Posted 03/11/06

My friends and I went to Isabella's during our recent trip to NYC. We usually go there several times a year but this year the food (the bass) and service were exceptional. Our dinner was excellent, the staff was wonderful. Our waitress, I think her name was Megan was very helpful and kept the drinks coming. This was one of our best dining experiences in NYC. We will absolutely come back again.

Pros: Great Waitress, Great Food

Cons: NONE

Posted 10/04/05

My boyfriend and I recently had dinner at Isabella's. We both agreed that the food was decent but that the service was just terrible. We had to wait 30-45mins after we were already seated to get our orders in, waited what felt like an hour to get our food, was not given utensils with our dinner (had to wait for that too), and had the wrong dessert brought to our table and never remedied even after we brought it to the waiter's attention. We're normally 20%+ tippers but that night was the first time we actually gave less than 10%. Outrageous, overrated, and definitely not recommended.

Cons: Service, Overpriced

Posted 07/09/05

We made the compulsory Saturday night reservation for a birthday dinner and were not disappointed. The restaurant is an oasis from the hectic life outside. Our choice of a table on the second floor was perfect for a quieter, leisurely dinner. It was available on time, the staff was pleasant and unobtrusively attentive. My gazpacho was light with a perfect blend of spices in a watermelon base, perfect fare to cool down on a hot night. The Chilean sea bass entre was one of the best I've had. Although the restaurant is not recommended for children, the children we encountered near our table were well behaved--kudos to the considerate parents who bring their children here.

Pros: Beautiful!

Cons: No cons.

Posted 06/13/05

The people that work at this restaurant are plain old rude and not nice. I would not recommend this place to my enemies.

Pros: nothinh

Cons: rude, Obnoxious

Posted 04/24/05

The hostess was friendly, informative and was able to gauge the wait time for a brunch table accurately. Food was yummy, and the service was pleasant and timely. A great place to while away a Sunday afternoon - the best Columbus Avenue brunch venue.

Pros: Great food, attentive staff, basket of chocolates

Cons: lack of teapots

Posted 02/12/05

The service was snotty and the food was completely overrated. I have no clue why this place is rated so high. Trust me, there are much better places in New York City to go to brunch.

Posted 01/16/05

Isabella's has the best brunch on the Upper West Side. I'm not sure why CitySearch has it as four dollar signs; at brunch most dishes are under $10. There is a lot of variety and everything is delicous. The decore is perfect. Isabella's is also one of the most famous restaurants in New York, featured in Woody Allen movies and Seinfeld. I also love the location - perfect for a walk in central park after brunch.

Posted 01/15/05

Great place, good ambiance, good food, decent service.. and a GREAT PRICE! I would take a girlfriend there but not for a date... The ambiance is nice but there's just too many single 40-old's around. Food is great and portions are big for NY standards.

Pros: Value, Food

Posted 12/23/04

Took my girlfriend their for her birthday and it was great...Great servers, great food, wonderful drinks and great value...Parking we lucked out on (right in front of the place)...If you can, cab it...Saves you alot of headache. Food was delicious..The Salmon was out of this world.. Go with a group so you can taste a little bit of everything on the menu.

Pros: Great Drinks, Great Prices, Creme Brule

Cons: Tight seating , Parking

Posted 09/21/03

My wife and I ate at Isabella's with another couple this past 4th of July weekend. We all had a fish dish. Nothing spectacular. So so food. You pay for the nice Mediterranean ambiance and decor. Most NYers were out of town so there was no wait and the place was not very busy. However the wait staff was very slow and inattentive. In fact we ended up spending 4 hours there for dinner and skipped the rest of our evening plans. I'm sure if they were busy we would have been rushed out sooner. Bill was $40 per person.

Pros: Decor, ambiance, Modest price

Cons: Slow service

Posted 07/08/03

If you're looking for a class and elegance without paying a fortune, Isabella's is it! Situated in a lovely neighborhood, sit inside or out and people-watch while enjoying a great brunch menu, sipping on Mimosas... it doesn't get much better than this. It's very Sex & the Cityish..... The only downside is the long wait.

Pros: Inexpensive, Pleasant Atmosphere

Cons: Crowded

Posted 05/13/03

I've been here a few times, its pretty boring/standard. Had the sea bass & risotto a few days ago, it was totally average. I could understand the appeal of this place when there used to be no good restaurants on the UWS, but now there are choices, so why bother unless you don't feel like looking into anything new?

Posted 04/20/03

isabella's is one of my favorite places to eat and spend time w/ friends. the crabcake sandwich was great...omelette was a bit bland..but the overall ambiance and setting was cozy, modern, bright and active all at the same time. i'm going to be a regular at this place!

Posted 03/27/03

To my surprise, they had great food. I had seared rare tuna as appetizer and grilled salmon with mushroom risotto as entre. I also had a sundae brownie for desert. Everything was excellent for the reasonable price they had. I'd recommend this place to my friends. I also heard that their brunch is quite good. Nice service also.

Posted 02/04/03

Don't come here during peak hours, as you'll be left waiting quite a while for your food. This is a great place for a late lunch or early dinner. The food is great and the salads are all tasty. I enjoyed my experience here and would go back if I were ever in the neighborhood.

Posted 11/13/02

Isabella's is a cozy, quiet restaurant. A good "date" place. The menu is kinda on the pricey side, for my budget anyway....but, the food is well worth it. I tried almost everything on the menu, but my fav is the pumkin raviloi, too bad it's only seasonal....they are the best!

Pros: Great Pumkin Ravioli, cozy, quiet, good staff

Cons: a little pricey

Posted 10/29/02

kitchen doesn't accomodate reasonable requests, restaurant is in total chaos during sunday brunch (due to poor management), and waiters bug guests for their email addresses so that restaurant can send out mass mailings. not a place to bring kids (only grilled cheese is available), and good luck trying to make a phone reservation - you'll likely be put on hold forever. did i mention there were fruit flies all over the restaurant on both of my visits?

Pros: decent date place

Cons: email scam, too many "specials", mediocre food

Posted 10/03/02

Nice menu. OK food. Great outdoor space for a nice summer evening date and people watching.

Posted 09/22/02

Give me a very generous plate of potatoes and crabcake eggs benedict. Preceed it with strawberry spread and warm raisin bread, a brunch cocktail.... and a seat next to Gene Hackman.... Yes, folks! ... But Beware, while the food and company is affordable be prepared to pay in exchange: your ego for a NYC style Isabella's brunch. You will be unrecoginzed, the hostesses are bitchy (B) and the crowd bitchier. The staff, including the managers (must exclude the couple very good people on the wait staff) is rude... rude and on a Sunday at 1pm you will wait up to 80 minutes for a table!!! But, hey... bring your good company, eat a great meal, drink a bloodymary... and, sit outside, people watch and catch some sun... Gene Hackman, he does.

Pros: Outdoor Seating, Flea Market on Sunday, Good Value

Cons: UWS, !!Crowded!!, capital B Staff

Posted 09/05/02

Great place for brunch and al fresco dining... watch out for hordes on weekends.

Posted 07/22/02

Have been there several times (convenient to NY Historical Society) and always enjoyed dinner. Excellent bread with white bean spread or olive oil, great pasta and fish dishes, great desserts. Took a friend once who also enjoyed it and wanted to return.

Pros: good food, good location

Posted 07/18/02