Insider Pages Reviews for Isabella's

4 Stars: Pasta! (by Lilia H.)

Lilia H. — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:24:00 GMT

They're pasta dishes are to die for! Whenever I come here, I tell myself to try other dishes on the menu but I never can stay away from the pasta section! The entrees are delicious too.

5 Stars: Isabella's (by Jared K.)

Jared K. — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 05:20:00 GMT

I love the breakfasts here and the location. This is a trendy but comfortable place where the omelets and oven fries never let me down. Lunch and dinner are good too, with surprisingly good pasta dishes.

4 Stars: Great brunch (by Deborah C.)

Deborah C. — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 09:57:00 GMT

We enjoy going here esp. in the summer because of the sidewalk tables. The brunch is the best & they are child friendly. we have taken guests there & no one was ever disappointed. sometimes esp. on the weekend there is a long wait to get a table but it;s worth it.

4 Stars: If you like people watching... (by Elizabeth L.)

Elizabeth L. — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 09:41:00 GMT

Isabella's has a great sidewalk cafe for relaxing and people watching! The brunch is great with one of the best eggs benedict in the city (it's all about the hollandaise sauce and theirs is great!) But come early for brunch or else you'll be waiting for a while! With great food, service and atmosphere, Isabella's can feel like a five star experience without the guilt of the cost.

4 Stars: Always enjoy this neighborhood spot (by Rima B.)

Rima B. — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 13:56:00 GMT

The cooking is great, the atmosphere lovely, and the service attentive. The outdoor seating is pleasant and great for people watching on the busy Columbus Ave. site. Recently, on a not so busy evening when I had dietary restrictions, the chef actually whipped up a special soup for me of fresh vegetables and chicken broth. It was superlative. This just validated one more time why I love going here.
PROS: consistently great food
CONS: can be noisy

5 Stars: The Best Brunch in Manhattan (by lisapearly)

lisapearly — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 02:00:00 GMT

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.

4 Stars: Very Nice (by SusieEpstein)

SusieEpstein — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 02:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: Mediterranean Delight (by Ian K.)

Ian K. — Wed, 07 May 2008 15:18:00 GMT

The modern Mediterranean cuisine at this restaurant near the Museum of Natural History is popular with locals, who especially like the outdoor seating available in good weather. Inside, soothing colors and rattan chairs lend a vaguely European touch to the restaurant. I usually ger the grilled portobello mushrooms on field greens, and the grilled swordfish. Prices are reasonable.

5 Stars: Best meal we had in the city! (by abbytwarren)

abbytwarren — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 01:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: Amazing Customer Service! (by leorae1)

leorae1 — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 01:00:00 GMT

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!

2 Stars: Brunch was bad. (by xavierk)

xavierk — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 02:00:00 GMT

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.

3 Stars: Not one of BRGuests best (by searchcity)

searchcity — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 01:00:00 GMT

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?

5 Stars: Clean Restaurant, Clean Food (by nyckrissy)

nyckrissy — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 01:00:00 GMT

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.

3 Stars: Very nice (by cbngrl)

cbngrl — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 01:00:00 GMT

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

5 Stars: a touch of European charm in NYC. (by clavicle)

clavicle — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 02:00:00 GMT

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!

5 Stars: Great spot that has wide versality... great for brunch or dinner:) (by bessdevenow)

bessdevenow — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 02:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: Fantastic! (by reviewbyv)

reviewbyv — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 02:00:00 GMT

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!

5 Stars: Best Brunch in town! (by newyorkspark)

newyorkspark — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 02:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: Fav restaurant in the Upper West Side... (by foodie777)

foodie777 — Sun, 12 Mar 2006 01:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: Exceptional service and food!!!!! (by siamesemom)

siamesemom — Wed, 05 Oct 2005 02:00:00 GMT

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.

1 Stars: Terrible Service (by mir225)

mir225 — Sun, 10 Jul 2005 02:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: Delicious food, presented beautifully (by emiliana)

emiliana — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 02:00:00 GMT

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.

1 Stars: The worst service ever (by davidsmith2005)

davidsmith2005 — Mon, 25 Apr 2005 02:00:00 GMT

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

5 Stars: Brilliant! (by xpida)

xpida — Sun, 13 Feb 2005 01:00:00 GMT

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.

1 Stars: Way Overrated (by cookie12)

cookie12 — Mon, 17 Jan 2005 01:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: Best Brunch On The UWS (by cheekfreak)

cheekfreak — Sun, 16 Jan 2005 01:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: GREAT VALUE! (by mistabraz)

mistabraz — Fri, 24 Dec 2004 01:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: Surprisingly (by special2usa)

special2usa — Mon, 22 Sep 2003 02:00:00 GMT

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.

3 Stars: Fairly delightful evening. (by berhsu)

berhsu — Wed, 09 Jul 2003 02:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: Upscale and Affordable! (by bklyngrl)

bklyngrl — Wed, 14 May 2003 02:00:00 GMT

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.

4 Stars: Basic UWS Place (by dak)

dak — Mon, 21 Apr 2003 02:00:00 GMT

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?

4 Stars: a favorite place (by supperclubmember2)

supperclubmember2 — Fri, 28 Mar 2003 01:00:00 GMT

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!

4 Stars: Cute cozy place (by vitaminmk)

vitaminmk — Wed, 05 Feb 2003 01:00:00 GMT

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.

4 Stars: I like it (by amandaharrison)

amandaharrison — Thu, 14 Nov 2002 01:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: Great Pumkin Ravioli (by lgsleep)

lgsleep — Wed, 30 Oct 2002 01:00:00 GMT

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!

1 Stars: stay away! (by a_guest)

a_guest — Fri, 04 Oct 2002 02:00:00 GMT

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?

3 Stars: Outside dining (by manhattanite)

manhattanite — Mon, 23 Sep 2002 02:00:00 GMT

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

3 Stars: for 20 bucks... (by NYCPC)

NYCPC — Fri, 06 Sep 2002 02:00:00 GMT

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.

4 Stars: hip happenin' hotspot (by jbnewmedia)

jbnewmedia — Tue, 23 Jul 2002 02:00:00 GMT

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

5 Stars: Enjoyable Dining Experience (by foxschwartz)

foxschwartz — Fri, 19 Jul 2002 02:00:00 GMT

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.