Antonucci Cafe

this is my far my favorite Italian spot on the UES. my wife and I moved to tribeca for a year but are returning north and anxiously await our return to Antonucci. the people are authentically warm and pay attesion to detail. I particulary enjoy the bread and tomato sauce with dollup on goat cheese that is served upon being seated. the menu offers twists on the authentic fare without being obtrusive. Be sure to try the homemade pastas. the atmosphere is cozy but it can get loud during peak weekend hours. i will say that my wife and i are often the only non-white haired diners, although it is a lively mature crowd swizzeling red wine and negroni's. to the one reviewer complained about brunch: go to EJ's if you want inexpensive.

We loved the pasta and friendly service. Will be going back ina week for more. Just moved into the area and found one of NYC's best on the very first try. Bravo

I have visited several Zagat highly-rated Italian restaurants in New York. All were horrible and over-priced. The portions were too big, the food was too rich. This is the first Italian restaurant in New York I have ever been to where I felt like I was really eating Italian food. Everything was fresh and simple and delicious. No over-sized meatballs! I can't wait to go back. It was a real treat.

We've been to Antonucci several times and have had varied experiences. Branzino can be delectable one night and undercooked another; same with the pastas. Good but should be more consistent for the prices.

I was dying to give this restaurant a great review, visited last Sunday for brunch, which is no bargain by the way. Maybe that was the problem. The restaurant is pleasant, interesting"? if puzzling "art " choices! and perhaps the staff were lacking interest on a slow Sunday afternoon. We ordered the "truffled" Mac & Cheese, which I specifically asked about the truffled part as it is a bugaboo of mine - I am finding many restaurants are forgetting about the truffle for some mystical reason :) I was advised that it was "black truffle and American cheese and was very good" which was strange enough in itself, but we decided to give it a go. This was ordered along with a Chicken "something fancy" and a sandwich "something fancy" which actually were the most interesting choices on the Sunday afternoon menu - both which turned out to be a half hero roll with some kind of meat and a VERY thin chicken breast with some salad. However, it was the freshest half chicken breast and mesc half cup of salad I ever paid $16 for! Service was over zealous on the wine pouring and slow when they were needed. Again, I would perhaps once more visit for dinner, but maybe we made a mistake coming for brunch, never a good idea really. I was far from impressed with a $85 bill for two people for the value. We left feeling unhappy. Oh by the way, the truffle-less mac and cheese came with an insult to injury - a $3 mistake in favor of the restaurant. Sorry guys!

I am delighted to say that it was absolutley amazing and the food was presented well and made perfectly as if I were in Italy. The service was outstanding. This is a true destination!

On a recent visit to Antonucci with two friends, we were thoroughly satisfied with the food and the service. In this intimate, but well-run restaurant, we each had two appetizers and a desert with a bottle of wine. My grilled vegetables, a combination of asparagus, fennel, baby carrots, “drizzled” with puréed eggplant (an inspired idea) was perfectly prepared -- fork tender -- and elegantly presented. My second appetizer, a meltingly tender octopus tentacles over a melange of legumes was also appealingly tasty. I finished off my dinner with panna cotta, smooth and creamy as it should be. I recommend it; it is more than a neighborhood restaurant.