Armani Ristorante 5th Avenue

It was a surprise to dine here. I've heard about Armani restaurant for over a year now and never came...well, I lost my job and the expense account that went with it... but walking down 5th Avenue, old habits die hard. I didn't buy anything at the store but went up the elevator straight to the restaurant. I chose the $30 business lunch, (3 cpurses), a real bargain! The food was delicious and copious, and by the time the dessert and coffee came, I was full. Quality ingredients throughout, t's not like the other pre fixe lunches at upscale places where I felt that the they were using cheap ingredients... I didn't feel cheap at all at Armani for ordering the inexpensive Business Lunch. LOL. The next week I recommended the restaurant to visiting friends (who had expense accounts) who invited me along so I went for the kill. I had the swordfish carpaccio and a summer salad (well, it was at lunch) called Insalata di Campo. The best salad one can have. The plate was lined with artisanal cheese and on it lay the most beautifully arranged summer vegetables. It was chockfull of baby yellow beets, baby red beets, baby artichokes, baby zucchini, baby carrots...all baby vegetables that must have been very expensive. I remember that I used to eat like this...back in the day when I had a job! LOL My friends had the branzino fish, and lobster pasta, and we had a $60 bottlle of white wine, a chardonnay from Friuli that was recommended and we were very happy with. Our bill was just around $250... not bad for this high level quality.

I really didn't expect Armani Ristorante to be so good. It has a grat vibe and was very busy when we arrived at 8. It seems that (logically) it gets midtown business types and probably upscale tourists. The restaurant and bar start emptying out at 9- The staff said that they are packed for lunch, which makes sense because of the location. The staff was warm, attentive and attractive, seemingly all Italian. It did feel like Milan. The food was great- al dente pasta, everything perfectly cooked (and hot- not always easy to experience at a trendy restaurant)- we had Veal Milanese, John Dory and Shrimp, starting with pasta with fresh tomato sauce and risotto. Excellent expresso and a light elegant three chocolate mousse- in three slices. Yes it's expensive, but all in all, a great experience.

We didn't know about the restaurant, kind of just "found it"! Superb service, excellent food (had the "American" steak & eggs), and impecable service for a Sunday brunch. Highly recommend the restaurant.

The food was great and the atmosphere quite chic, but the service was downright rude. When I tried to flag down wait staff I was told, "I can't serve you." When I asked them to send over someone who could, they brusquely agreed, but no one ever came over to serve our table. When I got up from the table and went to the bar, I was completely ignored by the bar tender. It's interesting to be so condescended as a patron of a restaurant, trying to purchase food and drink. It's almost as if they didn't want to serve us at all. The staff could use some serious training and a lesson in plain etiquette.

We had our first meal at the newly opened Armani some noths ago, to a great overall satisfaction. Regrettably, the return visit for a Sunday lunch yesterday did not confirm the impression. The food is still excellent. However, the service - in an almost empty restaurant - ranged from excruciatingly slow to condescendingly insulting. The restaurant's location and the food quality call for a major change in service: train or fire!

me and my friends did not know that armani ristorante existed, we're tourists. we saw the place and decided to try it even if we know it'll be pricey, but it's armani and we want to see it. everything was going well til the security told us not take take pictures....anywhere inside. huh!? just because of that silly rule, we're not going back....it's nyc you guys...tourists are in and out of new york. the restaurant is not even all that! its nyc and there's more restaurants out there who's willing to cater to tourists who's willing to spend their money on a friendlier atmospehere.....sorry armani!

as i said i would go to eat everyday for the quality of the food and price very lowww