Bellini Italian restaurant and brick oven pizza is a new addition on the Upper East Side in New York City. With the aromas of fresh Italian flavors pouring from the kitchen, our brick oven steadily makes one of the best pies in Manhattan in a cozy atmosphere for patrons of our restaurant. Bellini is the perfect spot for a nice, inexpensive and romantic date or a large group looking to celebrate. Try all of your favorite Italian dishes and maybe find a new one. Here at Bellini, we also offer great catering options as well for your next private party or event. We also offer an extensive wine list. Visit Bellini for an Italian dinner tonight.
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Posted by notzagat on 01/28/2012
Not recommended
We returned for lunch because of a Groupon discount. Bottom line: they tried to ignore the discount and ultimately imposed a "service charge" ($4.85) for using it. We had large plain pizza ($16.00). Sauce was pretty good, cheese good, but crust was almost soggy and pizza not very hot. They promote their brick oven, but there was no pizza smell, no burnt or blackened crust. It was probably a regular oven and not being used--we saw no deliveries of pizza being made in the hour we were there. We were also the only diners. An eggplant zucchini appetizer ($8.95)was good. Service was friendly and excellent. Prices fair. We were never warned of any service charge for using Groupon. We gave them a 2nd chance and they did poorly; definitely will not return, as I guess other diners have learned already.
Posted by notzagat on 01/01/2012
Jury still out
We went for an early dinner on New Yr’s Eve. Called at noon and got reservation for 4 at 6pm… which should’ve been an indication. We didn’t need it as the place was empty when we arrived. Bellini once occupied a space extending to the corner (93rd & 3rd) which has now been partitioned; a Turkish restaurant is in the corner space. Our server (seemed to be the only one on staff at that time) told us it was separated about 2 yrs ago. Fried calamari appetizer ($9.95) was barely OK; breading was minimal and falling off, no aroma of freshly fried seafood, kind of tasteless. Sauce had lots of red pepper in it (like from the containers in pizzerias)—a lazy chef who couldn’t even concoct a simple sauce? Small rolls (5) were offered (refilled twice!) and a dipping tray of olive oil and olives. Chicken piccata ($14.95) with capellini was not good. Chkn (2 sad pieces) was not dredged properly nor evenly browned and overcooked. There was no garlic, no lemon, no parsley, no wine or stock in sauce and only capers were added. It had to be “picatta”(sic) because the only other chicken was marsala and there were no mushrooms or Marsala wine. The capellini was ample but tasteless since it was in the nothing sauce with the chicken. Penne pomodoro ($9.95) was good, ample portion, tasty sauce, but nothing great. Fusilli al pesto ($10.95) is listed on menu with “touch of cream,” but it was way overdone with the cream. It was left uneaten. Décor was acceptable (what’s with the Mardi Gras masks on the wall?). Service was excellent: no need to ask for water to be refilled, bread replenished, several inquiries as to quality of food and if any anything else needed. Prices good for this area and portions abundant. May return, but will try pizza.
Posted by anonymous on 12/18/2011
Not good
I ordered pizza and the delivery was pretty quick. Although I live only 3 blocks from the restaurant, my pizza was room temperature so i had to heat it in the oven. Sauce and mozzarella was sparse, broccoli was tasteless . The worst, however, was the garlic which bitter because it came from a jar.....unacceptable.
Posted by Anonymous on 11/26/2011
Very good
Went here this week and thought the food was really good! The eggplant parm was delicious and I would definitely go back. Everyone else I was with enjoyed their meal too. I've gotten delivery from here once before too and found it was just as good.
Posted by Stealth Zwerdog on 03/13/2011
Take-out pizza joint
Bellini seems to have regressed from a full-size restaurant (converted to a Turkish restaurant) to a little take-out pizza place. Nobody really ever seemed to go to the full-size Italian place - empty every time I walked by, so this is probably a good thing. Nevertheless, it seems to still be owned by the same Turkish people who still run the restaurant next door. I've never had pizza from Bellini but the gyro sandwich is not bad.
Posted by Albert on 02/02/2010
Highly Recommended
Great food only matched by the atmosphere; I will definitely be coming back
Posted by Lower East Harlem on 02/01/2010
Mediocre
I ordered delivery from Bellini just the other day. I was surprised with the speed of delivery - it took them just a little over 20 minutes. I was, however, underwhelmed with the value and quality of the food. The Antipasti came in at 9.95 and left much to be desired. A few slices of capicola, some bunched up, thickly sliced prosciutto, one small artichoke heart, 5 small kalamata olives and a wilted piece of lettuce. Oh yes, and some haphazardly shaved/chunked parmesan. Shave $3 off the price and I would understand the concept. The Involtini De Melonzani was decent when heated up but well over-priced at $8.95. The Penne ala Vodka was a bright point. It's a dish you can find anywhere but it's rarely properly prepared. Bellini made a tasty Vodka sauce. Overall, too costly for the product they sell. Bellini is really a glorified pizza joint.