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I don't understand what is so great about this restaurant. I lived in Italy for several years with a family of foodies, speak fluent Italian and would say I am very comfortable with Italian culture. I understand why people thought the owner rude. He was actually sort of nice to us--I think bc we spoke to him in Italian (although his Italian is not perfect--you can tell he was born in the US)--but very arrogant at the same time. When I was surprised about a cheese that I love being on the menu, he told me that he is famous for cheese and that he can get all sorts of special cheeses from Italy. Now, let me be clear, this cheese is one of my absolute faves, but it's not exactly a delicacy--something you can buy from a producer similar to a Kraft here in any supermarket or mini-mart. The waiter was nice, but also very rude at the same time. He seemed to take it as a challenge that I pronounced a dish with an Italian accent (which I didn't do on purpose) and proceeded to speak to me and my friend (who clearly does not speak Italian) in Italian and tell us how he is fluent in a million languages. Generally, the service just made me uncomfortable and feel awkward. Slow and everything that the other reviewers have already said... The food--so mediocre. The fried artichoke was embarrassing and tasted pretty much like burnt oil. The pastas were edible but not good--overcooked in a way any Italian would be upset about. The salads were good, but not nothing special. Just not worth the wait, rushed feeling and general rudeness. Again, I just don't get it. But I do understand that there really aren't many, if any, good Italian restaurants on the UWS, so perhaps that and the cute/cozy decor have gotten this restaurant through?

this is the best italian restaurant! dont go there for the service, go for great food! try the baby artichokes with parmesan sauce, pasta al vongole or the fried calamari. we stayed one extra day in NYC to go again to Celeste

Although the food is tasty, there are plenty of other delicious italian restaurants. This one doesn't make the cut with a dirty bathroom, rude staff and overcrowded dining area. Won't make this mistake twice.

I go here for dinner at least once a week. The owner is a lovely man and the food is excellent. I dream about the fried artichokes. All you people complaining about attitude and service must be out of towners because I have not an inkling as to what you are talking about. I have never had a negative experience there, in fact my only complaint is I do not eat there more. There is usually a wait but to me it is worth it. I dont like tightly paced restaurants but I deal with it because I enjoy the very modestly priced food some much. I would highly recommend this Upper West Side gem.

I walked into the restaurant at 5:00 PM and asked for a takeout menu. The owner himself handed me one, with no comment. I phoned in an order and went to pick it up at 7:00 PM, 2 hours later. But somehow during those 2 hours the prices had mysteriously jumped; they differed from those on the menu, with no warning. When I questioned this, I was told that they had a lot of the old menus around and were trying to use them up, even with the wrong prices--and that they would continue to do so. When I threatened to leave, the owner reverted to the prices on the takeout menu, grumbling that I was making a stink about a dollar or two. He seemed to have no conception that his position was unethical and unprofessional if not downright dishonest, and that it would have been honorable to stand by the prices quoted on the menu he handed to me--or not to have given out that menu at all. The pizza was good, but not good enough for me to return.

I probably shouldn't write this review and spill the beans, but I gotta say that Celeste is amazing for lunch and brunch on the weekends. First, their french toast is perfect. It's the best french toast in the neighborhood by far. They use panettone. Second, the stuff on the lunch menu is pretty much the same as the stuff on the dinner menu (minus just a few dishes) and is prepared just as well as it is for dinner. The reason I didn't want to share this info is that there's usually no wait for lunch and brunch! And if you all start coming, I might have to wait when I go every weekend. So keep it in mind, pop in a couple of times, but not TOO much, OK?

The restauarant is busy, because the food is fairly priced and tasty; however, the waiters have some serious attitude. They're pushy, impatient and impolite. Normally, I do not nitpick over many oversights or attitudes of waitstaff, but I have never been so appalled by the blatant arrogance of Celeste's waitstaff. I would not go back even if they were cut the prices in half.