Celeste

The food is good and undervalued. Nice wine list with decent prices here as well. The ambiance is warm, lively and homely - sure its a tighter space than you may be used to, but this adds some personality. The wait staff are pushy and seem anxious to turn over the table. We had to tell our waiter to stop rushing us three times. His method of asking us what we'd like for our meal was pointing at us and barking, "You! What?!?" We'll probably head back, but we'll be sure to tell the owner and the waiters if they push more, it will be the last time.

I was in NYC last week and ate at Celeste w/ a friend - yes, it was crowded and our waiter/tress could have done a better job - but I think the service of the owners/managers was excellent and made up for it. The food was good. CASH only.

When you order the cheese platter the Maestro himself will come to your table and riff in a beautiful Italian/English the what where and how of the cheeses you are about to feast. Devilicious! The fried artichokes are interesting as far as texture goes and the eggplant app is a holy experience. Tis a shame that I have yet to be impressed by an entree. Tables virtually touch each other but I found it charming and a cozy atmosphere. Decent wine selection as well. Slightly on the pricier side.

After waiting about 6 minutes to get our menus, we were continually met by unfriendly waiters and an even more unfriendly owner. i admit, the food was delicious, but the service continued to be poor throughout the night.

The food was ok, nothing special but it could have been a pleasant experience anyway. But when you are asked to leave when you still have wine in your glass the pleasant experience ended. It is a very busy place and they really want turnover so if you go there - eat quick and leave quick!

I agree with several other reviewers. You probably have at most, 45 minutes to eat before you are asked to leave. It is a very very busy place, the tables are very close to each other. So, if you want a quiet dinner, or if you want privacy, do not go here. I enjoyed chatting with the other guests, so I did not mind this. But being whisked-away after the meal so quickly was very off-putting. My recommendation: Eat here quickly and go somewhere else for dessert!

I shake my head when I read how some people are complaining that Celeste is too crowded. You can easily see the entire inside of the restaurant from the street; if it looks too crowded for your comfort, don't go in! However, by walking past you will have avoided one of the best restaurants on the UWS. On the recommendation of a friend, my wife and I took some out-of-town guests to Celeste after spending the day in NYC. What a find! We got there at about 7:30 and were promptly and courteously seated. Our waiter was an absolute pleasure; he chatted with us and with a good sense of humor and a heavy accent answered questions regarding a few menu items. Bread and drinks were served promptly, and then the meal began. We started by splitting the special appetizer of the day, Margharita pizza with wild mushrooms. It was spectacular, and the 4 large slices with dollops of fresh mozzarella were perfect as an intro to the meal. Two of us ordered the salmon, and when it was served we were amazed at the large portion we each received, considering it only cost $14.50. I've paid $29.95 for less elsewhere. The fish was juicy and very flavorful. The spouses got the almond-crusted chicken-- a pounded chicken breast covered with arugala which they were absolutely raving about. BTW, the owner stopped at our table two or three times to ensure that we were enjoying our meal, and at his suggestion for dessert we got the Tiramisu (he said it was just made) and the coffee gelato. I'm not a big Tiramisu fan, but this was extraordinary. We left Celeste feeling we had just enjoyed one of the best dining experiences we've had in quite a while. Is it crowded there? Of course it is. Make the decision that you won't let it bother you, and be prepared to have a wonderful meal.