Centolire (CLOSED)

This is a solid Italian on the upper east side and for the location, the prices are extremely reasonable. The bolognese and shrimp scampi pastas are some of the best in the city. And freshly prepared Caesar salad right in front of you...who does that anymore these days?

my second and last visit of the place - Saturday 08/13/2011 at lunch time. never more. ordered: gazpacho and omelet with flat ham and blue cheese. wait time was ridiculous. even gazpacho which is definitely prefixed came within more then 25 min. gazpacho was good though. omelet waiting was another 20 min after our first course plates where taken away. and what a disappointment this omelet was: flat and chewy; extremely over salted with very salty ham and cheese. blue cheese was melted to the liquid stage. i was not able to eat it but did not have guts to send it back.

this used to be my favorite Italian restaurant in the area: great food, attentive and professional staff and a beautiful space. it has all gone downhill. the food is mediocre, usually arriving tepid, and the service by waiters who seem to either not care or just dont know what they are doing. Unfortunately, I will be dropping this place from my list of favorites.

We were a party of 4 for lunch with reservations for upstairs. We arrived early and were warmly welcomed. The waitor was charming and attentive, and the food was fabulous! Absolutely delicious! We ordered appetizers - salad with arugula, parmesan and artichoke hearts for three of us and mushroom with broccoli rabe and polenta crisps for the fourth. Luncheon entrees we ordered were spaghetti with shrimp arrabiatta, flank steak and penne with veal ragout. The pasta is fershly made, the sauces perfect. I asked for the arrabiatta to not be "to hot' and it was just perfect! Desserts included fresh made gelato - cinnamon or cranberry, and a sponge cake with chocolate mousse. Everything, and I mean everything we ordered arrived fresh, at appropriate temperatures, and was outstanding. The four of us shared a bottle of sparkling water and a bottle of wine. Prixe-fixe - you can't beat - Tab with generous well-deserved tip was $220. I highly recommend this restaurant and will certainly be returning! Make sure to get reservations for upstairs (nicer atmosphere).

I read the menu outside (which was unknowingly for their panini restaurant downstairs only. Looked great, so we walked in and were ushered upstairs immediately - no warm greeting, just got pushed into an elevator. We were seated and given menus about five minutes later which did not have what I wanted. Everyone else I was dining with was fine with the selections and so I decided I would stay. The waiter was rude and not helpful. He said he is not the owner (oh really?) and he could not help me if I wanted something from downstairs. Fine. I ordered coffee and was not offered a refill when he was at the table and offered my friend a refill on her soda. Then when my omelette came and I asked for toast or bread and he said he did no have any, shocking. He did not offer me the english muffin my friend got with her eggs benedict. Not one waiter or staff person smiled once. What a miserable place with miserable people and just okay food. My recommendation: do not go here!!

Gian Franco is the best! I've been coming to this restaurant for over 3 years now and I'll keep coming back! The entire staff is welcoming and the service is great. Best kept secret on the upper east side!

I live just around the corner and have been wanting to try this place. I took a friend out for her birthday here for dinner. When I entered the restaurant which was about 80% full the Host was doing something and made eye contact with me. He didn't smile or acknowledge I even existed. I thought Hosts were suppose to make you feel welcome. He kept continuing with his work then finally asked if he could help me. I said, "a table for two please". He pointed to the corner to an empty table and said, "you can take that one." At a nice establishment, the Host usually takes you to your table. I felt like I was at an empty Chinese restaurant. Finally, we were being served and I ordered a pasta dish with truffles since I always order anything with truffles. The food arrived and the waiter tilted the plate so my pasta was leaning all to one side and you can see skid marks of the pecorino sauce. Nice presentation! I had to readjust it. My friend and I had a lot to catch up on saw we ate and talked. Half way through the meal I noticed there were no truffles or even truffle oil in the dish! Stupid on my part, I know. Now I can't ask for another plate with truffles. I ordered a $50 bottle of a really tasty wine so we wanted another. The waiter disappeared! Until 10 minutes I had to grab him and ordered another bottle. Time goes on and we are finally finished with the meal. I am ready to pay the $200 and the waiter disappears again for about 15 minutes! Overall, the food was pretty good eventhough there were no truffles but the price is way too expensive for pasta. The wine was really tasty. Probably the best white wine I've ever had. But the service was ridiculous. Snobby host, an absent waiter and a forgetful chef. Since they are just around the corner I may give it another shot. The staff just didn't seem like they had restaurant experience which can be improved over time. I hope the chef remembers the truffles the next time.