Il Vagabondo

My boyfriend and I just got back from dinner at this restaurant. The food was delicious, he had veal, I had the gnocchi. Both were great! However, the service was totally awful!! We sat at our table our about 15 minutes before any one brought us a menu and later the waiter brought our main courses before our appetizers. But the food was worth it. So, don't plan a romantic evening around this place, but if you want some delicious food and don't mind absent minded waiters, go tonight!! Oh, and the atmosphere is a little old school, but cool.

I first went to Il vagabondo in the late 70's with my brother. He had been a customer since the opening of the restaurant. He ordered for me. It was the special salad, veal cutlet parmigiana with gnocchi's with the meat sauce and a glass of red wine. It was delicious. That was all I ordered every few years when I would have the chance to get to the restaurant. Over the years it never has wavered in its taste or presentation. The only thing that has changed is the special salad is larger and the prices have gone up, but that is expected. The area with the bocce ball court has not changed and still has the same feel as it did 30 years ago. There are still some waiters that have been there for the duration and the service has always been prompt and great. I'd recommend going there and starting off with the salad,veal and gnocchi's!!!!

I had a quick dinner here recently and I can say that this place is great. The dining room with the bocce court was original and very old school Italian. There is also a fancier dining room. The food tastes authentic and home cooked, which was refreshing after having sime sub par Italian food in NYC. I had the veal parm, which was huge and excellent. It was topped with Muenster cheese, which was a nice change. Overall, the meal was great. Try this place.

starting in 74, in NYC for the restaurant show, my mgement, steeped in rest's, took me here. since then (ouch 33 years now) every trip to the city I attempt to make at least 1 stop here. even when i lived there for 3 years it was a regular. you shortchange yourself by not going here and eat what sounds good - it will be!

My wife and I went to NYC just before Christmas and met up with another couple at il Vagabondo. I had read the reviews which I thought were rather mixed so my expectations were not very high. We walked in and my first impression was that the restaurant was absolutely beautiful. The place was very clean and very well maintained. The bocce ball court was being rented out by someone so we just peeked in and it looked nice. We had the antipasto appetizer which was awesome ($10 per person). I had a glass of wine ($7) and the Veal in white wine sause ($22) which was simply fanstastic. It came with just a little bit of vegetables on the side and the portion was decent - not big but not small either. Everyone at the restuarant loved their dish. The service was great. They definately did not rush you in and out like some NY places so if you're in a hurry this not be for you. We all had the bocce ball tartufo and cappuccino's which were also great. I would definetly go back.

We had a business dinner there for 7 people. We all immediately fell in love with the picture on the back wall and the witty bar-keep Jasper. We were sat quickly, and ordered the Antipasto and the Tomato and Mozzarella for appetizers. They were superb. Dinner was also delicious, with most of the table having the Veal Milanese. About half way through dinner we noticed that the young man to the left in the picture on the back wall was our bar-keep, Jasper, in his prime. After dinner we enjoyed a couple of bottles of wine, and 3 or 4 games of Bocce, with a little instruction form the wait staff on how to play correctly. Il Vagabondo is definitely on our list for our next trip to the Big Apple.

I don't understand the reviews that call this a glorified pizza place. First, they don't even have pizza. Second, the dining area, except the one by the bocche ball court is 4 star worthy. As for teh food, it is my family and my favorite italian in the city. I have been going there about 2 to 3 times a year for 20 years. My fave is the eggplant parm. My cousin loves the veal parm. Definitely worth the visit and the money.