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La Gioconda was simply wonderful. A quiet, cozy place with a pleasant atmosphere, it seems like a great place for a first date. Everything we ordered was excellent and in addition to the usual bread and olive oil there were complimentary bruschetta and olives, both of which tasted fresh and delicious. Considering the look, feel, and food quality of the restaurant I was pleasantly surprised with how small the c heck was when it came. I would definitely recommend this restaurant and I will be going again.

The food was mediocre at best. The complimentary bruschetta consisted of hothouse tomatoes on stale bread. The lentil and beet salad was pretty good. My entree Tagliatelle Abruzzesi (tomato, prosciutto, porcini mushrooms and smoked mozz) was too salty and didn't taste very good. It tasted like a canned sauce. The prices were average, but expensive for the quality. Atmosphere pretty nice and intimate, nothing special.

I am very disappointed. I ate here after reading very good reviews, and I must say I was completely underwhelmed. Perhaps they specialize in certain dishes but I ordered the lentil salad (actually very good) and the ravioli with spinach (drowning butter sauce) and the whole wheat tagliatelli in veal ragu (beyond salty).

So love this place... I'd been to La Gioconda a while back n thought it might not be there, so when i realized it was still there I had to go! The food is very tasty and a good price. I had the braised lamb shank it was tender and delicious. The lamb is served with rice, which was not thoroughly cooked (the only pitfall). But all in all the food, service were great.

The food is soooo good!! My husband and I have been living in the area for two years and never thought of trying La Gioconda. We are so glad we did! We both ordered salads.. he had the Lentil and I had the mushrooms.. Both were fresh and full of flavor. Then he had the pesto pasta, and I had calamari and shrimp over black linguini. Both were excellent! We can't wait to go back!

I found this place under menupages. I read the review on hidden gem and it is absolutely true. The prices were reasonable, food delicious, and well prepared. My seafood dish was excellent and I asked for whole wheat pasta which was great! The shrimp was cooked just right. I brought a friend who use to live in New York and she was impressed as well. The service was great and we were treated like we were regulars! Our waiter said the dessert was on the house. I was quite surprised by his gesture. However I would have still given this restaurant a thumbs up. I will definitely go back and recommend this place to others.

This postage stamp sized hidey hole on the river side of Midtown East serves basic Italian fare, with few flourishes. It offers no deconstructions, new interpretations, or claims to regional authenticity. But the food is as good as any but the most expensive restaurants, at a much lower price. The ingredients are fresh (I could smell the greens from the salad at the next table); the service prompt and unobtrusive. My appetizer consisted of generous slices of perfectly air-cured (read "dried") breseola paired with lightly roasted artichoke hearts, over a simple base of fresh arugula, cherry tomato slices, and good olive oil - simple, but flavorful. My entree was a veal scaloppine with Gorgonzola and porcini mushrooms that tasted like they'd never been dried. The cheese was just right - smooth and creamy, with a touch of sharpness that contrasted perfectly with the woodsy essence of the mushrooms. The simple sides of unadorned roasted potatoes and mixed vegetables filled out the dish without distracting from the interplay of flavors. For dessert, I went with the mixed sorbets, served layered in a glass, with the sorbeto de limone at the bottom. Italian style lemon sorbet is still one of the best digestives I know. The meal was topped off by a lovely bottle of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, one of the more versatile and flavorful Italian grapes, which went well with every dish. As an added bonus, the complimentary noshes included a small bowl of pitted, cured black olives. The whole thing cost a pittance, by Manhattan standards, even with a more-than-minimum tip. Next time you're in the East 50s and looking for an Italian meal that's unpretentious, just good and filling, without putting a dent in your wallet, stop by La Gioconda. You won't be disappointed.