MenuPages

Went in on a lark and were pleasantly surprised. The decor is rather tired, and they haven't quite evicted the smell of spilled booze and cigarettes from the room's previous incarnation. The dim Christmas lights did little to enhance our confidence about the meal we were about to partake in. In spite of this inauspicious beginning, my girlfriend and I were entreated to a well-executed, affordable dinner and above all delicious dinner that put Restivo into our regular rotation of neighborhood haunts. Wine list is nice if small, and appetizer offerings were comprehensive. The little lady loved her penne ala vodka, and I was certainly taken with my sole almandine - perfect almond crusting with a smooth buttery sauce made for a thoroughly pleasant meal. The fact that we were able to enjoy this and a glass of wine for under 50 bucks made it that much better. Don't be put off by the decor - Restive is a great neighborhood Italian place that serves great food at a really reasonable price. Highly recommended.

My boyfriend and I stumbled across Restivo back in November and were immediately entranced by the entire experience, and after a second visit it quickly became our favorite restaurant! Restivo has a cozy, European feel to it – the walls are painted a beautiful deep teal and the arcs are decorated with branches and blue lights. The service is always wonderful; throughout the meals, my water glass is continuously filled and the food received quickly. The Italian food is delicious; everything I’ve ever had I’ve absolutely loved, from the warm bread and olive oil to a decadent dessert to complete the meal. It’s truly a restaurant where you should be in the mood to enjoy the food and the experience. If you’re in a rush, this is not the place to go! There can be a wait sometimes, so if you’re just going for an entrée, this might not be the best restaurant. Restivo is a wonderful place for couples to dine; I felt like we were not being bothered too much as often is the case elsewhere and that I instead could be engrossed in conversation and savor the delicious food. The waiters are adept at reading when you need something, which makes for exactly the service you want. Overall, it’s my absolutely favorite restaurant; small, comfortable, and romantic, with delicious food and a wonderful staff. No annoying trendies, not crowded, and not expensive! P.S. I cannot recommend the apple pie with caramel sauce and cinnamon ice cream enough – it’s a small serving, but tastes like Heaven and is nothing like what you’d expect!

Quaint, friendly, close to the Irish Rep, nice place to meet, nice bar, will definitely come back, take a corner seat and watch the world stroll by....

Dark, depressing and whats with the christmas lights for decoration? The salad was basically lettuce. The pasta was some overcooked ziti with basic tomato sauce and dollops of ricotta. The lobster crabcakes, the most expensive thing on the menu was inedible. Defrosted and fried or maybe nuked, they were flavorless and textureless.

This restaurant is ok for a week night dinner. It's quiet and empty compared to some of the other trendier spots in the area. The atmosphere and decor is a bit dated, but that sort of gives it a bit of old school character. The food was pretty good or decent, though not amazing! The shrimp risotto special was the best thing, but it's not a regular menu item. Lobster crab cakes were fairly good, though the side dishes weren't anything special and need to be updated. Service was slow and food took a long time. I might give it another try for a week night dinner .

Restivo is definitely one of my top 3 restaurants in the city. I live right across the street and STILL I never tire of the food. Always fresh, always delicious. I have only had a couple of instances when I ate there and they weren't very busy, so service was actually worse then when they are busy. Love it!

Restivo is my beloved restaurant...my absolute favorite in the city. I have been inviting friends, coworkers, and dates to this place for eight years since I first stumbled into it while dorming down the street at FIT each time is just as good as the last. The atmosphere reminds me of an old movie and the food is superb. I have become addicted to the escargot which knocked my socks off the first time I had it and I have failed to find another restaurant in the city or beyond that can measure up to their version of this French delicacy. To the lone person who gave a bad review you must have Restivo confused with another place!