Scalinatella

Went here for the first time recently and was extremely impressed with the food. It was easily the best veal I have ever eaten. I also tried a friend's steak which was excellent. Had a three pasta appetizer which, of course, was delicious. The service is very quick, no complaints about that. The restaurant is a small, but it wasn't a problem in my opinion, and the food more than makes up for it. This place is quite pricey, but if you want to treat yourself to some excellent Italian food, you can't go wrong here.

If you are in the market for outstanding Italian food, this is the place to come. Know a few things first: it will be very expensive, there is not much of an atmosphere and the place is crowded. I have always found the service to be very accommodating. There is not much of a bar so don't expect to enjoy a pre or post dinner drink. You will most likely order off of the menu (thus the high prices) and the fresh prosciutto and parm for an appetizer is a must. Enjoy for a special occasion.

The food is amazing and if you do not find what you want on the menu they will make it for you. Ask for the pasta with truffles. The price is high but so is the quality of food you will receive. After dinner try their home made lemonciello. It's like being in Italy.

After reading all of these reviews, I was extremely nervous that I would be price gouged at dinner. That said, I planned to order as little as possible but enough to be have a good meal and leave feeling full. Despite other negative reviews, the service was exceptional. They weren't pushy at all...they were also really fast and were extremely accommodating. The food was delicious. Portions were big. Overall it was an exceptional dining experience. The bill was also WAY less than expected. Definitely a must try.

The food was beautifully presented and tasted wonderful, especially the ravioli w/truffle. It did feel congested at times, since there were so many people and no windows at all. I had ordered the Chilean sea bass, almost choked because there were bones left in it. My friend had the raviloi entree which the flavor was overpowering. It was like eating a bag of cheese nachos. We had to keep asking the waiter to refill our glasses. The tiramisu was not the best, the coffee flavor was overwhelming, made it very bitter. For the quality of the food, I would not return nor would I pay that price again.

Fake smiles will greet you, aggressive servers will belittle you, unimpressive food will be served to you, and the whole time you feel like you are in a basement - well, you are. This UES institution rests on laurels so well-worn by its local regulars that everyone seems to forget to notice that bad service and mediocre food should not be rewarded with repeat visits. Have you ever been to one of those horrible Italian places in Little Italy where the whole experience makes you feel a little "used" ? Well, thats how you will feel when you get the bill at this place. So, if you have not been there yet and are thinking about it - don't say you weren't warned.

My wife and I had a romantic dinner at Scalinatella, on the recommendation of the Peninsula hotel. They actually told us that it is the best Italian in the upper east side and I have to agree. We had a wonderful time and the food was outstanding. One recommendation that I would have for visitors, just listen to the waiter recommendations. The menu is difficult to take in (very extensive with lots of specials). We ended up listening to the waiter's recommendations and did not regret it. I would recommend giving this place a try!