We went for brunch. Waiter mixed up our order so I sampled two dishes. Omelets were good, but the italian ham was flavorless and did not seem fresh. Good location near museum where there are fewer restaurants. Food could have been more interesting.
(2)
Caroline B.
Another very good Italian spot right right by Museum Mile. I went there with my parents who live around the corner a couple times and was amused by the bento box lunch special--yes, with Italian food. hahaha I'm pretty sure I had a salad last time I went there and it was pretty good. I think Centolire around the corner is better, but Caffe Grazie is decent.
(3)
David D.
My wife and I needed a place for a good meal before attending an event in this neighborhood. The other Yelp comments about Cafe Grazie were mostly good and so we took a chance. The Cafe is small, intimate, not too noisy, and clean. We were waited on promptly and did not have long to wait for our meals. The food was quite good and the portion size was just right for us. One visit isn't enough to make a really fair evaluation, but we would come back again and we'd recommend it to others.
(3)
Patricia S.
This is a cozy little place that looks quite upscale with amazing service, but good prices. This is the perfect place for "ladies that do lunch". The food is well presented and quite tasty. I wouldn't say the food is inventive at all, but it's definitely good if you live in the area or need a good place to eat after visiting Central Park, the Met or the Guggenheim. Highlights: The little teabags in the interesting packages and the lunch bento box. The boxes are the perfect amount of food. Oh and give the desserts a try. (The bread pudding is delish!)
(3)
Zayed K.
2.8 stars. A friend of mine who has too much time on his hands (much like myself), recently emailed me his review of an album he had been listening to. He gave each individual song on the album a score out of 5, and in summary used an aggregate mean to give the album an overall score. At the time I criticised his method, arguing that this take on numbers was too straightforward to capture the greatness of the music in question (we both agreed several of the tracks were brilliant and transcended such scales, a mere 5/5 did not do them justice). But I now understand what he was going through. He wanted to assign the album a higher score, but could not justify it to himself. In similar fashion my head is pulling me in the opposite direction for Caffe Grazie, telling me that somehow they deserve fewer stars, but it is not easy to justify how that is warranted: Setting & Ambiance: 2.5/5 - An attempt at somewhat upscale dining, in some ways glorious, but also a tad bit tacky. Atypical of UES I suppose, with an older crowd but a relaxed feel. FYI dinner price range is definitely more $$$ than $$, but pretty reasonable in this area. Service: 3/5 - Completely adequate. Bread & Appetizers: 3.5/5 - I love a good crust on some chewy bread, but I also really appreciate a restaurant that is not afraid to buck that trend and give me some really dense, but pillowy soft bread. The soft bread was delicious. The tomato and goat cheese dip with garlic toast was also very good. It was tangy and creamy, although I would have liked a bit more cheese. Main: 1/5 - I went with the lobster ravioli, and will start with the good. They delivered a sublime crab cake. Lightly breaded, but very crisp, with good chunks of crab meat adding great texture. It had a moist, deeply flavourful, soft consistency. Overall the dish was very rich, the flavours were there, and the tomatoes were juicy and fresh. But there was a fatal flaw, the ravioli was completely off. It was tough, and no I don't mean al dente. I mean it was doughy and gummy, ruining an otherwise well prepared dish. My friend's pumpkin ravioli on the other hand was fine according to him. So I would like to give them benefit of the doubt and leave it as a one-off failure, but I cannot get over how amateur it was. Dessert: 4/5 - S'mores with nutella and a base of toasted caramel cake-like crumbs. Heavenly! My other friend at our booth agreed, and I could not keep her spoon away from it. Aggregate mean was a respectable 2.8, a very serviceable meal, apart from one horrendous mistake that makes me strongly consider docking a star. They probably don't quite deserve that though.
(3)
neph n.
I can't remember the last time that I walked out of a restaurant. My friend and I decided to come here based on the reviews and description while visiting the area art museums from out of state. We had arrived in NYC that morning after a long drive and maybe we didn't look awesome, but it's a tourist area and we were polite and had money to spend. We were seated, the restaurant wasn't crowded, we were given water, and then it seemed like we waited over 15 minutes for anyone to come over to take our order. Our menus were closed, we kept trying to politely get the attention of the staff who weren't overly busy. We decided not to waste any more of our precious 9-hour NYC visit to see if we would be served, so we decided to leave. Did we do something wrong?
(1)
Melissa M.
Honestly, I dont know where all these great reviews are coming from....Maybe I should have gone for dinner, not brunch. My bf and I were starving and came across Cafe Grazie. It looked very nice from the outside so we decided to try it out. We sat downstairs. It was nice and cozy. Our server didnt seem too interested in doing her job. He had the Napoli Panini. It was very good, but not really difficult to make. I had the crab cake sliders. They did have alot of crab. Along with that came a fishy flavor..and really no other flavors. Blah. It seemed to be only crab and breadcrumbs...thats it. Not really anything to write home about. They are getting 3 stars for that panini...It was good. One more thing. The bathroom was filthy - at 3 pm on a Sat when the place was empty. I think one of the staff members could have found the time to clean it up.
(3)
Victoria M.
Totally overrated. What's wrong with New Yorkers that they would rate this place so high? We picked it based on the Yelp reviews and couldn't have been more disappointed. The Menu has what is called 'Italian Bento Box' so I got excited imaging the culinary opportunities. Alas, it's just a fancy name for a pick and pair lunch prix fixe. And the food is quite bland and unambitious even for that. The service was solid, though.
(2)
Michelle A.
Came in for lunch during restaurant week 2010. Beautiful restaurant with a large picture window next to our table. Pleasant service with no snob attitude for the RW patrons. Our meal started with a small platter of bread and dipping options--a tomato paste and a balsamic/oil combination. High quality tastes to start the meal. Ordered the RW parmesan-crusted calamari. While not particularly parmesan-y, it was lightly breaded, fresh, flavorful, and a generous serving. For an entree, I enjoyed the lasagna pinwheels. A creative presentation of standard fare, these were meaty, saucy, and cheesy. I try not to order food out that I like cooking at home since I usually prefer my own version. Here, though, the entree gave my own labor-intensive dish a run for the money. The best part of the meal, though, was dessert! My friend enjoyed her tiamisu--said it was rich but not overly sweet. My chocolate croissant bread pudding, though, was simply INCREDIBLE! The server said that the recipe was actually from one of the wait staff. It was sweet, sticky, and the perfect end to a tasty meal. The regular menu does include a number of low cost options, especially for lunch. Will be back for the lunch "bento box" combo in the future.
(4)
Jack H.
Maybe there's a bit of bias considering I have been eating here with family for nearly 5 years now, but from start to finish Grazie never fails to impress me. There's a warm welcoming atmosphere and even more incredible food. The pizza has stood out for me but I would also suggest giving a salad a try. My only complaint is that the experience upstairs is much louder. It's a great place, though. If you want good Italian comfort food, come here.
(4)
Maria A.
Impromptu date and in the mood for tea or a light dinner? This is the place. Very cozy atmosphere, the staff is very friendly and helpful, and its near great NYC attraction like the MET, Guggenheim, and Central Park.
(4)
Thomas C.
Talk about bang for your buck. Before today, I'd never expected to look at the bill and be astonished by how LOW it is, especially in this neighborhood. The food and service were both nothing short of excellent. Don't be fooled - I know that the decor looks tacky as hell from the pictures on here, but it's actually very nice. If overstated. Not here to talk about paint though. I absolutely loved this restaurant and my meal. We went for lunch and sat upstairs, in the back. I would have preferred the front, but the place was totally packed! Always nice to see, especially at lunchtime. We made a 12:45 reservation, and it's a good thing we did. The dining room we sat in was pretty interesting, and I've only been in a couple like it in New York (mostly when I was working on Wall Street and went to dinner with senior brokers... who could afford it). It was super quiet, the tables were small, but well-placed. Not cramped at all. But for a minute I felt like we were going to get in trouble for talking too loud. Needless to say the words "wasted," "slut," etc. were whispered. Older crowd but it didn't feel stuffy at all. Museum docents etc. Pretty standard fare for an upscale Italian joint. I had orrecchiette with mozzarella, tomatoes, spinach, and garlic, which was great. We split prosciutto and melon, also great. She had linguine or something along those lines... the portions were huge all around. I felt extremely satisfied when I left, especially after finding out that in total it was ONLY $55 (note: we didn't have wine). If you're ever chilling at museums and want a nice lunch, this is a great place to come, but by nice I mean NICE. Just bring a jacket, it's a dressy place.
(5)
Chi T.
The clam appetizer w/tomato broth & garlic toast was SO GOOD. I ordered the veal tortellini, which was delicious as well. It was very heavy though, so I could only eat half of it. BF ordered the special, the pasta with the bolognese sauce. It was fine but was kind of like spaghetti. Overall, the food was good, atmosphere seemed family-friendly yet also romantic enough, and the servers were very attentive. It was a bit overpriced, but I guess that's what comes with territory of The Met.
(4)
Jenn K.
I gave 'em a 4-star dinner review, but the eggs benedict brunch only gets 3-stars, friends. Here's the good news: you can get up late on Sunday, and still get a table here without any problem (we were the only people in there at 10:45). In other good news, service is good and everyone is incredibly nice. Bread is extremely fresh and tasty. Freshly squeezed OJ was great. The benedict, while good, lacked flavor. The eggs, which I requested to be poached medium, were extremely soft. The hollandaise was unfortunately almost non-existent, and let's be honest, that's the best part! Also, the canadian bacon was a bit too thick for my taste. It certainly wasn't terrible, but not at all memorable.
(3)
Zoe P.
Caffe Grazie quite literally is my father's favorite place to go for a meal or just a drink (he takes friends and colleagues there all the time). It could be the fact that it is only a block away from our apartment, but the food truly is delicious and I'm sure my father would travel a distance to dine there if we weren't nearby. Its an intimate space in a converted townhouse; warm, cozy, inviting. The seating can be a little cramped when it gets crowded, but most of the time you don't notice since you're so fixated on the wonderful food in front of you. Everything is prepared beautifully, both tasty and a joy to behold on the plate. I have never been disappointed by a dish, the ingredients are so fresh. I particularly enjoy their seafood selections The staff is wonderful, they are very attentive, and even more so now that my father is a regular.
(4)
Denise B.
What a quaint place! Great for a good meal after a long dat @ the MMA. Comfortable, soothing and. Great service. A good go to. Try the asparagus appetizer with Parma .c
(3)
Dana F.
A fave brunch/ lunch spot. Tricolore omlette is a must for brunch, insalata misto is fantastic for lunch. Love enjoying a relaxing cup of coffee and great company here.
(4)
Frank P.
ok, but not a standout, esp in its wealthy nabe. darkened atmosphere is old-world, a bit down heels. service is sometimes obsequious, again in the manner of almost high-end european restaurants. patrons on the old side, often with young relatives in tow, like uncles taking out a college student for a purpose, maybe telling the kid to hit the books harder. or softer. never think of the place as italian, feels and eats more french. good italian soups, tho. imo the place, esp the decor, works best in the winter when you don't mind dark. def a comedown in the summer, but good ac. your rich grandparents' kinda place, if you have them
(3)
G H.
Food was a solid 8. I had the warm goat cheese salad with shrimp. Yum! My friend had the pommodoro which he said was amazing. I like the upstairs better than the downstairs seating, little more private.
(4)
Alyssa D.
Pretty good meal, overall. The goat cheese tomato bruchetta was delicious, calamari was chewy. Gnocchi was yummy, although a little doughy. Pizza was great- spicy sausauge was definitely spicy! Desserts were amazing. Try the homemade zeppolis with caramel sauce- yum! Be sure to ask for a table upstairs, its more elegant. Also the back dining room upstairs is very pretty- has a lot of nice paintings and a goregeous chandelier!
(4)
CD R.
Our meal was a last minute change of plans from Little Italy. My lasagna was ok, the others were less excited than I was. Service was average. I wouldn't go back.
(3)
Jen Y.
While in NY for training, my bf flew across the continent to visit me! We went to the Met, and we were handed a flier for this restaurant. The flier gives you 15% off your meal so we decided to take a look at the place. At first, we walked right by the restaurant, but once we found it, I can't stop thinking about it. Since my Eurotrip, I have been craving authentic Italian food with fresh ingredients. This is the place! We tried the Restaurant Week lunch menu and also had a warm goat cheese salad with arugula, golden raisins, walnuts, and balsamic vinaigrette. I am seriously obsessed with goat cheese and tend to order it at any restaurant that offers it! Our RW set menu came with a bruschetta trio appetizer: marinated artichoke/roasted red peppers with goat cheese and capers/tomato bruschetta on top of crostinis. The artichoke and roasted red peppers crostinis were my favorite. For the entree, we got the linguini with zucchini, butter, and sliced garlic. I am not a big fan of pasta without any hint of red sauce, but this pasta keeps haunting me because it was so good! It was so light and refreshing, and the butter and garlic sauce were perfect. The linguini was cooked al dente, just the way I like it. I never knew such plain yet flavorful pasta could exist! For dessert, we got amazing Tiramisu with moist cake drenched in the perfect amount of espresso. This is the second best Tiramisu I've had. The best is from Whole Foods. If I ever go back to NY, I will definitely make this my first stop.
(5)
Crimson E.
Very nice location near the Metropolitan Museum of Art, but the space is quite small and not very well-appointed. Wait staff was not quite 'on it' for lunch on a late Sunday afternoon. Salads were quite tasty, but the steak sandwich was of average quality (shrimp pasta was much better). Desserts were less than spectucular. Don't think I'll be bringing special guests here again, but again, location was perfect.
(3)
Jennifer H.
definitely ask to be seated upstairs! you get much more light, albeit slower service. downstairs is shadowy and pub-like. randomly dropped by here to eat after visiting mcqueen at the met. wasn't expecting much but it was delicious!! granted, we stayed away from the salads and paninis, but both of our pasta dishes were superb! orecchiette lombardia - overflowing with flavor; the texture of the pasta was perfection; the sausage, spinach, mozzarella and tomato combination was so simple but splendid linguine campagna - very very good. succulent baby clams, albeit salty. excellent linguine. overall, i was pleasantly, pleasantly surprised by our choice.
(4)
N L.
Had a fantastic 4-course fixed price dinner here New Years Eve! The stuffed mushroom was excellent and the braised short ribs were divine! The servers were all extremely friendly and they kept our wine glasses full as house alcohol was included in the price. Just before midnight they filled us up on champagne too!! Really enjoyed ringing in the New Year at this cozy place!
We ate dinner there with another couple on a Saturday night in late September and we were VERY impressed. The food was delicious, the service was excellent (attentive & very pleasant) and the interior was lovely (it's a townhouse). The restaurant is small, so dinner reservations are essential. Prices are on the high side, but that's not surprising for the Upper East Side. We had a 7:30 p.m. reservation on a Saturday night and we ended up staying until about 10:45 p.m. because we were so engrossed in conversation, by which time all but one other couple had left. Yet, we were never made to feel rushed. It was a wonderful evening!
(5)
Jenny S.
The wait staff is extremely friendly but alas, the food is awful. Kids love the "make your own sundaes", but in reality, they are nothing special. I think it's a tourist trap for the MET crowd.
Didn't like their chocolate cake, they don't make it though. they buy it.
(4)
Katie Y.
Usually when you are ravenously hungry, things tend to either be tastier or, if they are not, you still push it down anyway to kill the hunger in your belly. This is the state in which we arrived to Caffe Grazie, after searching around neighboring restaurants that were just a bit more than we wanted to spend on an impromptu Sunday lunch. When we saw the prices and the friendly yellow interior, we happily settled in. Our server was a sweetie and brought a big heap of smiling attitude to our table, which was also welcome after the long morning walking the streets and the Guggenheim spiral. We felt sure we had made the right decision to dine here. Sadly, though, the food just didn't pull through. I ordered the squash soup, which tasted exactly how I might make it... that is to say, nothing special at all (I'm a mediocre cook). I followed up with a sirloin burger - I know, I know, shame on me for getting a burger in an Italian restaurant. However, it looked appealing on the menu and I was craving one (craving one enough to spend $17!). I was sad I did, because although the flavor was good, the burger patty itself was the size of a golf ball and literally filled only half of the bun. My friend ordered the Parma sandwich, which was so chewy and unappealing she put down half of it into her hungry tummy out of necessity and declined the offer to bring the rest home. Maybe lunches just aren't the shining moment for Caffe Grazie and dinner is the better way to go.
(2)
Boogie K.
Good ambience. Food was ok but not fantastic.
(3)
Layla C.
I had my mind blown by Caffe Grazie this evening. I had capellini with smoked salmon, peas and prosciutto in a tomato cream sauce and had the portions not been out of this world gigantic, I would have literally been licking my plate clean. Though it wouldn't have really matched the classy hood. The ambiance was soo warm and inviting. There were tiny details which set it apart from other places, but they expertly preserved the intimate and homey feel of the townhouse they converted to make the restaurant space with cherry moldings, elegant lighting and cozy seats. The service was great too. Effortlessly polite without the slightest hint of stuffiness or attitude. Every dish was explained to the highest detail, and my pellegrino was refilled so often that I actually thought the cup maaay have been magic. The garlic bread with tomato and goat cheese dip was a fantastic start to our meal, and our cappuccinos provided the perfect finish. All in all, an absolutely stellar dining experience.
(5)
Peter F.
Caffe Grazie Haiku: Welcoming hostess Food and service was great A nice oasis
(5)
Ye L.
I was here during restaurant week. I remember having some sort of calimari salad, which was *really good*, a decent entree that I frankly don't remember, and then a chocolate bread pudding which still looks delicious in the picture I took of it. I was here fairly early on Superbowl Sunday and the waiter/bartender was chatting with the old couple who made up the rest of the clientele, so I assume the waitstaff is pretty nice. I would consider coming back again as a way to kick off a day at the Met (which it's 2 mins walk from).
(4)
Hector S.
My girlfriend and I had a great time here at this very quaint restaurant. We had the pre fix menu for restaurant week. Service was good... Would cone again
(4)
Ronnie K.
Nice place for casual Italian. The pizza is great and it's convenient to the museums.
(4)
Tad K.
Just the best damn meal I have had. We were given precise and elegant personal attention. In specific I had a maple enfused pork chop that was HEAVENLY. Price is reasonable based on location and the quality of the meal.
(5)
Roger B.
I am no negative Nancy by any means, but ill planning and wrong directions landed me here. The beet salad was decent, the thinly sliced beets could've been tossed in a simple vinaigrette before plating. Bad gnocchi, doughy in the middle, and gross. Orrechiette was swimming in a tasteless broth. Poorly executed, and very amateur. On the positive side, the wait staff was on point.
(2)
Jason R.
Sunday brunch. Adequate/nice pancakes. Fast, but unfriendly service.
(3)
Sarah B.
Killer pizza & the linguine vongole is to die for. Excellent service! Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Justin J V.
First off i know almost everything about Italian food. I am a snob I've been to Italy. I have never had such a perfect Italian meal without it being Americanized in NYC. I am very pleased it was my birthday so im glad i made a smart choice.
(5)
Nicolas J.
The food was delicious, the service was very courteous. We really enjoyed our meal here. The price was a little expensive but reasonable for the quality of food. The environment was very enjoyable and the waiters very friendly. Fully recommend going!
(5)
Jimena V.
Super cute place! Very cozy. Had the gluten free pizza and it was soo goood!! Even better than the regular pizza, (which we also had). Perfect for date night!
(5)
Debbie F.
Went here twice this week as found myself in the 80's on Madison. The staff is really great, especially Bridget and Natasha who were very accommodating and in tune with the client. Food is fresh and atmosphere comfortable. Considering its location, there is a "neighborhoodsy" feeling as I saw a few of the same costumers both times I went. Will definitely recommend it to friends going to the museums in that part of town.
(5)
Pinay 1.
Came here for dinner a bit late in the evening. The staff was very attentive, and the food was delicious. Their wine was exceptional, and the place is extremely cozy and personal. Great experience for a quiet dinner.
(4)
Michelle C.
The waiters we're so friendly and attentive. especially after our long day. They went out of their way to make us happy. We needed our phones charged and they happily plugged them in for us. We wanted a specific coffee and they made it for us and complimented the idea! Delicious food. A little pricey, but totally worth it.
Good food and atmosphere. The food did take a long time to get there and they got my order wrong
(2)
Charlie U.
Perfect place for lunch. Went there as we wanted to avoid eating at the museum. I had the Roma sandwich and my daughters ordered from the kids menus. Everything was delicious and the service was very friendly and accommodating. Awesome find.
(5)
Resa C.
Had lunch here today. The prixe fix lunch at $26 is a great choice. Three courses with substantial choices and portions. It was quite delicious. It's small but quaint. Try it.
(4)
Katie M.
We are new to the neighborhood, and this is definitely going to be our go-to restaurant. The food is excellent and the staff is even better...it's so rare to find such a friendly staff in this city!!!
(5)
Judi B.
Perfecto location - fab food and like dining in someone's home. 5 of us tried much of their menu and kudos to Salmon Salad cooked to perfection & my oh my what a huge piece too! Baked eggs were amazing- service rocks! I live on the other coast but my local friends are returning immediately. Grazie to Grazie for being there 21 years!
(5)
Jenn C.
I came here on a Saturday night with two others. One thing that I love is even though our entire party hadn't arrived, we were still able to sit down and relax. I have to say, we didn't feel rushed at all. We ordered appetisers and drinks, and then lingered over them, and then had soup and salad. By the way - the butternut squash soup was fresh and very tasty. The pear/goat cheese/walnut salad was off the hook too - the little crunchy and sweet walnut brittle really made the dish. For dinner, we got a variety, from orrechiette to chicken parm to veal Roma. We all finished our meals and practically licked our plates clean. For dessert, we shared the zeppoles and the chocolate croissant bread pudding...so rich! To die for! All in all, a great meal. On the pricey side, but then...I'd rather pay a lot and totally enjoy the food than pay too much for food I didn't like. Right?
(5)
Jennie B.
I hosted my wedding rehearsal dinner at Caffe Grazie and wanted to complement the restaurant, the owner Jennifer, and the entire staff on their private events. First, they have a lovely private space that comfortably fits 20-25 people. Jennifer, the owner, is a pleasure to work with and her staff is top notch. They were so kind to me and so happy for me as a bride to be, I was personally touched. My event was more than a business transaction for them and I really appreciated their excitement for me. As for the food, my very Italian family had fabulous things to say. The Grazie family is really a wonderful group of people and I wholeheartedly recommend Grazie private events.
(5)
Shannon D.
Cute little neighborhood place. 2 of us had the $26 lunch specials & enjoyed them. Caprese panini was excellent
(4)
Orin K.
I'm never In this area. Yelped restaurants nearby. Very pleased with choice. Nice small intimate Italian restaurant with great reasonable wine list and large choice of great food. I would recommend to anyone and I would come back again.
(4)
Oscar G.
The place is fantastic. Low key, very friendly service and the food is spot on. I've never had mozzarella so fresh. Overall a wonderful experience and I highly recommend it if looking for a place to eat in the UES.
(4)
Ttt R.
Not good at all! Service was horrible. They overcharged on kids food and didn't give them drinks.
(1)
Robert R.
The food and service is always good (sometimes a bit slow in the kitchen) and its a great "go to" on the UES. I particularly like that they have large booths in the ground floor bar area - better for the kids and for the dad's they have a TV that is always on sports. Dont miss out on the make your own Sunday for the kids.
(3)
Yuna D.
Upscale, pretentious atmosphere like every other place here on the upper east side. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. I went here with a friend who recently came to the states to study from China. Our server was patient with us, as he and I tried to explain the different dishes, etc. But he kind of kept looking at us weird when she wasn't accustomed to the mannerisms (i.e. how to use a dinner napkin.) The food & drinks here isn't that great considering it's price. I had the lemonade, which was standard, at best. My friend had the veal tortellini, and she normally devours pasta, but she left a significant portion of it. Mind you, they were hugeeee portions (what the freak, at lunch. Really?) I had a brunch item, a typical eggs benedict... for I think it was $15. $15 dollars for a not perfect, rich drizzling yolk. and $15 dollars for bread that nearly breaks your teeth trying to bite into them. Ugh. The places to eat around here are really limited...
(2)
Danyelle T.
The food was great and so was the service. I came in with two of my girlfriends looking to try the bread pudding. We asked at the door if they had bread pudding on the menu and we were told they did, so we took a table upstairs. we ordered a pizza to share and wine spritzers. The pizza was SO delicious and the spritzers were refreshing and a little on the strong side. The bread pudding was FANTASTIC!!! We were ready to order another bread pudding to share when we were presented with a different version of bread pudding that was not on the menu. We were asked to taste it and provide our feedback since they were thinking of adding it to the brunch menu. We provided feedback, and they were extremely appreciative. It made us feel very special to be able to offer that. I will definitely be back with my husband real soon!
(5)
Samantha S.
Thumbs up for the location, which provides museum goers with one of the few options for a decent nearby meal. It's more than decent, really. The "bento box" lunch is actually served on a wooden tray, with your three courses set out in a row. I tried the carrot soup, which was beautiful as well as flavorful. The mozzarella panini was a bit greasy, but creamy and satisfying. And the tiramisu was wow. The thing is, it's a small place, and it's crazy-busy at lunch, even during the week. They gave us an overly optimistic wait-time estimate, and we stood for at least 20 minutes in the cramped vestibule. The portion sizes are similarly small. I found them reasonably filling, but the prices are high if you can't share or take leftovers home. The staff is really sweet, though, and very professional. I'd like to come back at an off-hour and have a bite at the bar--no wait required.
(3)
Emily H.
I just went here yesterday for a business meeting, and not gonna lie it was hard to focus on the meeting while eating such delicious food. The appetizers and desserts here are the bomb diggity (yeah, I said it). My boss ordered the tomato and goat cheese with bruschetta, the rice balls, and a bruschetta platter. The rice balls were small and flavorful, which was actually a welcome departure from the humongous and starchy rice balls I'm used to seeing at Italian restaurants (I hope that isn't taken the wrong way...). I got gnocchi for dinner, which was solid but nothing to write home about. And then came dessert. Let me tell you...trying to be polite at this meeting with my boss while nomming on the zeppole and nutella smores was TORTUROUS. Fortunately, after one bite of a zeppole I think we all said fuck it and went to town. :) In all honesty, though, the UES can be a hard neighborhood to find a restaurant worth the price, but Caffe Grazie definitely is.
(4)
Johnson B.
At here today and had a great time. The interior is very nice. The food was very good. Latte was also good. I liked the complimentary bread/olive oil. It's a nice and cozy place.
(5)
Rui W.
We came in for a quick coffee break and ended up with the worst latte possible. The croissant bread pudding didn't save the day either... Wouldn't dream to come back
(1)
Lia P.
I looooved Caffe Grazie and so did my husband and in laws! It's surprisingly large inside- goes way back and has a second story (we sat in the back of the 2nd story). The atmosphere is cozy and charming, dimly lit with nice artwork. We really enjoyed all our dishes. They were: The Bruschetta Trio- the bruschetta selections were a mushroom one, classic tomato one, and artichoke. All good. Linguine with clams and red sauce- delicious! All my clams were fresh and flavorful and the red sauce tasted better than what I would get from a jar which is my pasta sauce "litmus test" at Italian restaurants. Veal Tortellini with a Parmesan cream sauce- this was my husband's dish and it was so good! Not too heavy, just right. You could actually taste the veal in the tortellini and the pancetta was a nice touch. Roasted half chicken- ok so it sounded kid of simple but was surprisingly great. Not dry, very lemony and a generous portion. Gnocchi with marinara- I didn't try this but my mother in law loved it. We also had the "grazitinis" which were a tasty combo of orange juice, champagne, and chambord. Overall a wonderful experience, with great food and service. The dessert menu looked awesome, I'll have to go back and try it sometime!
(4)
Peter C.
After a great day being tourists in the city Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, tree, rink, 5th ave..... You get it. We were early enough to miss the dinner crowd at this resturant. They quickly sat the 5 of us. The bar tender Joe, was great. The staff did an all around great job in serving us. Food was excellent. The only reason for four stars in lieu of 5 was the garlic in my linguini with white claim sauce was burnt and impacted the taste of my meal. Conversely it was raw in another's diner's dish which made it a little too powerful ( if it's possible to have too much garlic.) Anyway very successful outing. We will return the next time we are near the upper east side again. Go enjoy, manggia!
(4)
dee t.
Loved this little east side find. The food was good, and the staff was ultra friendly - I'll be back!
(4)
Miranda P.
Less costs more. My friends and I stopped in to warm up after a chilly stroll in Central park. Everyone else ordered cappuccinos and I got a hot chocolate. At $4.50 per small cup, I expected something that tasted better than a generic powdered packet that I can buy a whole box of for the same price at the grocery store. Our homemade donuts were decent but i would have expected more than 5 little bite sized pieces for $7. My three friends did like their cappuccinos though. The waitress also brought us the wrong check when we were finished. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised that our actual bill was over $30 since we were in the ritzy part of NYC. Maybe the food is more worth it, but I doubt I'll be back.
(3)
Stephanie O.
The service was excellent and everyone was very attentive. I had the sea bass but the skin was slightly over cooked. The Pizza Margherita was too on the American side with the thick crust. Crust should be thinner like true Napoli style in Italy. Great place for families and office party. I would come back again because of the service and the flavors were together.
(3)
Kevin H.
The service, ambience and restaurant was great, but the food tastes just alright.
(3)
Lotem B.
They say that the best time to see New York is in the fall. There is this vibe in the air, some kind of a charm going on... Pre holiday spirits perhaps? For whichever reason, here we were, my friend and I, marching through 5th Ave, heading North to Central Park. Had a wonderful walk, appreciating the astonishing beauty of this city 9I'm inspired!!). Fall definitely suits it's scenery. It didn't take long though for us two to find ourselves seeking refuge underneath one umbrella... Searching for a place to hide away from the sudden pouring rain. This is when we noticed this almost hidden entrance to this place - Caffe Grazie. At first glance it seemed like the perfect set from a romantic comedy of some sort of a Hollywood movie... Which pretty much means, it looked exactly as I envisioned an Upper East side eatery/ cafe... A cosy feel by the dimmed lights, rich woods and leather. The whole lay out has this (somewhat) posh European ambiance. Warm and inviting. Perfect. We walked in and were greeted by what it seemed as a large number of staff members... All were smiling and welcoming with a polite nod, dressed in black trousers and buttoned shirts. By this point I am already impressed and have completely forgotten about my soaking feet... We were seated at a small booth and presented with a menu. Sigh, I wish I were hungry, because everything looks delicious. But quickly enough our eyes gazed towards the coffee and desserts menu. Oh my. "2 Caffe Grazie's and a Tiramisu to share, please." My mouth is watering by just visioning what have been served at our table... The Coffee was served in a large wine glass, I wish I'd remember all the ingredients, but it was a coffee mixed with raspberries (?), cocoa, Kahlua.... Ohh goodness, it was the best $12.00 I could have spent on a coffee, this is for sure... The Tiramisu was more than exquisite... It was an absolute Divine and pure happiness in my mouth!! Best I ever had and certainly, most recommended. By the time we finished, the sun came out again and it was time to continue the exploration of the city. This was by far the best unplanned stop we had in this trip and we both really enjoyed the experience here at Caffe Grazie. It was absolute perfect. Next time I am visiting New York I will definitely include this charming, beautiful and delicious Caffe in my plans and will certainly be making sure to be hungry as I cannot wait to try their meals.
(5)
Mabel W.
I've been here quite a few times for late night drinks and for brunch. The bartender, Jen makes an awesome martini.. The olives are stuffed with bleu cheese! Ugh so good. Brunch is rather expensive but hey it's the UES, what do you expect? $55 for two brunch entrees (scrambled eggs and poached eggs) and 2 mimosas is hardly worth it. I think I'm going to stick with places that serve brunch with bottomless mimosas from now on. *You get a 15% off discount if you work at The Met ;)
(3)
Jason D.
Nice upscale lunch, but nothing too special. A little on the pricey side but that really is to be expected.
(3)
Mark J.
Awesome little Italian place just a few block away from the Met. We had Linguine with Clams...some of the best I have ever had. The Zeppole capped off a great night.
(4)
Beth B.
It was a great lunch time find. Good food...quiet enough to talk...not rushed out by the staff. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good lunch with a good friend.
(4)
Bruce J.
We had lunch here today, March 3, 2013, as we had to be in the neighborhood unexpectedly. We were just walking by and decided to go in for lunch. What a pleasant surprise! First of all, the entire staff was very friendly and helpful. I had a chicken panini that was excellent, and, it had quite a bit of chicken on it, nothing skimpy! The wine by the glass selection was pretty decent. I asked for grilled asparagus, even though it was not on the menu, and they made if for me. My girlfriend had a salad that she raved about. I would definitely go back there when I am in that neighborhood again. The owner, Jennifer, was very friendly and also kind of cute :-) But, I would go back just for the food!
Dawn B.
We went for brunch. Waiter mixed up our order so I sampled two dishes. Omelets were good, but the italian ham was flavorless and did not seem fresh. Good location near museum where there are fewer restaurants. Food could have been more interesting.
(2)Caroline B.
Another very good Italian spot right right by Museum Mile. I went there with my parents who live around the corner a couple times and was amused by the bento box lunch special--yes, with Italian food. hahaha I'm pretty sure I had a salad last time I went there and it was pretty good. I think Centolire around the corner is better, but Caffe Grazie is decent.
(3)David D.
My wife and I needed a place for a good meal before attending an event in this neighborhood. The other Yelp comments about Cafe Grazie were mostly good and so we took a chance. The Cafe is small, intimate, not too noisy, and clean. We were waited on promptly and did not have long to wait for our meals. The food was quite good and the portion size was just right for us. One visit isn't enough to make a really fair evaluation, but we would come back again and we'd recommend it to others.
(3)Patricia S.
This is a cozy little place that looks quite upscale with amazing service, but good prices. This is the perfect place for "ladies that do lunch". The food is well presented and quite tasty. I wouldn't say the food is inventive at all, but it's definitely good if you live in the area or need a good place to eat after visiting Central Park, the Met or the Guggenheim. Highlights: The little teabags in the interesting packages and the lunch bento box. The boxes are the perfect amount of food. Oh and give the desserts a try. (The bread pudding is delish!)
(3)Zayed K.
2.8 stars. A friend of mine who has too much time on his hands (much like myself), recently emailed me his review of an album he had been listening to. He gave each individual song on the album a score out of 5, and in summary used an aggregate mean to give the album an overall score. At the time I criticised his method, arguing that this take on numbers was too straightforward to capture the greatness of the music in question (we both agreed several of the tracks were brilliant and transcended such scales, a mere 5/5 did not do them justice). But I now understand what he was going through. He wanted to assign the album a higher score, but could not justify it to himself. In similar fashion my head is pulling me in the opposite direction for Caffe Grazie, telling me that somehow they deserve fewer stars, but it is not easy to justify how that is warranted: Setting & Ambiance: 2.5/5 - An attempt at somewhat upscale dining, in some ways glorious, but also a tad bit tacky. Atypical of UES I suppose, with an older crowd but a relaxed feel. FYI dinner price range is definitely more $$$ than $$, but pretty reasonable in this area. Service: 3/5 - Completely adequate. Bread & Appetizers: 3.5/5 - I love a good crust on some chewy bread, but I also really appreciate a restaurant that is not afraid to buck that trend and give me some really dense, but pillowy soft bread. The soft bread was delicious. The tomato and goat cheese dip with garlic toast was also very good. It was tangy and creamy, although I would have liked a bit more cheese. Main: 1/5 - I went with the lobster ravioli, and will start with the good. They delivered a sublime crab cake. Lightly breaded, but very crisp, with good chunks of crab meat adding great texture. It had a moist, deeply flavourful, soft consistency. Overall the dish was very rich, the flavours were there, and the tomatoes were juicy and fresh. But there was a fatal flaw, the ravioli was completely off. It was tough, and no I don't mean al dente. I mean it was doughy and gummy, ruining an otherwise well prepared dish. My friend's pumpkin ravioli on the other hand was fine according to him. So I would like to give them benefit of the doubt and leave it as a one-off failure, but I cannot get over how amateur it was. Dessert: 4/5 - S'mores with nutella and a base of toasted caramel cake-like crumbs. Heavenly! My other friend at our booth agreed, and I could not keep her spoon away from it. Aggregate mean was a respectable 2.8, a very serviceable meal, apart from one horrendous mistake that makes me strongly consider docking a star. They probably don't quite deserve that though.
(3)neph n.
I can't remember the last time that I walked out of a restaurant. My friend and I decided to come here based on the reviews and description while visiting the area art museums from out of state. We had arrived in NYC that morning after a long drive and maybe we didn't look awesome, but it's a tourist area and we were polite and had money to spend. We were seated, the restaurant wasn't crowded, we were given water, and then it seemed like we waited over 15 minutes for anyone to come over to take our order. Our menus were closed, we kept trying to politely get the attention of the staff who weren't overly busy. We decided not to waste any more of our precious 9-hour NYC visit to see if we would be served, so we decided to leave. Did we do something wrong?
(1)Melissa M.
Honestly, I dont know where all these great reviews are coming from....Maybe I should have gone for dinner, not brunch. My bf and I were starving and came across Cafe Grazie. It looked very nice from the outside so we decided to try it out. We sat downstairs. It was nice and cozy. Our server didnt seem too interested in doing her job. He had the Napoli Panini. It was very good, but not really difficult to make. I had the crab cake sliders. They did have alot of crab. Along with that came a fishy flavor..and really no other flavors. Blah. It seemed to be only crab and breadcrumbs...thats it. Not really anything to write home about. They are getting 3 stars for that panini...It was good. One more thing. The bathroom was filthy - at 3 pm on a Sat when the place was empty. I think one of the staff members could have found the time to clean it up.
(3)Victoria M.
Totally overrated. What's wrong with New Yorkers that they would rate this place so high? We picked it based on the Yelp reviews and couldn't have been more disappointed. The Menu has what is called 'Italian Bento Box' so I got excited imaging the culinary opportunities. Alas, it's just a fancy name for a pick and pair lunch prix fixe. And the food is quite bland and unambitious even for that. The service was solid, though.
(2)Michelle A.
Came in for lunch during restaurant week 2010. Beautiful restaurant with a large picture window next to our table. Pleasant service with no snob attitude for the RW patrons. Our meal started with a small platter of bread and dipping options--a tomato paste and a balsamic/oil combination. High quality tastes to start the meal. Ordered the RW parmesan-crusted calamari. While not particularly parmesan-y, it was lightly breaded, fresh, flavorful, and a generous serving. For an entree, I enjoyed the lasagna pinwheels. A creative presentation of standard fare, these were meaty, saucy, and cheesy. I try not to order food out that I like cooking at home since I usually prefer my own version. Here, though, the entree gave my own labor-intensive dish a run for the money. The best part of the meal, though, was dessert! My friend enjoyed her tiamisu--said it was rich but not overly sweet. My chocolate croissant bread pudding, though, was simply INCREDIBLE! The server said that the recipe was actually from one of the wait staff. It was sweet, sticky, and the perfect end to a tasty meal. The regular menu does include a number of low cost options, especially for lunch. Will be back for the lunch "bento box" combo in the future.
(4)Jack H.
Maybe there's a bit of bias considering I have been eating here with family for nearly 5 years now, but from start to finish Grazie never fails to impress me. There's a warm welcoming atmosphere and even more incredible food. The pizza has stood out for me but I would also suggest giving a salad a try. My only complaint is that the experience upstairs is much louder. It's a great place, though. If you want good Italian comfort food, come here.
(4)Maria A.
Impromptu date and in the mood for tea or a light dinner? This is the place. Very cozy atmosphere, the staff is very friendly and helpful, and its near great NYC attraction like the MET, Guggenheim, and Central Park.
(4)Thomas C.
Talk about bang for your buck. Before today, I'd never expected to look at the bill and be astonished by how LOW it is, especially in this neighborhood. The food and service were both nothing short of excellent. Don't be fooled - I know that the decor looks tacky as hell from the pictures on here, but it's actually very nice. If overstated. Not here to talk about paint though. I absolutely loved this restaurant and my meal. We went for lunch and sat upstairs, in the back. I would have preferred the front, but the place was totally packed! Always nice to see, especially at lunchtime. We made a 12:45 reservation, and it's a good thing we did. The dining room we sat in was pretty interesting, and I've only been in a couple like it in New York (mostly when I was working on Wall Street and went to dinner with senior brokers... who could afford it). It was super quiet, the tables were small, but well-placed. Not cramped at all. But for a minute I felt like we were going to get in trouble for talking too loud. Needless to say the words "wasted," "slut," etc. were whispered. Older crowd but it didn't feel stuffy at all. Museum docents etc. Pretty standard fare for an upscale Italian joint. I had orrecchiette with mozzarella, tomatoes, spinach, and garlic, which was great. We split prosciutto and melon, also great. She had linguine or something along those lines... the portions were huge all around. I felt extremely satisfied when I left, especially after finding out that in total it was ONLY $55 (note: we didn't have wine). If you're ever chilling at museums and want a nice lunch, this is a great place to come, but by nice I mean NICE. Just bring a jacket, it's a dressy place.
(5)Chi T.
The clam appetizer w/tomato broth & garlic toast was SO GOOD. I ordered the veal tortellini, which was delicious as well. It was very heavy though, so I could only eat half of it. BF ordered the special, the pasta with the bolognese sauce. It was fine but was kind of like spaghetti. Overall, the food was good, atmosphere seemed family-friendly yet also romantic enough, and the servers were very attentive. It was a bit overpriced, but I guess that's what comes with territory of The Met.
(4)Jenn K.
I gave 'em a 4-star dinner review, but the eggs benedict brunch only gets 3-stars, friends. Here's the good news: you can get up late on Sunday, and still get a table here without any problem (we were the only people in there at 10:45). In other good news, service is good and everyone is incredibly nice. Bread is extremely fresh and tasty. Freshly squeezed OJ was great. The benedict, while good, lacked flavor. The eggs, which I requested to be poached medium, were extremely soft. The hollandaise was unfortunately almost non-existent, and let's be honest, that's the best part! Also, the canadian bacon was a bit too thick for my taste. It certainly wasn't terrible, but not at all memorable.
(3)Zoe P.
Caffe Grazie quite literally is my father's favorite place to go for a meal or just a drink (he takes friends and colleagues there all the time). It could be the fact that it is only a block away from our apartment, but the food truly is delicious and I'm sure my father would travel a distance to dine there if we weren't nearby. Its an intimate space in a converted townhouse; warm, cozy, inviting. The seating can be a little cramped when it gets crowded, but most of the time you don't notice since you're so fixated on the wonderful food in front of you. Everything is prepared beautifully, both tasty and a joy to behold on the plate. I have never been disappointed by a dish, the ingredients are so fresh. I particularly enjoy their seafood selections The staff is wonderful, they are very attentive, and even more so now that my father is a regular.
(4)Denise B.
What a quaint place! Great for a good meal after a long dat @ the MMA. Comfortable, soothing and. Great service. A good go to. Try the asparagus appetizer with Parma .c
(3)Dana F.
A fave brunch/ lunch spot. Tricolore omlette is a must for brunch, insalata misto is fantastic for lunch. Love enjoying a relaxing cup of coffee and great company here.
(4)Frank P.
ok, but not a standout, esp in its wealthy nabe. darkened atmosphere is old-world, a bit down heels. service is sometimes obsequious, again in the manner of almost high-end european restaurants. patrons on the old side, often with young relatives in tow, like uncles taking out a college student for a purpose, maybe telling the kid to hit the books harder. or softer. never think of the place as italian, feels and eats more french. good italian soups, tho. imo the place, esp the decor, works best in the winter when you don't mind dark. def a comedown in the summer, but good ac. your rich grandparents' kinda place, if you have them
(3)G H.
Food was a solid 8. I had the warm goat cheese salad with shrimp. Yum! My friend had the pommodoro which he said was amazing. I like the upstairs better than the downstairs seating, little more private.
(4)Alyssa D.
Pretty good meal, overall. The goat cheese tomato bruchetta was delicious, calamari was chewy. Gnocchi was yummy, although a little doughy. Pizza was great- spicy sausauge was definitely spicy! Desserts were amazing. Try the homemade zeppolis with caramel sauce- yum! Be sure to ask for a table upstairs, its more elegant. Also the back dining room upstairs is very pretty- has a lot of nice paintings and a goregeous chandelier!
(4)CD R.
Our meal was a last minute change of plans from Little Italy. My lasagna was ok, the others were less excited than I was. Service was average. I wouldn't go back.
(3)Jen Y.
While in NY for training, my bf flew across the continent to visit me! We went to the Met, and we were handed a flier for this restaurant. The flier gives you 15% off your meal so we decided to take a look at the place. At first, we walked right by the restaurant, but once we found it, I can't stop thinking about it. Since my Eurotrip, I have been craving authentic Italian food with fresh ingredients. This is the place! We tried the Restaurant Week lunch menu and also had a warm goat cheese salad with arugula, golden raisins, walnuts, and balsamic vinaigrette. I am seriously obsessed with goat cheese and tend to order it at any restaurant that offers it! Our RW set menu came with a bruschetta trio appetizer: marinated artichoke/roasted red peppers with goat cheese and capers/tomato bruschetta on top of crostinis. The artichoke and roasted red peppers crostinis were my favorite. For the entree, we got the linguini with zucchini, butter, and sliced garlic. I am not a big fan of pasta without any hint of red sauce, but this pasta keeps haunting me because it was so good! It was so light and refreshing, and the butter and garlic sauce were perfect. The linguini was cooked al dente, just the way I like it. I never knew such plain yet flavorful pasta could exist! For dessert, we got amazing Tiramisu with moist cake drenched in the perfect amount of espresso. This is the second best Tiramisu I've had. The best is from Whole Foods. If I ever go back to NY, I will definitely make this my first stop.
(5)Crimson E.
Very nice location near the Metropolitan Museum of Art, but the space is quite small and not very well-appointed. Wait staff was not quite 'on it' for lunch on a late Sunday afternoon. Salads were quite tasty, but the steak sandwich was of average quality (shrimp pasta was much better). Desserts were less than spectucular. Don't think I'll be bringing special guests here again, but again, location was perfect.
(3)Jennifer H.
definitely ask to be seated upstairs! you get much more light, albeit slower service. downstairs is shadowy and pub-like. randomly dropped by here to eat after visiting mcqueen at the met. wasn't expecting much but it was delicious!! granted, we stayed away from the salads and paninis, but both of our pasta dishes were superb! orecchiette lombardia - overflowing with flavor; the texture of the pasta was perfection; the sausage, spinach, mozzarella and tomato combination was so simple but splendid linguine campagna - very very good. succulent baby clams, albeit salty. excellent linguine. overall, i was pleasantly, pleasantly surprised by our choice.
(4)N L.
Had a fantastic 4-course fixed price dinner here New Years Eve! The stuffed mushroom was excellent and the braised short ribs were divine! The servers were all extremely friendly and they kept our wine glasses full as house alcohol was included in the price. Just before midnight they filled us up on champagne too!! Really enjoyed ringing in the New Year at this cozy place!
(4)Carey Y.
My mother took me, my beloved Grandma and my Great Aunt Millie out for restaurant week lunch at Caffe Grazie, and It was a very pleasant experience. Just about everything on the prix fix menu appealed to me, and I had a hard time choosing what to order. I decided to go with the lightest of the 3 appetizer options, so I ordered the gazpacho. It was delicious. So summery and refreshing with the perfect combo of tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, and spices. I would have loved some (more) cilantro since that's my favorite herb, but it didn't really need it. It wasn't completely smooth, but not really chunky either- which I generally prefer...it was a nice somewhere-in-between. I tried my Mom's watermelon, feta, brioche croutons, mint, chickpea salad and it was really wonderful. The appetizer I didn't order, but totally wanted, was the fried mozzarella with yellow and red tomatoes, basil and balsamic...but because I was about to eat steak AND mousse for my next courses, I figured that would really be too much indulgence for one day. My entrée was flank steak over salad greens with caramelized onions and grilled tomatoes. What a fantastic summer lunch. Filling without being too much. There were only a few pieces of perfectly marinated and grilled steak so it wasn't overly heavy as a mid-day meal. A very light dressing and the tomatoes and onions were a nice touch to finish it off. For dessert, I had the VERY rich chocolate mousse with fresh berries. It was a fairly small portion, a good thing in my opinion when you are essentially eating heavy cream in a bowl. There were more berries than mousse and they were perfectly ripe and fresh. The chocolate was dark and the berries lightened it into a somehow refreshing ending to a great meal. I looked over the rest of the menu and saw so much on it that I'd love to go back for. The atmosphere here is small and comfortable and makes a great spot to go with family. I would consider going back, but without restaurant week prices it's actually a bit out of my budget, and the reality is that it doesn't have quite enough wow factor to justify splurging on.
(4)Susan L.
We ate dinner there with another couple on a Saturday night in late September and we were VERY impressed. The food was delicious, the service was excellent (attentive & very pleasant) and the interior was lovely (it's a townhouse). The restaurant is small, so dinner reservations are essential. Prices are on the high side, but that's not surprising for the Upper East Side. We had a 7:30 p.m. reservation on a Saturday night and we ended up staying until about 10:45 p.m. because we were so engrossed in conversation, by which time all but one other couple had left. Yet, we were never made to feel rushed. It was a wonderful evening!
(5)Jenny S.
The wait staff is extremely friendly but alas, the food is awful. Kids love the "make your own sundaes", but in reality, they are nothing special. I think it's a tourist trap for the MET crowd.
(2)Shun S.
I bought a gilt certificate to come here not expecting to have such a great dinner, I had the Tilapia Francese and my wife the Veal Tortellini, both entrées were amazing, really good, the service was also excelent, I do really recommend it.
(4)David B.
excellent food nice people good atmosphere
(5)Na B.
Didn't like their chocolate cake, they don't make it though. they buy it.
(4)Katie Y.
Usually when you are ravenously hungry, things tend to either be tastier or, if they are not, you still push it down anyway to kill the hunger in your belly. This is the state in which we arrived to Caffe Grazie, after searching around neighboring restaurants that were just a bit more than we wanted to spend on an impromptu Sunday lunch. When we saw the prices and the friendly yellow interior, we happily settled in. Our server was a sweetie and brought a big heap of smiling attitude to our table, which was also welcome after the long morning walking the streets and the Guggenheim spiral. We felt sure we had made the right decision to dine here. Sadly, though, the food just didn't pull through. I ordered the squash soup, which tasted exactly how I might make it... that is to say, nothing special at all (I'm a mediocre cook). I followed up with a sirloin burger - I know, I know, shame on me for getting a burger in an Italian restaurant. However, it looked appealing on the menu and I was craving one (craving one enough to spend $17!). I was sad I did, because although the flavor was good, the burger patty itself was the size of a golf ball and literally filled only half of the bun. My friend ordered the Parma sandwich, which was so chewy and unappealing she put down half of it into her hungry tummy out of necessity and declined the offer to bring the rest home. Maybe lunches just aren't the shining moment for Caffe Grazie and dinner is the better way to go.
(2)Boogie K.
Good ambience. Food was ok but not fantastic.
(3)Layla C.
I had my mind blown by Caffe Grazie this evening. I had capellini with smoked salmon, peas and prosciutto in a tomato cream sauce and had the portions not been out of this world gigantic, I would have literally been licking my plate clean. Though it wouldn't have really matched the classy hood. The ambiance was soo warm and inviting. There were tiny details which set it apart from other places, but they expertly preserved the intimate and homey feel of the townhouse they converted to make the restaurant space with cherry moldings, elegant lighting and cozy seats. The service was great too. Effortlessly polite without the slightest hint of stuffiness or attitude. Every dish was explained to the highest detail, and my pellegrino was refilled so often that I actually thought the cup maaay have been magic. The garlic bread with tomato and goat cheese dip was a fantastic start to our meal, and our cappuccinos provided the perfect finish. All in all, an absolutely stellar dining experience.
(5)Peter F.
Caffe Grazie Haiku: Welcoming hostess Food and service was great A nice oasis
(5)Ye L.
I was here during restaurant week. I remember having some sort of calimari salad, which was *really good*, a decent entree that I frankly don't remember, and then a chocolate bread pudding which still looks delicious in the picture I took of it. I was here fairly early on Superbowl Sunday and the waiter/bartender was chatting with the old couple who made up the rest of the clientele, so I assume the waitstaff is pretty nice. I would consider coming back again as a way to kick off a day at the Met (which it's 2 mins walk from).
(4)Hector S.
My girlfriend and I had a great time here at this very quaint restaurant. We had the pre fix menu for restaurant week. Service was good... Would cone again
(4)Ronnie K.
Nice place for casual Italian. The pizza is great and it's convenient to the museums.
(4)Tad K.
Just the best damn meal I have had. We were given precise and elegant personal attention. In specific I had a maple enfused pork chop that was HEAVENLY. Price is reasonable based on location and the quality of the meal.
(5)Roger B.
I am no negative Nancy by any means, but ill planning and wrong directions landed me here. The beet salad was decent, the thinly sliced beets could've been tossed in a simple vinaigrette before plating. Bad gnocchi, doughy in the middle, and gross. Orrechiette was swimming in a tasteless broth. Poorly executed, and very amateur. On the positive side, the wait staff was on point.
(2)Jason R.
Sunday brunch. Adequate/nice pancakes. Fast, but unfriendly service.
(3)Sarah B.
Killer pizza & the linguine vongole is to die for. Excellent service! Can't wait to go back!
(5)Justin J V.
First off i know almost everything about Italian food. I am a snob I've been to Italy. I have never had such a perfect Italian meal without it being Americanized in NYC. I am very pleased it was my birthday so im glad i made a smart choice.
(5)Nicolas J.
The food was delicious, the service was very courteous. We really enjoyed our meal here. The price was a little expensive but reasonable for the quality of food. The environment was very enjoyable and the waiters very friendly. Fully recommend going!
(5)Jimena V.
Super cute place! Very cozy. Had the gluten free pizza and it was soo goood!! Even better than the regular pizza, (which we also had). Perfect for date night!
(5)Debbie F.
Went here twice this week as found myself in the 80's on Madison. The staff is really great, especially Bridget and Natasha who were very accommodating and in tune with the client. Food is fresh and atmosphere comfortable. Considering its location, there is a "neighborhoodsy" feeling as I saw a few of the same costumers both times I went. Will definitely recommend it to friends going to the museums in that part of town.
(5)Pinay 1.
Came here for dinner a bit late in the evening. The staff was very attentive, and the food was delicious. Their wine was exceptional, and the place is extremely cozy and personal. Great experience for a quiet dinner.
(4)Michelle C.
The waiters we're so friendly and attentive. especially after our long day. They went out of their way to make us happy. We needed our phones charged and they happily plugged them in for us. We wanted a specific coffee and they made it for us and complimented the idea! Delicious food. A little pricey, but totally worth it.
(5)Anasuya M.
Love, love, love this place. We had the garlic bread with tomato dip and goat cheese for the appetizer and the gnocchi and wild mushroom ravioli for entrée. The ravioli was beyond awesome. The tiramisu was delectable. Absolutely recommend this place!
(5)Jacob S.
This has become our go-to neighborhood restaurant. The food and service are always great! We came here for the first time for Valentine's Day when our son was only a few weeks old. Ever since they have treated us like family, which is very difficult to find in NYC. We will continue to frequent Grazie on a regular basis and tell all of our friends how great it is. Superior service is hard to find, and that is what really sets Café Grazie apart.
(5)Ben C.
Good food and atmosphere. The food did take a long time to get there and they got my order wrong
(2)Charlie U.
Perfect place for lunch. Went there as we wanted to avoid eating at the museum. I had the Roma sandwich and my daughters ordered from the kids menus. Everything was delicious and the service was very friendly and accommodating. Awesome find.
(5)Resa C.
Had lunch here today. The prixe fix lunch at $26 is a great choice. Three courses with substantial choices and portions. It was quite delicious. It's small but quaint. Try it.
(4)Katie M.
We are new to the neighborhood, and this is definitely going to be our go-to restaurant. The food is excellent and the staff is even better...it's so rare to find such a friendly staff in this city!!!
(5)Judi B.
Perfecto location - fab food and like dining in someone's home. 5 of us tried much of their menu and kudos to Salmon Salad cooked to perfection & my oh my what a huge piece too! Baked eggs were amazing- service rocks! I live on the other coast but my local friends are returning immediately. Grazie to Grazie for being there 21 years!
(5)Jenn C.
I came here on a Saturday night with two others. One thing that I love is even though our entire party hadn't arrived, we were still able to sit down and relax. I have to say, we didn't feel rushed at all. We ordered appetisers and drinks, and then lingered over them, and then had soup and salad. By the way - the butternut squash soup was fresh and very tasty. The pear/goat cheese/walnut salad was off the hook too - the little crunchy and sweet walnut brittle really made the dish. For dinner, we got a variety, from orrechiette to chicken parm to veal Roma. We all finished our meals and practically licked our plates clean. For dessert, we shared the zeppoles and the chocolate croissant bread pudding...so rich! To die for! All in all, a great meal. On the pricey side, but then...I'd rather pay a lot and totally enjoy the food than pay too much for food I didn't like. Right?
(5)Jennie B.
I hosted my wedding rehearsal dinner at Caffe Grazie and wanted to complement the restaurant, the owner Jennifer, and the entire staff on their private events. First, they have a lovely private space that comfortably fits 20-25 people. Jennifer, the owner, is a pleasure to work with and her staff is top notch. They were so kind to me and so happy for me as a bride to be, I was personally touched. My event was more than a business transaction for them and I really appreciated their excitement for me. As for the food, my very Italian family had fabulous things to say. The Grazie family is really a wonderful group of people and I wholeheartedly recommend Grazie private events.
(5)Shannon D.
Cute little neighborhood place. 2 of us had the $26 lunch specials & enjoyed them. Caprese panini was excellent
(4)Orin K.
I'm never In this area. Yelped restaurants nearby. Very pleased with choice. Nice small intimate Italian restaurant with great reasonable wine list and large choice of great food. I would recommend to anyone and I would come back again.
(4)Oscar G.
The place is fantastic. Low key, very friendly service and the food is spot on. I've never had mozzarella so fresh. Overall a wonderful experience and I highly recommend it if looking for a place to eat in the UES.
(4)Ttt R.
Not good at all! Service was horrible. They overcharged on kids food and didn't give them drinks.
(1)Robert R.
The food and service is always good (sometimes a bit slow in the kitchen) and its a great "go to" on the UES. I particularly like that they have large booths in the ground floor bar area - better for the kids and for the dad's they have a TV that is always on sports. Dont miss out on the make your own Sunday for the kids.
(3)Yuna D.
Upscale, pretentious atmosphere like every other place here on the upper east side. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. I went here with a friend who recently came to the states to study from China. Our server was patient with us, as he and I tried to explain the different dishes, etc. But he kind of kept looking at us weird when she wasn't accustomed to the mannerisms (i.e. how to use a dinner napkin.) The food & drinks here isn't that great considering it's price. I had the lemonade, which was standard, at best. My friend had the veal tortellini, and she normally devours pasta, but she left a significant portion of it. Mind you, they were hugeeee portions (what the freak, at lunch. Really?) I had a brunch item, a typical eggs benedict... for I think it was $15. $15 dollars for a not perfect, rich drizzling yolk. and $15 dollars for bread that nearly breaks your teeth trying to bite into them. Ugh. The places to eat around here are really limited...
(2)Danyelle T.
The food was great and so was the service. I came in with two of my girlfriends looking to try the bread pudding. We asked at the door if they had bread pudding on the menu and we were told they did, so we took a table upstairs. we ordered a pizza to share and wine spritzers. The pizza was SO delicious and the spritzers were refreshing and a little on the strong side. The bread pudding was FANTASTIC!!! We were ready to order another bread pudding to share when we were presented with a different version of bread pudding that was not on the menu. We were asked to taste it and provide our feedback since they were thinking of adding it to the brunch menu. We provided feedback, and they were extremely appreciative. It made us feel very special to be able to offer that. I will definitely be back with my husband real soon!
(5)Samantha S.
Thumbs up for the location, which provides museum goers with one of the few options for a decent nearby meal. It's more than decent, really. The "bento box" lunch is actually served on a wooden tray, with your three courses set out in a row. I tried the carrot soup, which was beautiful as well as flavorful. The mozzarella panini was a bit greasy, but creamy and satisfying. And the tiramisu was wow. The thing is, it's a small place, and it's crazy-busy at lunch, even during the week. They gave us an overly optimistic wait-time estimate, and we stood for at least 20 minutes in the cramped vestibule. The portion sizes are similarly small. I found them reasonably filling, but the prices are high if you can't share or take leftovers home. The staff is really sweet, though, and very professional. I'd like to come back at an off-hour and have a bite at the bar--no wait required.
(3)Emily H.
I just went here yesterday for a business meeting, and not gonna lie it was hard to focus on the meeting while eating such delicious food. The appetizers and desserts here are the bomb diggity (yeah, I said it). My boss ordered the tomato and goat cheese with bruschetta, the rice balls, and a bruschetta platter. The rice balls were small and flavorful, which was actually a welcome departure from the humongous and starchy rice balls I'm used to seeing at Italian restaurants (I hope that isn't taken the wrong way...). I got gnocchi for dinner, which was solid but nothing to write home about. And then came dessert. Let me tell you...trying to be polite at this meeting with my boss while nomming on the zeppole and nutella smores was TORTUROUS. Fortunately, after one bite of a zeppole I think we all said fuck it and went to town. :) In all honesty, though, the UES can be a hard neighborhood to find a restaurant worth the price, but Caffe Grazie definitely is.
(4)Johnson B.
At here today and had a great time. The interior is very nice. The food was very good. Latte was also good. I liked the complimentary bread/olive oil. It's a nice and cozy place.
(5)Rui W.
We came in for a quick coffee break and ended up with the worst latte possible. The croissant bread pudding didn't save the day either... Wouldn't dream to come back
(1)Lia P.
I looooved Caffe Grazie and so did my husband and in laws! It's surprisingly large inside- goes way back and has a second story (we sat in the back of the 2nd story). The atmosphere is cozy and charming, dimly lit with nice artwork. We really enjoyed all our dishes. They were: The Bruschetta Trio- the bruschetta selections were a mushroom one, classic tomato one, and artichoke. All good. Linguine with clams and red sauce- delicious! All my clams were fresh and flavorful and the red sauce tasted better than what I would get from a jar which is my pasta sauce "litmus test" at Italian restaurants. Veal Tortellini with a Parmesan cream sauce- this was my husband's dish and it was so good! Not too heavy, just right. You could actually taste the veal in the tortellini and the pancetta was a nice touch. Roasted half chicken- ok so it sounded kid of simple but was surprisingly great. Not dry, very lemony and a generous portion. Gnocchi with marinara- I didn't try this but my mother in law loved it. We also had the "grazitinis" which were a tasty combo of orange juice, champagne, and chambord. Overall a wonderful experience, with great food and service. The dessert menu looked awesome, I'll have to go back and try it sometime!
(4)Peter C.
After a great day being tourists in the city Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, tree, rink, 5th ave..... You get it. We were early enough to miss the dinner crowd at this resturant. They quickly sat the 5 of us. The bar tender Joe, was great. The staff did an all around great job in serving us. Food was excellent. The only reason for four stars in lieu of 5 was the garlic in my linguini with white claim sauce was burnt and impacted the taste of my meal. Conversely it was raw in another's diner's dish which made it a little too powerful ( if it's possible to have too much garlic.) Anyway very successful outing. We will return the next time we are near the upper east side again. Go enjoy, manggia!
(4)dee t.
Loved this little east side find. The food was good, and the staff was ultra friendly - I'll be back!
(4)Miranda P.
Less costs more. My friends and I stopped in to warm up after a chilly stroll in Central park. Everyone else ordered cappuccinos and I got a hot chocolate. At $4.50 per small cup, I expected something that tasted better than a generic powdered packet that I can buy a whole box of for the same price at the grocery store. Our homemade donuts were decent but i would have expected more than 5 little bite sized pieces for $7. My three friends did like their cappuccinos though. The waitress also brought us the wrong check when we were finished. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised that our actual bill was over $30 since we were in the ritzy part of NYC. Maybe the food is more worth it, but I doubt I'll be back.
(3)Stephanie O.
The service was excellent and everyone was very attentive. I had the sea bass but the skin was slightly over cooked. The Pizza Margherita was too on the American side with the thick crust. Crust should be thinner like true Napoli style in Italy. Great place for families and office party. I would come back again because of the service and the flavors were together.
(3)Kevin H.
The service, ambience and restaurant was great, but the food tastes just alright.
(3)Lotem B.
They say that the best time to see New York is in the fall. There is this vibe in the air, some kind of a charm going on... Pre holiday spirits perhaps? For whichever reason, here we were, my friend and I, marching through 5th Ave, heading North to Central Park. Had a wonderful walk, appreciating the astonishing beauty of this city 9I'm inspired!!). Fall definitely suits it's scenery. It didn't take long though for us two to find ourselves seeking refuge underneath one umbrella... Searching for a place to hide away from the sudden pouring rain. This is when we noticed this almost hidden entrance to this place - Caffe Grazie. At first glance it seemed like the perfect set from a romantic comedy of some sort of a Hollywood movie... Which pretty much means, it looked exactly as I envisioned an Upper East side eatery/ cafe... A cosy feel by the dimmed lights, rich woods and leather. The whole lay out has this (somewhat) posh European ambiance. Warm and inviting. Perfect. We walked in and were greeted by what it seemed as a large number of staff members... All were smiling and welcoming with a polite nod, dressed in black trousers and buttoned shirts. By this point I am already impressed and have completely forgotten about my soaking feet... We were seated at a small booth and presented with a menu. Sigh, I wish I were hungry, because everything looks delicious. But quickly enough our eyes gazed towards the coffee and desserts menu. Oh my. "2 Caffe Grazie's and a Tiramisu to share, please." My mouth is watering by just visioning what have been served at our table... The Coffee was served in a large wine glass, I wish I'd remember all the ingredients, but it was a coffee mixed with raspberries (?), cocoa, Kahlua.... Ohh goodness, it was the best $12.00 I could have spent on a coffee, this is for sure... The Tiramisu was more than exquisite... It was an absolute Divine and pure happiness in my mouth!! Best I ever had and certainly, most recommended. By the time we finished, the sun came out again and it was time to continue the exploration of the city. This was by far the best unplanned stop we had in this trip and we both really enjoyed the experience here at Caffe Grazie. It was absolute perfect. Next time I am visiting New York I will definitely include this charming, beautiful and delicious Caffe in my plans and will certainly be making sure to be hungry as I cannot wait to try their meals.
(5)Mabel W.
I've been here quite a few times for late night drinks and for brunch. The bartender, Jen makes an awesome martini.. The olives are stuffed with bleu cheese! Ugh so good. Brunch is rather expensive but hey it's the UES, what do you expect? $55 for two brunch entrees (scrambled eggs and poached eggs) and 2 mimosas is hardly worth it. I think I'm going to stick with places that serve brunch with bottomless mimosas from now on. *You get a 15% off discount if you work at The Met ;)
(3)Jason D.
Nice upscale lunch, but nothing too special. A little on the pricey side but that really is to be expected.
(3)Mark J.
Awesome little Italian place just a few block away from the Met. We had Linguine with Clams...some of the best I have ever had. The Zeppole capped off a great night.
(4)Beth B.
It was a great lunch time find. Good food...quiet enough to talk...not rushed out by the staff. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good lunch with a good friend.
(4)Bruce J.
We had lunch here today, March 3, 2013, as we had to be in the neighborhood unexpectedly. We were just walking by and decided to go in for lunch. What a pleasant surprise! First of all, the entire staff was very friendly and helpful. I had a chicken panini that was excellent, and, it had quite a bit of chicken on it, nothing skimpy! The wine by the glass selection was pretty decent. I asked for grilled asparagus, even though it was not on the menu, and they made if for me. My girlfriend had a salad that she raved about. I would definitely go back there when I am in that neighborhood again. The owner, Jennifer, was very friendly and also kind of cute :-) But, I would go back just for the food!
(4)