Emilio's Ballato's

I went to this restaurant last night after hearing fantastic things about it. It is gorgeous on the inside! My friend I was with and I were seated past the kitchen in another area, which looked really cool because there were pictures of celebrities with Emilio autographs on the walls. I had the best bread I've ever had in my life there! Haha not kidding! And then I got chicken parm and it was AMAZING. I am still thinking about it today. Someone on here wrote that the portions were huge, but I disagree! I was able to finish my whole meal! I thought the portions were just right and not too much at all. This is truly my favorite restaurant now in New York and I will go back as often as I possibly can!!!! And Emilio was sitting at a table near mine, chatting with some friends of his I assume. He was really nice. Everyone must go there! more

Warm ambiance was low key, perfect with a little Sinatra and the like in the background. Portion was perfect, not too much like most places and taste was very, very good. Bread beginning and tiramisu dessert end was luscious. I highly recommend if you like great service, great food, reasonably priced $17-21 entree. I can't wait to return and try something else, as the tagliatelle bolognese was superb. more

We happened to stumble upon this place by accident and we're so happy we did. The place is a treat! The decor has a shabby chic, warm feel to it and they play great Italian music (lots of Sinatra too) which adds to the ambiance. The food portions are big so you get your money's worth. They have the best bread and olive oil, the food tatses amazing and we leave feeling like we had a true NYC Italian experience. This place beats any Little Italy joint. Its romantic, but spacious at the same time....great for dates and we cant wait to go back!!! Pros: food portions and quality, ambiance, friendly service, no wait for a table Cons: a bit pricey but worth it more

The food here is good, if unspectacular, Italian. However, the prices are absurd. I went with a friend, and we split an appetizer, each had an entree, had one bottle of wine, cappucinos, and shared a desert. The bill with tip was $200. The entrees were specials--I had chilean sea bass and she had lamb shank--and they were $35 each! To be fair, I should have asked the price when they were described, but I think when you charge twice as much for specials as you do for normal entrees a restaurant has a duty to state the price along with the description. I was left feeling cheated, and will never go here again. Pros: food Cons: price more

I read a couple of reviews here citing a fried food odor that comes from the kitchen, and I thought I had to set the record straight. I have been going to Ballato for years and have NEVER noticed that. The only scent that's there is that of a normal Italian restaurant -- that is, the scent of delicious food coming from the kitchen. There is NO fried odor whatsoever. In fact, there are almost no fried foods on the menu. It seems that these other reviewers can't tell the difference between the scents of fried and un-fried foods. Also, the scent of food in no way ""sticks"" to your clothes. I have never left the restaurant smelling like food. One reviewer said s/he couldn't remove the odor even with dry cleaning. This seems preposterous to me. It couldn't be further from my experiences. I've never had that happen to me in the many years I have been going to this restaurant. The only thing you leave Ballato with is a full and satisfied stomach! Pros: amazing food; friendly owner who is present each and every night; not crowded -- still under the radar after all of these decades thanks to no listing in Zagat's Cons: the menu is a bit pricey but not out of the ordinary for this quality level of food more

I try to go back several times with my wife, we have both love and would love to go more often, the simple creations of Emilio's food are mouthwatering - from a single plate of Spaghetti pasta to a Sausages and Broccoli old school...Oh God the heavens are opening !!! Cons: KITCHEN GREASE SMELL - BATHROOM CLEANLESS more

My favorite type of place. Small, family owned with incredible food! Best pasta pomodoro in the city (second to my wife's) and the ravioli is perfect. The front dining room is fairly small with a spectacular, authentic ambience. The owner (Emilio) is a great guy and is always there. more

There aren't enough superlatives to describe the positive features of this discrete gem. Emilio has created an intimite setting, that allows it's patrons to fall into their own romantic Italian fantasy world. Sitting deep in the corner of the restuarant you will get the feeling that its your own private seating. The interior has a rustic, weathered element that ironically adds sophistication. Emilio's presence in the restaurant either seated at a close by table enjoying some grappa with guests, or welcoming new customers adds its own class of ambience to the environment. Pros: Emilio, embiance, food, wine list, comfort, size Cons: impossible to say anything bad about this place more

Ballatos is the best there is no other restaraunt compares from its homemade pasta from its warm crspy ficaccha bread the atmosphere is great emilio the owner makes you feel right at home being there everyday and making you feel welcome there they pasta is just delisous and everything is just amazing there if you want to go to the best italian restaraunt you have to go to emilio ballatos best in NYC Pros: Best food in NYC and best wines and the greatest ficahaa ive ever tasted Cons: nothing is wrong with this place the best there is more

Expecially the vine is overpriced. Too much! I'm italian, born and raised in Italy and believe me.. the food here is good, the vine is good but you really pay everything almost the double of the fair market value. Pros: Real italian table setting. Cons: PRICE! ! ! ! ! ! more

I reserved a lunch date for my girlfriend's birthday at this beautiful SOHO restaurant. The place was pretty much empty when I got there, but that made it better - more quiet, more romantic and with a sense that we were in a Italy. The bread was awesome, the food entrees were amazing. I recommend this place to those couples out there who need to getaway and enjoy a genuine Italian dish with quality flavors. Pros: Ambience, Quiet lunches, Great starter bread and genuine Italian cooking more

This is my second time having dinner in this restaurant. Cons: BATHROOM SINK more

Tuesday evening with some friends out for dinner, at this delicious highly reccomended restaurant on Houston street serving older Southern Italian dishes,superbly crafted and ""al dente "" pasta's. the wine list is well organized and very reasonably priced. You can drink some old world Italian Chianti for less then what a retailer would charge you.Service is nice and Friendly...the staff mmust had work there for ever @ MUST Try in the city !! Super ! Pros: Prompt seats, friendly service, good food & wine Cons: kitchen smells more

Ballato's is consistently delicious authentic italian food. some of the best i have had in the city. the ambience is cozy and secluded with wonderful art on the walls. i love the pics of andy warhol when he used to frequent the place (he painted the ballato's sign in the window). Emilio, the owner, is often sitting in the front table greeting guests as they come and go. Going to Ballato's is like coming home and eating in my own kitchen, an absolute delight! Pros: delicious food, ambience more

A very long time ago I had the pleasure to be introduced to this little very unique Italian place....Saturday evening I went back...and it was not the same. Cons: high prices - limited menu - kitchen odors - bathroom floors more

I have known about this secret for the last 13 years, Emilio(the Godfather) has continued to serve food and wine for the gods at mortal prices. If you go, try the marinara/arrabiatta sauce, the mozzarella en Carozza is mmmmmmmm..... everything is just delicious. Check out the secret back room. Old school meets New world. I pray it stays open forever. Thank You Emilio. Ciao Bella Pros: delicious, affordable, delicious more

You will aboslutely enjoy the food and service at this consumer friendly restaraunt. Emilio makes sure that you have the best time at his establishment! I would recommend this restaraunt to anyone seeking a very nice Italian dinner and great service!!! Keep up the great work!!! Pros: Food, Service, Atomosphere more

I've eaten at Ballato's a dozen or more times over the years.....both lunch and dinner. Bottom line: Their food is some of the best Italian I've ever had. (Born and raised New Yorker) Try the ravioli. It's light and always fresh. I've never had a bad meal nor a bad expereience at Ballatos and I look forward to my next dinner there in a few weeks. Thanks Emelio.....don't change a thing. Ciao! Pros: Reasonable, Great food, Romantic more

Very good primarily southern italian food, though considerably more sophisticated than a typical red sauce joint. As mentioned above, the prices are not inexpensive, especially the wine list which could definitely add a few lower priced bottles, but they are what i'd expect for a restaurant of this caliber and style. The portions are big so you can split an appetizer. Has a very nice warm lofty look for ambience and i really liked the menu choices. The service is a little disjointed and the desserts are mediocre, but I'll definitely go back. Pros: Good food, Ambience more

We invited people to this restaurant thinking it was not ultra-expensive. Not sure why this place got $$, but it's more like $$$$. Not one bottle of wine was less then $35. No big deal to spend the money, but it's nice to know what to expect, esp. when you are inviting people there. Pros: good service Cons: not $$ more