Ristorante Tello

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198 8th Ave. (at 20th St)
New York, NY 10011

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(212) 691-8696
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Ristorante Tello - New York, NY
Ristorante Tello - New York, NY
Ristorante Tello - New York, NY
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Reviews
( 54 )
( 13 )
( 7 )
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( 8 )

Best

Such an easy no fuss dining experience. Tell makes you feel like you're part of the family with warm food , huge portions and wine for days! I like to stop in after work for as ...

Worst

A pretty restaurant, but marred by TERRIBLE jarring music blaring (a staff- member's I-pod? Management -get a grip!)

LOBSTERS ALL THE WAY 1/26/2007

My girl friend was in the mood for lobster,so the only place in Chelsea for seafood is Mare.We arrived at 7:30 and had a couple of drinks at the bar.The manager Eddie told us when we were ready to eat he would have a table for us.When we told him he sat us immediatly.I started out with a mixture of a dozen oysters,she had the crab cakes.To follow I had the crab claws steamed and she had the whole grilled lobster.Everything was better than good,it was great.The service was very professional and polite.We would come back for more. Pros: GREAT SEAFOOD AT FAIR PRICES more
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GOOD CATCH EVERY TIME 1/16/2007

I have been eating at Mare since it opened.And everytime I have a great meal.There are times I will be eating and then I will see some of the kitchen workers run outside and haul in large crates of fresh fish and lobsters.One nite I saw whole tuna being brought in.Mare gets better and better. Pros: COME EARLY AND WATCH THE FRESH FISH BEING HAULED IN more
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WHAT ELSE COULD BE BETTER 1/16/2007

I was walking around Chelsea and happened to find Tello s hidden on a side street.The place looks like its been around since the 50s.I stepped inside and what a surprise! the place was full,people waiting at the bar.I postioned myself at the bar and was greeted by a smiling bartender.I was seated and the real party began.I started with a half order of gnocci and then the veal Pacino.The waiter said that Al Pacino asked one nite if we could make what he wanted and then we named it after him.That dish could win an oscar.The place was so filled with fun and ambiance.I can t wait to invite my friends to Tello s Pros: HIDDEN AWAY more
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BEST SO FAR 1/16/2007

I read the past review and I had to try tellos for myself.being that I heard so many good things about it.I had to start with the antipasti,let me tell you,It was the best I ever had! and yes there was prosciutto! again I had to try the gnocci-it was great! The cheesecake was very good to.Tellos was very,very busy and it was a Monday night! This person who wrote the past review sounds like he eats at home with his mother too much and doesn t know anything else but her lousy cooking! I highly suggest that this unfortunate man go out on his own and eat out more and learn about cooking and taste.Cut the apron strings at home. Pros: good food,low prices more
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Great Service, classic italian joint 8/16/2006

Greg was our server, he was friendly, funny and knowledgeable. The food was presented nicely and was delicious. We were tempted to sit outside, but it was a bit humid. The old style jukebox along with the old pictures were a nice touch. Pros: Great service, nice venue Cons: street parking more
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best kept secret 8/2/2006

Tellos is one of those little restaurants that you just happen to run into by accident.Im glad we did.Once inside it was like one big happy family.Everbody gets to know you.In ten minutes we already felt like we were regulars.The table next to us recommended that share because the portions are big(we split two entrees)The food was so good I wish that there was some left over to take home for the next day.When we were ready to leave the waiter came with a big jar of biscotti and said you can t leave until you have one.We each had two! Tello is a real good find. Pros: Great food for low price more
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could not be any fresher 8/2/2006

We arrived on time for our reservation and seated promptly.The menu has so many fish items and oysters.We all ordered different entrees so we could share.The fish was really,really fresh.I lived in Maine for ten years and grew up on fish.We all agreed that mare is one of the best seafood restaurants in New York. more
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The best Gnocchi in town 6/28/2006

The food is so amazing. Huge portions, great and attentive service, and pretty good prices. Great for a date, or for a nice dinner with friends. Pros: Ambience, great food, service Cons: Small, not for HUGE groups more
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Picturesque spot 5/2/2006

Ive passed by the spot tons of times always wanting to go in. We made early dinner reservations and were thoroughly impressed, reminds me of my grandfather, its old school Italian scenery with lots of fun stuff to admire. I ate clams oreganta and spectacular salad with perfectly marinated cucumbers and tomatoes with lots of shrimp and basil. My boyfriend ate tuna and it was cooked perfectly! Service was great; wine was good, only concern would be that there were too few light beers. Pros: Food, Setting, Service Cons: only two light beers more
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Not again 4/12/2006

This place is right on my corner and I will never go back. The service was ""clutzy"" the food wasnt good, and it was one of those ""I'm stuck in the twilight zone"" services. Pros: near my house Cons: service, food more
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yum... delicious! 4/1/2006

I came into the restaurant on a busy Saturday night and was hit first by 20 minutes wait and the small wine bar was full. Not a great start but I had heard great things about Tello`s. The Brazilian bartender who greeted us was exceptionally kind and attentive and we had the most delicious cosmo I`ve ever tried. The food was great the shrimp fradivolo was fab and the gnocchi was delicious they were decent in size (not huge which is fine by me). The price doesnt necessarily reflect the rustic ambience but the food most certainly is worth it. What more could you ask for?!? Thanks Pedro, see you next time! more
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good seafood in Chelsea 1/16/2006

We went here late on a Sunday night. It was almost 10, and the restaurant we wanted to go to had closed, so we went to Mare because it looked nice. My wife and I shared a mussel appetizer which was tasty enough, though some mussels were small and there was too much grit in them. We each got a sea bass entree, and that was quite delicious. Also, it came with 2 kinds of vegetables (green beans and carrots) as well as potatoes. Good wine by the glass, also. The only thing I found slightly annoying was when the waiter offered us only bottled water. Every New Yorker knows that NYC has the best tap water in America. Pros: good sides, nice ambiance more
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Sad but true 12/3/2005

Been going to Tello's for years and tonight was the last night I will go back. We made reservations but ended up in the worst table. It was next to a garbage bin by the bar. We were in the middle of the busy aisle and got bumped by wait staff several times; had to stop eating everytime they pass so we won't choke. The garbage bin was awful. I pointed this out to the hostess who said that it was a busy night. I informed her it was not fair as we made reservations but given the worst table while walk-ins got better She just shrugged and walked away. It ruined a wonderful evening planned and embarassed as I recommended this place. The food is good but dinner at a hefty price is meant to be enjoyable. True, customers come and go but a loyal customer leaving is disappointing more
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Accommodating, friendly, good food, not cheap 10/8/2005

We sprung 7 people on them, plus a Seeing Eye Dog! Still they accommodated us, and were friendly to boot! The octopus eaters were floored by the Octopus salad. And the fried clams had just enough kick to them to make 'em worth eating. Other seafood dishes were very good (NO COMPLAINTS FROM ANYONE!). Deserts were terriffic. The $300 bill was a bit steep, but the experience was great. --Eat Club is a roving group of NYC gluttons Pros: friendly staff, good food, great deserts Cons: expensive more
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What a disappointment 9/30/2005

To celebrate a birthday, three of us went to Mare anticipating great food. Not one of our meals was edible - bland and/or made with weird rosemary or orange flavoring. Fish was overdone. Cute place, nice wait staff but would never go there again. Someone else recommended the dessert - we also left that. One of us actually liked the expresso - that's it. Skip this restaurant, it's a big disappointment. Pros: nice atmosphere, wait staff Cons: food more
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Nice people and great food, bid portions 8/9/2005

I went to mare with 4 of my girlfriends...we weren't very hungry so we only ordered wine and 3 appeitzers...nonetheless, our friendly waiter threw in a free calamari starter. The appetizers were the size of most main course seafood entrees in new york, making this a great value, and they were delicious and very elegantly presented! (i also the main dishes others were being served..HUGE!) My friends were convinced they were some of the best crab cakes they've ever had! Go check it out and you won't be sorry! Pros: service, large portions, great food more
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Delicious oysters & lobster! 8/9/2005

We went here on a recommendation from a friend and I'm glad we did. Not only was the seafood fresh and tasty(we had oysters & lobster) but the staff was very friendly. This was a very nice surprise that will definitely be on our ""come back again"" list. more
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Well, we liked the cheescake ... 5/21/2005

My companion and I ate here this evening and we do regret paying for the meal! The fried oysters were terrible, the octopus salad was too tough, the mahi mahi and salmon were cooked so as not to be able to be recognized. Even salt and fresh lemon could not bring this meal back to life. The staff, while not attentive at first, was very pleasant and cheerful after the appetizers. The cheescake, tartuffo and lattes were very good, though .. maybe this restaurant should become a dessert place, lol !!! Pros: cheescake Cons: overcooked fish more
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From the Ocean to your Plate 9/19/2004

I was pessimistic about Mare, but a friend chose it and she's usually right on, so I ventured over. Sat outside (great place to people watch) and started with some clams which were out of this world. At that time I watched as a black pick up truck pulled up, opened it back and dumped out a tuna the size of a small child. Packed in ice, the tuna came off the truck and was seared and on my plate within 15 minutes. My server pushed the sesame/soy/ginger glaze, but was more than accomodating to my request of some olive oil and nothing else. You can just imagine how good/fresh the tuna was. The only way it could have been fresher is if I caught it myself and ate it on the boat. Mare, made a beliver out of me. Nothing special to look at, but man what a dinner. Pros: Location, Freshness, Service more
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Mare 7/7/2004

A nice, moderately priced, local seafood joint in Chelsea. The food is solid and the rawbar, especially the oysters, is excellent. The service is very friendly and accomodating. One of our diners didn't like her fish and both the waitress and the manager insisted on replacing it. Sitting on the sidewalk on a nice day/evening you can see all of thriving Chelsea walk by you, not a bad way to spend a meal. more
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Menu for Ristorante Tello


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Delicious Italian Food, Fresh Seafood, Outdoor Dining, Lunch, Brunch in Chelsea

Owner Message

  • What a find! Join us for brunch, lunch or dinner at Tello Restaurant in Chelsea. Lit with candles and chandeliers, this cozy place has such a wonderful old-world feel that you may think you've walked onto the set of a Martin Scorsese film. A helpful staff serves up hefty portions (light on price) of well prepared Italian fare. Pasta is cooked al dente every time and the seafood is plentiful and fresh. Our menu consists of everything an Italian food lover could want including Tello's Favorite - Braciole & Gnocchi consisting of rolled beef stuffed prociutto, parmesan, and bread crumbs braised in a fresh tomato sauce - absolutely delicioso! Stop by on the weekend for brunch and enjoy your choice of a bloody mary, bellini, mimosa or glass of wine and a mouth watering variety of Italian choices. We also offer delivery and accommodations for private parties of up to 70 guests.

Editorial

  • In Short
    This Chelsea seafood establishment lists enough fish on its book-sized menu to repopulate the Hudson River. Decorated like a cleaned-up seaside beach shack, the tables sport...

  • 11/15/2007 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Open Weekdays 12pm-11pm; Weekends 11am-11pm
  • Payments: American Express, Visa, Master Card
  • Neighborhoods: Chelsea, Midtown
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