Il Sole

Went there last nite after trying to eat at Mamajuanas right down the block and saw a HUGE cockroach run across the floor there (see my other review). We stopped in here and I must say was pleasantly surprised. Ordered off the appetizer menu, crab cakes and mussels marinara. Wow. The best of both that Ive had in YEARS. I actually tweeted while I was eating that I was having a food orgasm. LOL. Cant comment on the entrees but my friend also loved his food. He had the stuffed sole and calamari. Both very good. I am a foodie and I am very discerning when it comes to food so..thumbs up from me. Pros: good atmosphere, delicious food more

Just moved into the neighborhood and am very close by. Honestly there are not too many restaurant choices in the area so this place is really the one to beat. As a lover of basil, they serve one of the best pesto dishes with their linguine. The mozzarella caprese dish is very good (the red peppers add a wonderful sweetness), but in my opinion could use a lot more basil and I recommend that they use whole basil leaves instead. I'm going to continue to go here and try other entrees as the service here is very friendly and highly accommodating. If you live in the neighborhood it is definitely worth trying out! Pros: One of the best in Inwood out of few choices in the area Cons: None yet more

About a year ago, we ate at Il Sole and just loved it. Great service, somewhat creative food options, very well prepared. Went again last night--Mother's Day--and it was HORRIBLE. The beautiful decor had been largely changed (zebra print banquettes?) Took 10 minutes to find a hostess to seat us. Another 10 to get menus. Ordered a bottle of wine, it sat on the bar for 10 more minutes until we flagged down our waitress and asked her to open it. The menu was very boring, old-school low-end stereotypical Italian--all the good stuff was gone. Waitress brought the bread but forgot the oil/vinegar for dipping. Ordered the antipasti--it was C-town deli cold cuts rolled up on a plate with jarred green olives and jarred red pepper strips. Our salads came out one at a time, 10 minutes apart, although we'd each ordered the same salad, and the arugula was all stems, the hearts of palm (hello 1980?) in golf-ball-sized inedible chunks, and the dressing was straight balsamic vinegar. While we were eating our salads, the waitress asked if we wouldn't mind hurrying as our entrees were ready. My pasta was dried out and flavorless with fatty rubbery bacon, my husband's fish was barely OK, but his vegetables were inedible--no salt, butter, anything but plain steamed unseasoned vegetables, like Bird's Eye from a freezer bag. Desserts were unavailable as they had forgotten to defrost them. We gave a general complaint to the waitress, and got nothing but ""oops, sorry"" and our bill.\r Pros: Nothing. Cons: Bad food, bad service, ugly decor. more

My wife and I decided to check out Il Sole last night and had the most ridiculous dining experience. We were seated indoors because there was a wait for the outside. We put in our food order and asked for a wine list which wasn't given when we were seated. After ten minutes, I went to the hostess to get my own wine list. Finally the waitress came over and we ordered a bottle of wine. Ten mintues later, still no wine. The couple sitting next to us had been sitting for 15 minutes and hadn't been given menus.\r \r Finally our food came and we had still not gotten our wine. I had ordred the clams in red sauce and was brought clams in white sauce. When I told the waitress I had ordered the red, she said ""oh you did? Well then, this probably isn't yours."" No apology and still no wine. My wife and I looked at her food in front of her and didn't feel like eating at different times and did want wine with our meals. So we got up and left and went to another restaurant where they understand the concept of service. \r \r I can't critique the food beyond the bread basket which was bland and doughy. The food I did see looked rather unimpressive. Certainly not a place that should be able to get away with such bad service. Of course as the only Italian of their type in the neighborhood, they likely feel they have a captive audience, but I for one would rather take the train downtown than experience that again. Pros: Didn't experience any Cons: Service, or lack thereof more

First, the food is good, not great, but satisfying. In a neighborhood long in need for a red sauce place, the service needs great improvement. Taking a drink order during dinner when the restaurant is half full should not take more than 20 minutes. Taking the food order should occur in a timely fashion, and check on levels of drinks to fill another order. I have visited this place over ten times and three times they have gotten an entree order wrong. In correcting the entree, it comes out in record time, which makes one wonder.... Get your food to go or deilvered, but these rookie waiters need huge training in customer service. Cons: Service more

EXCELLENT FOOD, GREAT SERVICE BEAUTIFUL DECOR I HIGHLYRECOMEND IT. WILL BE A REGULAR. Pros: EXCELLENT FOOD, GREAT SERVICE, INEXPENSIVE more

The food is AMAZING better than any downtown restaurant. The service is superb. The girls who answer the phones are so sweet. We order at least twice a week. Delivery service takes about 15 to 20 minutes which is a shock that your food comes so quickly. Your bag is overstuffed with bread, napkins and utensils. Inside Il Sole the decor is beautiful and romantic. The designer deserves to be told how delicious the decor looks. The waitresses are at your table filling your water or oil before your last sip or dip. Highly recommend. more