Spigolo

We arrived to find our reserved table was not quite ready for us( I wouldnt leave either ) so we stepped out around the corner to the wine bar, the hostess's suggestion, I dont recall the name shame though as we had a fantastic glass of wine in a great atmostphere. We drank up and went back to be immediately seated in a friendly warm environment surround by happy smiling faces. The restaurant is small but it is very true what they say"" big things come in small packages"", this is truly a wonderous spot filled with a culinary dream prepared by a talented and passionate staff! I am the Executive Director of Food and Beverage for a prominate casino and am not easliy impressed but they had me from when they greated our party at the door!! The smells of finely prepared foods carried my senses away and reminded me of a cartoon character floating along following the aroma of culinary masterpieces cooking. Every expectation was exceeded from the service to the skilled staff. Upon our next visit we will make it a point to dine there again and again!!! more

A reservation was absolutely necessary for a late Saturday dinner several weeks ago. The restaurant is tightly packed with two and four top tables ? and a four-stool bar ? all completely full when we arrived after 9:00. We weren?t immediately impressed, or particularly put off, by the decor and lighting, only wished we knew ahead of time to ask for a window table. Wine list is realistic ? with a good range of styles and prices. We opted to start with antipasti of baby octopus and an evening special of char tartare ? both of which were immensely flavorful - delicate and distinct at the same time. The octopus was tender and spiced enough to be lively and interesting but not overkill for a starter, and the char was fresh, light and perfect - if a little on the small side. We each ordered a primi ? one garganelli pasta and one seafood risotto ?del giorno? and were delighted that the main (pasta and rice) courses were as spectacular as the appetizers - simple, delicious and each with subtle flavor twist that made them memorable and all too easy to finish (such as an ingenious smattering of microscopically diced jalapeno in the risotto - fragrant and herblike - it seemed to help pronounce the seafood and cut the rich base at the same time) . We ended with airy and warm apple fritters, a dessert I?d be happy to call breakfast ? afternoon snack or just dessert again and again. I would highly recommend the restaurant ? stick to small groups and be ready for a tight fit and a bit of shouting. If, like we did, you can't seem to leave when dessert is done, try a glass of the camomile infused grappa - it's brilliant! Pros: Great service, wine list, exceptional food Cons: crowded, small tables, loud room more

I had a positive experience at this restaurant. The food was very good and the service friendly. GIven the lack of good restaurants in the neighborhood, it was very refreshing to eat here. The decor was casual, which seemed out of place given the hefty tabs. Yet the food is worth the price. The menu seemed rather limited to me, but overall a great place on the UES worth making the trip to. Pros: Excellent Italian Food and Dessert Menu, Friendly Service Cons: Not Cheap, Service Was Rushed At Times more

I discovered Spigolo with a friend of mine. The place is utterly charming, the staff is friendly, the menu choice is good. We were served quickly (perhaps a little more time could have lapsed between our appetizer and the entree). Food was good, I had the beet salad and it was really tasty, then had fish and that was equally good. I love the fact that the dishes have normal portions, and are not American-size. I will definitely go back. Pros: the decor, the staff, the food more

I called a week before to make reservations and only the 5.30 time slot was open, usually I don't eat dinner on mountain time but the space is small and seats maybe 30 so you take what you get. I can't say enough good things about this place. The menu and wine list are simple and concise, got a great Italian red for 39 and the dessert wines are not to be missed particularly the ""chardonnay"". My date and I split the risotto appetizer and it just melted in our mouths. He had a perfectly cooked strip steak and I had the sole. We never spoke whilst eating unless to say ""you've gotta try this"". All night long oohs and mmms were the words of choice. The panna cotta was firm yet creamy and had blackberries sprinkled around that complimented the creaminess. For two with a bottle, app, two entrees, dessert and after dinner drinks the bill came to 160 (without tip). Usually 30 dollar entrees would trigger the miser in me to run but the food was worth it. I got more out of Spigolo than expected and will definitely be back. Pros: FOOD more

Excellent! You can taste that the dish was prepared just for you and the service is there to allow you to enjoy it. At Spigolo, there is a large enough portion for you to enjoy your meal and no one to rush you through it. Everything we ordered was fabulous! The food and overall dining experience reflects both pride in the quality of their dishes and genuine desire for their guests to have a casual, enjoyable dining experience. I would agree with the other comments that it is a bit pricy, but the prices should not be a bar to eating here! Pros: fresh, delicious, innovative menu Cons: pricy more

Just dont waste you time their are much better choices locally that have much better pricing and with much better food. This location has long been looking for the right people to serve this area, but once again the food gods have failed. It would seem heather and I beleive dave would be better served by changing their career choice Pros: Nice and quite. Cons: prices are out of wack for the food. more

considering you have to wait for weeks to get a reservation it is not worth it, other than the service nothing stands out. the food was average, the room was cramped and awkward for everyone-customers and servers. i was expecting something much more based off of all their good press but was disappointed. service was great however- friendly, professional, and on top of everything. it takes more than just a cute couple with a ""cute restaurant"" to last in new york, good luck spigolo! Pros: service Cons: over priced, over rated, unoriginal food more

Invited by friends to discuss business, I checked out the bar first, and didn't give my nme which was known to the owners Scott & Heather. Even as a stranger, the service at the bar was excellent as was the wait staff who continuously checked back to see if I was okay while waiting for my party. The food is exceptional, as are the desserts which are all created by Heather, while Scott oversees the kitchen's menu. I'd go back in New York Minute. Pros: extremely courteous, Excellent wines, outrageous food more

The food was decent, nothing special. The $11 salad was unbelievably small. It's a tiny place, with no special decor. Entrees approaching $30 are entirely unjustified. Pros: food was decent Cons: prices too high more

It is always nice to see quality restaurants appear on the Upper East Side--after four years in the neighborhood we get tired of always going downtown for good food. But while the space is lovely, the staff is very friendly, and there are some nice dishes, the bill at Spigolo is about 20% higher than it should be given the quality/alternatives. The grilled strip was fine (and came with unique potato creations) but the grilled salmon was truly mediocre; the pasta was very oily, and the arugula/orange salad was overly simple (for $11). I hope that Spigolo stays open and am thrilled that it seems to be busy often, but we wont be quite won over until the owners can make the quality match the prices (or vice versa). As stated in a previous review, it definitely does not [yet] deserve a 26 from Zagat! Pros: friendly environment, nice decor, interesting menu Cons: high prices, some mediocre food more

I loved Spigolo. The food was terrific. From the beet salad to the gnocchi, which were light and airy and melted in your monuth. The steak was a winner as was the lamb shank special. And the desserts were all winners. The serice is very attentive and it is clear from the first encounter when making the reservation to the actual experience that this staff was trained by Danny Meyers. I think the prices could be a touch lower for a trattoria dining experience but considering the level of food and service- I would certainly go back! Pros: food, service more

This is a lovely place with good food and great service. But the prices are getting a bit too high for the typle of restaurant that it is. I made the mistake of ordering the lamb special -- come on -- $36 for a couple of lamb chops? But otherwise, I recommend it -- next time I'll be sure to ask prices before ordering! Pros: good food, great service Cons: high prices for speci more

We were able to make last minute reservation @ Spigolo. They were very friendly, but food was horriable. ZAGAT was wrong. They do not deserve 26. More likely 20 would be more accurate. We had special lobster ravioli and it was very cheesy & salty. Luckily there were only 5 small pieces... Ordered veal risotto for the main and it was VERRRRY salty. I was able to have only 4 bites. Had very disappointed experience tonight. However, service was great. Pros: cozy cute restaurant Cons: salty food more

We recently ate at the bar. The crowd was social but mature, the bartender was really nice and everything we ate was delicious. The dessert was amazing. We were even able to call in advance to make sure there was space at the bar because I was on crutches and the owner reserved the seats til we got there. She was lovely. Pros: food, service more

This is one of the best restaurants on the upper east side. Friendly and helpful wait staff, excellent food, great ambiance. Need to make reservations in advance. Pros: everything Cons: need reservations more

This location has been unlucky for years, but Spigolo has definitely broken the curse! Salmon Tartare is delicious as are all the appetizers. Lemon fetuccini with grilled shrimp + arugula pesto was sublime! Fish specials tend to be exceptional, especially baramundi. Desserts are way beyond the standard tiramisu. Interesting, well-priced regional wine list. Pros: Innovative cuisine, Thoughtful wine list Cons: Noisy when crowded more

The food was outstanding from start to finish. The polenta side dish was outrageous and I normally hate polenta. The chicken, veal and lamb dishes were all excellent and the rhubarb cobbler for dessert is to die for! The service was wonderful - very warm and attentive. Only negative was that it was very loud when we got there (at 7pm) but as dinner progressed it got quieter. Pros: Great Value, Excellent Food, Great Service Cons: Somewhat loud more

Spigolo is just what the Upper Eastside needed -- a divine eating experience, excellent service and a nice atmosphere. The menu is unique without being trendy and the food is fantastic. Pros: Food, Menu, Wine Cons: The Space is Small more

This small new restaurant is worth trying. We had to wait for 20 minutes after arriving early for our reservation, but the waitstaff was very friendly (the pastry chef doubles as a hostess!). Loved the tuna tartare appetizer, hake fish entree, but not crazy about the gnocchi (a bit mushy and grainy). Reasonable bottles of wine and great dessert. Pros: Friendly staff, intimate, great Italian Cons: pasta more