JUAN BONILLA

**Il Poeta: A Masterpiece of Italian Culinary Art** Il Poeta is a hidden gem that transports you straight to Italy with its authentic flavors and welcoming atmosphere. The moment you step in, you're greeted by the warm, attentive service that makes you feel like family. The star of the kitchen, Chef Mario di Chiara, is a true artist, crafting dishes that are as visually stunning as they are delicious. Every bite reflects his passion and mastery of Italian cuisine. From homemade pasta to perfectly cooked seafood, each dish is a testament to his skill and creativity. Whether you're indulging in a classic carbonara or savoring a more contemporary creation, the flavors are nothing short of extraordinary. The experience doesn’t stop at the food. Julio, the restaurant’s talented bartender, elevates the meal with his exceptional drink pairings. His extensive knowledge and passion for mixology are evident in every cocktail he crafts, adding the perfect touch to an unforgettable dining experience. For anyone seeking an authentic Italian meal coupled with outstanding service, Il Poeta is 100 percent recommended. It’s more than just a meal—it’s an experience that delights all the senses.

José Torres

Il Poeta is a lovely establishment serving tastebud tantalizing northern Italian cuisine. The food is delicious and the ambience is perfect. Add to that excellent service and you have a recipe for an outstanding dining experience. 💯 recommend!

Rose Wolner

Celebrated my birthday tonight at IL Poeta. I don't order calves liver often, but tonight's dish was cooked to my liking...tender and moist. Service and ambiance was terrific! Bravo Mario for making my birthday a memorable one!

cath29

Dine in with my family to celebrate my birthday. The food was phenomenal. Had calamari and baked clams for appetizer. Had steak, pasta and chicken for the main course.. Everything was flavorful, just didn’t get the chance to try the desserts bec we have to leave early my baby started to get fussy. The staff were very nice and attentive. I think its the Chef roaming around, very friendly and warm and He made every guest feel at home. Its our first time and will definitely comeback and recommend this place.

If I was rating the food on taste alone I’d rate this restaurant 4 stars. I have to take a star off because the portions were way too small, and we all left hungry. For that alone it wasn’t worth coming here, and we will not come back even through the food was good. None of the appetizers were shareable either. The beet salad we had was very good, but not shareable. We also had the ravioli and the gnocchi in Gorgonzola. Both were very good, but not filling at all. The gnocchi dish especially was a very small portion! The food in the pics I took look a lot larger than the food that was in front of us. We also ordered 4 desserts those were a decent portion except the soufflé which was disappointing in size and in taste. All the desserts were fresh and homemade, but they were just ok in taste. If you are ok with very small portions and good food than you may like this restaurant.

Bob G

Sadly, no longer a place that I would go out of my for. DECOR: Once upon a time, Il Poeta had unique decor... Santa Fe meets New Orleans is the way I would describe it. The walls were Southwest in Color and decorated with unique artifacts. It was very "artsy" and very Forest Hills. Now, with a recent re-do of the decor, I can best describe it as "Generic Long Island Restaurant". Gone is the uniqueness and in its place are generic white tablecloths and a conservative color scheme. SERVICE; i recognize that finding servers is difficult these days, but the service here didn't even reach diner standards. First, the wrong mixed drink was brought to the table. Then, the mixed drink that was brought as a replacement, which at least looked correct, didn't taste correct. Other reviewers have noted this issue as well, and for $17.00 it should have been exemplary! The server seemed to be limited to a dialogue of "cheese or pepper?". DISHES: We had the tuna tartar and Tagliatelli specials as well as the Apple Salad and the Penne with Asparagus "a la vodka". The tuna tartar had an "off taste". The Tagliatelli was OK. The two pasta dishes were served in round plates that looked unique but weren't appropriate for the pasta. The Apple Salad was way overly dressed and the dressing overpowered any flavor that the ingredients may have had. There were very few Apple Slices as well. Dessert was the Cream Brulee which was OK but, again served in a plate that was more appropriate for Flan. Overall, Il Poeta is worth visiting if you plan to be in area but I would no longer go out of my way to dine there.

Kristen Stewart

I love this restaurant so much, the food is always phenomenal but the service today was so bad I don’t ever want to come back. When I asked for more bread and lentils my waiter told me flat out “NO”. When I asked why he said “because it’s an extra charge (as if we didn’t already know that). Then when we asked for our food to be packed to go, instead of taking the plate to the back and properly packing it… he brings an aluminum pan to the table for me to pack it myself as if this were Applebee’s. I’ve been here maybe 10-15 times and never spend less than roughly $80 so to treat a good customer like that was so disappointing😕 Great food, great atmosphere, waiters attitude sucks.

Eric Guido

Returning to an old favorite that I abandoned after being served a bottle of wine that was much warmer than room temperature. Tonight's meal was fantastic although I did choose not to order any wine. Cuisine is authentic and the seafood and fish were remarkably fresh. I did seem to have a bit of a language barrier with the waiter who became frustrated when I ask for a further description of how the Monk fish was cooked. Starting his response with "I already told you". In the end this is worth our attention and I will absolutely return to see if Lightning can strike twice.

PhilYouIn

Small restaurant with nice decor, seating inside and on the sidewalk. Service is professional but not particularly friendly. Prices are steep, and the food is good, but you do not get what you pay for. Zucchini flower is served in a drab plate, all alone. We had to ask for a side of marinara sauce. And although my chicken and mashed potatoes were also delicious, would it have really hurt their bottom line to throw in a vegetable? One broccoli floret? A single asparagus stalk, perhaps? (Check out my photos) What really irked me was the cocktails. If you’re gonna charge $17 for a drink, you had better make it right. Taste and presentation. They failed horribly. Moscow Mule did not taste like a Mule, and was served in a gin & tonic glass. Old Fashioned was served with half a dozen ice cubes and the incorrect garnish. One visit was enough.

+5

Phan Alvarado

Terrible service. Never fails. We have been to this restaurant numerous times in the last 9 years since we moved to the area. Food is not bad. Drinks are not bad. But the service is slow as molasses. And if you are not a regular don't expect a warm welcome. My husband, two sons and I have been going for NYE dinner here for the last 4 years. We made a reservation for this year 4 days in advance, and it was later than we wanted, but we made it anyway. I was then called and told to come in even later because someone else changed the number in their party. I said that was too late and they basically told me "oh well then cancel". Thanks. Two days before NYE. We have brought friends from out of town and always recommend this place despite the terrible service because it's a cute neighborhood Italian restaurant. The wait staff needs training ASAP, including whoever takes reservations. WILL NEVER BE BACK !

Chris Benvegna

NOT THE SAME! My wife and I have been coming here for her birthday for the last 3 years and we loved it. Not any more! They renovated the place this past year and it ruined the experience. The ONLY good thing about the place is the food (my wife's fish, however, was lukewarm). The servers are incredibly rude and rush you to order. They won't let you put in an appetizer order unless you order everything at once, again, feeling rushed. We were 1 of only 2 tables in the place but I was told the chef is too busy to make any kind of change to my order. The music was terrible, sounded like club music, and the entire atmosphere feels like you are eating at a restaurant in Las Vegas, it's extremely bright and sterile. The tables are crowded together on one side with couch seating! You used to get such a warm vibe from this place but all that is gone. Sadly, we will not be celebrating her birthday here any longer.

Logan Pagan

So me and my family which were a party of 10 went to this restaurant for my grandma 91 year birthday. We weren't welcomed, the waiter rush us to order EVERYTHING AT ONCE because they had so many parties that were coming. The food was HORRIBLE! The grilled rib eye steak which was 43 dollars came to the table not the way I asked them to make it. It still looked frozen in the inside while the outside was cooked crispy. Service overall sucked and was very disappointed at this place. But, the atmosphere was tradition and old style which I liked at least. If the food is going to be pricy, it should be cooked and served better! On another note, this place charged me a 20 percent gratuity that the waiter did not deserved. I would of tipped more of the service was better. The portion of the food was very small for the price and everyone left out of this place hungry.