When exploring NY during the weekend we came across Antica. We walked in and they went above and beyond to get us the seating. The food was delicious - I believe it's the best Italian restaurant I've ever been to in the USA. The atmosphere was so homie and we got a lot of attention from everyone including the management. Thank you Antica for making my NY trip so special!

Under the radar gold. This place consistently puts out sold food. The wait staff is super friendly and accommodating and the the atmosphere is modern but charming. Definitely try the Cacio e Pepe, it's some of the best we've ever had out side of Italy.

Antica Pesa is one of my favorite places to frequent in Williamsburg. The food is amazing, service is top tier and I love the cozy vibe they have in there. Riccardo, their bar manager, is the most hospitable and always provides the best experience for me and my friends. Couldn't recommend this place more. Saluti!

Antica Pesa holds true as the best Italian restaurant in all of NYC. Lorenzo is an exceptional host and ensured a special day was made all the more perfect!

The service is incredible, they make you feel like you are dinning with your family, we went on eastern to celebrate my birthday and tried the fixed menu they had, it was amazing the burrata inside of that phyllo with prosciutto was to die for, the lamb and the rigatoni were amazing and the perfect finally was both desserts the tiramisu and the panna cota that became my favorite dessert in the world, the attention of Lorenzo was amazing even tough he was on his birthday too he was on top of everything; so I will be more than glad to come back here as a regula. the ambiance and the space its just right for every occasion it’s cozy, and elegant

Excellent!! Lorenzo and his team were extremely welcoming snd attentive. Just like in Italy they present the food and then they serve each person at the table which is a nice touch! Everything was delicious and fresh and unique. A few highlights include the crudo e bufala croccante which was delicious. The caccio e pepe and the parmigiana. All amazing with some tiramisu to finish the night.

An Unforgettable Evening at Antica Pesa Last night, I had the pleasure of dining at Antica Pesa, and I can confidently say it was an experience to remember. From the moment we stepped inside, the elegant yet warm atmosphere embraced us. The restaurant’s classic Italian charm, with its cozy lighting and rustic décor, set the perfect stage for a wonderful meal but what truly made the evening special was our server, Enrico. From the start, his friendly and professional demeanor made us feel right at home. Enrico not only had a deep knowledge of the menu but also made excellent suggestions based on our preferences. His recommendations were spot on, and he expertly paired wines with each course, enhancing the flavors and the overall experience. Enrico’s attention to detail was remarkable he was attentive without being overbearing, checking in just the right amount to ensure we had everything we needed. His passion for the food and the restaurant was evident in every interaction, and he took the time to explain the origins of certain dishes, making our meal feel even more personal and connected to Italian traditions. As for the food, it was absolutely exceptional. We started with a perfectly balanced salad, followed by a rich pasta dish that was cooked to perfection to better say AL DENTE. The handmade pasta special with truffle was a highlight, and the flavors were so fresh, you could tell the ingredients were sourced with care. For dessert, the classic tiramisu was the perfect finale light, creamy, and delicious. Enrico’s service truly elevated our dining experience at Antica Pesa. His warmth, professionalism, and passion for the restaurant made it a memorable night. If you’re looking for an authentic Italian dining experience with impeccable service, I highly recommend Antica Pesa, and be sure to ask for Enrico—you won’t be disappointed.

This place is great the service was great and the food was even better clean and very friendly staff not pricey at all I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone who is looking for a great Italian restaurant family owned and great service!!!!

+5

Highly recommend this restaurant. This beautiful space is elegantly designed but unpretentious and welcoming, cozy! They let the food speak for itself and the staff is absolutely amazing; they truly make the dining experience special. The Crudo as an app and the Cacio e Pepe pasta are a must. Delectable cocktails weekdays from 6-8pm are just a little bonus. Totally worth a visit. I will definitely return with other foodie friends.

Stopped in for a cocktail. Charming atmosphere and very attentive service by our bartender, Max.

I usually never write google reviews but felt compelled to after visiting this place. My friend and I came here tonight for her last day of work celebration. I am so happy we gave this place a try because it was one of the best dining experiences I’ve had in my lifetime (as someone who goes to dinner twice a week in Manhattan). The atmosphere is so amazing - especially on a chilly night . The fireplace is cozy and the lighting is flattering. What really makes it such a great experience is truly the staff. The service could not have been better. Our waiter explained the entire menu to us in detail and we even got suggestions on wine pairings. The food was delicious and arrived quickly. We didn’t feel rushed at all despite the place being packed. After we stuffed ourselves on our meal and dessert we decided to have drinks by the fire and at the bar and the staff went above and beyond. We ended up staying for 5 hours which is crazy but everyone from The bartender, to our waiter, to the front of house was so incredibly awesome we just couldn’t leave. I can’t recommend this place enough and will be back again as soon as possible!!

Fantastic restaurant ! We did travel along the west coast (Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles) and tried more than one Italian restaurants but Antica Pesa has definitely succeeded in bringing a fine Italian cuisine to Brooklyn. The meals and dessert are refined and in line with the Italian tradition. They were delicious The service is of high standard, very kind and detail-oriented. The atmosphere was delightful with jazz music. Very good value for money. Strongly recommended!

I have been going to Antica Pesa for 7 and a half years. This is where our family get together as frequently as possible for special occasions, special food and special service. Lorenzo is a wonderful host and his chefs and waiters are top notch. Thursday night jazz is also a nice time to go. I highly recommend.

Ive spent a lot of time dining in NYC, and never ever have felt as compelled to write a review about a place until now. Just wrapped a small birthday dinner, and have to say, from top to bottom, absolutely everything was fantastic. Service was incredible, food was well executed, and creative, yet not in a gimmicky kind of way, & the wine list is well rounded. Most importantly: from start to finish, felt like I was treated like family, a thing we New Yorkers may experience from our regular bodega, but not from a upscale restaurant. Will certainly be back, many, many times over.

My First Time. The Food. Excellent! Service! Excellent. The whole staff was great! Ambiance. Excellent. Lorenzo ran around making sure everything was perfect. He must have lost 10 pounds working so hard. I will be back again soon to bring some more newbies!

We had a luncheon after my mother’s memorial Mass. The food, atmosphere, and service were all excellent. We are extremely grateful to Lorenzo and Erin, the bartender, sommelier, kitchen staff, and wait staff for their warm, first-rate, and extremely responsive approach to managing the entire event. Thank you.

i brought a date to Antica Pesa a couple weeks ago and Lorenzo, Max, and Antonio made our night an absolutely amazing one. Lorenzo made us feel so welcome and at home as soon as we walked in. The atmosphere is absolutely beautiful - cozy and warm. The service was off the charts. And last but definitely not least the food was delicious. I'd give Antia 6 stars if Google would let me. Highly recommended.

Classic Italian food with upscale vibe. Bringing its expertise from Rome, this restaurant is like no other in Williamsburg. The wine selection is all Italian but there is always a perfect match for every dish. If you cannot get a reservation, eating at the modern yet warms looking bar is an option. Great for dates and nice meals with loved ones.

I had been looking forward to dining here after following them on Instagram for months. I try to save my carbs for special occasions so my boyfriend took me here for my birthday because I wouldn't shut up about how good the pasta looked. My parents are from just outside of Rome and everything on the menu felt familiar. We each ordered a salad and a pasta and contrary to some reviews it was a lot of food. I'm working on making the Vignarola salad next week for dinner! The salad with fennel and orange was my favorite, legit how my Nonnetta makes it. We had the homemade tagliatelle and the amatriciana and they were both exactly how they should be. We couldnt leave without dessert and I had been craving tiramisu. This one was perfect. Oh! We are not drinkers but I did start the meal with a Negroni, again, perfect. Beyond the food, the service was great, accommodating, friendly and perfectly timed. The mood is cozy and warm. It was so great on a snowy evening. This meal was a week ago and we are both still talking about it. We have already planned to go back to order the bistecca. 03/15/2023 We had another amazing and memorable meal here this week. It was my son's 18th birthday and it was no question where we were eating. I brought along my dad who is from outside of Rome and worked for years and lived in Trastevere as a young man. The staff was so accommodating with his special needs. The food was outstanding. We were a party of 5 and ordered 3 antipasti, 3 pastas and the bistecca and the Pollo e camomile. It was outstanding. The Pollo was a total surprise. So tender and crispy. Dessert was tiramisu, cannoli and Gelato. We didn't think we were hungry for dessert but we ate it anyway! In the end, my dad said "send the pictures to Facebook" so his brother and cousins in Italy could see. Thank you, thank you for a memorable meal.

I have heard good things about Antica Pesa so last week i was finally able to dine in one night with a friend. The restaurant is spacious and very elegant with an industrial touch which i love. I liked the fact you could see the kitchen and the chefs. Wine of the day, Fiano di Avellino, was very good. The way they serve bread was very unique, they brind a wooden box full of focaccia, pizza rossa, schiacciata and bread, you can pock the one you like. Olive oil was so so good. We ordered “cacio e pepe” and “amatriciana”. Pasta was al dente and delicious, definitely one of the best Cacio e Pepe you could find in NYC. The service was also very professional. I have nothing but good things to say about this place so far! Authentic Italian taste, classy and great hospitality!

+2

Came for dinner on a Friday before Christmas and it was incredible from taste to experience. We sat at the bar and the bartender had a great wine recommendation followed up by appetizer recommendations. We started with the scallops which were incredible and nothing like I had tried before. We then had the rigatoni and cacio e Pepe. Both fantastic but rigatoni comes Al dente if you aren’t a fan. Lastly we ended with the lightest tiramisu. Everyone from the owner to waiter were sure to give you the best experience.

I ate at the bar, and wow. This place is truly something amazing. I highly recommend this place if you like authentic Italian food. The pasta dishes are out of this world! So fresh and hand made. Great service. And great drinks. the dessert was phenomenal. I come to this place every time I’m in brookyln.

We had dinner on a Saturday night and even thought it was crowded, the service was good. We had fettucine ala gricia and cappellacci gorgonzola e pere. For dessert of course tiramisu. Everything was delicious.

Love coming here for special occasions. It was my our anniversary and they provided exceptional service. The crudo e bufala croccante and pollo e camomila are our favorite. The cocktails are also delicious. The staff are professional and attentive, enhancing the culinary experience. Overall, an enjoyable and delicious restaurant for date night.

Thanksgiving dinner with my family was incredible — the food was excellent, and the service was even better. I’ll definitely be coming back; it truly feels like the staff has become part of my family.

Incredible experience with amazing food and cocktails. This great space is so beautiful is totally worth the visit. Very romantic and classy restaurant. Please try the meatballs (polpette di brasato) and the filo crust mozzarella (crudo e búfala croccante). Excellent service especially by Pietro.

This restaurant is a hidden Italian gem. I had ordered the amatriciana pasta and tiramisu. Their wine list has probably the best selection I've seen in NYC period. Staff are on point, knowledgeable, and attentive. This is my 3rd time here and just now writing a review because I wanted to make sure it wasn't a fluke with my first couple experiences. I will continue to come here. If you want to impress a date, this is certainly a go to then.

Came here with my husband for a date night and was blown away. The food is so fresh and absolutely delicious. The service is impeccable and the ambiance is romantic and cool. The owner, Lorenzo, made menu recommendations and he curated the perfect symphony of their signature dishes. Will definitely be back. Grazie Lorenzo!

Phenomenal dining experience. Food was great. Highly recommend their espresso martini, seafood risotto and pigs stomach. Even the bread in the start was delicious! The servers were so friendly and really took care of us. Lorenzo the manager was super accommodating because we were celebrating an engagement. We even forgot a hat at the table when we left then saw Lorenzo chasing after us with the hat when we realized. 10/10 experience. Will definitely be returning and highly recommend.

This place is amazing!!!! We went here for my mothers birthday and the food and experience was incredible. Thursday jazz night made the ambiance so fun and our waiter was so excellent, made amazing recommendations and went out of his way to make the night special! He even brought us tiramisu at the end of dinner and had the band sing her happy birthday, (which side note was the best tiramisu I’ve ever had!) We ordered the fava,pecorino e tartufo appetizer and it was so delicious and unlike anything I’ve tried. Additionally we got the lasagne, cacio e Pepe and pollo and all were truly incredible! I will definitely be coming back!

Me and My Wife, we both Love Italian Food. I personally know the owner and stuff. They are very kind and generous people. Prices are not that high, but comparing to the food, it’s cheap :)

An absolute gem in every sense. The service was nothing short of exceptional—imbued with a rare, old-school charm that was both warm and delightfully witty, easily surpassing that of any five-star establishment. The ambiance, marked by a stately leather sofa, a glowing fireplace, and an inviting open kitchen, struck a perfect balance between elegance and comfort. From the moment I arrived, I felt genuinely welcomed—at once a guest and at home. My sincerest thanks for such a memorable experience.

Fine dining and priced accordingly. Excellent wine list supported with a narrow but sufficient dinner menu. Food was fresh with great flavor. Recommend booking as venue filled very quickly on a cold mid week evening. Would go back!

Came here on a Saturday afternoon. The entire staff was incredibly welcoming and attentive. (Which is SO rare these days). Vibes were on point inside, sexy and cozy, perfect for a date night. Cacio e Pepe was amazing, and cocktails were perfect. Run by actual Italians, which I love. This is going to be my new go to Italian in Williamsburg!

If you are looking for an authentic Italian restaurant in New York, this is it. The place looks beautiful, great design, it reminds me of their location in Rome ( which I am a big fan of). The cacio e pepe is absolutely perfect, a must have.. my boyfriend ordered another plate, during the same dinner!!!! The risotto was also great, I can’t wait to come back!

I enjoyed every single bite of the meal. Ideal for those who want a romantic night out. Drinks were delicious and our server very helpful and polite. Definitely coming back

Update !!!! We came back and it's held up to the test of time and COVID ! We came all the way to BK to celebrate our anniversary and their service , menu and ambiance is 5 stars from start to finish ! We started off with drinks by the fireplace while we waited for our table . Evan was our server at that point and he was amazing. Suggested some drinks and then made a show out of it. This special gun added a bubble to the top of my wife's drink and then he added something to the bubble that changed the color or the drink. My description doesn't do it justice 😂. Now off to the food. Elena was our server and she was great. We started off with anatra (duck) , fig with mustard ice cream. First off it's one of those things that you question but have to give it a try . Such an amazing flavor combo! Who ever figured that out deserves some praise ! Then we did the polpo e radici appetizer as well and it was cooked to perfection! Not chewy or gummy as I've had at other places .... It takes talent and precision to cook octopus without it being chewy and antica pesa knows how to do it perfectly! The next dish was cacio e pepe and of course this is a roman specialty and in which antica pesa knows how to do it! It's a must ! Next was the Fiorentina. Steak for two .... It's probably for three but it says 2.... Amazing quality steak . One of the best I've had ! Comes with plenty of sides as well .Can't wait to come back ! Amazing job by the entire staff and Lorenzo ! 🇮🇹💪🏼❤️ Original review .... Truly the best Italian food you will find in the states. Amazing from start to finish with the service to match ! I've been here a few times before and also the one in Rome (my favorite ). Started off with the fritto misto (fried seafood and zucchini ) it was fresh and fried to perfection! We also had the burger di salsiccia (sausage slider ) The sausage burger pairs perfectly with the dressing on the plate. I believe it was honey mixed with pepper . Whatever it was gave a beautiful kick to the burger. For the main course my wife had the chicken cutlet which is huge and it was cooked perfectly! Juicy and flavorful. It came with a side salad. My main course was the cacio and pepe. Its a classic roman dish. A simple dish but very hard to find a place that does it as well as Antica Pesa. It's creamy and has just the right amount of pepper with the pasta being cooked just right! We finished off the dinner with their Bomba di Nutella. This is a freshly made doughnut filled with Nutella . Do I need to say any more ???? This is an amazing spot. Only thing that sucks is that im an hour drive away but it's well worth the commute to hit this location !

+2

This restaurant was recommended, by an Italian from Rome. I can say the dishes I had were as authentic as they could have. My last Italy trip was spent in Rome, Sardinia and Polignano a Mare, and I can say this restaurant hit different areas when it came to having a Roman pasta, or one more of the coast side. My friend and I had the cacio e pepe and the anchovies pasta. Delish. Server Massimilliano was very nice and attentive. The atmosphere is romantic. Perfect for date night.

Absolutely loved this place and it had amazing Italian food that is comparable to the Italian restaurants with a month long wait. The service was impeccable and it was very well decorated inside. Everything we ordered was so good and I will be going back.

absolutely incredible Roman cuisine with extremely kind staff. Lorenzo was super accommodating to us when a reservation had to be switched, and the entirety of the team was generous, hospitable, and kind. Not to mention the cacio e Pepe, amatriciana, and branzino were delicious and authentic. Cant wait to make this my regular Italian spot.

hayden pascal

This place is a true hidden gem of NYC. Very authentic Italian food and service, incredible cocktails, artisanal crafted food and the ambiance is sexy. It’s still crazy to me that it’s not an impossible reservation - they have a historic establishment of a restaurant in Rome that one of the family members broke off from to set up shop here (Lorenzo) and he’s always present. Top notch.

Jswiss

Antica Pesa is a fantastic spot in Williamsburg! The owners also run the same restaurant in Rome from their family, and you can really taste the authenticity. The staff was so welcoming and nice, making the experience even better. Highly recommend if you’re visiting!!!

Gil cosenza

Unbelievable dining experience. Lorenzo and his staff made it feel Like we were in Rome.

Dalia Fernandez

Great and authentic Italian restaurant in Williamsburg! The place is beautiful, live jazz on Thursdays and the pasta is to die for! I would recommend getting the amatriciana pasta, it is amazing!

Mario Brons

The dishes on the menu are few but quite original, in short, good considering what you usually eat in New York. It is a legacy of the true ancient Pesa found on Via Caribaldi in Rome, but you have to remember that I am talking about 1988 and I will never forget a truly excellent Sardinian chef named Franco Usai, truly a great! In any case, the place, even if out of the way from the center, is always worth trying.

Eddie Wunderlich

Antica Pesa was an absolute amazing dining experience. I sat at the bar, the vibe felt very intimate and cozy being that I got to enjoy my dinner with a very attentive and friendly staff. The decor is fabulous, lighting, intimate, and the fireplace with sofas makes me want to come back again. The food was next level I started with the octopus. The presentation was exceptional, followed by one of their signature pastas. The bartender presented the pasta, added such a great detail with customizing options for light, medium or dangerous pepper shavings on top of the pasta with a white glove I thought it was absolutely fabulous. The Branzino was cooked to absolute perfection soft on the inside and a slightly crispy skin. To finish my four course meal. I enjoyed their cannolis very much. Shout out to the staff because they were extremely attentive, friendly, and truly one of the best dining experiences I’ve ever had.

+4

Berhan Gökşin

Such a warm and welcoming place! The staff are incredibly friendly and attentive, you can truly feel that authentic Italian warmth in the atmosphere. The food was absolutely delicious, everything was prepared with care and full of flavor. A wonderful experience from start to finish!

Ashley McConnell

My wife and I visited Brooklyn in April and made a last-minute reservation at Antica. From the moment we arrived, Lorenzo greeted us with exceptional warmth and created an atmosphere that felt both personal and inviting. His attentiveness made us feel like the only guests in the room. The entire team contributed to an outstanding experience. Every detail was thoughtfully managed, from the courteous service of the staff to the skill and care evident in the kitchen. Our dishes arrived quickly and were prepared with remarkable precision and flavor. Lorenzo’s recommendations were excellent, and each plate exceeded our expectations. Antica delivered one of the most memorable dining experiences we have ever had, and we look forward to returning on our next visit to the city.

Michael Lopez

This has to be by far. The best Italian food I’ve ever tasted. Limited places in NYC have Rigatoni - Amatriciana, which was specifically why we chose this place. The Amatriciana was top tier. My wife had the Spaghetti Cacio E Pepe, she was extremely delighted with the portion served! The drinks were phenomenal! My wife had the cosmo! I had an Old Fashioned. If you’re looking to be welcomed with love and served with compassion and respect ON TOP of authentic Italian cuisines THIS IS THE PLACE! P.S shoutout Lorenzo for making our dining experience the most memorable! By catering to any small necessity and taking PHENOMENAL pictures

Harper Rose

Was in New York for a weekend away and discovered this place and all its Roman glory. We booked a table for 2, myself and my Italian boyfriend. He’s super picky with Italian restaurants as he lives in Tuscany. This was as authentic as it gets. From atmosphere to the menu and exciting wine list. We stayed after for their jazz night. Loved it. All the excitement in one cozy stop. I wish I was in Brooklyn more often as I would love to make this our regular Thursday night dining destination.

christopher parham

The dinner was a culinary explosion! . The food was fresh, authentic, and delicious. The decor was beautiful and added to the overall ambiance. The service was stellar, and the staff was attentive and knowledgeable. Lorenzo made me feel right at home. I highly recommend this restaurant and look forward to dining here again in the future!

+5

Daniel Tierney

They were able to accommodate us last minute and from the time you arrive to when you walk out the door the experience and food on point. They quality coming out of the kitchen is top notch and the knowledge of the rest of the staff excellent from the dishes, ingredients, drinks and wine they don’t miss a beat when you ask a question. Some of the food pics were taken after we started eating the plates come out like art on a plate.

+3

Arjun Mehta

Absolutely incredible experience - our group of 6 unanimously agrees this was the best restaurant experience we have ever had. Beautiful evening ambience, warm and approachable, yet elevated and refined. First on the food: it was a whole new dimension of Italian food. Familiar dishes but with a new depth of flavor I had not experienced before. The restaurant’s roots are in Rome, which means they have a unique take on certain dishes.. there’s an emphasis on a very specific level of al dente pasta, a more intensely rich type of cacio e pepe, and pork sourced from Italy served as Guanciale (crispy bits served on top of your pasta). The buffalo mozzarella crudo was delicious and delicate. The duck prosciutto had a pleasantly smokiness at the end of each bite, and the octopus was very tender and flavorful! We were very well taken care of by our wonderful server Ricardo as well as Lorenzo, the owner himself! He suggested the best thing: they offered a Bitico (spelling?) which isn’t on the menu, but is like a split pasta dish where all of us could try two of their specialties on a single plate. Both the cacio e pepe and rigatoni were other worldly. Overall I would highly recommend! We had such a wonderful time, such a warm welcome and lovely evening, along with an incredible dining experience! We’ll be back!

+4

Zoe Rhulen

One of the best meals I have ever had. I came in solo on Christmas Eve. Everything was flawless— from the hostess who helped me get a seat at the bar when I called, to the comfortable waiting area (armchairs, fireplace, books to read), to the delicious food and friendly service. I had the pork belly, and brioche with chocolate sorbet for dessert. Cannot recommend highly enough.

David Q (davqh)

If you are looking for authentic Italian cuisine and not Italian-American food Antica Pesa is the restaurant for you. While eating at Antica Pesa you will imagen that you are reliving your vacation in Rome and eating at a restaurant next to the Vatican. I love this place so much that I have been three times in less than two months. The pastas made in-house daily right before your eyes as you can see into the kitchen. Allthe seafood plates that I ordered tasted fresh and not frozen. Prices are reasonable, the staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. The drinks are also made with quality spirits. One of the reasons why this place is always running on point is because you usually see at least one of the owners always there making sure that everything is running smoothly. You can tell that owning a restaurant in Rome for 100 years has helped the Panella brothers run Antica Pesa Brooklyn like a “vero” Italian restaurant ought to be managed.

+6

Maanas Bhatt

First time visiting Antica Pesa, had an absolutely incredible experience. Started with the mozzarella, which was rich and creamy. They make their own olive oil which I could not stop eating more of. Ordered the cacio e pepe which was creamy and peppery, quite filling and delicious. The pomodoro was made with fresh potatoes and the pasta was perfectly al dente. Finally, for the main course, I’d recommend the melanzana, which was perfectly cooked and and seasoned. Topped the meal off with tiramisu, cannoli, and gelato, which was wonderfully sweet.

+1

Zachary T Zhu

One of the most creative presentations that I've seen for duck breast (didn't expect smoke to come out of the plate) and a genuinely unique flavor combination! Horseradish cream: I'll admit, I didn't think it would work but one of the best dishes I've had hands down in New York. The anchovy ravioli, with its salty umami flavor, cemented this restaurant as one of the all-time greats in New York in my eyes. Fun atmosphere and a great all-around experience!

+1

Nikhil Shah

OMG! Oh.my.god! This place is a gem! We had reservations at another place but due to a snafu, we were asked to wait for for an 1 hour. Looking around, open table had a reservation for this place which I begrudgingly took. Let me tell you, the place is awesome! Their cocktails were impeccable and STRONG! The pasta was al dente! Like, I haven’t had pasta this perfectly made. Loved loved loved the place. - cacio e Pepe 20/10 flavor, texture, pasta cooked to perfection - ravioli - 10/10 the beet flavor is indeed strong and quite interesting with pasta. The tiramisu wasn’t too sweet and the flavors again, were perfect! P.S after having been to 15 different highly rated restaurants that serve Cacio e Pepe, I can confidently say that this is legit the best Cacio e Pepe in NYC!!

Christopher Eu

Beautiful space, very accommodating staff (we were 30mins late but they found us a table after a bit of back and forth, very gracious of them) and a very classic, authentic menu of Italian staples, executed with aplomb! Had a great time here! Lorenzo was incredible as the owner and host. Very warm and inviting place, my only regret was not coming sooner. Will definitely be coming back, thanks everyone at Antica Pesa!!

+1

The first restaurant open in the US with the original in Roma - the atmosphere is sophisticated but comfortable. The food is classic Italian recipes but matched with an outstanding bar and great wine selection. As close to Italy as you can get with high quality and homemade pastas. This restaurant has maintained its quality since the day it opened.

I came here for the first time tonight, to try it for Restaurant Week. It was pretty good overall, nice classy ambience and friendly staff. I got the Branzino fish as my main course, which I recommend. It ended up being very pricey with the extra drinks we got and we were charged for getting extra bread. Overall good ambience, but will eat a chunk of your wallet.

Service is usually amazing and the food is pretty good. Expect a dark and moody atmosphere with some nice ambiance.

After living in Italy, I often crave truly authentic Italian food. There are few places in the city that offer this. Most of the best Italian restaurants in NY are not authentic Italian. This place is, and that is really nice. But that doesn't make it 5 stars for a few reasons. 1. The prices are just insane. 2. The wine list is good but most bottles are 10x mark-up. You've really got to spend your time to look through it to find a one in the 3x to 5x mark up range. These two things just significantly take this place away from a truly great Italian experience where you'd never experience this. Give me this food at good prices, with an amazing cheap house wine and no tipping and they'll earn not only the 5 stars but the respect of calling themselves a true Italian restaurant. But for now they will just be close enough to true Italian food coupled with NYC hype and outrageous prices.

Truly intimate but lively indoor ambiance. Comfortable welcoming wooden and leather, gentle lamplights, and white background finish. Hats off truly to the interior designer. Each table is set with two great wide burgundy wine glasses. Who can resist wine getting seated to such glasses? Very clever. Craved cacio e pepe for a while ever since binging with babish released that botched with babish episode; she had the rigatoni. The pasta felt a bit undercooked, and I do prefer mine al dente. Rigatoni was a pleasant delight. Worth the trip to Brooklyn. Will be here again soon.

The menu is very inventive for an Italian restaurant so that is very much appreciated. We started off with the baby gem salad and the duck prosciutto dish wish mustard ice cream. Both tasted great and were done in ways I had never seen before. For my main I ordered the cacio e pepe. This is one of my favorite pasta dishes and it was disappointing here. It was just missing something. The interior is beautiful and the service was attentive but overall the dinner missed the mark a bit and I’m not sure if it is worth the price.

Nice little Italian spot, but it didn’t blow me away. The pizza was tasty, but the crust was a little too chewy for my liking. The service was polite, though the wait time was longer than expected. A fine meal, but nothing memorable.

It was laughable how unremarkable the $26 paccheri pasta dish was. It had 10 noodles and no flavor. The gem salad was also boring and flavorless. The portions are small and the prices are high. The service and the space are excellent, but don’t go here if you want good italian food.

Mixed feelings about this place. I loved the decor and atmosphere, I enjoyed the wine (and their Amaro collection as well) and the service was good. I wasn't too lucky with the food though. The Gita Fuori Porta had a great presentation but that's it. The Cacio e Pepe was too salty for me. And the meat of the Stinco d'Agnello wasn't flavorful and kept falling off the bone. NOTE: I see many reviews about the pasta being undercooked. That's called "al dente".

Food was overpriced for what it was. Atmosphere was good. Not very busy when we went. Waiter forgot a few things even with very few tables to wait on. Very underwhelmed for an expensive dinner.

Nice environment with soft lighting a true fireplace and an efficent service. Good also the selection of wines both by glass and bottle. Unfortunately I was disappointed by the quality of the food. My pasta cacio e pepe was not creamy as supposed to be and my friend Amatriciana had the sauce too dense, almost dry. Considering that these basic dishes of the Italian cousine are on the menu at more than 20$ each I expected something more. That's a shame becouse I note all the ingredients were high quality and important from Italy. The desserts were on the other hand very good.

Food and atmosphere were okay, but we an overwhelmingly negative experience with service a few months back. Our food came out very late in comparison to other guests with no explanation, when we asked the interaction became defensive and confrontational, so much so where we will likely not return as it took a lot of effort to resolve the issue. It is a shame as I had a previously solid experience the time prior but it seems like they are overall inconsistent.

We dined in and found the ambience nice and subtle. We ordered spaghetti, green beans and grilled potatoes--all were quite good. The downside is the price and level of service--exceptionally high for the serving size and level of service provided. The restaurant charges for water ($8 per bottle), has a poor selection of beer (one italian brand--overpriced) and, surprisingly to me, charged us when we asked for bread. Net, good ambience and good food, poor service and priced high for the quality provided.

Very sad - used to love this place so much. We went back on a Saturday night and it was such a disappointment - it took them 30 min to serve our drink… by the time we got them we were already done with the starters. We complained many times about the wait but my boyfriend attempted his luck and ordered a second one which never arrived. After eating the main course we asked for the check and the waiter told us she forgot to put the drink order in. As regard the food, the cacio e pepe was very underwhelming, especially for a Roman restaurant, not creamy at all and very sticky. The starter was ok, but the prosciutto definitely not from Italy (I am Italian)…. Unfortunately won’t come back, and very sad about it..

Context: Christmas dinner prix fixe, 9:30PM We (2) ordered: Mozzarella w/ prosciutto, salad, duck and rigatoni. Tiramisu and ice cream. Espresso. A cocktail. A glass of wine. (We would’ve liked more drinks if they’d bothered to ask) The service: No one took our drink order until after the food. They forgot the bread. Slammed plates down on the table and rushed away. Espresso came without sweetener. We tipped 20% on just the meal cost minus taxes. He watched us input it, frowning at the screen. That’s probably the most time our server spent at our table. The meal: Overall good. But the pasta was undercooked. Forgivable anywhere else but not at an Italian joint. Big picture: Understaffed for the holidays. Prix Fixe service is always tricky to execute. Maybe practice more. What’s sad is, the place came highly recommended by friends 🤷🏻‍♀️so I gave it one more star in case someone else wanted to flip a coin

Pretty mediocre. There’s nothing wrong per se with the experience at Antica. The waiters are attentive, albeit a little superior. The setting is good, and gives off a sense of comfort. Some dishes are good, but non are excellent Given the price point you’d expect excellence. Unfortunately the dishes are lacking punch, character, and certainly a long way from ‘wow’. Great Italian cuisine should leave you in awe, not thinking your home versions are equal or better.

Our experience was pretty disappointing because of our server’s rude and condescending attitude. Ordering wine was a hassle—the server kept saying they weren’t selling the ones listed on the menu (which felt really misleading) and kept pushing more expensive options instead. On top of that, there was a lack of transparency when we ordered an appetizer and he offered to split it for us to share. We were charged per portion without any prior clarification on pricing. The server also never asked about dietary restrictions, but when we checked if an appetizer had nuts, he got annoyed and insisted he had asked earlier—which he definitely hadn’t. His attitude all night made it clear he wasn’t interested in giving us a good experience. To make things worse, as we were leaving, we overheard him talking about our group to the bartender, who even pointed out that we could still hear them. I know we were a large group but that level of unprofessionalism really left a bad impression. That said, the restaurant itself had a nice vibe with decent pasta, and the live music on Thursday night was a highlight.

you’re paying for ambience; the pasta was very underwhelming. al dente is al dente, but tiny bits of my pasta were undercooked and none of the sauces were necessarily good. the service was okay but we had to ask for extra water several times and the waiters kept trying to upsell us their more expensive wines which became annoying at one point. i think atmosphere at a restaurant is definitely important, but with what we paid, i don’t think anyone in our group wanted to go back.. we didn’t have any of their desserts but they did look good

We had the four course meal. The appetizer was great, but the rest was just okay. The spaghetti was harder than al dente and was absolutely soaked in an unappetizing green sauce and covered in cayenne pepper. The chicken cutlet, while large, was missing a sauce. It came with a salad and tomatoes. The vegan chocolate gelato tasted like frozen reconstituted pudding pops. For the exceptionally high price the food was decidedly bad.

We were a bit late to our reservation but we were still kindly welcomed by we believe was the manager. Because it was a 2 hour shift due to Christmas the general atmosphere was quite rushed. The food was served at a lukewarm temperature so not as hot as you would expect it to be. On top of that, the pasta was too undercooked. This gave us more of a rushed experience, as if they wanted to get the food on the table as quick as possible. When the check came it said four cocktails but we only had two of them. Small mistakes like that can happen but again another sign of rushed and impersonal service. However we still thought it was appropriate to give a 5% tip. The waiter, who did the payment and whom we had not seen yet before, came to indirectly demand us to give an 18% tip instead. He told us that ‘here in the US it is mandatory to give at least an 18% tip’. When we told him that we have been living in NY for a couple months now and never heard of that principle he proceeded to tell us, in an extremely rude and derogation tone, how he had lived in the US for 8 years and knew the custom of such a tipping amount. Moreover, he claimed that the tips were his main salary. We reacted by explaining how we didn’t feel like the service met the desired 18%, to which he responded by throwing the card on the table and passive aggressively thanking us. We were quite flabbergasted by this experience. The manager at the beginning of the night was so kind, but the server at the end ruined the experience as a whole for us.

Not gonna lie, I came in with high expectations. I was expecting a somewhat high end food (given the prices) and high end atmosphere. A trio wearing shorts, loudly slurping pasta, and picking their teeth suggested that my expectations might have been... misaligned. But, in full honesty, I came there for food, not for the show. So, let's talk food. I understand that real estate is expensive but the ingredients aren't. So while I am not going to question $57 for a slice of ham and a grilled cheese sandwich, I will question why it tastes so bland. Branzino- bland. Pork filet - bland. The sauces that came with both meat and fish - bland. I came to this place with a friend who lived in Italy for over 10 years and their assessment of food was "our McDonald's has better food than this" and I can't blame them. To wrap this disaster movie I'll just add that we've got overcharged for the food we didn't order - but which waiter still brought in due to their mistake. Maybe it was just a bad day at the restaurant, but I'm sure not coming back to it. I can get better food and better service up and down the same street.

The ambience in the place was nice, it was a pretty slow night in there for sure. I had two different versions of their old fashioned which were ok. The food was pretty underwhelming. I barely understood the menu the English explanations under the name in Italian were a little confusing. My pasta was hard like not la dente it was hard difficult to chew level of hard. The eggplant was not great. My fish with lemon sauce was ok. I cant say I would return I just didn't enjoy my meal. It is beautiful service was good but I definitely wouldn't return because I just didn't like my food.

For a place with live jazz it has got no chill. The waiter kept rushing us into ordering, interrupting us mid conversation barely giving us time to get comfortable. Food was ok-ish.

Don’t come here! I’ve never written a review of a restaurant before, even though I’m a major foodie (and I cook for a living). I never wanted to negatively affect an establishment. I came here with my partner on a Friday evening, admittedly because we wanted to do something fancy and fun but didn’t have any reservations elsewhere. The menu and food images looked lovely, and it’s always a good sign when a restaurant has another location in Rome! We chose this place for a romantic dinner, which was a mistake. I can think of ten places where you can get an amazing dish of pasta in the same neighborhood and nearby. We had drinks before dinner and wanted to get a nightcap after; I’m sure a drink might have helped the sad situation. We ordered three dishes: * Polpo all'Arrabbiata
$27.00 (Grilled octopus with charred kale, tomato sauce, and jalapeño) * Riso Cime di Rapa, Gamberi e Scalogno
$32.00 (Broccoli rabe marinated in lemon with prawns) * Spaghetti Aglio Olio Verde e Peperoncino
$26.00 (Pasta in a green sauce topped with chili pepper) The octopus was almost inedible. The kale was wet, not charred, and the octopus tasted like imitation crab. It didn’t taste grilled, there were only a few pieces, and they were covered in a tomato sauce that tasted like it came straight from a can. The pasta was completely cold by the time it reached our table and had no flavor. We did our best with salt and pepper, but it was like eating cold noodles in an unknown sauce. The risotto was also cold and lacked flavor. I was more offended by the cold pasta, but the risotto had only a handful of pieces that tasted like shredded prawns. For these prices, I expect food that’s not only good but also nourishing. I left hungry and disappointed. I didn’t even want to finish the food in front of me, but I did because I was paying for it. This meal was beyond pitiful; a bag of frozen ravioli and bottled Parmesan would have been ten times better. I’m not usually critical of service, but they weren’t very kind given the price of the food, and everything came out fairly late. I don’t know what they’re doing in their kitchen, but DO NOT waste your money here.

We booked this restaurant for a NYE dinner with a group of 6. The food was good but service was the worst I’ve ever experienced in my 35 years in New York. They rushed us out at 8pm and packed our desserts to go to give to the table to someone else. I understand it’s a timed dinner but manage your service better then! There was a mistake with one of the dishes that delayed their own service. You cannot charge a table $1,000 for a 3 course meal and then only serve 2, mismanage your timing, give no heads up on timing and then haphazardly pack the 3rd dish to go and rush us all out. Right before this, our waiter said we can stay if we “eat fast” but then the owner packed the dessert anyway. When we pushed back, he was extremely rude and unprofessional. Other staff were okay but not a single waiter smiled, explained any dishes or treated us with the least bit of hospitality. I cannot recommend dining here given our experience.

Avoid like the plague My wife, son (26) and I got there 10 min before our 6:00 reservation. It was 85+ degrees and restaurant was empty but they made us wait outside until 6:00. We went in at 6 and sat down. The website says upscale Italian, so I had a collared shirt on and my wife dressed up. Didn’t know they would let people in with backpacks and hoodies and shorts and flip-flops. I guess their definition of upscale and mine are two different things. Got to asking for our drink order and they did not have Heineken Zero or and NA beer (had to drive back to LI). Menu laid out nicely but very limited main course meals or proteins. My wife and son ordered the slow roasted pork and it came out raw. The waiter insisted that it was cooked, but it was not. Now here is the fun part, starting about 10 minutes into it. There were a few ants crawling on the wall behind my wife. A few minutes later there was one on my son‘s face, one of my wife’s arm. The staff insisted that it was just one fly. There were ants all over the place. I had a pasta dish as my second chorus. Caccio Pepe came out ice cold, but I was starving so I ate it. The best part of my meal was my double espresso and tiramisu, but I don’t know if it was cause it was the end and we were going home or it was actually good. And all of that misery a $600+ meal. I will never be going back and I’m pretty sure the average pizza place in Brooklyn has better food than this place. STAY AWAY. Will be calling the NYC Department of Health and filing a complaint.

Great ambience but terrible food. Every pasta we ordered had an insane amount of salt to the extent that we were not able to finish any of it. Even on the bread, they put so much salt that we could not get a palate cleanser. Our server was also rather rude to us. On a Friday night, they had 1 server serving 20 tables, he barely showed up and had a very stiff attitude. When one of the managers came to check in on us and realized that I had barely eaten my pasta, he ended up explaining to me that that’s how Cacio E Pepe is made :) Never going there again

I have never seen my kid take and one bite of pasta and push the plate away. On tasting my bowl, she was correct, the pasta was inedible. Then I noticed that the other 4 people at the table did not eat their pasta as well. $500 dinner, and we had to get dinner after. But the restaurant looks cool and the staff was nice. One tip for staff. If nobody eats the food served (90% of food still in all the bowls,), you might want to ask if it is ok.

This place is absolutely horrific. To spend $160 on pasta and a pork loin for the quality given is a travesty. Pork was hammered and overcooked, anchiovy pasta was rancid and tasted like fish left out for 5 days, and bambolino (donut with Nutella) was like chewing on cardboard. I rarely write reviews, but this place is absolute garbage. Absolute embarrassment.

Went here for Restaurant week. Portions were ridiculously small compared to other restaurants we tried that week! Not money worth for sure! We were greeted by lovely front of the house, however as soon as we chose the Restaurant Week menu staff was very disinterested in us and presented us quickly with the bill/check without asking if we wanted a coffee or anything else. We went to have Pizza afterwards as the whole of the meal felt like an appetiser.

Christopher Boettger

We went to Antica Pesa after having two unforgettable dinners at Pierluigi’s in Rome years ago. We wanted to celebrate a special Birthday for our good friend turning 70. Thought this would be a great place to take him. Even told the person when making the reservation of the special occasion and it was totally ignored. Unfortunately we were very disappointed. We arrived when they opened at 6:00. The waiter was sharp and not at all friendly. He quickly asked for our order. We requested to order drinks first as we wanted to relax and read the menu. Our drinks arrived not as ordered (and found out later were ridiculously priced for the small drinks). After getting our drinks the waiter once again immediately asked to submit our order. Found it to be rushed. Our first course arrived and was ok ( filo baked buffalo mozzarella). Mozzarella was cold inside. The second course also was paced well after. Then we waited and waited for our entrees When it finally came out the porterhouse was over cooked. (Requested medium rare) and it was tough and tasteless. Told our waiter and he apologized. Our plates sat for a while before being clearer after waiting another 10-15 minutes he came by and offered coffee but no dessert menu for the rest of the party. Two of us got the 4 course inclusive which included dessert (which waiter needed that order at the beginning of the evening) Coffee came w no sugar or milk. That took 10 minutes to get. Once again no dessert was offered After 30 minutes and we finally got the two desserts (cannolis) which were soggy, I couldn’t even eat mine. Again we needed to wave down the waiter for the check. Now having been there for hours, he apologized for the porterhouse and took it off the check. We were appreciative of that. But it was not the only problem, The service, food and drinks overall was very disappointing and over priced. I was so disappointed and embarrassed as I picked it for this special occasion. And after spending over $500.00 ( that’s with the $155.00 porterhouse was taken off) we all walked out angry. Not what experienced in Rome. I cannot recommend this place and will not recommend or return.