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All Reader Reviews of...

Il Gattopardo

33 W. 54th St., New York, NY, 10019
nr. Fifth Ave.
212-246-0412

Avg. Rating

8
Food: 8
Service: 8
Décor: 8
"Recommended"

Average Reader Rating on a Scale of 10.

75% would go back.

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Disappointed after reading all the rave reviews..

By newyorkfood on 11/17/2011

  • Overall Rating: 5
  • Food: 5
  • Service: 5
  • Décor: 8
  • No, I would not go back!

Real shame as the location is fancy and cute set in a lower ground level.. We had Lingutte with clams. The clams tasted old and the shell was half broken in the pasta. This dish is normally made with FRESH pasta or at least that's how the two best places I've had it (Olivetti in sw1 London and da Paulo) made it. Not here though. They don't have the time it would seem. They are more interested in slotting you in serving it up and seeing you out...very conveyer belt and no focus on quality. The pasta is tasteless. More Italian ingredients and fewer Indian ones in the rigatoni with sausage (red chillies!!). Also -Dear Sirs, if someone leaves their plate untouched you ought to at least enquire why?? And- if you cannot be bothered then fine, but at least don't presume to giving the customer your desert menu immediately after. My partner mentioned that the dish was too spicy but suddenly the waiter became deaf... Really not sure how this place has made it into the charts..arrivIderci? I don't think so..

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21 out of 47 people found this review helpful.

Great authentic italian!

By jsn4814 on 9/7/2011

  • Overall Rating: 9
  • Food: 9
  • Service: 9
  • Décor: 7
  • Yes, I would go back!

I visited Il Gattopardo upon the recommendation of a friend, and it did not disappoint! The food was the most authentic Italian meal I've had eating out. I got the Straccetti Pasta with three meat ragu, and the sauce tasted exactly like the sauce my grandparent's from Italy have always made. The service was great too. They had to move our table to use it for a bigger party, but they immediately brought us over free desserts to make up for it. I will definitely be back for more!

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23 out of 44 people found this review helpful.

Bellissimo!

By NiklasFlyckt on 11/4/2010

  • Overall Rating: 10
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 10
  • Décor: 10
  • Yes, I would go back!

Me and my family had one truly memorable dinner at Il Gattopardo tonight. It was absolutely delicious, I lack words to describe the food, the treatment from the staff and the warmth in the restaurant. The easy but well combined flavors of the food along with the delicate wine we were proposed made our dinner to on of the best we've ever had. Thank you! /Niklas Flyckt along with family.

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34 out of 61 people found this review helpful.

"Simply" the best

By GS4A on 1/8/2010

  • Overall Rating: 10
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 10
  • Décor: 9
  • Yes, I would go back!

Simple elegance, great authentic southern Italian cuisine, in my opinion the best outside of Italy. All the ingredients are very fresh and carefully chosen. I was very impressed with the home made pastas, but the entire menu is made of simple and very tasty dishes. The service is impeccable and the wine list very exciting! Love the romantic little garden at the back. Il Gattopardo is that kind of place that makes you feel special and pampered, and you'll want to return with your friends or with a date, they'll be impressed! By the way, I simply love the Sicilian cassata, the best dessert I've ever tried.

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51 out of 102 people found this review helpful.

nice spot

By kspampata on 4/30/2009

  • Overall Rating: 8
  • Food: 8
  • Service: 8
  • Décor: 8
  • Yes, I would go back!

The service is very good along with the food. We had pumpkin ravioli with walnut sauce, veal scallopini and shared the cassata cake. GET THE CASSATA CAKE! It was the best.

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59 out of 113 people found this review helpful.

amazing food

By vitos on 1/16/2009

  • Overall Rating: 9
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 9
  • Décor: 8
  • Yes, I would go back!

Il gattopardo met all my expectation from the food to service. Is menu from southern of Italy, with a lot of good chose I eat several time at il gattopardo and i never had a bad dish My favorite dishes are the pastas are divine. The main corse are not less like the fish on the bone are exceptionally good.

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54 out of 105 people found this review helpful.

LOVE this place.

By lbc on 1/8/2009

  • Overall Rating: 10
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 10
  • Décor: 9
  • Yes, I would go back!

I lived in Italy for many years and have high expectations of what my Italian food tastes like, and Gattopardo exceeds expectations on every level. Every bite, from the fresh mozzarella to the homemade pasta to the most amazing mascarpone semifreddo (this has become my favorite dessert ever), melts in your mouth. Plus, the service is excellent--everyone is really warm and attentive.

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79 out of 138 people found this review helpful.

simple and elegant

By eduardosorrentino on 1/8/2009

  • Overall Rating: 10
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 10
  • Décor: 10
  • Yes, I would go back!

Located into the the ground floor of a townhouse, just simple and elegant. and serve comfort food, but with an upscale twist that makes them contemporary and home-cooking. The cabbage-wrapped meatballs are light, juicy and rich. Don't leave Il Gattopardo without tasting them. Parmigiana of zucchini is so simple but so tasty, with the smoky provola. And the Baccala' with black olives and potatoes in a fresh and rich tomato sauce. The all Italian extensive wine list has great choices under $ 50 Very professional waiter can help with menu and wine list

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56 out of 101 people found this review helpful.

What a gem!

By lux34 on 1/8/2009

  • Overall Rating: 10
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 10
  • Décor: 10
  • Yes, I would go back!

I've been there several times, for business lunches and family affairs, and it is a real Italian gem in Manhattan. The atmosphere has an elegant simplicity difficult to find now-days, the authentic Southern Italian food is done with heart using the best ingredients, and the service is superb. I could not recommend more! As a plus, they have a great indoor garden that makes you really feel at home, and the wine list is done with knowledge and it offers great Italian pleasures at a reasonable prices. I highly recommend the fish of the day, ask for the specials, and the great selections of homemade pastas.

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52 out of 109 people found this review helpful.

Critics Pick?-Go again.....

By Aubergine27 on 12/2/2007

  • Overall Rating: 3
  • Food: 3
  • Service: 3
  • Décor: 6
  • No, I would not go back!

The leopard may have spots ( gatto pardo) but its more like the emperor has no clothes. The (famous?) meatballs were served with no sauce- no pepper offered- just bland. The frisee salad was bitter, limp and lacking interest-dressing was pedestrian. The risotto was served white on white-and watch out...the shaved truffles on top are a secret sum of $120! Service was poor, waited 10 minutes to order a glass of wine,waiter first comes back with a menu-I say -please come back in 2 minutes-he disappears for another 10. ( Granted it was a Saturday- pre-theater packed)The whole fish was shown beautifully, and returned filleted- but again - a wallflower. If you did want a grind of pepper- forget it- the staff was not scanning for eye contact.There was zero , no make that negative incentive to stay for a dessert. Really great menu but the reality- a regrettable meal.Oh, do you like weaving through a neutral train car with angled mirrors?{the space}

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78 out of 172 people found this review helpful.

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