Emilios Ballato

A classic red sauce Italian spot with soul warming dishes All dishes are recognizable and sizable in a cozy dining room (you will become friends with your table neighbors) so definitely recommend trying. Do I think this restaurant is worth a 3 hour wait? No. But do I think it's worth having a 5pm dinner when you are seated right away? 100%

What ever you heard or read is true. We walk in and the owner was sitting right there at the front right table.Cool place to look around and see pictures of famous people whom have visited for a meal.The food was very good to delicious. Fried zucchini was good, a bit oily. Wife got sausage and broccoli. For me the broccoli was too bitter. I don't know if they are supposed to be that way. I got their chicken parmigiana. This was delicious. We also got their spaghetti marinara, this is ridiculously over priced for what you get.

I don't too much reviews although am a frequent yelp user. But this restaurant more than deserves my review.It was such an underwhelming and complete waste of your time, money, and stomach space to eat there.The food is basically overpriced very average Italian restaurant at the level of Olive Garden.But the crème de crème is the horrible service they provide. No wonder they have a line outside since they're dealing with unprofessional waiters with bad attitude slow service. The even had the gall to add 25% gratuity on the check.I'm one to give a restaurant the benefit of the doubt that it may be a bad day for them. But really I think this is the norm for this restaurant that got famous simply on being on tv and not because of their food and service.You've been warned....

If you're craving authentic Italian food, this place is a must-visit! It truly feels like you've been transported straight to Italy . By far, the best Italian restaurant I've ever been to. The Cacio e Pepe is absolutely phenomenal, and the Chicken Parmesan is a classic done to perfection. Don't miss the Vodka Penne--it's a standout! The service was top-notch; our server checked in frequently to ensure we were well taken care of and enjoying our meal. This will definitely be my go-to spot whenever I'm in NYC. Huge thanks to Emilos for such an unforgettable experience! Highly recommend checking out the wall of celebrity photos too--such a fun touch! 10/10.

It's good for sure but I'm not sure it's stand out in line for an hour good. The penne I got was pretty solid but really nothing to write home about. I will say the ravioli ricotta does this place justice - it is quite delicious! The entry process is kind of weird: you ring a doorbell to be let in, but that's really just their way of crowd control. Service is pretty barebones which i like; i'm here to eat good food and that's it!

Finally crossed Ballato's off the list - honestly, I should have gone years ago before it was this hyped; then again, they've never been known for the food so I didn't make it a priority. My boyfriend and I got in line at 5:30 PM on a Thursday and sat at 6:12 PM. We had glasses of the house red and shared:+ Chicken parm - really nice and crispy, would get this again + Caesar salad - solid+ Spaghetti and meatballs - great+ Tiramisu - tastyFood was overall good, if a little salty. You can do much better for Italian in this town, but everyone should come here at least once, just for the experience. Service was great. 3.5 stars for the food, but the ambiance and history brings it to a 4.

The interior of Emilio's Ballato is super cool and very unique, giving the place a distinct charm that sets it apart. Luckily, there was no wait when we arrived, so we were seated immediately. Otherwise, you usually need to book a reservation. My sister has always raved about this place, particularly their free bread, which did not disappoint and was the highlight of our visit. The bread was super chewy with the perfect texture, tasting fresh out of the oven.We ordered the Chicken Parmesan and Calamari. Both dishes were pretty standard, with decent portions. Nothing particularly about the entrees stood out to me. The three of us--my mom, my sister, and I--shared the two entrees, and it was more than enough for us.A tip: definitely fill up on the free bread! It's worth the visit alone.

I just woke up thinking about the tagliatelle bolognese I had last night. Emilio's is one of the best if not the best red sauce Italian restaurants in NYC. It was Saturday night during fashion week soni knew the wait was gonna be long . It was an hour and a half but would've been shorter if not for the models, regulars and friends who were able to walk in. Emilio sr always seated in front managing the line his son and wife managing the inside all fantastic friendly people It was my brothers birthday and a patron seated next to us overheard and sent over a slice of tiramisu and a candle. Now to the food The bread - warm and amazing when dipped in that olive oil Baked clams- great , not soggy or mushy fresh Spaghetti and meatballs- one of the best I've ever had Tagliatelle bolognese- read the first line of my review , yes it was that good A great experience can't wait to g

Loved the old school ambience.We asked if they would make Cacio e Pepe and they did.It was better than what we had in Italy. Simple dish but easy to not get right.We would definitely come here again.

As advertised food and service wereAMAZING, get there at 5p when restaurant opens to secure a table, worth the wait ..