Celeste

A delicious meal with the family! The place is pretty small but you can have a great meal with a large party (just make sure you make a reservation). It is cash only but well worth having the paper money on me. Everything I tried was really good. I recommend the vermicelli clam pasta dish. That was my favorite. The lasagna tasted like my grandma made it. And the prosciutto pizza was a memorable one. We also had a great Pinot Rose wine that paired well with the dishes. The owner and staff were around and made my family feel very welcomed. Ill be returning. I can eat that clam vermicelli pasta everyday 😋.

Very good food! It’s definitely over a 4 but not a 4.7.The pizza and Pasta were delicious but the place itself needs a little TLC as it was run down and not the cleanest.

Food 5/10So many people have raved about this hidden gem on the UWS. I checked it out for a friend’s birthday, and unfortunately the only thing I enjoyed was the tiramisu, which was actually super solid. The vongole was quite bland, lacked bounce, and the clams did not taste very fresh. The quattro pizza was also quite dry and brick hard, not particularly appetizing.Atmosphere 6/10Seating was a bit cramped and it was also quite hot inside.Service 7/10Cash only! Very friendly home-style service.

Tasty authentic Italian cuisine. Owner was attentive. For nyc, very affordable and reasonable. Portions made you feel satisfied and not over full which was great. Cash only, so be prepared.

Easily the best Italian food on the UWS. Pasta is freshly made and the specials are constantly changing, so theres always something new to enjoy. The owner makes sure to greet everyone and check up on the customers. Cash only.

The food is amazing in Celeste. The owner is very friendly. The staff are attentive. We loved how the steak was cooked perfectly and with a good portion size. The fish was delicious. The pizza was unique, unlike other pizzas that we could have in other places. My husband liked the tiramisu (I am a picky tiramisu critic :P ). Make sure to bring cash because it’s Cash only.

The food here was incredible, I really loved the Sea Bass Filet, and the sides it came with really filled me up. The staff were very attentive and friendly, and the owner walked around greeting people. We also got an appetizer of fried artichoke, and the bread starter was delicious, Im going to remember that bread until my death bed. Also, I loved that the online menu has a picture of almost every dish, and that really helped me decide on what to order as an indecisive person.

Unfortunately I had a mediocre experience. The food was fair, not outstanding. Service was lacking at times, and the furniture and atmosphere left something to be desired.

Food was great! Best pizza sauce I’ve ever had. The ravioli was delicious and decadent. The pistachio cake special was the cherry on top. A true Italian experience on the Upper West Side.Anastasia had the best recommendations and was perfect for adding to the experience. Would recommend to anyone visiting or in the city!

Food was so good and fresh, with excellent daily specials and dessert that is to die for. We love this (cash-only) neighborhood spot. Our server, Anastasia, was fantastic as well.

I’ve been coming to Celeste with my family for nearly two decades. I have countless memories here sharing delicious meals with family and friends and it never gets old! The spinach salad is so simple yet so unbelievably good. The vermicelli and clams is the best I’ve ever had and Carmine always recommends the best bottle of wine. If you’re questioning whether to try this local hidden gem, make the reservation 100% and tell them the family from Connecticut sent you. Thank you Celeste for a short lifetime of wonderful meals and memories.

Incredible meal at Celeste. I ordered the tagliatelle and it was amazing. The panna cotta was very good as well.Amazing service as well. Anastasia took very good care of us - including on-point recommendations and a friendly energy.Looking forward to coming back on a future visit to NYC!

Roberto was a spectacular server. We had the mussels and the beef bolognese which were both delicious. Highly recommend to try if you have cash on hand.

We love Celeste! We always come back for the clam pasta and desserts ♥️ Steffano was our waiter. He was charming and attentive!

Stopped in for a quick bite to get out of the 100 degree heat index. First time at Celeste and it was outstanding, authentic Italian.Ordered the Margherita pizza and a glass of Pinot Grigio. Pizza was fantastic and very flavorful. The complimentary basket of focaccia bread and olive oil was warm and super tasty. Next time we’re in NYC we’ll be sure to stop again.

Absolutely amazing experience. My friends and I had Italian food in fanciest Italian restaurants around the city and they were nothing like the food at this place. At Celeste’s we had fresh made pasta, high quality ingredients, and everything was absolutely delicious! We had four cheese pizza, bolognese pasta and tomato sauce gnocchi. For desert we had apple cake and it was just like grandma’s. This was one of the best Italian restaurants I’ve ever been, too!Thank you, Carmine and team!

I just had the most amazing meal tonight. The staff was so friendly and attentive. This place has such an awesome neighborhood vibe. Absolutely awesome. Amazing wine list the food is incredible. The owner Carmine was so delightful. He knew everyone that walked through the door and added such a wonderful touch to the place. The scallops and the stuffed squash blossoms are to die for. I will definitely be back.

Wow what FUN aND wonderful dining experience. Anastasia, the manager, was attentive and made sure everything was perfect throughout our meal. The ambiance of the restaurant was cozythe lamb ravioli and the chicken liver in balsamic sauce where simply AMAZING.THANK YOU I WILL MOST DEFINITELY BE BACK

Food is very yummy ，price is good match with food，recommend Margherita pizza！！！its so good

Incredible intimate and authentic italian spot serving fresh pasta. Was a big fan of the lobster ravioli and pistachio gelato brought in from Italy. Great wine for the price as well.

Went today. Already love this place. Ordered the ravioli and the magarita pizza. Loved it. I think it was the owner who was like taking care of us all the time and the others in the restaurant. Enjoyed it. I think would highly recommend this place to visit to everyone who is interested to enjoy some nice italian food in the upper west side.

The best Italian food in town! Highly recommended, Anastasia was our server and she was wonderful and very friendly 😊 the food was amazing and we didn’t have to wait long even though it was full.Great authentic Italian restaurant in town!

Chill and down to earth place with great food, friendly staff, and timely service. I especially recommend the clam vermicelli, aromatic with seafood flavors and fresh ingredients without overpowering butter flavor like many other clam vermicelli.The apple pie dessert was also wonderful in flavor and texture. Bouncy, sweet and soft apple with yogurt glaze that compliments it perfectly.Loved the Quattro stagioni pizza as well!

Mid! Pasta was overcooked and not al dente, pizza was not good (not Neapolitan-style, it was cracker-like in a bad way), tables were uncomfortably packed, vibes were off, overall confused by the current rating.If you want authentic Neapolitan food, go to Song’e Napule just a few blocks south.

Omg, one of the best Italian restaurants in NYC! Every dish I tried was so flavorful. All the employees were incredibly polite and attentive. Especially the manager, Anastasia—she was the absolute best!

The food was average but the service was creepy….the waiters were ok, but there was a guy in a gray jacket( idk if he was an owner or a host) who was standing right next to my table (and the tables are located in an arm length) talking to other couple for an hour or so. Than he would leave and come back again. It was so annoying, I would never come back. If you want privacy or social distance- this is not a place to dine.

Decent place to grab dinner. Seating is very tight and cramped. Service staff isn’t very friendly.Enjoyed the calamari and tagliatelle. Expected more of the lamb rack.

We have been frequent customers of Celeste over the years, but hadn’t been in about 9-12 months.We just went this evening and I must say the food was as good if not better than our meals when we’re were in Italy for 3 weeks in October of last year.You must try the specials menu (using the QR Code). Tonight we had the swordfish carpaccio excellent (sorry no photo of this one). I had the lasagna which was as good as any that I had in Northern Italy. My wife had the ravioli with burrata and Sicilian tomatoes and we finished with the blood orange sorbet with balsamic and strawberries.The flavors were so fantastic that it was one of my best meals in the past year or two…Cash only, but worth a visit and ask Carmine to recommend a wine you won’t be disappointed.

So wanted to love this place as it was recommended to us by some locals. Went on a Saturday afternoon, unfortunately they had a limited brunch menu. The lasagna we had was amazing, put the pizza was horrible. It wasn’t done at all. Ate a slice and took the rest to go.

Very authentic local Italian restaurant on the UWS. The food was okay, but the vegetarian-only options we ordered weren’t great.Since it’s cash-only it turns out to be quite reasonably priced for a Manhattan restaurant.

Wow, this was awesome. I just got back from 2 weeks in Italy and this rivaled any meal I had there. Incredible food and comfortable, understated environment. Highly recommend!

I came here after so many years... Its still one of the best Italian restaurant in nyc! Food is great. Service is attentive. Atmosphere is friendly. Make sure you check the special menu (scan a qr code at the restaurant... Its worth it!). Tiramisù was excellent. Unfortunately, its cash only...

If you’re searching for an authentic Italian dining experience in New York City, look no further than Celeste. This cozy Upper West Side gem delivers everything you could want in a traditional Italian restaurant—warm hospitality, impeccable flavors, and a true taste of Italy.The menu at Celeste is a celebration of simplicity done right, with each dish showcasing high-quality ingredients and expert craftsmanship. The pizza is a standout, with a perfectly crisp yet chewy crust, fresh toppings, and just the right amount of char from the wood-fired oven. Their homemade pasta is nothing short of sublime, with options like the cacio e pepe and gnocchi that transport you straight to Rome. And don’t skip the burrata—it’s impossibly creamy and pairs beautifully with their house-made bread.Celeste’s wine list is another highlight, featuring an impressive selection of affordable yet exceptional Italian wines. The staff is knowledgeable and eager to recommend the perfect pairing for your meal.The intimate, bustling atmosphere only adds to the charm. While the space is small, it feels like dining at a beloved trattoria.An absolute must-visit for Italian food lovers!

I had high hopes for this place given all the high reviews. While the service was adequate and friendly, the food just wasnt very good. I wonder if all the high reviews have something to do with the fact that they give you a free dessert if you leave a review while youre still in the restaurant.The bread served before the meal had a nice rosemary flavor, but a strange gummy texture that was pretty unpleasant.Following the bread, we had spaghetti with white clams sauce and gnocchi with pesto sauce. Both dishes were terribly under-seasoned.The menu said that the gnocchi were homemade, but they tasted like they were out of a box and the texture was rubbery. The sauce on the gnocchi was not the fresh, robust, herby flavor that I expected.The spaghetti dish was just bad. It was just a pile of spaghetti with a dozen tough clams in the shell with no real sauce, flavor, or seasoning.I cannot recommend this place.

Fresh homemade pasta and traditional Italian food served in a casual, cozy ambience. Popular neighborhood Italian restaurant on the Upper West Side that is known for its warm and casual atmosphere. Offering a variety of traditional Italian dishes, chicken Parmesan is a favorite. They don’t take reservations and it’s cash only always crowded, the food is worth the wait.

I’ve been to Celeste many times. A cozy neighborhood favorite. The food and service are excellent. As someone who spends months in Tuscany, the authenticity and commitment to Tuscan and Sicilian fare has great appeal. A broad menu is offered here with many options of beef, veal, fish, seafood, fresh vegetable, salads, pastas and pizza. There is also a select small fried list a la Sicilian favorites. Everything is prepared with care. The list of ‘specials’ each evening are as long as the actual menu options because the owner and chefs are working with the freshest of ingredients. Celeste is an Upper West restaurant that is a neighborhood favorite and a ‘must’ for a visit. A note: cash only!

The food was delicious but our incredible waitress Anastasia was the best part of our experience! She was so genuinely kind and attentive, made sure we were taken care of and helped explain all of the menu options with our (many) food allergies. Would absolutely recommend for the amazing food, and above and beyond service!

I’ll give it 5 for the friendliness of the owner and the staff. And the food is pretty damn good too. It’s your quintessential local Italian joint with fresh ingredients coming in from the motherland (trust me the owner tells you!). Veal limone was tops. The truffle focaccia as a starter delicious. Worth sharing a bunch of plates. Wine list is traditional but great options. Great selection of traditional desserts too. Don’t forget to have an amaro on the way out.

Fantastic restaurant! Would go back in a heartbeat.- Service was extremely polite and quick. We were sat immediately on a Friday night, our server Roberto was quick to grab us drinks + food. Checked in with us frequently and made sure everything was good- Food portions were very generous. We both ordered pasta (very fresh and flavorful sauce) and the artichoke heart salad (the lemon and cheese went together perfectly).- The manager/owner came by a few times to really give us a rundown of the menu and make it feel like a personable experience. He talked about how he sourced ingredients and desserts from Italy.Definitely going to come back! One thing to note is that it is cash only, but seriously worth a trip to the ATM (they also have one inside) to eat here. 5/5

What an experience! What a pleasure! What a delight! One word... Amazing ! Food and service were spectacular.. I would recommend Celeste everyone. Many places to pick at Upper west side! and here is the right place. I checked Google and found Celeste. The food was so good, we had a pizza with gorgonzola and sausage, vongole spaghetti ,( my husband’s favorite) gnocchi with pesto sauce with Ligurian style , Sardinian smoked sort fish and the best of the best Lasagna with 4 types of mushrooms with béchamel sauce My God it was amazing! Also we paired all these meals with Montepulciano d’Abruzzo and Cabernet Sauvignon. Company and atmosphere was fun! service was very good. Owner Carmine was making sure that we were good and giving all the food instructions also he knows a lot about wines he even knows when the wines harvested. What a knowledge even In Michelin restaurant they don’t give these experiences! everybody in the place have had fun.My husband is Italian and we have these foods only in Italy we flew from Buffalo and came here to felt like we are in Italy. Briefly, Celeste is made us feel like in home. Far to go back to Italy bur definitely come back here.Thank you

Had an amazing experience dining here with friends! The food was incredible, but the highlight of our evening was the outstanding service from Anastasia. She went above and beyond and recommended fantastic dishes. Her attention to detail and friendly demeanor made the meal even more enjoyable.

An above-average neighborhood restaurant serving solid dishes in large portions without being especially remarkable. No dish impressed or disappointed us. The prices seemed to be somewhat on the cheaper side. The ambiance reflected this: the tables/chairs were cramped and wobbled, while the silverware felt cheap and was wrapped in a paper napkin.All of this makes sense in a more homey, cheaper restaurant, but consider that dishes only cost a few dollars more at one of the acclaimed Italian spots downtown. For those extra few dollars per dish, youll get a much better atmosphere (interior, tableware, furniture, space) and the dishes will all stand out.

Phenomenal, 10/10. My brother (a local) took us (Bostonians) here and we absolutely loved the food! The apple cake and Italian cheesecake were the best desserts.

I ordered their lasagna off the brunch menu and I must say; probably THE BEST lasagna Ive had in my entire life! Very flavorful, rich and well seasoned. Service was amazing. Our server Stefano was very attentive as well as the owner and host of the restaurant. Its a quaint restaurant located on the Upper West Side. Bring cash as it is a cash only eatery.

Went to this place for dinner on a Saturday. The place located in a west side of Manhattan and they take cash only. I ordered fried calamari, pasta, ravioli. The food served at a good temperature. The food taste was good. However, the place was really congested and can be very crowded. Also the tables are sticky.

What a night! Had an amazing time at Celeste celebrating a birthday with the family. The food was incredible and our waitress Anastasia was wonderful. Highly recommend the gnocchi and tagliatelle bolognese. We’ll be back!

By far the best Italian restaurant you’ll find in the neighborhood! Been going here for 15 years now and the tagliatelle never fails me. Carmine is a wonderful owner who will make you feel right at home each and every time you visit.

My family loved our meal here. The fried seasonal vegetables were good. My father was impressed with the margherita pizza. My sister enjoyed the ravioli, and particularly the sage butter sauce it came in. The paccheri dish was delicious, probably my favorite of what we ordered. I was impressed with the texture, considering it was not one of the house-made pastas. Finally, my gnocchi were soft but chewy as they should be, but I was slightly disappointed with the sauce. It was rather plain and could have been more interesting. We felt it was an affordable meal, the bill was less than we expected for a party of 4.

My party arrived to our reservation on time and were seated at least 45 minutes late. We had to wait outside as it was heavily raining for 45 mins. Then, the owner was going to charge us a fee to serve the small birthday cake we brought. We asked that since we had to wait in the rain for 45 mins when we had an indoor reservation, if he could waive the fee. He said no. His reason was because we didn’t call ahead to tell him about the cake. I thought that was rich since I didn’t get a heads up from the restaurant that they seated a party at our table who arrived late to their reservation, making them unable to seat us on time (this is the reason they gave us for why we had to wait to be seated). Fine, we get seated, order our food, and right before they bring out the cake, the waiter comes by to tell us that if four of us leave a good review, they’ll waive the cake serving fee and give us free desserts. I don’t blame the wait staff, because they’re just the messenger. In my opinion, the owner lacked class, explicitly bribing us to make up for what? His lack of empathy for making us wait in the rain for 45 minutes with a reservation. Come here if you like to feel uncomfortable while having a meal with your friends. The food was okay, but certainly not worth the attitude from the owner, who walks around the restaurant the entire time. I didn’t expect anything other than a simple “sorry for the inconvenience”, but didn’t get even that, and got a bribe instead. Weird vibes for sure.

This is the best food and people you will ever experience. It was so could I ate it before I posted a review

Stefano was our server and he was fantastic! Food and service were great!

We ordered Rigatoni alla Norma and Margarita Pizza. Staffs here are friendly and attentive. Our waiter Steffano was very helpful. Enjoyed dinner on Saturday night.

Fabulous west side Italian restaurant. Been coming for years and it’s always first rate. Food is consistently well prepared and specials change with the seasons. Had the day boat scallops tonight as an appetizer and reliable pasta with clams. Interesting wine list with several affordable choices-can’t beat the Barbera! Owner is always on sight and he circulates like your father might. Just fabulous s!

The food was amazing. We got margarita pizza and pennette mo’ mo’ and it changed my life. One of the best meals I’ve had recently. Thank you to our server Roberto for his amazing service, and constantly refilling our water for us. I will be back.

The food was delicious and service was amazing. Our meals came right away and we were taken care of so well. We were checked on several times to make sure everything was going well. Will definitely be back

Our server, Anastasia, was amazing! She is so friendly, caring, and professional. Her wine recommendation was on point! This has been my favorite Italian spot in the neighborhood for many years :)

The food was great but by far our favorite part was our waitress, Anastasia. She took our experience to the next level and is one of the funniest and most accommodating waitresses I’ve ever met. Cannot recommend this place enough!

Great food and service, but cramped even by NYC standards. You neighbor will likely be just as close as others in your party. We really liked the margarita pizza and raviolis. IT IS CASH ONLY! They do have an ATM on site.

This is one of my favorite restaurants in New York City. Homemade Italian cooking. The staff is fantastic the owner, Mr. Carmine Mitroni, is such a welcoming gentleman. The host of the most magnificent party ever. The food is always wonderful. Just exquisite . Whenever I have visitors from out of town, this is where I bring them! It’s the kind of place that we need to hold onto here in Manhattan. They also do a fabulous brunch on weekends. Today, I tried the frittata and it was delicious, along with fresh arugula salad and a classic cappuccino. Not too crowded for brunches, usually. The one refinement Id recommend is for the Sunday brunch music to be a bit more chill. (Today, it had a bit too much disco beat for me.)Thanks to Mr. Mitroni, a true artist.Plus all the staff members-- they are all so great and welcoming.Juan is an especially great ambassador!

Wonderful food and service. we had Anastasia and she was lovely! highly recommend, make reservation to avoid wait. just a classic neighborhood place! high quality food

We waited over an hour for our food to come out - they had 1 server for 28 tables. They brought out some bread after we had been waiting about an hour - the bread was cold and soggy.The white anchovy appetizer was good, and the house-made fresh pasta was as well. The shrimp pasta sauce had a nice flavor, nothing exceptional and a bit oily. The bolognese tasted more like a plain meat sauce - no richness to the flavor at all.Certainly not worth the wait - probably a 3 to 4 star review had the service been acceptable.

I’ve dined here more times than I can count, and it’s well worth the trip from Chinatown in the Lower East Side with my wife and kids. The food is consistently outstanding. The Fritto Misto Di Pesce is a standout, perfectly crispy and flavorful, and the Lasagnetta Di Verdure is always a great choice. While chicken livers aren’t for everyone, here they’re a full meal unto themselves and absolutely delicious. The salads are fresh, vibrant, and have a wonderful citrusy punch. My wife loved the lasagna, and the bolognese is truly extraordinary—some of the best we’ve ever had.Living near Little Italy, we’ve had our fair share of Italian food, but this place blows them all away. This is hands down some of the best and most authentic Italian cuisine you’ll find on the Upper East Side.

Love coming here! Great service by Stefano

The food was spectacular the service was great. Our waiter Roberto was very kind and attentive. Would definitely recommend!

We have been eating there weekly since 2011. delicious authentic food from south of italy. one of our favorite restaurants in the city

I’m reluctant to review because I want to keep this spot as to myself as possible, but it was magnificent. Staff was beyond accommodating and offered wonderful recommendations. It felt as if you were dining in their home. This will enter my new rotation of regular spots!

Absolutely amazing! Best Italian food since I’ve come back from living in Italy. Everything was authentic and the service was very helpful and interactive.

Scallop appetizer was excellent. This is the real thing !! Come here for sure. The owner scared me but I still loved it. Seems to be nice to everybody else. I guess I just didn’t like me.

Great atmosphere and service. It’s cash-only but they have an ATM on premises. I ordered the tagliolini asparagi e gamberi from the special menu and it was good. I wasn’t blown away by this dish, but next time I’ll order from the core menu.

The foods it has sounds amazing and it is. this is the best place ever ! 😍 the food comes nice and warm and makes it so enjoyable 🥰

I was so happy to find the real authentic Italian in UWS where does not serve the disgusting chicken Parmesan.They serve fresh fish dish, the taste is light but flavorful which is so hard to get in most places in the US.Price is affordable. It’s not convenient to not be able to pay by the card, but the food still worth visiting again!!

Celeste is a fantastic neighborhood treat on the Upper West side. The staff and owner are so warm and inviting, and the food is homemade and authentic. Don’t try to get into Rao’s, just go to Celeste!

Couldn’t imagine sitting in this cowshed. 😬😬😬How dumb must you be to think this is could be enjoyable … only in New York 🫤

I’ve lived in New York for many years now, but a friend was visiting and requested we go to a nice Italian dinner before his departure. We found this lovely restaurant and had a fantastic experience. We had apps, bottle of red, pizza and pasta and desert. The service was kind and quick and the ambiance was lively yet not loud. All around a lovely rainy New York evening. Would recommend!

First time visiting Celeste, and I was absolutely blown away. The food was fresh, the food was served very quickly (delivered to our table less than 10 minutes after ordering), and the service was attentive.I was also impressed with the amount of options on the menu—pastas, pizzas, seafood dishes, salads, appetizers, and desserts will leave you wanting to try a lot of different things, but I don’t think you can go wrong. I’ll definitely be back!

This is the best Italian restaurant in Manhattan for those seeking a true Italian, home environment with top-notch food and service. Everything is hand made from scratch and every ingredient is hand picked by the owner. It truly shows in the taste and flavor. The service is unparalleled, even for NY standards. The pasta and pizza are equivalent to Italy and the ingredients are the best of quality all around. I’d also highly recommend the octopus salad and lemon - sage - olive oil sorbet. It’s a perfect pallet cleanser. The server made a recommendation on wine based on all our preferences and he was spot on - paired perfectly with our food. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw the bill - food is incredibly priced. Can’t recommend a restaurant highly enough 11/10 stars.

I ate volgole pasta. Its so delicious.

So delicious! Just as amazing as I remember from the last time I was here, 15+ years ago. Thank you for gluten-free options so I could have my favorite pasta, spaghetti con vongole. The watermelon salad was to die for. The aperol spritz was perfect.So excited to try the lemon sage sorbet.Thank you for a wonderful dinner! Can’t wait to come back.

Delicious bolognese. Appetizers were phenomenal. Pizza was the best. Sauce on the pizza was main character

Great service! Stefano took great care of us. Highly recommend the vongole pasta. Cash only! Amazing deals on desserts!

Tried their Restaurant Week brunch menu - delicious food with big portions. I had the ricotta for starters (really yum!) and vermicelli w/ clams was equally delicious with its light creamy sauce. Forgot to take photos, but an empty plate is proof I enjoyed my meal.

Food was amazing and our waiter Stefano was great!

Wow! Some of the most authentic Italian cuisine youll find anywhere in the city. The bread, pasta -- everything is amazing.

Two words: horrific service. The manager was very rude from the moment we walked in and ended the night with an idiotic joke about how women dont listen (sorry i didnt hear you mumble cash only.) Pasta is extremely mid to deal with service like that -- i will personally never go back!

Small space- but the food is amazing. Italian food you want in NYC. The restaurant is tight, but so worth the small space. Our waitress was funny, kind and gave great recommendations.

Anastasia was the best server I’ve ever had! So kind, so friendly, and gave the most incredible server. She was amazing!

Great quality food and good value. Unpretentious and delicious. Loved the outdoor seating option as well

Anastasia was a gracious host and waitress. She recommended the halibut which was spectacular. Everything tasted fresh and savory. I can’t wait to come back and try one of those pasta dishes. You will not be disappointed.

Anastasia was the best waitress ever! She was attentive, polite, hilarious - and made great suggestions. Such a privilege being served by her at such a lovely restaurant. 10/10 recommend :)

Anastasia is the best! Provided excellent food and drink recommendations. 1000% would come back for more of her great recommendations.

The food was delicious! Great service and a really nice owner. Our server roberto was amazing! We felt really welcomed unlike some restaurants in new york.

Great experience. Anastasia is the best; we loved chatting with her about wine and had so much fun! We will definitely be back!

The food was absolutely delicious, for this being my first time I was blown away! Service was exceptional and I had the wonderful Anastasia who made the night soo fun, I will definitely be back!

Food was amazing and Esteffano was the best. Will definitely come back again!!

Not sure how this was top rated. I had a personal pizza which was mediocre at best, soggy, no flavor.Wife had pasta, also had no flavor. In a city with great food this is not bad, but not good

I really like this restaurant. Makes me feel like I’m experiencing a bit of Italy. The Tagliatelle bolognese is excellent and so is the octopus and the gnocchi al pesto. Also highly recommend the crustini.

SteffanoThe food here was amazing and the servers were attentive. I enjoyed the watermelon salad and prosciutto pizza. The pizza was very filling and fresh.

The food was really good and Roberto served us amazingly !! We felt very welcome and this was the best restaurant in NYC we have been so far.

Great food! We especially enjoyed the clam pasta, honourable mention to the lamb and potatoes as well. Will 100% come back. Shoutout to Stefano, awesome hospitality!

Amazing service from Anastasia !! She recommended an incredible white wine and appetizer as well as dessert. I had the scallops and lemon sage sorbet which were to die. The vegan pizza was extremely fresh with the vegetables and sauce. And the artichoke was incredible with the crispy parsley on top. Addicting ! To top it off the post dinner espresso was just right.

Nice egg noodle with shrimp. And they have great dessert.

Me and my friend had an amazing experience tonight. Our waiter Stephano was very attentive and our food was outstanding. The owner and the atmosphere were top notch, highly recommend visiting this place.

The most delicious Italian! This place is absolutely fantastic and the owner, Carmine, makes you feel like a member of the family.

Food was amazing! had the salmon with potatoes and sauteed spinach and it was delicious. will definitely be back!

Food is so good staffs are really nice and helpful definitely come back again. Highly recommended. Btw its cash only

Simply the best restaurant restaurant on the upper west, if not all of Manhattan. Basically moved here to eat here more often. Carmine is a fantastic owner and is super engaging. Anastasia is the best server! She is so friendly and has real relationships with the customers whether regulars or one-timers. Love this place.

Small and cozy place in UWS, perfect for having dinner but tends to be a bit loud. We went for pizzas and they were good, the only thing that got us short was that they only accept cash. Staff should warn that in advance!

Delicious fresh pasta. We’ve been coming here for decades, same owner super friendly and family friendly. Will be back!

One of my favorites in the city. Cash only. Delicious wholesome food. Good staff and owner. Do recommend

Fresh pasta — nice textureVery kind and attentive waitress and ownerCash-only

A bit pricey but we always had excellent meals. Wood oven pizzas are the best.

Really nice place, with very homely vibes. Would recomend. I had mushroon pasta and it was lovely.

Great food and very quick service! Thank you, Anastasia!!

The food is outstanding! Spirited atmosphere and brisk service. Love this place.

Super yummy pasta I’ve been here twice now and I reccommend the bolognese and Raviolio di ricotta. Great and attentive service. Do yourself and favor and come try this place out!

Came here for brunch, pizza pasta was amazing!! Kind and very responsive staff.

Amazing food in a beautiful restaurant. We had the truffle spinach raviolis and a pizza with zucchini and red pepper—I highly recommend both!

Super cute place! Cash only and friendly vibe. Very tight space but yummy food! Recommend! Look at those EMPTY plates

Very yummy food! The vibe is just like Rome. Intimate family vibes and everyone looked happy. Wine was so good!!

Best bolognese lasagna Ive ever had and great service. Staff is very informative of the menu and offered great specials!

Our favorite local place for years -- and actually one I would travel to if I lived outside the neighborhood. We recently hosted a private event and it was like having the best possible dinner party. So much delicious food, friendly and caring service and an owner, Carmine, who is an excellent host with wide-ranging expertise in the food and wine of his native Italy!

Good is fantastic. Proprietor is very friendly and happy to explain the dishes in detail and from where he sources ingredients. Worth a stop! I will be back

What a gem! The perfect neighborhood restaurant—wonderful service, delicious homemade, authentic Italian food, unpretentious atmosphere. We loved everything about Celeste and look forward to returning soon!

The high reviews are all fake! They offered me free dessert for 5 star review, but my conscience won’t do. The food was way too bland.

Excellent dinner in cosy atmosphere.great service.real italian food.the boss is italian himself.

The food was great, the entrees, pizzas and pastas were all amazing. Overall, it was a great experience.

We loved our time at Celeste. The food was great. We got the calamari appetizer and it was fantastic. Then we split the ravioli and the chicken, the almond crust on the chicken was delicious and the ravioli was clearly hand made. Love this place!

They must have a crew of nonnas in the kitchen here because this food tastes like a New Yorker’s childhood. Hospitable and charismatic, from the host to our server- the true energy of an authentic Italian restaurant. Ask for Anastasia when you come in if you want to have an amazing dinner, couldn’t ask for a better time for a memorable evening between close friends.

Anastasia made our night - truly a taste of Italy, the most fun, beautiful!!! We love Celeste. QUEEN STATUS!!!!!!!! 🫶🫶🫶😾🫶🫶

Pizza and gnocchi were fantastic. Some of the best Italian food Ive ever had.

Amazing service by Anastasia.. extremely friendly and great recommendations by her.

Love this place! Nice place to chill and have good Italian food! The waiter called Stefano was nice!

Delicious and authentic!! The ravioli as light as a cloud. Can’t wait to come back!!

Anastasia is a delightful waitress! She is the best! We had a great meal at Celeste and highly recommend it!

We had our wedding reception here (60 people) and could not have been happier! Celeste is the absolute best. Carmine (the owner) stayed in constant communication and managed everything beautifully, from the ambiance to the incredible menu. The food was perfect and the staff was amazing as well. Thank you!

Best Italian place in Upper West Side. The pasta is handmade and fresh. Service is nice and our server, Roberto, was very attentive! Their wine pours are very generous hehe :)

This is the best restaurant in Manhattan. This is an UWS gem. This is my second time here and I have had a fantastic dinner and brunch. The food and atmosphere is a must experience.

Anastasia our server is amazing and has a big smile and Italian sense of humour! The food is also excellent. We had mussels, salad, bottarga pasta and veal limone. The grumpy Italian chef also had some charm. We will be back!

Our experience at Celeste was nothing short of phenomenal. They held our table for us when we were running late, and the service for the remainder of our experience was wonderful. Ask for Stefano as your server! He was extremely knowledgeable about the menu and made sure we had a great night out in New York City.

Very good food, Service was very friendly, can be hot in the restaurant when busy due to tight seating. Stefano was a wonderful waiter.

Pizza is a nice thin crust. Thank you Steffano for recommending the clam pasta with chili oil, a very nice touch. Service was great!

This restaurant experience was very memorable. I went with my daughter for Mother’s Day, dinner and the food was definitely a highlight. I got the salmon and my daughter got the bolognese and both were absolutely delightful. They were all very flavorful. The service was also fabulous and Stefano, Our server gave us all the tips on the right thing to order and the right deserts and had a great attitude. we loved him. But it is definitely very cozy. And a real New York experience because you make friends with your neighboring diners.

Amazing authentic Italian cuisine in the Upper West Side, with incredible service from Roberto and Carmine. The tagliatelle bolognese was phenomenal, with both quantity and quality assured. Will be visiting again soon!

The pizza was subpar by NYC standards. And expensive. If you’re a tourist you might like it. I mean, it wasn’t the worst, but you can’t compare it to NY slices. It isn’t one. Otherwise….Cozy atmosphere, excellent service, owner is present and attentive. I do appreciate that. I’ll go back and try their other dishes, which looked delicious. And they source fresh ingredients. Cash only though! Oh, and they give free deserts for posting a review

Roberto was our server he served us like a part of his family.The food was like from the heart of italy. I recomend this place for every one.

Such a great meal! Italian classics, no penne a la vodka or fettuccine alfredo. Anastasia took care of us all night and offered her extra shirt to one of us who was all wet from the summer humidity

This was our second experience and it was AMAZING as always! The owner was warm and welcoming and the vibe so cozy! The pizza, pasta and Lasagna were ALL beyond amazing! There is nothing like truly homemade pasta! We will definitely be back!

We had the pasta and pizza, both were excellent! The sauce and the fresh handmade noodles in the tagliatelle Bolognese made the dish particularly good. Alot of reviews here talk about the service, but our experience with our server Roberto was great. He was very friendly, prompt, and provided genuinely helpful suggestions on the wine and the desserts. Ask for him!

The food was delicious and the service was wonderful. Absolutely loved being greeted by Carmine at the door and then checked on throughout the meal and the warm thank you he gave us as we were leaving. Cannot wait to come back to revisit this gem.

Best service of my life. Kindest people. Owners come up to you and are so helpful and will guide you. Food is absolutely immaculate and just like food in Italy. This is the real deal 🇮🇹

Calamari and Margherita Pizza were delicious!

One of the best Italian restaurants in NYC. Very friendly and family oriented. 5 stars all around!

Wonderful wine recommendations and excellent pizza and pasta!

Our fav UWS place! Food is delicious every time.

This place is really lovely !! To start the bread was airy and I loved the hint of rosemary. Fried artichokes with parsley was amazing, I was a bit thrown off with fried parsley but it tastes really good , especially with a squeeze of lemon. Eggplant lasagna has so much flavor and is not soggy !! I had the margarita pizza with prosciutto which was great as well. Crispy crust! Service was great & attentive as well :) Will be coming back here and surely recommending to others.Cash only but they do have an atm

This was our third time here and has become one of our favorite places to bring guests. The restaurant is cozy, upbeat, and friendly. It’s cash only, so come prepared.The bread and homemade ravioli is some of the best around!

Dont get fooled by the 5 star reviews. They offer free desserts for good ratings. The place is 3 star at max for their mediocre food.

My mom and dad took me to New York city for the first time. We asked our neighbor, who lived there for years, where she would recommend to eat on the upper west side. She didn’t hesitate and recommended Celeste. We were not disappointed. The menu was great and the food was delicious. The specials were all very fresh and everything we ordered was fantastic. The owner was walking around the entire time checking on guests. We loved all the food. Servers were ever present, but unobtrusive. Definitely would recommend. Quick note, it’s cash only, so come prepared. Prices were fair for the quality.

Amazing vermicelli alle vongole, pizze perfectly cooked, and incredible service. The quintessential neighborhood joint

Great place for a midweek dinner! got the pizza, it was really good!! steffeno provided great service! felt cozy :)

If you are looking for authentic Italian food, look no further! This restaurant offers a very nice, relaxing atmosphere. It felt like I was actually in Italy. The food was great and the waiting staff was extremely nice and helpful. I will definitely be coming back!

Roberto gave us great service. The outdoor tent was quiet and spacious - the perfect place for friends catching up over incredible plates of pasta. The gnocchi alla sorrentina was fantastic as always - light clouds of pure deliciousness. Great place!

Service and the food lived up to expectations. Very rustic, authentic and unrefined in the best way possible. Molto Bene!

The prosciutto mascarpone pizza was delicious and Anastasia was extremely helpful to guide us deciding between the many great choices 😊

Love the table and vibe of the place. Enjoyed a lot the pizza and pasta. Strongly recommended. Gorgeous food.

We had a wonderful time! The margherita pizza was delicious. The starter bread was soft and flavorful. Everyone was very attentive and nice. Our water was never empty.

Roberto was a fabulous server and the halibut was delicious!! I know its a pasta restaurant but the fish was really well done. My fiance got pasta and also love it! Highly recommend and will be back!

Celeste Italian restaurant on the Upper West Side of NYC is a hidden gem that offers delicious Italian cuisine. The cozy ambiance, attentive service by Roberto and delicious dishes make it a must-visit spot for anyone craving authentic Italian flavors. From the homemade pasta to the delightful desserts, Celeste provides a delicious culinary experience.

We’ve been in NYC 5 days and it’s the best meal we’ve had - stunning food, great drinks and overall, amazing ambience. Anastasia is the best host, funny and a fabulous waitress! Definitely come here when visiting NYC.

Anastasia is awesome! We love the vibe here, super chill and great Ravioli!

Amazing food, amazing attentive service, music is not too loud and the atmosphere is so inviting!

Post-pandemic NYC is letting me down… it began with being told “I can’t let you have a taste of the wine. That’s why there are descriptions on the menu”. Management needs to rethink that policy. We have many choices of places to eat and that ridiculous comment made me want to leave the restaurant before we got to taste the delicious food.We started with the artichoke salad for an app and really enjoyed the ravioli and veal entrees.

I came here with my boyfriend in the early 2000s, and I just came here with my kids (I married the boyfriend). It is still just as delicious as I remembered. This time, the kids loved the wood fired pizza and fried cheese. Thanks Celeste for being a neighborhood treasure. I hope youre around for another 20 years!

Just the Italian restaurant I was looking for. When we came out of the museum, we saw what was around and we said lets go right away. The naturalness and experience of the decoration, the constant attention of the owner, the good job of the service personnel, and most importantly, the tastes of the food were great. Businesses that love to do their job immediately reveal themselves. I love restaurants with a stance. I hope it stays like this forever. Dont forget to take cash with you when you go. They warn you while youre already sitting because they dont accept credit cards.

The food was amazing, I ordered ravioli and was very happy with it. The service here is always great as well.

Delicious food. I can’t believe how can a margarita pizza can be this delicious! Primitivo wine is also first class.

Awesome food, and extremely attentive service. My sister in law is vegan, and the designer of the menu came out to advise her on options. Also, ask for Anastasia--as quick with a witty joke as she was with our food, she gave our party of 7 an unforgettable dining experience. Cant wait to come back!

In-credible!!! All 5 stars! Even the bread!

Amazing Italian place. Really good ricatto, best I’ve ever had honestly. Amazing quick and friendly service as well

Had a great time at celeste! Food was delicious and our server Anastasia was awesome!

I’ve lived on the upper west side for my entire life and I can tell you that Celeste is arguably the best Italian food in all of NYC. The service is unmatched, the drinks are perfect (especially the wine - talk to Carmine, he knows what he’s doing), and the dining experience is truly unrivaled. Whether you’re a local or in the city for a few nights, this is the one and only spot I’d recommend for an authentic Italian dinner!

Delicious food and our waitress was so friendly! I’d recommend the spaghetti with clams or gnocchi dishes and the mussels appetizer. Very well-priced! The place is a bit cramped, which contributes to a homey feeling, but it’s hard to get up from your table without fearing you’ll knock over someone’s wine glass. Note that they’re cash only; they have an ATM in the back though for a fee.

We had an exceptional dining experience at Celeste. The impeccable service and the friendly staff made me feel valued as a guest. The menu offered a diverse selection of meticulously crafted Italian dishes, bursting with flavors. We loved the pizza! The ambiance was cozy and inviting.

Amazing place, best lasagne bolognese in town and superb service with Anastasia !!

We had delicious food here, the ricotta and greens, the artichoke salad and the homemade tagliatelle with shrimp and cabbage were all superb! Stefano, our server, brought the courses out at just the right tempo. Highly recommended!

Do not be fooled by the name on the menu, “Gnocchi Alla Sorrentina.” It’s not the gnocchi dish topped with mozzarella baked in the oven to golden textured perfection. It’s just plain old gnocchi with sauce. Talk about false advertisement. I never would have ordered the dish had I known. When I said something to the waitress, the manager came over and said roughly, “You have a question?” The poor attitude, service, and lack of understanding of authentic Italian cuisine were all disappointing.

Celeste has been my go-to neighborhood place for years, and I love their linguine with clams as much now as I did when I first tried it! Excellent homestyle food, nice wine list, and a great neighborhood vibe.I also highly recommend the special clam pizza with truffle oil and spicy honey—decadent and delicious!

Delicious! Italian mussels appetizer best we’ve ever had and the handmade pasta is truly special. Nicely prepared halibut dinner if you want a lighter choice. Many gluten-free options so we will be back with our grandson when he comes to visit. Owner came around and added a personal touch to our experience. We highly recommend Celeste!

We ate indoors and there was an incredible variety of main courses as well as desserts. The prices were moderate and the staff friendly. We will definitely come back many more times. A real find for us.

We’ve lived in the neighborhood for years, so how is it possible we’ve missed this fantastic authentic Italian spot that is the very best!! We will surely become regulars in no time! We had the fried ricotta appetizer which was so good and unlike anything we’ve had before. Shared the margarita pizza (yum!) and the special pesto gnocchi - blithe delicious. And the ravioli was to die for!! On top of all that, we were treated like royalty (as were our pups!) such a welcoming , neighborhood spot. Can’t wait to return!

Celeste is a true neighborhood gem on the upper west side! The food was delicious and so fresh! The service and ambiance was great as well- the owner helped us make all of our selections and the space is homey and warm. Highly recommend to anyone looking for an authentic Italian experience. Can’t wait to come again

Everything was absolutely delicious. Friendly staff, quick service

We came to this place because of the great review it has, but the reality was very different. I will start with the positive saying that the staff is friendly. For all the rest: the tables were dirty and sticky, the plastic glasses in which we were served water were smelling so bad, felt like the place was missing the basic hygiene. I tried the margarita pizza, which unfortunately was of poor quality, the kind of pizza that you get for 1 dollar, or plain frozen pizza. I find it weird that you only have to pay cash, but indeed we were informed from the start about that.

I enjoy this Resturant! I really recommend if you are in the city. The place is cozy, service great, food on point and FRESH!! Loved it! Roberto was our host and is the best here! Pls come and eat here!! More then 5 starts

This place had been on our must visit list for a while but we werent impressed. Its a small authentic restaurant with a lovely atmosphere and reasonable prices.The owner is nice and very attentive, however we didnt really enjoy our dinner since the food was below average and seating was way too close to the other group of people on a regular weekday.

Went for diner with friends.The place is a gem.I can’t say enough how good everything we tried tasted.From sausage Gorgonzola pizza to home made gnocchi to vermicelli with clams was delicious.Just when I thought it couldn’t be any better came out smoked swordfish from Sardinia and 3 mushroom lasagna in béchamel.Oh my goodness ,Heaven!!!!!We paired it with great bottle of white and red that the owner suggested to try with the dishes.Very good , wil come back and recommend👍👍💕💕🍷

Came here on a rainy day to be greeted with a delicious dinner, full glass of wine, and friendly servers. No wonder the inside was so full!

This is my go to Italian restaurant in all of nyc! The service is amazing. Our waitress Anastasia made our night so fun. The food came out so fast and was perfect as usual. Highly recommend.

The food was amazing!! the waiters are very nice and respectful! everything about it is amazing! they were very flexible with a large group!