Lusardi’s
“Lusardi's is a must if you are in the upper east side and looking for an amazing Italian meal.”
“Pasta: Tortelli in Salsa Tartufata
"Homemade ravioli filled with wild mushrooms, spinach and fontina cheese, in a light truffle sauce."”
“One of my favorite Northern Italian Style high-end restaurants in the UES.”
Lusardi’s
Takes Reservations: Yes
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Outdoor Seating: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Price range.
$$$ Price range $31-60
8 reviews
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One of my favorite Northern Italian Style high-end restaurants in the UES. I have dinned
here many times and have had many different dishes that were all always very good. The owners recognize their regulars and they are always there to accommodate you. The restaurant's décor has beautiful dark colored woodwork along with wood framed windows and brass lamps. The ambience has an old traditional feel with a quaint bar and they also have outdoor seating. The dishes are mostly Northern Italian Tuscan dishes, with modern touch. And they have an extensive wine list with many high-end wine selections. I have enjoyed a few bottles on many occasions. I have recently enjoyed the following dishes; Crespelle Florentina; Tagliolini Cacio Pepe Zucchini and Vitello Martini. They were wonderful appetizers and entrees.
From the outside, this looks like your typical Upper East Side neighborhood Italian spot, and it kind of is…but it's a lot better. Yes, you will pay a few more dollars per dish than your average Italian restaurant in the area, but it is well worth it.
The atmosphere is nothing exciting (definitely an older crowd), but the staff is all Italian, which makes for an authentic experience. The last two times I have dined at Lusardi's I've ordered the Fettuccini with veal ragu – a healthy portion of perfectly cooked pasta with a great ragu of veal. Other diners ordered the sea bass and salmon, which were also excellent.
To finish off the meal, we split the flourless chocolate cake. It was excellent – dense, dark and came with a great vanilla sauce. If you have some visitors in town who do not want one of the more hip/loud NYC restaurants, Lusardi's is an excellent choice.
Came here for dinner on Saturday night and wow I was definitely impressed. With so many Italian restaurants in the city it is hard for any to really stand out but Lusardi's does. I had the gnocchi with meat sauce and it was melt-in-your-mouth excellent. We also got the special salad of the day with avocado/tomato/pine nuts and wow, it was good. Great service, good wine, and good prices, too. The only reason this place lost a star for me was the cheesecake- a little bland and nothing to write home about.
Went for my dad's birthday. Was hoping for better. All the dishes were over salted and a bit over cooked. A bit disappointed.
Each city I frequent I always try to find my "Go To" Italian restaurant. In New York I have chosen Lusardis. And for good reason; It has old school no nonsense great Italian cuisine.
The atmosphere is warm and congenial and the wait staff is friendly and accommodating.
The pasta dishes are fresh and the veal dishes are very well executed.
Their wine list is very good and not crazy expensive.
With all of this said, I will be a steady patron for many years to come.
If you are looking for that classic neighborhood Italian place then this is the place. From the classic dining room to the excellent service. The wine list was great and we really enjoyed the Sangiovese we ordered.
It was truffle week so the pasta with black truffles was absolutely terrific. Just the right mix of truffle oil and shave truffles. Delightful without being overpowering. The yellow tuna crudito was also excellent. Fresh and light with tomatoes and burrata.
We also real like like the rabbit which was extremely flavorful as long as I did not think about bugs bunny ;-). The pasta was delightfully light and perfectly prepared.
All in all a great place for a family dinner or just a night on the town. Nice job 🙂
Fantastic service, and very good food.
The fresh pastas here are done and cooked well. Al dente, with good chew, and well seasoned in all of the dishes I tasted here. I would recommend the dishes with a pink sauce instead of white, but that is just a personal preference as opposed to commentary on the quality of the food.
I also had some roasted chicken here with sausages, braised in white wine that was excellent. The white wine sauce was well-seasoned with herbs and pancetta, and I was very impressed with the dish.
They have a terrific wine selection here, and the prices are very reasonable. The owner here always makes sure that you are well-cared for. This is a definite good choice for frequenting.
One of the best Italian dinners in NYC.
Lusardi's is an old-school Italian joint with a warm, intimate atmosphere and quiet demeanor. Crowd is a bit older, but fairly typical for an old classic such as this in the Upper East Side. The staff is incredibly welcoming and creates a home-like atmosphere. The owner/manager came by to compliment us on our wine selection as it was one of his favorites (2010 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon), so we offered him a glass which he accepted. At the end of the meal he kindly returned the favor with complimentary port for dessert.
The food (notably the pasta) is incredible. The menu is fundamentally Northern Italian with butter/cream based sauces and a variety of meat. They also incorporate a bit of modern flare into the dishes as well. I was stuck deciding between 3 pasta dishes, and as I was pointing them out to the waiter he took the menu from my hands and said "surprise is best". When the food came, I was more than surprised – the chef had prepared all three pastas for me in slightly smaller portions to fill my dish. This was really going above and beyond in my opinion, and left me incredibly satisfied.
I liken this place to Carbone in Greenwich Village, except Carbone has a bit of a older feel to it, while Lusardi's a bit more contemporary and less "stuffy". I highly recommend Lusardi's for a quiet and intimate dinner, or if you could be lucky enough to rent the place out for a private event.