Michael’s of Brooklyn
“If you are looking to celebrate a special occasion or feel like some fine dining this would be the place to go.”
“The staff was very attentive and made sure I was well taken care of — often dropping by my table to ask how I was doing or to wish me a cheerful "bon appetit!"”
“The wine was great, the dessert was great, and Enzo made us all feel very welcome and shared some great conversations.”
Michael’s of Brooklyn
Takes Reservations: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Has TV: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$$$ Price range $31-60
8 reviews
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5 stars for the great service! The super polite waiter remembered everyone's orders aside from the bunch I ordered to share family style (we had 9 people) and also gave us a free dessert on the house that my cousin inquired about! We also embarrassingly asked for a box to take the complimentary almond biscotti to go since they were so yummy and were given an extra box! Aside from that, the food was really good and the ambiance is really nice. I especially liked the penne with tomato & basil sauce and the calamari. The portions of pasta weren't as big as I expected, which is really a good thing. We were able to finish everything we ordered, which is always a happy accomplishment. And to end the dinner, we had 5 (+1 free) desserts, of which the warm cookie with vanilla ice cream and profiteroles stood out to me the most. 🙂
For years when I was growing up in the neighborhood, Michael's was this big, mysterious brick outpost of old-school fine-dining. Most of my experience with Italian food in Brooklyn was pizza-related, and when we did splurge, my family tended to take our money to the Russian dinner-and-a-show event spaces in Sheepshead Bay/Brighton Beach.
Recently, we came for my nephew's high school graduation and I finally had a chance to rub shoulders with the neighborhood regulars who have been patronizing this institution for years.
Michael's occupies a large floor with the timeless staples of Italian-American fine dining" wall mirrors, round white tablecloth tables, and muted lighting, the kind my grandparents used to create with their dimmer in the living room whenever I visited. The waiters are decked out in formal wear, a veritable team with its captain overseeing proceedings.
The food is solid across the board. If you like red sauce, you'll be very happy here, as Michael's makes its own, and ladles it on pretty much everything. Many in our party had pasta, which is a pretty unassailable choice here. Though it was Friday night, I went with something called "Sunday Plate" from the specials menu. It was a lot of everything meat: veal sausage, lamb, pork, and prime rib. A real gut-buster, and I had plenty to spare for the next day.
Extensive wine list. Prices are definitely inflated, but it's a nice place to bring your family who appreciate old-time Brooklyn Italian dining.
On the occasion of a friend's birthday, I finally had the opportunity to dine at Michael's. It is a very nice restaurant and obviously popular, because there wasn't an empty seat in the house. I loved that the owner and/or manager (not sure about his role) was interacting with his patrons. It was super helpful that another staffer collected our coats as we walked in. I thought it was pretty cool that there was a piano slightly above and adjacent to the bar. The pianist played very softly in the background. The conversations in the dining room was not at all loud. I could enjoy conversing across my table of 10.
Our server was so friendly and full of personality. Great, delicious bread to delay the growls of an empty stomach. My favorite was the one that tasted similar to bread and marinara sauce. With a full house, you can expect the arrival of your food to be delayed. I ordered the chicken parmigiana (breaded, fried chicken then covered with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese) and a small plate of potatoes and vegetables for $25. Please note any additional sides like pasta costs $5 extra. I can definitely say that when you dine at Michael's, you are paying for the name and quality depending on the dish. I felt my dish was overpriced. I love dessert, but resisted the urge since I didn't think the portion of tiramisu for example was worth $8.50.
Great ambience. Ideal for families. Wonderful that there was an ADA restroom on the main level and additional restrooms below. Spacious and clean.
Beautiful upscale Italian restaurant in Brooklyn. Staff was super friends and accommodating. I ordered the shrimp scampi. It came with a side of roasted potatoes, [boiled] Brussel sprouts and carrots. A little odd for sides, but I guess they want you to focus on the main course.
Michael's is a popular Italian spot in Brooklyn. They are known for their sauce and pastries. They have a spot across the st that sells just bakery items and their sauce can be purchased online or buy a jar while you are there.
We were there for a repast so our choices were preselected. What was served was really good. The bread was warm and delicious. The all important soft butter could have been masticated without bread. So good!
We started with fried calamari, fried artichokes, mozzarella w/tomatoes & roasted peppers and clams oreganato. Everything was delicious except for the clams. A little too chewy for me. Then the pasta came out. Cooked al dente with vodka sauce. A great choice. The tomato sauce was just ok. Not sure what the hype is about. Mamma makes a better sauce.
For entrees I chose the veal. It was average. A little too rubbery.
Then the dessert arrived…their famous pastries…all of them were fresh and delicious…completely devoured in no time.
Service was exceptional! Staff was very attentive and friendly.
Overall a great experience. A return is a must. ENJOY!
I came here this past Sunday for Mother's Day and i was expecting a complete disaster because every restaurant is always complete insanity on Mother's Day, am i right or am i right? Boy was i wrong…
We got seated right away, even though we were 30 minutes late for our reservation. The maitre'd was extremely nice and sociable, checking up on us many times throughout our meal. The wait staff was also really pleasant and was conversating with my father-in-law in Italian- yes, the staff at Michael's actually speak Italian.
They had a set menu because of Mother's Day, so the choices were kind of limited, but they had more than enough choices for even a picky eater like me. The bread basket they brought to the table was huge, and HOT. They also brought a small plate of antipasto which was nice.
Everyone's food came out quickly, and without error. I ordered the Penne Vodka, which was really good and the serving was huge. My husband had the Chicken Francese, moy mom had the Veal Scallopini, my father-in-law the Fisherman's Platter (which was HUGE) and my mother in law the Pasta Puttanesca. Now, we are all Italian- and nobody had any complaints about the food, so they must be doing something right.
All in all it was a pleasant experience, i would definitely come back on a regular day to try some other things on their menu.
This restaurant is amazing. The food is excellent and the service is wonderful. I got the chicken rollatini it was outstanding! Others got the lasagna, pasta dishes, ravioli. everything was delicious. They give you lots of bread (focaccia, rolls, sliced bread and cheese, olives and salami) to start with!! The atmosphere is nice. Very laid back but super friendly. Nice big round tables for a family night out. I would recommend eating at this restaurant anytime you are in Brooklyn!!
When my grandmother was alive, her house was just blocks from Michael's of Brooklyn, so this restaurant has been a destination of choice for quite literally decades. I hadn't had the chance to go in years, but had the chance to have lunch here a few weeks ago when my husband and I were in town visiting family.
The restaurant was insanely crowded on a Sunday at lunch due to several large first communion celebrations, but the staff took it all in stride. Service at Michael's has always been impeccable. Our group ordered way too much food for the table, but things I remember being ordered include:
–grouper special– my husband ordered this and said it was quite good. He ended up with a slightly different variation that what he ordered or intended to order, but it worked out in the end.
–chicken marsala– a very good interpretation of this dish. Not the best sauce I've ever had, but the mix of mushrooms was excellent and the chicken itself was delicious. This is on the menu as a veal entree, but they're happy to use chicken instead.
— pear arugula salad– this was a special, and everyone who had it really enjoyed.
–fried zucchini flowers– this was the only dish I would say was a miss. They just weren't fried quite properly so they were missing the crispiness they really needed.
–chicken and eggplant parmesan– I didn't taste them on this visit, but I grew up ordering them every visit to New York and was told they were just as delicious as they've always been.
My only hesitation in giving Michael's five stars is the price. While the entrees are great and the portions are large, $24 is a lot to ask for chicken parmesan. Sides and substitutions are also expensive– I asked for a side of spinach instead of the regular vegetables, but instead got it as an additional side, for a charge of $8.
Overall, though, Michael's definitely earns the "I'm a fan" rating, and is a lovely spot with great food and excellent service. I'm always happy to find myself here.