Bonafini Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in New York

• THE COUPLE • Laughter & love are scarcely guaranteed, in truth, they're a blessing, a gift that we've received❤️ • THE COOKBOOK • The Montrealer” Breakfast Sandwich - Bacon, mustard, maple, fried egg on croissant w/hash browns❤️😍❤️ . Salmon Pastrami on Olive Toast - w/cream cheese & fried egg💥 . Chocolate Chip & Blueberry Pancakes🍽😁 • THE OWNER • “Honesty; it’s always about the people, being able to provide them with a good time, good food and remarkable memories. I want to provide the type of experiences that make people want to return. As an Italian, a meal is an experience in and of itself… The food is a complement, but only one of many important factors. . In Italy, the word "blessing" has a completely different meaning than here in the US. When I first moved to New York I heard many people using the word with a fundamentally different context than what I was accustomed to. I loved how the meaning of one word could change from one place to another. For me, the word began to embody good vibes and community and so I named the café Blessings! . Generally, we try to source locally and work with farms as much as we can. It's about finding the right balance. I tend to work with small local companies, so that I know where the products come from. It’s important to work with the community, hand in hand. . Many people don't know this but initially we started as a coffee shop, but after a couple of months I realized that there was no real brunch spot around, so I wanted to give it a try and the community responded really well. I am lucky to have a good community in this neighborhood. The community has been embracing us since day one. The feedback we've received, good or bad, has helped us to grow and improve! Building a kind of trust and a true relationship within the community is what it's all about. Moreover, this relationship has opened the door for us to offer dinner, which focuses more on my Italian roots, centered on good pasta, fresh fish, and great wine in a warm and intimate atmosphere. For Blessings, this is just one more opportunity to give back to the community that has given us so much!" ~Liliana (Owner of...

Bonafini delivered an unforgettable lunch experience—elegant, comforting, and beautifully executed from start to finish. Every dish we tried was a standout, beginning with the Breakfast Pizza, which was a true revelation. The salmon pastrami paired with robiola and mozzarella was rich and flavorful, perfectly complemented by the roasted scallions and the creamy egg nestled in the center.

The Lasagna was simply exceptional—layers of tender pasta, hearty beef & pork bolognese, velvety béchamel, and just the right amount of parmigiano. It was a warm, nostalgic dish elevated to a fine-dining level.

We finished with an Affogato that struck the perfect balance between bitter espresso and silky gelato—a simple pleasure, executed flawlessly. The Mezcal Negroni mocktail was another surprise: smoky, complex, and incredibly satisfying even without the alcohol.

A special mention must go to Anna, our Server, who brought the entire experience together. She was super enthusiastic in a genuine and sincere way—helpful, informative, and clearly passionate about the food and the restaurant.

We sat in the backyard, which was quaint and cosy—a peaceful little escape that made the meal feel even more special.

Bonafini manages to feel both sophisticated and deeply welcoming. The service was thoughtful and attentive without being overbearing. We’ll absolutely be back. This is the kind of place You instantly want to recommend to...

I've been here twice and unfortunately was underwhelmed by the food twice. My first visit I got the Cavatelli i believe it was called. This may have been an error of selection on my part, but the pasta lacked what I like in a pasta--warm, flavorful, slightly indulgent. The dish came out almost room temperature and had a very mild flavor. The sausage was a little tough, pasta very "dente" and altogether with the fact that the dish wasn't very warm, I wanted to like it as it was my first time in this neighborhood spot but I could barely eat half of the dish. The 2nd time I still had high hopes that this was a nice place to get food..My family came here for brunch and by the end of the meal we were closely acquainted with 3 roaches that kept coming out and peaking at us right next to our table (yes I'm being serious, the ran out into view every 2 minutes almost like clockwork). The service was very nice and our mocha lattes were delicious but I was severely underwhelmed by the shakshuka which was just nasty. I've had shakshuka in cafes before that tasted much better. The shakshuka seemed to be made in the simplest and cheapest way possible. Very little depth imo and just tasted flat and nasty. Eggs drenched in tomato sauce can either be a rich and delicious dish or...