Canto Upper West Side — Restaurant in New York

Our group of 7 came in at around 6pm on Tuesday, 2/12 for a birthday dinner. We were served by Paola throughout our meal and later on by Andrea as Paola had ended her shift during our dinner. Generally, we had a great experience with Paola, she was very nice and gave us great drink and food recommendation. The drinks were great and the menu was very diverse. We were satisfied with the food quality being offered.However, towards the end of our meal where we had finished with our food and were working on our drinks while having conversations with each other, we were continously asked on whether we would like to order more drinks; at the same time, we were offered the check without us requesting for one, insinuating that it was time for us to leave. Upon paying, we had decided to split the bill of $510.08 under 2 credit cards, where each would be around $255 without tips. The payment method was by a small POS device where tip will be chosen by the payer electronically at the table. As we were choosing our tip amount on the device, we had unknowing chose a custom amount of $15, not paying much attention after having a few drinks, under the assumption that the custom amount would be under % unit, similar to the percentage suggestion shown on the screen device. Very soon after the tip was entered, we were abruptly approached by a restaurant staff, who we did not have any interactions with since entering the restaurant but acted in a manager-like capacity (not sure if he was the actual manager) questioning loudly whether there was anything wrong with the service. As we were trying to understand the situation, he continously pressured us on what was wrong with the service, and that the tip amount was only 6%, and questioned us on whether we thought it was fair. As we realized that the custom amount was not in %, me and my friend had asked him on how much would 15% be, where he said $40 and continued asking what was wrong with the service, aggresively and loudly in the middle of the establishment. In an effort to deescalate the situation, I had offered him to give us the POS device that he was holding, to see if we could try reversing or adding more tip to equate to 15%, or giving the rest of the tip in cash. However, he refused to receive our suggestions, and continued on emphasizing that the tip was only 6%. We then expressed the dissatisfaction that his approach to us was rude and that he did not give us room to resolve the situation. We ended up leaving the tip as it was, because of the restaurant's lack of cooperation. We were publicly humiliated from a situation that we were trying so hard to deescalate on, and was not done purposely.

This was our first visit to Canto and will be our last.

For Canto's management - please re-evaluate your customer service with the staff. We saw that in previous review's response, it had been addressed that there were no tipping policy and customers are free to provide a tip based on their satisfaction level with the service, yet this issue of pressuring for a higher amount continues to reoccur. It would be a waste of potential for hard working staff to receive a tip less than what they deserve because of other staff's...

Canto Upper West Side is a true neighborhood gem that combines exceptional food with unmatched hospitality. From the moment you step inside, the warm ambiance and personal attention from the owner, Djamel, make you feel right at home. His passion for creating an extraordinary dining experience shines through every detail. I can confidently say I’ll be back—and you should absolutely give this place a try!

The Arancini and Polpette are delightful ways to begin your meal both served in a rich tomato sauce and topped with Parmesan cheese; each bite is comforting and full of flavor. 

For pasta lovers, Canto truly shines. The Bucatini alla Carbonara is an absolute showstopper. Made with pancetta, the dish delivers all the bold, savory flavors you’d hope for in a classic carbonara. The silky sauce, the perfectly al dente bucatini, and the punch of freshly cracked black pepper make this dish unforgettable.

The Tagliatelle Bolognese is equally remarkable. Every bite is hearty, rich, and satisfying—comfort food taken to the next level.

Canto doesn’t just serve amazing food, the staff is attentive and the restaurant is beautifully designed and lit.

If you haven’t visited Canto Upper West Side yet, you’re truly missing out. The combination of outstanding food, thoughtful service make it a place you’ll want to return to again and again. I...

the worst dining experience i've ever had never going back

i wanted to celebrate my 22nd birthday here jan 11. i made a res a week prior for 5 people at 6pm stating the bday occasion plus my friend's severe nut allergy and when i got there they told me they didn't have a table for me so they tried forcing us at the bar. we said we'd wait there for drinks and then move to a table. we had to ask them about our table multiple times until we got sat 45 min post reservation. Once we were the moved the server never even said hello to us he just kept asking if the food was good and would walk away. drinks were coming out so late. our silverware was dirty we needed to keep asking for replacements. they kept trying to take our plates away as it still has food on it. my friend asked to change her cocktail and server rolled his eyes at her. and finally the entire reason why we were even there was to celebrate a birthday (which we made a note about in the res) and we didn't get a dessert a happy birthday or anything. after we tipped what they deserved the manager came over to shame us saying we should've spoken up earlier and that we shouldn't be punishing the staff for OUR mistakes. worst place i've ever been to i'm...