Da Capo — Restaurant in New York

Da Capo, located on Columbus Avenue, is a nice spot for a cocktail on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. My partner & I recently visited for the first time, as we were headed to Jazz at Lincoln Center for a show in the evening and were looking for a place to stop on the way over. I'm giving 5-stars for the service, as the bartenders at Da Capo took excellent care of us during our visit. In terms of cocktails, I'd give 5-stars for their drinks as well - their Hauntingly Beautiful + their Yellow Jacket were delicious!

However, I'm only giving 3-stars for atmosphere + food, as my boyfriend & I were not super impressed with either. The food was decent in that it hit the spot, but we didn't find the dishes totally mind-blowing for an UWS restaurant in Manhattan. We tried the Arancini al Formaggi, Lemon Hummus, and Margherita flatbread. Each dish was good, but felt relatively basic in presentation and quality. In terms of atmosphere, I think the photos online presented a more romantic vibe. We sat at the bar when we arrived, and it didn't seem to be what was presented on their website or via Google's photos. :-( I wonder if it would've been a little more quiet and cozy in the back? This was just our perspective.

Overall, we had a good experience, but it wasn't outstanding or particularly memorable. Still, probably worth a try if you're looking for a place to eat + drink...

This place is small but very cute! When you walk in, there's a coffee shop, then there's a bar, and if you keep going, there's a dining room in the back. There are cool art pieces, and the lighting is dim. I would definitely recommend it for a date night. They had music playing, which added to the fun vibe. There was one guy who seemed to be doing it all. He sat us and then came to take our order. I was not sure what I wanted to drink, and he asked me a few questions and made me an awesome drink. I always appreciate bar tenders who have skills and are creative. Since this is an Italian place, we both ordered pasta. I went with the Bolognese, and my friend ordered the penne alla vodka. We also got the potato wedges. The food came out very fast, but it was so salty. I tried both pastas, and they were entirely over salted. The only thing you could taste was the salt, I didn't even try to finish my food. The potato wedges were fine, just a bit mushy on the inside. I would probably return again and stick to the drinks since that was very good. Based on my experience, the food was just too salty. Maybe the chef was having an off day and went overboard...

I recently had my engagement party at Da Capo, and I can say with full confidence that I made an excellent choice. I booked two of the spaces they offered: the back room and the lounge, which comfortably fit a little over 40 people.

The staff were gracious and accommodating. The food and beverages were delicious—I highly recommend the Arancini balls and their 'Big In Japan' cocktail, both of which were hits at the party. What blew me away was their openness to explore gluten-free options, which was helpful since my family is allergic to gluten.

All my guests loved and complimented the space, with some even stating that it was a hidden gem on the UWS. We found it easy to move around and mingle with other guests in a space that felt intimate but was large enough to avoid feeling cramped.

I had a great time working with Craig to organize and collaborate on the event. He ensured that I had nothing else to worry about on the day of the engagement. Overall, I happily recommend this place for your strong consideration. My guests and I had a beautiful evening at Da Capo, and I'm sure...