Donna Margherita — Restaurant in New York

If you want home cooked food with fine dine feel then Donna Margherita is the place for you. Every bite feels like a hug and the staff there treats you just like family, making sure that from the moment you step into their establishment you’re well taken care of. While in the heart of everything located on the Upper East Side a small gem like this place can truly transport you straight back to Naples Italy ! My Bf and I went for a date night and truly loved everything about this place. The outside has a larger set up on the side walk great for summer time vibes and a spritz to take the edge off, while the inside is small, cozy and dimly lit. It feels very romantic and intimate, perfect for couples and families!

Now the foooood 😍 ingredients are simple and fresh but packed with flavor. A lot of their ingredients are imported from Italy so ask the chef what their specials are because more than likely they’ve got some seasonal goodies waiting to be tried! If I’m not mistaken we got to try the Green Friarielli peppers which were kind of sweet with very mild heat roasted and pared with tomatoes. They really resemble shishito peppers but the flavor is different. We also had the octopus salad which was a perfect app for this summer heat! The octopus was tender and soft but still had a perfect bite. It was dressed with lemon juice which gave it great acidity and flavored with olive oil. We had one of my favorite go toooos which was fried squash blossoms or zucchini flowers filled with cheese, I mean fried and cheese, hello? But the star of the show has to be my bfs Main Dish which was the Linguine Mixto. It was Linguine pasta with a mix of seafood. It had clams, octopus, squid and huge shrimp it was delicious! So mad I’m not the one who ordered it but he shared with me anyway 😊 it had a light red sauce and was silky from the starchy pasta ending with a subtle kick from what I assume was some kind of pepper or red pepper flakes. If you want pasta in the summer time this is a must and will not leave you feeling heavy. We also shared a Pizza Tartufata! If you love truffle and lots of fresh greens with shaved Parmesan and prosciutto get this pizza, also one of my...

I phoned Donna Margherita for a 530 pm reservation on Saturday, May 10, and was informed that they had a busy, second seating at 700 pm. I then asked if we might come in at 5 pm and stay for two hours, until 7 pm. The person who answered the phone agreed and booked me a table for four at 5 pm.

The food was delightful -- the eggplant parmigiana and chicken parmigiana were delectable. We had dessert to share and were having quiet, deep, and very serious table conversation when a waiter who had not served our table -- tall, Caucasian, with longish brown hair, some facial hair -- approached us and asked for the payment as they had just given the bill. It was 626 pm: I told him we would pay when we were finished, that we understood we could stay till 7 pm, before the second seating. He said, rudely: "You've been here an hour and a half. You've eaten your meal, you've had your dessert. You're done. You need to pay the bill. We need to clean the table." Again, we explained that we understood we had the table till 7 pm. He was brusque, abrupt, and basically wanted us to up and leave. The lack of customer care was clear when he said -- "This is a business," with the implication that they had gotten our business and it was time for us to leave to make room for more business. When my mother responded and my sister raised her voice at him, he backed off.

We were so taken aback by the rudeness and lack of courtesy of this server. Our dinner experience was ruined. We also noticed how the servers kept approaching the table and rushing us through our orders and the entire service. It was most unpleasant. I do need to say, though, that the two servers working at our table were attentive. There just seemed a rush to clear the table when we had not cleaned our plates. A pity that such a restaurant in our neighborhood was so unfriendly and...

Donna Margherita – Authentic Italian, Not the "American Italian" Imitation!

What a delightful surprise! Donna Margherita truly captures the heart of Napolitano cuisine. Having traveled to 18 out of Italy's 20 regions to learn about regional food, I am extremely particular about my Italian dining choices. We discovered this gem while in the area, and the online pictures caught my attention. I'm so glad we decided to give it a try!

The owner and chef are from Naples, widely regarded as Italy's best food region, and it shows in every dish.

The menu offered an incredible start: zucchini flowers in the Fritto Misto (mixed fried platter). Even though it's not zucchini flower season, they managed to serve fresh, flavorful flowers alongside arancini and eggplant crocchetta – each bite was perfect.

Of course, we had to order pizza – Naples is synonymous with exceptional pizza. The classic Margherita was outstanding, and the truffle prosciutto pizza was a showstopper!

We also tried vegetable sides, including broccoli prepared so perfectly that it instantly reminded me of Naples. The tender texture and rich flavor were reminiscent of true family recipes, which I later discovered were inspired by the owner’s mother.

The seafood pasta was another standout. Octopus tender calamari, and shrimp were cooked flawlessly, with the pasta beautifully coated in sauce – no shortcuts here!

Finally, dessert: the tiramisu. Made with real mascarpone cheese, it was as authentic as it gets. Paired with their Italian coffee, it was the perfect ending to a meal that celebrated authenticity, tradition, and craftsmanship.

Must day the place was very cozy and artfully designed!

From the first course to the last, every detail at Donna Margherita brought us immense joy. If you're seeking a true taste of Naples, this is the place. Truly amazing – only...