Il Gradino — Restaurant in New York

But for the lack of red zebra wallpaper, and basic red-sauce dishes like spaghetti and meatballs, Il Gradino could beco itme the new Gino's--which, coincidentally, was located only a block away...

Diego, formerly of Scalinatella, has assembled a friendly and hard-working waitstaff (Eduardo, Renato, and Armando, the bartender, to name a few) who truly want your experience to be top-notch. When you walk in, you feel embraced, like it's family, and that rates very highly in my book.

BUT I actually think they overdo trying to please their diners...They want you to order whatever you want--on or off the menu; they think this will make you happy. However, the desire to please everyone can work against them. After all, they cannot possibly be all things to all people. In trying to do so, dishes may turn out to be mediocre.

As a diner, I don't want unlimited choice. I prefer a narrower selection of dishes that the chef does best. He cannot possibly have mastered, or even have the proper ingredients for, every Italian dish in the universe; he can't possibly focus on so many preparations each night. And, honestly, the more choices I have, the more indecisive and uncomfortable I become.

On top of that, do I really want to be surprised by the price of my customized dish when the check arrives? No. I generally prefer to order from the printed menu, and know what I'm in for and what the chef does best. Heck, Le Bernardin doesn't let you decide what the chef makes; the menu is based on the freshest ingredients and what the chef feels he can do best.

I am confident that when Gradino focuses and narrows its intent, it will be even better--not that it needs to become more popular! I believe that come Fall, when things are back in full swing in NY, Diego will have everything fine-tuned. I have no doubt I will find myself pampered and enchanted in Il Gradino's cozy bar with Linguine alle V no noongole, a great bottle of wine, and visions of zebras dancing...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Il Gradino, and I must say, it was an exceptional experience that went above and beyond our expectations, especially as we were dining with our 1-year-old baby.

From the moment we walked in, the staff at Il Gradino made us feel warmly welcomed. They were incredibly attentive and accommodating, which made our visit stress-free and enjoyable. The restaurant itself exudes a charming ambiance, with a cozy, elegant decor that sets a relaxing tone.

What truly stood out was their sensitivity to our 1 year old. The staff were not only understanding but proactive in making sure we had everything we needed. They offered us a high chair immediately and even provided some toys to keep our little one entertained. They also adjusted the seating arrangement to ensure we had ample space for the baby and our stroller.

Our server was knowledgeable about the menu and made excellent recommendations, including some kid-friendly options that were perfect for our baby. The level of service was impeccable, with the staff checking in just enough to ensure everything was to our liking without being intrusive.

Overall, Il Gradino is a gem of an Italian restaurant that combines outstanding food with exceptional service. Their consideration for families with young children sets them apart, making it an ideal choice for a family meal. We can't...

We live in Queens, and were looking for a place to make reservations before our Broadway show on a Friday night. We made reservations, and were seated immediately upon our arrival. Service was fast but experience was slow (which is a good thing!). Let me explain; staff was extremely attentive, and our food and drinks came out in a very timely manner. But the experience was slow; again, in a good way! As in they don’t shove menus in front of you as soon as you sit. First, they served a wonderful starter bread with oil and a zucchini starter (which we hadn’t ordered). They took our wine order; and served us our wine. They let us snack on the break a bit; and THEN gave us our menus. Which is extremely refreshing change of pace especially for NYC. We got dessert and coffee and were still out within 1.5 hours with plenty of time for us to get to our show.

Additionally, the ambiance was very pleasant and tables spread out (for NYC) so it didn’t feel like you were on top of anyone and it wasn’t overly crowded.

Would...