Macoletta — Restaurant in New York

I came here on a Monday looking for a new Italian restaurant and saw Macoletta had pretty good reviews. The restaurant was empty since it was around 2:30 PM. My boyfriend and I were able to pick our table so we went to the far right corner. (The establishment also offers outdoor seating however the weather was too hot.) we had the view of the pizza oven which was very cool. To start my boyfriend and I had the eggplant panini which lacked flavor and was very disappointing. We then shared a margarita pizza which was subpar and also ordered two pasta dishes. I order the Alfredo with chicken and my boyfriend ordered the mushroom Alfredo. When the order arrived they forgot my chicken and despite telling them it was no longer necessary since I was almost halfway done (I was also getting full from all the other food I ordered haha) the waitress insisted and stated it would taste better, thus getting the chicken. The good thing about the chicken they served was it was dark meat since usually I see places serve cutlets. HOWEVER what was highly annoying is that I was charged for the chicken after the staff forgot to add and after being told that I no longer wanted/needed it. My boyfriends pasta tasted very earthy, maybe because of the mushrooms, it certainly wasn’t my cup of tea. The pros of this place have to be their drinks. I can’t remember what I ordered but I do know I got a second round and it was delicious. I could’ve absolutely lived without the Spanish speakers making their sly comments how I was drinking so early in the day. Thanks for the feedback men! Needless to say, I think if you’re looking for authentic Italian food there are WAY better places in Astoria you can check out and have a better...

Been in the neighborhood a while. Just now had a chance to try this place. Aside being Sicilian & cooking since age 4, I'm a veteran Hospitality Management Professional , & native NYer who loves going out to eat. To say I'm 'not easily impressed' is a grave misuse of words. I went to Macoletta with no expectations either way, yet was happily surprised & very impressed! The food was really good! The sauce/gravy (depending on your region) was really nice. They absolutely are not afraid of fresh garlic, olive oil, or basil! They are generous, and didn't hesitate to accommodate any special requests my table had, or mention how much more we'd be charged should they accommodate. The best part overall was the staff. All of you reading this know restaurants have taken a huge hit the last 3 years or so. I feel for the few good dedicated staff who've continue working all this time, so short staffed, tired, & taking big hits from dissatisfied customers. To go to any restaurant now and find even 1 happy, non exhausted staff is getting harder and harder. Good service in general, after all that's happened out of our control. In this restaurant however, EVERY server and person working were connected, working fast in unison, and one nicer than the next. Very attentive service. My friend and I were so impressed, that I wrote it on the check. Restaurants need to know their staff and efforts are appreciated to keep them going. With that, plus the food also being a great surprise, me & mine will be regulars now. I feel lucky to live so close! So check...

I am flabbergasted how this place has 4.9 with 3300 reviews. The best way to put it is that the food is Mid at best. I definitely wouldn’t recommend this restaurant to people let alone spending your money here

First off, for being a nicer restaurant why are you guys so cheap to pass on the 3% credit card fee? Your food is already overrated and overpriced for the small quantities - on principle is is absurd.

The orichette pasta is disappointing - soft almost mushy pasta that tastes like it was just a box opposed to fresh pasta. The sauce is mostly just olive oil and the bowl is drenched in it. On top of that, the Parmesan cheese given is some cheap Parmesan cheese that has those anti caking agents

The pizzas we got were insanely mediocre. Astoria fundamentally doesn’t have good pizza options compared to Williamsburg, crown heights and Manhattan, there’s no good fermentation or chew to the bread it’s just doughy. No airy rise.

On the positive. The bottom of the pizzas had a nice crisp I have to acknowledge that.

The actual toppings and taste of the pizza is so bland even with the interesting topping options they have. How they did this is beyond me

The tiramisu for $14 is like a minor improvement to buying something from a grocery store. Probably have had better from Costco

Service is nice I will acknowledge that.

Overall save your money people, if you’ve ever eaten at pasta forma factory you’ve had way better pasta than you’ll have here and save your stomach and wallet...