San Matteo Pizza & Espresso Bar — Restaurant in New York

San Matteo – A Neighborhood Gem on the Upper East Side

Tucked into the vibrant corner of 89th Street and 2nd Avenue, San Matteo has quickly become one of my favorite spots in the Upper East Side—an effortlessly charming Italian restaurant that delivers on all fronts. From the moment you step in, you're greeted with a warm, buzzing atmosphere, an inviting bar, and a team that clearly takes pride in making guests feel welcome.

One of the biggest draws is Annabelle, the phenomenal bartender whose energy is nothing short of magnetic. She’s not just serving drinks—she’s setting the tone for the night. Annabelle’s fun, quick-witted, and always engaging, which is likely why she’s attracted such a loyal following, myself and many of my friends . Her presence alone makes grabbing a seat at the bar a full experience, not just a pitstop before dinner. Or better yet, eat at the bar!

The menu is solid, full of Italian classics done right. The Margherita and Vestuti pizzas are both top-tier: thin, crispy, and bursting with flavor thanks to fresh ingredients and just the right amount of char from the oven. On the pasta front, the Penne alla Vodka is rich and comforting without being heavy, while the Rigatoni Alla Bolognese is an absolute standout—savory, perfectly cooked, and a must-try.

Their wine list deserves a nod as well: it’s diverse, well-priced, and thoughtfully selected. Whether you’re looking to keep things casual or want a bottle to celebrate something special, you’ll find plenty of options to match your vibe and your budget.

But what really sets San Matteo apart is the staff. From the kitchen to the floor, everyone contributes to a sense of community and fun that elevates the whole dining experience. It’s not just about the food or drink—it’s about the feeling you get when you’re here.

Bottom line: San Matteo is the kind of place that turns first-timers into regulars. Come for the pizza and pasta, stay for Annabelle and the...

UPDATE: It's a sad day when I have to update this review but it's here. The owner has retired to a Cafe he runs elsewhere and new management has taken over this place. He's a great guy but cut too many corners. They no longer user triple fermented sourdough, and the crust now doesn't have anywhere close to the air it used to have in the photos here. The crust taste is completely gone. It's still remarkably thin but just tasteless like every other Pizzeria, not as unique as it used to be. Cheese was also tasteless. Looks like too many corners have been cut, and the price went up so there's really no upside to this change. It seems that people have caught onto the changes because it was empty on a Sunday at 5pm. Was always full at that time. Oh well :/

OLD REVIEW: As usual, San Matteo remains to make the single best Neapolitan Pizza I have ever tasted in my entire life. Nowhere in North America gets even close to it. It's no wonder they import water from Naples to make their dough. The sourdough crust tastes just magical. The sauce is just perfectly balanced. The Buffala cheese isn't as heavy or curdy as others we've had. It's just a perfect pizza. I strongly recommend sticking to the Margherita so you can enjoy the taste of pizza without having toppings interfere with the taste. I'm going to Naples this spring and I seriously doubt we'll taste better pizza there. This pie is at a completely different level compared to any other 'Neapolitan' pizzeria in...

I went once before and sat inside and the owner was friendly and the food was great. That was not the experience I had this past weekend.

We were at first sitting outside at tables that were so crooked because of the slanted sidewalk. We, and many people around us had to work very hard to tried to keep our drinks from sliding off the table. The waiter's solution was to bring more coasters. We also did not love the wine he brought so we asked for a different one and decided we might have a better meal if we moved inside. Upon asking the owner if we could move to an inside table, he told us we kept "changing our mind. Inside, outside, rosé, no rosé." We were so caught off guard by his rudeness and response we decided to leave so we asked for the check to pay for the one glass of wine we had sipped. He tried to walk back his comment, and we still wanted to leave. So he said it was free and we left. I don't understand why any owner would go out of his way to be rude to a patron, rather than going out of his way to accommodate us so we could have a nice meal at his restaurant. We will not be back to eat...