Livorno — Restaurant in Town of Hempstead

Livorno! Bellissimo!.. can't believe I waited this long to experience this fabulous dining experience, of course I had to trust my fellow yelp elite reviewer's and dive into this fine establishment and I'm so glad I did! My wife and I made reservations for 6:45 and Nick the owner graciously sat us promptly, I requested the middle of the dining room because I'm a people watcher but also a food watcher!lol lets talk about the dining room, beautifully lit w warm lighting just the way I like it, pics from Venice and other regions of the Italy hanging, hardwood floors , White tablecloth's & a Beautiful full wood bar with a large flatscreen to catch a quick glimpse of sports and/or current events, dining room was a quarter full and very intimate for a nice Sunday night dinner, The owner next son happens to be our waiter and Dennis impressed me not only with his knowledge of the food but also his hospitality, he made us feel like we were family,The bus boy after introducing himself brought us some delicious bruschetta,a wonderful eggplant,onion & sweet pepper tapenade w fresh Italian bread & garlic knots, A little while later our waiter Dennis explained about 10 specials so wonderfully,wording it so eloquently! My mouth was watering so onto ordering we went with the fried calamari of coarse, lightly fried to perfection with a wonderful homemade marinara sauce, next up we delved into the mozzarella Carrozza, basically a mozzarella stick on steroids, deliciousness!.. then onto one of the appetizer specials,cappellini fried and breaded with tomato sauce and pesto sauce combination, this was Heaven on earth! For dinner I went with the grandma special which consisted of baby sausage,a medium size meatball and pork and beef Braciola, I could've sworn my own grandmother was in the back plating this masterpiece of a dish! And just the right portion too! A very popular dish & It truly exceeded my expectations immensely! Throughout this whole serving of fine dishes the waitstaff was exceptional waiting on my wife and I with every little need and want, a young staff but so professional, informative and on their game! I forgot to mention how fast the food came out but at the same time we didn't feel rushed, a big bowl of grated cheese was brought to me as well as my requested red pepper flakes, I love how I had it all to myself! Washing all this incredible food down were HUGE portions of wonderful palate pleasing California Chardonnay, that had to impress me the most being the wine lover I am, I finished with a whiskey sour and that was also a nice serving which are paired up with the homemade tiramisu, an excellent choice because it was baked to perfection,moist, adequate amount of cocoa and espresso and some of the best I ever had! In addition a Complementary fresh fruit fruit platter and homemade Zeppoli's were delivered by Nick the owner of this fine establishment, this was some of the best Italian food I've had in a wonderful ambience with fantastic service that should not be missed! Right in the heart of Lynbrook it should not be surpassed! Hopefully you will enjoy it as...

Title: A Five-Star Italian Delight!

Review: I recently had the pleasure of dining at this delightful Italian restaurant, and I must say, it was an exceptional experience from start to finish. The service was top-notch, and the staff's friendly and welcoming demeanor truly made me feel at home.

The menu offered a wide variety of delectable Italian dishes, and I was blown away by the incredible flavors and presentation. Each dish was carefully crafted with fresh ingredients, and it was evident that the chefs took great pride in their culinary creations.

The service staff deserves special recognition for their attentiveness and professionalism. They went above and beyond to ensure that my dining experience was nothing short of fantastic. From their helpful recommendations to their prompt service, they truly excelled in delivering an unforgettable evening.

However, if I had to suggest an area for improvement, it would be the bread basket. While the rest of the meal was outstanding, the bread could have been more flavorful and freshly baked. This minor setback did not diminish the overall quality of the dining experience, but a small improvement in this area would make it even better.

I wholeheartedly recommend this Italian restaurant for anyone seeking a remarkable dining experience. With their excellent service, friendly staff, and mouthwatering dishes, it is an establishment that deserves five stars without a doubt. I look forward to returning and exploring more of their culinary offerings....

Three stars because the food is still high quality, however, the service has really gone down the drain. After my first poor experience, when your server barely looked at me, didn't read me the specials, and overall ignored me, I still gave him a nice tip, and I still gave you another chance.

Today was the last straw. You tried to seat me in the worst possible seat because some people "didn't want other people near them", or something. Then, when I try to pay with GPay, you couldn't figure it out, so you made me write my credit card number down, and you couldn't figure that out either.

Not only would you not take my phone number or my word for that it was the right number (and I was a regular), but you were hostile too, told me you didn't care if I ever came back, and I still gave you a nice tip. Never again.

You were my favorite spot, and I looked forward to dining here for years, took everyone I know here. I gave you an opportunity to resolve this discord, and you let me know I didn't spend enough money to matter to you ($50 a head isn't pricey enough?) You even ranted about "free bread", which, yeah, all Italian restaurants provide that?

I see now while your dining room was empty....