Emilio's Ballato, New York NY

We waited outside in a small line to get in, and that was fine. This place is exactly what I was thinking of when I wanted to eat classic Italian food in an old school restaurant in New York. The food was good and I enjoyed it, but not spectacular. We got the veal Parm and pasta Bolognese. Both were good, and I would go again. Great atmosphere.

We got the cannoli for dessert, and it was ok. All in all, a good dining experience.

For the price, food was okay. Service terrible. Our server was exceptionally bad - didn’t mention any specials, tables seated after us were served food, cleaned up, and re-seated prior to us getting our food, our server put used plates from other tables on our tables, and placed our used plates in the dining area rather than taking back to the kitchen. The other server was much more efficient and much better, just poor luck we sat with the terrible server. Wouldn’t return back - definitely felt like a tourist trap.

It was an entire experience, from the 2 hour wait for a coveted table, the icons lining the photo walls, to some of the best Italian food I’ve had. I would say go if you have the time or just cancel other plans which can’t be much better…

The restaurant don’t take reservations so you need to wait in line which is fine.

You’d wait 2+ hours on a week day, just to see friend of the staff getting in and being seated before everyone.it kinda sucks

Absolutely love everything about this place. It couldn’t get any more Italian than this. First of all, I like how they didn’t have a reservation system, and everyone had to be in line to sit at the table. It was quite a wait, but fair. The entire ambience of the restaurant is very cozy, and felt like I was back in one of the restaurants in Italy. The food was amazing, the pasta was Al dente and the seasoning not overdone like most Italian restaurants in nyc. It was perfect. Will be returning here soon.

Quite possibly the most overrated restaurant in nyc. It’s like your mediocre forgettable local suburban Italian place except with nyc hype restaurant prices and a wine list

Absolutely love this place, love that it's an old school family run spot, food never misses, always a must whenever we're in town

Food is really good and authentic. Not like generic supermarket stuff with Italian flavor. Server was quick, polite, and supportive what is hard often to find in NYC restaurants.

The food was amazing! The service was polite and prompt, very efficient.
We had the fried calamari as an appetizer (it was the day's special). I had the spaghetti and meatballs and my partner had the chicken Parm.
Everything was delicious and surprisingly light! No flavor overpowered the meats and the pasta was cooked to perfection
We loved every bite and worth the price!

Incredible meal! A little pricey but the food was great! Ceaser salad was literally two leaves of lettuce which was disappointing but everything else was great.

Food was simple, great but guess we had such high expectations. Very traditional. Service was surprisingly good. The waiter was so attentive and patient. Not easy getting in but didn’t mind the quick wait.

Non-pretentious, welcoming environment:)
The food was so good and the service is second to none. Good proportions.
Delicious Italian food in Little Italy.

Amazing food, service, and atmosphere We ordered the salad, veal parm, baked clams, meatballs, lamb and 2 pasta dishes for 8. The meatballs were out of this world!

Chicken vodka parm and veal Milanese are a 10/10 here.only negatives is you need to wait outside on a line to get in (vs putting your name down and coming back).

Service is so-so, but the real highlight is the food really really amazing old school italian food.

My partner and I sat down next to a local guy who had been going to Emilio’s for over 15 years.
He recommended + organized the waiter to give us an “off the menu” dish, which was absolutely incredible alongside some of the menu items we did order.

The service was great and the atmosphere even better. The owner + manager were lovely to chat to out the front as well.
Would recommend

This restaurant has been a regular haunt of mine since 1997. In almost 30 years of dining there, the place is still one of the greatest vibes in NYC!

High level, if you live in NYC and like Italian food, just know you likely know of 10 spots you’ll enjoy more than Emilio’s.

I took my native NY wife here for a random dinner because, since moving to NYC two years ago, Emilio’s gets mentioned the most. Let me say this, I don’t think we had a real waiter/waitress… the hostess was working our table. So I am sure that contributed to our lackluster experience, but then, should it not contribute to my thoughts on the place, too?
Bottom line, maybe the MOST overrated, overhyped Italian restaurant in the city.
Food was good, sure, not amazing. At all. I won’t get into details but just real underwhelming when talking about the staples of a good Italian spot, starting with the sauce… Outside of the food it was plane bad. I love a bustling, small, loud, fun Italian spot, this place was the wrong kind of all of that.
I don’t know. Sucks to say.

Side note, I don’t ever rate restaurant’s or much of anything on Google. But it irks me that I left that annoyed.

Delicious red sauce Italian Amerucan in a chill homey atmosphere. Get here early
To beat the crowds.