Campanile Restaurant

Only if you want great NYC red sauce serious Italian food. Not some interpretation with microwaved warmed food from a hip new place but real freshly prepared to perfection. This has been the «must go» resturant for cooks and 212’er for years and it only seems to get better as these new places seek to reinvent what they already do so well and have been for years. If you have one meal in NYC and you want it to be perfect, here is where you go.

food: 3
décor: 2
service: 4
overall: 3
came here for a business lunch and it was fairly underwhelming. as soon as you walk in, you feel like you stepped into the 1980’s. the dark red/​brown carpet floor, very dim yellow lighting. to be fair, as long as the food is good this can be overlooked, but the food was also very average.
i ordered a fresh mozzarella and tomato salad with chopped onions, but it wasn’t the fresh soft mozzarella i was expecting. it was rather hard and dense. again, not bad but not amazing.
for entrée i ordered their chicken marsala special, with sauteed mushrooms, asparagus and sausages. this was also ok. the chicken was a bit dry, and i wish they had more vegetables to compliment the meat and thick sauce.
the staff was very attentive and accomodating, always refilling our waters and taking away plates as soon as we were finished.
i feel like this place is missing that 2% that could make it a more popular place to eat.

This restaurant amazes me. I usually enter into a warm greeting by the owner at the door — realizing in fact that I am usually the only person in the restaurant. At 7 PM. On a Wednesday. I’m also impressed with the length of specials always recited by heart by the waiters (who do a great job). The service is quick, perhaps a bit too quick but for New York time, it works fine. There are lengthy delicious descriptives that are as extensive as the menu itself. I would say it is normally tough to choose but my treat there is usually the squid ink pasta in a seafood medley. The portion size is just right, the pasta is cooked to Al Dante perfection, and the proportion of fish variety is usually perfect. The sauce is a combination of tomatoes in a beautiful blend of red sauce. Not too spicy. During dinner I always wonder why the restaurant wouldn’t accommodate more people. Until I get the check. I’m always one for paying for great food and in this case it usually is very good. And understanding it’s New York and all, charging $ 15 for a vodka and orange juice for example is just a bit over-​the-​top. In a nutshell it’s pricey. So until I feel like I’m not paying for some of those empty seats, I remain four out of five stars.

I’ve been going here for years. It used to be busier and better tasting. Now it is sadly, abysmally empty and the food is so bland and unimpressive, I really cannot believe being so empty, you can’t do better (or get a better chef). Last time I went, I made the mistake of ordering a special and a non-​alcoholic beer. I know the owner quite well, so I was SHOCKED when he gave me the bill! He charged me $ 8 for a dam Buckler beer! Give. Me. A. Break. You don’t eff over your long-​term customers like that. And the appetizer special was just ok and he charged like $ 20 for a caprese salad. You’ve got to be kidding me. My daughter was like he is the weirdest, creepiest man ever and I don’t ever want to come back here again. I had to agree. He flirts too much, it’s ridiculous. How he stays in business is truly a head-​scratcher. I dropped so much money on spaghetti that my chef husband could do better at home, hell I could do better.

Recently came to Campanile Restaurant for a business lunch with my team. Originally, I was going to leave them 4 stars but after comparing it to other italian restaurants I’ve been to– a solid 3 it is. My boss has been coming to this spot on 29^th for years and as soon as we walked in the door– we were greeted very warmly by the staff. It’s definitely what I would consider to be an old school Italian joint– round tables, white tablecloths, dim lighting and very outdated wallpaper. LOL. We were served bread to start, along with an assortment of cheese, crackers and dried meat which was a nice touch. Our waiter was extremely knowledgeable, he must have read off over 10 – 12 detailed specials all from memory… or maybe those are everyday specials– who knows?!
I ordered the chicken francaise which came with sauteed spinach. It was good but I remember feeling hungry after I finished my meal– the sauce was done right but the chicken itself was pounded extremely thin. I’d say their portion ratio to price isn’t a fair bet– but that’s fancy Manhattan for you. I’m not saying I wouldn’t return but it’s just not my style– it’s definitely geared towards an «older/​uppity crowd». It was obvious from the moment I walked in.

After a 13 hour terrible horrible work day while traveling in NY, my coworker and I ended up stumbling in here with no expectations. We were greeted by who I think was the owner and it was almost he could sense our exhaustion and stressed mood. He was welcoming and kind and felt like we were going to go sit at his Italian family’s home kitchen table for dinner. The décor was like a trip back in time — I’m sure its the same décor from the 70’s — I found that charming. We ordered wine and shared a pasta plate and both had tasty soups and salads. I thought everything tasted really good. I imagine a tiny old lady in the back, cutting ravioli.
We spoke with the owner at length about the heyday of his restaurant and how much it has changed. The neighborhood/​the economy/​celebrity restaurants. He seemed truly thankful that we came in and ate at his place. He was proud of his food and I was happy to contribute to his cash intake that day. Their food and their attitude was just what this weary Texan who had a rough NY day needed. It was the closest thing to a hug with food that I may have ever experienced. Im sure in NY there are many more famous and fancy Italian restaurant to go but this was genuine and to me, that is priceless.

Mediocre for the most refined of taste buds, and very expensive for the quality.

First and last time here. Went here for a friend’s birthday dinner with a large party of about 25 – 30 people. Service was mediocre. One server made a huge mistake and was refilling a glass of wine, didn’t even bother to ask what the wine was and ended up pouring Pinot Noir in a glass of Cabernet! Terrible.
Ordered a veal chop medium rare, and it was totally over cooked. Presentation was non-​existent. Tasted the chicken parmigiana — very bland.
Quality of food is not worth the price.

I went with a big group of friends, around 10 people.
My boyfriend and I arrived early, and we sat at the bar.
Bartender was nice and friendly.
They have a good selection of alcohol.
I ordered Oban, and they weren’t stingy with the pour.
When our friends arrived, we were seated promptly.
It wasn’t too crowded for a Saturday night.
Spacious restaurant.
It was a little difficult to communicate with the waiter, but we managed.
Waiter was very accommodating with our large group.
I got the mushroom ravioli, which was delicious. Seasoned just right.
I also tried the Eggplant Parmigiana, which was even better.
I don’t think this restaurant is very well-​known, and I don’t think they’re too popular, but I had no complaints with Campanile, and I would have no problem returning.

My friend and I were looking for an Italian feast for lunch today… and we got it at Campanile!
Though the prices are a little expensive, the food is worth it. Their Caprese (Mozzarella and Tomato) was perfect… thick slices of both the cheese and the vegetable, topped with a light dressing. The Shrimp Cocktail was OK; large shrimp served at a good temperature, but it was not served with cocktail sauce. I had the Chicken Parmigiana, which they served with a side of Penne pasta (only because I asked), and it was to die for! The chicken was pounded so thin, and was as large as my plate, topped with perfectly cooked cheese. It almost looked like a pizza on my plate… it was so much food, I couldn’t finish it! But oh, so good!

Ask for pricing info before you order!!! The food was good, service great but their prices are absurd! I ordered a bottle of sparkling spring water with my meal and the bottled water ended up being $ 12.25! Then, I had dessert, which was also overpriced and that was $ 12.50! Now, I don’t mind paying for great food but you can’t tell me that the bottle of water and dessert total combined cost should be more than my entrée! Of course, they conveniently don’t have a dessert menu and I don’t recall seeing the prices for non alcoholic beverages. Actually, had I known what a rip off the water was going to be, I would have opted for a glass of wine, which had to be of equal or lesser value!