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  • 83 1/2

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83 1/2
83 1/2

83 1/2 Details

  • Dining Style: Casual Elegant
  • Website: http://www.eighty-threeandahalf.com
  • Email: info@eighty-threeandahalf.com
  • Phone: (212) 737-8312
  • Hours of Operation: Sunday-Thursday: 5:00pm-10:00pm
    Friday-Saturday: 5:00pm-11:00pm
  • Payment Options: AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
  • Cuisine: Italian
  • Executive Chef: David Pereg
  • Dress Code: Smart Casual
  • Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
  • Additional Details: Beer, Chef's Table, Counter Seating, Delivery, Farm to Table, Full Bar, Gluten-free Menu, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Personal wines welcome, Personal wines welcome (corkage fee applies), Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Catering: 83 1/2 Ristorante catering program promotes the celebration of food, From private affairs to extravagant banquets. With the ability to create a tailored catering menu; we offer first-class catering solutions to meet the needs of your event while exceeding your highest expectations.

Getting there

  • Cross Street: Between 1st and 2nd Ave
  • Public Transit: We are a few blocks away from the (4) (5) & (6) trains at 86th Street and a short walk from the M86 Crosstown bus on the 1st Avenue stop.
  • Parking: Street Parking
A word from 83 1/2
83 ½ is best described as a labor of love. A love of a family, friends and most importantly, food. Owner Vincenzo Mangiafridda, a twenty-year restaurant veteran of the Upper East Side, wanted to open a restaurant that spoke to his deep Sicilian roots. In 83 1/2, his vision has become reality.… Chef David Pereg has created a menu of memorable Italian dishes including silky pastas, inventive antipasti, and delicious entrees.
Above all, it’s Vincenzo’s love of people that makes 83 ½ what it is: a warm, welcoming place where friends and families share their passion for food and familiar faces. We can’t wait for your family to meet ours.
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Diner Reviews
  • "We called ahead to make sure there was osso buco on the menu. The host was also the waiter, so service was not great. After the wine was opened and the orders placed, the host came back to say there was a big mistake in the kitchen and there was no osso buco. The salad we shared and the dishes we ordered as replacements (duck breast and pork) were delicious anyway. The chef came out at the end and apologized and provided a free dessert. He explained that because of the snowstorm, there was not shipment; however, now that I think of it, the kitchen should have known by the time I called, because osso buco takes time to cook, and I called after 5 pm that same evening. We may return because the chef turns out good food!"
    Dined on 2/13/2014
  • "We brought my daughter to 83-1/2 for her birthday. The room in nice and cozy. The food was delicious. My daughter had the fish special, my husband had duck, I had the buccatini. Our waitress was delightful, although she was the only waiter working that night. If the restaurant had been more crowded, we probably would have waited a long time for our meals."
    Dined on 2/12/2014
  • "Delicious dinner enjoyed by all in our party. Original variations on food make this UES Italian unique and raise it above the standard. Very good service let us enjoy our dining experience without feeling rushed even on a Friday evening on Valentine's day. Our table for 5 was a little cramped."
    Dined on 2/14/2014
  • "Really great food service and wine in this neighborhood spot. We all really enjoyed the food."
    Dined on 2/7/2014
  • "We are never disappointed at 83 1/2! The service is great , the room is cozy and the food is consistently delicious. We are so happy to have a new favorite right in our neighborhood! Sophisticated blend of flavors but not at all pretentious. Relax and enjoy a great dinner! Jennifer"
    Dined on 2/7/2014
  • "II was at 83 1/2 just after it opened. It was noisy & pricey but the food was excellent. Last night the Osso Bucco was the worst ever; made with a brown gravy and no marrow bones. Even though the restaurant was only half full, the service was inattentive and when I finally got waitress attention after 15 minutes I still didn't have my slice of cheese cake."
    Dined on 2/5/2014
  • "Everything we ordered was GREAT! Appetizers and main courses...with a Italian flair and oh so yummy. I live nearby so I plan on going back very soon! Thanks for helping us find this place around the corner!"
    Dined on 2/1/2014
  • "Small, intimate restaurant with authentic Italian food by candlelight, but be prepared to wait for a very long time for your food to be prepared. Our party of two ordered two entrees without any special requests, and it took almost an hour to come out. We informed our waiter that we had a LivingSocial voucher to cover up to $50 worth of food, but when we made our order, the waiter told us that the LivingSocial deal required two entrees. We had to correct him and show him that the voucher had no such requirements in the fine print. He also did not know the WiFi password and wasn't very familiar with the menu."
    Dined on 1/28/2014
  • "The food was okay but the service was awful - obviously some staff stiffed and were no shows as the hostess was also the only server and the busboy had an attitude - the food took forever and I was embarrassed for the friends I took there. A once."
    Dined on 1/26/2014
  • "I was hoping for more, but the food just didn't meet my expectations. Yes the pasta was homemade but it was undercooked, the entire dish was salty and the filling to my ravioli tasted like a lemon tree instead of a hint of lemon."
    Dined on 1/25/2014
  • "I really liked my dish, as did my girlfriend. I had the gnocchi and she had fish and we shared a few appetizers. There was only one bottle of wine that was priced under $55, which I thought was a bit excessive given that it's a neighborhood restaurant on the Upper East Side. The service was great! Overall, I'd recommend it."
    Dined on 1/17/2014
  • "Not your mom's red sauce & spaghetti. Since 83 ½ reopened serving inventive italian fare, they have provided a consistent quality meal. The handmade pastas are amazing. Often the small items (such as the dipping sauces for bread) are overlooked at restaurant,s however not at 83 ½! They were serving a puree of black chickpeas which was amazing! This is our 4th or 5th time returning and we will be back again! 83 ½ is such a wonderful addition to the neighborhood. Go to Bar Felice before or after for a drink!"
    Dined on 1/18/2014
  • "When here on a random weeknight and wasn't expecting anything special. Boy was I wrong. The food is excellent and the wine list, while not extensive, has something for everybody. Highly recommend checking this place out."
    Dined on 1/15/2014
  • "Food, service and $$ all great. So happy I found this neighborhood gem!"
    Dined on 1/11/2014
  • "What a wonderful find, a family-owned spot next to the long-standing Gino's. Delicious sicilian/italian options."
    Dined on 12/27/2013
  • "Tried the restaurant for the first time on Xmas eve with my family and we all were pleasantly surprised. The food was really quite good. There were too many dishes to describe but all I can say is that everything we ordered lit up our taste buds."
    Dined on 12/24/2013
  • "Everything was good until the food arrived and two orders had poor taste . When we spoke to the server he decided To ignore our table .. After the dessert was served and also Was below expectation the owner/manager kept The same attitude and sent us the check after Deducting the charge for the dessert"
    Dined on 12/22/2013
  • "The kitchen ignored our request to omit pancetta from the fish, and when we showed the waiter he insisted we were wrong. (He later saw the bits of pancetta piled high on the bread plate and acknowledged we were right, making a lame excuse.). Two of our pastas were almost inedibly oversalted. They were out of the dessert wine we ordered. Dinner wine was good. The other items were just ok. Really too bad. This neighborhood needs some more good restaurants, but this one is unlikely to survive without major improvement. We should have been suspicious when we saw that the restaurant wasn't nearly full on the Saturday night before Christmas."
    Dined on 12/21/2013
  • "We live in the neighborhood and love this restaurant! The food is outstanding, as is the service. Very friendly and warm place. It's our favorite restaurant in the neighborhood. We plan to return many times"
    Dined on 12/7/2013
  • "WE WERE SO HAPPY THAT A FOODIE SON INTRODUCED US TO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD WINNER. IT'S NOT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT ALWAYS WORTH THE VISIT. WE'VE DINED ALONE, MY HUSBAND AND I, AND WITH FRIENDS WHO ARE SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED TO THIS QUASI-SLEEPER. THOSE WHO KNOW ARE SO PLEASED WITH CHEF DAVE'S WORK, DANE THE SOUS CHEF, AND VINCENZO'S -- THE OWNER -- HOSPITALITY. BENISSIMO!"
    Dined on 12/17/2013
  • "Everything we had was tasty and well-prepared. The inventive menu, which was too weird for us a few months ago, has improved to include more straightforward pasta, fish and meat options. The place, empty at 7PM, was backed by 8:00."
    Dined on 12/13/2013
  • "I chose this lovely gem of a restaurant as it was convenient to meet four friends after work. Most of us had not seen each other in years, so we were delighted by the welcome, relatively quiet ambience. There was music, but not loud, so our conversation was able to flow. Most of us had the arugula salad to start, and one had the porcini special, which was delightful! The wine list was quite interesting and satisfying, and we found the perfect complement to our meals. Most had the saltimbocca, but one of us had the branzino and another, the orecchiette. Everything was done well, including the vegetables on the side. The tiramisu was remarkable! Great service, great food, great ambience, all made us glad we had chosen 83 1/2."
    Dined on 12/9/2013
  • "Had a lovely evening with friends at 83 and 1/2. Food was fantastic--I had the salmon which was fresh and cooked perfectly. The portion size was big--especially compared to other higher end Italian restaurants in the area."
    Dined on 11/14/2013
  • "The food while not spectacular by NY standards, it was hot, fresh and tasty. The meat dish was a bit fatty, but tender. The staff were all VERY friendly and just on that alone, I would return."
    Dined on 11/16/2013
  • "Our dinner plans got cancelled and we were 3 people without reservations on a Saturday night. I read the reviews of 83 1/2, which were good and a reservation was available. It was a no brainer to try out a new place. We arrived on time, but picked up another person in our party . The restaurant easily accommodated us. The menu is small, but plenty of choices. The food was delicious and service fine. It was a very enjoyable experience and we will be back."
    Dined on 11/8/2013
  • "been to this place before with pleasure. currently has no energy, could be a great place, but vibe from kitchen very not welcoming and thats a turn off. Starts there, thats where the energy comes from.....disappointing."
    Dined on 11/6/2013
  • "A sleek modern restaurant has moved to the neighborhood with positive energy and wonderful food. We used to eat at another restaurant in the same spot, which closed years ago and we decided to eat in this new "replacement" 83 1/2 had been recommended to us by friends. We tried it and loved the ambiance and the excellent service. We found the food to be much better and more interesting than we expected. Four of us ordered different pastas and each one was excellent. The wine suggested by the waiter was also very good. We will definitely recommend this restaurant to others and really hope it stays in the neighborhood."
    Dined on 11/2/2013
  • "Worth it if you are not on the area. Loved everything Helpful service and attractive decor. Fennel salad and beef cheeks outstanding"
    Dined on 11/3/2013
  • "Entire staff was so friendly, gave great recommendations on all courses and made us feel welcome the entire time. Will definitely be back soon!"
    Dined on 10/27/2013
  • "They had one server working and the host and manager had to help serve. They only had six tables filled but had trouble servicing. They need to bring in more people if they're going to succeed. On the upside, the food was excellent although it's a very limited menu. I definitely would try it again and hope they get it together. Nice to have good food in the neighborhood."
    Dined on 10/4/2013
  • "Very nice place - the limited menu was not an issue as it was designed cleverly and had enough variety, and the dishes were quite well done and in appropriate size (left us neither hungry nor stuffed). Two small disappointments: some offerings were not available, which given the small menu was both surprising and not great, and the desserts were a bit lacking relative to the main meal, but a good experience nonetheless. Would happily go back, except not for a special occasion."
    Dined on 9/20/2013
  • "Loved it! The Stuzzicare happy hour special is unbelievable - $1! We tried almost everything and it was all good. Especially the lamb spiedini, baccala fritti, and frico. Do not miss the gnocci - share with the table if you want an entree or order yourself - it's amazing! Great intimate atmosphere; great waiter!"
    Dined on 8/18/2013
  • "Came upon this in Open Table and tried it based on the great reviews. They were all spot on ! Had a great assortment of small plates - every one of which was awesome. Will be back again."
    Dined on 8/17/2013
  • "83 1/2, one of those hidden gems you can walk past fifty times without noticing, has absolutely raised the bar for fine dining on the UES. Not to be missed on the Sicilian-based menu are the Goat Cheese Risotto Fritters, Lamb Spiedini, Chicken Liver, Squid alla Plancha, Caponata, every single pasta (especially the Taglietelle with clams and guanciale), the Rabbit, the Bass and the insanely succulent Charred Lamb Breast and house-made donuts. The restaurant also has a great wine list curated by Jean-Luc Le Dû (ex-Restaurant Daniel). Wide selection, all affordable and great. I would easily stack 83 1/2 against many of the downtown headliners - Babbo, Torrisi - the only difference is it's quieter, cozier and within walking distance."
    Dined on 8/12/2013
  • "We went there Sat night and had an extraordinary meal - the appetizers as well as the main course were impeccably prepared. We will definitely go back."
    Dined on 8/11/2013
  • "Very nice setting, interior open but intimate at the same time, food was excellent in terms of taste, preparation, and presentation, service also very good. Extremely satisfying dining experience, but most of all go for the taste. Top notch but not at all stuffy or snooty. Relaxed, comfortable and just elegant enough to make it all feel special."
    Dined on 7/24/2013
  • "The starters were superb, ditto the deserts; the entrees however were not so. the waitstaff was lacking for a restaurant charging these prices"
    Dined on 7/21/2013
  • "We went to 83-1/2 without much advance reservation or research and were delightfully surprised!! Each dish interesting without being silly. Really extraordinary cooking, absolutely delicious, GREAT service and not unbearably hot. Their AC was doing it's best but an unbelievably hot night. We had 8 dishes come to the table, one better than the next and probably said "you've GOT to taste this" all 8 times. Some entree servings smaller than others but when the small size of portion of spaghetti was mentioned, they brought a second for the diner, equally delicious. We can't wait to return. GREAT FIND!"
    Dined on 7/20/2013
  • "Stylish dining located in a neighborhood setting that is a gem. Delicious small plate beginnings presented in sleek dishes prepared were eye catching. The sauce on the side with the Parmesan crisps was enjoyable. Attentive service was given plus a warm and friendly owner was appreciated. Italian quality you can count on such as the gnocchi with selected mushroom was the best coming from an Italian background of mine. Overall all dishes were exceptional and we are planning to return with more of our family members and friends."
    Dined on 7/13/2013
  • "Small space. Great service. Limited menu but all food choices excellent"
    Dined on 7/11/2013
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