La Mela

See all 63 Reviews ›

Address:
167 Mulberry Street
New York, NY 10013

Neighborhood:
Little Italy

Getting there ›
Cuisine:
Italian

Price: $30 and under

More Details ›

La Mela Details

Dining Style: Casual Dining
Website: http://www.lamelarestaurant.com
Email: lamelaristorante@aol.com
Phone: (212) 431-9493
Hours of Operation: Lunch Daily: 11:30am - 3:30pm; Dinner Nightly: 3:30pm - 2:00am
Payment Options: AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Cuisine: Italian
Dress Code: Casual Dress
Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
Additional Details: Banquet/Private Rooms, Bar Dining, Beer, Entertainment, Full Bar, Late Night, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine
Catering: Please call or email with all catering inquiries.
Entertainment: We have live entertainment on Saturday and Sunday evenings.

Getting there

Cross Street: Grand Street
Public Transit: Take the 6 train to Spring Street, the N & R train to Prince Street, the D & B trains to Grand Street, the Q, N, R, 6 & J trains to Canal Street, or the F, D, B, M & 6 trains to Broadway Lafayette.
Parking: Public Lot
Parking Details: There is convenient metered and free street parking available (read the signs carefully), as well as a lot around the corner from La Mela on Broome Street with hourly and daily rates.

A word from La Mela

La Mela has been delighting people with delicious and generous portions of Italian food for over twenty five years. La Mela is famous as a staple of Mulberry Street in New York's Little Italy. We have a full a la carte menu of mouthwatering dishes and desserts, as well as the family style dining… that has made us famous for delicious and plentiful food. Come down, have fun, and make yourself at home. We'll treat you like family. Family we like. Continued

Foodspotting photos

See all photos >

Diner Reviews

"Fun, fun, fun!!! The food is amazing and the service is wonderful."
Dined on 4/4/2014
"It was a fairly quiet night due to the weather. The waiter seemed more concerned with when they were closing than high quality service - it was "adequqate". Beware the Prix Fixe menu - we ordered the 4 course variation for 2 - there are NO CHOICES available - it is totally set. Food was quite good."
Dined on 4/4/2014
"My husband and I had it recommended by a colleague here in NH . So glad we went and we will be back! Great prices ranging from 9.95-26.00 for lunch and dinner. A bargain for large families, 22.00 pp for family style. Big servings.Calamari delicious, eggplant parm was terrific. Friendly waiters. Great for couples, families and solo."
Dined on 4/5/2014
"We came here on the recommendation of a friend and it did not disappoint. The bolognese pasta and chicken parm were excellent. We also had the mozzarella and tomato app which was really good as well. Lots of pictures on the wall of famous people eating there if you are in to that kind of stuff."
Dined on 4/1/2014
"Amazing food. We ordered the family style meal. Everything tasted delicious and portions were large. Price is very reasonable for the quality and amount of food you get. Service was excellent."
Dined on 3/25/2014
"Wonderful service, wonderful food. We will definitely be back!"
Dined on 3/26/2014
"I would only recommend this restaurant for take out. The food is the only good thing about this place. It's a shame that a restaurant with good food would lack in all other areas. The service is shameful. They squeeze you into a packed room and throw the food down on the table at you. The server knocked over a bottle of wine onto one of my guest. They sloped it up and walked away. Didn't offer to even buy one drink for the person they spilled the wine all over. Half the bottle was spilled and they still put it on our bill. It was so loud and crazy it felt like we were eating in Grand Central Station. They should keep the kitchen staff and get rid of everyone else."
Dined on 3/8/2014
"The food was very good and the prices were fair. We had a family gathering with 13 people and the service was attentive (just the right amount). We ordered off the menu, I felt like they had a preference for us to eat family style but it didn't get in the way. Everyone had good things to say about their entre. We ordered group appetizers and all were typical fare (in a good way) for Little Italy (fried calamari, spiedini etc all were tasty). The chicken and veal dishes were prepared perfectly, moist. I would definitely return."
Dined on 3/16/2014
"Our Party of 8 had a blast here. 3hrs of the best wine dine and food. Waiter added to the fun as he personality was top notch made it fun for all involved. Can't wait til I'm 52!!!!! Will Be Back"
Dined on 3/15/2014
"Service was pretty good. The waiters managed to come around at good intervals. My only issue would be seasoning of the food. I had the gnocchi while a friend ordered the hot antipasto and a side of meatballs. The gnocchi had the correct texture. Only the seasoning felt off. Maybe a lack of salt or garlic powder. Portions of my friends' hot antipasto were great while others not so much. Although it had grilled vegetables and a mozzarella bread type thing, again flavor was missing for some of the items. The meatballs again had good texture except flavor was lacking. nice place. Good service. Only the food needs to be tasted excite leaving to the dining area."
Dined on 3/10/2014
"We had a party of 13, and we had great service. My only complaint was we were in the WAY back of the restaurant, seated by a door and it was very chilly/drafty (cold night that night). Also, the waitor continually brought out wine, which we never asked for nor had the opportunity to choose. I could have spoken up, but it was easier to go along with this this particular night. The servers should definitely ask before brining bottles of wine already open to the table, and ask again before brining more bottles (already open) to the table. We did not want nor need our 5th bottle. BUT food was great, and it was a overall good experience, we would definitely come again."
Dined on 3/1/2014
"We chose La Mela because we had been there 17 years ago with our children and loved it. It was as unique as we remembered and the food was good, not great. But for the money and the chance to be in Little Italy, worth it."
Dined on 2/27/2014
"Been here a few times. It is great for large groups. The experience was excellent and the servers know how to make the occasion a lot of fun."
Dined on 3/1/2014
"For this Pittsburgher La Mela has become our go-to spot in Little Italy. This time to celebrate our granddaughters' birthdays. Family fare for adults and kids selected from the menu. Great food."
Dined on 2/15/2014
"Eating at LaMella's is like eating at your favorite neighborhood place. The food is terrific, large portions, and they make you feel like you are a regular (welcoming, friendly, accommodating)."
Dined on 2/20/2014
"We've been here many times and love the casual feel. We had the 4 course family style. Food has been a bit better in the past ... very heavy butter on the appetizer and meat courses. Pasta delicious. We still had a good time."
Dined on 2/16/2014
"My father in law raved about this gem of a restaurant he found in Little Italy called the Apple. This is the quintessential Italian experience that is disappearing from the city. The food, the charm, the service, and even the view of the neighborhood is without equal. I usually try to go somewhere new every time I visit New York, but this is too good to pass up."
Dined on 11/23/2013
"As classic as love and Italian food can get... period"
Dined on 2/14/2014
"Returned here after not visiting for 10 yrs. Last time I went in summer and sat in the garden. I remember it being nothing fancy but fun and the food was good. Went again for Valentine's Day and my date was "ok" with it but we agreed it was NOT romantic. As we left we took a look at the space and realized we sat in the wrong room for any "romance". You enter via a middle room. We were sat in the room to the left (which you enter by walking through a hallway that is the entrance to someone's apartment). The left room could not have more fluorescent lighting. (When we looked later, the room on the right seemed to have MUCH better lighting). Family style menu is fun. Food was good but atmosphere took away enough I prob won't return"
Dined on 2/14/2014
"Best penne vodka I have ever tasted! Try the calamari! Pasta was perfectly cooked!"
Dined on 2/14/2014
"Very nice atmosphere and starters, however our pastas were all bland... My family is Italian and I was really surprised in a bad way with this restaurant. Not even the parmesan cheese could help in this case. Just no taste... But pro: very well served portions so you will not leave feeling hungry. Cheeses were lovely, as well as mushrooms and asparagus."
Dined on 2/9/2014
"we went with a party of 8 for daughters birthday and had been to La Mela years ago and remember it as a fun vibrant place where the food and wine flowed all nite...we ordered the family meal and it was very restricting..many people at the table did not eat cheese and everything was covered in cheese and they were not very accommodating when asked to substitute and even when we asked to just not put cheese on top!! We were getting what they wanted to give us regardless!! Food was ok...not the best in Little Italy A little disappointing!!"
Dined on 1/26/2014
"We went with our two adult sons & their dates promising a wild & crazy place; instead we were seated in a plain dining room w/out all of the "charm" of the original dining room. The waiter was a bit brusque & he lacked the fun loving spirit of waiters from previous visits who added to the dining experience. Instead of the youthful guitarist w/ the unruly curly hair who used to jump up & start singing loudly & dancing vigorously, an older man, strummed thoughtfully, sang quietly, & strolled slowly from table to table was the fair musical fare. I was disappointed since I wanted the younger generation (our sons did not fully recollect their earlier visits there) to get the full treatment. The food was still superb & the portions generous."
Dined on 1/25/2014
"This was our second time at La Mela and they did not disappoint. The family style three course dinner for two is one of the best values I have ever seen. The tomato mozzarella salad is huge and delicious. The hot antipasti is fantastic. The gnocchi, and the other two pasta choices are way more than you can eat but boy do you want to eat it all. And the friendly staff and Frankie and its a can't miss very time!"
Dined on 1/24/2014
"My party of five were all very complimentary about the food we had at La Mela in Little Italy this past Sunday. My dish, in particular, was excellent and was some of the best veal marsala I had tasted in a long time. My fiancee enjoyed her shrimp dish very much, which I tasted and agreed with her that it was delicious. The service was good and not over-bearing. The menu contains a nice variety of dishes. My fiancee and I are looking forward to going back to La Mela."
Dined on 1/12/2014
"I have been coming here since I was a child and the family style meal has never changed. It is delicious, high quality, authentic Italian food. Although some staff is new, it is still family run and the sons of the original owners now run the place. On the downside, it is extremely busy during the holidays (December, mostly) so definitely go on an "off" time to get the full authentic experience."
Dined on 1/12/2014
"EXCELLENT CHOICE !! We had a party of 7 and were running a little late and they had us seated right away. The waiter recommended the family style dining for our table for 5 due to the portion sizes as we had 2 teens and one under 12 in our party. The portion size was perfect and food and service was the best I've ever had in NYC !! When we got to dessert they automatically put candles in it and sang to the Birthday Girl !! As the restaurant got more customers in it was a little noisy so I did ask to be seated in a quiet area if possible and they honored my request as I stated in my reservation. All in all this restaurant is an Excellent choice when in lower Manhattan !!"
Dined on 1/11/2014
"I dine at this restaurant every time I visit N.Y.C. I come all the way from Florida to get a great Italian meal!!!"
Dined on 12/24/2013
"This is my third visit to La Mela in two visits to NYC and I love this place! Great food with enormous portions, great service and just a charming feel. Would recommend to anyone!"
Dined on 1/1/2014
"We went to la mela 15 years ago with our entire family and we had a great time. There were many waiters and they made the atmosphere very festive. We decided to go back to re-live the experience but This time around the atmosphere was not nearly as fun. There are better places to go."
Dined on 12/30/2013
"Go for the family style meal along withy the house red wine. This is one of the food experiences I have ever had. The flavour of the food was incredible. So was the service."
Dined on 1/1/2014
"We had a lunch reservation for three and came on time. A very rude waiter came and told me he would be back. That was the last time he even acknowledged we were there. various waiters and someone who looked like a manager passed by us, and I guess we were invisible to them. 10 minutes later, we left because no one would give us time of day. Luckily we had four more restaurants (two across and four in front) to choose from. If their food was good, I will never know, but with that kind of rude service, I don't care to know either."
Dined on 12/30/2013
"The taste of the food is simply outstanding including appetizers, entrees, and deserts. Portion size is appropriate and cooked to perfection. Everyone in our party enjoyed this holiday dinner. The wait staff is very accomodating. This is the second time I have had dinner at La Mela and I would definitely come back again. The food is that good! Some suggestions for improvement are: The bar selections could use updating, including the wine list. The menu can benefit from some variety of "specials" for the day including appetizers, entrees, and deserts."
Dined on 12/28/2013
"New Years Eve family style NYC bargain and great service and food."
Dined on 12/31/2013
"We love this place. It's like eating Italian home cooking style. The crew members are efficient and want to take care of you. I reCommend it highly"
Dined on 12/25/2013
"I visited this restaurant Christmas Day and the experience was wonderful. Cheerful, pleasant, and personable staff even on a holiday night. The food was outstanding! Best authentic Italian food I have ever had. When I make the trip back to NYC I will definitely come back."
Dined on 12/25/2013
"Great service. Delicious food. Very accommodating: had to call because we were running late and they held our table. Can't wait to go back!!"
Dined on 12/22/2013
"The linguini white clams are always yummy. However this time there were about 7 unopened clams, which is quite a lot. Food still delicious. Although portions are getting smaller."
Dined on 12/19/2013
"Not much ambiance at LaMela. The food was good, but that's just not enough. I wouldn't go back."
Dined on 12/16/2013
"Very commercial tourist trap! The food was okay, but not great. They are all about running the bodies through this place. Not a place to go for a fine Italian meal, but okay for a quick, average dinner."
Dined on 12/13/2013

More reviews ›

Reserve at La Mela

La Mela Details

Getting there

Related Links

Featured Cities

Popular

OpenTable