Sistina

Name: Sistina
Address: 24 E 81st Street, New York, NY, United States, 10028
Telephone: (212) 861-7660
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.8

4.8

1107 Reviews

$31 to $50

Italian

Top Tags:

WE ARE NOT PARTICIPATING IN RESTAURANT WEEK .

Sistina restaurant, one of the most highly rated Italian restaurants in New York City, has been impressing its sophisticated clientele for almost 40 years. Host/owner/chef Giuseppe Bruno, the Zagat Survey's "Host of the Year", is responsible for every aspect of his restaurant, from greeting his devoted patrons, to preparing special meals and dishes upon request.

CANCELLATION POLICY: For all reservations we require credit card information. If you wish to cancel your reservation, please contact us, sistina@sistinany.com or at (212) 861.7660, a minimum of 24 hours in advance. Failure to notify the restaurant in a timely fashion will result in a $50 cancelation fee per person in the group.

DRESS CODE: committed to a certain excellence, our dress code is smart casual. We do not require men to wear a jacket or tie, but we politely ask that you please avoid SHORTS, FLIP FLOPS AND SNEAKERS.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Aug 19, 2022

7:30 PM

Booked 16 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(212) 861-7660

Other options

Order online

Additional information

Dining style
Fine Dining
Cuisines
Italian
Hours of operation
Lunch Mon–Sat 12:00 pm–2:45 pm Dinner Mon–Sat 5:00 pm–9:45 pm
Phone number
(212) 861-7660
Website
http://sistinany.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive chef
Giuseppe Bruno
Private party facilities
GARDEN ROOM Sistina’s winter-garden is the perfect place for small events of up to 40 guests. With big glass windows, skylights and impeccable works of art, you will feel surrounded by luxury and brilliance as you dine. MAIN ROOM Sistina’s Cozy main dining room, comes complete with master fireplace, grand crown molding and various works of art. This room seats a maximum of 60 guests. FULL BUYOUT For large scale events and celebrations, we would recommend a full buyout. With complete and private access to both the Main dining room and the rear garden room, we can entertain a maximum of 100 guests within the space. Dine and celebrate in style and privacy in one of the most beautiful town houses in New York City.

Location
24 E 81st Street, New York, NY 10028
Neighborhood
Upper East Side
Cross street
Madison and Fifth Ave
Parking details
The closest parking garage is located on 80th st. between Park Avenue and Madison Avenue.
Public transit
the local 6 train stops at 77th street and Lexington Ave<br />the 4,5 & 6 trains stop at 86th street and Lexington Ave
Additional
Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wine

Featured in

The Diner Reviews Are In: 100 Best Restaurants in America

Popular dishes

Arugula Pear Salad$18.00
fennel and shaved parmigiano reggiano cheese with a lemon vinaigrette
Italian Wedge Salad$22.00
iceberg lettuce, gorgonzola cheese and apple-smoked bacon with a red wine vinaigrette
Zucchini Flower$25.00
stuffed with ricotta cheese on a bed of tomato coulis
Eggplant Parmigiana$25.00
One Dozen Fresh Oysters*$36.00
Monkey Blue, Moon Shoal, Island Creek and Paine's Creek oysters
Grilled Shrimps and Scallops$28.00
crabmeat and summer black truffle sauce
Clams and Mussels$25.00
fresh tomatoes, garlic and cannellini beans
Grilled Octopus$25.00
roasted peppers, capers and white beans in a light tomato sauce
Roasted Artichokes$25.00
grilled mozzarella and grilled shrimps
Beef Carpaccio$28.00
arugula, parmigiano reggiano cheese, summer black truffles and balsamic vinegar
Italian Crudo*$35.00
tuna, wild salmon, Hamachi, Diver Sea scallops, Himalayan salt and lemon vinaigrette
Beets and Burrata$25.00
burrata, roasted beets, horseradish, roasted peppers and balsamic reduction
Tomato Salad$25.00
heirloom tomatoes, mozzarella di bufala, cucumbers, red onions, oregano and extra virgin olive oil
Prosciutto and Melon$25.00
prosciutto di Parma, Cavaillon melon and figs

Pasta

Mezzi Paccheri Frutti di Mare$38.00
scallops, shrimps, mussels, calamari and clams in a spicy tomato sauce
Linguini Lobster$55.00
Maine lobster in a tomato sauce
Spaghetti di Bietole e Vongole$28.00
red beets spaghetti with white clam sauce
Black Homemade Linguini (Squid Ink Linguini)$32.00
calamari, clams, mussels and roasted peppers
Spaghetti Integrali$32.00
whole wheat spaghetti, summer black truffles and crab meat
Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe$26.00
cracked black pepper and melted pecorino romano cheese
Busiate$30.00
homemade fusilli with fresh tomatoes, basil, goat cheese and lemon zest
Wild Mushroom Ravioli$35.00
sweet bell pepper puree and pecorino romano cheese
Spaghetti Trapanese$25.00
crushed pistachio, walnuts, pine nuts and almonds in a spicy tomato sauce with pecorino romano cheese
Pappardelle Sistina$26.00
veal Bolognese with wild mushrooms
Orecchiette with Lamb$28.00
lamb ragu, bell peppers and fresh tomato sauce
Veal Tortelloni$28.00
black summer truffles and veal jus

Risotto

Risotto Cetarese$42.00
anchovies, mozzarella and California white sturgeon caviar
Summer Risotto$35.00
Italian summer mountain herbs and goat cheese

Pesce

Branzino Al Sale$50.00
salt crusted wild branzino with seasonal vegetables
Grilled Wild Salmon$48.00
arugula, crab meat and lime wedges
Pan Fried Soft Shell Crab$45.00
sautéed corn and fresh crabmeat in a lemon sauce
Wild Atlantic Halibut$48.00
spinach, wild mushrooms and red wine reduction
Florida Wild Red Snapper$48.00
zucchini, zucchini flowers and crab meat in an heirloom tomato broth
Diver Sea Scallops$48.00
cauliflower puree and cauliflower florets

Carne

Giuseppe's Chicken Meatballs$42.00
fresh tomato sauce, white beans, fava beans and fresh peas
New York Stripe Steak$55.00
salsa verde, heirloom tomato salad and roasted fingerling potatoes
Organic Free Range Chicken and Sausage$40.00
roasted chicken with pork sausage, pickled hot cherry peppers and garlic
Veal Chop Milanese$52.00
lightly breaded and pounded veal chop with arugula and tomatoes
Veal Scaloppini$45.00
lemon sauce, prosciutto di Parma, fresh tomatoes and Gaeta olives
Grilled Veal Chop$55.00
mixed vegetables gratin and veal jus
Colorado Rack of Lamb$45.00
eggplant puree and homemade yoghurt
Berkshire Pork Chop$45.00
onions, cherries and mustard seeds
White Wine Braised Rabbit$42.00
foie gras and parsnip puree

What 1,107 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8

4.8 based on recent ratings

4.8Food
4.8Service
4.8Ambience
4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

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Filters

PS
PeggyS
New York Area
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Outstanding food, service, and ambiance. A wonderful experience .
BW
BethW
New York Area
11 reviews
5.0
11 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Consistently one of the finest restaurants in NYC. The service, the food, the ambience.
J
Jack
New York Area
61 reviews
vip
5.0
61 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Just outstanding. Food is fun, creative, seasonal. Really an excellent experience.
BB
BigBadSworth
New England
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on August 10, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Best in the city! Great ambience and incredible food
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 6, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food was fantastic and the staff was very attentive. 10/10 would recommend, I will be going back.
r
realtyrob
New York Area
31 reviews
vip
5.0
31 reviews
Dined on August 6, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
WE WENT 3 MORE TIMES. EACH TIME WAS AWESOME. I BRING A PEN SO I CAN WRITE DOWN ALL OF THE SPECIALS. DESSERTS WERE TO DIE FOR. LOVED THE PASTA AND THE SOFT SHELL CRAB. BE SURE TO GET THE PASTA TRAPANSE, ONE OF THE BEST PASTA DISHES IN THE CITY. CHECK OUT ALL OUR PHOTOS FOR THE GOOD STUFF. WOW!! One of our fav Italian on UES. This is Italian perfection. She is Italian and is hard to please but she loves this place every time. When you get to desserts you MUST have the chocolate soufflé and the Italian crème they make in a huge copper pot (Not on the menu and I forget what it is called but it is yummy). The Lobster pasta has so much lobster in it I could barely finish it and it is done perfectly with tomato sauce. She had the risotto which is heavy and large should could easily be a shared dish. I LOVE soup so I had 3 different kinds. All were awesome including a chilled watermelon and a hot peach soup. Spectacular. The tartrate app is amazing as well. The room in the back with the glass ceiling is nice if you can get it. Check out the photos, they tell the whole story. Top notch all the way. Check out all of our reviews. If we do not like it we do no review it so all of the ones you see are places that are fantastic. Follow us if you like. We had over 7 million views in 2021, over 13 million views in the first 6 months of 2022 and we thank you for that. We don't get paid, we just love to eat. Be sure to click on "RobH" at the top of our Google Maps review to see all of them and to follow us if you like good food and FUN.
NF
NicoleF
New York Area
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 6, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
a beautiful hidden gem on the the upper east side. The food was phenomenal and wine list was the most extensive I’ve ever seen. Perfect for celebrating a special occasion!
J
Jstuart
New York Area
9 reviews
vip
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on July 31, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful food in a beautiful space. Extensive menu and professional service. Will definitely return.
B
Bostonsuz
New England
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on July 29, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
What a gorgeous gem! Quite side street and a perfect spot for apres Met!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Naples
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on July 29, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful food and excellent service
AS
ArleneS
New York Area
31 reviews
5.0
31 reviews
Dined on July 28, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Always wonderful!
CH
CatHat
New England
22 reviews
vip
5.0
22 reviews
Dined on July 28, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great restaurant! We like to take out-of-town guests show them one of NYC's finest.
P
Phoodie
Denver
27 reviews
5.0
27 reviews
Dined on July 28, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Are at Sistina because my wife and I had our wedding party here 15 years ago when it was Bruno Jamais. When we saw it was still here, with a new name, management and menu, we thought it would be fun to celebrate our anniversary here. It was absolutely lovely - great decor and ambiance, excellent service, and most importantly, delicious food! The place is pricey, so you don’t go here for a value or bargain experience. They are geared to deliver a first-class elegant dining experience, and they totally do deliver. Will be back, I am sure!
O
Oysterponder
New York Area
123 reviews
vip
5.0
123 reviews
Dined on July 27, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Best dinner we have had in Manhattan in ten years. Everything was perfect. Sistina goes the extra mile. Can’t wait to return.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Orlando
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on July 27, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The best food ever!
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on July 26, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Perfect setting for a late summertime luncheon. Every dish was imaginatively prepared and delicious.
D
David
New York Area
5 reviews
vip
4.0
5 reviews
Dined on July 26, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience5
WE HAD AN EXCELLENT DINNER LAST NIGHT, AS USUAL. LOVELY AMBIENCE AND PROFESSIONAL STAFF. ONE OF THE TOP ITALIAN RESTUARANTS IN NYC.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on July 25, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We’ll be back
RR
RonR
New Mexico
8 reviews
vip
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on July 23, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our favorite NYC restaurant
B
Bonrepas
New York Area
62 reviews
vip
4.0
62 reviews
Dined on July 22, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience5
Ambiance was nice. Comfortable seating. Pretty surroundings Service was impeccable. Food was good but not imaginative. Boring presentations. Not worth the price. Too costly
j
joyfulfoodie
New York Area
60 reviews
5.0
60 reviews
Dined on July 22, 2022
overall5food4service5ambience5
A very beautiful restaurant with excellent service and the best location if you're going to the Metropolitan Museum! The food was very good too.
C
Cdndance
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on July 21, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Expensive — wonderful Italian food. Perfect for a special occasion.
K
Katherinekc
London
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on July 21, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
This was a return visit for us, and it's excellent every time. The food is consistently good, the service attentive, and the garden room is the best.
b
brianm
New York Area
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on July 20, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
food and service where amazing. beautiful sun room. will definitely go back.
P
Pleasedpatron
San Francisco
49 reviews
5.0
49 reviews
Dined on July 19, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We ate outside. The food was delicious (terrific watermelon soup!) and the service was attentive.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New England
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on July 14, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
If you’re in Manhattan on Central Park east eat here. The food is amazing service impeccable and beautiful decor. One of the best meals I ever had
p
peonygirl
Caribbean
10 reviews
vip
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on July 14, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Delicious lunch in beautiful surroundings. Lots of options on the menu all wonderfully prepared and arranged.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on July 13, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great time had by all
MA
MicheleA
New York Area
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on July 12, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Lovely ambiance and attentive service. Delicious food too. Wonderful for a special occasion.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Atlanta
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on July 12, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The wait staff works hard for it's patrons to choose their food and wine to their liking.
d
ddcha
New York Area
39 reviews
vip
5.0
39 reviews
Dined on July 10, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Dined here for the first time to celebrate our 23rd Anniversary. Wanted to try it after salivating over its menu. Beautiful room, wonderful and attentive service, and the food was nothing short of amazing. My wife and I are pretty spoiled, being in the NYC dining scene for 25 years. It's pretty rare to find new places that make us simply smile from start to finish. We started with the dozen oysters, then the clams and mussels, and of course the crab/uni pasta and the lobster spaghetti. We had no room for dessert, but they brought something special out for our anniversary. We will be back for sure and won't be waiting for our next anniversary.
E
Emily
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on July 5, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Perfect lunch spot on the UES. Food was delicious and convenient to take a lunch meeting at.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Tahoe
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on July 2, 2022
overall3food3service3ambience3
Screaming baby during expensive meal
m
meatmaven
New York Area
14 reviews
5.0
14 reviews
Dined on June 28, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent food, knowledgeable waiter and sophisticated ambience.
AA
AliciaA
New York Area
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on June 27, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We had a great time at Sistina! The food was delicious and the service was excellent.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
7 reviews
vip
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on June 27, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Charming setting outdoors and food ever disappoints! Chicken Paillard & Pasta vongole! Sweet!!
RC
RebeccaC
New York Area
14 reviews
vip
4.0
14 reviews
Dined on June 24, 2022
overall4food5service4ambience4
Expensive but would go again because food and service was very good. Very convenient for visit to The Met Museum of Art.
S
Suze
New York Area
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on June 23, 2022
overall4food5service5ambience4
I thought $75.00 for the soft shell crabs was excessive. They were quite good but somehow even for an upscale restaurant I believe $50-$60 range would have been more appropriate.
PA
PAMELAD
New York Area
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 23, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Just a short walk from the Met. Beautiful dining areas. Bright and cheerful garden view. Elegant bar area. The food, the food - so wonderful.
B
Bobby
Miami
23 reviews
5.0
23 reviews
Dined on June 21, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food. Pastas showed imagination and were excellent. Gazpacho was also terrific but$32 is a bit ridiculous for some puréed tomatoes and veggies. Coconut cake was outstanding.

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
- Sealed or wrapped utensils used
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
Physical distancing
- Limited number of seated diners
- Distancing maintained in common areas
- Extra space between tables

Protective equipment
- Waitstaff wear masks
- Diners must wear masks unless eating or drinking
Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

You can order delivery directly from Sistina using the Order Online button. Sistina also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (212) 861-7660.

Sistina is rated 4.8 stars by 1107 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Aug 19, 2022

7:30 PM

Booked 16 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(212) 861-7660

Other options

Order online

24 E 81st Street, New York, NY 10028

Additional information

Cross street
Madison and Fifth Ave
Neighborhood
Upper East Side
Hours of operation
Lunch Mon–Sat 12:00 pm–2:45 pm Dinner Mon–Sat 5:00 pm–9:45 pm
Cuisines
Italian
Dining style
Fine Dining
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
The closest parking garage is located on 80th st. between Park Avenue and Madison Avenue.
Public transit
the local 6 train stops at 77th street and Lexington Avethe 4,5 & 6 trains stop at 86th street and Lexington Ave
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Executive chef
Giuseppe Bruno
Additional
Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wine

Website
http://sistinany.com/
Phone number
(212) 861-7660
Private party facilities
GARDEN ROOM Sistina’s winter-garden is the perfect place for small events of up to 40 guests. With big glass windows, skylights and impeccable works of art, you will feel surrounded by luxury and brilliance as you dine. MAIN ROOM Sistina’s Cozy main dining room, comes complete with master fireplace, grand crown molding and various works of art. This room seats a maximum of 60 guests. FULL BUYOUT For large scale events and celebrations, we would recommend a full buyout. With complete and private access to both the Main dining room and the rear garden room, we can entertain a maximum of 100 guests within the space. Dine and celebrate in style and privacy in one of the most beautiful town houses in New York City.

Featured in

The Diner Reviews Are In: 100 Best Restaurants in America

Sistina

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

Other options

Additional information

The Diner Reviews Are In: 100 Best Restaurants in America

Tomato Salad

Linguini Lobster

Eggplant Parmigiana

Antipasti

Arugula Pear Salad$18.00

Italian Wedge Salad$22.00

Zucchini Flower$25.00

Eggplant Parmigiana$25.00

One Dozen Fresh Oysters*$36.00

Grilled Shrimps and Scallops$28.00

Clams and Mussels$25.00

Grilled Octopus$25.00

Roasted Artichokes$25.00

Beef Carpaccio$28.00

Italian Crudo*$35.00

Beets and Burrata$25.00

Tomato Salad$25.00

Prosciutto and Melon$25.00

Pasta

Mezzi Paccheri Frutti di Mare$38.00

Linguini Lobster$55.00

Spaghetti di Bietole e Vongole$28.00

Black Homemade Linguini (Squid Ink Linguini)$32.00

Spaghetti Integrali$32.00

Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe$26.00

Busiate$30.00

Wild Mushroom Ravioli$35.00

Spaghetti Trapanese$25.00

Pappardelle Sistina$26.00

Orecchiette with Lamb$28.00

Veal Tortelloni$28.00

Risotto

Risotto Cetarese$42.00

Summer Risotto$35.00

Pesce

Branzino Al Sale$50.00

Grilled Wild Salmon$48.00

Pan Fried Soft Shell Crab$45.00

Wild Atlantic Halibut$48.00

Florida Wild Red Snapper$48.00

Diver Sea Scallops$48.00

Carne

Giuseppe's Chicken Meatballs$42.00

New York Stripe Steak$55.00

Organic Free Range Chicken and Sausage$40.00

Veal Chop Milanese$52.00

Veal Scaloppini$45.00

Grilled Veal Chop$55.00

Colorado Rack of Lamb$45.00

Berkshire Pork Chop$45.00

White Wine Braised Rabbit$42.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Sort by

Filters

Cleaning & sanitizing

Physical distancing

Protective equipment

Screening

FAQs

Does Sistina offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Sistina restaurant rated?

Is Sistina currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

Other options

Additional information

Featured in

The Diner Reviews Are In: 100 Best Restaurants in America