Bistango

Excellent food and service in a very welcoming environment. The burrata was out-​of-​this-​world good. The pasta Nero and the Lamb Bolognese were so good that we can’t wait to come back.

Five stars — ALL the way. A stellar spot and one you could easily miss.
Don’t it’s a hidden gem and amazing. Me a my wife have been coming here for years.
Never failed in the service or the food department.

Had dinner here a few years ago. The pasta was bland, chicken were cut up in huge pieces. Not worth the price.
Will not be returning

Wonderful service. The owner always checks in to make sure you’re satisfied. Delicious food and everything can be made gluten free. No cross contamination

What an incredible meal! We walked in around 2pm on a Thursday, so we didn’t wait and it was such a relaxing time. My husband got the rigatoni with short rib and I got the nero (crab and shrimp, squid ink pasta). Both were extremely tasty and high in quality. You could tell they take the time and effort to make a superb meal… like grandma makes it! The burrata is also very unique and powerful. Everything from the bread and olive oil to the impeccable flavors of the pasta dishes was just so delicious. Beautiful italian food, beautiful ambiance, on a beautiful NY day

Great experience here on a Saturday afternoon. Had the sauteed artichoke appetizer and have been having dreams about it ever since. The gluten free bread was really tasty too. Went for their meatball pizette with the gluten and it was really tasty. The crust so thin it’s next level into thin-​ness would be a cracker. The service was really really good as well.

Its extremely hard to find a resturant that can accomodate a large girls night out (9girls) and with also gluten free allegies. So i was so happy to have found this place on Unilocal.When we arrived they seated us right away. Yay! We shared the burratta, calamari, and mussels. All delicious! Then we ordered an array of entrees and dessert with two bottles of wine!
The food was delicious! But i was most impressed with bistango’s service and hospitality. We never felt rushed and our glasses was always filled. I highly recommend this place for large groups, date night, those wih gluten allegies, and just those hungry for a good meal!

Holy cow this place is so good. Highlights of my meal: gluten free bread that is not hard and crumbly, but soft and crusty. Grilled octopus. Jackie’s famous carrot cake. All gluten free, all phenomenal. I haven’t had carrot cake in years because I have celiac and haven’t had the chance. I got an extra piece to take home it was so dang good! Bonuses: the service is great and the atmosphere is calming. y

So my pasta was okay and my gluten free pal was thrilled to be able to eat Italian food… But alas, Bistango took all the fun out of going to an Italian restaurant by only offering one slice of bread each. Additional orders of bread were a whopping $ 5, steep!
In all honesty, there are so many other Italian restaurants in the city, it’ll probably be a while before I make it back to this one.

Seeing positive reviews ( Unilocal) decided to venture out for dinner for 3.
Drinks special of night Rioja Tempranillo (Marques de Caceres) by glass $ 10. A wonderful glass of wine 5 stars.
A glass of Vietti Moscato $ 12 Served at perfect temp and delicious. My wife enjoyed it.
A glass of Peroni went down well also.
Now the Dinner entrees
Cavatelli w sausage spinach hot cherry peppers garlic and oil.
Perfectly done with mouthwatering flavor that awaken the taste buds.
Parpadelle fresh pasta w short ribs tomato ragu.
Yummy Yummy satisfying and comforting my son enjoyed every bit.
Pan seared Branzini cauliflower purée .
OMG ! Delicate delicious and taste so fresh. Would order this again in a heartbeat.
Deserts: Lava cake with big dollop of crème fresh. My son enjoyed tremendously .
Warm Apple tart with vanilla gelato myself and wife shared.
Boy o boy ! We loved it.
You bet We will be dining here again.

Solid Italian restaurant with fresh pasta at a reasonable price. The place is cozy and on the more intimidate side.
The eggplant appetizer is flavorful with a zesty tomato sauce and just the right balance of texture.
The short rib pappardelle was really tasty. The pasta has just the right texture. The portion was just right to be filling but not make you comatose.

First off, Bistango is great with food allergies. They can tailor most dishes to accommodate the diners needs. I have been taking my girlfriend to Bistango for 3 years now, because she has Gluten, Dairy, and Egg allergies. She absolutely loves it there.
The service is great, they ask you right away about any foods you may be allergic to. As for the food, it is also great whether you have allergies or not. They give you gluten/​dairy free bread to start if you cannot have the regular bread, but it does contain eggs. They also offer gluten free pasta. I do not think I have ever had a bad dish from Bistango, because their regular offerings are also absolutely amazing. The portions are not huge, but just enough to fill you up with a little room for a delicious dessert.
Every anniversary/​birthday I end up here, and each time it seems to get better. A good time to go on weekdays is ⁶³⁰⁄₇ as it starts to get busy after that. Foodwise I would recommend the Cavatelli (a bit spicey), the Parpadelle, Torta Di Cioccolato (flourless choclate cake), and the Calamari Bistango.

Excellent food across the board. Gluten-​free, pasta, seafood, meat — you can’t go wrong. Bistango offers delicious dishes, generous portions and affordable prices.

Awful! I ordered the gluten free butternut squash ravioli. Disgusting. Cold, pasty and no flavor. Sent it back and ordered snapper. Even worse! Mushy with greasy skin on top of fish with raw carrots. Stay away from this gawd awful place.

Nice atmosphere. Got in without reservation. Tried fusilli, which was very good. Dinner companion tried cavatelli which he enjoyed.

I love vista Bistango’s gluten free options! Having the simple gesture of gluten free bread is so nice and rare. Their gluten free pasta, too, is delicious.

Bistango is a classy restaurant that doesn’t shove its upscale nature in your face. It’s no 5-​star restaurant by any means, but its quiet ambiance and simple décor offer an elegant dining experience. I would says that Bistango’s main selling point is its ability to cater to a variety of dietary restrictions. Their menu offers different options for many of the dishes, such as gluten-​free or vegan alternatives. Of course, you can always order the regular dishes as-​is, which is what we did, but I thought that it was very considerate of Bistango to advertise their flexibility right on their menu.
To start, we ordered the burrata dish. I had never had burrata, which is basically a mozzarella ball filled with cream, and had to look it up prior to ordering. Warning, their burrata with roasted eggplant and peppers is a cold dish. We were expecting a warm dish because of the «roasted vegetables». It was still enjoyable, but a heads up there in case you fall under the same misunderstanding.
My clam pasta dish was delightful, although a bit on the small side. The clams were fresh and plump, cooked just right, while the pasta and the white wine garlic sauce captured the salty essence of the clams without any of the offensive seafood smell or taste. It was my first time having bucatini, which is basically a fat and hollow spaghetti, and I thought that it was a great pairing with the clam and the white garlic sauce. The boyfriend ordered the short rib papardelle which was tender and savory. We also ordered a side of brussels sprouts with sausage, which I highly highly recommend (I’m a total sucker for both brussels sprouts and sausage).
We finished off the meal with the cheesecake, which was not too heavy at all. The service was great and we had a highly delectable meal.

Ugh who knew that vegetables can be SO good?! The Carciofini alla Romana was a little pricey considering the quantity you receive but it was just divine; the butter and lemon complimented the perfectly cooked baby artichokes so much that I dream about it on occasions. Highly recommend this dish.
Went with a party of four and we ordered also the steamed mussels (special of the day) and a side of brussel sprouts to share as well. The brussel sprouts were delicious and seasoned perfectly. The bread was warm and soft, also perfect for picking up all the sauce left in each of our antipasti dish. Our entrees were fair, though nothing that I would rave about. The Kale Bistango salad that my friend had, however, was delicious. I never knew kale could taste that good and I am a big meat lover so to prefer ALL the vegetable dishes that were served. well that was unheard of.
Dessert was also good, I would recommend the Crème Brulee. I love the crispy on top and the softness of the custard, though I wished it was a TAD bit warmer.
Will definitely come again, though would most likely only order all the veggie dishes!

The side spinach is good。 Butternut ravioli is hard to chew. The other one is pasta, cavatelli is very spicy.

Interior is quaint and pleasant as is the service attentive. The food, however, is really bland and misguided.
As a starter, I ordered the burrata which was among the worst I have ever had. It was also served over grilled eggplant (??). The combination was disgusting — do not try this at home.
As a main, I ordered the Rigatoni, which were recommended to me, and they were entirely lacking in flavor. Served with pre-​shredded Parmesan, the sauce was basic with cubes of eggplant floating in a tomato paste. Bad. The pasta was overcooked.
Ultimately, I walked out feeling like my time was wasted and I had eaten at an airport Italian or something cooked by chef boyardee. Tons of better places in this area.

Went here with a large group for a celebratory lunch.
The restaurant is small and has a fairly generic, nondescript décor. We were pretty much the only table there for a while. The menu is far from authentic Italian, but it has the classic red sauce dishes, penne with pink sauce, lasagna, etc. I ordered the pappardelle with short rib ragu. I liked that the pasta was fresh, as not all of their pastas are fresh. The short rib ragu was a pretty generous portion and quite tasty.
The other dishes that the group ordered looked pretty good, and while no one raved about their food, they didn’t complain either. It seemed the vegetarian lasagna was also well received. One thing to note, for those who prefer eating light lunches, the salads won’t do it for you, they are definitely a side salad portion. Service was on the slow side, but not surprising considering we had a group of 10. Prices are fairly reasonable. Not a bad place to go in Murray Hill.

I got the burruta to start and the butternut squash ravioli. It was delicious. My dad got the mushroom lasagna, and my brother got the cod fish. We all enjoyed our meals, I would love to come back here sometime to try something new! So yum

Had the pleasure of eating with a fairly large group (20+). That alone should have made it a bad experience. But these guys nailed it. They had a family style menu for apps and then we could choose from 3 different main courses. I had the salmon and it was perfectly cooked. That is hard to do when the restaurant is full and the big group of us ordered!
Super nice wait staff and they are all professionals. I want to come back and dine with another couple so I can enjoy more of this place.
Atmosphere is cozy and just what you would expect.

A gluten-​free Mecca! Best GF pasta I’ve ever had. You couldn’t tell it was GF. The sauces were also excellent. We loved the spicy red sauce on the calamari. Also, the vodka sauce was terrific. The braised short rib ragu was my favorite.
Be sure to make a reservation, we could barely get in.

I’ve been here twice and both times ordered the fusilli in vodka sauce with chicken, broccoli, and sun dried tomato (one time eating in and once for take out). Such a great meal, everything I love in a good pasta dish. It’s on the pricey side (this dish is $ 17) but if you’re in the mood for some seriously delicious Italian, I highly recommend Bistango!

Really enjoyed the Arugala salad with the pistachio and the Cavatelli for my entrée. Liked the arugula balsamic and pistachios blend– wonderful combination. The goat cheese throughout was fresh and tangy the way I like it. The service was timely, pleasant and competent. At times the chef appeared from the kitchen to make sure the guest were good, say hello and even offer more bread — which was also tasty especially dipped in olive oil. The ambiance is quite nice. I would have liked a more extensive menu with some of the other Italian «favorites» but this won’t stop me from returning very soon!

Bistango is my favorite Italian place in Murray Hill! I usually get the Rigatoni or the Fusilli and have never been disappointed! The gluten-​free bread is also amazing.
Some of my favorite things about this place: the service is always quick and efficient, I rarely have to wait to get a table, and the portions are great!

This spot’s for everyone who just can’t handle the gluten! –_–
I had their cavatelli pasta, which was nice ‘n spicy! Yummm. It was pretty empty during lunchtime, and I had ample space for my stroller to be parked right next to our table: P My friends enjoyed their dishes as well (the salmon and I forget what else…). Friendly service, too.

As a Celiac, it is hard to find good Italian food; but Bistango challenges that. As soon as you sit down they ask about any food allergies, which is extremely comforting. Next you are given gluten free bread which, to be honest, is nothing great. It’s bread, yes, but not the best gluten free bread I ever had. Also if you want another piece its $ 5. What?!
I’ve eaten there twice and have had the raviolis which were A-​MAZING and penne which was godly. My first time there, I met the owner who actually gave us a complimentary box of penne. He is such a sweetheart and I am so grateful. The chocolate gelato is delicious; it tastes like it was made in Italy!
The last downside is the price. For 2 pasta dishes, a cup of coffee and gelato it was over $ 80…
Very expensive for a dinner for two.

3.5 stars
I am so grateful that I found Bistango. The entire bridal party for my cousin’s wedding needed a place to enjoy dinner as a group, but we had a ton of dietary restrictions to work with. Several of the ladies are gluten-​free, two of us were vegetarian, and some needed no dairy. In spite of having such a diversity of needy people, everyone ended up happy at Bistango.
I called up a few weeks in advance to get a reservation for 13… yes, 13 people in that tiny space, and they were actually very willing to work with us. They offered two times and had set up a long table in the middle of the restaurant for us. When we arrived, they seated us as we came even though the website said we wouldn’t be seated until everyone arrived. They were very understanding about the craziness of trying to get an entire bridal party together all at once.
The only major dilemma we ran across was that they wouldn’t allow us to split the check at all… not even into two separate checks… which I thought was a little ridiculous. So instead we have eight people trying to do math and write down values to be placed on each credit card. It made a lot of unnecessary drama and splitting it even just between one for the women and one for the men would have saved us a ton of time and energy. Especially since we were seated on complete opposite sides of the table, I see no reason they could not have written one check for the six women and one for the seven guys.
We ordered drinks from the bar and most of the ladies shared a bottle of Riesling to save some money instead of buying individual drinks. Their wine prices were actually really reasonable and the taste was crisp and refreshing. The bread and gluten-​free bread were enjoyed and happily devoured by all at the table. Entrees similarly ended in clean plates for almost everyone. I myself had the eggplant dish, and it was pretty tasty. My only complaint was that the seasoning could have been boosted a little bit to enhance the inherently good flavors. I tried one person’s pasta dish and it was really nice; I think I might have liked theirs better than mine.
I very much appreciated their willingness to accommodate us, both in terms of our size and dietary needs. Aside from a few things that were a little bit off, everything was great and we enjoyed ourselves immensely. I would absolutely come back and try them again, but hopefully with a smaller party next time.

We stumbled here by chance as it was close to our hotel. It was 6PM and the next time slot they had was at 8:30PM. We came back and had a fantastic meal.
Summary:
Very small, dark, and cozy. Perfect for a grizzly bear or you. We had such a good time as we drank and ate to our heart’s desire. The food was amazing (contemporary Italian) and though the alcohol selection was a bit weak, the Italian wine and cocktails we ordered hit the spot.
If you’re looking for a purist Italian joint, Bistango isn’t your place. That is, if you’re looking for a «10÷10» purely Italian restaurant, then go elsewhere. Instead, Bistango comes a lively «New York» atmosphere with really good food. Also, there were no odd, lost looking tourists here in «I love NYC» shirts. Instead, lots of locals and people who are looking for a good meal with hearty, engaging conversation.
Perfect for a date or a group of people (no more than 4 as the place is tight).
Wah wah, the place is small. Get over it folks, it’s New York and if you want nice food in a spacious atmosphere, you better start shelling cheddar to dine at EMP et al. (And watch, these same complainers will start moaning about it hitting their wallets… always a complaint).
Bistango…go while it’s hot.

We came for a birthday — party of six.
For appetizers, we ordered Carciofini alla Romana (baby artichokes) and Funghi (mushroom pizza). Both were quite good. The artichokes especially. Note that the pizza is a personal pizza with six small slices.
The SO and I, for our entrees, ordered the Cavatelli and the Vitello. The Vitello was a little small, but absolutely wonderful. It was tender, the saltiness of the proscuitto balanced the creamy white wine sauce. Unfortunately, the chard — the greens on the dish — were less than appetizing. As for the Cavatelli, I ordered it mostly for the sausages (I had a sausage craving — constantly.). It was really good, but damn the hot peppers were spicy. I thought it would just add some complexity in taste, but it was HOT! Which was weird for me because I didn’t realize Italian food could be so spicy?
So the food was OK. The service was really good! (We got there early, and they were really nice about re-​arranging some tables for us.) And I probably would’ve given it 3.5−4 stars. What bumped it down was the space itself. It is really small and the put a lot of seating in this tiny little place — like all Manhattan restaurants. The unfortunate thing is that all the seats were full! This meant that it was LOUD. I could barely hear the person sitting across from me. And it’s not like we had a huge party — just a 2×3. I was on one end, and whenever someone spoke on the other end, I couldn’t make out anything. And that’s unacceptable to me… Either do some reservation control or decrease your seating Bistango…