Butera’s – Smithtown

I had a wonderful time here. I am not in favor of family style places but they did a great job on the food. Everything tasted so fresh and delicious. We ended up getting caesar salad to start, chicken parm and penne alla vodka. It was fantastic. The chicken parm was so easy to cut with a fork. They added the right amount of sauce and cheese to it. I felt like I was eating my grandmothers cooking at one point thats how good it was. Pricing was reasonable. We got drinks and everything too. I would definitely come back.

I can’t say enough about how much I LOVE this place. Great place to go for a fancy dinner with the wife. The service is excellent, the food is always AMAZING and the portions are great for the price. We always end up taking home left overs to enjoy the next day. My wife is a big fan of the salads — especially the crispy calamari ceaser salad and I always enjoy the Bianco grilled pizza and the specials!

The owner is very accommodating and polite.

Mom and I had a great time at the bar, watched the Derby, and had a nice dinner.
The bartender was great, all the staff came by our end of the bar to pick up their drinks, and everybody was very nice and friendly.
Mom liked her baked raviol, and my chicken meatball lasagna rocked.
We shared the Cesar salad and the stuffed mushrooms, and both were very good.
And the race was excellent on their nice big TV!

This was by far the best restaurant experience I have had in over a year. Judy our waitress took care of us like she was family and owned the place. My wife had the Grilled tilapia with frisée salad. I had the Chicken Caesar. Our only issue is the stuffed mushrooms and fried calamari were so good we didn’t have enough room to finish the main course which was delicious I will be back. It was a great atmosphere and it was busy, but we were seated right away and never waited for service.

Just went to Happy Hour at Buteras with a friend. The wine, pizza and spicy calamari, were absolutely phenomenal. I will definitely go back!!!

Butera’s in my new favorite restaurant for Italian food. I’ve been wanting to go here for months and months but my boyfriend and I love Mario’s in E. Setauket so much so we kept going there. That’s until we decided to go to Butera’s for Valentines Day and fell in love. Everything from the food, to the staff, to the ambiance was amazing. I always judge an Italian restaurant by their simplest dishes and spaghetti & meatballs is always my test. It’s safe to say that they passed my test with flying colors, They aren’t your traditional veal, pork, and beef mixture. They have the best well seasoned chicken meatballs in all the land. They have definitely stole my heart and me away from Mario’s!

The food was mediocre. The service was terrible. The cannoli was so thick inside I thought I was eating sweetened mash potatoes. The chicken piccata tasted like a bowl of lemon juice. The steak in its replacement tasted like the grill has never been cleaned. All in all not worth the tab. Will not be returning

Great affordable family style. Chicken and shrimp/​vodka sauce rocks.

Food was great — service terrible. Arranged a large party special occasion dinner and the staff failed to deliver. Requested wine to be served to guests immediately — wasn’t done. Did not have enough table space to fit 14 adults — waited an additional 15 minutes for another table to leave so they could add to our set up. Our server was clearly overwhelmed and provided poor service. Had to ask for water from bus boys multiple times, while they stood by talking to each other. Manager did not see how we were doing, dinner and dessert served without enough silverware. Too bad, good food but I was really turned off by service.

I went here for a college graduation party. It was great. I had the chicken parmagian. It was very tasty. I have to say that the Butera chain is a very good food chain.

So my sister’s and I hosted a party for our father’s 55^th birthday. It’s was a relatively small gathering for our family at roughly 25 people; but big enough that we didn’t wanna cook for all that in the space and time we had. Buteras catered wonderfully offering a nice variety. We got chicken parmesan, eggplant parmesan and two pastas. Not only did everyone stuff their face (twice) during the ~6 hour party, but there was leftovers for the after party and the recovery day AND each family went home with a tray or two as a party favor. Tasted great and kept us happy.

food is way too salty, like overbearingly salty, to the point where I had cotton mouth after we left, overall it’s okay, they have the best garlic knots though, enjoyed the place overall but eh the chef needs to lighten up on the salt for the sake of my palette and blood pressure!

Our all time favorite place! We ate here for the first time 4 months ago and come back at least once a week, if not more. We were sold the first time we went because everything was so fresh, tasted wonderful and the service was excellent! The manager even introduced himself and asked how everything was! With good management like that it is no surprise the staff/​servers are all top notch! We have never had a bad experience and highly recommend!

This used to be one of our family’s favorite Italian restaurants in the area. However, we went here our final time and will never go back. We went out for a family dinner with friends, all of us had our young children with us, and I was nursing my youngest son. Dinner went well, we thought everything was cooked well and served in a timely manner.
The trouble came with dessert, and continued to spiral downhill. I ordered a piece of apple pie a la mode. Everyone else at the table got their desserts– I was still waiting. I did not think anything of it but then started thinking it was a bit odd that I had to wait an extra 5 minutes and my dessert was only a piece of apple pie with a scoop of ice cream (not that hard or long to prepare for the table, used to work in the restaurant business for years and so did my husband, so we would know).
Finally my dessert came out and the waiter made a comment that he was sorry for the wait but the dessert was (and I quote him:) «super fresh» which is why it took so long. I looked at the dessert placed in front of me and the apple pie was all broken and falling apart which was odd again. Before I took my first bite I noticed something funky looking and asked my husband to look at it. He removed the ice cream and there was green mold all throughout the piece of apple pie. (I regret not taking a picture but at the time this happened I was so freaked out I didn’t think of it). My husband was so upset he picked the plate up and went over to the manager.
Instead of the manager being apologetic and respectful, he tried to sush my husband and grabbed the plate and spun around so fast heading towards the kitchen saying he would take care of it. Well he did not take care of it. The waiter asked if he could get me another dessert. I told him after he tried to serve a nursing mother molded pie I would pass. The manager never came back over to us to apologize, or even correct the receipt. When we received the check it had the apple pie on there! My husband had to go up to the manager again and tell him to remove it because we were not paying for molded pie that was never even eaten. He removed it and we left.
The worst part is the kitchen must have seen the mold before it was sent out and instead of coming to me and saying they were out of apple pie and asking if I would like another dessert, they tried to serve me molded food which I and my baby would have gotten sick from. Will NEVER return here.

This is one of my favorite Italian restaurants in the area! I have been come here on a couple occasions over the last few years and I have never been disappointed.
The food is very good and I have always been happy with whatever I have ordered. I would recommend any of the pasta dishes with the vodka sauce or the open faced stuffed chicken!

food wasnt up to my par but the owner reached out to me and made things right — customer service 100%!

More like 3 ½ stars. There were definitely highs and lows. The waitress was great, the hostess had attitude. My daughter’s chicken with spinach and roasted peppers was definitely the best meal. Perfectly grilled chicken with spinach, roasted peppers, and mozzarella. Grilled string beans and roasted potatoes on the side. Really good, light, and healthy. I did the Prix Fixe which had salad, entrée, and «desert» with coffee. The salad was good not great. My entrée was Veal Marsala over fettuccine. It was actually plain grilled (but under cooked) veal on top of fettuccine with what tasted like canned marsala sauce and a few mushrooms. Not at all how I pictured this. Son got a really mediocre rigatone alla vodka with a pasty thick sauce. Wife got a pasta with shrimp that was unmemorable. $ 120 later I felt like this was not worth all of the 4 and 5 star reviews. Maybe we just ordered the wrong things because my daughter’s chicken was outstanding.

Unfortunately, Butera’s tried, but for me, missed the mark. The restaurant has a cozy Tuscan décor, which could have benefited from softer lighting. The bright lighting was mixed with very loud conversation from other patrons.
The menu had many, many items to peruse. It took a while for our party of four to decide, but thankfully our server was not in a rush and let us linger over the choices. He was super friendly and helpful, and told us the kitchen would be very accommodating if we wanted to substitute anything.
The stuffed mushrooms appetizer was very good. Penne with grilled chicken and mushrooms was okay, but nothing special. The red sauce in the baked ravioli was not good. I am sorry to say it was like red sauce you would get in a pasta dinner at a bad pizza place. I was surprised at this, because of the great reviews. The disappointing ravioli was offset by the dessert, which was phenomenal, one of the best I’ve had. It was an almond cake, which is normally not my favorite. However, this almond cake was moist and delicious, and it’s flavor was subtle, but strong enough not to get lost. We were given a very generous piece and we ate the entire thing. Even by the end, the flavor was still consistent and we did not get tired of it.
Overall, the service was excellent, atmosphere was decent, but could be improved with the use of a dimmer switch. Some of the dishes were very good and, sadly, some were not. Dessert was fantastic.
Note that the restaurant is located on Main Street with limited street parking, but there is a large parking lot behind the restaurant.

Went for lunch last week, had the chicken parm. focaccia wow soso good
I been looking for good chicken parm in the smithtown area this place is the best so far.

Was at a family gathering with 20 people. I am not from around here but was very impressed with the food and the service. Our waitress Nicole was the best!!! The owner personally came to greet us and thank us for coming. Will definitely come again when we are in the area. Recommend to anyone.

Great food — my husband and I go to Butera’s Smithtown often. The only drawback is that the place is VERY loud, so if you don’t mind loud, then do make it a point to dine there.

What an outstanding dining experience. I can’t believe I have never been here before. The food is outstanding and the ambiance unique and warm. The service. …terrific, or waitress Kristin was on target with her service and recommendations. My buccatelli and seafood pasta was fabulous. The tilapia seasoned perfectly and the seafood lasagna was spectacular. Thank you Kristin for a fabulous evening!

Solid food with plenty of choices and large portions are Butera’s keys to success. I’ve been here many times and never had a bad meal… never an incredible one either though. Happy hour drink/​food specials are a good deal and the atmosphere is pleasant. People love this place and it seems to be busy pretty much every night so make a reservation just to be sure you’re seated.

Yummy place! Must try if you live in the neighborhood, or even if you don’t. The bread that was served before the appetizer was really good! My friend and I came here for an early dinner so we weren’t so hungry, we had the margherita pizza as well as the grilled chicken and vegetables with pasta and it was delish! I think I liked the pizza better than the pasta though. The sauce from the pasta wasn’t doing this dish any justice but everything else was great.

This is the best Italian food that I ever tasted! The bread was so tasty and the seafood pasta was to die for! You have to try this place if you ever come to New York. It’s not your average Italian restaurant. I highly recommend this place! I was so stuffed that I couldn’t even finish my plate. I love the large portions. I will definitely be back!

Butera’s of Smithtown I’m not gonna lie you are pretty awesome. You handled our group very well and therefore I will be coming back.
Came for my cousin’s graduation celebration and my Aunt and Uncle thought it’d be good to order family style. Not a bad idea even though I had my dinner planned out but I’m not gonna put up a fight.
We had:
–APPETIZERS–
The Prince Edward Island Mussels: yummy! Totally coming back for these bad boys! Woohoo!!!
Calamari Fritti: They were good but not as good as other places I’ve had it (like Uva Rossa)
Grilled Asparagus, Prosciutto, & Shaved Grana Padano: Asparagus could have been cooked a little more and a little thinner in my opinion but overall good.
–SALADS–
Mixed Salad: I’ll be honest I didn’t try it.
Caesar Salad: By far one of the best Caesars I’ve had.
Warm Goat Cheese Salad: LOVE me some goats cheese but I think I rather have the Caesar.
–ENTREEES–
Rigatoni Vodka: Not bad but not the best I’m sorry. Go across the street to Mannino’s for the best Rigatoni Vodka.
Chicken Stuffed: This was stuffed with Spinach, Sun Dried Tomato & Mozzarella. Pretty good but a little too heavy for me.
Veal Piccata: Again I’m sorry this wasn’t the best but it was pretty good.
Basa Fillet: Oh my! I saved the best entrée for last. This was awesome! Lemony, mushroomy and fish heaven.
–SIDES–
Potato Croquettes: Totally awesome! Those can accompany my Basa Fillet any time!
Roasted Potatoes & Green Beans: Normally I’d go for these but I skipped as I was getting so full from sampling everything.
–DESSERTS–
Carrot Cake: Oooh baby. I love me some great carrot cake and this was definitely one of em.
Fudge Brownie Butera: Didn’t try. It was basically spoken for when it arrived to the table.
Tiramisu: Again. This is one of the best Tiramisu’s I’ve had out. So good!!!
Also that little garlic bread and that hummus (? Not sure sorry) on the table when we got there. Yummy!!! Just don’t fill up on it.
Will I be back? You betcha! It was a great night and we all left certainly happy as our guys in blue on the ice were winning (yes the Rangers won that night against TB) and our stomachs were full.
Pro tip: They valet on Friday and Saturday nights. Don’t bring your manual car as one of the valet guy’s grinded some gears on a patron’s Maserati. Ouch! Totally not Butera’s fault but if you’re going there just beware.

I came here for my mother’s birthday and left super satisfied.
It was a busy Saturday evening but we made reservations and was seated fairly easily. The server’s name was Vincent and he was super attentive and good at his job. We ended up ordering the individual size calamari fritti and mussels in white wine sauce. The calamari was fried just right so that it maintained the crunchiness even after it cooled off. The mussels were also delicious and they gave us a good amount. For our entrees, we ordered seafood linguine fra diavolo and veal marsala. Again, both dishes were spectacular and more than enough for a party of 4.
On one way to the bathroom, I tracked Vincent down and secretly ordered dessert with candles to celebrate my mother’s birthday. I had asked him to bring it out quietly because my mother does not like too much attention, and while I’m not sure Butera’s is the type of spot to sing any happy birthday songs, he served the desserts exactly as I imagined it and even had the kitchen write happy birthday on the plate.
The night ended up being pretty darn perfect. Thanks Butera!

Best ‘lasagna’ I’ve ever had, chicken meatball lasagna changes the paradigm of culinary fusion. creatively and tradition not layered together, but elegantly, artistically, gently arranged together, truly ‘exceptional’ rustic Tuesday or refined anniversary meal.
Job well done. And kudos to The smithtown manager — who always entertains my restaurant and ACf conversations. I feel thankful to live in the town with such a fine establishment.
Ag

Nice ambiance, and good service by the friendly manager, who went out of his way to make us feel welcome – especially after I mentioned we came from Sayville since the manager at that location was kind of rude about the DoubleTake Deal we’d scored – and stopped at each table during the meal. It’s very rustic Italian with the stucco walls, dark wood trim, and treated ceilings, and has a cozy dining room that feels warm and inviting.
Dinner started off well with several smiles from the two waitresses and a basket of cheese foccacia squares and soft and toasted garlic knots. The rustic Italian bread remained largely ignored and rightfully so next to these yeasty flavor bombs.
Of course, we had to try the chicken meatballs they claim to be so famous for, and they were good! Not as good as, say, veal meatballs from Verace, but satisfying in the chunky whole-​tomato sauce filled with fresh basil leaves.
These meatballs are only one facet of how they make traditional Italian cuisine just a tad easier to swallow for health/​weight-​conscious diners, and a lot of lighter options are available on the huge menu, including chicken sausage. Big plus in my book!
Unfortunately, the light and healthy feeling only lasted until the entrees. Granted, we got heavier entrees, but the amount of salt in everything was enough to kill a slug. Maybe it’s just me and my husband, since I don’t use a lot of salt at home, but it was really intense, and I literally bloated up a whole eight pounds of water retained from the salt, and my stomach skin felt tight. And the portion was certainly not big enough to warrant that kind of physical reaction. Also, it was expensive for how little you got, so clearly, we ordered wrong since other dishes we saw passing by that were individual-​sized had whopping portions of food, whereas ours were three thin, sad veal cutlets and two little bracioles.
But underneath the salt, the flavors were good. The wine base and hearty vegetables were delicious in the pancetta-​stuffed pork braciole (a special for the night) and the meaty, thick, and naturally flavorful mushrooms in the veal with exotic mushroom dish were nice. But … the mashed potatoes were nearly inedible, and the gnocchi was half-​raw and soggy in parts. Too much cheese?
Anyway, I’d like to try it again. The pan-​baked lasagna with fresh mafalda pasta (!) sounds awesome, and it’d be great with the chicken meatballs.

I would give 5 stars but only have been there once so far. Based on my 1^st visit I found the place to be very charming with a beautiful décor and well planned seating. The staff was nice & down to earth. Our server was efficient & made suggestions on the menu & continuously asked if all was ok. We were also celebrating our friends bday & the server came out with a delicious cake enough to feed the 3 of us.
I can’t wait to go back and try more items on their menu. For some reason I can’t remember what my friends had but I had the pizza and we had a delicious appetite. I just can’t remember at this time.

Italian
There are a few Butera’s scattered around the island and all generally are good overall and the Smithtown location is no exception.
As you walk in, there is a decently sized bar to the left with plenty of seats and a table in the corner; main dining room to the right. We grabber a drink and had a look at the menu.
Menu is standard Italian plus there is a bar menu, some happy hour specials and dinner specials — so there is a decent selection of stuff for just about every taste. Calamari appetizer was crispy and fresh and we enjoyed it.
The bartender was decent but the wines by the glass were pretty standard fare as was the wine list — nothing bad, a solid, middle of the road offering.
Dinner portions were large and tasty — pasta was right on the money with the al dente — kudos to them for getting that right. Prices were average.
All in all a solid Italian place that does family style or a la carte service.
Parking lot in the rear.

I frequent their Woodbury location. This is a great place for a date or family dinner. The venue is very dark and intimate, the service is good and one of the prettier Italian restaurants in the Syosset/​Woodbury area.
The Sicilian Lifeguard Calamri is the best appetizer on the menu and probably the only one you need. It’s this mound of fried calamari covered in this tomato sauce with peppers and capers. Absolutely delicious. You can also get it on top of pasta, it’s a special request but it’s so worth it. Next in line is probably the chicken meatballs, there’s a lot of cheese in them; very tasty.
For entrees, there are a lot of choices but I’ll list out the most notable ones. The portions here are large.
Linguini with white clam sauce, excellent. A good mix of fresh clams, chopped clams and whole clams. Lots of garlic, good flavor and they’ll give you the red pepper to sprinkle on top.
Basa Marechiara, I’m not sure how they do this exactly but it’s my favorite fish pasta. It’s these basa fillets with melted fresh mozzarella and this pomodoro sauce. The fish is flaky and just awesome when you bite into it.
Rigatoni with Spinach, Mushrooms, Crumbled Chicken Sausage and Sun-​dried tomatoes. The sauce is a garlic and oil base, it tastes exactly how it sounds. Fabulous. This is my cousin’s «go to» pasta fix.
Chicken Parmigiana. Their cutlet is juicy, smothered in cheese and retains the crispiness along with the gooey. Outside of Manhattan, this is the best Chicken Parmigiana in my opinion.
During the week they have a fixed special that comes with a soup/​dessert. It usually comes out around $ 25.00 or so; not bad value for the area.