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Café Paradiso, New York, NY

Café Paradiso

4.0
4
75 Reviews
$30 and under
Italian

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 13 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Neighborhood gem
  • Lively
  • Charming
Café Paradiso, nestled within the vibrant ambiance Film at Lincoln Center, stands as a testament to the fusion of Italian and American cultures, crafted with an infusion of passion and heritage. Its genesis emerges from the rich tapestry of experiences, blending 35 years of life in Pietrasanta, an artistic enclave near Florence, with the spirited upbringing of the Bronx.
Conveniently located across from Juilliard, Café Paradiso beckons students and theater enthusiasts alike. As a haven for pre-theatre dining, whether before a performance at Lincoln Center or a movie, we invite you to savor exquisite flavors and unwind in a setting that exudes charm and sophistication.
Moreover, in recognition of local students, we extend a 10% discount to students from Juilliard, Columbia, and AMDA. Don't forget to present your student ID! At Café Paradiso, every visit promises not just a meal, but a celebration of diverse influences and shared passions, weaving together moments of joy and inspiration.

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Breakfast, Café
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Wed 8:00 am–8:00 pm Thu–Sat 8:00 am–9:00 pm Sun 11:00 am–7:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (212) 869-8800
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Brando De Oliveira
  • Catering
    We would love to cater your event! Reach out to Stephanie Holmes, our Director of Guest Services, at 212-400-6048.<br /><br />Please see our catering menu here: https://www.cafeparadisonyc.com/menu/#catering
  • Private party facilities
    Please call our banquets department at 212-265-0100 to inquire about private events and restaurant buy outs.
  • Neighborhood
    Upper West Side
  • Cross street
    On 65th St between Broadway & Amsterdam (inside Film at Lincoln Center)
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Public transit
    We are located near the 1 train at The 66th St-Lincoln Center Station.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Entertainment, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Special Anniversary Dinner Menu!

    $45.00 per person

    Feb 17, 2025 - Mar 23, 2025
    Celebrate 2 Years of Cafe Paradiso! Join us from 4 PM to close and savor an evening of delicious dishes, perfect for celebrating this milestone. Menu Details: Appetizer (Choose One) Mini Cheese Board featuring a selection of artisanal cheeses Main Course (Choose One) Pesto Ravioli filled with spinach and ricotta, served with a luscious pesto-cream sauce Burrata Ravioli paired with a vibrant Pomodoro sauce Dessert (Choose One) Classic Cheesecake Traditional Cannoli Beverage (Choose One) A glass of Wine or Prosecco Soft Drink $45 per person (tax and gratuity not included). Celebrate this special occasion with an elegant dinner that captures the essence of Cafe Paradiso. We can't wait to toast to 2 years with you!
    Special Anniversary Dinner Menu! Photo

What 75 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.0
4 based on recent ratings
  • 3.9Food
  • 4.1Service
  • 3.8Ambience
  • 4Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Café Paradiso is a cozy gem near Lincoln Center offering excellent food at great prices. Diners rave about its "friendly service" and "delicious Italian dishes," making it a perfect pre-show dining spot. While the ambiance is bustling, the convenient location and fresh menu options make it a popular choice.

75 Reviews
  1. Barbara

    VIP

    New York City

    22 reviews

    3.0

    22 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 2
    I've been coming here for a long time. In the last two times, with a reservation, I've been told I can't be moved from an uncomfortable table to a nicer table. We were there last night. 2 women. My friend was there first, and was seated at an end table on the banquet that was crowded and uncomfortable as the 2nd chair was not opposite the banquet. The man behind her, who also arrived before his companion, was given a nicer table. Misogynistic, why yes. We were there on a Friday night, which now has live music, an opportunity for some of the staff to showcase their talent. Except the place is tiny, and the music is loud, and what could they be thinking to do this smack in the dinner hour right before people are going to various performances in the area. Would it not be smarter to do that post-dinner hour, so people could converse in comfort? I guess not. When our soup and sandwiches arrived, no beans in the white bean soup. Lucky for us, we had a great waiter, and he had the kitchen add beans, waited until it was hot, and brought us our soup. He redeemed in part an otherwise annyoing meal. I'd recommend avoiding this spot on Fridays if you want to have a quieter meal before your event. I'd also been there on 3 nights before. When given a table for 3 in a high traffic zone, I asked to be moved to the banquet. The person seating me explained they were reserved. I reminded her I had a reservation. Well, those are all 2 tops, she said. I said, this table is 2 2tops pushed together. If you push together 2 on the banquet, and separate these, you will have the same number of tables, and yet she persisted that it wasn't the same, and she couldn't move us. She was also our server, and we friendly, pleasant and delightful, except for the table problem. So too bad to have problems here, as it's such a convenient spot, and normally a delight to eat there.

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  2. Robert

    VIP

    Greater Boston

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Cafe Paradiso slabs a broad menu of items, well prepared, prompt and friendly. Their prices are moderate for the Lincoln Center neighborhood. I had great pulled pork sandwich, while my friends had spaghetti and meatballs and a seafood pasta. I’m not a big fan of Italian food so glad they had multiple sections. Both of my friends loved their lunch dish.

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  3. Mark

    New York City

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    We selected Cafe Paradiso because of its proximity to David Geffen Hall. The restaurant was busy but service was fas, friendly and efficient. Cocktails were well crafted and the food was delicious and carefully prepared with premium ingredients. Will definitely return!

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  4. Susan

    VIP

    New York City

    2 reviews

    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on February 15, 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    They changed the quinoa salad, now just a lump of quinoa without much else, it used to be delicious. The other menu items are meh. Ok for coffee or a drink but no to the food. Advice: this place, they are cutting back on quality

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  5. Tom

    New York City

    20 reviews

    5.0

    20 reviews

    Dined on February 14, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    Huge portions and options at a great price. Great location at Lincoln Center.

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  6. Andreia

    New York City

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on February 13, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excelent experience and good food. Perfect place to go before a concert at Lincoln Center.

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  7. Rochelle

    VIP

    New York City

    111 reviews

    4.0

    111 reviews

    Dined on February 4, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    I have dined here many times for lunch and coffee, but never for dinner. When I have been here in the past, it has always been extremely busy so was quite surprised to see how quiet it was for dinner. Having said that, it was a nice welcome from the crazy day. The service w impeccable and the food was good Will consider dinner here again very soon

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  8. Dr John

    VIP

    Central Coast

    69 reviews

    5.0

    69 reviews

    Dined on February 3, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Good food and service in a cozy pleasant environment. Prices are also reasonable

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  9. Margaret

    New York City

    159 reviews

    5.0

    159 reviews

    Dined on February 3, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A great location. Easy atmosphere and good food and service.

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  10. Lauren

    New York City

    2 reviews

    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on February 2, 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    First the waiter forgot to put the chicken on our chicken Caesar salads. All that was on the plate was some chopped up romaine lettuce and a few croutons. He took our plates back to the kitchen and it was another ten minutes before he brought them back. There were three small strips of chicken. He also forgot the dressing, so once again he took the plates back to the kitchen. Another ten minutes, and he only brought dressing for one salad (there were two of us). Another wait. It took another fifteen minutes to get the check. All this for $19.99. Plus tax. Not a great value.

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FAQs

Café Paradiso offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (212) 869-8800.

Café Paradiso is rated 4 stars by 75 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 13 times today
Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Café Paradiso

144 W 65th St, New York, NY 10023

Additional information

  • Cross street
    On 65th St between Broadway & Amsterdam (inside Film at Lincoln Center)
  • Neighborhood
    Upper West Side
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Wed 8:00 am–8:00 pm Thu–Sat 8:00 am–9:00 pm Sun 11:00 am–7:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Breakfast, Café
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Public transit
    We are located near the 1 train at The 66th St-Lincoln Center Station.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Brando De Oliveira
  • Additional
    Banquet, Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Entertainment, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (212) 869-8800
  • Catering
    We would love to cater your event! Reach out to Stephanie Holmes, our Director of Guest Services, at 212-400-6048.<br /><br />Please see our catering menu here: https://www.cafeparadisonyc.com/menu/#catering
  • Private party facilities
    Please call our banquets department at 212-265-0100 to inquire about private events and restaurant buy outs.
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  • Terms of Use
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  • Cookie Preferences
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