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La Mela

La Mela

Italian Restaurant$$$$
Little Italy, New York
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7.4/10
340
ratings
  • Tips
    Ignacio U.
    "Please please please try the Penne Vodka!!! It’s delicious!!!!"(4 Tips)
    Michael N.
    "Try the family style pastas and meats if you want a solid sampling."(2 Tips)
    Alan M.
    "Yeah, tried the Uncle Tweety thing."(2 Tips)
    Beverly W.
    "The band, troubadour ambience service and the good food and wine!"(8 Tips)
Tips and Reviews icon91 Tips and reviews
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  • Gothamist
    GothamistAugust 1, 2014
    Little Italy may be disappearing into a Mario Batali-spearheaded abyss, but you should still take Uncle Nick & Aunt Julia to this old-school checkered tableclothed ristorante for a kitschy experience. Read more
  • Karenheart icon on user image
    KarenMarch 26, 2017
    Really authentic Italian food with great ambiance. It almost felt like I was in Italy. The dishes are all family style and the portions generous. Definitely try the carbonara!
  • emiliano c.heart icon on user image
    emiliano calosJanuary 13, 2015
    If you want the closest experience to the old little Italy this is it. The food is amazing, prices are reasonable and the staff are usually friendly. It gets crowed, so get there early if you can.
  • Michael N.heart icon on user image
    Michael NataleMay 4, 2016
    Try the family style pastas and meats if you want a solid sampling. Run by respectful Albanians and sometimes they have live music
  • Matt K.heart icon on user image
    Matt KhodadadFebruary 24, 2017
    Go for the family Style! We have been coming to this restaurant since 1994. Tons of celeb been here!
  • Julia M.heart icon on user image
    Julia McGowenSeptember 25, 2014
    THE TORTELLINI.. That is all.. Hands down the best pasta in the city. You'll love the atmosphere & the food & the experience.
  • Compass
    CompassMay 15, 2014
    Great for groups, La Mela has the classic feel of an Italian restaurant made for large boisterous families enjoying their red gravy.
  • Sebas R.heart icon on user image
    Sebas RabuiniSeptember 26, 2014
    The Calamari fritti and te Rigatoni bolognesa are awesome. The house wine by the bottle is a very good choice.
  • UzoNYC
    UzoNYCMay 28, 2014
    A great italian spot that does the really simple really well. I had the alfredo with chicken, and it did not disappoint. Read more
  • Jillian
    JillianOctober 12, 2016
    If the large hanging ceiling sausage wasn't enough of a tip off, this is a place to go in family style, order a few bottles of red, and proceed to get entirely too loud.
  • Deborah D.
    Deborah DavilaAugust 31, 2012
    This is a GREAT place for having a private party! Fabulous food, beautiful room, soft background music. The only thing missing is LIVE music.
  • Becka S.
    Becka SimonMay 15, 2014
    Simply the best. They also will put the largest bottle of wine you've ever seen on your table and just charge you for approx how much you drink.
  • La Mela Ristorante ..
    Customer Review of the Day: By far, this is the best dining experience. Romantic, Italian restaurant setting, nice wine, family, staff, and great food! Everyone needs the La Mela experience! - -Michae
  • Ignacio U.
    Ignacio UrrutiaMay 23, 2018
    Please please please try the Penne Vodka!!! It’s delicious!!!!
  • nymag
    nymagApril 4, 2011
    Sponsored Tip: Order San Pellegrino or Acqua Panna water at this Little Italy spot and a donation will be made to Share Our Strength! Also: try the broccoli rabe. Read more
  • Mark F.
    Mark FisherDecember 30, 2012
    Definitely do the family style. It's so hard to decide what to eat since everything is amazing here ... Problem Solved!
  • Fernanda V.
    Fernanda VillanuevaApril 2, 2015
    The food is delicious , you wanna try something good the meat speacial is really worth it !
  • Leonardo C.
    Leonardo CohenNovember 14, 2019
    Fantastic food and great value! We have been coming here since 2000!! :-)
  • Thales M.heart icon on user image
    Thales MaJanuary 29, 2015
    Very traditional and delicious Italian food. make sure you're hungry, it's too much food.
  • Labinot K.heart icon on user image
    Labinot KrasniqiSeptember 30, 2016
    Delicious food, friendy staff 👌
  • Joe C.
    Joe CheskinOctober 24, 2010
    Go for the all you can eat, all you can drink option. It's a real bargain in the city, and the food is spectacular! La Mela is off the hook!
  • Beverly W.heart icon on user image
    Beverly WilliamsDecember 15, 2015
    The band, troubadour ambience service and the good food and wine!
  • Simon & Schuster
    Simon & SchusterNovember 1, 2010
    "Anybody who was anybody made it a point to stop into La Mela when they ventured to Little Italy." -- in Charles Kipps' CRYSTAL DEATH, homicide detective Conor Bard is a regular at this spot. Read more
  • Monique C.
    Monique CohenAugust 7, 2013
    Don't eat too much, start slowly so you can go all the way thru the finish line! :-) tons of food!
  • Davis C.heart icon on user image
    Davis ColladoJanuary 30, 2017
    The food is really good here and the service is fast
  • Halalfoodcriticheart icon on user image
    HalalfoodcriticAugust 19, 2015
    Get the mixed pasta and the fettuccini Alfredo
  • Doris F.
    Doris FongJuly 23, 2013
    Try la mela's famous dessert... Little of everything. Hits the sweet spot!
  • Carissa G.heart icon on user image
    Carissa GMay 28, 2013
    The penne vodka is great!
  • GourmetLive
    GourmetLiveFebruary 10, 2011
    Although country music star Trisha Yearwood enjoys a nice home-cooked meal, La Mela is her go-to because of its “family atmosphere.”
  • Kristie L.
    Kristie LeungJune 9, 2014
    Penne vodka is so darn good
  • Alex E.heart icon on user image
    Alex EmmanuelDecember 15, 2014
    Read everyone else's review raving about the place so I gave it a try, although the cannoli at the end was quite good the chicken parm I got was pretty mediocre, not at all worth the $25
  • Marling T.heart icon on user image
    Marling TorresApril 30, 2015
    Excelent! I just loved it
  • LaDawn P.
    Food is mediocre and service is mildly inattentive. This place is fine if you’re wanting a cheesy dinner spot in Little Italy but venture elsewhere for more quality Italian fare.
  • Matt L.
    Matt LeeJuly 24, 2011
    Chase a mushroom appetizer with the Penne Alla Vodka. They're prepared by nomes in a secret kitchen beneath the stairs.
  • Bahar B.
    Bahar BazarovaFebruary 1, 2013
    Chicken piccata is delicious just order it with pasta!
  • Natalie O.
    Natalie Of TwiniversityNovember 14, 2011
    Been here 5+ times
    Don't get overwhelmed. Order the family style. You won't regret it oh, and leave room for dessert.
  • Laura S.
    Laura SellersJanuary 23, 2012
    Great people! Ask how to get good luck. It's too funny. Francisco is best! We'll be back.
  • Austin W.
    Austin WhitleyMarch 25, 2012
    Best Penne Vodka of my life!
  • Sativa V.
    Sativa VerteJanuary 12, 2014
    This is the God jizz of pasta #deagobomb
  • Aniuska H.heart icon on user image
    Aniuska HerreraAugust 21, 2014
    The Best food Italy in New York 😍
  • Elizabeth B.
    Elizabeth BursteinOctober 13, 2016
    Great for carb loading before a race!
  • Alberto Z.heart icon on user image
    Alberto ZanardiDecember 8, 2015
    I'm Italian. I went to "La Mela" yesterday. All waiters were friendly and none of them was Italian. The food was quite bad and overpriced. I'm sure there is better in Little Italy.
  • Peter S.heart icon on user image
    Peter St.JohnSeptember 14, 2018
    shrimp oreganata was awesome
  • Chris S.
    Chris SmithDecember 21, 2010
    Did family style for 2 and an order of red wine -- there was so much food we werent even close to finishing and they just charge you for what you drink out of the bottle. this place is awesome (bill
  • Frederick D.
    Frederick DAugust 13, 2013
    $6 Peroni on tap. Lowest price on Mulberry Street.
  • Mandi G.heart icon on user image
    Mandi GrossMarch 4, 2012
    Been here 10+ times
    the mixed family style pasta - can't go wrong
  • Patricia M.
    Patricia MJune 15, 2014
    Food is delicious for sure
  • John D.
    John DiazJanuary 6, 2012
    Been here 50+ times
    La Mela has the best family style Italian food in NYC!
  • EmiliyaM
    EmiliyaMMay 24, 2012
    Food+housewine+Francesco= excellent evening @ La Mela :)
  • Tim C.heart icon on user image
    Tim ColferJanuary 12, 2014
    OMG!!!! Try the whole menu!!!
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