Best Contemporary Italian Restaurants in Jackson Heights

Great teacher—lots of laughs and hands on guidance! Great value for the price with quality food and large portions! Fun atmosphere for Pasta Experience guests to get to know one another.

Very nice in a trendy sort of way but happy atmosphere, attentive service and really good food selection

I had a wonderful meal with a friend. We loved the atmosphere/decor; the staff from greeting to meal service were lovely. I would come again.

This is one our Go To places on the UES in New York. The service is excellent, the kitchen is solid. The menu always has nice specials. We have been dining here for 3 years and never had a bad meal. The wine list is slightly limited, but the choices on the list are good.

Over the years we have kept coming back for more at one of the finest restaurants in New York city, Cucina 8 ½. The restaurant is extraordinary in so many ways. The ambience and design of Cucina is so elegant and beautifully appointed with a stunning staircase that signals to all diners that their descent down to the dining area was going to be a very special, indeed. The food is delicious with its Mediterranean favorites and imaginative creations that are delivered to tables by a dedicated staff seeking to provide an inviting and warm welcome to all. You get the feeling that they will truly attend to every diner’s individual needs and make any occasion a happy one from start to finish… from brilliant cocktails to perfect desserts. A remarkable restaurant to which we have been bringing our friends to celebrate big moments or casual lunches. Each time and each situation was a better experience than the last. And so it is with so much sadness we were told yesterday that the restaurant was closing in a few days. New Years Eve. We were devastated when the restaurant manager, Liz Dugan, told us of the doors were shutting. One of the most compelling reasons we ate at Cucina was because Liz made us feel truly excited about the dining experience we were about to have. At the bottom of the staircase, she always greeted us with a brilliant smile and kind words. She seemed so interested in what we were doing since last we came and the curiosity that she expressed seemed utterly genuine. She would intrigue us with experimental cocktails of the day, provide recommendations for items on the menu and make each dish sound fantastic. She was masterly not only with customers but with running the ship… seating diners , checking on tables, navigating the front and back of the house, sorting things with the chef, and chit chatting along the way that made everyone feel a part of the Cucina 81/2 family. Liz is singular in so many ways. When she spoke of the restaurant closing she indic