Café Paradiso

4.0

59 Reviews

$30 and under

Italian

Make a reservation

2 people

Jan 25, 2025

8:00 PM

Booked 23 times today

Experiences are available.

Neighborhood gem
Healthy
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
Website
http://www.cafeparadisonyc.com/
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.

Location
144 W 65th St, New York, NY 10023
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

Valentine's Day Menu
$55.00 per person
Feb 14, 2025 only
Treat your special someone to an unforgettable evening featuring a romantic menu and live music to set the mood. Menu Details: Appetizer (Choose One) Sicilian Hummus served with warm focaccia Mini Cheese Board with artisanal cheeses Main Course (Choose One) Lasagna Bolognese with a rich three-meat ragu Gnocchi Bolognese Pesto Ravioli filled with spinach and ricotta, in a creamy pesto sauce Chicken Parmigiana Dessert (Choose One) Cheesecake Cannoli Tiramisu Beverage (Choose One) A glass of Wine or Prosecco Soft Drink $55 per person (tax and gratuity not included). Enjoy a night filled with delicious food, live music, and plenty of romance. Reserve your table now for an unforgettable Valentine’s Day!
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 Lunch Menu!
$35.00 per person
Feb 17, 2025 - Feb 23, 2025
Celebrate 2 Years of Cafe Paradiso! Join us for lunch between 11 AM and 4 PM and indulge in a carefully crafted menu that highlights the flavors of Italy. Menu Details: Appetizer (Choose One) Sicilian Hummus with freshly baked focaccia Quinoa Falafel (3 pieces) served with arugula, Pecorino cheese, and a refreshing tzatziki dip Small Side (Choose One) Mixed Greens Salad with a bright citrus vinaigrette Soup: Your choice of Tuscan Vegetable Bean or Tomato Main Course Spaghetti & Meatballs tossed in a rich Pomodoro sauce Dessert A classic, creamy Cheesecake to complete your meal $35 per person (tax and gratuity not included). Come celebrate this special milestone with us and enjoy a meal that captures the heart of Cafe Paradiso!

What 59 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
3.7Ambience
4Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Café Paradiso, conveniently located near Lincoln Center, is praised for its "outstanding service" and delicious, reasonably priced Italian dishes. Guests enjoy its "friendly" atmosphere, making it a perfect spot for pre-show dining. While some find the menu limited, the "excellent sandwiches and salads" and "great service" make it a neighborhood gem.

59 Reviews

M
Michele
New York City
23 reviews
5.0
23 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Food was delicious-great menu option for our group to have soup and 1/2 sandwich. Very busy; service was a bit slow but waitress was friendly and did her best. Worst problem was finding it! We wandered around Lincoln center and 65 st-it’s inside the film bldg but there was no signage outside. Please mention this when taking reservations!
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B
Barry
New York City
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
The food was surprisingly well done, at a price point that was quite low. The chicken parm was excellent. Service was good and mindful of the fact that most dinner patrons were attending a concert, dance or opera at Lincoln Center. It’s an excellent choice for a convenient dinner before a performance.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Greater Boston
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Friendly server but over-extended. You need more waiters. Food very good and reasonably priced (for Manhattan). But it was noisy. Maybe get rid of the music or turn it way down. Will definitely make it a regular dining stop when we’re at Lincoln Center or in the neighborhood.
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C
Christine
VIP
New York City
32 reviews
2.0
32 reviews
Dined on January 11, 2025
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 2
Our experience, the second try, was less than successful. We waited much too long to be approached by our waitress. She didn't ask if we'd like something to drink beside water. When I asked for a perfect Manhattan, she said that they only offered the drinks on the menu and manhattans weren't on the menu - no manhattan in NYC????? The drinks took too long to be delivered and the food was delivered immediately following the drinks. It felt like they were hurrying us out. My dinner partner ordered the bean and vegetable soup and a salad. The soup had absolutely NO flavor. The salad was very good. I ordered the Quiche Lorraine and the waitress said that the quiches were not ready yet - it was 5:15pm on a Saturday night - when were they expecting to have folks order quiche? The waitress never stopped by our table to ask how our meal was. When we asked for the check, my dining partner told the waitress that she was not going to eat the soup because it was flavorless. The waitress said nothing and then delivered the check - the soup was still on the check. It seems that the wait staff has no idea how to present the restaurant as wanting to have its customers satisfied, much less pleased. We will not return.
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M
Maggie
VIP
New York City
9 reviews
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on December 29, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Convenient Lincoln Center location for reasonably-priced meal in pleasant surroundings with outstanding service. (That means you, Robert.) Highly recommend meatball parm sandwich.
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S
Samantha
New York City
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on December 28, 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
We had to squeeze 6 people at a table for 4. The first cocktail on the menu was not available, nor was the gluten-free pasta. Most of us liked our food, and the server was very good, but overall the value seemed lower than it should be for a popular place in Lincoln Center. I usually love it!
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S
Susan
Phoenix
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on December 28, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Party of 3, lunch before seeing The Nutcracker in Lincoln Center. Tomato soup and 1/2 turkey sandwich were delicious. Others had spaghetti pomodoro and quinoa salad. They enjoyed their lunches as well. Highly recommend if you are on the UWS.
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J
Joseph
New York City
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on December 27, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Cafe Paradisio is a great stop for a pre show dinner at Lincoln Center. The food is delicious and the service admirable.
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CW
CathrynW
Washington DC
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on December 22, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 3
Not fancy- just very fresh and delicious Italian food. On a very cold evening the vegetable bean soup hit the spot. My husband’s lasagna Bolognese was excellent.
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D
Derrin
New York City
9 reviews
4.0
9 reviews
Dined on December 17, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
It fills an urgent need for a moderately priced restaurant right at Lincoln Center. Food is fresh and good quality with service to match. Biggest drawback is that menu is limited and not very interesting.
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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 59 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people

Jan 25, 2025

8:00 PM

Booked 23 times today

Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

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

Website
http://www.cafeparadisonyc.com/
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.

Café Paradiso

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Experiences

Valentine's Day Menu

Special Anniversary Dinner Menu!

Special Anniversary Lunch Menu!

Menu

What 59 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Review summary

FAQs

Does Café Paradiso offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Café Paradiso restaurant rated?

Is Café Paradiso currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information