Pietro Cucina Italiana

4.8

566 Reviews

$30 and under

Italian

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 26, 2024

9:30 PM

Booked 11 times today

Neighborhood gem
Good for special occasions
Good for business meals

New York City restaurateurs Pietro and Kelly Molendini took over the classic St. James farmhouse turned restaurant. The former co-owners of Vite Vinosteria in Astoria, Queens, who had moved from the city to Centerport, spent the summer renovating the dining room to a modern, clean look with neutral tones and contemporary artwork from Pietro Molendini's native Rome. They also expanded the bar from about four to 11 seats.

Pietro Molendini has spent 30 years in the food industry, with a decade of that at Cipriani and stints at both Bar Pitti and Da Silvano. Along the way, he met chef Fabian Garcia Manca, who eventually headed the kitchen at Vito Vinosteria and now joins the Molendini’s in St. James. Kelly Molendini said Manca and her husband scour the tristate area and beyond for ingredients. "They are never home," she joked, and said that the pair source some of their meat from the Bronx, burrata from New Jersey and dried pasta from Italy and Sicily.
Closed 11/17/2022 for private party

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Italian
Phone number
(631) 862-6129
Website
http://www.pietro631.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual

Location
404 N Country Rd, St. James, NY 11780
Neighborhood
St. James
Parking details
None
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Cafe, Cocktails, Full Bar, Takeout, Wine

Popular dishes

Burrata Pugliese$17.95
imported burrata, homegrown roasted peppers, confit cherry tomato basil
Panzerotti Salentini$13.95
two deep fried pockets stuffed with mozzarella, tomato, basil, mozzarella, Italian ham
Cozze alla Calabrese$18.95
mussels sautéed in white wine sauce, calabrian peppers, garlic, shallots, crushed tomatoes
Polpette Al Pecorino$15.95
prime angus beef meatballs, pecorino romano, tomato sauce
Parmigiana di Melanzane$14.95
eggplant parmigiana, tomato, mozzarella, parmigiano, basil
Polpo alla Griglia$23.95
grilled octopus served with potatoes, tomato, artisanal salad, avocado cream
Arancini alla Siciliana$16.95
homemade crispy saffron rice balls with short rib ragu & besciamella sauce
Salumi Misti$24.95
chef's selection of imported cured meats
Formaggi Misti$21.95
chef's selection of imported cheeses

Le Insalate / Salad

Insalata dello Chef$13.95
artisanal lettuce, dry fruit, red wine-aged goat cheese
Insalata Fresca$12.95
string beans, cherry tomatoes, corn, basil
Insalata di Pomodori$12.95
organic tomatoes, celery, basil
Insalata di Endivia$14.95
endive, gorgonzola, walnuts, green apple, organic honey

Le Paste / Pasta

Paccheri di Gragnano$20.95
rigatoni from gragnano, prime angus short rib ragu
Pappardelle alla Bolognese$19.95
homemade pappardelle, traditional bolognese sauce
Gnocchi Verdi$19.95
homemade spinach & potato dumplings, white truffle cream sauce, parmigiano reggiano
Tortelloni con Burrata$23.95
tortelloni stuffed with burrata in butter & crispy sage sauce
Linguine alle Vongole$24.95
new zealand clams, light tomato sauce
Lasagna Rustica$23.95
chestnuts, veal ragu, porcini mushrooms
Risotto of the Day
made daily, ask your server
- Market Price

IL Pesce / Seafood

Salmone Selvatico$32.95
roasted wild salmon, pesto, vegetable ratatouille

Le Carni / Meats

Pollo Arrosto con Patate$24.95
roasted organic chicken marinated in chimichurri, served with roasted potatoes
Controfiletto alla Griglia$37.95
grilled prime sirloin, homemade almond pesto, french fries
Stinco di Agnello Stufato$31.95
lamb shank stew, creamy polenta
Petto di Anatra$27.95
roast duck breast with orange sauce, chickpea pureé

Contorni / Sides

Cavolfiore$7.95
sautéed cauliflower
Broccoli di Rape$7.95
sautéed
Vegetali alla Griglia$7.95
seasonal grilled vegetables
Fagiolini Aglio e Olio$7.95
french string beans sautéed in garlic-olive oil

What 566 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.8

4.8 based on recent ratings

4.8Food
4.8Service
4.6Ambience
4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Pietro Cucina Italiana offers an inviting ambiance with "amazing food and excellent service." Guests rave about the "wonderful atmosphere" and extensive menu featuring authentic Italian and Mediterranean dishes. The restaurant's unique dining areas, including indoor, porch, and outdoor patio with live music, enhance the experience. While some mention occasional service delays, the friendly staff and standout dishes, like mussels and homemade pasta, ensure a delightful visit.

566 Reviews

M
Michael
New York City
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on December 15, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
The Owner, Pietro is always there to meet and greet you upon entering the restaurant. The food is always consistent. The organic chicken with potatoes and carrots was fantastic. We always enjoy dining here.
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B
Billy
New York City
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on December 15, 2024
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 4
Ac vent was blowing cold air on us the whole time, pork and chicken were both extremely tough. Would not go back for the price.
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C
Colleen
New York City
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on December 7, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Staff is very attentive. The food is amazing! We went at Christmas time and it was decorated so nicely. Felt like we were eating at a friend’s house. Excellent and I highly recommend.
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J
Janet
New York City
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on November 17, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
Our waitress was exceptional. She was very attentive and helpful. The food was delicious. Will definitely return.
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L
Liz
San Francisco
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on November 1, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Overall we loved this restaurant. There was one small issue about food. The menu was a bit confusing and it wasn’t explained well by the server. My husband thought his veal chop came with polenta. It did not and they would only give it to him with a second up charge. Polenta is so inexpensive why not just give him a small amount and make a customer happy???
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M
Mike
VIP
New York City
40 reviews
5.0
40 reviews
Dined on October 19, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The food and service is ALWAYS top notch. Pietro alway makes you feel like part of the family.
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M
Maria
New York City
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on October 18, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This restaurant has the perfect ambiance and the food is really delicious!! Looking forward to going back soon.
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J
Judi
VIP
New York City
37 reviews
5.0
37 reviews
Dined on October 14, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We recently dined at Pietro in Saint James and I can't recommend it highly enough! From the moment we walked in, I was struck by the inviting ambience that perfectly sets the stage for a wonderful meal. The decor is stylish yet comfortable, creating a relaxed atmosphere. The staff were exceptional—attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely friendly, making sure every aspect of our dining experience was perfect. The menu offers a delightful variety of dishes, all beautifully presented and bursting with flavor. Each bite was a testament to the chef’s creativity and skill. To top it all off, the choice of music was fantastic, enhancing the overall vibe without overpowering conversation. Whether you're looking for a casual dinner or a special occasion, Pietro is a must-visit. I can't wait to return!
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D
Daveta
VIP
New York City
15 reviews
5.0
15 reviews
Dined on October 13, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We love going to Pietro. The food is always fresh and delicious. I had the Montauk Tuna special which was cooked to perfection and my partner had his favorite the pappardelle which tastes like it was created in Italy. The staff is friendly and accommodating as well as the owner Pietro.
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R
Roy
New York City
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on October 12, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Will definitely go here again. Nice quiet place off the beaten path. Food was great. People were awesome.
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FAQs

Pietro Cucina Italiana offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (631) 862-6129.

Pietro Cucina Italiana is rated 4.8 stars by 566 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 26, 2024

9:30 PM

Booked 11 times today

Order delivery or takeout

404 N Country Rd, St. James, NY 11780

Additional information

Neighborhood
St. James
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Italian
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
None
Payment options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Cafe, Cocktails, Full Bar, Takeout, Wine

Website
http://www.pietro631.com/
Phone number
(631) 862-6129

Pietro Cucina Italiana

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Gnocchi Verdi

Gnocchi al Tartufo

Pappardelle alla Bolognese

Antipasti / Appetizer

Burrata Pugliese$17.95

Panzerotti Salentini$13.95

Cozze alla Calabrese$18.95

Polpette Al Pecorino$15.95

Parmigiana di Melanzane$14.95

Polpo alla Griglia$23.95

Arancini alla Siciliana$16.95

Salumi Misti$24.95

Formaggi Misti$21.95

Le Insalate / Salad

Insalata dello Chef$13.95

Insalata Fresca$12.95

Insalata di Pomodori$12.95

Insalata di Endivia$14.95

Le Paste / Pasta

Paccheri di Gragnano$20.95

Pappardelle alla Bolognese$19.95

Gnocchi Verdi$19.95

Tortelloni con Burrata$23.95

Linguine alle Vongole$24.95

Lasagna Rustica$23.95

Risotto of the Day

IL Pesce / Seafood

Salmone Selvatico$32.95

Le Carni / Meats

Pollo Arrosto con Patate$24.95

Controfiletto alla Griglia$37.95

Stinco di Agnello Stufato$31.95

Petto di Anatra$27.95

Contorni / Sides

Cavolfiore$7.95

Broccoli di Rape$7.95

Vegetali alla Griglia$7.95

Fagiolini Aglio e Olio$7.95

Overall ratings and reviews

Review summary

FAQs

Does Pietro Cucina Italiana offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Pietro Cucina Italiana restaurant rated?

Is Pietro Cucina Italiana currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information