Last Updated: 22 days ago
Phone: (212) 274-8881
Address: 55 EAST HOUSTON STREET 10012
Old-school Italian gem w/ celeb faves & classic red sauce dishes. No reservations, just authentic vibes.
Emilio's Ballato in Nolita offers a throwback dining experience with a romantic ambiance, serving generous portions of veal parm, sausage and broccoli rabe, and pasta.
Emilio's Ballato offers a nostalgic journey into old-school New York Italian dining, complete with a charmingly vintage atmosphere and a personal touch from the owners. While they famously don't take reservations for smaller parties, the generous portions of classic dishes like Veal Parm and Roman cacio e pepe make the potential wait worthwhile. It's a true taste of authentic Italian-American heritage.
This classic Italian-American spot is lauded for its red sauce classics, with particular praise for the Veal Parm and Veal Antonio. Other highlights include Roman cacio e pepe, Tagliatelle bolognese, and Scarpariello wings. Some negative feedback exists regarding value and food quality, with one user describing a dish as cold and bland, though this appears to be an outlier.
"Highly recommended dishes include the Veal Parm, Veal Antonio, Tagliatelle bolognese, and the off-menu Vitello Antonio. Customers also rave about the Scarpariello wings and classic red sauce meatballs."
Customers overwhelmingly praise the authentic, old-school Italian experience and classic dishes, though some note the difficulty in securing a table due to their no-reservation policy.
Important Note
The restaurant does not take reservations for small groups, which can lead to significant wait times. There are also conflicting reviews regarding value and quality, with some negative experiences reported.
"Emilio's Ballato is mentioned as a recommendation."
Neutral"The commenter recommends Emilio's Ballato, noting that they were able to walk in around 5 PM on a Sunday and highlighting the quality of their veal parm."
Positive"The user mentions Emilio's as a place they are definitely going to visit before leaving NYC."
Neutral"The back room at Emilio's Ballato is suggested for its atmosphere that might fit the user's request."
Positive"Emilio's Ballato is mentioned as one of the old classics in Little Italy."
Positive"Emilio's Ballato is listed as a recommended restaurant in the Little Italy area."
Positive"This commenter strongly advises against Emilio's Ballato for the requested group, calling it a 'TikTok answer' and stating it's not what the group would want."
Negative"Emilio's is recommended as a suitable option for large groups."
Positive"Emilio's Ballato is suggested for its old-school vibe and is considered a great option, though potentially difficult to get a table for seven."
Positive"This is a classic red sauce Italian restaurant with a notable owner often seen at a front table. The user specifically recommended trying the veal parm."
Positive"The user recommended Emilio's."
Positive"The original poster has put in a reservation request for Emilio's Ballato."
Positive"Emilio's Ballato is mentioned as a family-owned establishment, fitting the user's criteria for not being a large chain."
Positive"Emilio's Ballato is considered to have no comparison."
Negative"Ballatos is considered to have no comparison."
Negative"Ballatos is considered to have no comparison."
Negative"Emilio's Ballato is recommended as a top choice, but securing a table for seven might be difficult."
Positive"The back room at Emilio's Ballato can be booked for a group of seven."
Positive"Emilio's Ballato is suggested as a dining option."
Positive"This user expressed love for Emilio's Ballato and recommended trying their burger if one is ever near Peter Luger at lunchtime."
Positive
