Il Poeta is The Manhattan restaurant located in Forest Hills NY. It has all the pluses of dining in an upper east side restaurant but without the pretentious waiters and with the convenience of being local. We've dined here several times, have never been disappointed and are always delighted with the specials they have to offer. The freshest fish, inventive meat dishes, delectable pastas and a special creatively crafted risotto each day make it a premium choice for anyone not wanting to venture out of the borough. The tagliatelle with bechamel and ham was better than the one I enjoyed immensely at Harry's Bar in Rome. It was a special, but I'm guessing they will have it again.
Craig
We found this amazing Northern Italian restaurant during a brief visit to Forest Hills and could not have been happier. The cuisine was amazing, service excellent and overall value superb. Craig C. Madison CT & Montauk NY
WeAreOne1212
My wife Shirley and I have come to Il Poeta for years, before heading into the city to go to theatre. It's a romantic, intimate place to eat where the food is always made to the highest Northern Italian standards with homemade pasta and gnocchi. Chef Mario hails from both Cipriani Restaurant in Venice Italy as well as NYC where he worked alongside his Papa Luigi who taught him everything. We've had their calamari, mussels and clams, Caprese, croquette di eggplant, and Linguini with clam sauce with zucchini. Chicken breast parmesan crust white wine and lemon sauce, veal scallopine with mushroom and bacon (to die for) and Salmon in a mustard pistachio crust and spinach. I do want to try the pork tenderloins with wild mushrooms next. Put it this way, after reviewing and eating at multiple restaurants up and down Metropolitan ave we chose to celebrate our 17th wedding anniversary here with a party of 25 people. Everybody loved the food, and the service was excellent. Mario provided me a choice party menu at a price we were happy with. I wouldn't change a thing. The family raved about the menu and we all plan to come back again. Thanks Il Poeta
Brandon Will
Came here to celebrate getting engaged to my fiance with my family. Great drinks (especially the margaritas), the grilled octopus was delicious, and they had very pleasant service. I would recommend this place
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Shirley Goicochea
From the moment you step into Il Poeta, you’re transported to a world where Italian hospitality and culinary artistry reign supreme. The ambiance is warm and intimate, perfect for a romantic evening or a soulful family gathering. Chef Mario Di Chiara’s creations are nothing short of poetic — each dish is a masterpiece, blending tradition with innovation. We started with the eggplant croquettes and grilled vegetables drizzled with truffle oil — divine. The gnocchi melted in our mouths, and the seafood specials were fresh, flavorful, and beautifully plated. The wine list was thoughtfully curated, and the staff made excellent pairing suggestions. Service was impeccable: attentive, gracious, and genuinely welcoming. You can feel the love and pride in every detail, from the decor to the dessert. Il Poeta isn’t just a restaurant — it’s an experience that nourishes both body and spirit. Highly recommend for anyone seeking authentic Northern Italian cuisine with heart. Forest Hills is lucky to have this treasure!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Doany Will
Il Poeta hits a sweet spot of offering elevated Italian fare in a neighborhood setting — perfect for a date night, a dinner with friends when you want something better than casual chain fare, or for celebrating something special without going ultra‐formal. The dishes, service, and ambiance all lean toward the positive. Just be aware that if you’re after a super quiet, spacious setting, this might feel more intimate than you expect.
If I were rating it, I’d give it something like 4.5 out of 5 — strong recommendation, with small caveats around space and noise.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Chris Benvegna
NOT THE SAME! My wife and I have been coming here for her birthday for the last 3 years and we loved it. Not any more! They renovated the place this past year and it ruined the experience. The ONLY good thing about the place is the food (my wife's fish, however, was lukewarm). The servers are incredibly rude and rush you to order. They won't let you put in an appetizer order unless you order everything at once, again, feeling rushed. We were 1 of only 2 tables in the place but I was told the chef is too busy to make any kind of change to my order. The music was terrible, sounded like club music, and the entire atmosphere feels like you are eating at a restaurant in Las Vegas, it's extremely bright and sterile. The tables are crowded together on one side with couch seating! You used to get such a warm vibe from this place but all that is gone. Sadly, we will not be celebrating her birthday here any longer.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 1
Danny
Best restaurant.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Connie
Didn'appear to have enough staff. I asked for a drink and waited 15 minutes as only two people working. Food was ok. Thought it to be much better in the past
Sarah
We always have an excellent meal and appreciate when Mario comes around to check on each table and make everyone feel special. He's a true chef who cares about pleasing his customers. The service was great too. This place is a gem and is our favorite restaurant in the neighborhood.
We have tried several dishes, never been disappointed by any of them, they are authentic, delicious and served perfectly. I would easily eat here every night! Main point, food even though very rich will never sit on your stomach! all ingredients are top quality!
Howard
I have eaten at Il Poeta many times and have always enjoyed it. This last time was the exception. It took an hour just to get our appetizer and three hours to complete our dinner. I asked our waiter what the delay was and he said they had a big party at the street side tables. It seems to me that if you can't handle that many diners you either don't book them or get more staff. I also found it very annoying that people who came in after us were served before us. I don't know if I will be going back to Il Poeta.
Sherpa25525162692
Food was great, but it cost a lot and you really don’t get very much for your money. The cocktails are $17, served improperly (incorrect stemware and garnish) and not mixed correctly. Disappointing visit.
Philip
Crowded, small restaurant with sidewalk seating. Food was very good, but the plates were sparse. No vegetable included in our main courses. And if you're going to charge $17 for a cocktail, you should know how to make a cocktail.
Kathy
Always have a wonderful meal at Il Poeta. Especially live their octopus when they have it as a special. The fish specials are always delicious and fresh. The wine list is diverse and reasonably priced.
Il Poeta is The Manhattan restaurant located in Forest Hills NY. It has all the pluses of dining in an upper east side restaurant but without the pretentious waiters and with the convenience of being local. We've dined here several times, have never been disappointed and are always delighted with the specials they have to offer. The freshest fish, inventive meat dishes, delectable pastas and a special creatively crafted risotto each day make it a premium choice for anyone not wanting to venture out of the borough. The tagliatelle with bechamel and ham was better than the one I enjoyed immensely at Harry's Bar in Rome. It was a special, but I'm guessing they will have it again.
We found this amazing Northern Italian restaurant during a brief visit to Forest Hills and could not have been happier. The cuisine was amazing, service excellent and overall value superb. Craig C. Madison CT & Montauk NY
My wife Shirley and I have come to Il Poeta for years, before heading into the city to go to theatre. It's a romantic, intimate place to eat where the food is always made to the highest Northern Italian standards with homemade pasta and gnocchi. Chef Mario hails from both Cipriani Restaurant in Venice Italy as well as NYC where he worked alongside his Papa Luigi who taught him everything. We've had their calamari, mussels and clams, Caprese, croquette di eggplant, and Linguini with clam sauce with zucchini. Chicken breast parmesan crust white wine and lemon sauce, veal scallopine with mushroom and bacon (to die for) and Salmon in a mustard pistachio crust and spinach. I do want to try the pork tenderloins with wild mushrooms next. Put it this way, after reviewing and eating at multiple restaurants up and down Metropolitan ave we chose to celebrate our 17th wedding anniversary here with a party of 25 people. Everybody loved the food, and the service was excellent. Mario provided me a choice party menu at a price we were happy with. I wouldn't change a thing. The family raved about the menu and we all plan to come back again. Thanks Il Poeta
Came here to celebrate getting engaged to my fiance with my family. Great drinks (especially the margaritas), the grilled octopus was delicious, and they had very pleasant service. I would recommend this place
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
From the moment you step into Il Poeta, you’re transported to a world where Italian hospitality and culinary artistry reign supreme. The ambiance is warm and intimate, perfect for a romantic evening or a soulful family gathering. Chef Mario Di Chiara’s creations are nothing short of poetic — each dish is a masterpiece, blending tradition with innovation.
We started with the eggplant croquettes and grilled vegetables drizzled with truffle oil — divine. The gnocchi melted in our mouths, and the seafood specials were fresh, flavorful, and beautifully plated. The wine list was thoughtfully curated, and the staff made excellent pairing suggestions.
Service was impeccable: attentive, gracious, and genuinely welcoming. You can feel the love and pride in every detail, from the decor to the dessert. Il Poeta isn’t just a restaurant — it’s an experience that nourishes both body and spirit.
Highly recommend for anyone seeking authentic Northern Italian cuisine with heart. Forest Hills is lucky to have this treasure!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Il Poeta hits a sweet spot of offering elevated Italian fare in a neighborhood setting — perfect for a date night, a dinner with friends when you want something better than casual chain fare, or for celebrating something special without going ultra‐formal. The dishes, service, and ambiance all lean toward the positive. Just be aware that if you’re after a super quiet, spacious setting, this might feel more intimate than you expect.
If I were rating it, I’d give it something like 4.5 out of 5 — strong recommendation, with small caveats around space and noise.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
NOT THE SAME! My wife and I have been coming here for her birthday for the last 3 years and we loved it. Not any more! They renovated the place this past year and it ruined the experience. The ONLY good thing about the place is the food (my wife's fish, however, was lukewarm). The servers are incredibly rude and rush you to order. They won't let you put in an appetizer order unless you order everything at once, again, feeling rushed. We were 1 of only 2 tables in the place but I was told the chef is too busy to make any kind of change to my order. The music was terrible, sounded like club music, and the entire atmosphere feels like you are eating at a restaurant in Las Vegas, it's extremely bright and sterile. The tables are crowded together on one side with couch seating! You used to get such a warm vibe from this place but all that is gone. Sadly, we will not be celebrating her birthday here any longer.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 1
Best restaurant.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Didn'appear to have enough staff. I asked for a drink and waited 15 minutes as only two people working. Food was ok. Thought it to be much better in the past
We always have an excellent meal and appreciate when Mario comes around to check on each table and make everyone feel special. He's a true chef who cares about pleasing his customers. The service was great too. This place is a gem and is our favorite restaurant in the neighborhood.
Restaurantji Recommends
We have tried several dishes, never been disappointed by any of them, they are authentic, delicious and served perfectly. I would easily eat here every night! Main point, food even though very rich will never sit on your stomach! all ingredients are top quality!
I have eaten at Il Poeta many times and have always enjoyed it. This last time was the exception. It took an hour just to get our appetizer and three hours to complete our dinner. I asked our waiter what the delay was and he said they had a big party at the street side tables. It seems to me that if you can't handle that many diners you either don't book them or get more staff. I also found it very annoying that people who came in after us were served before us. I don't know if I will be going back to Il Poeta.
Food was great, but it cost a lot and you really don’t get very much for your money. The cocktails are $17, served improperly (incorrect stemware and garnish) and not mixed correctly. Disappointing visit.
Crowded, small restaurant with sidewalk seating. Food was very good, but the plates were sparse. No vegetable included in our main courses. And if you're going to charge $17 for a cocktail, you should know how to make a cocktail.
Always have a wonderful meal at Il Poeta. Especially live their octopus when they have it as a special. The fish specials are always delicious and fresh. The wine list is diverse and reasonably priced.
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