Sistina NYC is a restaurant that has been around for so long that you remember and forget about it multiple times throughout your lifetime. It’s not that it’s not solid Italian, and for many, Sistina is an NYC standby. However, you know how it is in NYC: we’re always chasing the next restaurant opening. So, even after a solid meal at Sistina, we’re onto the next. When you do reconnect with Sistina though, it makes you want to return more often. Is it still any good though? That’s why we’re revisiting Sistina with this updated restaurant review.
Overview
Sistina is a classic NYC Italian restaurant, that’s been around since 1982. It originally sat on 2nd Avenue on the Upper East Side. Over a decade ago Sistina NYC moved to the gorgeous space that housed the now-closed Crown. The more things change though, the more they stay the same, and the food remains classic Italian. The wine also moved over to the next location, with the same extensive collection.
Atmosphere
Sistina scored a big upgrade in their restaurant space when they moved to 81st Street. You wouldn’t know that there was a restaurant on the ground floor of this elegant apartment building. The space is what restaurant layout dreams are made of. There’s a dark and intimate large bar in the front, where regulars drop in for a bite and drink. If there’s ever a night that you want to get quality catch-up time but you don’t have a ressie, the bar at Sistina is a good option.
The dining room in contrast is light and classically elegant. The decor including the fireplace makes the room unique for New York City. That’s one of Sistina’s superpowers is its beautiful setting. If you arrive for lunch or even dinner on the earlier side, there’s a glassed-in garden to take in the natural light. Every table in the house is a good one with how the dining room is laid out. Whether you have large parties or you’re dining in a deux, Sistina is a solid choice that will have something for everyone.
As far as the crowd goes, it’s as Upper East Side as it gets. People dress in proper dinner attire, and the average age is about 60. When you come to Sistina you’re eating at the grown-up table, and sometimes that’s exactly where you want to be.
Food + Wine
Sistina is old-school Italian, where the waiters are dressed in proper suits, tables are covered in white cloths and the menu is huge. Besides the elegant space, the food actually is the major draw of Sistina. They’re not winning a Michelin star but the food is consistently good. We don’t know how the waiters do it, but there are at least eight specials nightly that they rattle off with detailed ease. They also have seasonal white truffles for around $160 a pasta. I recognize this isn’t inexpensive, but it’s about $100 less than at another one of my favorites, Marea.
On the regular menu when they have it, the fried zucchini flowers are a favorite. The pasta selection always shines, whereas on the regular menu, they have over a dozen. Many are seafood-focused, including the vongole and linguine lobster. Even if you have the pickiest eater of the bunch, there is something for everyone on Sistina’s menu.
Service
The service at Sistina NYC is old school. Sistina’s team is career waitstaff. They are skilled at serving the Upper East Side clientele at the expected level of service. However, I will say that this is the only place where amongst my baller girlfriends on a night out we felt slightly dismissed. I get that we’re about 10-15 years younger than the average clientele, and we’re not married to much older men or look like we’re kept women.
Instead, we’re all self-made and that’s clear. This is the only place this hasn’t seemed to go over very well. So while I continue to go to Sistina when I remember it exists, it’s always the same old song and dance with their waitstaff. When I do show up with my guy friends, my table seems to get more time with the somm. The gentlemen waitstaff are happier to engage with our table as well.
Overall: 7/10
Sistina is a solid Italian option.
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FAQs
Q: Where is Sistina NYC located?
A: Sistina NYC is located at: 24 E 81st St, New York, NY 10028, USA
Q: What are Sistina NYC’s hours of operation?
A: Sistina NYC’s hours of operation are as follows:
Monday to Sunday
Lunch 12 pm – 3 pm
Dinner 5 pm – 10 pm
Q: Is there a dress code at Sistina NYC?
A: There isn’t a formal dress code at Sistina NYC, but this is a dressier restaurant by virtue of its older clientele and Upper East Side location.
