Best Contemporary Italian Restaurants in Long Island City

My friends and I recently attended an amazing pasta-making class at Aunt Jake’s with the incredible Chef Anthony, and it was such a fun and memorable experience! Chef Anthony not only taught us how to make pasta from scratch but also kept the whole class laughing throughout. His humor was the perfect touch, making the learning process even more enjoyable. He had everyone smiling as he shared tips, tricks, and a few hilarious stories from his time in the kitchen. The hands-on part of the class was a blast! We learned how to make pasta dough, roll it out, and shape it into beautiful creations. Chef Anthony’s clear instructions and funny anecdotes made it feel effortless, even for us beginners. We also ordered separate dishes, which were delicious, and got to take home the pasta we made to cook later. The pasta, drinks, and dessert we enjoyed at the end of the class were the perfect reward for all our hard work. The warm, welcoming atmosphere at Aunt Jake’s, combined with Chef Anthony’s lively personality, created an unforgettable evening. If you’re looking for a fun night out that’s both entertaining and educational, I can’t recommend this class enough. Chef Anthony’s humor and expert guidance made the experience even more enjoyable.

We arrived early for our reservation and they were able to seat us. We all had salads and pasta. Everything came out of the kitchen in a timely manner and at proper temperature. Dinner was delicious! Highly recommend!

We were so pleased with our first visit to Carmine's. My husband and I usually travel to NYC alone, and have never gone before because we heard how large the portions are - and they are NOT kidding. There were 7 of us for dinner, and we shared a Caesar Salad, Cheesy Garlic Bread, Rigatoni Bolognese, Eggplant Parm, Veal Scallopini, and Tiramisu and it was perfect portions. Only thing we took home was the Garlic Bread (which the 19-year-old scarfed down likely before it made it to the hotel fridge.) Paul our server was fantastic - happy to see our family reunion the day after Christmas with family from Myrtle Beach. The restaurant is crowded and loud, so expect that - but it's a fun environment and you can tell it's mostly families just having a great time. This dinner capped off a perfect day celebrating the 19-year-old's first Broadway Show.

Delicious breakfast and lunch. Live the vibe and kind staff! There is something for everyone.

We all enjoyed our food and our wine and the long time we were allowed to sit and talk after dessert. Two of us had the daily ravioli pasta special, two had the prix fixe meal (with the tiramisu for dessert - yum), and one had the salmon. Our server was very patient, putting up with all our questions and with how long it took us to order because we were catching up on a few years of history in our lives. A plus is the location - easy to get to via subways from the east and west est side of the city, not far from Union Square, Madison Square Park and Gramercy Park.