La Mela
Italian Restaurant$$$$
Little Italy, New York
"Please please please try the Penne Vodka!!! It’s delicious!!!!"(4 Tips)
"Try the family style pastas and meats if you want a solid sampling."(2 Tips)
"Yeah, tried the Uncle Tweety thing."(2 Tips)
"The band, troubadour ambience service and the good food and wine!"(8 Tips)
91 Tips and reviewsFilter:
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KarenMarch 26, 2017Really authentic Italian food with great ambiance. It almost felt like I was in Italy. The dishes are all family style and the portions generous. Definitely try the carbonara!
emiliano calosJanuary 13, 2015If you want the closest experience to the old little Italy this is it. The food is amazing, prices are reasonable and the staff are usually friendly. It gets crowed, so get there early if you can.- Michael NataleMay 4, 2016Try the family style pastas and meats if you want a solid sampling. Run by respectful Albanians and sometimes they have live music
Matt KhodadadFebruary 24, 2017Go for the family Style! We have been coming to this restaurant since 1994. Tons of celeb been here!
Julia McGowenSeptember 25, 2014THE TORTELLINI.. That is all.. Hands down the best pasta in the city. You'll love the atmosphere & the food & the experience.
CompassMay 15, 2014Great for groups, La Mela has the classic feel of an Italian restaurant made for large boisterous families enjoying their red gravy.
JillianOctober 12, 2016If the large hanging ceiling sausage wasn't enough of a tip off, this is a place to go in family style, order a few bottles of red, and proceed to get entirely too loud.
Sebas RabuiniSeptember 26, 2014The Calamari fritti and te Rigatoni bolognesa are awesome. The house wine by the bottle is a very good choice.
Deborah DavilaAugust 31, 2012This is a GREAT place for having a private party! Fabulous food, beautiful room, soft background music. The only thing missing is LIVE music.
Becka SimonMay 15, 2014Simply the best. They also will put the largest bottle of wine you've ever seen on your table and just charge you for approx how much you drink.
La Mela Ristorante ...August 6, 2010Customer Review of the Day: By far, this is the best dining experience. Romantic, Italian restaurant setting, nice wine, family, staff, and great food! Everyone needs the La Mela experience! - -Michae
Mark FisherDecember 30, 2012Definitely do the family style. It's so hard to decide what to eat since everything is amazing here ... Problem Solved!
Fernanda VillanuevaApril 2, 2015The food is delicious , you wanna try something good the meat speacial is really worth it !
Leonardo CohenNovember 14, 2019Fantastic food and great value! We have been coming here since 2000!! :-)
Thales MaJanuary 29, 2015Very traditional and delicious Italian food. make sure you're hungry, it's too much food.
Joe CheskinOctober 24, 2010Go for the all you can eat, all you can drink option. It's a real bargain in the city, and the food is spectacular! La Mela is off the hook!
Simon & SchusterNovember 1, 2010"Anybody who was anybody made it a point to stop into La Mela when they ventured to Little Italy." -- in Charles Kipps' CRYSTAL DEATH, homicide detective Conor Bard is a regular at this spot. Read more
Monique CohenAugust 7, 2013Don't eat too much, start slowly so you can go all the way thru the finish line! :-) tons of food!
Alex EmmanuelDecember 15, 2014Read everyone else's review raving about the place so I gave it a try, although the cannoli at the end was quite good the chicken parm I got was pretty mediocre, not at all worth the $25
GourmetLiveFebruary 10, 2011Although country music star Trisha Yearwood enjoys a nice home-cooked meal, La Mela is her go-to because of its “family atmosphere.”
LaDawn Penigar-MitchellApril 15, 2018Food is mediocre and service is mildly inattentive. This place is fine if you’re wanting a cheesy dinner spot in Little Italy but venture elsewhere for more quality Italian fare.
Matt LeeJuly 24, 2011Chase a mushroom appetizer with the Penne Alla Vodka. They're prepared by nomes in a secret kitchen beneath the stairs.
Laura SellersJanuary 23, 2012Great people! Ask how to get good luck. It's too funny. Francisco is best! We'll be back.
Don't get overwhelmed. Order the family style. You won't regret it oh, and leave room for dessert.
Alberto ZanardiDecember 8, 2015I'm Italian. I went to "La Mela" yesterday. All waiters were friendly and none of them was Italian. The food was quite bad and overpriced. I'm sure there is better in Little Italy.
Chris SmithDecember 21, 2010Did family style for 2 and an order of red wine -- there was so much food we werent even close to finishing and they just charge you for what you drink out of the bottle. this place is awesome (bill
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Foursquare © 2025 Lovingly made in NYC, CHI, SEA & LA
Ever since La Mela opened in 1988, this trattoriahasbeen serving authentic Italian cuisine to hungry customers with a healthy dose of NYC style. This well-known establishment caters to the passersby on Mulberry Street in New York City's Little Italy neighborhood...
Open until 1:00 AM (Show more)
- Mon–Sat
- 11:30 AM–2:00 AM
- Sun
- 11:30 AM–1:00 AM
(212) 431-9493
Features
Credit Cards
Yes (incl. Discover & Visa)
Outdoor Seating
Yes
Food & Drink
Menus
Brunch, Lunch, Dinner
Drinks
Wine, Full Bar
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- 8.4
"Try the Cannoli, Chocolate Gelato, Pistacchio Gelato, Stracchiatella Gelato and dont forget to get a ristretto :-)"
Felipe Muñoz - 7.0
"Calamari is excellent. Nice place filled with regulars."
Nicole Harrison - 7.1
"Dancing space in the back. Outdoor patio when the weather is nice. Upstairs area with an additional cover. Couches to lounge in and hookah"
Damian Bayona
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