Ci Siamo

Book This If You Want a Danny Meyer Italian Done Right — And Skip the $400 Tasting Menu Elsewhere

Ci Siamo is one of the better-value Italian restaurants operating in Manhattan right now. At the $$ price tier (expect a two-course meal in the $40–$65 range before drinks), it punches well above its price point: Opinionated About Dining ranked it #39 on the Casual North America list in 2025, up from #73 in 2024 and #108 in 2023 — a consistent upward trajectory that signals the kitchen is operating with real momentum. Chef Hillary Sterling and the Union Square Hospitality Group team have built something that works: a room that fills from the moment doors open, a wine list deep enough to hold serious attention (700 selections, 7,950 bottles in inventory, Piedmont and Tuscany as the clear strengths), and Italian food that earns repeat visits.

The physical setup matters to your decision. The space at 440 W 33rd Street inside the Manhattan West development is anchored by a handsome bar, an open kitchen, large windows, and generous tilework throughout. The bar seating here is worth seeking out specifically: positioned against the open kitchen, it gives you sight lines into the cooking and a more immediate, conversation-friendly experience than the main dining room during peak service. If you are booking a date or a business dinner where atmosphere matters, request the bar counter when you reserve. The room is busy from the start of service, this is not a slow-burn, sparse-seating destination, so bar seating effectively gives you a front-row seat without the formality of a table booking.

The wine program is a genuine asset, not an afterthought. Wine Director Luciane Froz oversees a list priced at the $$ tier, which means you can find bottles well under $100 alongside more serious options. The corkage fee is $35 if you want to bring your own. For Italian food at this price point in New York, that depth of inventory (nearly 8,000 bottles) is unusual. If you care about drinking well with your pasta, this is a better call than most comparably priced Italian rooms in the city.

For special occasions at the $$ price band, Ci Siamo delivers the Union Square Hospitality Group service formula, attentive, professional, not stiff, in a room that reads as celebratory without being fussy. It sits in a development that also draws a business lunch crowd, so the room handles that register equally well. The Saturday and Sunday split service (11:30 am–2:30 pm, then 4:30–10 pm) means weekend dinner requires arriving in the second service window; plan accordingly.

Compared against the Italian field in New York, Ci Siamo sits in a comfortable position. Via Carota is more casual and harder to book; Babbo carries more history but is noisier and less focused on the wine experience; Ai Fiori skews more formal and more expensive. Altro Paradiso is the closest stylistic peer, relaxed, serious about the food, good wine, but Ci Siamo wins on wine list depth. If you want Italian with a serious bottle, this is the room.

For those exploring the wider Italian fine dining world, the format here sits at the opposite end of the spectrum from places like 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana in Hong Kong or cenci in Kyoto, Ci Siamo is approachable, lunch-friendly, and priced for regulars, not special-occasion splurges at the $$$$ tier.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is lunch or dinner better at Ci Siamo?

• Lunch is the easier choice for a weekday visit: the room is open continuously from 11:30 am and the business crowd means the pacing is efficient. Dinner is the better call for a date or a longer evening, the wine list justifies a slower meal. On weekends, note the split service; there is no walk-in window between 2:30 pm and 4:30 pm.

How far ahead should I book Ci Siamo?

• Booking is rated easy relative to the competitive set. A week's notice is usually enough for a table; less for a weekday lunch. If you specifically want bar seating at the open kitchen, which is worth requesting, mention it when booking. The room fills quickly from opening, especially at dinner.

What should I wear to Ci Siamo?

• Smart casual is the standard here. The room has a polished but not formal atmosphere, tilework, a bar, an open kitchen. Business casual works for a lunch meeting; a dress or jacket for dinner sits well without being overdressed. No formal dress code is stated, and the $$ price tier means you won't feel out of place in well-kept everyday clothes.

Can I eat at the bar at Ci Siamo?

• Yes, and it is worth doing. The bar is positioned with views toward the open kitchen, making it one of the better ways to experience the room, particularly for two people who want a more immediate, less formal setting. For a solo dinner or a casual date, bar seating here is a genuine upgrade over a standard table, not a fallback.

What should I order at Ci Siamo?

• The caramelized onion torta is specifically called out by Opinionated About Dining as worth a return visit on its own, melting onions in a delicate crust, finished in the wood-burning oven with two kinds of pecorino. The pasta and protein dishes are designed for sharing. The lemon torta with mascarpone and olive oil is the reported closer. Given the wine list's strength in Piedmont and Tuscany, pairing a bottle from those regions with the pasta course is an obvious move.

For more of the leading places to eat and drink in the city, see our full New York City restaurants guide, our full New York City bars guide, our full New York City hotels guide, our full New York City wineries guide, and our full New York City experiences guide. If you are planning a broader US dining trip, Pearl also covers Emeril's in New Orleans, Lazy Bear in San Francisco, Alinea in Chicago, Single Thread Farm in Healdsburg, The French Laundry in Napa, and Providence in Los Angeles. Also see Ammazzacaffè for a lower-key Italian option in the city.