Best Restaurants for Special Occasions in Upper West Side

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.

I went here for an early afternoon holiday lunch with my husband, my sister and her partner. We had the best time. Seating was on time, the service fabulous, and the food was outstanding! That seafood tower is everything, and I mean everything. The best I’ve ever had, and we could have ended it there, as it was that plentiful, but fortunately we had already ordered the chicken parm pizza, the ricotta, and the fusilli and pesto pasta dishes. (I think subconsciously we were trying to recreate our big holiday family meal that we didn’t get to have this year.) I got to taste most of everything and it was all just amazing, especially that homemade pasta! Needless to say, there were plenty of yummy leftovers to go. Quality Italian, I thank you for the great experience from beginning to end. You really made our day!

First time going to the Plaza Hotel for afternoon tea. Pleasantly surprised with the quality and service considering the mixed reviews. Sandwiches were delicious and there seemed to be endless tea in the teapot. Mary was amazing at making this experience memorable! She was super nice, informative, and great at anticipating what works for us! Would definitely go back.

My wife wanted to go here for the Christmas decorations It was our last meal before leaving for the airport and it didn't disappoint decorations better than expected service and food to match would highly recommend Only thing we booked for 12.45pm arrived 12.35pm People in queue in front of us that had reservations for 1.30pm spoke to head waiter and he got us a table ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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.