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Restaurant Reviews for Ducale Restaurant

Ducale Restaurant

392 Columbus Avenue
New York, NY 10024

Located on a quiet corner of Columbus Avenue, across the park grounds of the Natural History Museum, Ducale is just minutes north of Lincoln Center. Our menu is classic Italian, supported by artisanal producers who share our ideals on wholesome, organic, and sustainable farming. Our dining rooms have an intimate, casually elegant feel, with the design inspired by the simple sophistication of Venecia.

Dining Style: Casual Elegant
Price: $31 to $50
Parking: No
Cross Street: 79th Street

See more Ducale Restaurant details

Average Diner Rating
Overall Rating		3.7 out of 5 (58 Reviews)

Food		(Very Good)
Ambiance		(Very Good)
Service		(Very Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level		(Moderate)

Summary of Special Features

Diners classify this restaurant as:

neighborhood gem (31)
fit for foodies (24)
romantic (15)
great for lunch (9)
special occasion (9)
good for groups (5)
great for brunch (5)
scenic view (5)
notable wine list (4)
kid-friendly (3)
hot spot (2)

+ see more special features/tags

Ducale Restaurant Reviews List

Overall Rating

(Outstanding)

"The food quality is above and beyond the price - this restaurant is one of few left in New York where they obviously put the diner's experience ahead of their own profits. And the cappuciono machine is a work of art in itself, as are the cappucinos it produces!"

Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem

Food		(Outstanding)
Ambiance		(Outstanding)
Service		(Outstanding)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level		(Moderate)

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 03/12/2010

(review submitted 03/14/2010)

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Review 2 for Ducale Restaurant

Overall Rating

(Very Good)

"Small room with sleek lined and simple decor which feels very cozy and comfortably elegant. All tables have a view of Natural History Museum and bustling Columbus Ave. Good wine list and food was well presented and very good. Not an ambitious menu - but strong standard quality dishes. Service was friendly but a bit spotty - surprising especially in such a small restaurant. But overall, we had a great experience and appreciated the understated elegance. WIll definitely return - knowing not to be in a hurry."

Special Features: neighborhood gem, romantic, scenic view

Food		(Very Good)
Ambiance		(Outstanding)
Service		(Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level		(Moderate)

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 03/11/2010

(review submitted 03/13/2010)

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Review 3 for Ducale Restaurant

Overall Rating

(Fair)

"Food excellent but overall experience weird. No wine list and only 3 wines were available, none any good(one was corked). Coffee, including espresso, undrinkable. Is the restaurant about to go out of business?"

Food		(Very Good)
Ambiance		(Very Good)
Service		(Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level		(Moderate)

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 03/09/2010

(review submitted 03/11/2010)

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Review 4 for Ducale Restaurant

Overall Rating

(Fair)

"Food was good, not knock your socks off, but certainly good. Brought our own wine, it was a little awkward asking if he should open it, or if we should; we sat there almost 10 minutes hoping our waiter would come by and offer before broaching the subject. At any rate, I'd give this place a B. If you are looking for a small Italian joint, not crowded with good food, this is your place. Just don't expect the waiter will be around immediately when you need him. The quietness of the place was definitely a plus."

Special Features: neighborhood gem, romantic

Food		(Good)
Ambiance		(Good)
Service		(Fair)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level		(Quiet)

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 03/06/2010

(review submitted 03/09/2010)

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Review 5 for Ducale Restaurant

Overall Rating

(Very Good)

"Food and service were very good. Noise levels were high as voices carried easily. Wine prices were much higher than comparable restaurants, especially for the quality. We likely will go back but won't order wine with our meal."

Food		(Very Good)
Ambiance		(Very Good)
Service		(Very Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level		(Energetic)

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 03/06/2010

(review submitted 03/08/2010)

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Review 6 for Ducale Restaurant

Overall Rating

(Fair)

"We had a 7:30 reservation on Saturday night. We were seated promptly and then waited until 9 o'clock before any food was served. Not even bread. Even the drinks took more than half an hour to arrive. There was a big party upstairs, it was explained to us by our waiter, David, who could not have been nicer. When the food came, it was OK but certainly nothing special. We have been coming to Ducale since they opened and it has never been bad. When we left, no one had anything to offer us as a thank you for our patience--- not a free drink not an apology---nothing! We are rarely in the city on a Saturday night. Thanks to dinner at Ducale, I remember why!"

Food		(Fair)
Ambiance		(Very Good)
Service		(Poor)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level		(Energetic)

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 02/27/2010

(review submitted 03/01/2010)

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Review 7 for Ducale Restaurant

Overall Rating

(Good)

"We enjoyed a nice meal in a lovely room. The service, however, did not match the food or ambience. The waiter was friendly and knowledgeable, but rarely around. We had to flag someone down each time we needed something (like a drink refill) and we waited almost half an hour for a cup of coffee at the end."

Food		(Good)
Ambiance		(Good)
Service		(Fair)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level		(Moderate)

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 02/20/2010

(review submitted 02/23/2010)

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Review 8 for Ducale Restaurant

Overall Rating

(Good)

"The food is great and the menu is kind of rustic Italian. The Bronzino is a stable. The problem at this restaurant is the service. It was really poor. This is my third time at this restaurant and to my bad luck, the SAME waiter served us. He has almost NO knowledge of what they serve, never mentioned the specials, lagged on providing what we exactly orders, and forgot couple of times what we ask him. After finishing appetizer and having entree's, we waited 25 minutes. To get desert, that was another 30 minutes. To be honest though, the host and the other waiters were nice and professional."

Food		(Very Good)
Ambiance		(Good)
Service		(Poor)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level		(Moderate)

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 02/20/2010

(review submitted 02/22/2010)

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Review 9 for Ducale Restaurant

Overall Rating

(Outstanding)

"I was very impressed with this restaurant. It is quiet and the food is wonderful. I highly recommend the crab cake entree and for dessert, the warm apple strudel."

Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, notable wine list

Food		(Outstanding)
Ambiance		(Very Good)
Service		(Outstanding)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level		(Quiet)

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 02/13/2010

(review submitted 02/15/2010)

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Review 10 for Ducale Restaurant

Overall Rating

(Very Good)

"Lovely birthday lunch, will definitely go back both for lunch and dinner. Creative menu, reasonably priced."

Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, great for lunch

Food		(Very Good)
Ambiance		(Very Good)
Service		(Very Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level		(Quiet)

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 01/29/2010

(review submitted 02/08/2010)

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Review 11 for Ducale Restaurant

Overall Rating

(Fair)

"the restaurant was freezing cold, loud and my food was cold. the food my friends had was just ok. if i went back i would try the pizza, maybe thats their strong point?? service was very good and friendly but overall not somewhere i would recommend.... too bad, great location!!"

Food		(Fair)
Ambiance		(Fair)
Service		(Very Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level		(Energetic)

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 01/30/2010

(review submitted 02/07/2010)

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Review 12 for Ducale Restaurant

Overall Rating

(Outstanding)

"Loved it.... great food, great service, great ambiance. Will definitely return and recommend it to others."

Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion, great for lunch

Food		(Outstanding)
Ambiance		(Outstanding)
Service		(Outstanding)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level		(Quiet)

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 01/25/2010

(review submitted 01/27/2010)

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Review 13 for Ducale Restaurant

Overall Rating

(Very Good)

"We went in late January for our second visit. The food was as good as the first time, but thes service was a bit uneven in its timing. Friendly and helpful, just a bit slow. Also, we were told the restaurant is transitioning owners, so the wine list was essentially three choices of red by bottle or glass, same for white. My guess is that the restaurant transition needs time to gel before Ducale is back to the high standards which led us back there. Food is still great, but that's not all we go to a restaurant to experience."

Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem

Food		(Very Good)
Ambiance		(Good)
Service		(Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level		(Moderate)

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 01/25/2010

(review submitted 01/27/2010)

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Review 14 for Ducale Restaurant

Overall Rating

(Very Good)

"Lousy wine list. The worst ever. The fod was indeed excellent and the place isvery, very nice. . . if only they could work a little on the wine stock. Would go again."

Special Features: fit for foodies

Food		(Outstanding)
Ambiance		(Outstanding)
Service		(Very Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level		(Quiet)

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 01/24/2010

(review submitted 01/26/2010)

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Review 15 for Ducale Restaurant

Overall Rating

(Poor)

"This place was nice to look at but that's it. We went in for a 9:30 p.m. Saturday reservation and were promptly seated. The tables were close together so conversations were easily heard. Which was exactly how we overheard that there was no wine. I thought that was ridiculous! We stayed anyway and ordered the calamari salad (ok at best), the pear and gorgonzola salad (delicious!), the risotto (wayyy too salty) and the rigatoni with veal, pork, and beef sauce (horrible). The pasta was hard and the flavor ok. The server was nice, but overwhelmed. During the meal, we even heard our neighbors say the place was unremarkable. The check was $94 which was fine, I guess. After the meal we promptly went Shake Shack. Unfortunately I don't recommend."

Food		(Poor)
Ambiance		(Fair)
Service		(Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level		(Moderate)

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 01/23/2010

(review submitted 01/24/2010)

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Review 16 for Ducale Restaurant

Overall Rating

(Very Good)

"Good food, nice service and cozy atmosphere. Hope the BYOB policy stays in force."

Special Features: fit for foodies

Food		(Very Good)
Ambiance		(Very Good)
Service		(Outstanding)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level		(Quiet)

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 01/18/2010

(review submitted 01/20/2010)

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Review 17 for Ducale Restaurant

Overall Rating

(Outstanding)

"Very good service, nice if limited wine selection and a nice meal. Enjoyed the PEI mussels and fried artichokes as starters. Risotto was quite good for restaurant risotto, and the mushroom (porcini) ravioli was nice. Will go back."

Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem

Food		(Outstanding)
Ambiance		(Outstanding)
Service		(Very Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level		(Moderate)

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 01/16/2010

(review submitted 01/18/2010)

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Review 18 for Ducale Restaurant

Overall Rating

(Outstanding)

"We were greeted warmly, seated immediately, and the service was well-paced. We were able to enjoy our drinks, entrees and main course without constant interruptions and without feeling like we were being rushed to leave. This made for a very enjoyable reunion with some friends we hadn't seen in over a year. All of us enjoyed our experience immensely."

Special Features: good for groups, scenic view, great for lunch

Food		(Very Good)
Ambiance		(Outstanding)
Service		(Outstanding)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level		(Moderate)

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 01/09/2010

(review submitted 01/11/2010)

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Review 19 for Ducale Restaurant

Overall Rating

(Very Good)

"If perhaps not a destination restaurant, Ducale offers a most pleasant dining experience. A handsome, comfortable place offering very fine food, a simple PEI mussel appetizer was exceptional. Prices are reasonable for this part of town and the entire staff is most friendly and efficient. Not the least of its joys is a BYOB policy that is most appreciated. Truly enjoyable and looking forward to returning soon."

Special Features: great for brunch, neighborhood gem, great for lunch

Food		(Very Good)
Ambiance		(Very Good)
Service		(Outstanding)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level		(Quiet)

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 01/06/2010

(review submitted 01/08/2010)

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Review 20 for Ducale Restaurant

Overall Rating

(Very Good)

"Excellent food - not cheap, but reasonable for the quality."

Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, scenic view

Food		(Very Good)
Ambiance		(Good)
Service		(Very Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level		(Quiet)

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 01/01/2010

(review submitted 01/03/2010)

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Review 21 for Ducale Restaurant

Overall Rating

(Very Good)

"New years eve very very special because the ambient is different from other restaurant, no caos and no stress...
Is very very good it's a very special nigth we come back before come back in rome!!!!!!!!!!! Lula e Matteo"

Food		(Very Good)
Ambiance		(Outstanding)
Service		(Outstanding)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level		(Moderate)

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 12/31/2009

(review submitted 01/02/2010)

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Review 22 for Ducale Restaurant

Overall Rating

(Very Good)

"A great neighborhood find. Small and cozy and classy with great food. We went back twice and weren't disappointed either time. Would not take kids there, personally."

Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion

Food		(Very Good)
Ambiance		(Very Good)
Service		(Very Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level		(Moderate)

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 12/27/2009

(review submitted 12/31/2009)

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Review 23 for Ducale Restaurant

Overall Rating

(Very Good)

"A great "Date Night" find. Great food, wine and ambiance."

Special Features: neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion

Food		(Very Good)
Ambiance		(Very Good)
Service		(Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level		(Quiet)

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 12/26/2009

(review submitted 12/28/2009)

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Review 24 for Ducale Restaurant

Overall Rating

(Very Good)

"We enjoyed the experience. Varied menu and interesting "specials". Reasonable wine list, and a nice dessert menu. Service was good, and staff was friendly."

Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem

Food		(Very Good)
Ambiance		(Very Good)
Service		(Very Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level		(Moderate)

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 12/20/2009

(review submitted 12/22/2009)

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Review 25 for Ducale Restaurant

Overall Rating

(Very Good)

"Great light fare if desired. The chef adjusted the way he cooked my halibut and veggies to fit my strict diet. Flexibility in the chef and restaurant to give a client what he or she needs and wants is a very welcoming experience. For this, many will return. I brought a friend who came to Ducale fro the first time, and he loved it."

Special Features: fit for foodies, great for brunch, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion, scenic view, great for lunch

Food		(Very Good)
Ambiance		(Outstanding)
Service		(Fair)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level		(Moderate)

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 12/19/2009

(review submitted 12/21/2009)

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Review 26 for Ducale Restaurant

Overall Rating

(Outstanding)

"For a low-key anniversary dinner in December, my husband and I were looking for a restaurant where we'd never eaten which had really carefully selected and prepared ingredients (I'm a foodie; husband is not), with a casual but elegant atmosphere. We found the perfect spot in Ducale. It was absolutely perfect for us. The food is simple, real food, prepared with great care. No fussy dishes; just wonderful ingredients prepared simply and beautifully. We had the butternut squash soup as well as the fried artichoke hearts for appetizers, both of which were excellent. My husband loved his pasta bolognese, and I loved the pork tenderloin with carmelized onion. Delicious. We were impressed by the reasonable prices and nice wine list."

Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, romantic

Food		(Outstanding)
Ambiance		(Very Good)
Service		(Outstanding)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level		(Moderate)

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 12/04/2009

(review submitted 12/12/2009)

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Review 27 for Ducale Restaurant

Overall Rating

(Outstanding)

"Wonderful healthy menu. Very small space so make sure you make a reservation."

Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, great for brunch, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic, hot spot

Food		(Outstanding)
Ambiance		(Outstanding)
Service		(Outstanding)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level		(Quiet)

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 12/03/2009

(review submitted 12/07/2009)

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Review 28 for Ducale Restaurant

Overall Rating

(Outstanding)

"We went here to celebrate our 7-year anniversary and it was such a wonderful evening. Very quiet, romantic, and delicious, with absolutely impeccable service. We ended up staying and chatting for 3 hours and wishing we were still hungry to stay for longer. Ducale is a fantastic restaurant, and the prices are comparable to (or even better than!) many other restaurants nearby but you get so much more quality here."

Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion

Food		(Outstanding)
Ambiance		(Outstanding)
Service		(Outstanding)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level		(Quiet)

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 11/23/2009

(review submitted 12/03/2009)

1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

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Review 29 for Ducale Restaurant

Overall Rating

(Very Good)

"We loved Ducale for it's food, location and affable wait staff. It even has an upstairs room for small parties of 40 people. It was within walking distance from Lincoln Center which was so convenient for after theater dining. We had the cold antipasto for two, the delicious fried artichokes wrapped in a bed of radicchio, a truffle pizza and various entres. It was a wonderful surprise to find such an adorable cozy restaurant on 79th and Columbus.My friends were truly pleased with the choice of restaurant."

Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, great for brunch, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion, great for lunch, hot spot

Food		(Very Good)
Ambiance		(Very Good)
Service		(Very Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level		(Quiet)

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 11/14/2009

(review submitted 11/16/2009)

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Review 30 for Ducale Restaurant

Overall Rating

(Good)

"On the day of my visit, a hostess also served as our waitress and could not multi-task."

Special Features: neighborhood gem

Food		(Very Good)
Ambiance		(Good)
Service		(Fair)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level		(Energetic)

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 11/13/2009

(review submitted 11/15/2009)

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Ratings-Only Reviews for Ducale Restaurant

Based on the average of (28) ratings-only reviews

Overall Rating

(Very Good)

Food		(Very Good)
Ambiance		(Very Good)
Service		(Very Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level		(Moderate)

Restaurant Reviews for Ducale Restaurant

Ducale Restaurant Reviews List

Review 1 for Ducale Restaurant

Review 2 for Ducale Restaurant

Review 3 for Ducale Restaurant

Review 4 for Ducale Restaurant

Review 5 for Ducale Restaurant

Review 6 for Ducale Restaurant

Review 7 for Ducale Restaurant

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Review 12 for Ducale Restaurant

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Review 24 for Ducale Restaurant

Review 25 for Ducale Restaurant

Review 26 for Ducale Restaurant

Review 27 for Ducale Restaurant

Review 28 for Ducale Restaurant

Review 29 for Ducale Restaurant

Review 30 for Ducale Restaurant