Il Colosseo

Just love this place the food the atmosphere the pizza I definitely would recommend it to everybody in the neighborhood.
thumbs-​up!!!

Authentic old school Italian restaurant around the corner from my job. You can see a lot of local Italians and few non-​Italians frequenting this place. This is my go to (if there is parking) for real reasonably priced Italian food. I love the personal thin crust pizzas and the pastas. The pizzas are actually pretty cheap, on average $ 10/​pie, and it is so good. I’ve been to other popular pizza places and it is no where near as good, especially for the price. This is a great spot for a causal and intimate dining. I recommend driving out to this place for pizza and real Italian food.

Il Colosseo is phenomenal! I feel transported when I come here and never want to leave. Luckily, most people do seem to sit and enjoy the food and ambiance for hours. The house wine is cheap and good, get a whole carafe! My boyfriend grew up in Milan and raves about the Risotto Milanese tasting much like the one his mom makes! We come here for just about every special occasion, most recently for Valentine’s Day and it was perfect :)

THIS IS THE REAL DEAL FOLKS
This is a classic Bensonhurst Italian eatery from back in the day. These places just do not exist anymore. Do not expect trendy and hip, this is old school Italian Brooklyn people. The neighborhood has transitioned into a largely Chinese area so the Italian offerings are sparse compared to the old days (20 years ago) but these staples still maintain a presence.
I personally like the pizza and Tiramisu which is off the charts. I don’t really recommend this place for kids, this is more of an adult dining spot.

Truly wonderful & authentic italian food! One of the last great italian places on 18^th Avenue!

Not the same. The waiters paid no attention to us. Several other tables were complaining also. They had a party going on and everyone was catering to them. Food used to be great, but this time clams were rubbery and Mussells had sand in them. Prices have gone up also! Forget this place, so many others where they appreciate their patrons.

Had anniversary dinner food n service was excellent. Very italian family… picky with food n loved it. Eggplant parmigiano, broccoli rabe, penne alla vodka, steak, chocken… so delicious. Children friendly.

Been here a few times and the food never fails. I had tonight the branzino in a garlic white wine sauce, started with the baked clams which are alway good, octopus had a weird flavor from the grill, had the tiramisu which I can say was ridiculously good.

The food here is the best in Brooklyn, The flavor is authentic home style, Not commercialized… I lived in the neighborhood for 48 years, All my neighbors agree this is the best place in Brooklyn for Italian food.
This place is also super clean.
Try the brick oven Pizza too, Which is also very good.
Best Regards,
Jimmy Wong
VIP AUTO NYC

I loved this place when I lived in Brooklyn. This is the only place I can eat the seafood salad. It is so tender and not chewy at all. Penne with vodka sauce is also very good. The last time I was there, the waiter was picking his nose, then prepared a salad with his hands! Thank God I didn’t order salad that night! I don’t have any desire to visit anymore. This was a long time ago, hope he is not working there anymore.

When you walk into this place the décor is old school. It’s like walking into a place in little Italy in the 1980s. You feel like a set out of The Godfather. We cma during the week so it was not packed. We got a table right away in the back section of the restaurant, but that room had all tables full right by the kitchen. So the smell from the kitchen was amazing. We came on a recommendation from a friend in the neighborhood, plus we have seen this place for years. The food was phenomenal! Probably one of the best Italian we have had in our lives if not THE best! We had seafood pasta and also shrimp scampi. The Focaccia Bread was so tasty and had the perfect crackle. Service was sub part, so taking a star for that. Otherwise, it was a great experience. We were full just from one entrée, beyond belief! Definitely bringing a group here next time.

The worst Italian food I ever had salty and bad customer service the waiter didn’t even bother to look at me when I ordered the home made spaghetti with mushrooms and truffles with white sauce and it taste so salty !!! Unacceptable

This is NYC, Bensonhurst!!! For the love of God you would think they would have had some pride in their food or service.
Upon showing up to the restaurant before it was even crowded we arrived to our table with a long black hair across the end of it next to my place setting, that when we asked to clean up, all they were going to do was change the place setting, not wipe the hair off! Just the tip of the iceberg.
Waiting over 1.5 hours for our entrees as we watched the restaurant fill up and others receive order after order was unacceptable, especially without any type of explanation. A table of 8 that literally shared 3 apps shouldn’t have to wait that long while watching numerous tables around it fill in and be served, shouldn’t have had to ask for another round while we waited that long, shouldn’t have to worry about finding a fly in the water. Oh I forgot to mention the second hair on the table when we moved the bread basket. Not sure if that was there when we arrived or came as part of the bread. I didn’t want to find out, nor did my family, so we left money for our apps and few drinks and walked out.

The food is exactly made the way it’s made in Italia. The flavors, the simple ingredients made to perfection. We go every week, even when it’s crazy busy you never feel being ignored, the waiters are amazing and the food is incredible. One of my favorites is the spaghetti a la pescatore. If you want a real taste of typical Italian cuisine you found the right place

Il Colosseo is one of the family-​run restaurants that is absolutely a favorite among the locals in Bensonhurst. It’s equipped with a full bar and possibly all the wine choices you’d ever enjoy with Italian food.
Upon arriving (no reservations), it was already pretty full, but get this — Il Colosseo is actually colossal. You think the large dining room is it, no! There’s another section on its right side, which is great. It’s a great restaurant for a date or for family because I’m sure there’s enough space to fit all party sizes.
The prices aren’t bad — about $ 10 – 12 for penne vodka, which I loved. It was a lot of food too! Plus, they start you off with bread and butter, but it’s alright, Il Colosseo is already my bread and butter. The servers are really helpful! Unfortunately, a little slow, but they did have a large dinner crowd on a Friday night. Would come again.

Il Coloseo is by far my favorite local Italian restaurant in New York. The thin crust brick oven pizza is by my opinion one of the best in New York. The seafood risotto, baked clams are also amazing. The wine selection is great and affordable. And of course the lemon ricotta cheese cake is a desert your grandmother used to bake when you were little.
Even though I’m not Italian I go to this place at least once a month if not every week.
Very much in love with Il Coloseo

Grabbed a sausage personal pizza here to go and it turned out to be cold and soggy. The slices weren’t even crunchy. The cheese didn’t even have that string cheese effect when you tear off the slice from the pie. The crust was kind of bitter too.
I sure hope their non pizza foods taste better, otherwise I’d skip this place for pizza.

Food always delish, New year dishes amazing!!!
Great music !!! Service perfect, I always feel to be in my Italy.
Bravi

Always Unilocaling places to eat around my house or the bf’s and it’s been slim pickin’s to find a new place. This place was around my neighborhood and we’ve seen it a bunch, but never made it out. We finally went on a whatever Monday or Tuesday and there was only 2 other occupied tables there. We sat down and ordered the seafood risotto and the spaghetti with vodka sauce. The food came pretty quickly and it was pretty good, but I soon found a decently sized plastic corner piece of a bag in my food…
While we appreciated the ability to enjoy our food without overbearing service, we realized that we were the only ones who received this less attentive service. We additionally noticed this when the other 3 tables around us were sat and told the specials (one of them sounded really good and I would’ve gotten that) and attended to more than the 3 times we got for our entire meal.
I would say that it could’ve been because he was the only waiter for the night it seemed, but each of the other tables that came after us received what was perceived to us as «more attentive» service and we were there when it wasn’t busy.
Overall I might try this place again, but it would not be my first choice.

I adore this place! Not sure where all the bad reviews are coming from but I’ve been here several times and never once has an issue with the service or food (maybe it’s a hit or miss with some people?)
Food is delightful and dishes are prepared exquisitely. My favorite appetizer is most definitely the grilled octopus. It’s a staple for me to order this every time I visit. A few other dishes that I prefer include: Shrimp Scampi, Clams with Red Sauce & Linguine, and the Tiramisu.
Shrimp Scampi is top notch and heavenly here. I love how rich it is without making you feel like you’re eating tons of heavy carbs. It’s probably my go-​to dish for all future visits. I’ve never once been disappointed with a dish here yet and I highly recommend that you give this place a try! The price is feasible for the portions given and the quality of food.