Incognito Bistro

As a New Yorker who loves to dine out often, I just discovered an incredible restaurant when invited to celebrate a friend’s birthday. The restaurant is Incognito on west 18^th Street in Manhattan. First of all, the place is just so beautiful inside with an elegant but still intimate space. A GREAT bar area (with a generous happy hour by the way).
We were a party of 7 and were made to feel welcome at the moment we came through the door. I can’t remember having this kind of service and attention by the wait staff in a very long time! Now to the food. .. . omg it is just brilliant! We were all tasting each other’s dishes and there was not a single negative! The chef/​owner Paulo (may not be spelling this correctly) came out to speak to the diners during the evening. .. even pouring wine for our table at one point! How many chefs do you know who do that? He asked how we were enjoying our meal and made each of us feel special. Our birthday boy was over the moon about his party and the way the entire staff made him feel super special! Especially when they brought out a candle lit desert for him at the end of the meal! So sweet!
This is my new favorite Italian restaurant and I give it 5 stars. .. something I’ve never done on any Unilocal review!

They charge extra for sharing food and in the end they gave us a check with 20% gratuity when we only have 5 people eating. We told the waiter and later the owner came to the table and said «I’m sorry I thought you guys were tourist». If you’re a tourist, you definitely don’t want to come here because you’re going to get ripe off! Either way, I’m not coming back here based on my last experience.

I had lunch here today. Was taking a client and some business associates out and Incognito Bistro was convenient.
I have dined here before for lunch and was pleased to return. However, my first impressions today were not great. The place was a tad dark. The restaurant looked a bit tired, as if they needed a facelift. Our waiter was amateurish, not the type one would expect in a proper NYC establishment located in the heart of Chelsea. I knew quickly that something was wrong.
I did the $ 25 lunch special. First course was tomato soup. It looked good but desperately needed seasoning. It was a 2 star bowl of tomato soup and clearly convinced me I will never have soup here again. HOWEVER, the spaghetti Bolognese was fabulous. It was a 5 star bowl of pasta that I enjoyed immensely. While service was poor and the joint needed help the pasta was amazing. Actually, it was flawless and something I never expected.
My lunch partners were not impressed with their meals. My client had pizza which appeared burnt?
I shall return here as the pasta was flawless. Obviously there is talent in the kitchen and reason to return.

A delightful little find in the city. Great wine! Lots of survice and help so there is no waiting for anything. The food is amazing and presentation was superior. I will definitely be back.

Obnoxious service –bunch on banditios. We had a big group (20+), paid my check with a 18%+ tip. While picking up the check, the server (who was obviously drunk), dropped my check on the floor, he did not realize and started accusing me of not paying the check. By accusing I meant yelling– told him to just charge me again and move on course was not worth it for me but no go, he still kept on yelling. Extremely embarrassing. Maybe an acceptable place for young-​uns who don’t get need to into that stuff but specially not a place to take a family or a group. To be avoided.

Went for dinner. The owner-​chef absolutely refused to prepare fish for my wife as she wanted, simply grilled no salt. He was beyond obnoxious, saying at one point «you have no palate.» Would NEVER set foot in this place, which judging by the many empty tables other people feel s well. Hey chef, ever hear the expression «the customer is right?»

Good food, good service, decent price, great atmosphere.
We enjoy this place.

wonderful meal wonderfully prepared open-​face sandwich had the freshest tomatoes OMG they were drippin! and the BREAD was so good — from an Italian trust me you can smell that Italian bread before it hits the table and it was well divine.
The server was spot on knew his specials and delivered them with the aplomb I have come to expect.

Best service I’ve had in a long time. Friendly attentive staff. Delicious food. The lamb haggis was spectacular! I will definitely be coming back.

Appetizers took 45 min to come out, entrees took 2+ hours. Food was good though. Gespazcho was good, veal was good as well.

We had the pizza and it might have been the worst pizza i ever ate
Really disappointed

This place hides a 4-​star kitchen. We had five dishes and all were stellar. Unfortunately the service, while well-​intentioned, is spotty and slowish (given that we were one of three parties for dinner on a Monday night), and the room is painfully dark. I turned the light on my phone on just so I could see what I was eating! I did like the music they were playing, which was a mix of jazz standards and early 90s pop. Heh. (Been YEARS since I heard Toni Braxton!)
The food was a winner though. After walking by this «nondescript italian restaurant» a dozen times, we finally went in after noticing some Scottish food on the menu. Now that’s worth trying!
— We started with the haggis. The only thing wrong with it was the tiny portion. The sauce was rich and meaty and the turnip and potato topping (neeps and tatties) perfect over the mince. Like an excellent tiny shepherds pie. I would have eaten five times as much!
— The salad of the day was excellent and well-​balanced — arugula, fennel, almond, grapefruit, orange, pomegranate, Manchego. Would absolutely order again.
— Got the pasta piccante, and it was very tasty, with a good kick from the spicy sausage. Hard to go wrong with a solid meat-​sauce pasta!
— We finished with cranachan for dessert, which I was really looking forward to – not many places in the city offer cranachan at all! I was really happy with it, although the blueberry compote was a bit too sweet for my taste. Still, the fresh raspberries, oat topping, and meringue crumbled into the whipped cream all made me really happy. :)
We’ll probably stop by again at some point for more of that haggis, hopefully during the daytime so I don’t have to drain my phone battery while trying to see my food. I know it’s a fine balance trying to keep things «atmospheric», but I eat with my eyes as much as my tastebuds, so it’s nice to be able to appreciate your food visually too. :)
All told, we walked out at $ 84 for two, which is on the pricey side for a weeknight, and I’d find it hard to make it a regular neighbourhood drop-​in for that reason.

I haven’t dined at many Italian bistros in Manhattan but I’ve eaten enough Italian food to figure out what’s good and what’s not; Incognito falls somewhere in the middle.
The atmosphere and service were great — the hostess was super friendly and made us feel very welcome; they also have a coat check which is always a classy touch. The décor is simple with white tablecloths, low lighting, candles, and clean lines — what you would expect out of a bistro but with the volume turned up a bit. Servers were friendly and attentive throughout.
I started with a Caesar salad which was good — the dressing wasn’t that classic creamy Caesar but it fit the salad well and was a refreshing twist. For my main meal I had the pounded chicken breast, served with sliced grape tomatoes and topped with shredded mozzarella and a side of greens. The chicken was tasty, but I thought the dish lacked a sauce; I finished with the tiramisu. Overall the food was good but it didn’t wow me — nothing stood out as being special.
Overall, Incognito has strengths in service and atmosphere but its food for me leaves something to be desired. Will I come back? Not just yet — I’d rather explore other Italian eateries around Manhattan to compare.

Ok, I may not have the right to tell whether it’s the best option out there as it’s only my first time having Italian in New York but… I absolutely adore this place!!! The atmosphere was lovely and cozy, staff were super nice and attentive to our needs. The owner/​chef was absolutely inspiring not only as a cook, a businessman but also as a person. He sure has a lot to share and we were more than happy to listen. The appetizer (calamari) and entrée (salmon salads) I had were very tasty. The salmon was the best I’ve ever had ! It was moist, pink and buttery. 5 stars for the amazing dessert plate, which featured a divine chocolate torte that was just pure indulgence.

I love this place still … Just excellent and the owners are the best ! I am still loving it 10−25−14

At first, this is our go to place when we get the waitlist at Ootoya. We’ve been here a couple of times now and have had a great experience both times. The drinks are delicious and the service is fantastic. It’s an old school atmosphere with white table cloths and candles and waiters in pressed white shirts. I have yet to have a meal here, but we did order the calamari last time and it was amazing. Well seasoned, fried to crispy perfection, and made with good quality squid. I will update this review the next time I have dinner there– it is on my list of places to go!

One of my favorite’s in the city.
Atmosphere is top notch. The menu is fantastic and service is great.
The owner usually makes a stop by the tables to make sure all is going well.
It is a special place —

New York is choke full of Italian Bistros like Starbucks, and when you’re in a popular area, say… Flatiron or union square, expectations drops dramatically. First of all, service was exemplary, couldn’t have been better. Attention to water glasses were on par, and for a group of 10+ I have to admit I was impressed.
The food hit expectations, which were already low. Being a Thursday before the Friday meatless Lent, I always have to eat some sort of meat. One of the dinner specials was the Ribeye. I typically don’t go for any specials because usually it’s just the restaurant trying to move out old meat, and the prices don’t reflect that, however patrons are suckered in with the word «special». I wasn’t duped, but I was on a mission to have a steak. As expected, the steak was sub par. Measured maybe a quarter inch in thickness. I ordered it medium rare, which would have been practically impossible to attain with this thin piece of meat. The meal was nothing to remember, with wine being the saving grace. I probably would have been better served with an authentic Italian dish.
I did have my rating at 2 stars because «Meh. I’ve experienced better» seemed fitting, but as thoughts of prior experiences flooded my mind, I realized that I actually have not. It really was on par with most every bistro I’ve had in the city. Service was definitely great.

I said to my wife, I really enjoy eating in a peaceful, nice, and classy environment.
On an early dinner hour, and seated in a nice booth in the back, it was really just that.
The salmon and small potatoes were ok, but a little small on portion size, but still filled me up.
Wifey’s spaghetti and meatballs were a little sweet, and the meatballs were under cooked inside, but our waiter explained that that was because one of the ingredients was brisket.
Hmmm…who knew.
The waiter ended up disappearing for a while, while chit chatting at the bar, which coupled with average meals has this review drifting to 3 stars.
Nothing would keep me from coming back, because I believe in second chances.
Overall nice place.

This charmingly Old World Italian bistro completely won over our entire party of eight with nothing less than a perfect lunch.
Our headwaiter (who I assume is a manager or perhaps an owner) was unapologetically flirtatious, but balanced the welcome humor with perfect service. The ladies ordered and were served first without exception, and the Italian Kiss cocktail elicited a sly, «I’m Italian,» when ordered by one of them (and a disgusted backhand when I expressed my interest).
Beautifully decorated, the surprisingly large dining room (with extra space out of view) easily accommodated all of us. The music was surprisingly cosmopolitan, incorporating a little Lupe Fiasco in with the Simon and Garfunkel vibe and thoroughly setting a fun and lively mood.
And of course, the food. The menu is comprehensive, but so well-​executed. The $ 20 prix fixe is a steal with food of this caliber in an upscale, white-​tablecloth space such as this. Pastas and appetizers, proteins and salads, I didn’t hear a single complaint from anyone about anything.
All this being said, Incognito Bistro might be just another restaurant if it weren’t for the pork tenderloin. With tender, succulent medallions laid gently into the sauce of the gods and accompanied by what I can only call perfect potatoes, I will be back for this dish.
And I’m going to get that Italian Kiss if it kills me.