Pietro's

Walking into Pietro’s feels like stepping back in time. This Italian steakhouse has been serving New York since 1932, and despite moving locations a couple of times over the decades, the atmosphere remains gloriously untouched by modern trends. White tablecloths, nostalgic paintings of the city, and servers in formal attire set the stage for a meal that prioritizes tradition above all else.

The menu sticks to the hits, and that’s exactly the point. The chicken parmigiana is pounded thin and covered with sweet tomato sauce and plenty of melted cheese—it’s the platonic ideal of the dish. The linguine with clam sauce may not be cooked to a precise al dente, but the garlicky broth and heaping portions of chopped clams more than make up for it. For steak lovers, the New York strip arrives with a satisfying blackened crust while staying perfectly pink inside.

Pietro’s isn’t trying to reinvent anything, and that’s its charm. The crowd here tends to be regulars who’ve been coming for years, maybe decades, drawn by the familiar flavors and unhurried pace. It’s the kind of place where you bring a group, settle in for a long dinner, and let the evening unfold naturally.

If you’re seeking cutting-edge cuisine or trendy small plates, look elsewhere. But if you want to experience a slice of old New York, complete with generous portions of Italian-American comfort food and steaks with serious sear, Pietro’s delivers exactly what it has for nearly a century.