Benito One
“Although Little Italy is no longer a place where Italian-Americans live, the restaurants and a few cheese shops endure.”
“I had penne in vodka sauce and my mom had eggplant parmesan that was to die for!”
“Standouts to us were the linguine with garlic & oil (very flavorful) & the chicken parm.”
Benito One
Takes Reservations: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Outdoor Seating: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
PokéStop Nearby: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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As someone who can't have gluten, little Italy seems like a place that is to be avoided. Luckily with the help of yelp I was able to find the gem that is Benitos. This cozy spot on Mulberry is exactly what you want out of a classic little Italy joint. Not only do they offer gluten free pasta, but when I inquired about the sauces I could have (all but one) – a friendly manager pointed out that they could also do a gluten free chicken parm with gluten free breadcrumbs (will have to try it next time!) – another nice GF touch is the fact that they bring out a delicious carrot starter alongside the bread AND they made a point to mention that they would wipe off the grill and use extra cautions while preparing the gluten free dishes. We got the mushroom risotto, gf penne with vodka sauce and gf penne with Alfredo and grilled chicken. The table shared all of these dishes, and even the gluten eaters enjoyed the gf pasta! This place also got the seal of approval from my Italian grandmother who was with us.
OK, I admit it – I decided to try Benito One because I saw it in an episode of The Sopranos. I think someone gets shot in there (surprise, surprise). But I'm glad I did pay it a visit because though I've been disappointed by a lot of touristy Italian joints on this block, I walked out of Benito One happy.
First of all, they do a good job of creating a cozy, semi-authentic atmosphere in there, with dim lighting, cozy seating, and kitschy but authentic looking Italian decor. The gruff guy standing outside seemed like he'd be unapproachable but made an effort to seat us right away.
As for the food, you're not going to get anything super new or gourmet, but if you're in the mood for simple, traditional Italian American dishes then you won't be disappointed. At a place like this I typically default to a huge plate of spaghetti and meatballs, because I really can't think of anything more satisfying to dive into. The meatballs were flavorful and hearty, and the pasta nicely al dente.
My husband got the homemade meat lasagna, which was also tasty, though absolutely drowning in melted cheese (not that I'm complaining). Lactose intolerants beware! The spaghetti was $14 and the lasagna $15, which isn't a bargain by any means but I've had the same for about $3 more at a lower quality place in the same area.
In an effort to feel somewhat healthy, we also had the insalata mista, and were surprised at the high quality and flavor of the tomatoes in there as I usually expect somewhat pale and limp veggies at a place like this. Finished the meal off with a simple cup of coffee and a small slice of cheesecake (pretty sure it's not house made but it did the trick), and we were nicely satisfied at the end of the meal. Again, straightforward, and maybe not the first place I'd recommend to a food-obsessed friend, but provided the kind of old-school Italian comfort food that I was craving.
Great food, better service. We came here on a Wednesday night and they had this prix fix menu (appetizer, pasta and entree) only $24.95. I got the calamari, the white clam linguini and talapia. My bf got the baked clams, mussels, and shrimp oregano. The portions are definitely worth it (the baked clams only came with 3 but it was delicious). I definitely recommend the white clam linguini and shrimp oregano. Both were very flavorful
Ambiance- feels like I'm in Italy! Clears your plate after every meal. I love that because I'm such a germaphobe and I love when my area is clean.
Appetizer: fried bread and mozzarella- the sauce is amazing!!! Mozzarella is great.
Entree: Parmesan chicken- I'll tell you when I eat it but the presentation is 5/10!
Came here randomly this Valentine's Day weekend. It was a freezing night but surprisingly little Italy was packed. I decided to give this one a try because of the Yelp reviews and the pictures looked good. The place is tiny which makes it great for a cozy eating experience. The waiter asked if we had a reservation which we didn't but we got lucky enough to grab the last table. The food was decent. An appetizer and two entrees came to 60 which I feel is average for little Italy. I would come back if ever in the area again.
Not only is the food phenomenal, the service was perfect. This restaurant is in the heart of little Italy and definitely felt authentic. The food here was better than some of the food I actually had in Italy.
We started with the fried zucchini which was good, but nothing spectacular. If I came back, I'd probably try something different. The complementary bread was so yummy that we forgot all about the zucchini. It was so fresh and came out nice and hot!
For entrée's my family had: chef's special gnocchi with sausage and spinach in oil & garlic, Orecchiette pasta with chicken, broccoli, artichoke hearts, and a breaded veal with cheese on top. I didn't try the veal, but heard good things about it. The pasta is where this restaurant really shines, the gnocchi was so delicious… we all agreed it was the best we've ever tried. You could tell it was handmade and all the flavors complimented each other really well. The orecchiette was equally delicious but heavier with a cream sauce.
If you're looking for an Italian restaurant in this area, this is a great spot to pick!
When I was a kid, I used to come to Little Italy quite often. I used to come here and also the other Benito II. Since that place closed down, I have been wanting to come back to this area to get familiar with these restaurants.
We came here on a weeknight and there actually was a pretty packed crowd. We ordered the house Chianti and it came in those cool weaved casings just like you see in Italy.
We ordered the fried calamari which was pretty good. The only flaw I had with this appetizer is that it didn't have the tentacle pieces. For some weird reason, those are my favorites.
Their pasta dishes are huge. I eat a lot, but I was surprised I even finished my entree. My girlfriend had enough left over that we split hers for lunch the next day. Both entrees were homemade spaghetti's. I ordered the carbonara and to some it's a really rich dish, but I love it. The egg, pancetta, and the sauce is just perfection for me.
You get a great and reasonably priced dinner anytime you visit Little Italy. But I would definitely recommend on visiting this establishment first !
I was really shocked of the good yelp reviews. The best part of my experience was that we made a reservation for 7 and we were able to secure a table.
Let me be fair. After trying for a while, I realized that I really don't like Italian- American restaurants. I'm not a huge fan of going out to get pasta. I also don't like that everything is soaked in marinara.
Nevertheless, I thought this restaurant was not impressing. I had the lamb special which was very greasy. It also had the gnocchi with mushrooms it was OK .
I also need to comment on the atmosphere of the restaurant. I really disliked that the owner was yelling at the waiters at all time. The decor was tacky.
I won't be coming here again