Stresa Italian Restaurant

Who needs Manhattan when there’s a sumptuous slice of Italy right here on the north shore of Long Island. Giorgio and his crew cordially serve fresh excellent tasting food in an elegant setting. Make sure you leave room for desert allowing Giorgio to show off his pastry skills that were well developed at the original Le Cirque when it was the best restaurant in NYC.

Stresa Restaurant– Northern Italian Food at its Best
My wife and I love celebrating speciai occasions at Stresa ristoranted in manhasset. In March we celebrated our anniversary with a romantic and memorable dinner at
Stresa. We arrived at the restaurant for an early dinner on a Thursday evening.
Giorgio, the charming owner/​host and his partner Tony greeted us as we entered the restaurant and made us feel welcome. Stresa’s dining room is always elegant and festive looking, with a giant bouquet of exotic flowers on display in the center of the restaurant.
After a quick toast at the bar adjacent to the dining room, we were seated at a cozy table near the front of the restaurant. Although it was early, the dining room was starting to fill up with an eclectic group of diners that included family’s, couples, and small intimate partys of 8 – 10 people.
Tony, Giorgio’s dapper partner came to the table and told us about the specials and took order for two of our favorite dishes: Baby Lamb chops, and Salmon Oreganate.
We began our meal with an «Amuse» (chefs gift), a small and delicous rice ball in a homemade tomato sauce.
We then were served a Jumbo shrimp cocktail, and a Stresa Caesar Salad which is in a class of its own. The Caesar Salad was made with crisp cold romaine hearts, with a unique light dressing combining artichokes, eggs, EVO, and grated parmesan cheese.
Perfectly prepared!
We couldn’t resist a Porcini mushroom risotto, which is always a delight and is almost a meal in itself. Rich brown in color and steaming hot,
stresa[s Risotto has remained one of the best we have ever eaten.
We relaxed enjoyed the ambiance and then were ready for our entrees:
The Salmon Oreganate is a visual and taste treat! The pink salmon meat with a breaded cheese topping was tender and filling. The dish was complimented by a small plate of garden vegetables and fingerling potatoes.
The Baby Lamb chops were perfectly prepared and mildly seasoned with broccoli and mashed potatoes.
We decided to share both dishes for our own gourmet «surf and turf“combination. The portions were generous and we took home a goodie bag of leftovers for the next day.
For dessert we shared a special Stresa platter of fruits and house-​made pies, and cakes with Cappuccino, and Tea. dessert
Our Anniversary evening was elegant, romantic and perfect !
Stresa has been awarded the highest honor in the hospitality field– The internationally famous «Star Diamond Award «for excellence.
Kudos to Giorgio and Tony… Stresa will always have a special place in our hearts for their gracious hospitality, fabulous food, and delightful ambiance.

Giorgio is a fabulous host and his team deserves a lot
of credit. The food and service are superb.
If you are a regular, you are in luck. If not, consider going elsewhere.

Our family went to celebrate a 50^th birthday and what a mistake. Make a long story short, there where 3 waiters working the entire restaurant, so service was non existent. One our our guest ordered Bronzino, had to wait until everyone was done eating to get it, then it was burned. If that wasn’t bad enough, the owners indifference made it even worse. Nightmare.

Table for four, prompt seating at 6PM for four for dinner. The first and last positives with a few exceptions. A potato and leek soup was good but the diner was criticized by the waiter for wanting to add parmesan cheese to it! Artichoke and green bean salad was bland, had no spark. Maybe a little salt would have helped. Crab and linguini special turned into crab and spaghetti and was felt to be mediocre by two diners. One remarked that the crab tasted like halibut. The roast baby chicken with wine and Rosemary was dry, overcooked and tasteless and the sauce was bland without a hint of rosemary. the high point of the evening was one diners veal special which was well seasoned, balanced and tender. When the host inquired as to how we liked the dinner. he was noncommital when told the chicken was overcooked. An Italian white wine Arneis was excellent. I have had a few meals here that were better, but this one was not worth returning. Quiet when we came, Noisy when we left

I’m sorry to say Stressa, in spite of the positive review from the NYT, is a disappointment.
1. Ordered the popular off the menu fried zucchini. Took them 30 minutes to serve it and it was cold and tasted like something you would get out of a can.
2. Ordered the recommended (NYT) caeser salad. Really nothing special and bland. Menu reads for 2 — but barely — maybe 1.5.
3. Ordered the famous baby chicken. Dry and tasteless
4. Other person ordered the veal with stuffed with prosciutto/​gruyre cheese. Veal not stuffed.
Veal is flattened so they lay the prosciutto and cheese on top. Tasteless
5. Did not order desert.
6. We arrived at 7. Left at 10. 3 hours! for the above. Needless to say service is lacking.

After hearing the buzz about Stressa and it’s Best Italian Restaurant on Long Island award, I was extremely eager to try it out and what better occasion than to take my wife on our anniversary. Made a 6:30pm reservation, arrived 10 minutes early and didn’t get sat until 7:30pm. Mind you it was a Saturday night but still I expect to be seated at max a half hour after I get there. Furthermore after waiting an hour and asking countless times about our table they didn’t even offer to pick up a drink or a desert. I guess that’s what the complimentary rice ball ⁵⁄₁₀ was for (everyone gets one). Finally sit at the table and have the rice ball which I thought was decent but didn’t floor me. Had he Caesar salad ⁶⁄₁₀ and the Fettucine alla Bocelli ⁶⁄₁₀. Again for my expectations it was good but not earth shattering. I was hoping I could get their raved about Osso Bucco but unfortunately was told this is a Wednesday night dish. I settled for the Involtini de Vitello alla Morandi. The white wine sauce was delightful and complimented the veal, prosciutto and gruyre quite well. Overall I’d give the dish a ⁷⁄₁₀. For dessert we had the Chocolate Mousse cake and a cappuccino both of which were delish. ⁸⁄₁₀ for dessert and the homemade biscotti was meh… Expected better, but that was my theme all around. Don’t get me wrong for the price it was a good meal. I didn’t like the waiting and I found the restaurant to have a lot of tables tightly packed together (and there wasn’t an empty table in the joint) so you can’t really enjoy an intimate meal here. Reasonably priced compared to the likes of their competitors and would go back only on a Wednesday for them to redeem themselves with faster service and the Osso Bucco

Tasty food, terrible experience
Their average clientele is easily in their 60s or 70s so my far younger opinion may be very different
Enter, wait, sit, wait, ask for menus, wait, odd bowl of ice with carrots and celery, wait, beg for a menu, wait… the «experience» takes forever and it is not a pleasant one
The customer service is awful, this would be enough for me not to go back
The portions are ideal for anorexic people, if you want to eat order 2!
I typically order rigatoni in vodka sauce when I go to any Italian restaurant, for about $ 12 I usually eat at least twice. HERE for $ 19.75 I had to eat the bread basket to fill up
The only smaller portions were the desserts for $ 9 you get a sample of honestly, shit
I would bluntly NEVER go back, honestly I am shocked this place is in business at all. It is a complete disappointment…

This neighborhood gem located right off the miracle mile in a strip mall that it really doesn’t deserve. And you could easily miss it As you drive by.
Greeted at the door by Giorgio himself a wonderful veramente Italiano who makes the ladies feel bellissimi:)
I frequent this traditional, elegant (but not necessarily formal) Italian fine dining /​family restaurant with a family who had been coming here for over 20 years. So I know my experience is not what a newcomer might experience BUT you will quickly come into the fold as Giorgio and his staff will make you feel at home as they shuttle free apps to your table to welcome you.
Your coat is the first thing they will take care of for you, your water glass is always filled, the flower arrangement is always fresh and astounding, you are offered drinks immediately if they don’t already know your preference, plates of veggies on ice and fresh bread baskets are placed instantly, appetizers to greet you served instantly in gallant manner…
It’s old school service and dining at its best. The waiters are Profesional and well groomed and dressed and pride themselves on making you feel taken care of with aplomb.
And the food. Delicious comfort food for tutti gli italiani. It’s always what you hoped for and never off mark. Favorites, campagnola, Charlotte salad, my partners do the chicken, pasta– mama mia– and of course the medley of desserts.
There is a bar which always has a group of what always seems like old buddies in lively conversation.
You will enjoy the people watching and may most def run into people you know.

Just got back from a night at Stresa and I must say, very disappointed. We started the night with reservations for 6 at 830. We walked in to a large amount of «plastic» senior citizens looking at us as if we didn’t belong there. A very uncomfortable feeling but I decided to forget about it and go on with the night. We were seated at 845 on a table meant only for 4. When we complained, it took them another 15 minutes to correct their mistake. Nothing was offered for our troubles from the staff.
As far as the food is concerned, my beef carpaccio was very tasty while my «rack» haha yeah right… rack of lamb had much to be desired. It was small, very gamey, and the mediocre vegetables had no seasoning at all. My wife had the duck which was very good but by then I was tired of being there.
This place is great for the clientele that frequent there. The owner obviously caters to his regulars and doesn’t care about his new patrons. At the end of the night, half the restaurant got up from their seats to say goodbye to each other. Let’s just say they can have this restaurant. I’d rather go elsewhere.

Great food and service (Elvin and bartender jimmy are awesome and friendly). We had rigatoni stresa, beef carpacio, Veal chop and sirloin steak. Everything was tasty and delicious. Thank you again guys. Keep up the good work!

It was our family’s first time trying this restaurant and we will not be returning. The servers were great and the food was acceptable. However the owners/​management were not. One of them literally let out an audible sigh when we asked him to repeat the specials. They only seemed to care about their regulars. Finally, though Stresa is noted as a «family» restaurant on its website, it is the least accommodating. All customers were seniors and my children were the only two there during dinner between 6 and 7:30 p.m.

Had a reservation for 7:30 pm. Got there a few minutes before. They had me waiting until 8:15 and finally gave me a table. There was no apology offered for the delay.
To make matters worse my wife and I got a snob for a waiter. The service was not good and when I complained about it, their excuse was they were short staffed.
The place deserves zero stars.

Immensely mediocre location with decent food and really poor management. They act nice and try to appease you while they make you wait an hour past your reserved time, then take ages to serve you overrated food. In addition, the ambiance is really unpleasant and abrasive. I would not recommend this spot, especially on holidays. We waited an hour and a half to get in; other people waited an hour and left. One party of people that left bitterly complained that their Mother’s Day was ruined. Simply stunning.

I have been coming to Stresa for years… it’s always consistent. The owner Giorgio will go out of his way and make you feel that you are the only person dining in the restaurant. Stresa is on my TOP 5 favorite Italian restaurants on Long Island. It is high end Italian cuisine… not a mom n pop restaurant.
The restaurant is decorated beautifully… definitely an impressive date spot! Gorgeous colors, design & floral arrangements. The bar is very comfortable and I dine there comfortably.
The menu is vast. Definitely an even menu of delicious pastas, fish, meat, imports from Italy, and some things you would only see in Europe. The waiters are old school and you will never be looking for one as they thrive on customer service. The owners may pick up a glass of wine or a dessert to show their appreciation.
Now the FOOD!!! The hardest decision is what to have. Everything is superb!!! I would love to just throw a dish or two at you but that would be a waste of time. If there is something on the menu you like… get it… trust me it will go above your expectations!!! The wine selections are great! The desserts are out of control!!! Save room :))
Now as to the other reviewers… it is a small restaurant that is how they are able to give you that five star service you reviewed it at. But being that it is a small restaurant they don’t have available tables to just GIVE you and their certainly not going to throw people out of a table… SO YOU WAIT!!! If you don’t want the good service & charm that a smaller restaurant provides go check out Olive Garden. Lol I’m sure you won’t wait there or just don’t be cheap and get a drink and try to be interesting and amuse yourself!

My husband & I visited Stresa on 11÷30÷13 for my birthday. We called ahead and had 8:15 reservations. We arrived on time and no one acknowledged our presence. We were seated in about 10 minutes and it was another 10 minutes before anyone came to take our drink order (mixed drinks are $ 13).
It was very apparent we were not part of the «beautiful people» who were the regulars. The service and attentiveness to details were completely different for us. While the food was excellent, the service and «warmth» I read about in prior reviews was not part of our experience.
We’ll will not be any rush to return.

It is 8:30 on a Saturday night and we are sitting at the bar at Stresa Ristorante in Manhasset. We have an 8:00 reservation and showed up on time, but that doesn’t seem to matter much to the restaurant management. We are comfortable, but there are at least 20 other people standing around the bar waiting to be seated. We started complaining at 8:45 and are seated at 9:00 (at the worst table in the restaurant) with an apology and the offer of a free drink. We decline and my thought is that they should be ashamed of themselves. An hour of my time is worth more than a cocktail.
The bread basket arrives and it is obvious to me that it has come from another table. The maitre’d agrees and has it replaced. Not a good start! But our first course comes to the table and everything is excellent. As we are eating, the maitre’d returns and tries to justify our one hour wait. It is not the restaurant’s fault but the fault of patrons who overstay their welcome. (He does not return to the table after our exchange of words.)
Entrees arrive and are terrific. Our servers are friendly, professional and efficient. Dessert is brought to the table — compliments of the house. They are as good as the rest of the meal.
How do I justify a 3 rating? The restaurant has 4 star food, 5 star service, and 2 star management. Put it together and it’s hard to justify more than 3 stars.
A tip for anyone reading this. I have learned that it is best to not go to some restaurants on a Saturday night. Stresa is one of these. Go elsewhere because they really don’t want you.

My husband and I dined here with another couple, who suggested the place. My favorite food at any Italian restaurant is linguini seafood pasta, so I ordered the dish. It was good, but would order a different dish next time. I think the meat dish here is better than seafood. Loved the ambience and the color of the place, easy on the eyes. I’d go back again, sure.

One of my favorite local Italian restaurants on LI, the food is consistently excellent, the atmosphere is warm and the service is excellent.

This is one of Long Island’s top northern Italian restaurants. I have been fortunate enough to enjoy their food since their first north shore restaurant, Navona which opened in Great Neck during the mid 1980s.
Stresa’s service is excellent and extremely professional. Stresa features dishes such as roast baby chicken in rosemary and garlic, various fresh fish preparations that change daily, and some of the best veal and pasta dishes on Long Island. They have the best Veal Chop. On a recent visit, the veal rollatini was incredible. They also have great wild salmon pavaroti (peppers and onions in a balsamic reduction), and a dish they call chicken emiliyana which is chicken breast in a parmesan crust with chopped tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, and white wine. Their salads are excellent including a charlote salad and a great caesar salad. Their desserts, ricotta cheese cake, lemon cake, fruit tarts (flavors change daily), flowerless chocolate cake, tiramasu, chocolate soufle, and strawberries with zabiogne are all spectacular. Considering the quality and freshness of the food, prices are extremely reasonable but you must have a reservation as they fill up seven nights a week!