Best Group Dining Gatherings Italian Restaurants in Lenox Hill
4 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Donna Margherita
Cozy Neapolitan-style trattoria blending brick-oven pizza with homestyle pastas.
Notable Picks
8.4
Donna Margherita is a compact Upper East Side trattoria and wine bar where Neapolitan-style pizzas, pastas, and comfort dishes come out of a brick oven in a mural-lined dining room. The kitchen leans traditional, with spaghetti meatballs, linguine alle vongole, and melanzane alla parmigiana sharing space with signature pies like the Donna Margherita. Warm hospitality from a Naples-rooted team makes it feel more like a neighborhood living room than a formal restaurant.
Must-Try Dishes:
Donna Margherita Pizza, Linguine alle Vongole, Chicken Parmigiana
What Makes it Special: Cozy Neapolitan-style trattoria blending brick-oven pizza with homestyle pastas.
8.1
An Upper East Side institution offering Roman-style Italian classics with hearty portions and a warm atmosphere perfect for a date night.
Must-Try Dishes:
House Pasta, Roman Entrées, Antipasti
What Makes it Special: Roman Italian classics with heritage appeal
#3
San Babila
8
Vibes:
Family Friendly Favorites
Trendy Table Hotspots
Group Dining Gatherings
Instagram Worthy Wonders
A newer-feeling Italian room that leans modern, but still works for families if you order share-style: meatballs, one pasta, and one vegetable-forward dish. The best meals here come from picking a few hits rather than trying to cover the whole menu.
Must-Try Dishes:
Polpette (meatballs), Cacio e Tre Peppe, Paccheri & broccoli
What Makes it Special: Fresh-made pasta energy in a modern, shareable format.
Worthy Picks
#4
Bottega
7.6
A classic Upper East Side Italian trattoria offering traditional plates including Lasagna alla Nonna in a relaxed, neighborhood setting. The menu blends old‑world Italian dishes with a comfortable, unpretentious atmosphere, though execution can vary. Still, the lasagna and pasta staples make it a solid choice for approachable Italian fare.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lasagna alla Nonna, Spaghetti al Pomodoro, Mushroom Risotto
What Makes it Special: Traditional lasagna alla Nonna and classic Italian pasta in a friendly trattoria