There’s a beautiful restaurant on West 46th Street in New York City that you may not know about, but Barbetta has been serving hungry and happy customers since 1906. Today, it’s the oldest family-owned restaurant in New York City and it’s still going strong. This elegant Italian restaurant was founded by Sebastian Maioglio well over 100 years ago and it’s still owned and operated by his descendants.

The focus at Barbetta is cuisine from Piemonte, Italy’s northwestern-most region, so the dishes served there are indeed Italian, but include a noticeable Swiss and French twist. The decor inside includes antiques from this region as well, most notably the beautiful, 18th-century Piemontese chandelier in the main dining room that was once owned by royalty. A meal at Barbetta is a classy experience from beginning to end, and you’ll remember your meal at this establishment for the rest of your life. Read on to learn more.

If you don’t know where Barbetta is, it’s easy to miss it, but once you do know, you’ll never miss it again. In addition to being New York’s oldest family-owned restaurant, it’s also the city’s oldest Italian restaurant, and the oldest restaurant in the Theatre District.

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When you step inside, you’ll be whisked back in time to a time of opulence and elegance. Many of the world’s and city’s most famous historical figures have dined here at one time or another, and many still frequent it today. The main dining room is breathtakingly beautiful, and is quite welcoming to all who enter.

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The bar and waiting area is also lovely. Be sure to check out the 1631 harpsichord in the foyer. It’s so rare that the Metropolitan Museum of Art has asked for it to be donated to them for safekeeping - but Barbetta isn’t ready for that quite yet.

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Of course, you’ll need a reservation to dine here, but once you get one and are seated, you’ll be treated to the best service in the business.

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During the warmer months, you can also opt to dine in the garden. Al fresco dining of this caliber is rare in New York City, and the garden seating is quite popular when available.

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No matter where you choose to sit, your time at Barbetta will be unforgettable.

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The ambiance is only part of the Barbetta experience, though. The Maioglio family takes pride in the food that they serve. You might start with an exquisite salad like this one.

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The Prosciutto San Danielle is a delectable appetizer.

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Of course, pasta is always a good choice at any Italian restaurant, but there’s something extra special about your pasta course at Barbetta.

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The entrees are as beautiful and eye-catching as they are tasty. This grilled swordfish might be a good choice for your main.

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Everything at Barbetta is excellent.

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Be sure to save room for one of the special desserts, too.

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Perhaps the most popular dessert is the Torta di Nocciole - flourless hazelnut cake. You’ve surely never had anything quite like it before and you’ll crave it forever after you’ve tried it.

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Barbetta is a restaurant that you should not miss when you are in New York City. If you’re in town to see a show in the Theatre District, it’s the perfect place to start your night. It’s also great to know that you’re patronizing a restaurant that has been in the same family for more than 100 years – many thanks to the Maioglio family for keeping such a good thing going for more than a century – and beyond.

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If you like Italian cuisine, you should check out this post about excellent Italian restaurants throughout New York: 9 Italian Restaurants In New York That Serve Pasta To Die For

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Address: Barbetta, 321 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036, USA