Cucina Fresca - Staten Island

The food and service were excellent. However, I was a bit taken aback when the owner suggested we should order from the specials without mentioning the price, which we later discovered was $70 per plate. These prices are more in line with upscale city dining, not what I expected from a charming Italian restaurant on Staten Island. I would have appreciated more transparency regarding the costs. I would have preferred to choose from the regular menu while being aware of what I was spending. While the food was fantastic, I think I’ll pass next time if it means a $250 tab for two without drinks.

From the delicious food to the captivating atmosphere, this restaurant always exceeds my expectations. Whether I choose to eat in or get take-out, the experience is consistently wonderful.

I began my meal with the meatballs, which were fantastic and brought back fond memories of my grandmother's cooking. Next, I had the stuffed veal chop filled with cheese, prosciutto, and spinach, all topped with a delicious marsala sauce that clearly had been made with care. It was truly exceptional. For dessert, I enjoyed the homemade pumpkin gelato mixed with graham cracker and topped with whipped cream – I've never tasted gelato like it before and I wish I could have a tub in my freezer! But the remarkable food wasn't the only highlight of this delightful restaurant. The owner and his wife created a lovely ambiance and provided a wonderful dining experience. If you're reading this, thank you once again!

My husband and I had the pleasure of dining at Cucina Fresco last evening. The food was delicious. I had the Broccoli Rabe with Sausage and homemade fusilli, from the regular menu and it was exceptional. My husband chose Sword fish off the Specials menu and really enjoyed it. It was our pleasure to meet Frank and Carmen, the new owners. They went out of there way to make us feel welcome. This will certainly be our go to restaurant when dining on the Island.

Updated review: Greatly improved now that the new ownership has woked out the kinks. Carmen is a sweetheart, the perfect yin to co-owner Frank's yang. Eric is a great chef, and the portions are reasonably sized. Will definitely keep going back.