Cortese Restaurant

Periodically, I return to Cortese Restaurant for a business dinner or drinks with a friend. I can think of several other area restaurants I would prefer to patronize. Seating is cramped, food is mediocre and I have experienced good and poor service. I appreciate the nostalgia, but never walk away wanting more. more

My wife and I eat at Cortese on a regular basis. Some nights are better than others. I can relate to some of the bad reviews here because it is one of Binghamton's most popular restaurants and has been for years and years. It does get busy and when it gets really busy, it gets cramped and service suffers [mildly] as a result. Overall, the service is excellent, the food is terrific, and the atmosphere is downright comfortable, especially with the renovations in the bar area. 5 stars, highly recommended! more

We ate at Cortese last night. The waiter had no personality. Never checked to see if we wanted anything else or asked how our food was. Took our plates as soon as we were done. Trying to get a glass of water was tricky. My husband told me he wanted a refill and just as he said it a kid came by and filled his glass. I held mine up to get mine filled. He ran off. I then flagged down our waiter and asked for water. The kid with the water jug apologized. Then the waiter half heartedly asked if we wanted a dessert menu. I said no, we're done. He still didn't ask how things were. I told him we were full but he laughed and walked off. I had a chicken and alfredo dish. The chicken was tough. The tomatoes in that dish tasted very strange. They overpowered the whole dish with that flavor. The servings are smaller now. I used to love that place but we will never eat there again. Then when we left we saw the front desk employees engrossed in their own conversation and even when we walked in. No one pays attention to the customers. From now on, it will be Tully's or Olive Garden. They provide excellent customer service and also good food. more

Found Cortese Restaurant on the GetMunch website and discovered the best Italian food in Binghamton. In my 4 years as a student, this was both the best pizza and best pasta/chicken dishes in Bing. more

I grew up in binghamton ny, and i can tell you that the best resturant in the triple cities has to be cortese! Not only is their food to die for but the quality(and i know quality) of the food and the waiters is most deffinetly five star! Their waiters all have great manners and get orders out fast. My favorite dish is the veal piccata! it is spectacular! And cortese is great if you have kids. So next time you go out try Cortese youll be glad you did!!! Pros: everything!!! Cons: nothing!!! more

An outstanding restaurant not only for their Italian food but also for their varied menu. Something for everyone. The Filet Mignon with milinaise sauce is the best in town but you better like garlic. The same holds true for the prime rib, without the milinaise, very tender and juicy. The pasta dishes are plentiful, the sauce is good but not the best in town. The pizzas are not your traditional pizza but are fantastic. I have to take a couple of them to NC when we visit our daughter and son-in-law who absolutely love them.\r Very professional wait staff, efficient and knowledgeable about wines and menu items.\r Our favorite restaurant in the area due to the diverse menu. Pros: Varied menu; great service; wonderful atmosphere Cons: Fairly high priced for Italian dishes; have had better pasta sauce more

Okay, I grew up in Binghamton. But I have lived in the Boston area, in Chicagoland, and in Lala land (So Cal) each for six years or more. So I?ll just say, Cortese?s is the real deal. Sure in those major metropolitan areas there are better restaurants, but in a community like Binghamton (the Triple Cities), there is nothing to compare. This is ?family Italian? at its best. The pastas are authentic and simple when they need to be (pesto with basil, nuts and cheese without cream thank you very much) but rich in variety; the wine list is not extensive, but intelligently chosen; the wait staff are mature but attentive; on any given night, it is crowded with people of all ages. You won?t have a better Italian dining experience in a radius of 100 miles. Pros: Southern italian done right Cons: not fancy, not refined more

Cortese has the absolute best food as long as you are not in a big group I have been there several times with parties of 5 or less and it has been amazing I went there once with a party of 12 and it just seemed like the kitchen wasnt prepared enough for that big of a party. However every other time and even that time the food is just amazing the carrot cake is to die for. The maliense (cant spell it sorry!) It a must have on everything pork chops or steak it is wonderful! the service has been always friendly and wonderfully charming! A must visit for a couple looking for a great night out at a resonable price. Kudos!!! Pros: Mood Lighting, Great Customer Service, Fast seating Cons: Not great for big parties over 10 people maybe if they had plenty of notice I would be willing to try them again for a big party! more

This is one of the best Italian restaurants in the area. They have some of the best homemade pasta and gnocchi I have had. The prices are also very competitive. The quality of food and atmosphere is exceptional for the prices offered. If you are looking for awesome pasta have dinner here. more

This is one of our favorite restaurants in Binghamton. The food and the service are spectacular. If you like pork chops the milanese sauce is supurb. PROS: excellant food CONS: Location more

Cortese Restaurant is one of the best Italian restaurants that I've ever eaten in. The food is always great, especially their homemade pasta. They have the best steak that I've ever eaten, bar none! more

Cortese has an excellent menu-varied in both selection and price range-allowing something for everyone. Service is top-notch, both efficient and friendly. They are a family business and offer a very cozy atmosphere for all of their very diverse clientele. What keeps me going back to Cortese Resturant year after year? The very best Pizza anywhere. The sauce is just right. It's spicey without being overbearing. The blend of cheeses - which includes Parm, is just the best. Even the crust is great - How many pizza's can you say that about? Cortese serves a Pizza that is admittedly different from the norm. It is definitely, however, an improvement on the norm. KUDOS, Cortese. Pros: Great menu, Good Value, Something 4 everyone Cons: One Location? more

I had heard really good comments about Cortese's since I moved to Binghamton so naturally I always wanted to check it out. Unfortunately it's reputation is much better than the food it serves. more