Lady Gaga was "making her presence known" in the kitchen at her parents' new restaurant.

The 25-year-old songstress visited the family Italian restaurant Joanne Trattoria on its one-month anniversary in New York City Thursday night.

Lady Gaga arrived around 7:30PM to eat, greet diners and give critiques in the kitchen.

"I was so surprised to see her!" a guest told Life & Style magazine. "She wasn't just sitting down, she was really taking charge of the place and making her presence known."

Lady Gaga seemed extremely comfortable in the company of her loved ones and restaurant staff.

"She acted like she was more at home," the guest continued. "She and her family seemed like they were just having a family dinner in their own kitchen, laughing and chatting. She thanked people for coming in and even pointed out pictures of her family on the walls to one table."

Lady Gaga was impressed with the food. When she visited chefs in the kitchen, she lavished them with praise.

"The meatballs were excellent and served just like they are in Italy, well-done!" she was overheard telling the cooks. "The broccoli, while I enjoyed it, could actually afford to be a little more bland. It has so much flavour on its own. We don't want to mask it. The calamari, it was perfection."

The Born This Way pop star ended the night celebrating both the establishment's first month in business and head chef Art Smith's birthday.

"Art joined Gaga and her family at their table and about five of the staff members brought out a cake and sang 'Happy Birthday,'" the guest recalled. "Gaga belted it out just like everyone else, and the whole crowd cheered afterward."