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$$$ | Greenwich Village |
It shouldn't take more than one bite of tender barbecue squab to understand why it's so hard to get a reservation at this casually elegant restaurant, whose menu strays widely from Italian standards and hits numerous high points in dishes such as rabbit with Brussels sprouts and house-made pancetta. This is the perfect spot for a raucous celebratory dinner with flowing wine and festive banter. But be forewarned: if anyone in your party is hard of hearing or bothered by loud rock music, choose someplace more sedate.
110 Waverly Pl., New York, New York, 10011-9102, USA
Known For
- Palate-pleasing house-made pastas
- Loud, questionable music
- Great Italian wine list
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Sun., Mon., Credit cards accepted, Reservations essential
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$$ | Greenwich Village |
There's something about Bar Pitti that, in this city jam-packed with Italian restaurants, feels much more authentically Italian than its pasta-serving brethren. Maybe it's the servers who prefer speaking Italian if they find out you can say a few words, and who show up at your table with a chalkboard scribbled with the daily offerings (written in Italian, of course). Perhaps it's the simple, but flavor-bursting pasta dishes; maybe it's that they only take cash. Or perhaps it's all of the above. In warm-weather months nab an outdoor table and don't be surprise if an A-list celeb is sitting at the next table.
268 6th Ave., New York, New York, 10014, USA
Known For
- Frequent celebrity diners
- Fresh-off-the-boat Italian staff
- Sidewalk dining
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$$ | |
This Italian corner restaurant with a lively bar scene is perfect for a casual meal, happy hour deals at the bar, and a leisurely weekend brunch or a romantic dinner. The menu hits all the high points, from bucatini pesto and carbonara, to a daily whole fish and wine-braised short ribs with polenta. Pizzas are great to kick off the meal.
457 3rd Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11215, USA
Known For
- The bar's happy hour pizzettas and snacks
- Italian wines at reasonable prices
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$$ | West Village |
Chef Jonathan Waxman had to shutter this beloved West Village Italian spot in 2019, but he fortunately found a new home for it around the corner the following year. Waxman hardly tinkered with the menu for the new location. And why would he when everything here works so well? The specialties here are rustic Italian preparations with bright flavors, like house-made gnocchi with tangy tomatoes, grilled striped bass, and pasta carbonara, though the menu changes daily, depending on what's available.
113 Horatio St., New York, New York, 10014, USA
Known For
- Succulent roasted chicken
- Rustic atmosphere
- Tasty pastas
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$$$ | Midtown West |
The two pricing scenarios at this Italian spot make bustling Becco a prime Restaurant Row choice for time-constrained theatergoers: one includes an affordable all-you-can-eat selection of salad, antipasti, and three pastas served hot out of pans that waiters circulate around the dining room; the other adds a generous entrée to the mix. The pasta selection changes daily but often includes gnocchi, ravioli, and fettuccine in cream sauce. The entrées may be braised veal shank, grilled double-cut pork chop, and rack of lamb, among other selections. Decor is somewhat basic here, and the exposed brick amplifies the volume during busy hours, but the convivial vibes prevail.
355 W. 46th St., New York, New York, 10036-3810, USA
Known For
- Cheerful atmosphere
- Gets noisy at busiest times
- Mains including veal shank and rack of lamb
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$ | Little Italy |
Di Palo's has been an integral part of Little Italy since Savino Di Palo opened a small shop making fresh mozzarella and ricotta in 1910. That store grew into Di Palo's Fine Foods (at 200 Grand Street), which sells all manner of gourmet Italian products, and now Savino's great grandchildren have opened this spacious, though rather nondescript wine bar, serving those excellent products paired with lovingly selected Italian wines.
151 Mott St., New York, New York, 10013, USA
Known For
- Excellent wine
- Well-composed plates of cheeses, cured meats, and olives
- Nontouristy vibe
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.--Wed. No lunch
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$$ | SoHo |
Chef Ignacio Mattos's sequel to his much-lauded Estela, nearby, is an airy, high-ceilinged spot that's called a café but is more of a paradise of satisfying Italian fare. Pasta lovers melt over the perfectly prepared cacio e pepe, but the kitchen also turns out expert fish and meat dishes: perhaps a caramelized fennel-spiked pork chop, pork milanese, or hake with cauliflower and capers.
234 Spring St., New York, New York, 10013, USA
Known For
- Wine list with unusual Italian and French bottles
- A standout burger
- Near perfect pastas
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Mon.
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$ | Prospect Heights |
It's hard to miss this charming little café when strolling down Vanderbilt Avenue with its big, faux floral design adorning its doorway. Inside, the decor is just as inspired by flowers and plants, as intended by its Colombian co-founder Camila Soto, who designed it. Her Colombian-influence is evident on the menu (i.e., arepas) of what's otherwise Italian-inspired, thanks to co-founder and namesake Stefano De Martini. Stop in for a quick cornetto or a cortado.
609 Vanderbilt Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11238, USA
Known For
- Floral design
- Sweet or savory cornetti
- Quality coffee
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$ | Little Italy |
New York’s oldest Italian caffe, open since 1891, pulls espresso and serves homemade gelato, cannolis, and Sicilian pignoli cookies, in a quaint space with pressed-tin ceilings, tiled floors, and heart-shape chairs.
385 Broome St., New York, New York, 10013, USA
Known For
- Pignoli cookies with soft pine nuts
- Pressed-tin ceilings
- Home-made gelato
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues.
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$$$ | Upper West Side |
Set on a nondescript block of Broadway, the original branch of the small, now-national chain is a favorite for families celebrating special occasions, pre-prom groups of teens, and plain-old locals looking for reliable Italian food. They come for mountainous portions designed to share, family-style, of tried-and-true Italian favs like fried calamari, linguine with white clam sauce, chicken parmigiana, and veal saltimbocca, all loaded with garlic or red sauce—or both. Family photos line the walls, an antipasti table groans under the weight of savory meats, cheese, and salads, and there's a convivial feeling amid the organized chaos. If you want a quiet or romantic dinner, this is not the place.
2450 Broadway, New York, New York, 10024, USA
Known For
- Best red-sauce joint on UWS
- Boisterous groups celebrating something
- Large antipasti table
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$$$ | Midtown West |
Savvy New Yorkers reserve early for the affordable Italian meals at this large, busy Midtown eatery, where family photos lining the walls lend a sociable feel to the Times Square hubbub. Groups carbo-loading for a day of sightseeing or a night of Broadway theater are rewarded with mountains of such classic, toothsome viands as fried calamari, linguine with white clam sauce, chicken parmigiana, and veal saltimbocca.
200 W. 44th St., New York, New York, 10036-3906, USA
Known For
- Popular pretheater option
- Family-style portions
- Swift service
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$$$ | DUMBO |
Already known for its upscale eateries around the world, Cecconi's made a splash when it joined the polished DUMBO culinary and cultural scene in 2017. The Italian menu and stunning East River–facing outdoor terrace are enough to warrant a visit; but no matter the season or weather, the roomy bar, outstanding service, and inviting furnishings make this a hot spot well worth a trip to this historic district.
55 Water St., Brooklyn, New York, 11201, USA
Known For
- Elegant Italian cuisine
- Views of the Manhattan skyline
- Upscale brunch
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$$$ | Midtown West |
On the far West Side, just past Moynihan Train Hall, discover this spacious, lively, second-floor restaurant in the middle of the Manhattan West megablock. Chef Hillary Sterling earned instant raves (and a James Beard nomination) for her excellent homemade pastas and her balance of hearty, familiar Italian dishes elevated with seasonal ingredients and live-fire cooking. The large dining room is lined with big half-moon booths perfect for taking in the busy open kitchen, as well as the city views from the airy window wall. As splendid as the food is at this new establishment from well-known restaurateur Danny Meyer, the wine and cocktail assortment is especially fantastic, and so are the irresistible desserts.
440 W. 33rd St., New York, New York, 10001, USA
Known For
- Innovative cocktail program
- Attentive service
- Creative, compact menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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$$ | |
There's simply nowhere else in Williamsburg like this rustic enoteca: You'd have to sail to Sardinia to savor a comparable meal. Pastas highlight the island's specialties, among them fregola (similar to couscous) with pistachio pesto and mascarpone, and the all-Italian wine list has plenty of accessible choices to pair with the artisanal cheeses. These come with pane carasau, a thin, crispy Sardinian flatbread best simply drizzled with extra virgin olive oil. It's all so authentic, you can practically smell the sea air and the sheep.
83 N. 7th St., Brooklyn, New York, 11249, USA
Known For
- Excellent wine list
- Sardinian cuisine
- Rustic design
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$ | Greenwich Village |
Chef Michael Toscano was a huge hit of a chef when he was the top toque at Perla. He moved to Charleston but now he's back at this eponymous restaurant in the same space where Perla once was. The interior hasn't changed too much; the marble-topped red oak bar is still there and so are the comfy banquettes, but Toscano added paintings by former Perla employee Isaac Mann that are a feast for the eyes. The chef produces flavor-popping Italian dishes such as pappardelle with duck ragu and shaved foie gras and lumache pasta with roasted tomatoes and pistachios that happens to have a buried treasure of stracciatella at the bottom, giving it a supremely delicious, creamy texture.
24 Minetta La., New York, New York, 10012, USA
Known For
- Pork belly–wrapped pork chop
- Addictive pasta dishes
- Warm ambience
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch
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$$ | West Village |
If you have a hankering for red sauce Italian–American fare, steer clear of Little Italy, and book yourself into Don Angie, a restaurant that took a staid cuisine, updated it, and made it wholly edible again: quite a task. Sit in the retro front room—featuring checkerboard floors and arched doorways—and chow down on sopressini pasta paired with mussels, garganelli noodles with meatballs and guanciale (cured pork jowl), or the excellent (and hugely portioned) lasagna for two, a spiral-shape reimagining of the classic dish.
103 Greenwich Ave., New York, New York, 10014, USA
Known For
- Making Italian-American cuisine good
- Lasagna for two
- Creative takes on pasta dishes
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$ | Flatiron District |
Both a bustling food hall and a marketplace where you can shop for produce, baked goods, prepared foods, and kitchen staples, Eataly is a temple to all things gourmet Italian. You can graze at individual stands, sit down for a meal at one of several restaurants that each specialize in different aspects of Italian cuisine, or head upstairs to Serra by Birreria, a covered rooftop space that's open year-round and serves Italian specialties and microbrews that change with the seasons.
200 5th Ave., New York, New York, 10010, USA
Known For
- Maddening crowds on the weekends
- Italian foods from burrata to gelato
- Gourmet everything to eat in or take home, at a price
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted
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$$ | NoLIta |
The centerpiece of the large, skylighted back room is a wood-fired oven that turns out crisp, thin-crust pizzas topped with quality ingredients like prosciutto and buffalo mozzarella. Try to save some of your carb allowance, though, for homemade pastas like garganelli with pork sausage and house ragù.
231 Mott St., New York, New York, 10012, USA
Known For
- Thin-crust Roman-style pizza
- Entrées like whole roasted fish
- Free snacks at the bar during happy hour
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$$$ | St. George |
Just a short walk from the ferry terminal, Enoteca Maria began an ordinary Italian eatery, with several nonne (Italian grandmas) in the place of a chef, each one cooking regional dishes on different nights. They've since branched out to celebrate global cuisines with "Nonnas of the World," and have been recognized for that incentive. On any given night you might sample Japanese, Puerto Rican, Cantonese, or Egyptian comfort food, cooked with organic ingredients sourced locally when possible. Check their website's calendar to find out what country the next nonna hails from, before she prepares dishes for you in this small, but welcoming space.
27 Hyatt St., Staten Island, New York, 10301, USA
Known For
- Rotating international grandmas cooking international comfort food
- Permanent menu of Italian fare
- Italian wines
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.–Thurs., Cash or Venmo only
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$$ | |
Basic decor, a pressed-tin roof, and family photos set the completely unpretentious, old-school mood at this laid-back neighborhood temple of Sicilian comfort food. Everything is delicious, but standouts include the arancini (rice balls), the pork-chop pizzaiola (cooked with peppers, tomatoes, and capers), and the panelle special, in which chickpea fritters meet ricotta in a sandwich with delicious results.
151 Union St., Brooklyn, New York, 11231, USA
Known For
- Great food
- Reasonable prices
- Closes at 8 Monday--Thursday
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
