Hi - Coming back east this weekend from CO and in a desperate need of some great Italian food (CO does not know what this is yet!) - Any and All recommendations taken! Thanks and Happy Holidays to all!

In Manhattan, Mulberry Street offers decent (and touristy) food in the heart of Little Italy. My personal favorites are Il Fornaio for lunch and Da Nico for dinner (both on Mulberry). In Midtown, Bellini is excellent. It's on East 52nd between 2nd & 3rd Avenues. My favorite Italian food, however, is found on the Upper East Side: Tony's Di Napoli (Second Ave, 83 & 84th Sts). Enjoy!

Two of my favorites in the East 50's are Cellini and Fresco by Scotto. Rossini's on East 38th Street is also excellant and has opera singers entertaining on Saturdays. All three are on the expensive side.

Gino's on Lexington, Ill Gato & La Volpe on 1st,Barolo in Soho on W Broadway,Il Fornaio on Mulberry in Little Italy,Babbo on Waverly Pl,Have a great time~

I absolutely adore two places. Piccolo Angolo on Hudson and Jane (the recitation of the night's special by Renato, the owner is a hoot!!) and Frank on 88 second avenue. These are small and intimate places and not much for people watching. But the food is really great and comparable to the more expensive restaurants hereabouts.

I second the vote for Fresco -- yummy food and warm, welcoming atmosphere.

Il Mulino on 3rd b/t Sullivan & Thompson consistently gets high marks from Zagat's. It is delicious, but very expensive. You will definitely need advance reservations.

On the Upper East Side, Tony's is a fun, loud, family atmosphere. It's family-style and the food is good, but not great. For great Italian, at reasonable prices, try Due at 79th & 3rd -- a real "neighborhood" place.

If you want to do the mobster/moll scene, try Nino's or Campagnola on 1st Ave in the 70's. Great food and people watching.

Enjoy!

We absolutely love Bar Pitti in the west village (it's on 6th Ave b/w Bleeker and Houston). DaSilvano next door is also good, but much more $$$$.
Also, second the vote for Babbo-just love those cheeks!!

I vote for Da Silvano!! Excellent food. A splurge but worth it. Also, Il Mulino and Babbo are my faves.

up for Melissa

I second the suggestion for Piccolo Angolo. The food is great and the atmosphere is very lively!

Il Mulino - expensive but worth every penny!

I just ate at Gigino on Greenwich St in Tribeca and loved what we all had. Mine was the spaghetti padrino with beets, anchovy oil, pecorino, etc. Others had the sea bass (perfectly cooked) and shrimp risotto - all just what we wanted on a cold Saturday night. In midtown I like suggesting Esca on 43rd St. And recently I was reminded of La Locanda on Ninth Ave & 49th St - a small place, but quiet with excellent food.

definite support for the posts that mention il mulino, da silvano, bar pitti, esca, babbo, lupa - all terrific italians. Try also Le Zie 2000, on 7th avenue - excellent venetian cuisine, the specials are almost always delicious. I Trulli is wonderful, Campagna on e. 20th. Beppe, all in flatiron district, look them up in zagats. Avoid Little Italy like the plague - touristy, over priced, unless you want to purchase olive oils or italian groceries, then go to di Paulos - great salumeria, & cheese

Anyone else notice that the original post here is about 2 months old?

I agree with many of these village picks. I want to add I coppi on East 9th Street in the East Village. It's like being in tuscany, garden in the back with cats wandering around, brick oven and fine food.

this post may be dated but it's still relevant. being are always looking for good food in nyc.

yes it is two months old....it was brought up for someone asking about good Italian restaurants and is coming in this weekend....

I once knew a great Italian in NYC. Her name was Sophia. ;_)