janiekins

My husband and I would like to go out for Italian food in either Greenwich Village or the West Village. Looking for a fun place with great food. Any recommendations?

mp

Crispo - 240 W. 14th St; Gonzo - 140 W. 13th St; Babbo 110 Waverly Pl. ; Lupa - 170 Thompson St.; BellaVitae - 24 Minetta Lane; Maurizio - 35 W. 13th; Otto -1 Fifth Avenue; to name but a few of many. Others will mention Il Mulino, but I am not a fan, so I won't. www.menupages.com

MFNYC

venezia antica is also very nice, great ambience and service with good food. I also like Maurizio and Gonzo. Lupa is good, but impossible to get a reservation and very crowded with waits unless you arrive before 6. Babbo (higher end than the others mp mentions, except Mulino is also high end) is also a tough reservation and needs to be made well in advance. Ther4e's also a new one, I think on MacDougal called Ama that's very nice, and Arte on e. 9th st is a very pleasant, pretty place with good food.

If you want to venture to the E. Village, Lavagna is great, and very reasonable.
Definitely check menupages to check the menus, because some of these place are very different.

nbujic

call weeks ahead to make a reservation for Babbo !

bill_boy

Lupa, pound for pound, is better than Babbo IMHO. It is always crowded but you will get a table (or a couple of bar seats) if you are patient, even if you decide to walk in. We consider it the finest Roman trattoria outside of Rome ... well, ok, outside of Italy.

Babbo is great (even as I like it's less expensive sister restaurant, Lupa, more). You need a 30-day advanced reservation in for Babbo - or you can try for their bar seatings. It's not too shabby, either.

lizziea06

Also putting in a plug for Criso, Lupa, and Otto. You can look on www.menupages.com to see menus and prices.

Have fun!