NYC Italian restaurant recommendation, please.
 

Greetings!

This will sound silly :)) But I'd like to find a restaurant with a home-feel atmosphere and hearty dishes. Something that an Italian grandma would make. To conjure an image, combining "Godfather"s spaghetti with meatballs (minus all the violence ;)) and a restaurant from the movie "Return to Me" with Mini Driver and David Duchovny. Does not have to be upscale, fancy or creative cuisine, but just a tasty and friendly place. Sorry for the movie references ;)

I'll be staying in the area near 8th Avenue and W36th street if that helps.

Thank you!

Did a quick search, turns out that the movie "Return to Me" was filmed at a real restaurant -- Twin Anchors Restaurant & Tavern. All the way in Chicago and with a different menu ;)

I haven't been there myself, but I've heard this place is quite good of its kind. https://mercatonyc.com/#home

Need to go to Brooklyn.

John's of 12th Street is an old style red sauce type of place.

https://www.johnsof12thstreet.com/

Forlini's down in Chinatown-used to be mob and Assistant District Attorney

Rubirosa-West Village, the guys are originally from Staten Island

I'm not sure what a red sauce type of place is, but several of the above suggestions will be put on my NY restaurant wish list, as I do visit at least once a year, if not more and look forward to Italian. Just came back from NY today. Enjoyed Trattoria L'incontro in Astoria, it was old fashioned & homely in decor with 100s of specials which I couldn't remember what they were by the time I was told the entire list, I chose a pasta with chestnut filling, really good. And Piccola Cucina Osteria in Soho, good but not great, squashed (piccola) space with rushed service, their meatball starter was very good though, cooked on charcoal.

I was going to recommend Il Vagabondo on the upper east side, but I looked it up and sadly it has closed following the death of the long-time owner. You can't get any more Italian than a joint with a dirt bocce court in the basement.

Out of the way in the Bronx, but Antonio's Trattoria https://www.antoniostrattoria.com/