Can anyone recommend a great restaurant in Little Italy??

IN GREENWICH VILLAGE THERE IS A GREAT RESTAURANT CALLED MOSCONI'S NOT SURE OF ADDRESS. IM SURE ITS IN THE PHONEBOOK.

Hi,

Sorry, I have not been to Little Italy,
but do try Carmines which is in
Times Square district. the place is always packed and I have dined there
on two occassions...exceptional food.

Have fun!

Lin there are SO MANY restaurants in Little Italy and in all kinds of price ranges. One of our favs is Luna, but when you get to Canal St. and find Little Italy, just walk up the street. If you are going to be here in the next few weeks, most if not all the restaurants will have sidewalk cafes and the street is closed to traffic so you can walk up until you find a restaurant that appeals to you, and you won't have a problem finding a good one.

Also Ferrara's for deserts is also a great choice.

Have a fun time while you are here.

Paglia's. It's a home-style setting - everyone sits together, they serve their own homemade wine, and the entertainment is an one-man Italian singer with humor. Inexpensive very casual - all in the heart of Little Italy!

La Mela
Very casual, very fun, very much food!

I recently ate at Paglia's (or is it Puglia's? I can't remember!) in Little Italy--along with 72 eighth graders (we were on a whirlwind 2-day tour of NYC as a schoool field trip). The food was very good, but be forewarned--there were several other schools in the restaurant while we were there, so it may not be the most romantic of spots, unless you love adolescents

Very funny. I just ate at Luna last night! We go there often and love the food. Eggplant parm is great. Luna is on Mulberry street just above Canal, and a few doors down from Ferrara's bakery on the same side of the street. I think it is number 116. Very casual. Suggest dinner there and then dessert at Ferrara. If it is nice out, they have a few tables outside. Mangia!

The best Italian food we've found in NYC isn't in Little Italy - we love John's Of 12th Street in Greenwich Village (302 E. 12th St., near 2nd Avenue; 212-475-9531). Reservations are a MUST, and you may still have to wait, but it is SO worth it! Enjoy!

What type of food does John's have? Mostly pasta? Fish? Meat? How far in advance do I need reservations?

Thanks.
Kim

Error in above post. John's of E 12th. St. & Second Avenue is in the East Village, not Greenwich Village. Greenwich Village is on the West Side. Yes, they have seafood. Their phone number for a reservation is 212-475-9531.

Many little italy restaurant are just mediocre but the atmosphere is very spirited, especially in the summer when mulberry street is closed off to traffic. I like La Fornaio (sp?) on Mulberry. You can check Zagats.com for ratings of this and other little italy places. The little Italy/Chinatown area is also a good place to pick up souvenier t-shirts, baseball caps, etc.

Kim, sorry for the error (how embarrassing) on John's of 12th - wrong "village"; right address & phone. We've made reservations as late as the day we wanted to go. They have pasta, salads, amazing bruschetta, meat, chicken, seafood, and wonderful desserts! Have a great meal!
Becca

I like both Luna and La Mela.

i agree with luna's as the best for italian food in little italy. take a walk around and then come back to la bella ferrara's (next door to luna's) for some lucious dessert. ah! a trip worth remembering. keep in mind while luna's is nothing to look at, the food is far superior to any others. you can even eat the veal there and enjoy w/o grizzle.

Luna's is definitely the better one. I also like Hasta La Pasta on Sixth Avenue.

Not sure if it's still open, but I've enjoyed Il Cortile a couple of times in Little Italy..good food, and good atmosphere.

Like others have posted, I find Little Italy food to be mediocre relative to what's available in Manhattan. My favorite is a small place called La Dolce Vita on Spring near 6th. Make a reservation for a Friday or Saturday. They serve both classic italian and new stuff (like pumpkin ravioli), meat and seafood, with a fair wine list. Very moderately priced!

If you must go to Little Italy, for pasta I like a place called Vincent's, they have a hot (spicy) marinara which is great. Ferrara is certainly good for desert.

Great thread-Anyone have any suggestions in the theatre district?

I was so pleased to see some of you mention Lunas! We ate there many years ago, and I remember it having the best shrimp and clam linguini ever! We also ate at the Grotto Azurra, is it still there? We also had the cannolis at Ferrara.... wow, you NYC people sure have good Italian restaurants....not many here in Hotlanta.....
Judy