50 Best Italian Restaurants in New York

“Great Italian food and a decent menu, not much choice but not too much. It's located next to Post Office 34 and is very trendy. The view and service are great, but it's noisy as there isn't much to absorb the sound. We ordered focaccia, roasted peppers and pasta. Everything is great and super fresh.“

“Absolutely the best food in NYC we finally got a bar seat this past Saturday was in the city for pride we have been trying for years everything was spot on crysathenn salad, the stuffed flatbread and lasagna and cocoa tiramisu“

“Put cement in your shoes bc this place will knock ur socks off. A little taste of italy in the heart of west village. My biggest regret is not having time or the group size to taste more things.

Pros:
- Piping hot pasta dishes, served al dente, bursting w flavor. If you are allergic to flavor you might have a heart attack
- fantastic cocktails and happy hour
- friendly service. My daughter was treated like royalty (swinging bench, shirley temple, smiles)
- clean bathroom. If your a kitchen confidential person, you know what this means
- affordable price. I don’t remember exactly what, but no mugging happened and that’s rare in NYC
- not that crowded (went weekday 5:30 though)

Ideas to consider
- if the red wines were slightly more chilled (not room temp), some people might like even more
- I can’t think of anything else. The best pesto pasta I’ve had in many years, if not ever“

“3z3d3d33d3ddezze3ez x🙂‍↔️🤪🤪🤔😗😶‍🌫️😉🙏🙏😘🙂‍↔️😘🙂‍↔️😶‍🌫️😃😘🙂‍↔️🤪🙏. d x3 32e3de 3“

“Great food - better service. Mason was absolutely wonderful. He helped walked us through the special dishes and his favorites, all of which we tried and were not disappointed. The shrimp parm is an absolute must - as well as the clam pasta. It’s quite different from any other clam pasta I’ve ever had but in a delectable way. The iceberg wedge salad was also delicious. Overall, great experience.“

“Excellent quality, service and ambiance!“

“Pleasant less formal atmosphere, but very efficient service. Delicious pastes. I highly recommend :)“

“Went for our anniversary!! Had an amazing meal!! Wonderful service and great atmosphere!! Highly recommend!!“

“Easily one of the best meals of my life! Crazy creative! Only 16 seats, very special in all ways.“

“Went to dinner here with my cousin after seeing a Broadway show & we had an amazing dining experience! Food was incredible, drinks were delicious, service was fast, and staff were incredibly kind and welcoming, especially Albert! Very much planning on going back.“

“I loved my dinner here and will be coming back again and again. The food and service are exceptional (the tomato salad is amazing and their grilled chicken outstanding) and it's one of those restaurants -- increasingly all too rare -- where you feel genuinely welcome and wanted from the minute you walk in the door. My friend broke her wine glass towards the end of our meal (we were both finished eating our main courses) and the maitre d' offered to give us two new main courses because there was food left on our plates and they were concerned about glass shards in our food. We declined but it was an incredibly thoughtful offer (and the accident was entirely our fault). Lovely atmosphere, top-notch cocktails and outstanding food. Go!“

“The wait staff and food were absolutely amazing.“

“El personal es muy amable, atentos y deliciosa comida.“

“It was our first time visiting New York and da Toscano came highly recommended, and it did not disappoint! One of the best meals we have had in a very long time, and the service was second to none! Thank you for a wonderful evening 😊“

“Atmosfera e cibo top! Consigliassimo“

“By far our favorite restaurant we visit in the city. Have been here over 500x and the tagliatelle with sheep’s cheese cabbage and shrimp will never get old ! Carmine runs a beautiful establishment on the UWS“

“Burrata e verdure was amazing for appetizer. Tonnarelli was nice, too. But Rigatina (the chopped steak) was too salty. We had Berries with cream as dessert, and it was great!

The portion of the food was unlike other restaurants in New York. I think it’s bit overpriced because they weren’t big. Three dishes were just enough for 2 people.“

“Cadre très sympa et pizza au top !“

“An amazing time! Atmosphere was very warm and the food was incredible!“

“This is a great restaurant, last year (2023) we came twice and Ram was great, his service and attitude was fantastic, and this year (2024) we came back again just to see him (and of course to have some drinks and great food).“

“Amazing food, service, and atmosphere! Made a special celebration that much more momentous. Do not skip the prosciutto with ricotta or octopus apps-delicious!“

“Too bad there aren’t more stars to click on. As a Sicilian/Italian every time I go to an Italian restaurant I have to always settle for the close enough. Not this time at Piccola Cucina Estiatorio, 71 Thompson Street NYC. After seeing their extremely authentic Sicilian menu online I knew that it had to be the real thing. After easily reserving a table online we showed up with yes our hopes being very high. For the first time the food was everything I had hoped for. 1. Arancini: nicely crunchy and flavored. Not oily or old at all. 2. Grilled veggies: although simply presented they were really tasty and fresh. 3. Involtini: out of this world. Exactly made like in my town in Sicily. A Moist, tender, flavored with some really tasty mozzarella cheese, served on a nice bed of caponata. 4. Maccheroni alla Norma: finally my very favorite dish. I almost cried. Besides a fantastic pasta, rigorously cooked al dente, there was a more than generous amount of diced eggplant, obviously, with basil leaves, olive oil and everything the Mediterranean has so generously given to Sicily for thousands of years. It’s worth mentioning the more than welcome grated “ricotta salata” as a testimony to the high attention to detail of Chef Gioele. That was a dinner I will not easily forget. The last thing I want to say is that, according to the highly professional and attentive staff, almost every single ingredient in this restaurant is flown directly from Sicily including the very tasty cannoli filled with ricotta cheese. (The cheese flies frozen during shipping). Sorry for the long review. I only wanted to show my super happiness with this restaurant. ANGELO.“

“TL;DR: Grab a table outside, enjoy a glass of wine with a plate of pasta, and do some people-watching. This is an amazing spot to wind down the evening!

Food:
I have had the orecchiette (brunch) and the lasagne (dinner). I have also tried the chicken milanese panini. The food really is quite spectacular here: I love that you can really taste how high quality and textured the pasta is. For seemingly simple dishes, they do an amazing job at the flavor. They have good wine selection as well with some affordable options. There is also a happy hour as well to look out for!

Service:
The waiters here are quite friendly and very attentive. They regularly ask if you need anything, and they’ll come do water refills as needed. No complaints at all.

Ambiance:
Located on a street with a good amount of foot traffic but is not that loud. It’s very comfortable outside, and they have seating indoors as well (although I exclusively choose to sit outdoors here). There is a clean restroom downstairs as well.“

“After debating where to take my husband for his bday dinner with all the overwhelming amount of italian restaurants to choose from I decided on Via 13. Very happy I did. Such a nice modern yet cozy and intimate interior. Staff were super friendly and knowledgeable of the menu. Food was fantastic, drinks spot on and they were very kind to sing the birthday boy happy birthday when they brought out dessert. They do a bottomless brunch which I will for sure be checking out. Overall a lovely restaurant.“

“Atmosfera e cibo top! Consigliassimo“

“The service stood out our bartender was attentive“

“Attentive staff, good food , nice atmosphere . Most definitely will return next trip into the city“

“The staff were amazing and so was the food! My Mom has a very restrictive diet and she was able to eat and didn’t have a reaction afterward which is rare for her unfortunately. We came into the restaurant 5 minutes before closing and was able to accommodate our large party. Cannot say enough good things!“

“Delicious food good service“

“Wonderful Christmas Eve dinner on our visit to NYC. Service & Food were both excellent. Lovely family setting.“

“The food was amaze. Cute place.“

“Excellent Roasted Chicken. Burrata, Garlic bread and Brick Oven pizza. The vibe is really nice and service is excellent.“

“Our meal was delicious! The staff was very friendly. Our sweet server even brought us a complimentary Tiramisu. ❤️“

“Visited on Tuesday evening quite late and had such an amazing experience at Osteria Nonnino. We shared a pizza to start, followed by fish and the vodka pasta for mains – every dish was absolutely outstanding. The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive, and we felt so well looked after from start to finish. The food was honestly second to none. Such a hidden gem, would highly recommend to anyone in NYC.“

“Delicioso highly recommend“

“Excellent place to eat authentic Italian dinner with family. Great food and excellent service by their employees. 100% Recommended!!“

“Sooooo good and so delicious and great attention A+“

“It’s great place with very delicious pasta and artesanal pizza! 🍝🍕“

“It is theeeeBEST! Make a reservation NOW!“

“Fantastic authentic Italian in a cozy atmosphere. My friend has a gluten allergy and eating here was the big event of the trip. We loved everything we ate. The boar risotto was outstanding as was the chocolate cake. Ten out of ten, greatly recommend.“

“Delicious food!! The best place I've been to in the east village in a very long time. I highly recommend it 😋“

“We came in here by accident and what a joy. Ambience is lovely inside you can actually hear yourself talk as you dine unlike so many other restaurants in nyc and their cesar salad omg. They just need more croutons and shredded cheese on it but wow those croutons oh my on another level.“

“Enjoyed everything about Emporio!“

“Absolutely fantastic dining experience at Da Adriano! The food was fresh, authentic, and full of incredible flavor. Every dish was beautifully prepared, and the quality really stood out. The staff were warm, attentive, and made us feel welcome from the moment we arrived. Cozy atmosphere, excellent service, and delicious Italian cuisine—I can't wait to come back. Highly recommend!“

“Amazing pasta and staff, that are actually from Italy! 🇮🇹“

“We had a great experience learning how to make pasta! The food was so delicious. This would be something fun to do with a group or family members. Our waiter Mica was fantastic as well as the chef who taught us Anthony. Thanks guys for a fun night in NYC!“

“### Sorso'
This inviting Greenwich Village spot on University Place is a fantastic destination if you are looking to drop in for a quick, high-quality happy hour visit. The warm, dim lighting and stylish, intimate decor immediately set a cozy tone, making it an effortless place to unwind early in the evening. The staff handles the floor with exceptional hospitality and speed, ensuring you are welcomed warmly and seated promptly so you can make the absolute most of a brief stop.
The happy hour offerings hit the mark perfectly, delivering excellent quality without any compromise. The house red wine featured in the special was wonderfully balanced, smooth, and easily approachable, serving as a rich, satisfying pour after a long day. It paired effortlessly with the bruschetta, which arrived fresh, crisp, and beautifully seasoned with vibrant tomato flavor. Everything about the quick visit was handled seamlessly, from the attentive pace of service to the overall caliber of the food and drink. While a broader beverage expansion into specialized craft spirits or a small sake list would add even more depth to their main lineup, this spot remains a thoroughly enjoyable, reliable neighborhood gem that I would gladly stop into anytime.“

“We happened to be walking by on a Friday night and my husband pointed it out. Our pasta was fresh and delicious and served so quickly. The staff was beyond attentive and professional. The bathrooms were gorgeous and clean. It delivered on all aspects. We had Zeppole with lemon curd for dessert and it was unreal!“

“Loved this small 100 year old Italian restaurant in Greenwich Village. The food was delish, but even better than the food was the atmosphere and the staff. Our waiter was Tony. Not only was he funny, he knew his pasta! We felt like old friends by the time we left! The bartender was not only beautiful to look at, he too treated us like old friends! He meet us at the door on our way out and gifted me with a juicy birthday kiss! Totally made my night!“

“A wonderful restaurant - delicious food, wine, marvelous service. Thank you“