Good Italian Restaurants in NYC?
Apr 21, 2007, 12:53 am
#1
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Good Italian Restaurants in NYC?
I havent been to NYC in a long time. But i am going in May. Do any of the FTer's have any suggestions for some really good Italian restaurants that are not too overly priced. I will be staying in Brooklyn but anywhere in the city would be fine with me.
Apr 21, 2007, 11:26 am
#2
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Join Date: Sep 2000
Programs: UA Million Miler (lite). NY Metro area.
Posts: 15,086
From Zagat.com
Head to Mulberry Street in Little Italy. You can pick and choose from multiple southern Italian restaurants.
One of my favorites: (from Zagat)
Da Nico
164 Mulberry St.
(bet. Broome & Grand Sts.)
212-343-1212
ZAGAT
Ratings & Review
Food Decor Service Cost
20 17 18 $35
Popular with “tourists” and the “family set”, this Little Italy Italian is a “solid bet” for “generous portions” of “old-school” dishes doused with “plenty of red sauce”; “amusing waiters” add appeal, but in warm weather the “real draw” is that “wonderful” large garden.
And another...
Il Fornaio
132A Mulberry St.
(bet. Grand & Hester Sts.)
212-226-8306
ZAGAT
Ratings & Review
Food Decor Service Cost
23 14 19 $30
“Not designed for San Gennaro visitors”, this “vintage” Little Italy “hole-in-the-wall” has been serving “great meatballs and spaghetti” and the like at “fair prices” for 20 years; just “don’t let its size fool you” – though rather “cramped”, fans say it feels “like home.”
And for desert... you must go to
Ferrara
195 Grand St.
(bet. Mott & Mulberry Sts.)
Manhattan, NY 10013
212-226-6150
ZAGAT
Ratings & Review
Food Decor Service Cost
22 15 15 $18
A “stellar selection” of pastries and espresso awaits at this “stuffa-yo-face” Little Italy pasticceria, on the scene since 1892; despite garish decor and “dismissive” service, it still attracts nostalgic locals as well as “elbow-to-elbow tourists.”
One of my favorites: (from Zagat)
Da Nico
164 Mulberry St.
(bet. Broome & Grand Sts.)
212-343-1212
ZAGAT
Ratings & Review
Food Decor Service Cost
20 17 18 $35
Popular with “tourists” and the “family set”, this Little Italy Italian is a “solid bet” for “generous portions” of “old-school” dishes doused with “plenty of red sauce”; “amusing waiters” add appeal, but in warm weather the “real draw” is that “wonderful” large garden.
And another...
Il Fornaio
132A Mulberry St.
(bet. Grand & Hester Sts.)
212-226-8306
ZAGAT
Ratings & Review
Food Decor Service Cost
23 14 19 $30
“Not designed for San Gennaro visitors”, this “vintage” Little Italy “hole-in-the-wall” has been serving “great meatballs and spaghetti” and the like at “fair prices” for 20 years; just “don’t let its size fool you” – though rather “cramped”, fans say it feels “like home.”
And for desert... you must go to
Ferrara
195 Grand St.
(bet. Mott & Mulberry Sts.)
Manhattan, NY 10013
212-226-6150
ZAGAT
Ratings & Review
Food Decor Service Cost
22 15 15 $18
A “stellar selection” of pastries and espresso awaits at this “stuffa-yo-face” Little Italy pasticceria, on the scene since 1892; despite garish decor and “dismissive” service, it still attracts nostalgic locals as well as “elbow-to-elbow tourists.”
Last edited by dhammer53; Apr 21, 2007 at 11:40 am
Apr 21, 2007, 4:00 pm
#3
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Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 55,189
Here's a review: http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/pomodoro-rosso/
Click here for the onscreen menu: http://www.menupages.com/restaurantd...taurantid=1790
I love the vitella al vinsanto. My favorite entree. Plus they have fantastic salads and many, many nightly specials.
Apr 22, 2007, 8:46 am
#4
Commander Catcop
Join Date: May 1998
Posts: 10,259
Here are a few more suggestions:
Il Vagabondo on East 62nd Street in Manhattan. The food may be a little pricey but its handmade pasta and nice sauces make it work the trip. The added touch is that there is a regulation bocce court right in the restaurant. I think you can use the bocce court if you are a diner but I have never asked or tried.
http://www.ilvagabondo.com/html/menu.htm
You can also rent out the place for large parties like F-T dos. Here's some info on that:
http://www.ilvagabondo.com/html/info.htm
One of my favorite and less expensive Italian restaurants is right by Times Square called Simply Pasta:
http://simplypastanyc.com/media/simplypasta.html
The pastas are made in house and are very good. Plus the decor is pretty fun and funky with dark colors and giant flying ceramic pasta coming from the ceiling.
I've hosted a few F-T events and Dos at Simply Pasta and as far as I know eveyrone's been happy.
Of course it's not Wollensky Grill
but who can resist giant flying pasta! 
Il Vagabondo on East 62nd Street in Manhattan. The food may be a little pricey but its handmade pasta and nice sauces make it work the trip. The added touch is that there is a regulation bocce court right in the restaurant. I think you can use the bocce court if you are a diner but I have never asked or tried.
http://www.ilvagabondo.com/html/menu.htm
You can also rent out the place for large parties like F-T dos. Here's some info on that:
http://www.ilvagabondo.com/html/info.htm
One of my favorite and less expensive Italian restaurants is right by Times Square called Simply Pasta:
http://simplypastanyc.com/media/simplypasta.html
The pastas are made in house and are very good. Plus the decor is pretty fun and funky with dark colors and giant flying ceramic pasta coming from the ceiling.
I've hosted a few F-T events and Dos at Simply Pasta and as far as I know eveyrone's been happy.
Of course it's not Wollensky Grill
but who can resist giant flying pasta!
Apr 22, 2007, 8:50 am
#6
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 8,498
"Italian" is a very big category with a lot of regional and stylistic variations. Do you want northern or southern food? Seafood? Meat? Pasta? Do you want a boisterous family-style place, a serene grown-up place or a hip young persons' place?
A couple places I particularly like:
Lupa in the Village is Mario Battali's more-accessible northern Italian eatery that straddles the line between hip and grown-up. It's a superb restaurant. Not exactly cheap, but a decent value for the quality of food and service you get (certainly cheaper than its sister Babbo).
Max in the East Village and its sister Max SoHa in Morningside Heights are small, cramped southern Italian eateries with simple menus and cheap wine. The crowd skews pretty young and hip at these places, but the food is excellent and authentic, and you can fill your belly for well under $20 (plus drinks).
There are so many more, though...
A couple places I particularly like:
Lupa in the Village is Mario Battali's more-accessible northern Italian eatery that straddles the line between hip and grown-up. It's a superb restaurant. Not exactly cheap, but a decent value for the quality of food and service you get (certainly cheaper than its sister Babbo).
Max in the East Village and its sister Max SoHa in Morningside Heights are small, cramped southern Italian eateries with simple menus and cheap wine. The crowd skews pretty young and hip at these places, but the food is excellent and authentic, and you can fill your belly for well under $20 (plus drinks).
There are so many more, though...
Apr 22, 2007, 12:07 pm
#7
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: New York City
Programs: AA Platunum
Posts: 498
Good Food plus outdoor dining
I'll agree with the recommendation for Lupa.
Another few places I like are:
Aleo on 20th St. betwwn 5th and 6th Ave. www.aleorestaurant.com
Zagat ratings are 19/17/19/$40
Crispo on 14th St. between 7th and 8th Ave's www.crisporestaurant.com
zagat ratings are 22/18/19/$44
Both these places have patio's in the back for outdoor dining in the warm months.
Vittorio Cucina on Bleeker St. near 7th Ave S www.vittoriocri.com
Zagat ratings are 21/17/19/$44
All the food is excellent but their signature dish is the hot pasta which is rolled around in a parmesean wheel tableside and deliciously coated.
They have a beautiful outdoor garden for warm weather dining.
Another few places I like are:
Aleo on 20th St. betwwn 5th and 6th Ave. www.aleorestaurant.com
Zagat ratings are 19/17/19/$40
Crispo on 14th St. between 7th and 8th Ave's www.crisporestaurant.com
zagat ratings are 22/18/19/$44
Both these places have patio's in the back for outdoor dining in the warm months.
Vittorio Cucina on Bleeker St. near 7th Ave S www.vittoriocri.com
Zagat ratings are 21/17/19/$44
All the food is excellent but their signature dish is the hot pasta which is rolled around in a parmesean wheel tableside and deliciously coated.
They have a beautiful outdoor garden for warm weather dining.
Apr 22, 2007, 2:21 pm
#8
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Every 15 minutes or so, the waiters pass out tambourines for a few minutes of music. It's not fancy, but they have cheap food that taste good.
Mangia E Bevi
800 9th Avenue, (Corner of 53rd Street), New York City
Tel: (212) 956-3976
Handsome Italian waiters break into high-spirited song at this retro-chic restaurant. Eat, drink and be merry is the order of the day here. Pasta is the premier entree, and there is a lot of it, including fusilli, ravioli and gnocchi. Grilled salmon, tuna and shrimp are also included, as well as some tasty pizzas. Broccoli rabe is available for those who love bitter greens. Best of all for savvy diners, Mangia E Bevi features comfortably low prices. They do not take reservations, so be prepared to wait.
Apr 22, 2007, 4:21 pm
#9
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Right here
Posts: 2,940
Since the OP will be Brooklyn based, I'll mention two excellent Italian meals I've had in Williamsburg in the past couple of years. La Piazzetta was quite good, a more 'traditional Italian'. Miss Williamsburg was also great, but I have heard that it is now closed or under new ownership, so YMMV.
Apr 22, 2007, 4:41 pm
#10
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 8,498
Be warned that on weekends this place is overrun by bachelorette parties. I'm not really sure how it came to be that way, but there can be multiple parties dining there on any given Saturday night.
Apr 29, 2007, 6:25 am
#15
Commander Catcop
Join Date: May 1998
Posts: 10,259
Another option for Italian in Manhattan is Forlini's on Baxter Street:
http://www.menupages.com/restaurantd...0&cuisineid=61
It's been just right outside Chinatown for decades. I was there the other night with friends and enjoyed some nice home made (and nicely priced) Italian dishes (I went with the special of sausage and BIG CLOVES of Garlic in Penne and sauce.)
It has a lot of character and some characters at the bar!
http://www.menupages.com/restaurantd...0&cuisineid=61
It's been just right outside Chinatown for decades. I was there the other night with friends and enjoyed some nice home made (and nicely priced) Italian dishes (I went with the special of sausage and BIG CLOVES of Garlic in Penne and sauce.)
It has a lot of character and some characters at the bar!