Fausto

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Overview:

Refined setting for rustic, seasonal Italian dishes plus biodynamic & reserve wines.

Information:

Address:  348 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238

Phone:  (917) 909-1427

Neighborhood: Prospect Heights

Price: $$-$$$

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Le Fanfare

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Overview:

Casual Italian fare & craft cocktails in a bright Brooklyn-esque space with communal tables & frequent live musical acts.

 Information:

Address:    1103 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

Phone:(347) 987-4244

Neighborhood: Greenpoint

Price: $$-$$$

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Nicoletta

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Overview:

Nicoletta is Chef Michael White's no-frills East Village pizzeria. The space is super casual with a brick oven and open kitchen. The menu is mostly Italian classics like big plates of calamari, arancini, stromboli and the standout meatballs. The tasty thick-crust pies are loaded with different combinations of toppings but the best is the calabrese with deep pepperoni cups that curl up and fill with grease (don't front like you don't love that). This place is super affordable with big portions easy to share, making it a good spot for a weekday date or group dinner.

Information:

Address: 160 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003

Phone:  (212) 432-1600

Neighborhood: East Village

Price: $$-$$$

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Scampi

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Overview:

Scampi is new Flatiron locale that perfectly marries a chic, grand space with a homey vibe. The dining room has a mix of banquette and communal seating while the front of the restaurant features a large bar with dramatic oak arches and additional cocktail seating. Chef PJ Calapa emphasizes Southern Italian food in a menu of seafood and house made pastas. The style of the dishes can best be described as rustic elegance. From the crudo section, two excellent options are the razor clams with fennel, chive and prosciutto or sardines with raisins, anchovy and pinenuts. The rest of the menu is divided into vegetables, grilled, and pasta options in which the namesake dish arrives with malfadini pasta, shrimp, parsley butter and lemon. Great for a datenight spot, business dinner, or an evening with the parents. 

Information:

Address: 30 W 18th St, New York, NY 10011

Phone:  (212) 888-2171

Neighborhood: Flatiron

Price: $$$

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Evelina

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Overview:

The team behind Emporio and Aurora have created the centrally located Fort Greene locale, Evelina. The bustling space is designed with deep blue banquettes, rustic wood, a sprawling bar and mosaic tiles. The Mediterranean-Italian menu focuses on seasonal ingredients in pastas and shareable plates, with a number of items prepared on a wood-fired grill. The pasta is notably tasty, like squid ink malloreddus with crab meat, sea urchin & chili or the strangozzi carbonara with porcini mushrooms & shaved Perigord trufflles. The restaurant is particularly great for a casual weeknight dinner or weekend brunch. 

Information:

Address:  211 Dekalb Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205

Phone: (929) 298-0209

Neighborhood: Fort Greene

https://www.evelinabk.com/

Price: $$-$$$

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Momofuku Nishi

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Overview:

Since opening in 2015 Momofuku Nishi has received mixed reviews and even briefly closed to revamp their concept recently. The decor in the space is exceptionally minimal, comfortable & sparsely decorated.  Food here is Asian & Italian fusion, heavily leaning on the Italian side. The menu is reasonably priced (by only NY standards) and they have adopted the trend of no tipping. You'll find imaginative starters like fried head on shrimp, Spanish mackerel toast with piquillo pepper & salsa verde, and beef carpaccio alla tonnato. The real star are the pastas, of which you will have lots to choose from, the best being spaghetti alla chitarra with maine uni & calabrian chili. 
A solid dining option that I trust it will only improve. 

Information:

Address:  232 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10011

Phone: (646) 518-1919

Neighborhood: Chelsea

Price: $$$

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Vini e Friti

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Overview:

Danny Meyer is on a roll opening new venues in 2017. His 3rd and newest space within The Redbury Hotel is Vini e Fritti. The concept is a Roman-style aperitivi bar, celebrating the marriage of bubbles and salty, crispy antipasti. Casual and unfussy small plates like fritto misto, housemade straciatella, and marinated vegetables - alongside Champagne, Italian wines, craft beers, refreshing spritzes, and cocktails.  Go to grab a quick drink and shared bite or have a more extensive evening with a full dinner.

Information:

Address:  30 E 30th St, New York, NY 10016

Phone:  (212) 651-3800

Neighborhood: Nomad

Price: $$-$$$

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Old Rose

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Overview:

Old Rose is the newest restaurant occupying the dining space in The Jane Hotel. It is a morning-to-night establishment 7 days a week that recently launched brunch. .Just like every person who occupies the tables, the space is very posh. The walls are white washed and there's white & black marble everywhere. The team behind the ever popular The Smile has put together an Italian menu of seasonal dishes of seafood and pasta. Small dishes include burrata with grilled sourdough, crispy rice salad & pickled garden veggies. The pizza menu is great offering a vodka iteration, margherita & clam pie. Food here is solid and affordable with a fun vibe. 

Information:

Address:  113 Jane St, New York, NY 10014

Phone:  (212) 255-4143

Neighborhood: West Village

Price: $$$

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Don Angie

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Overview:

Husband and wife chef team Scott Tacinelli and Angie Rito are bringing a fresh new concept to the West Village. The former restaurant space has been modernized, white-washed with marble floors and rich blue & gold accents. The menu is updated Italian, a genre the duo previously nailed at Quality Italian. You'll find reinvented Italian-American family favorites like spicy antipasti, bbq calimari and tonnato vitello. Their pastas are undoubtedly the star, specifically the lasanga for 2, sliced down and broiled so that every bite comes with a cheesy crust bite. 

Information:

Address: 103 Greenwich Ave, New York, NY 10014

Phone:  (212) 889-8884

Neighborhood: West Village

Price: $$$

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Rossopomodoro

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Overview:

Rossopomodoro is a charming café on Greenwich St in the West Village. The interior is a clean, simple version of an upscale pizzeria. The space is deceptively large with two main dining rooms, a large bar and patio seating on 2 sides. Food is Neopolitan style with plenty of pastas and pizzas on the menu. For your pizza selection choose from sausage, porchetta, broccoli rabe, and spicy salami to name a few. There pasta list is equally long with gnocco, tagliatelle, and ravioli. You can also entirely avoid the carbs and opt for great seafood options like their expertly grilled octopus with silky cauliflower puree. For brunch, the place is a calm respite from the insanity that ensues in other West Village locations. 

Information:

Address:  118 Greenwich Ave, New York, NY 10011

Phone: : (212) 242-2310

Neighborhood: West Village

Price: $$$

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Vic's

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Overview:

Vic's is a go-to for all occasions in Noho from the Five Points team. The vibe is that of a comfortable neighborhood restaurant, just with exceptionally good looking people all around you. You'll find a spacious interior with several distinct dining areas, large tables, a skylight and semi-open kitchen. The menu is mainly Italian and chef Hillary Sterling does both farm-to-table cooking and pizza quite well. The antipasti and mercato sections have an excellent list of vegetables like delicata squash with walnut gremolata, puntarelle with anchovies, and crispy calamari with fennel and pine nuts. Choose from 5 Neapolitan pies or a long list of pastas like cacio e pepe and eggplant ravioli. It's really a restaurant good for many things - an intimate date, group brunch, or dinner with the parents. 

Information:

Address: 31 Great Jones St, New York, NY 10012

Phone: (212) 253-5700

Neighborhood: Noho

Price: $$$

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Nobody is Perfect

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Overview:

Nobody's Perfect is the 3rd restaurant from the team behind 2 other neighborhood spots, Pardon My French and Chou Chou. This is a tough location, as it is the 5th restaurant in this space in 10 years. The current owners have done a magnificent job decorating the sprawling space and making it feel inviting in spite of its large size. The design is industrial chic with tons of decorative tile, hard wood and exposed brick. The menu is mainly Italian with signature dishes like whole roasted chicken and carbonara which arrives in a hollowed-out wheel of pecorino. Starters like calamari, meatballs and burrata are all under $14. They also serve a list of pizzas that come from their central wood fired oven. Bottomless brunch is served on weekends for $30 but be forewarned it's cash only. 

Information:

Address:  235 E 4th St, New York, NY 10009

Phone: (646) 869-1469

Neighborhood: East Village

Price: $$-$$$

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Suprema Provisions

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Overview:

Oh man, if this place isn't just the cutest thing that ever happened to me. Suprema Provisions is part restaurant and part gourmet market with imported Italian ingredients, cookbooks and fancy kitchen tools. Grab cheese and cured meats to go from their salumeria or stay and dine in the wine bar. The rustic space is sprawling, encompassing two storefronts with entrances on both Bleecker and 7th Ave. The dine in menu is ample with  small plates and exemplary salumi & cheese boards. Savory dishes include Neapolitan meatballs, uni & crab fettuccine, and braised octopus with olives & polenta. The sleeper on the menu is their unbelievable burger consisting of short rib, brisket, iberico jamon, bacon jam, and black garlic sauce. This is the perfect spot for a date night or a leisurely lunch of charcuterie and wines chosen by sommelier Joshua Wesson.  

Information:

Address:  305 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014

Phone: (646) 964-4994

Neighborhood: West Village

Price: $$ -$$$

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Giovanni Rana Pastificio & Cucina

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Overview:

Giovanni Rana is a full service restaurant located beside Chelsea Market. The interior is a sprawling, rustic dining room with soft lighting and a massive open kitchen. The artisenal Italian menu features a laundry list of antipasti and charcuterie like prosciutto, fried ravioli, and bruschetta. They offer a staggering number of fresh pastas in 15 varieties like squid ink linguine, truffle mushroom girasole, casarecce puttanesca and curry conchiglie. It's basically carb heaven, times ten. The ambiance is perfect for a leisurely romantic dinner or a quick snack of charcuterie and wine while you shop in the area. 

Information:

Address:  75 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011

Phone:  (212) 370-0975

Neighborhood: Chelsea

Price: $$$

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Epistrophy

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Overview:

Epistrophy Café is almost too cute to function. Located on a great Nolita block, it optimizes the laid back, unpretentious feel of this slice of neighborhood. The interior is homey and rustic with communal seating and an outdoor patio. The food won't change your life but it is good. They serve breakfast, lunch & dinner daily and have a wide selection of salads, sandwiches, and fresh made pastas. The menu is Italian, specifically from the region of Sardinia. I appreciate that so many healthy options are available, particularly the quinoa salad and grilled calamari.  It is a comfortable setting to work in the afternoon or have a low key date in the evening at their bar.

Information:

Address: 200 Mott St, New York, NY 10012

Phone: (212) 966-0904

Neighborhood: Nolita

Price: $$-$$$

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The Sosta

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Overview:

The Sosta is the newest concept from the Esquared Hospitality group. The restaurant falls into a category that seems to be sweeping NYC dining – fine-casual. You order from the counter, but what you are presented with is carafes of rosé and elevated grab-n-go (or stay) food. The space is designed by the mind of Samantha Wasser who is behind By Chloe as well. She has created a fun & modern atmosphere, complete with a giant pink “mangiamo, baby!” neon sign. The menu is primarily Italian offering massive chef-crafted salads, an over flowing charcuterie board, and fresh-baked focaccia sandwiches. There is a list of 5 freshly made pastas & sauces all under $14 for a substantial portion. You would be hard pressed to find higher quality food at this low price point. 

Information:

Address:  186 Mott St, New York, NY 10012

Neighborhood: Nolita

Price: $$

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Lincoln Ristorante

photo: Gotham Magazine

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Overview:

This Lincoln Center restaurant has been in operation for 7 years. Originally opened by chef Jonathan Beno of Per Se, the restaurant recently exchanged hands and is now being helmed by chef Shea Gallante. The glass walled space is large and elegant, with a sprawling open kitchen separating the 3 dining rooms. The space feels more modern than other upscale venues of its type. Following suit, the deceptively simple menu is contemporary; nothing feels over worked or exceedingly fussy. Beautiful renditions of Italy’s classic dishes are all over the menu like an insanely creamy burrata and perfectly cooked fresh pappardelle & garganelli. Entrees are a decent size, the best of which is the bistecca in padella -sirloin of beef, grilled sugarloaf chicory, spring onions & maitake mushrooms. This meal will set you back, but it is a lovely experience worth having if you want to be a bit fancy for the evening. 

Information:

Address: 142 W 65th St, New York, NY 10023

Phone: (212) 359-6500

Neighborhood: Upper West Side

Price: $$$-$$$$

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Martina Pizzeria

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Overview:

Martina is the newest restaurant concept from the Union Square Hospitality Group team. The venue is supposed to be a paired down version of their upscale pizza place, Marta. The space is casual and you order food at the counter, which comes to you quickly (pizzas cook in under 3 minutes). The menu is inexpensive and manageable with all items costing under $12. There is a small menu of antipasti and salad plus 8 pizza options including margherita, salame, and capricciosa with artichokes, ham, mushrooms, black olives, mozzarella & egg. Pizza crust here is super thin so if you're expecting traditional NYC pizza, you'll be disappointed. Although the food is quick and inexpensive, the team is hoping that people will think of the concept as “fine-casual” as opposed to “fast-casual” because of the elevated service touches and alcohol service. 

Information:

Address: 198 East 11th Street , New York, 10003

Phone (646) -747-6635

Neighborhood: East Village

Price: $$

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Rosemary's

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Overview:

Rosemary's has been a West Village staple for years and it shows zero sign of slowing down. The large, sun drenched corner restaurant is consistently packed with beautiful diners and bar goers for 3 meals/day. The bleached wood and white Christmas lights above are a lifestyle Instagram account dream. The Italian menu was built for sharing; full of the the best little bites. Graze on a selection of focaccia, samuli, cheeses and verdure (little antipasti) like chickpeas and eggplant caponata. You can select from 5 house made pastas including cavatelli and orecchiette and they even offer a gluten free option. Beer & wine only, good vibes all around. 

Information:

Address:  18 Greenwich Ave, New York, NY 10011

Phone:  (212) 647-1818

Neighborhood: West Village

Price: $$ -$$$

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Casa Apicii

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Overview:

Tucked inside a townhouse on residential 9th street lays a pretty magnificent surprise. You'd never guess that inside is a glamorous, chic restaurant with 2 story high ceilings, velvet gold chairs and towering chandeliers. The menu is seasonal, regional Italian cooking. The vegetable heavy antipasti section offers a lot to choose from like cauliflower with sicilian pesto, snap peas, and burrata. The star is the pasta and there are 7 options like fresh tagliatelle, bucatini, and strozzapreti. The surroundings are opulent but the food feels comforting. The second floor houses a hip speakeasy featuring aperitivo-based and classic cocktail recipes. I highly recommend you go to immediately.

Information:

Address: 62 W 9th St, New York, NY 10011

Phone:  (212) 353-8400

Neighborhood: Greenwich Village

Price: $$$

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