The Best Italian Restaurants in New York City

New York runs on Italian food. It is the city’s default language for a celebratory dinner, a comforting weeknight pasta, or a loud, tablecloth-soaking group hang. The landscape of what that means is split. On one side, you have the historic red-sauce parlors, rooms that feel like they were born from a Coppola casting call, where the veal parm is the size of a hubcap and the waiters have seen it all. On the other, you have the new guard: ingredient-obsessed kitchens where chefs treat pasta-making like a science and Tuscan tradition is sacred.

We think you need both. You need the swagger of a big night out at Carbone and the quiet perfection of a bowl of cacio e pepe at Via Carota. This guide is built to navigate that spectrum. It covers the institutions that defined Italian-American cooking for a century and the modern pasta temples that define it now. These are the rooms, old and new, that matter most.

The New Guard

These are the restaurants of the last decade or so that changed the conversation, focusing on handmade pasta, specific regional traditions, and sourcing that would make a Tuscan nonna proud.

Lilia

Williamsburg · 567 Union Ave · $$$ WebsiteMap

Missy Robbins’ Lilia is the restaurant that launched a thousand pasta-centric pilgrimages to Williamsburg. The room is a stunning conversion of a former auto body shop, bright and airy, but the food is the main event. The sheep’s milk agnolotti with saffron and honey is a modern classic, and the pastas manage to feel both delicate and deeply satisfying.

Go for: The mafaldini with pink peppercorns, the grilled clams. Know before you go: Reservations are notoriously difficult. Set a Resy alert and be flexible.

Misi

Williamsburg · 329 Kent Ave · $$$ WebsiteMap

Misi is Lilia’s younger sibling, located on the Domino Park waterfront with a sharp focus on pasta and vegetable antipasti. The whole menu is a confident exercise in simplicity. The open kitchen lets you watch the pasta masters at work, extruding noodles that will arrive at your table minutes later, like the iconic fettuccine with buffalo butter and black pepper.

Go for: The spinach and mascarpone-filled tortelli, any of the vegetable antipasti. Know before you go: It is pasta-and-vegetable focused, so do not expect a traditional main course.

Via Carota

West Village · 51 Grove St · $$$ WebsiteMap

Jody Williams and Rita Sodi’s all-day trattoria is the platonic ideal of a neighborhood Italian spot. It feels like it has been on Grove Street for a century, turning out effortlessly perfect Tuscan cooking. From the svizzerina (a chopped steak) to the mountain of a verde salad, everything is better than it needs to be. The cacio e pepe has a legitimate cult following.

Go for: The cacio e pepe, the insalata verde, a negroni at the bar. Know before you go: Reservations are released 30 days in advance and vanish instantly; they also hold space for walk-ins if you are willing to wait.

Rezdôra

Flatiron · 27 E 20th St · $$$$ WebsiteMap

A love letter to the cuisine of Emilia-Romagna, Rezdôra is a pasta-lover’s paradise. Chef Stefano Secchi’s time at Osteria Francescana is evident in the technical precision, but the feeling is pure Italian comfort. The “Grandma walking through forest in Emilia” is a signature for a reason, and the regional tasting menu is one of the city’s great pasta experiences.

Go for: The tasting menu for the full experience, or the prosciutto-stuffed anolini di parma. Know before you go: This is a small, popular room. Book well in advance.

Don Angie

West Village · 103 Greenwich Ave · $$$ WebsiteMap

A creative, modern take on Italian-American food that earned a Michelin star for its clever, satisfying cooking. Don Angie’s lasagna for two, a pinwheeled masterpiece, is an Instagram icon for a reason, but do not sleep on the rest of the menu. The chrysanthemum salad and the stuffed garlic flatbread are essential.

Go for: The lasagna for two, the chrysanthemum salad. Know before you go: This is another of the city's most challenging reservations. Plan far ahead.

I Sodi

West Village · 314 Bleecker St · $$$ WebsiteMap

Before Via Carota, Rita Sodi’s I Sodi was the quiet temple of Tuscan cooking in the West Village. It is a minimalist, intimate space where the focus is squarely on pristine ingredients and traditional preparations. Think perfectly fried artichokes, a classic lasagna, and what many consider the best negroni in town.

Go for: The fried artichokes, the pappardelle al limone, the negroni. Know before you go: Reservations open on Resy 13 days in advance and are extremely competitive.

Ci Siamo

Hudson Yards · 440 W 33rd St · $$$ WebsiteMap

Danny Meyer’s entry into live-fire Italian cooking is a grand, energetic restaurant in Manhattan West. Chef Hillary Sterling’s menu is built around a wood-burning hearth, turning out things like the already-famous cast iron focaccia with tomato conserva and whole roasted trout. It is a polished, special-occasion spot that still feels soulful.

Go for: The caramelized onion torta, the focaccia with tomato conserva. Know before you go: Yelp named it the best restaurant in the U.S. in 2026, so plan accordingly. The bar and lounge are open for walk-ins.

Forsythia

Lower East Side · 9 Stanton St · $$$ WebsiteMap

Forsythia is dedicated to Roman comfort food, with a menu centered on exceptional handmade pasta. The airy, pillow-soft focaccia is non-negotiable, as are the fried cacio e pepe risotto suppli. It is a cozy, candle-lit room that feels like a real neighborhood discovery, perfect for a downtown date night.

Go for: The carbonara, the suppli, the focaccia. Know before you go: The restaurant does not have a phone number; all communication is through Resy or email.

Torrisi Bar & Restaurant

Nolita · 275 Mulberry St · $$$$ WebsiteMap

This is Major Food Group’s grand statement restaurant, a Michelin-starred homage to New York Italian food located in the landmark Puck Building. It is a more refined and ambitious project than Carbone, with an open kitchen and white-jacketed servers delivering show-stopping dishes. Getting a table is a serious commitment, but eating here feels like an event.

Go for: The tasting menu, the walk-in only bar for a more spontaneous visit. Know before you go: Reservations open on Resy 30 days in advance at 10 AM and are gone in seconds. The bar is your best bet for a same-day seat.

The Classics

These are the institutions. The red-sauce spots and historic dining rooms that have been serving generations of New Yorkers, where the sense of history is as important as the food.

Carbone

Greenwich Village · 181 Thompson St · $$$$ WebsiteMap

Carbone is less a restaurant and more a theatrical production of what a mid-century Italian-American restaurant should be. Captains in tuxedos prepare Caesar salads tableside, the spicy rigatoni vodka is legendary, and the whole experience is over-the-top in the best way. It is one of the hardest tables to get in the city for a reason.

Go for: Spicy rigatoni vodka, Caesar salad prepared tableside, veal parmesan. Know before you go: Reservations drop 30 days in advance on Resy at 10 AM and are gone instantly. Bar seats are held for walk-ins, but require an early arrival and patience.

Emilio’s Ballato

Nolita · 55 E Houston St · $$$ WebsiteMap

This is not a theme restaurant, it is the real thing. A tiny, no-reservations spot on Houston Street that has been serving classic red-sauce fare for decades. The walls are covered with photos of the famous faces who have eaten here, and the food is straightforward and excellent. Walking in feels like stepping back in time.

Go for: The veal parmigiana, spaghetti and meatballs. Know before you go: They do not take reservations. Expect a line, especially on weekends.

Bamonte’s

Williamsburg · 32 Withers St · $$ WebsiteMap

Opened in 1900, Bamonte’s is a true Brooklyn time capsule. The decor has not changed much in decades, with phone booths still intact and waiters in tuxedos who have worked there for years. It is a pillar of the neighborhood, serving comforting, old-school Italian-American classics. A meal here is a visit to a different era of the city.

Go for: The ravioli, the stuffed artichokes, the sense of history. Know before you go: The vibe is richer and more memorable than any single dish.

Frank

East Village · 88 2nd Ave · $$ WebsiteMap

A beloved neighborhood institution that has been serving unpretentious, delicious Southern Italian food since 1998. The space is rustic and cozy, and the pastas are consistently excellent. Frank is the kind of reliable, satisfying spot that every neighborhood wishes it had, making it a perfect stop in our /east-village-guide.

Go for: The spaghetti al limone, the black kale Caesar salad. Know before you go: It is cash only, a detail that is part of its old-school charm.

Supper

East Village · 156 E 2nd St · $$ WebsiteMap

From the same team as Frank, Supper offers a slightly more expansive menu in a similarly lively, rustic room. It is known for its fantastic pastas and Northern Italian specialties. The place is perpetually busy, fueled by a loyal following that comes for the reliable cooking and boisterous atmosphere. It's one of the best spots for late night food in NYC.

Go for: The tagliatelle al ragu, the grilled polenta with mushrooms. Know before you go: Like its sibling Frank, it gets very crowded. Go on a weeknight to avoid the longest waits.

L’Artusi

West Village · 228 W 10th St · $$$ WebsiteMap

Open since 2008, L'Artusi has become a modern West Village classic, known for its superb Italian food, deep wine list, and beautiful, lively room. The crudo bar and the open kitchen add to the energy. While it feels contemporary, its staying power has made it an institution in its own right, and a must in any /west-village-guide. The team announced a second location in Midtown is planned for 2027.

Go for: The pastas, especially the carbonara, and the olive oil cake for dessert. Know before you go: Reservations on Resy are released two weeks in advance and disappear quickly, but the bar and chef's counter are held for walk-ins.

Pizza Plus

While New York has a world-class pizza scene that deserves its own guide, these spots are essential Italian restaurants that just happen to serve some of the city's best pies alongside excellent pastas and other dishes.

Rubirosa

Nolita · 235 Mulberry St · $$ WebsiteMap

Rubirosa is a family-run spot famous for its impossibly thin-crust pizzas, particularly the Tie-Dye pie with vodka sauce, tomato, pesto, and fresh mozzarella. But it is more than just a pizzeria. The handmade pastas and classic chicken parm are just as good, making it a complete, and completely wonderful, neighborhood Italian restaurant.

Go for: The Tie-Dye pizza, the vodka rigatoni. Know before you go: The wait can be very long. Put your name down and grab a drink nearby.

Lucali

Carroll Gardens · 575 Henry St · $$ WebsiteMap

There is no pizza in New York with a bigger reputation than the one at Mark Iacono’s Lucali. People line up hours before it opens for a chance to eat the simple, perfect pies, cooked in a beautiful brick oven. The menu is famously short: pizza and calzones. It is cash only, BYOB, and absolutely worth the effort.

Go for: A large plain pie, a pepperoni calzone. Know before you go: The line starts forming in the afternoon. Show up early, put your name on the list, and be prepared to wait.

Roberta’s

Bushwick · 261 Moore St · $$ WebsiteMap

Roberta's helped put Bushwick on the global culinary map when it opened in 2008. Housed in a cinderblock warehouse, it serves inventive wood-fired pizzas with clever names and top-tier ingredients. The pastas and vegetable dishes are also excellent, solidifying its status as more than just a pizza joint. It's a key part of our /bushwick-guide.

Go for: The Bee Sting pizza (with soppressata and honey), the $12 weekday Margherita lunch deal. Know before you go: The original Bushwick location has a sprawling, casual backyard that is great for groups.

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The Shout NY Take

The best Italian restaurants in New York are not stuck in the past. They are either honoring it with conviction, like Bamonte's, or thoughtfully reinventing it, like Misi. The scene is not a single story of red sauce or regional purism. It is a loud, ongoing argument about what Italian food can be, played out across candlelit dining rooms and crowded bar counters. Our advice is to listen to all of it.