New York, NY

restaurants

Malatesta Trattoria

Malatesta is also cheap, which is especially appealing given its West Village location. Start with the burrata, and get the spinach gnocchi as your entrée; it's the best pasta on the menu.

New York, NY

restaurants

San Marzano

San Marzano is best known because it's a cheap, solid option for pasta and sangria. A pitcher of sangria is only $15, and it's a great paring with Italian food. Pastas are made by choosing a shape and a sauce, making it a personalized experience every time you go. Pasta is also only $9 - again, this is a cheap and great go to for an Italian fix.

New York, NY

restaurants

Rosemary's

Rosemary's is an ideal date spot. The bar is large and has great standing tables, and the dining area is also spacious for those who want to grab a bite. The restaurant is also filled with string lights, making for a cute and warm atmosphere. Their selection of foccacias is outstanding, and all are great, as are their pastas. The cocktails are also diverse and delicious. Down the street is Rosemary's Pizza, for those who'd rather get pizza on their plate, and it's also great.

New York, NY

restaurants

Barbuto

Barbuto is most known for their "Pollo al forno," and while I don't usually get a meat dish at an Italian restaurant, it's amazing. It's crispy and flavorful, and is a great thing to share. Their squash gnocchi is also a highlight. It comes with spinach, hazelnuts, parmesancherry tomato, and corn. For a salad, choose their "Insalata di Cavola." It's cheese and breadcrumbs on top of kale, and it's a great way to feel healthy while gobbling down pasta.

New York, NY

restaurants

L'Artusi

L'Artusi is known as one of the best Italian restaurants in the city. If you sit at the counter instead of one of the tables, the kitchen is likely to pass you free small bites to try. The gnocchi with rabbit is amazing, as is the orecchiette with sausage, salumi, and pecorino.

Brooklyn, NY

restaurants

Lilia

Lilia is another classic favorite, located in Williamsburg. You'll need to make a reservation a month in advance, but the trick is that once you go, you can make another reservation for the following month in person. Start with the "Cacio e Pepe Fritelle"- these are like arancini filled with cacio e pepe, and are delicious. TThen, get multiple pastas. The malfaldini with pink peppercorn is their most popular dish, and is creamy and simple. The sheeps milk cheese filled agnolotti and rigatoni diavola are also options you should have on your table. Lilia also makes their own soft serve ice cream, and you can top it with a variety of toppings to make for a very satisfying end to the meal.

New York, NY

restaurants

Lil' Frankie's

Lil Frankie's tops the list of both general Italian food and pizza. This is the best of all the restaurants in this group (also including Frank, Supper and Sauce), and serves unbeatable pizza and pasta. The best recommendation: get a pasta and a pizza between two and split. The best pastas are the "Spaghetti Limone" (simple, but so buttery and flavorful) and the "Mezzi Rigatoni Polpettini Ragu" (baby meatballs in ragu).

New York, NY

restaurants

Piccola Cucina Osteria Siciliana

There are three Piccola Cucina locations, but the Enoteca is the best (located at 184 Prince Street). Not only are the pastas great, but they serve itin the pan they cook it in, making for a unique pasta eating experience. The waiters are also authentically Italian, and if it's your birthday, the entire waitstaff sings loudly, flashes the lights, and makes the entire restaurant get involved. It's a fun and lively atmosphere that's perfect for catching up with a friend or a date. The orecchiette with shrimp comes in a delicious orange sauce, and is one of the best pastas they have.

New York, NY

restaurants

Bar Pitti

Bar Pitti is well known, but still one of the best in the city. It's authentic and homey, with Italian waiters and a specials menu written on a chalk board and passed around throughout the restaurant, with a good amount of outdoor seating that makes for a great people watching spot along 6th Avenue. You should start with the burrata on your table. The pastas are all incredible, but two highlights are the famous Rigatoni Pitti (rigatoni with turkey sausage, peas, cream, tomatoes and parmigiano) and the Pappardelle Alla Fiesolana (pappardelle with smoked bacon, cream, tomatoes and parmigiano).

New York, NY

restaurants

Cotenna

Cotenna is a tiny, hidden spot in the West Village with a red door and dark, date-like atmosphere. It features small plates and pastas, and you should have many of both. The meatballs and goat cheese are two great appetizers, but the real highlight is the black truffle gnocchi. It's a pasta special that they always have, and it's the best gnocchi in NYC. This group