The 22 best Italian restaurants in NYC

What is it? A visit to Rome's Roscioli is high on the travel itinerary, right up there with seeing the Colosseum and the Pantheon. So when this beloved family-owned destination made its first expansion outside the motherland to Soho, let's just say it became our number one spot to visit, too.

Why we love it: Before I made my way to Roscioli NYC for the first time, I did what a lot of people do: I scoured social media to gauge what people were saying. What came back was a lot of influencers calling out their cacio e pepe and carbonara as their favorites. I admit, I found their suggestions a bit, gulp, basic. But after a visit, I realized they were right on the money. Roscioli NYC is all about keeping it authentic, and that means small plates like sweetened melon slices cushioned with curls of aged prosciutto and pastas that always tip on the side al dente. In fact, the favorite of the evening went to the Burro e Parmigiano Francescana, where thick maccheroni noodles are tossed with an aged Parmigiano Vacche Rosse and so much butter that the sauce reads yellow.  

Time Out tip: You can easily come in for pasta and walk out with a box of the same stuff, as Roscioli functions as a delicatessen as well as a dining room. Shop a stockful of olive oils and aged vinegars as well as a selection of salumi and rare cheeses right behind the counter.

Address: 43 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012

Opening hours: Mon–Thu 5–10:45pm; Fri–Sun 11:30am–2pm, 5–11pm

What is it? Restaurateur Andrew Tarlow took on another borough last year, coming to Manhattan with a refined take on Italian.  

Why we love it: Tarlow's fondness for finding a good space to roost carries over to Borgo, where the dramatic curved ceilings and crackling fireplace have comfort on lock. But it is the food that seals the deal. The Focaccia Borgo (a take on a focaccia di recco from Liguria) should be at every table, as the incredibly thin bread is crispy at the edges and tears like a phyllo dough the closer you get to the center. Seasonal veggies shine, blackened in the oven or simply tossed in anchovy dressings that read incredibly light over salty. The beef-cheek pasta pie known as the Timballo di Anelletti is currently in the off-season, but we have a feeling that Borgo's Ravioli and Fettuccine will do you just as well. 

Time Out tip: The bar is still just as dreamy and available for walk-ins if you can't get a table. 

Address: 124 E 27th Street, New York, NY 10016

Opening hours: Lunch 11:30am–2:30pm; Aperitivo 2:30pm– 5:15pm; Dinner daily 5:15–10:30pm; Bar daily 11:30am–10:30pm

What is it? Silvia Barban's Fort Greene eatery keeps a cozy home for a date night or a catch-up with friends all over gloriously made pastas. 

Why we love it: After a recent redo, LaRina Pastificio & Vino spells a getaway to the coastline with breezy red and white cushions and gold sconces, while the flush of greenery that lies outback invites you to sit a spell with wine in hand. Her modern take on Italian food is just as transportative with crusty slices of sourdough and focaccia alongside imported cured meats and cheeses. Ever the creative, Barban's spaghetti strays from tradition, as the smoked noodle is tossed with a mess of garlic and Calabrian chilis. But in just one bite, you'll be ready to rebel too.

Time Out tip: Alert: LaRina has a lasagna club. Every month, Barban whips up a new take on her seasonal lasagna, layering in squash and brown-butter bechamel one month and shreddy lamb shoulder with peas the next. It all comes with accouterments to make it a meal, think breads, olive oil, and desserts. 

Address: 387 Myrtle Ave, Fort Greene, Brooklyn 11205

Opening hours: Dinner Mon–Thu 5–10pm; Fri, Sat 5–11pm; Sun 5–10pm; Brunch Sat, Sun noon–4pm; Lunch Sat, Sun noon–3:45pm; Dinner Mon-Thu 5–10pm, Fri, Sat 5–11pm, Sun 5–10pm

What is it? Rita Sodi and Jody Williams' thoughtful Tuscan cooking earned the powerhouse chef-couple a James Beard Award in 2019.

Why we love it: Some NYC restaurants with powerfully desirable beginnings settle into easygoing, every-night-type status after a few ‘best of’ seasons. However, Via Carota’s still a hot one even after opening in 2014—so much so that you might change your plans if you spy an open table en route elsewhere. Its endurance is due to menu items like the overflowing insalata verde, hand-chopped steak and subtly stunning pasta plates. 

Time Out tip: if you can't swing a spot inside the rustic interior, the outdoor terrazza out front is kind of the perfect hang in the warmer months for a spritz and a taste of something fresh. 

Address: 51 Grove St, New York, NY 10014

Opening hours: Mon–Thu 11am–11pm; Fri–Sun 10am–11pm

What is it? Missy Robbins' solo venture has proved to be her finest, as the award-winning restaurant is still the talk of the town for its intoxicating rolodex of pastas. 

Why we love it: Even with room for 70 inside and two strips of sidewalk seats outside, Lilia still gets packed almost a decade later by serving its area’s finest pasta program, the saffron thread-laced agnolotti being one of the tops. But whatever Robbins pulls from the wood-fired grill, be it the bass lashed with a bright salsa verde or the blowfish tails with cracked coriander pods, is bound to be a winner. Is it still hard to get in? Ish...as Lilia does save some spots for walk-ins, the bar and the seasonal outdoor patio included. But if you'd rather have a guaranteed table, you may have to play the Resy game, just a little bit, to get a seat.

Time Out tip: Lilia's greatness also overflows to its desserts, particularly the Italian Job, as a creamy swirl of soft serve glistens with glugs of a peppery olive oil, flaky salt and a sticky drizzle of honey.

Address: 567 Union Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Opening hours: Mon–Thu 5–10pm; Fri–Sun 4–10pm 

What is it? An alum of Osteria Francescana and of Massimo Bottura himself, chef Stefano Secchi continues the mastery of the art of water, eggs, and flour at his inaugural restaurant.

Why we love it: Rezdôra was bestowed with all manner of accolades when it first opened in 2019, and the awards keep coming as the restaurant has maintained a Michelin Star for four consecutive years. Its $110 regional pasta tasting is a terrific introduction to preparations influenced by the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, but lovely à la carte selections are available at lunch and dinner, as well.

Time Out tip: Keep in mind that the full table has to participate in the regional pasta tasting, and it runs for about two hours.

Address: 27 E 20th St, New York, NY 10003

Opening hours: Mon 5–11pm; Tue–Fri noon–2:30pm, 5–11pm; Sat, Sun 11:30am–2:30pm, 5–11pm

What is it? A Michelin-rated restaurant run by a wife and husband team. 

Why we love it: Don Angie was the buzziest in town when it first opened in 2017. The popular spot continues to have more interest in reservations than availability; one of those places you’ll need to electronically camp out for bookings at 9am a week in advance. Once you are in, take a spin of the stuffed garlic bread, tuna carpaccio and the pinwheel lasagna that helped it earn its following.

Time Out tip: If you can't get a table here, you can try your luck at their coastal Italian sister, San Sabino. 

Address: 103 Greenwich Ave, New York, NY 10014

Opening hours: Mon–Thu 4:30–10:30pm; Fri 3:30–10pm; Sat, Sun 11:30am–2 pm, 3:30–10:30pm

What is it? Chef Michael White rises again, this time in a certified stunner in midtown.

Why we love it: Chef Michael White has long made his mark on Italian food in New York City—Ai Fiori and Marea standing as prime examples on his resume. He's done so again at Santi, the handsome, chocolate-boothed, sultry review in midtown. He continues to showcase his travels across Italy and France on the plate, reminiscing by way of picturesque crudos, including citrus-cured razor clams to plump Montauk prawns with perfectly placed rounds of caviar. Naturally, there is an entire section of the menu dedicated to pasta, including a tagliatelle that swims with chunks of blue crab and bottarga. It's kind of a given, seeing as how Santi houses a separate kitchen solely dedicated to the art of flour and water. 

Time Out tip: If you can, save room for the millefoglie for dessert, a towering puff pastry that's binded together with mango yogurt sorbet and mousse. 

Address: 11 E 53rd St, New York, NY 10022 

Opening hours: Mon–Fri 11:30 am to 2:30 pm; Dinner Mon–Sat 5–10pm

What is it? Silvia Barban's take on a trattoria involves candlelit interiors, good wine and all manner of Italian comforts on the plate.

Why we love it: When Barban looked at the state of trattorias in New York, she found herself unsatisfied. Because for Barban, trattorias are less about what's trendy, but rather taking care of guests over "hearty, comforting meals prepared with love." And Barban does exactly that, feeding guests slices of melon and prosciutto strips and personally plating up domes of rice that spill with all things cheesy and meaty at the table. The availability of good wines and spritzes only adds to the hospitality, as does the comically-sized dessert cart. It is common to find Barban navigating the wheels, doling out slices of pistachio cakes and tiramisus in silver chalices.

Time Out tip: If you happen to book the last seating on Tuesdays and Wednesday nights, you can learn how to play the Italian card game the restaurant was named for. 

Address: 798A Franklin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11238

Opening hours: Mon–Thu 5:30–9:30pm; Fri: 5–10:30pm; Sat noon–10:30pm; Sun noon–9:30pm

What is it? From award-winning chef Andrew Carmellini, Café Carmellini embodies the chef's story, served up in a fine-dining package straight out of the Gilded Age. And as fine as it is, stunning us with circular chandeliers and a garden motif in the middle of it all, the restaurant is more casual than it seems. Meaning you can leave your suit jacket at home.  

Why we love it: Café Carmellini isn't exactly married to Italian cuisine, as its menu of oysters à la pomme and delicately stacked mille-feuille flirts rather hard with the French. But the restaurant stands as an amalgamation of chef Andrew Carmellini's story, and that story has a Tuscan thread. Find it in expertly made pastas and the beef brasato ‘classico,’ featuring hunks of medium-rare beef and a sticky short rib braised in a deep red wine reduction. 

Time Out tip: Chef Carmellini also has a thing for setting things on fire, particularly his dessert, be it the cherries jubilee or the sticky toffee pudding, which is nice and drenched in bourbon. Be like Carmellini and order it. 

Address: 250 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10001

Opening hours: Mon–Fri 7–11am, 11:45–2pm, 5–10pm; Sat, Sun 7–11am, 11:30am–2:30pm; 5–10pm

What is it? A restaurant that defines the neighborhood genre from "The Franks" behind Frankie's 457 and F&F Pizzeria.

Why we love it: Though it has only been on the scene since 2024, F&F Restaurant and Bar has that certain lived-in quality that we can't help but like. Its gold-tinned ceilings and soft globe-light fixtures that illuminate its rustic dining room make it easy to post up for date night or somewhere to bring the parents. The food fits the bill just as well as you can find pizzas topped with bouncy bits of clams and sweet strips of Jimmy Nardello peppers, or simply twirl up a few pastas, the lemon-y shrimp scampi-like spaghetti most definitely included. 

Time Out tip: Eating in the main dining room? It is hard to miss the long wooden table that sits in the middle of it, particularly as it commonly sports a burnt Basque cheesecake. Finish the meal right and split a slice. 

Address: 465 Court St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Opening hours: Wed, Thu 5-10pm; Fri, Sat 2-11pm; Sun 2-9pm

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What is it? A rustic neighborhood trattoria run by a beloved husband and wife team. 

Why we love it: Aspiring restaurateurs in Park Slope should study this convivial Fifth Avenue staple before their own ribbon-cutting ceremonies. Though it opened in 1998, Al di Là remains unsurpassed in the neighborhood. Excellent Northern Italian plates include the tagliatelle ragu, black spaghetti with octopus ragu and the braised rabbit. 

Time Out tip: Naturally, there are pasta dishes every which way here. We are partial to the clam-heavy Spaghetti Vongole with a nice zip of heat. 

Address: 248 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Opening hours: Mon–Thu 5–9:30pm; Fri, Sat 5-10pm

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What is it? Rita Sodi's Italian food continues to triumph in its simplicity at I Sodi. 

Why we love it: I Sodi first opened with Tuscan-influenced menus in the West Village in 2008. Its status as an NYC favorite is evident in the wait for reservations, even as it relocated to a slightly larger space nearby. Burrata, lasagna, chicken, chops and steak are all on the menu.

Time Out tip: I Sodi's sturdy block of lasagna, 20 or sheets high, is tightly layered with swipes of bolognese and bechamel, all with a crown of Parmigiano that makes for a must-order dish. 

Address: 314 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014

Opening hours: Daily 4:30–10:30pm; Fri–Sun 11:30am–2:30pm; 5–11pm

What is it? A buzy Nolita gem that's churning out gluten-free eats and 'grammable pies.

Why we love it: Follow the red-and-white striped awning on Mulberry Street into Rubirosa’s family-run space downtown. It's as cute as a commemorative plate inside, but the dinnerware here is occupied by crowd-pleasing lists of antipasti, fritti, handmade pasta, panini, all manner of pizza configurations, and a few familiar red sauce mains. Mind you, this is a popular space and crowds have a tendency to gather during the weekends. So plan accordingly. 

Time Out tip: Rubirosa has a surprisingly stellar line-up of vegan, nut-free, and gluten-free dishes, making it ideal for anyone with dietary restrictions.

Address: 235 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10012

Opening hours: Daily 11am–11pm

What is it? A glitzy Godfather-like hangout that's created a mob-like following for its spicy rigatoni pasta. 

Why we love it: Carbone is surely one of the most hyped places in NYC, shrouded in a certain secrecy thanks to red curtains and a reservation list that won't quite quit. But once you finally make it past the threshold, you are kind of guaranteed to have a good time at this updated red sauce joint. Burgundy-suited servers drop plump meatballs and bowls of the iconic spicy rigatoni onto tables with swiftness and a smile. Freebies also come with, such as freshly made mozzarella and crispy-edged slices of garlic bread. Which is kind of a nice bump as the prices here can induce a sort of sticker shock.

Time Out tip: You may think the desserts lean into gimmicky territory, especially with the oversized dessert display parked near the front. But the finale is a nice finish, particularly the Lemon Cheesecake. 

Address: 181 Thompson St, New York, 10012

Opening hours: Tue–Sun 11:30am–2pm; Mon–Sun 5–11:30pm

What is it? A self-billed "unusual Italian restaurant" where Negroni jello shots and dim sum muffaletta are the norm. 

Why we love it: Café Mars is a splashy, colorful house of fun, both in looks and the food department. You’ll sip a little splash of something presented with fancy glassware, as a welcome drink and choose from unique starters like jell-olives, pastas like baked potato gnocchi and large plates like the great smoked pork rib Parm.

Time Out tip: The restaurant's monthly Global Italian Series traverses the planet, picking up flavors and making it Italian-ish. Past iterations have included ravioli bursting with the makings of a crawfish boil and injera fashioned into manicotti. Check it out on the last Saturday and Sunday of the month. 

Address: 272 3rd Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Opening hours: Wed–Sat 5:30–9pm; Sun 11:30am–3pm

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What is it? A pint-sized neighborhood eatery—seriously, there are only six seats—where the pasta is fresh and the feeling is homey. 

Why we love it: This neighborhood favorite started as a cafe and grew into a hot dinner spot a few years ago. It still attracts crowds for its smattering of tables, despite the lack of booze and bathrooms. Lillo’s lasagna ragu is better than grandmom used to make; it's ideally textured, and sauced meatballs are marvelous, and its fettuccine with speck in Parmesan cream sauce is almost too rich to lodge in your memory fully. 

Time Out tip: They are still kicking it old school here, meaning they don't take reservations or credit cards. But most pastas here stay under the $20 mark, making for a relatively cheap feast in the city. 

Address: 331 Henry St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Opening hours: Wed 2–8:15pm; Thu–Sat 12:30pm–8:15pm; Sun 12:30pm–8pm

What is it? A cozy string-lit find in Brooklyn Heights for antipasti, pasta and the likes. 

Why we love it: Like a lot of ultimately rewarding pursuits, Noodle Pudding is not easy to achieve: It does not take credit cards or reservations for smaller parties. But if you gather your cash and prepare for the wait (or book for a group!), wonderful rice balls, carpaccio and pasta varieties await. 

Time Out tip: Even without access to Resy or OpenTable, Noodle Pudding is relatively easy to get into, with an average wait of about 20 minutes.

Address: 38 Henry St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Opening hours: Tue–Sun 5–10pm

What is it? An old-timey southern Italian restaurant that does up the classics with charm. 

Why we love it: Emilio's is a special place with an intoxicating appeal and a kind of throwback romance dating back to 1956. Its distressed walls are tightly arranged with framed prints illuminated by pretty chandeliers and perfunctory sconces that seem to sum up the spot's duality. Expect a huge veal parm, sausage and broccoli rabe, plenty of pasta and, since they don't take reservations, a wait.

Time Out tip: Maybe we spoke too soon, but Emilio’s Ballato does take reservations if, and only if, you have a large group. 

Address: 55 E Houston St, New York, NY 10012

Opening hours: Mon–Thu noon–4pm, 5–11pm; Fri–Sun noon–4pm, 5pm–midnight

What is it? One of New York's oldest Italian restaurants still stands in Williamsburg. 

Why we love it: Bamonte's is an NYC classic that every red sauce-lover should visit at least once. It first opened in 1900 and still retains a lot of old-world appeal; the platonic ideal of a vintage Brooklyn Italian restaurant with all the menu items to match. You'll find the classics here—clams on the half shell, fresh mozzarella with tomato slices, and mushrooms stuffed to the brim before reaching the broiler. They do their chicken parm up here nicely with two cutlets that make for a shareable feast.

Time Out tip: Need a reservation? You'll need to pick up the phone for that one. 

Address: 32 Withers St, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Opening hours: Wed–Sun noon–11pm

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What is it? Hailing from Salerno, Italy, Roberto Paciullo cooks up fresh pastas, seafood, and then some.

Why we love it: A capital of Little Italy in the Bronx, Roberto’s has been delighting and satisfying guests for three decades. Its exterior sets the stage for homey vibes inside, where the lengthy menu includes oodles of noodles, plenty of seafood, steak, rabbit and eggplant parm. 

Time Out tip: There is a whiteboard with weekly specials from fettuccine with black truffle shavings to grilled cantaloupe with prosciutto. Take a peek and order something new. 

Address: 603 Crescent Ave, Bronx, NY 10458

Opening hours: Tue–Fri noon–2:30pm, 5–10pm; Sat noon–2:30pm, 4–11pm

What is it? Established in 1921, Basilio Inn is one of the oldest operating restaurants in Staten Island. 

Why we love it: Over a hundred years later, Basilio Inn still retains its old charms, with little neck clams and homemade veal ragu pappardelle. Don't forget an order of the house-made tiramisu on your way out. 

Time Out tip: There is still a bocce court out back and the restaurant regularly hosts tournaments. 

Address: 6 Galesville Ct, Staten Island, NY 10305

Opening hours: Tue–Sat 3–10pm; Sun 1–8pm