The 10 best restaurants in the West Village right now

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What is it? This shiny new steakhouse opened in the former home of Chumley’s, the infamous pub at 86 Bedford. (Rumor has it that the restaurant phrase “86” comes from a late night when a drunken guest was shown the door.) In the 50s, the seats at 86 Bedford were occupied by Beat poets and bohemians who barely had two pennies to rub together; today, you can order a $27 “colossal shrimp cocktail” and a dry-aged Delmonico ribeye. 

Why we love it: The latest spot from Catch Hospitality Group has a purposefully approachable, crowd-pleasing menu stacked with faves like cheesesteak with pickled chili pepper and alpine cheese, a whole roasted lobster with peppery lemon butter and crispy potato croquettes served with French onion cream (otherwise known as chips and dip). Everything goes down easy, despite the difficulty you might have getting a table. 

Time Out tip: If it’s anything like the group’s Corner Store, reservations will be nearly impossible to come by. Instead, elbow your way to the bar with a cocktail made with sourdough, butter and fleur de sel or an espresso martini to keep you buzzing until a two-top magically opens up.

Address: 86 Bedford St, New York 10014

Opening hours: Tue–Sat 5–10pm 

Expect to pay: Meat entrees start at $38; lobster and duck are market price

What is it: This stylish West Village debut from Georgian restaurateur Gurami Oniani serves polished takes on the country’s classics, including khachapuri—crusty, flaky, satisfying cheese-filled bread—and khinkali, meaty dumplings that arrive with a distinctive twist on the top of their dough. The intimate space, with its communal table and stacked wine shelving, might feel more like a high-end gallery than a cozy dumpling house, but the focus on traditional techniques still makes it feel like home. 

Why we love it: Oniani operates a Georgian restaurant empire in Tbilisi and Moscow, and here in NYC, his expertise is evident. Order the showstopping Mother Khinkali (a giant dumpling sliced open tableside to reveal her regular-sized dumpling sextuplets), or go for the more understated imeruli khachapuri, its cheese scented with mint. 

Time Out tip: The extensive Georgian wine list is full of delights—Georgia is, after all, the birthplace of wine, where winemakers have been hard at work for some 8,000 years. Ask your server to guide you towards an interesting amber bottle, a skin contact wine that features flavors of fruit, honey and earth. 

Opening hours: Sun–Wed noon–10pm; Thu–Sat noon–10:30pm

Address: 80 Carmine St, New York, 10014

Expect to pay: Khachapuris start at $24; the Mother Khinkali is $35

What is it: A new taverna from the team behind Ernesto’s brings old-world Madrid deep beneath the streets of Manhattan. Chef Ryan Bartlow draws on years of experience cooking in Spain to create a moody, transportive spot with low ceilings and an intimate six-seat bar. Two distinct dining rooms with stone, terrazzo and warm wood make for a romantic spot to share your tapas. Split a few small plates like Iberico ham or chilled salmarejo, then move on to tripe, Spanish salt cod, or filet mignon served with foie gras. 

Why we love it: An entirely Spanish wine list (save for Champagne, in case you’re in the mood for a toast) pairs with patatas fritas and red wine braised oxtail. Don’t miss the tocino de ceilo for dessert—this “heavenly bacon” is sweet, rich and sticky with egg yolks and sugar. 

Time Out tip: If you’re coming with a larger group, preorder the suckling pig or lamb. These showstopping dishes need (two weeks!) advance notice, but they’re the most memorable way to experience Bartolo’s tavern spirit. 

Address: 133 Greenwich Ave, New York, NY 10014

Opening hours: Sun, Mon 5-10pm; Thu–Sat 5-11pm

What is it? The soulful Italian plates served at Via Carota, the first joint effort from chef power couple Jody Williams and Rita Sodi, are rustic, sophisticated and heart‑swelling, proving simple food can—and should be—anything but basic. 

Why we love it: The glass‑fronted Grove Street gastroteca (named after the Tuscan thoroughfare where Sodi once lived) is an olive’s throw from West Village charmers Buvette and I Sodi, where Williams and Sodi took the reins as downtown’s doyennes of comfort food done excellently. There’s always a wait (even if you get there early, expect to see a line snaking down the block), so don’t show up too hungry. By the time you get a table, you’ll be ready to eat—and when you leave, you’ll be completely satisfied. 

Time Out tip: Go for the pasta, where Rita Sodi shines. Even if you’re in the mood for a leafy, vibrantly dressed salad or a whole branzino baked in salt, make sure to order a big bowl of cacio e pepe and Meyer lemon risotto for the table. 

Address: 51 Grove St, New York, NY 10014

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

Expect to pay: Pastas start at $26; meat entrees start at $29

What is it? Chefs Angie Rito of Torrisi Italian Specialties and Scott Tacinelli of Quality Meats turn out modern Italian-American plates at this small, long-beloved corner trattoria in the Village. Lit by warm globe lights and candles, the romantic restaurant serves inventive plates like decadent veal “de pepi” and sourdough pasta with ‘nduja and olives alongside Campari- and Cocchi-based cocktails. 

Why we love it: This is a menu that’s meant to be shared with someone you love. With snacks “For the Table” (featuring fragrant stuffed garlic flatbread and salami and cheese served with Sicilian honey) and a “Lasagna for Two” made with Italian sausage bolognese and whipped robiolina, it’s one of our favorite places to bring a date or your family in town for a visit. 

Time Out tip: While Don Angie opened up in the West Village way back in the old days of 2017, snagging a table is still as difficult as when they first opened. If you’re going for dinner without a reservation, head for the bar, which is reserved for walk-ins. You’re more likely than not to find yourself with a seat. 

Address: 103 Greenwich Ave, New York, NY 10014

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

Expect to pay: Pastas start at $27; entrees start at $34

What is it? The Unapologetic Foods crew is all about bringing regional Indian food to New York City. At Semma, chef Vijay Kumar takes diners on a journey through his upbringing in South India. The wonderfully crunchy gunpowder dosa, a rice and lentil crepe with potato masala and sambar,  should always find its way to your table, along with Mulaikattiya Thaniyam, a dish of sprouted mung beans with coconut and smoked chili that calls back to Chef Kumar's childhood in Tamil.

Why we love it: Semma’s Michelin star is well-deserved, with a menu that takes you through some of the South Indian dishes that are harder to find even in NYC’s rich Indian dining scene. The intimate space feels like you’re eating in someone’s home kitchen—and getting a reservation, which is released two weeks in advance, feels like scoring an invitation to the best dinner party ever. 

Time Out tip: Call ahead to order the kanyakumari nandu nasala for two—this $145 dish of silky Dungeness crab, parotta and coconut rice has limited availability, but you’ll be guaranteed a taste if you place your pre-order. (Plus, you’ll really impress your date with your ability to plan for the future.) 

Address: 60 Greenwich Ave, New York, NY 10014

Opening hours: Mon–Sat 5pm–10pm

Expect to pay: “Small” dishes start at $12; “large” dishes start at $31

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What is it? Over the past decade, Jody Williams has established a serious food industry following. At the tiny, Gallic‑themed Buvette, she's got just enough space to feed her neighborhood following, plus everyone who’s trekked out to wait for a table. Her self‑consciously simple cooking is a showcase of her very good taste. (And it tastes very good, too.) Buvette’s dining room is a space so warm and inviting, you might pop in for a glass of wine and a snack only to discover three hours later that you've stayed for dinner.

Why we love it: French food that recalls a real Parisian cafe and a nearly always open (and nearly always crowded) room makes for a cozy, charming answer to “Where should we eat?” The menu’s as tight as the space, with croque monsieurs available at all hours of the day. Slice into the cheesy, salty toast and let yourself be transported from the West Village to Les Marais. 

Time Out tip: If you don’t feel like elbowing your way through a meal, stop by at an odd hour to grab something from the breakfast menu. The chef’s recommendation is to pair every meal with a bottle of Champagne—and who are we to go against her wishes? 

Address: 42 Grove St, New York, NY 10014

Opening hours: Daily 8am–midnight

Expect to pay: Les croques are $18; dinner entrees start at $22

What is it? You may have seen Daisuke Nakazawan toiling over egg custard as the modest apprentice in the film Jiro Dreams of Sushi, being humbled by the rigors of an 11-year stint under the world’s most distinguished sushi chef, Jiro Ono. The pupil has become the teacher at this sleek West Village sushi bar, all done up in chic West Village black. For his daily changing omakase, Nakazawa serves up twenty or so courses of nigiri (that’s seafood served over rice, Edo-style). 

Why we love it: Although there are seemingly endless omakase menus to choose from in NYC, we just keep on coming back here. First opened in 2013, the Michelin-starred Sushi Nakazawa remains a standout for its elegant simplicity and celebration-worthy vibes. They source their fish and shellfish from around the world, with a special focus on the freshest possible foods straight from Japan. 

Time Out tip: Book the sushi counter for a front-row view of the omakase action, or save thirty bucks a pop and have the exact same meal brought to you in the dining room. 

Opening hours: Daily, 11:30am–2pm; 5–10 pm

Address: 23 Commerce St, New York, NY 10014

Expect to pay: Omakase starts at $160 per person 

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What is it? King feels a bit like London's River Café—a landmark restaurant known for its seasonal Italian fare—in the front and back of the house. In the kitchen, River Café alums and chefs Clare de Boer and Jess Shadbolt focus on cooking that's not overly precious: a vegetable-heavy menu complements the meat and fish courses, and you'd be just as happy with a salad as you would with the baked fish. The carta di musica, a crackly flatbread, is also irresistible to snack on while you wait for your entrees. The simply designed space is filled with natural light during the day, and at dinner, the white tablecloths are ever-so-sophisticated. 

Why we love it: The menu changes every day, so you never know what seasonal, simple dish your meal will bring. Check the website, which they update daily—a recent menu included Montauk tuna crudo, duck confit with mission figs and half of a roast chicken served with watercress and salsa verde.

Time Out tip: Start your meal with one of their well-executed cocktails (the Strega Nona, made with herbal liquor, espresso and tonic, is a fall fave), then move on to their excellent wine list. 

Opening hours: Mon 5–10pm; Tue–Thu 8–11am, 5–10pm; Friday 8–11am, noon–10pm; Sat 8–11am, noon–3pm, 5–10pm; Sun noon–3pm, 5–10pm

Address: 18 King St, New York, NY 10014

Expect to pay: Appetizers start around $25; entrees start around $45

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What is it? This vibey Thai spot from the Fish Cheeks team has an intimate, late-night feel. Big horseshoe-shaped booths are perfect for canoodling (you might even catch some celebs doing just that), and the neon light in the window casts a warm red glow, like a scarf thrown over a lamp to invite mystery and romance. 

Why we love it: The food, which takes its inspiration from Bangkok’s famous street eats, is eminently photographable and even more fun when shared. Order luxurious truffle, uni, foie gras and tongue, and pair them with a smoky cocktail like the Charred Pina with rye, charred pineapple and bergamot to toast to that exclusive, just-for-us supper club feeling. 

Time Out tip: This might be one of the best spots in the Village to throw your birthday party (or your pre-birthday party, since you’re definitely going to want to go out after). Grab some friends, order a whole bunch of dishes to share or the tasting menu, and see if you can get invited to the club by your new pals in the booth behind you. 

Address: 641 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014

Opening hours: Mon–Thu 4–10:30pm; Fri, Sat 4–11pm

Expect to pay: The “kitchen counter tasting” menu is priced at $150 a person