Of the many things New York is popular for, it is safe to say that the city takes pride in offering, arguably, the best Italian food outside of Italy.
From popular neighborhood pizza parlors to fancy fine-dining ristorantes with authentic savory wine pairings, New York City captures the essence of Italian cuisine in every way possible.
Below we’ve compiled the best Italian restaurants in NYC you gotta eat at:
1. Faro
Faro is Brooklyn’s neighborhood restaurant serving Italian-American cuisine since 2015. The restaurant focuses on handmade pasta using local grains, and their wood burning oven highlights the best flavors from their seasonal dishes. Operating in a renovated warehouse, the place is rustic, casual, and welcoming.
Their Sourdough Focaccia is the best item to start your meal with; it’s so delicious!
The Squid Ink Spaghetti at Faro is everyone’s favorite. While the pasta has a small hint of the sea in its flavor, the actual hero of the dish is the olive oil cured skate wing – a meaty fish that melts in your mouth, and you also get an enjoyable crunch and nuttiness from the pumpkin seed pangrattato.
The Bucatini comes with fresh handmade pasta, cooked to al-dente perfection; the chicken is beautifully confited and is juicy and tender, and there is a slight kick from the chili flakes.
What to order: Sourdough Focaccia, Squid Ink Spaghetti, Bucatini
Address: 436 Jefferson Street, Brooklyn, NY 11237
2. Lilia
Lilia is a casual Williamsburg dining spot where handcrafted pastas, wood-fired seafood, and classic Italian cocktails work together to give you a memorable dining experience. The restaurant celebrates soulful cooking with simple ingredients, and the atmosphere here is warm and exuberant.
One of Lilia’s signature pasta dishes is Mafaldini. A flat, ribbon-shaped pasta, made fresh in-house, tossed with pink peppercorn and finished with parmigiano to create this simple and delicately flavored dish.
The Agnolotti here will leave you dreaming of it for years to come! The filling inside the pasta pillows is sheep’s milk cheese, which covers your mouth with a subtle flavor and creaminess as soon as you pop one in. The addition of saffron and honey adds a rich, musky, and semi-sweet flavor to the dish.
Their Grilled Clams and Grilled Scallops are both unique and delicious in their own right.
What to order: Mafaldini, Sheeps Milk Cheese Filled Agnolotti, Grilled Clams, Grilled Scallops, Olive Oil Cake
Address: 567 Union Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11222
3. Dominick’s
Constantly rated as one of the top Italian restaurants in NYC, Dominick’s is the place to go if you wish to experience Italy from The Bronx. With people sitting family-style and placing their orders from their memory rather than looking at the menu, you instantly know this place is legit and from a different era!
The Baked Clams here are 5/5. You get 12 pieces, large and plump ones, that are perfectly baked with herby and garlicky breadcrumbs. Mouth-watering and delicious!
Dominick’s Chicken Parmigiana is a grand dish, not just in size but also in flavor. You get a huge portion of juicy and tender chicken topped with fresh, melted parmesan cheese, and served on a bed of perfectly cooked linguine covered in a delicious tomato sauce that balances the richness of the chicken parm.
The Stuffed Artichoke comes well-baked, with lots of sauce to dip your bread in, and the addition of soppressata (Italian dry salami) adds so much flavor to the dish.
What to order: Baked Clams, Chicken Parmigiana, Stuffed Artichoke
Address: 2335 Arthur Avenue, The Bronx, NY 10458
4. Roberto’s
Roberto’s is a renowned favorite that has been around for more than two decades, serving Italian American food. With a bright facade, candle-lit tables, and a carved wood bar, this place is ideal for a romantic meal as it is for a meal with friends.
Barbabietole e Burrata – you can taste the freshness of the burrata cheese, which complements the lightness of the red and yellow beets. The balsamic drizzle adds a sweet and tangy flavor to the dish.
Orecchiette con Polipo e fave – small ear-shaped orecchiette pasta cooked to perfection with fava beans, clams, and grilled octopus. The octopus is crispy on the outside, tender, extremely succulent, and also has a slight smoky flavor.
Costata di Vitello – this is veal chop parmigiana, with tender and moist meat, perfectly crusted and crispy exterior, well-balanced tomato sauce, and gooey and stringy melted mozzarella on top. Pure indulgence!
What to order: Barbabietole e Burrata, Orecchiette con Polipo e fave, Costata di Vitello
Address: 603 Crescent Avenue, The Bronx, NY 10458
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5. Rezdôra
Located in the Flatiron district, Rezdôra is an upscale Italian restaurant with a menu referencing the exquisite cuisine of Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, centered around house-made pasta, and other traditionally prepared food. This is a low-key spot with a cheerful atmosphere, where you can pair your meal with Northern Italian wines.
Grandma Walking Through Forest in Emilia (yes, that’s the name of the dish!) is a rustic and earthy dish you’ll enjoy. It has ring-shaped cappelletti pasta, infused with spinach and cooked with a creamy and zesty cheese filling. The black mushroom puree on the side delivers a big flavor.
The Uovo Raviolo di Nino Bergese is a must-try here. The raviolo is large, with a herby and creamy ricotta filling along with an egg yolk that just oozes out when you cut into the pasta. The yolk blends well with the truffle shavings and the sweet brown butter sauce, making this an ethereal pasta dish.
End your meal on a high note with Rezdôra’s famous Tiramisu, which could easily be one of the best you’ve ever tried.
What to order: Grandma Walking Through Forest in Emilia, Uovo Raviolo di Nino Bergese, Tiramisu
Address: 27 East 20th Street, New York, NY 10003
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6. L’Artusi
A bi-level Italian restaurant, L’Artusi, presents a modern take on traditional Italian cuisine, combining comfort food and creativity. With an exclusive cheese bar, an extended traditional bar, a chef’s counter overlooking the open kitchen, and a covered and heated patio, this place caters to all types of crowd.
If you like your pasta classic and simple, go for the Spaghetti. Tossed in garlic and chiles, and topped with parmigiano, this is good Italian food at its classic best.
The Roasted Mushrooms is a widely acclaimed dish, which doesn’t fail to deliver. The combination of nicely roasted mushrooms with shaved ricotta, and a fried egg on top is fantastic, and the addition of pancetta brings in a distinct meaty flavor.
Their Olive Oil Cake is a divine invention! It has a pleasant fruity flavor, moist, and tastes out of this world when eaten with the raisins and crème fraîche mousse offered on the side.
What to order: Spaghetti, Roasted Mushrooms, Olive Oil Cake
Address: 228 West 10th Street, New York, NY 10014
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7. Via Della Pace
One of Lower East Side’s hidden gems, Via Della Pace is all about authentic food, great music, and friendly service. With elegant floor-to-ceiling windows that offer a great view of the neighborhood, this is a great spot for family dinners as well as date nights.
The Friulana bruschetta is an interesting appetizer; it is your standard bruschetta taken up a notch, with light tuna, crisp mustard, and fresh avocado.
Ravioli D’Aragosta has pillows of fresh pasta swimming in a super delicious pink vodka sauce. You get to taste small chunks of lobster in every bite, and the sauce is rich, creamy, silky, and luxurious on the tongue.
Another yum pasta dish you shouldn’t miss here is Rigatoni Del Pirata. The sausage contributes a little bit of spice and saltiness to the dish, and the pink rum sauce has layers of flavor built in. And of course, every bite you take will be cheesy goodness.
The Pannacotta here comes covered with strawberry marmalade and is an absolute delight.
What to order: Friulana, Ravioli D’Aragosta, Rigatoni Del Pirata, Pannacotta
Address: 87 E 4th Street, New York, NY 10003
8. Carbone
An Italian-American Michelin star restaurant, Carbone, became popular for its spicy rigatoni and celebrity customers. With rich, dark-colored interiors, and a mid-century-style bar, the vibe inside is cozy and intimate, perfect for romantic date nights.
Spicy Rigatoni Vodka is more likely the first dish that everyone orders at Carbone; after all, it is the dish the restaurant is popular for. The pasta is noticeably al-dente, and the sauce is thick, rich, and creamy without being overpowering. Yes, there is a spicy kick that occupies your mouth after each bite but the heat is enjoyable.
The Veal Parmesan is another standout dish, which has a perfectly seasoned, soft, and juicy veal, yummy tomato sauce, and loads of mozzarella on top.
If you order Assorted Baked Clams, you get three different versions of clams – classic oreganata, a uni-topped version, and clams casino.
Of the three, the most impressive, we would say, is the clams casino version. The clams are very meaty and juicy with a spicy and smoky flavor, and the evenly crunchy top layer makes every bite even more satisfying.
What to order: Spicy Rigatoni Vodka, Veal Parmesan, Assorted Baked Clams
Address: 181 Thompson Street, New York, NY 10012
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9. Ferdinando’s Focacceria
Established in 1904 and one of the longest running Italian restaurants in New York, Ferdinando’s Focacceria is an absolute jewel that specializes in authentic Sicilian dishes. Surrounded by rustic brick walls, historic photos of Sicily, and rickety tables, this place takes you back in time, full of pleasant nostalgia.
One authentic Sicilian specialty that Ferdinando’s is popular for is the Panelle Special. Panelle are deep-fried Sicilian fritters made with chickpea flour – they are thin, crispy, and well-seasoned. The fritters are then topped with ricotta and grated cheese and sandwiched between a homemade roll to make a hearty, delicious sandwich.
Arancina is an iconic dish that is worth trying at least once. This is a huge rice ball, lavishly stuffed with ground beef, peas, and sauce.
They also offer a cheesy version of this dish – Arancina Special – the stuffed rice ball comes topped with ricotta and covered with tomato sauce and more cheese.
Pasta Con Sarde – yet another special pasta (bucatini) dish with a special luscious sauce made with sardines, wild fennel, raisin, pine nuts, and spices. It tastes so good, you won’t stop without licking your plate clean!
What to order: Panelle, Panelle Special, Arancina, Arancina Special, Pasta Con Sarde
Address: 151 Union Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231
10. Charlie Bird
A Soho must-visit, Charlie Bird, is popular for having a bomb-ass Italian menu and the best old-school hip-hop playlist in town. This place is stylish in every way— from the interiors to the food to customers that dress to impress. If you want to fully experience the city that never sleeps, Charlie Bird is the place to be.
An outstanding dish that may convince you to become vegetarian, Charlie Bird’s Farro Salad is your next addiction. The bits of pistachio elevate the dish’s flavor. If the world is ending, the only thing you’ll want to eat in the last few minutes will be this.
Cooked perfectly al dente with just the right amounts of black pepper and pecorino cheese, Cacio E Pepe will make you feel like you’re back in Rome even if you’ve never been there. This one is just off-the-charts good.
What to order: Farro Salad, Spaghetti Cacio E Pepe
Address: 5 King St, New York, NY 10012
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11. Famous Ben’s Pizza
Famous Ben’s Pizza, which serves traditional New York-style pizza, first opened in Manhattan in 1979. Their Sfincione,’ or Palermo-style pizza, is loved by many. Square slices of this thick Sicilian pizza are served hot and gooey. Numerous famous people have eaten at the pizzeria, and it has appeared in a number of movies and TV shows.
With a crunchy, buttery base that’s soft with the perfect crunch as you take a bite, their Famous Ben’s Focaccia Sicilian Pizza is unlike any other. It has an outstanding balance of tomato and cheese, and the olives add a nice touch.
Aside from pizzas, Famous Ben’s Pizzas are also known for their garlic knots. You can easily get enticed by the full display you see inside. They are sprinkled with basil and are made with real garlic.
What to order: Famous Ben’s Focaccia Sicilian Pizza, Garlic Knots
Address: 177 Spring St, New York, NY 10012
12. Lunella
Established in 1984, Lunella is an authentic Italian restaurant in Little Italy representing the popular Italian tradition of “good food, hospitality and community”. The chef-driven menu is simple, where all handcrafted dishes highlight seasonal ingredients. Enjoy homemade pasta, light and crunchy pizza, and signature cocktails in a quaint setting.
Have you tried bruschetta with zucchini? No? Lunella’s Bruschetta con Zucchine will make you realize what you’ve been missing out on! This light and delicious appetizer combines zucchini, ricotta, and lemon, giving you something fresh and flavorful to start your Italian feast with.
The Fettuccine Alfredo with chicken here is so delicious, you’d want a second plate of the same right away! The pasta is homemade, fresh, and cooked to perfection, and the parmesan cream sauce is rich, thick, and creamy. Along with the nice and juicy chicken, the pasta tastes extremely delicious.
Their Penne alla Vodka comes with an intensified flavor, thanks to the vibrant tomato-based sauce, and the dish is hearty and flavorful.
Tiramisu is also made in-house and comes to your table fresh. Tastewise, the dessert just hits the spot!
What to order: Bruschetta con Zucchine, Fettuccine Alfredo, Penne alla Vodka, Tiramisù
Address: 173 Mulberry Street, New York, NY 10013
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13. Cafe Spaghetti
Located in the heart of Carroll Gardens, Cafe Spaghetti is the chef/owner’s representation of a classic mom-and-pop neighborhood Italian joint. Unlike Carbone, where you walk out after a meal feeling like a celebrity, Cafe Spaghetti is more down-to-earth and casual, where you can take your family with kids, and have a memorable meal.
Cafe Spaghetti’s Rice Balls have black pepper and pecorino romano cheese as their main ingredients. This beautiful combination gives the rice balls a powerful flavor, and they are fried to golden perfection while still remaining juicy inside.
How does fried mozzarella cheese sound to you? At Cafe Spaghetti, you get Spiedini Alla Romana, which is essentially mozzarella toasted between slices of Italian loaf, and then covered in a citrusy anchovy sauce, which is exceptional in flavor.
Pro tip – wait for your Spiedini to get almost soaked in the sauce before eating; the soggier it is, the more delectable.
Named after the chef/owner’s father, Tony Tiramisu, is light, airy, and delicious, rather than being soggy and annoyingly sweet.
What to order: Rice Balls, Spiedini Alla Romana, Tony Tiramisu
Address: 126 Union Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231
14. Rubirosa
Rubirosa is a family-run neighborhood restaurant well-known for its heirloom thin-crust pizza recipe from the most loved Joe and Pat’s on Staten Island. The restaurant’s menu also features great pasta dishes, antipasti, and desserts, all of which can be enjoyed in the dimly lit, homey, and comfortable atmosphere.
If you’re visiting Rubirosa, it should be for the Classic pizza. Made following their 60-year-old family recipe, the highlight of this New York-style pizza is the cracker-thin crust, which has a nice crisp to it. Topped with their delicious homemade tomato sauce and perfectly melted mozzarella, this pie is unlike any other you’ve had in NYC.
Not to mention, the Vodka pizza is yet another perfect creation from the restaurant, with a rich, creamy, silky, and acidic vodka sauce that tastes incredible, and fresh mozzarella.
The Ricotta Ravioli is a classic Italian comfort food. With a creamy ricotta filling, you can either have your pasta with a tomato base with parmigiano or with a butter base with parmigiano. Our choice is the latter.
Mozzarella Sticks – fried cheese sticks with tangy marinara sauce; you’ve no excuse not to order this!
What to order: Classic pizza, Vodka pizza, Ricotta Ravioli, Mozzarella Sticks
Address: 235 Mulberry Street, New York, NY 10012
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15. Il Buco Alimentari & Vineria
A rustic antique store turned charming restaurant, Il Buco Alimentari & Vineria is a market-restaurant, where hearty Italian fare is served in the chic space inside, and the store on the front sells a variety of pasta, freshly baked Italian breads, and more.
The Roasted Short Rib here is superb. This bone-in short rib is huge and is roasted to get it to the dark, chewy, and smoky state that it reaches you at your table.
You can enjoy the short rib in Panini form when you dine in the restaurant for lunch.
The Bucatini Cacio e Pepe is an incredibly simple dish and yet packs in a punch from the freshly ground pepper, and a rich and strong flavor from the sharp pecorino romano cheese. Let’s just say it’s a stripped-down version of mac and cheese but elevated!
Don’t miss the Salted Caramel Gelato from the Gelateria – a perfect blend of sweet and salty, and incredibly refreshing.
What to order: Roasted Short Rib, Short Rib Panini, Bucatini Cacio e Pepe, Salted Caramel Gelato
Address: 53 Great Jones Street, New York, NY 10012
16. L’Industrie Pizzeria
What better way to spend a New York day than dining on a mouthwatering slice of pizza? With a shelf that’s lined with rows of imported Italian pizza ingredients and plenty of booths set up in a covered street outside, L’Industrie Pizza provides you with the ultimate New York Pizza experience.
From the bustling kitchen, the friendly staff, and the music ranging from old-school hip-hop to classic rock, this place is as lively as it gets.
There’s a reason why L’Industrie’s New Yorker pizza got its name, and if the whooping pepperonis and sausages are not enough to convince you, what else can? For some reason, the combination of these two simple ingredients topped with fresh basil creates the best pizza in the whole of NYC.
From your first bite to your last, the Margherita pizza hits almost like vodka in a good way. The sauce just hits differently, and the edge of the pepperoni cups curls up so well. The sweet crust complements Margherita’s slightly alcoholic taste.
What to order: New Yorker, Margherita
Address: 254 S 2nd St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
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17. Il Cortile
Located in the heart of Little Italy, Il Cortile is a beautiful, family-owned and -operated Italian place serving the finest of the cuisine since 1975. Featuring a glass-enclosed garden dining area that feels intimate and romantic, and professional old-school waiters serving the restaurant’s signature dishes paired with Italian wine, this venue is perfect for a date.
Campesante con Carciofi e Parmigiano – these are pan-seared diver scallops served with artichoke, vegetables, and a cheese sauce. The scallops come cooked just right, are buttery, and have a bit of sweetness to them. The rich cheese sauce does an excellent job of making everything on the plate taste amazing together.
The Fettuccine di Parma is fresh, herby, creamy, smoky, and just explodes with flavor. The pasta is, of course, fresh, and the sauce is creamy and exquisite. It is so good that you wouldn’t want to share!
Pollo con Gamberi alla Francese is an Italian-American favorite where you get golden pan fried chicken and jumbo shrimp – nice and crispy, and cooked in a buttery and delicious lemon sauce.
What to order: Campesante con Carciofi e Parmigiano, Fettuccine di Parma, Pollo con Gamberi alla Francese
Address: 125 Mulberry Street, New York, NY 10013
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18. La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels
With a globe-trotting wine list and a food menu that changes throughout the year, Compagnie is an elegant, sexy, and warm wine bar with a low-key vibe and a favorite in the area. Their food menu features French and Mediterranean small plates that pair perfectly with their wine selection.
As mentioned, their menu keeps changing, and some of their dishes come with different ingredients and pairings.
The Burrata with pine nut dukkah, pomegranate, and red endive is a fresh take on the classic. The cheese itself is perfectly creamy, and the dukkah adds a warm, nutty flavor, along with an enjoyable texture and sweetness from the pomegranate.
The Grilled Cheese here has a mushroom filling, along with tomato jam – crispy, earthy, peppery, and tangy.
The Roasted Prawns taste amazing with the tangy, smoky, and succulent piquillo pepper butter.
Inspired by the Roman pasta dish, the Cacio e Pepe Popcorn is a salty, cheesy, and peppery snack you can enjoy with any drink you choose.
What to order: Burrata, Grilled Cheese, Roasted Prawns, Cacio e Pepe Popcorn
Address: 249 Centre Street, New York, NY 10013
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19. Emilio’s Ballato
Emilio’s Ballato is a fine Italian restaurant where celebrities like Barack Obama, Rihanna, and Tom Hanks like to hang out. Serving some excellent Italian red sauce dishes, this is the kind of restaurant where you will get a personal welcome from the owner who, by the end of your meal, will know your name.
A Southern Italian classic, Vongole Oreganate is a clam dish baked with homemade breadcrumbs. The key is to use just the right amount of breadcrumbs so the sweet little clams at the bottom are not overpowered; safe to say, Ballato gets it right every time, and the dish is so damn good!
The Tagliatelle alla Bolognese is a people pleaser. The pasta is homemade, fresh, and cooked to al-dente perfection. But, the show stopper is certainly the sauce, which is beef, pork, and veal ragu; it is hearty, full of flavor, and out of this world!
Gamberi Fra Diavolo – al-dente linguine, perfectly cooked shrimp, slightly spicy marinara sauce – *chef’s kiss*
Petto di Pollo alla Emilio is an indulgent dish. The chicken is thinly pounded, breaded, and pan-fried to attain a crispy exterior, and is still juicy inside. The lemony white wine sauce is so good, you better save some bread to soak it all up.
What to order: Vongole Oreganate, Tagliatelle alla Bolognese, Gamberi Fra Diavolo, Petto di Pollo alla Emilio
Address: 55 E Houston Street, New York, NY 10012
Finding a restaurant to dine at in New York from the truckloads of available options can go either way – joyful or depressing. Our list of New York’s best restaurants has all the places you’ll be glad you visited and would love to visit again.
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How We Create Our “Best” Lists
All Noms Magazine’s “best” lists are created using multiple factors and signals to help readers find the best restaurants, things to do, and places to stay at. Some of these factors and signs include personal experiences, correspondence with locals, and compiling experiences from review sites.
Each list is also created to be balanced (in terms of price, cuisine type, ambiance, and more) as possible. This means that the lists are not specifically created in ranking order. You should be comfortable picking from any of the spots on the list and generally have a good time. But of course, YMMV (your mileage may vary) and everyone may have different experiences/palates.