New York City is famous for a lot of things, one of them is Italian food. From the West Village to Hell’s Kitchen, Italian restaurants in NYC offer an embarrassment to riches. There are more fine dining restaurants serving Italian food here than there are people. You can find pretty much anything you want. From authentic Italian pastas to a slice of Italian pizza, the city disappoints no food enthusiast. While some red sauce giants have stood tall for decades, there are some new restaurants that have managed to make the place their own. Isn’t that what this city is all about?
That is why we have compiled a list of the best Italian restaurants in NYC. While this was no easy task as probably there are more Italian restaurants in this city than in Italy itself. We have managed to narrow down the field. This list captures all the top restaurants serving up all the Italian food be it rustic Tuscan dishes or the tender Neapolitan pizza that a New Yorker would want.
Crispin’s
If you are looking for a place where you could wine and dine with your friends or family, there is no better place in the city than Crispin’s. By our estimation, probably the best Italian restaurant is where you could roll into without any forethought and simply grab a seat at the bar, order a plate of pasta and let the worries of the day dissipate with a glass a Italian wine. Crispin’s restaurant and bar is located in the heart of Hell’s Kitchen, on the corner of 10th Avenue & 52nd Street.
Whether you are planning a romantic evening, business meeting, or a cocktail party, Crispin’s ambience makes it perfect for all occasions. They offer modern Italian cuisine celebrated with Italian classics and a wide variety of salad entrees, Antipasti, Terre e Mare, cocktails, and wines served in a casual, relaxed setting. Furthermore, they offer takeaways if anyone wants to enjoy their meal in the comfort of their homes. Crispin’s almost always full of locals and tourists who have a taste for Italian cuisine, and is popular for its dinner and brunch menus. Head out to this cozy Italian place and enjoy authentic Italian flavors served with your favorite cocktail without carving a hole in your pocket.
Roberto’s
This eccentric Italian dining is situated on the Crescent Avenue in the Bronx. Tucked away from the Bronx’s Little Italy, Roberto’s offers much more than its red-sauce counterparts. The place is perfect for a sophisticated evening. Plan a romantic dinner with your significant other or take your boss out for brunch, you won’t be disappointed. Owned by Roberto Paciullo, an Italian native, the restaurant has a rich menu that trumpets dishes such as pasta with vegetables steamed in foil pouch. As the restaurant is quite famous, you may have to wait a little, but it is worth it!
Dominick’s
Roberto’s is not the only good Italian restaurant in the Bronx. Dominick’s is a hidden gem located on Arthur Avenue (famously known as Little Italy). The restaurant has been featured among the best Italian restaurants in the city for over 50 years now. It is not your usual Italian restaurant in NYC, it is more of a food hall. People from all over the city come to Dominick’s to try out its generous serving of well-sauced pasta. Other highlights of the restaurant’s menu includes sirloin steak with fries and stuffed artichoke. Whether you are a NYC local or a tourist, Dominick’s is a restaurant that you must visit.
Maialino
When it comes down to judging an Italian restaurant, it is all about the strength of its pasta. Based upon that Maialino is up there with the best Italian restaurants in NYC. Head to Lexington Avenue and expect to be treated with rich Italian flavors that you will rarely find in any other restaurant. Like all other restaurants in this list, Maialino offers much more than other Italian restaurants in the city. It not just serves classic Italian flavors but offers a sophisticated and rich ambience that elevates your dining experience considerably. You will find all the standard classics here – bucatini all’amatriciana with bits of guanciale, eggy carbonara, and devil’s chicken laced with tart pickled chiles.
Fiaschetteria “Pistoia”
As the crowd descends to the hustling and bustling 11th street, Fiaschetteria “Pistoia” manages its business in peace. This petite Tuscan restaurant may seem like a tiny dwelling of a restaurant from outside, but it makes up for its size with charm. You must be really lucky, if you are able to find an empty seat at this restaurant. Its menu includes all the common Italian dishes that you would find in all the restaurants in this list but at almost half the prices. Explore through their menus and enjoy an intimate Italian meal at Fiaschetteria “Pistoia.”
Café Altro Paradiso
We would not go so far as to name this the best Italian restaurant in the city, but it is one that every Italian food enthusiast must visit. Chef Ignacio Mattos manages this restaurant situated at 234 Spring Street. The cafe offers a perfect mix to the textural culinary delight of Mattos and nostalgic warmth of cheese dripping pasta. We suggest you go for multiple pastas by asking for half-dishes. No matter how sumptuous your meal was, do not leave the place without having dessert.
D.O.C Wine bar
Love rustic outdoors? This is the place for you. The restaurant offers a perfect mix of delicious food, ambiance, hospitality, and selection of drinks. When Claudio Coronas and Rossana Patteri opened this restaurant, it was an instant hit and became an epicentre of trendiness. D.O.C Wine Bar is a small, warm space deal for cold winter evenings, when all anyone wants to do is sip a glass of wine and dine on a simple yet perfectly cooked plate of spaghetti. Looking for New York’s finest red sauce? This is the place to go.
These are the best Italian restaurants that the city has to offer. So, if you have a taste for Italian food, you now know where to head to. Each restaurant on this list has the capability to be crowned the best Italian restaurant in NYC. It is upon you to try out these restaurants and pick your favorite. But one thing is for sure, you will not be disappointed. It was really hard for us to come up with a list of top 7 restaurants considering the sheer number of Italian restaurants in the city, we would love to know your opinion.
Which Italian restaurant do you like the most and why? Share with us in the comment section below.
Crispin's Restaurant 