These Are the Best 11 Italian Restaurants in NYC

According to many people, outside of Italy, New York is the best place where to eat Italian food, so we’ve decided to write down what we think are the best Italian restaurants in New York are. Keep reading if you’re looking for specific information on where to eat in New York!

The problem with compiling a list of Italian restaurants in New York is that there may be more of them here than there are in Italy. They also change regularly, and new ones are abundant.

Is New York the best place for Italian food?

Well, we surely cannot disagree: New York is a great place for eating Italian food, and that’s the reason why we’ve decided to compile a list. It’s certainly not easy to pick the best locations in New York because the city is too big, and restricting the number of restaurants can be tricky.

Since Italian food occupies an important place in American food consciousness, there are a lot of Italian-American places where to eat in New York. We’ve decided to stay focused on real diners from Italy, where the owners or the chefs are really from the Belpaese and the ingredients as well.

In this guide, we’ve used only one judgment parameter: how close the food is to the real one.

We haven’t considered the price in the making of this list of the best Italian restaurants in New York for a simple reason: we firmly believe that you pay for what you eat, and if paying more means eating well, for us, it’s a win.

We didn’t order the places concerning how much we love them, so the order is just casual.

None of the places here mentioned have somehow paid or sponsored us or this list.

The list is continuously updated so we may add new spots and let others disappear; if you want to suggest us one or more restaurants in New York that you have personally tried, send us an email and let’s talk.

What does this list include?

Well, easy answer: The Best Restaurants In NYC that sell Italian food.

What doesn’t this list include?

We didn’t include any pizza place because that is a different story, and we want to write something specific.

You’ll notice it doesn’t include any single place located in Little Italy: Little Italy used to be a place where Italians kept with their traditions, but today it’s not the same anymore. Restaurants, despite their somehow appealing decor, don’t serve authentic food anymore. The quality is shallow, and the experience is not something you want to try.

We don’t want to diminish Little Italy, but to give you the best experience possible, and to glorify real Italian food, we have decided to stay focused on other neighborhoods. So, when in New York, skip Little Italy and visit these 11 restaurants instead.

The 11 Best Italian Restaurants in New York

Here we’re: the 11 top restaurants in NYC brought to you by two real Italians.

1. Maialino

The name says everything: comforting food in a friendly setting. The maialino al forno (slow-roasted little pig) is the piece of resistance, no questions asked. Prices are high, but the quality is high, and the value is easily understandable.

Address: 2 Lexington Ave
Website: Maialino

2. Via Carota

Expect to be overwhelmed by Via Carota: its dishes are welcoming, and you will feel in Italy. Try the traditional scafata (favas, artichokes, escarole, and peas), the tonnarelli cacio e pepe (pasta with pecorino cheese and black pepper), and the coniglio fritto (fried rabbit). You won’t be disappointed, and you will want to go back again and again.

Address: 51 Grove St, New York
Website: Via Carota

3. Babbo

If you want to treat you to a very Italian experience in New York, Babbo has to be your place. The menu is stunning. It features some incredible and originally dishes such as amatriciana pasta and the grilled lamb chops “a scottadito” (grilled and meant to be eaten, when still very hot, with your hands). Keep in mind that Babbo is a Michelin starred restaurant, and the prices reflect this.

Address: 110 Waverly Pl
Website: Babbo

4. Del Posto

The majority of the ingredients come from Italy in this Michelin Starred restaurant. The names of the dishes are also written in Italian. Out of everything, we recommend the Tortino alla Gianduja con Gelato al Latte di Nocciola Piemontese (Chocolate Hazelnut Cake with Piemonte Hazelnut Milk Gelato) and the Faraona alla Cacciatora con Gnocco alla Romana (Hunter-Style Guinea Hen with Semolina Dumpling).

Address: 85 10th Ave
Website: Del Posto

5. L’Artusi

A casual style restaurant in The Village, where to eat good Italian inspired food: the dishes on the menu are both traditional and revisited, but the ingredients are first class. Try the olive oil cake and the spaghetti with garlic, chilies, and parmesan cheese. If you in for brunch, try the pancakes with homemade ricotta cheese.

Address: 228 W 10th St
Website: L’Artusi

6. Lupa

A roman “trattoria” designed in a traditional way where food is conventional, and the portions are like the ones we use to have in Italy. The Spaghetti alla Carbonara, the Fettuccine alla Gricia with Fava Bean, and the Pollo alla Diavola are delicious. Fascinating fact: they have a different dish of the day every week.

Address: 170 Thompson St
Website: Lupa

7. Il Buco

A casual and friendly place, Il Buco claims that its “culinary philosophy is firmly rooted in the Italian tradition of seasonality and the integrity of all ingredients.” Everything is sourced locally from exporters, and if they can’t find something, they source directly in Italy. Try the Torchio pasta (house-made pasta, guanciale, local asparagus, pecorino Toscano cheese) and any of the desserts on the menu paired with Italian wine.

Address: 47 Bond St
Website: Il Buco

8. Al Di Là Trattoria

The food offered by Al Di Là is firmly rooted in the traditions of Northern Italian cuisine. Try the calf liver “alla veneziana” and the tortelli di zucca. In fairness, prices are also a high yes at Al Di Là.

Address: 1201, 248 5th Ave, Brooklyn
Website: Al Di Là Trattoria

9. Salumeria Rosi

Salumeria Rosi is an authentically Northern dining restaurant originating in Parma. All the ingredients come directly from Italy. Try the Prosciutto Parmacotto with Burrata (thinly sliced ham served with fresh buffalo mozzarella, topped with basil pesto sauce) and the complete selection of charcuterie and cheese.

Address: 283 Amsterdam Ave
Website: Salumeria Rosi

10. I Sodi

Nothing beats I Sodi if you’re looking for simple, comforting, and traditional food. Everything screams Italy and Tuscany, and one really shouldn’t ask for more. Try the antipasto Toscano (Assortment of sliced meats, bruschetta, cheeses, & olives) and the ravioli burro e salvia (house-made spinach and ricotta ravioli with cultured butter and sage).

Address: 105 Christopher St
Website: I Sodi

11. Song E Napule

If you’re looking for truly authentic food from Naples, Song E Napule must be your choice. Nothing fancy, just real food cooked traditionally and served in significant portions, just like it should be. Try the Pasta Alla Scarpariello (Homemade jumbo linguine with cherry tomato sauce, arugula, shaved parmesan, pepper flakes).

Address: 146 W Houston St
Website: Song E Napule

Here you have our always-updated list with the best NYC restaurants with food from Italy so you can now stop Googling “best Italian NYC.”

So said, New York is an incredible place for food, and there are amazing places where you can eat well; have a look at our New York Food Guide for inspiration!

If you’ve eaten somewhere on this list of the best restaurants in New York and loved/hated it, share it with the hashtag #thefoodellers or get in touch by email.