Where is the Best Italian in Downtown Manhattan?
I’ll admit it, I love carbs and cheese. I know those are both against the rules for what girls are “allowed” to eat, but rules are meant to be broken. I’ve sampled many a restaurant in NYC, and here’s what I learned about going to Italian spots: ALWAYS order the pasta. One night while at Locanda Verde, my friend (Italian friend) ordered fish and said, “My Grandfather would roll over in his grave if he knew I was ordering fish at an Italian restaurant,” and he is right, whenever I order a more “sensible” dish, I always regret it (and that night, he did too). Below are my top ten favorite Italian spots in the city. All serve elegant, simple and fabulous food, but each is a “best” for a different reason. Disclaimer: This is my list for 2011. Although I have sampled around 75 Italian spots since I have moved to NYC, the 2012 list is subject to change. That being said, even if new places are added, you can’t go wrong with any place on my top ten.
East Village mentions:
Best Overall Food: Hearth (403 East 12th, East Village)
Owned by Next Iron Chef’s runner up, Marco Canora and Paul Greco. Hearth’s menu changes every season, but always include certain staples, including my favorite menu item: veal and ricotta meatballs over homemade spaghetti. In addition, this is a great place to eat at the bar, as it overlooks the kitchen (Zagat rated this highly as well). Side note: check out Terroir, the fabulous wine bar next door. Hearth is also featured in Crush New York article Best Date Spots.
Biggest Portions: Max’s Italian (51 Avenue B, East Village)
At Max, they certainly give you “American Portions” and at recession friendly pricing (average is about $13 per Pasta entrée). In 2009, I was going through a period of “funemployment,” I earned my keep at Max’s. As a result, I sampled everything on the menu. You can’t go wrong with anything, but my favorite is Spaghetti Alla Chitarra (homemade spaghetti with lamb ragu). You simply must pair this with lambrusco (sparkling red wine). FYI – This place doesn’t take reservations and is cash only, so if you don’t want to wait, come early or late on weekends.
MAX is one of my favorite spots in the neighborhood.
