NY's Little Italy

[stratguy]

I'm taking a customer to NYC in July, and he wants to have dinner in Little Italy. Do any NYers have a recommendation? We used to eat at Angelo's years ago, but it's closed now due to a fire.

Thanks

[iamorlando]

I know I’m being a little elitist here, I would go to Arthur street instead.


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[Thug]

If you respect yourself you wouldn’t go to Little Italy

[SMD]

There are so many good Italian restaurants in NYC, and none of them are in Little Italy.

[antbkny]

Tourist like Little Italy, so I get it. Angelos is the only place I can recommend but as you know, they won’t be ready for July

[77T]

I’d suggest Marchi’s

https://www.marchirestaurant.com/

It’s 20-ish blocks north of the lower Manhattan Little Italy district. But if your driving yourself, just loop down and drive through the arched sign and sightsee as you wander North to 31st street.


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[Syed117]

Meh.

Go to Carbone. It's pricey, but the food has been great every time I've been there and the decor and ambiance is pretty cool.

The rigatoni is fantastic.

[crew]

Originally Posted by iamorlando

I know I’m being a little elitist here, I would go to Arthur street instead.


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Not elitist at all, just a realist. Arthur Avenue in the Bronx is the authentic Little Italy of NYC.

[Art 1]

I like little italy but of course I'm a tourist when in NYC. I do laugh though at the tourist in Orlando that go to places that none of us would think of going. Saw a lady on the plane last night heading back to Canada that was burnt to a crisp and pealing, we know better.

[piratfisk]

I'd avoid Little Italy, unless you're after a gigantic plate of mediocre pasta or a massive chicken parm. There are dozens of fine(r) dining Italian restaurants in NYC. My wife & I went to Marea (reservation required) & loved everything. Get the tasting menu. If you change your mind about Little Italy, Chinatown is literally around the corner. Dim Sum Go Go is other-wordly in terms of food quality.

[iamorlando]

I had a wonderful experience at Tomasso in Dyker Heights. Went there to see the Christmas decorations which where absolutely nuts. The mansions all had statues in their front lawns, really over the top. The restaurant was great, opera singers made the rounds and sang at your table, and the food was amazing. Very well done and a unique experience if you are into some really over the top Italian fare.


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[Ballzzz]

Originally Posted by iamorlando

I know I’m being a little elitist here, I would go to Arthur street instead.


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He knows

& if you listen many are good BUT go to

Zero Otto Nove

[HarryLime]

Originally Posted by Syed117

Meh.

Go to Carbone. It's pricey, but the food has been great every time I've been there and the decor and ambiance is pretty cool.

The rigatoni is fantastic.

This is the correct answer. Little Italy is trash, not sure anyone within 20 square blocks of it can actually speak Italian.

[JasoninDenver]

Worst Italian meal of my life was in Little Italy. Walk it for the experience if you want - takes five minutes- but go elsewhere for dinner.

[ArtNouveau]

Little Italy is more for show than go these days, that’s a fact, but I don’t think they’re all crap. A few years ago a local took our marathon crew to La Mela and they served us family style, it was pretty good red sauce Italian. Character actor Vinny Vela was apparently a regular there he was pretty funny.
It’s definitely more Chinatown now than Italian.

[JasoninDenver]

Just remembered the name of the best place I went to in NYC...


http://etcetcnyc.com/menu/

[michaelodonnell123]

IL Cortile is a great restaurant in Little Italy. Been there many times with no issues.

Zagat rates it high as well: https://www.zagat.com/r/il-cortile-new-york
and Google reviews almost has it at five stars.

Give it a try.

[Fat_ninja]

Little Italy. Lol. Chinatown would be better in that location

[Danny83]

Go to Raos

[AzPaul]

If you go to Louie's, try the veal. It's the best in the city.

[ckaynyc]

Originally Posted by Danny83

Go to Raos

LOL! Good luck!

Zero Otto Nove a good recommendation. If you’re trying to stay in the city Del Posto is one of my favorite restaurants.

[SMD]

Originally Posted by Danny83

Go to Raos

Very helpful.

[Beo3]

Originally Posted by Danny83

Go to Raos

You have a better chance of catching rickets then getting into Raos!!!! But if you do, don't forget to invite me!!!

[blassy]

The Raos story has to be one of the most fascinating restaurant stories of all time. I mean...every table spoken for every night for 40 some odd years.
Their sauce is fantastic though.
Your table is your table...every night...do with it what you want.
Only in NYC.......

[.brian.]

Really good Italian place in Times Square called Sbarro. Only go if you want to have the best pizza you have ever tasted. You can thank me later.

[TheDude]

Originally Posted by .brian.

Really good Italian place in Times Square called Sbarro. Only go if you want to have the best pizza you have ever tasted. You can thank me later.

Actually go to Famous Famiglia pizza. Where Trump took Palin. (Equally lousy)

https://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/...p-in-new-york/


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[Art 1]

Originally Posted by .brian.

Really good Italian place in Times Square called Sbarro. Only go if you want to have the best pizza you have ever tasted. You can thank me later.

Lots of them in Orlando, I've been to that one too.

[Ballzzz]

Originally Posted by Beo3

You have a better chance of catching rickets then getting into Raos!!!! But if you do, don't forget to invite me!!!

It's not the food there believe me. Love them all there but its the experience 10 fold over the culinary offering.

Zero Otto Nove has a NYC location, I have never been but if its anything like Arthur Ave i'm sure OP won't have any issues.

My wife & I are not big into going out to Italian restaurants as its our heritage and we feel like we do better most of the time. I am bias and tend to agree.

OP a word of advice, your customer specifically requested "Little Italy" in la citta so you find your best pick(Angelos,Il Cortile, Da Nico) & take him there regardless of how good or bad it will be. He obviously wants to go there for his own reasons no matter how mis-informed they may be to the consensus of this forum.

[ckaynyc]

Rao’s got the best meatballs I’ve ever had. The food is good but the allure is the ability to say you have eaten there. The bar is always packed with hopeful walk-ins looking to get lucky. I have a client that offers a table to me when it’s available but it’s a table of 8. As said above, it’s the experience, and finding the right 6 others to share it with is more difficult than it sounds.

[hitman23]

Been in the area for most of my life. I've always liked Sal's pizza for regular slices. I would not recommend any of the restaurants for a great sit down meal. If you go north a couple blocks on Mulberrry, Rubi Rosa has much better tasting Italian food and pizza.