Best Family Friendly Italian Restaurants in East Village (10009)
8 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: January 2026
Our Top Pick
Fiaschetteria Pistoia
Italian comfort classics that make sharing easy for mixed-age tables.
Notable Picks
8.5
Vibes:
Family Friendly Favorites
Comfort Food Classics
Group Dining Gatherings
Trendy Table Hotspots
A small, walk-in-only Tuscan pasta room where the payoff is the hand-made texture and sauce discipline, not a big night-out production. It works for families when you go early and keep the order simple: one long pasta, one stuffed pasta, and a bright vegetable or salad to keep the table balanced.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cacio e pepe, Tagliatelle bolognese, Burrata with olive oil
What makes it special: Italian comfort classics that make sharing easy for mixed-age tables.
8.4
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Late Night Legends
A square-slice-first neighborhood shop that leans on crisp edges, a balanced red sauce, and a steady rotation of pies that hold up for grab-and-go. It’s best when you treat it like a slice bar: pick one classic, one topping-forward option, and keep the pace quick.
Must-Try Dishes:
Sicilian square slice, Vodka slice, Pepperoni square slice
What makes it special: Crisp, satisfying square slices built for fast, reliable slice decisions.
#3
Supper
8.3
Vibes:
Group Dining Gatherings
Birthday & Celebration Central
Comfort Food Classics
Trendy Table Hotspots
A classic red-sauce comfort lane with a neighborhood feel that’s easy to navigate with kids if you order like a family table: one pasta, one chicken or veal-style main, and one vegetable side. The best nights here feel like a straightforward Italian dinner that doesn’t require strategizing beyond pacing.
Must-Try Dishes:
Spaghetti al limone, Tagliatelle al ragù, Chicken parmigiana
What makes it special: A classic East Village pasta room built for big-night energy.
8.3
A sit-down pizzeria that favors a thin, crackly crust and a more dinner-ready rhythm than a pure slice joint. The move is a full pie plus one pasta or starter—enough variety to feel like a meal without losing the pizza as the main event.
Must-Try Dishes:
Classic thin-crust pie, Tri-pie (three-style pie), Penne alla vodka
What makes it special: Thin, crisp pies in a true sit-down pizzeria format.
#5
Giano
8.2
Modern Italian that leans into housemade pastas and a polished but approachable room, making it a solid family pick if you go early and order in a clean sequence. Aim for one appetizer, one long pasta, and one richer pasta or main so the table gets contrast without turning the meal heavy.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cacio e pepe, Lasagna, Arugula salad
What makes it special: Handmade-pasta focus in a small, classic East Village room.
#6
Lavagna
8.1
A warm neighborhood trattoria that’s strongest for families who want a calmer sit-down meal with a menu everyone can read quickly. Build the table around one pasta and one main, then add a simple salad so the meal doesn’t land as all-starch all-night.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lasagna, Rigatoni (seasonal/house style), Wood-oven pizzette (rotating)
What makes it special: A true neighborhood trattoria feel with comfort-first Italian classics.
8.0
A cozy neighborhood Italian option that works for families when you order for balance: one lighter starter, one pasta, and one protein-driven main to share. It’s the kind of place that rewards an early seating and a simple plan over trying to sample everything.
Must-Try Dishes:
Meatballs, Seasonal pasta, Tiramisu
What makes it special: A warm East Village Italian with a strong wine-and-pasta lane.
Worthy Picks
7.7
A newer-feeling neighborhood Italian spot that’s most useful for families who want pizza-and-pasta flexibility in a single order. Keep it simple: one pizza, one pasta, and one starter (eggplant or calamari-style) so everyone gets a lane without over-ordering.
Must-Try Dishes:
Sweet Diavola pizza, Rigatoni alla vodka, Eggplant appetizer
What makes it special: Pizza-and-pasta flexibility that makes family ordering easy.