Best Italian Restaurants in East Village (10009)
8 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: January 2026
Our Top Pick
Soda Club
Vegan pasta and natural wine in a moody, date-ready room.
Notable Picks
#1
Soda Club
8.6
A vegan Italian-American wine bar that treats pasta like the main event—fresh, rich, and built for lingering over a second glass. It’s intimate and low-lit, with a menu that rewards ordering a few plates and letting the kitchen’s Roman-leaning comfort lane do the work.
Must-Try Dishes:
Bigoli cacio e pepe, Tagliatelle with lemon and capers, Carbonara pinsa
What makes it special: Vegan pasta and natural wine in a moody, date-ready room.
#2
Supper
8.4
Vibes:
Group Dining Gatherings
Birthday & Celebration Central
Comfort Food Classics
Trendy Table Hotspots
A loud, packed-in East Village institution where the move is to share a few pastas and let the room’s celebratory momentum carry the night. It’s not about perfection or space—it’s about big, satisfying Italian comfort and a wine-forward rhythm that keeps tables hanging around.
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.
#3
Hearth
8.2
A Tuscan-leaning, farm-to-table dining room that feels like a calm reset from the neighborhood’s chaos—best when you treat it as a full meal with starters, a pasta, and a thoughtful main. The cooking is ingredient-driven and seasonal, with a steady, grown-up hospitality style that suits longer dinners.
Must-Try Dishes:
House pasta with pork ragù, Burrata, Olive oil cake
What makes it special: Seasonal Tuscan-American cooking with a polished, relaxed pace.
A neighborhood tapas-and-paella spot with a relaxed East Village rhythm—best when you order a few small plates, then anchor with a pan of paella or a pasta. The patio/backyard setup makes it feel like a longer hang, and the menu works well for sharing without turning dinner into a production.
Must-Try Dishes:
Paella, Patatas bravas, Pulpo a la gallega
What makes it special: Tapas-plus-paella flexibility with an easy patio/backyard vibe.
#5
Giano
8.1
A cozy East Village trattoria that leans into handmade pasta and a straightforward Italian comfort lane. The best experience comes from going classic—one salad, one rich pasta, one baked pasta—then keeping the finish simple with dessert and a glass of something dry.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cacio e pepe, Lasagna, Arugula salad
What makes it special: Handmade-pasta focus in a small, classic East Village room.
Worthy Picks
#6
Gnocco
7.9
A long-running neighborhood Italian spot where the menu is built to satisfy a group with different cravings—pizza, pastas, and easy cocktails in a casual room. It works best as a flexible, no-drama dinner when you want something reliable and familiar in the East Village.
Must-Try Dishes:
Gnocchi, Margherita pizza, Chicken parmigiana
What makes it special: Old-guard East Village Italian that’s built for variety orders.
7.8
A cozy, wine-friendly Italian room that shines when you treat it as a paced dinner—starter, pasta, then one richer plate to finish. The cooking lands in a classic comfort register, and the vibe is built for lingering rather than rushing through a single main.
Must-Try Dishes:
Meatballs, Seasonal pasta, Tiramisu
What makes it special: A warm East Village Italian with a strong wine-and-pasta lane.
#8
Pasta Rullo
7.6
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Comfort Food Classics
A fast-casual pasta counter built around customizable bowls and a crowd-pleasing cheese-wheel moment. This is the pick when you want Italian comfort on a budget—quick, filling, and easiest as a takeout-first move rather than a sit-down destination.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cheese wheel fettuccine, Gnocchi with choice of sauce, Fettuccine Alfredo
What makes it special: Customizable, budget-friendly pasta with a cheese-wheel crowd-pleaser.