Best Italian Restaurants in Lower East Side (10002)
7 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: January 2026
Our Top Pick
Una Pizza Napoletana
World-class Neapolitan pies made by a single, obsessive pizzaiolo.
Essential Picks
9.0
Una Pizza Napoletana is Anthony Mangieri’s obsessively focused Neapolitan pizzeria, where a short menu of wood-fired pies and gelato draws serious pizza fans from around the world. The Lower East Side room is minimalist but warm, and the combination of long ferments, limited reservations, and global accolades makes each pie feel like an event.
Must-Try Dishes:
Margherita pizza, Marinara pizza, Bianca pizza
What makes it special: World-class Neapolitan pies made by a single, obsessive pizzaiolo.
Notable Picks
8.8
Scarr’s is a Lower East Side slice shop with old-school looks and new-school craft, milling some of its own flour and topping pies with carefully sourced ingredients. Lines move steadily for classic rounds, Sicilian squares, and a small menu of sides that make it a destination for both locals and pizza pilgrims.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pepperoni slice, Sicilian square slice, Vegan Caesar salad
What makes it special: Slice-shop nostalgia backed by serious grain and ingredient work.
#3
Bacaro
8.5
Bacaro channels a Venetian wine bar in a brick-lined, candlelit cellar where cicchetti, housemade pastas, and an all-Italian wine list set a moody tone. It’s one of the neighborhood’s most atmospheric spots for rustic Italian cooking, especially if you’re sharing plates and a bottle below street level.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cavatelli with duck ragu, Fritto misto seafood platter, Polenta with braised short ribs
What makes it special: Venetian-style cellar with cicchetti, handmade pastas, and a deep Italian wine list.
#4
Trapizzino
8.4
Trapizzino brings Stefano Callegari’s Roman pizza pockets to the corner of Orchard and Rivington, stuffing warm wedges of pizza bianca with long-simmered classics like chicken cacciatore and eggplant parm. A compact wine bar, spritzes, and small plates make it as useful for aperitivo dates as for a quick, affordable Italian snack.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pollo alla cacciatora trapizzino, Oxtail ragu trapizzino, Eggplant parmigiana trapizzino
What makes it special: Roman pizza pockets filled with slow-cooked Italian stews and paired with wine.
#5
Forsythia
8.3
Forsythia is a modern Italian spot where handmade pastas and seasonal small plates lean creative without losing comfort. The tight, softly lit dining room and bar make it ideal for dates or a focused dinner built around a couple of pastas and a bottle of wine.
Must-Try Dishes:
Seasonal stuffed cappellacci, Cacio e pepe-style tonnarelli, Short rib ragu pasta
What makes it special: Creative, pasta-driven Italian cooking in an intimate, chef-focused space.
#6
Tre
8.0
Tre is a cozy Ludlow Street trattoria with sidewalk seating, a compact bar, and a menu of approachable pastas, salads, and mains. It’s an easy choice for low-stress Italian date nights or small groups who want wine, outdoor tables in good weather, and familiar flavors done well.
Must-Try Dishes:
Spaghetti carbonara, Rigatoni alla vodka, Chicken Milanese
What makes it special: Relaxed Ludlow Street trattoria with sidewalk tables and classic pastas.
Worthy Picks
7.8
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Hidden Gems Heaven
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Spaghetti Incident is a narrow, casual pasta counter that serves saucy spaghetti and other shapes in paper cones and bowls for eating on the go or at a few tight seats. It’s more playful than formal, making it a go-to for quick Italian comfort before a night out nearby.
Must-Try Dishes:
Spaghetti carbonara, Spaghetti alla bolognese, Pesto spaghetti cone
What makes it special: Cone-served spaghetti and pastas that turn a sit-down dish into street-friendly comfort.