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Best Girls Night Out Approved Restaurants in Little Italy

19 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked

Last Updated: February 2026

Our Top Pick
Au Cheval
A cult burger destination that stays dependable even with huge demand.

Notable Picks

$$$ Little Italy American, Burgers
A burger-and-cocktails room with late-night energy and a menu that rewards ordering with restraint: one signature burger, one side, and a drink that keeps the pace moving. The draw is consistency at scale—show up hungry, commit to the classics, and don’t overcomplicate it.
Must-Try Dishes: Single cheeseburger, Bacon add-on, Garlic aioli fries
What makes it special: A cult burger destination that stays dependable even with huge demand.
$$ Little Italy Vietnamese, Pho
5ive Spice’s Nolita outpost blends slow-simmered pho, banh mi, and shaking beef with its signature bánh xèo tacos in a compact, buzzy setting. High multi-platform ratings and steady crowds point to reliable execution, especially for the broths and short rib dishes, even if prices run higher than a traditional hole-in-the-wall.
Must-Try Dishes: Braised Short Rib Bánh Xèo Tacos, Classic Pho Noodle Soup, Short Rib Banh Mi
What makes it special: Modern Nolita Vietnamese with standout bánh xèo tacos and richly built pho.
$$$ Little Italy American
Opened in 2024 by Catch Hospitality Group, The Corner Store riffs on classic American diner comforts with wagyu French dips, disco steak frites, and playful desserts in a Rockwell-designed room. A months-long waitlist, heavy media coverage, and strong early reviews mark it as one of SoHo’s buzziest new American spots.
Must-Try Dishes: Wagyu French Dip with McOli Sauce, Disco Steak Frites with Peppercorn Aioli, Samoa Cookie Sundae
What makes it special: High-energy, design-forward American spot turning diner classics into spectacle dishes.
$ Little Italy Thai
A SoHo anchor for Northern Thai flavors where the best orders lean herbal, spicy, and rustic rather than sweet. Go for larb, curries, and noodle bowls that keep their edge, and let the kitchen’s Chiang Mai DNA do the talking.
Must-Try Dishes: Khao soi, Larb (Northern-style), Nam tok (spicy grilled-meat salad)
What makes it special: Northern Thai cooking that prioritizes herbs, heat, and depth over sweetness.
$$$$ Little Italy Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
A candlelit SoHo room with old-New-York romance and a Mediterranean menu that shines most when you order shareable starters and one strong main. It’s a better pick for ambiance-forward dinners than for speed—linger, keep the order tight, and let the space do the work.
Must-Try Dishes: Manti, Lamburger, Organic Grilled Chicken
What makes it special: A romantic, antique-filled dining room that turns dinner into an occasion.
$$$ Little Italy Japanese, Sushi
On the SoHo–Nolita border, Momoya SoHo is a glass-wrapped, two-level Japanese restaurant known for precise nigiri, creative crispy rice, and a full sushi omakase offered at the bar. Locals use it for everything from brunch and dessert omakase to evenings built around cocktails, sashimi, and a view of the busy corner below.
Must-Try Dishes: Wagyu Crispy Rice, Bluefin Toro Tartar, Sushi & Sashimi Tasting for Two
What makes it special: Chic, window-lined space pairing modern sushi, crispy rice, and dessert omakase.
$$$$ Little Italy Breakfast, Brunch
A SoHo hotel dining room where breakfast is strongest when you treat it as a polished start—good coffee, a composed main, and a room that’s designed to be looked at. It’s more about vibe and setting than scrappy breakfast soul, so order accordingly and keep it tight.
Must-Try Dishes: Breakfast Entrée + Coffee, Brunch Plate (weekends), Pastry + Espresso
What makes it special: A high-design SoHo hotel breakfast built for atmosphere-first dining.
$$ Little Italy Japanese, Ramen
A Nolita ramen-and-sushi room that works best when you treat the bowl as the anchor and the rolls as the supporting cast. The ramen hits most reliably with their richer broths and clean noodle texture, and the vibe stays lively enough for an easy weeknight plan without turning into a full production.
Must-Try Dishes: Spicy Miso Ramen, Tonkotsu Ramen, Karaage
What makes it special: A reliable ramen bowl paired with a solid sushi-and-cocktail backup plan.
$$ Little Italy Korean
YUBU blends traditional Korean flavors with a modern coffee shop atmosphere, offering both savory bites and refreshing beverages in a vibrant, casual space. Their coffee and Korean teas complement the dishes beautifully.
Must-Try Dishes: Kimchi Toast, Spicy Beef Soup, Matcha Latte
What makes it special: Casual Korean café with great coffee and savory bites.
$$ Little Italy Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
A Tel Aviv-leaning Nolita dining room built around bright spreads, share plates, and a lively night-out pace. The strongest move is mezze first, then one standout entrée—great energy for groups when you want Mediterranean flavors without a formal vibe.
Must-Try Dishes: Shakshouka, Branzino Schnitzel, Hummus & Pita Spreads
What makes it special: Tel Aviv-style share plates with a buzzy Nolita dining-room energy.
$$$ Little Italy Mediterranean
Opened in 2018 by owner Eyal Hen, 19 Cleveland channels Tel Aviv’s café culture into a Nolita space filled with whitewashed walls, greenery, and an always-on soundtrack. Contemporary Mediterranean plates, from hummus and smoked eggplant to a beloved falafel burger, make it a flexible choice for brunch, casual dates, and small-group dinners.
Must-Try Dishes: “Jerusalem-style” focaccia, Falafel burger, Smoked eggplant carpaccio
What makes it special: Tel Aviv–inspired small plates, cocktails, and music in Nolita.
$$$$ Little Italy Pizza
A newer SoHo entrant, Crazy Pizza combines ultra-thin Roman-style pies, tableside truffle shavings, and DJ-backed dough-spinning shows in a clubby dining room. Open late on weekends, it functions as both pizzeria and party, drawing fashion and nightlife crowds more than grab-and-go slice hunters.
Must-Try Dishes: Black truffle pizza, Diavola spicy salami pizza, Burrata and cherry tomato pizza
What makes it special: High-energy, performance-driven pizzeria where wafer-thin pies share the spotlight with DJs and dough-spinning servers.
$$$ Little Italy
A design-forward French room where a prix-fixe structure fits the space: polished, orderly, and paced for a long lunch or early dinner. It’s a strong pick when you want a tasting-like progression without the intensity of a strict chef’s counter.
Must-Try Dishes: Boeuf Bourguignon, Buckwheat Crêpes, Seasonal Pastry Selection
What makes it special: A French prix-fixe-friendly room where design and pacing lead.
Little Italy Cocktail Bars, Diners
A SoHo bar-and-restaurant that’s most useful for a clean, modern happy hour when you want cocktails and a few plates without committing to a long meal. The room reads polished, the menu is broad enough for a mixed group, and the pacing stays easy if you order smart.
Must-Try Dishes: Cocktail with a snack, Shareable plates, A main to split
What makes it special: A polished SoHo room that works for drinks plus food.

Worthy Picks

$$$ Little Italy
A high-comfort Italian-leaning room where the prix fixe makes the most sense: straightforward choices, generous energy, and a predictable rhythm. Best for when you want a structured three-course night that feels like a treat without chasing a long tasting narrative.
Must-Try Dishes: Caesar Salad, Cacio e Pepe, Strawberry Shortcake
What makes it special: A $58 prix-fixe that delivers a predictable three-course night out.
$$$ Little Italy French, American
A dim, loungey French wine bar built for date-night pacing—settle in, snack, and let the staff steer you through bottles and by-the-glass picks. The food works best as wine-friendly support: one hot, cheesy shareable plus one or two small plates, then stop.
Must-Try Dishes: French onion soup grilled cheese, Grilled meats (seasonal), Basque-style cake
What makes it special: A candlelit Parisian-style wine bar where the bottle is the main event.
$$$ Little Italy Japanese, Ramen
A modern, seafood-forward ramen shop that leans into luxe bowls and bold add-ons rather than classic tonkotsu tradition. It’s a strong fit when you want a rich, statement ramen built around salmon, crab, or lobster, with the best experience coming from ordering one signature bowl and staying focused.
Must-Try Dishes: Special Lobster Noodle Signature, Spicy Salmon Ramen, Crab Ramen Truffle
What makes it special: Seafood-centric ramen bowls built for maximum richness and photo appeal.
$$$ Little Italy Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
A SoHo room doing a modern Mideast/North Africa/Anatolia mash-up with a menu designed for sharing and late-evening pacing. Go for the bold spreads and a couple of larger plates—this is more about mood, cocktails, and contrast than a traditional Mediterranean “greatest hits” run.
Must-Try Dishes: Tahini Toast, Smokey Babaganoush, Mideast Chicken Parm
What makes it special: A modern mash-up menu built for cocktails and share plates.
$$$ Little Italy
A two-story SoHo townhouse restaurant where fries show up as a proper menu item rather than a throw-in side, and they play best as a sharable starter before the room turns louder. The vibe can skew celebratory upstairs, so the cleanest move is fries early, then one main and a cocktail lane to match the energy.
Must-Try Dishes: French fries, Katsu sandwich with fries, Seasonal townhouse mains
What makes it special: Townhouse-style SoHo spot where fries are a real starter play.