Best Luxury Dining Elite Italian Restaurants in Midtown East
4 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Santi
Six-time Michelin-starred Chef Michael White's flagship return to Manhattan with handmade pasta perfection
Notable Picks
#1
Santi
8.9
Chef Michael White's triumphant return to NYC brings six Michelin stars of pedigree to this sophisticated Midtown destination. The handmade pastas showcase White's mastery of Emilia-Romagna techniques, with the garganelli and tortellini earning particular acclaim from serious Italian food devotees.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tri-Colored Garganelli with Scallops, Orecchiette with Blue Crab and Uni, Delizie al Limone
What makes it special: Six-time Michelin-starred Chef Michael White's flagship return to Manhattan with handmade pasta perfection
8.6
Elegant southern Italian cooking in a serene, high-ceilinged space favored by opera and theater crowds. The menu leans classic—antipasti, pastas, and carefully roasted meats—executed with consistent finesse. A reliable upscale pick when you want old-world formality without stiffness.
Must-Try Dishes:
Orecchiette with sausage and broccoli rabe, Branzino al forno, Housemade ricotta ravioli
What makes it special: Polished southern Italian classics in a grand, quiet room.
#3
La Piazza
8.1
La Piazza brings a polished Venetian-inspired dining room to 49th Street, where a rich Bolognese lasagna with royal beef ragù sits alongside seafood pastas and wood-fired pizza. It’s a splashy, two-floor space suited to business dinners and special occasions more than quick weekday lunches.
Must-Try Dishes:
Bolognese Lasagna with Royal Beef Ragù, Paccheri with Lobster, Pizza Veneziana
What makes it special: Venetian-rooted showpiece where a refined Bolognese lasagna is served in a dramatic, two-level dining room steps from Rockefeller Center.
Worthy Picks
7.9
Milan Licul's 40-year-old nameplate returns to Manhattan with refined Venetian cuisine featuring fresh seafood and handmade pastas. The elegant amber lighting and Murano glass accents transport diners to Northern Italy's lagoon country while Executive Chef Cesar Dutan blends French techniques with Italian tradition.
Must-Try Dishes:
Saffron Risotto with Bone Marrow, Grilled Octopus, Pappardelle with Wild Boar Ragu
What makes it special: Revival of legendary 1980s nameplate with Venetian-inspired cuisine and elegant glass accents