Downtown italian
OUR Favorite
discover our favorites
i sodi
Dating Profile
Masterful Tuscan cooking in a cherished West Village corner
Flirty Factor
The most romantic bite of our lives is most definitely I Sodi’s carciofi lasagna. Decadent, rich and flavorful, its 22 layers will transport you straight to heaven.
Owner Rita Sodi has succeeded in creating a timeless place that all of NYC is in love with. Order your favorite bottle of Chianti alongside pappardelle al limone and fall into intimate conversation. Come with someone you love and experience pure happiness through the simplest things in life: great food and even better company. This is one of our favorite Italian restaurants in the world.
Interested?
Book on Resy or put your name down
roscioli
Dating Profile
Soho outpost of the beloved Roman institution with an upstairs à la carte salumeria and cave-like downstairs tasting menu
Flirty Factor
On a MacDougal St. corner, you will find a piece of Rome at Roscioli.
Sit in the joyful upstairs alimentari which is basically a fancy Italian deli lined with tomato sauce jars and olive oils, and a transparent counter showcasing perfect mortadella and fresh mozzarella. Gourmet ingredients galore are used in every dish from the overflowing charcuterie boards to the al dente carbonara. For an elevated tasting menu, venture downstairs to the brick-vaulted cellar that was once used as a secret tunnel during Prohibition. All we can say is, if a beau took us on a date to Roscioli, we might marry them tomorrow.
Interested?
Book on Resy for the tasting menu or walk in for the upstairs à la carte
bar pitti
Dating Profile
Reliable Italian trattoria always filled with neighborhood regulars speaking different languages on a sceney sidewalk
Flirty Factor
Bar Pitti is always a good idea. Take your pick from the chalkboard specials: pastas are al-dente and the branzino is one of the best in NYC.
Find us once a week at this cult-favorite spot where you will savor perfect pappardelle, mingle with Giovanni and easily become a loyal customer. Come for a Euro scene filled with people-watching and enjoy a casual dinner where authentic dishes please all palettes. This cash-only spot reminds us that less truly is more.
Interested?
Walk in and cash only
Carbone
Dating Profile
Retro red sauce spectacle where Little Italy meets iconic downtown New York
Flirty Factor
Step into a world of theatrical production: the smartly dressed servers, massive menus and Supremes tracks on repeat make it clear that you’ve entered none other than Carbone.
Italian classics with a little flirt and flair are taken to whole new heights at this Major Food Group institution. From the best bread basket in NYC to the spicy rigatoni vodka that you see on everyone’s gram, every dish is as captivating as it looks on the screen. If you’re lucky enough to secure a reservation at this always coveted spot, bring out your red dress and prepare for a meal where indulgence meets comfort… and feels like a night out in itself.
Interested?
Book on Resy
cipriani
Dating Profile
Global icon of hospitality serving upscale Italian fare in sceney settings all around NYC
Flirty Factor
Every day calls for pasta and bellinis - a match made in heaven by the one and only Harry Cipriani.
Entertain yourself with endless people-watching in every location: from the model-filled downtown to the finance power lunches in Midtown and everything in between at Casa Cipriani. No matter where you end up, be assured that their baked tagliolini will transport you straight to Italy and deliver exceptional quality every single time. From a salad-filled lunch to a celebratory pasta party, we would happily marry Harry and dine at Cipriani every day.
Interested?
Book on OpenTable for Midtown
Call +1 (212) 343-0999 for Downtown
rubirosa
Dating Profile
Bustling Mulberry ristorante famous for their thin-crust vodka sauce pies
Flirty Factor
When you’re craving carbs and want to feel cool while indulging, Rubirosa always hits the spot. This Italian-American pizza joint with red awnings and a retro exterior gets every Soho passerby excited to peek in and taste their paper-thin pies. People from near and far line up to savor their vodka sauce and oven-melting mozzarella, but their simple salads and pomodoro pastas complete the Italian comfort food experience.
Interested?
Book on Resy or put your name down
via carota
Dating Profile
West Village Italian institution where dishes are as dreamy as its rustic chandelier-lit setting
Flirty Factor
Under sunshine or a starry night, this gastroteca of cherished downtown chefs Jody Williams and Rita Sodi is guaranteed to get you excited every time. Famous for an award-winning Insalata Verde and an incredible selection of handmade pasta, every bite here makes the long wait times completely worth it. The bustling ambiance is perfect for a catch-up session over a spritz at the bar and their charming indoors makes for a romantic date night. But keep in mind, this is where to see-and-be-seen so bring your long-time beau.
Find the menu from behind your chair and order away: vegetables, fish, pasta, meat or a seriously spectacular tiramisu… This perfect restaurant that combines the best of Italy and New York simply does it all.
Interested?
Book on Resy or put your name down
torrisi
Dating Profile
The ultimate star-studded hotspot that presents an NYC take on Italian dishes in Nolita
Flirty Factor
The latest restaurant from Major Food Group has once again perfected stellar vibes, exceptional food and immaculate service - and is our favorite place to enjoy a fabulous group dinner before a Flirty night out.
The sky-high ceilings, velvet booths and open kitchen showcasing the dedicated chefs create an extravagant atmosphere that screams “Welcome to NY.” Get an espresso martini or two, all the daily specials and no matter what, don’t skip dessert. If you can land the hottest table in town in the iconic Puck Building, chef and owner Rich Torrisi will make sure it’s a night to remember.
Interested?
Book on Resy
don angie
Dating Profile
Modern Italian-American restaurant in the West Village famous for their lasagna
Flirty Factor
One of the hardest reservations to secure, Don Angie offers a one-of-a-kind take on Italian comfort classics that should make it to everyone’s bucket list.
You’re here for the lasagna, but everything else on their family-style menu is a hit. Although Michelin-starred, their portions are huge and the vibes are playful so come feast with a party of 4.
Interested?
Book on Resy
IL CANTINORI
Dating Profile
Old-school Italian with soaring flower arrangements and a glamorous history in Greenwich Village
Flirty Factor
Uptown there are so many neighborhood Italian spots that satisfy both a Sunday supper with the grandparents and a candlelit table for two. But downtown, Il Cantinori stands out as one of the few.
Opened in 1983, this Tuscan destination is still as fabulous as when Carrie Bradshaw hosted her 30th birthday dinner, or when Andy Warhol rode a motorcycle right through the front door. Most of the Italian waiters have been there since the beginning, so definitely listen when they steer you towards the pasta trio you’ll be thinking about for days.
Interested?
Book on OpenTable
Fiaschetteria Pistoia
Dating Profile
Easy eatery serving Tuscan charm in the East and West Village
Flirty Factor
Winter nights call for pasta at Fiaschetteria Pistoia. The small, rustic interior is perfect for a date night for 2. But be warned, you’ll most likely be roped into a conversation with the neighboring couple seated so close that they’ll inevitably eavesdrop.
Pick a red wine from their selection of bottles adorned with handwritten tags and enjoy authentic pastas that taste as if they were made by your Italian Nonna.
Interested?
Walk in for West Village
Call +1 212 777-3355 for East Village
song’e napule
Dating Profile
Blue and white pizzeria off Houston St. serving great Neapolitan energy
Flirty Factor
Find a little piece of Naples in Soho at Song’E Napule. Chef Ciro, a pizza chef since he was 13, has created an inviting atmosphere where no one takes themselves too seriously and everyone is ready for a fun time.
Come for a celebratory group meal to dance the night away to Sarà Perché Ti Amo or to cheer on Napoli in the Champions League semi-finals alongside the passionate staff. Either way, their wood-fired pizzas are always as authentic as the whole Song’E Napule experience.
Interested?
Book on website
l’artusi
Dating Profile
Solid and reputable Italian in the heart of the West Village
Flirty Factor
Got vino and pasta feels? Visit L’Artusi for a wonderful meal where you can indulge in light-as-air ricotta and well-executed pastas.
Their romantically lit dining room makes this the perfect spot to dine with a date at the bar or with a bigger group to taste all the small dishes over bottles of wine. Either way, make sure to finish your evening with their chef’s kiss olive oil cake.
Interested?
Book on Resy
