When visitors come looking for the most fun places to eat in New York City, Italian restaurants always top the list. We, at City Tales, are excited to share our favorite havens of crowd-pleasing Italian food.
Little Italy
Most NYC visitors make a bee-line for Little Italy when seeking Italian Food. If you wander Mulberry Street, you will discover an abundance of Italian restaurants with authentic food for you to choose from, offering incredible lunch specials, and showcasing their delicious pasta dishes. We recommend Gelso and Grand(opens in a new tab). Gelso means Mulberry in Italian. The menu is by Cassidy Hallman, who prides himself on using only the best ingredients. This includes milling his own flour and sourcing herbs from the restaurant’s rooftop garden!
Arthur Avenue
The most traditional Italian cuisine in the city is found in the Bronx(opens in a new tab). Arthur Avenue, a street in the Belmont neighborhood of the Bronx, is known by locals as the “real Little Italy.” The multitude of dining options can be overwhelming. We recommend Zero Otto Nove both(opens in a new tab) for its delicious affordable cuisine, and for its buoyant atmosphere. It is easily one of the best restaurants in the Bronx.
Arthur Avenue is as much about shopping as it is about eating. Make sure to check out the Italian style butchers, bakers, and cheesemongers lining Arthur Avenue. Get yourself a cannoli at Morrone(opens in a new tab), or a fresh loaf of olive bread at Madonia Brothers Bakery(opens in a new tab).
Fine Dining with a Family Feel
Shhhh…(this one is our special local secret). Pepolino(opens in a new tab) is a Tuscan restaurant in the heart of TriBeCa that combines fine dining with a welcoming family feel. It’s unpretentious enough that you can bring the kids, and is delicious enough that you can bring a classically-trained chef, and still delight their taste buds. Named for a type of thyme that grows in Tuscany, Pepolino was opened in 1999 by Patrizio Siddu and Enzo Pezone. Make sure to see a list of the daily specials, and ask the sommelier for a perfect wine pairing.