Looking for a great Italian restaurant in the East Village or surrounding area...

[msucat]

Any advice is appreciated! Thanks.

[wingman]

In addition to the great recs I'd add Il Baggato on 2nd between A & B (I think) and strongly second Da Andrea - just a great atmosphere and the food is even better than that!

[NAtiveNewYorker]

Bianca, Bleeker and Bowery

Little Italy: Taormina or Il Cortile, Mulberry

[scrittrice]

I constantly recommend Bianca, and everyone I've sent there loves it--no reservations, cash only, great lasagne and fritto misto and other stuff from Emilia-Romagna. My only complaint would be that the menu is pretty small and never changes.

[ChefJune]

I like Assenzio on East 3rd Street.

[Lucia]

Cacio e Pepe and Barbone in E Vill
Apizz in LES
Peasant in Soho

[ginnyhw]

Cremcaffe on 2nd Ave, is a small family run place. Good homemade sauce.and nice waiter.

[tbloom101]

Max on East 4th and Avenue B

[kelea]

I really enjoyed my meal at Il Cantinori. One of the best cabonara's I've had in awhile. how does everyone else feel abotu them?

[scrittrice]

What I ate there tasted like airplane food. It was seriously terrible and completely bland. They served my fish special with mixed vegetables that I swear were frozen from a bag.

[Pan]

For great, I'd recommend Hearth. Arguably not Italian, but certainly very heavily Italian-influenced.

I had a great meal at I Coppi, but it was so many years ago that I really can't count it for anything.

[bread for breakfast]

I second Lavagna.

Also, I recently had a great Italian meal at Mangiami, if you're willing to go a few blocks south (it's on Stanton).

[Pan]

You're not seconding Lavagna from me, not in this thread, because I consider it good, not great. Granted, though, it's been quite some time since I've been there.

[financialdistrictresident]

Actually that makes it three after billyeats and me. People use the word "great" way too loosely. I have only had few "great", extraordinary meals. It is rare and special when food, service, ambience all come together in a stellar way.

[princeofpork]

APIZZ on Eldrige is outstanding

[jrazzle]

I absolutely LOVE Bar-bo-ne!

[clembeauchamp]

Not sure what your budget is but I Coppi (E 9 bet 1st and A) and Il Buco (Bond bet Bowery and Lafayette) are among my faves...

[UWShound]

It's on the LES, but Little Frankie's is one of my favorite inexpensive Italian places in New York. Apart from the excellent food, I especially like the inexpensive red house wine which makes you feel like you're in Italy.

[Pan]

Li'l Frankie's is on 1st Av. between 1st and 2nd (IIRC), which I would say is on the Lower East Side but everyone would agree is in the East Village.

[financialdistrictresident]

I just went to I Coppi recently for dinner. They also have a nice brunch and the lovely garden. You might want to see menupages.com (for menu & prices). Here's a few thoughts on my experience:

I have only been to I Coppi for brunch (a great value at $15 and in that lovely garden!) until last night. Pylos had a 1 hour wait (without reservations) so we wandered around and decided on I Coppi. No availability in the garden so we ate in the lovely front room by the windows. Service is relaxed, more European (so if you are in a hurry this might not be the place for you). For app. we had the grilled Tuscan bread w/melted Taleggio cheese & figs served with baby arugula salad. Please note, their bread is nothing special (but is served with a decent olive oil). Entrees were ravioli stuffed w/gorgonzola & ears in a creamy mushroom sauce and Livornese style shell fish stew served with garlic bread. We finished w/espresso and fig gelati. Everything was delicious.

[financialdistrictresident]

Lanza's is very good (traditional Italian). LaVagna (Wine Spectator award winning wine list, prix fixe dinner).

[Pan]

Lanza's is the SPQR? If so, I had a pretty darn bad meal there several months ago. Overcooked, dry, tasteless - I can't remember what I had, even.

[financialdistrictresident]

Sorry you had a bad experience. I usually get the arugula salad and eggplant parm. app. for dinner when I go. A crowded neighborhood place. Consistently good food & service.

[Pan]

It wasn't the least bit crowded when we went there for lunch on a weekday.

[billyeats]

East Village:
Cacio y Pepe, Frank, Supper, Lavagna

West Village:
Malatesta, DaAndrea, Bellavitae, Crispo

In between:
Bianca