best italian restaurants below midtown

[mah626]

what are your favorite italian restaurants below midtown???

[mr_seabass]

A Voce
Bella Vitae
Bar Stuzzichini

[idia]

Crispo's

[jsmitty]

Crispo
po
a voce
bellavitae

[batterypark]

Po on Cornelia Street. You can have a nice lunch or brunch for under $20; tasting menus are a bit of a splurge. The menu still reflects Mario Batali's original vision for the restaurant, although he sold it many years ago.

[timmy]

Babbo and Crispo's

[chocolatechip]

I really like Ennio and Michaels which is just good 'ol Italian food!

[billyeats]

mid level: Lupa
casual: Malatesta
(not a big believer in high-priced Italian)

[jrazzle]

I really like Barbone (E. Village) and Piccolo Angolo (W. Village). For casual, budget Italian, Frank on 2nd Ave. is good, but expect a little wait...

[Blumie]

Le Zie, for a more casual and affordable neighborhood place. Seventh Avenue and 21st Street.

[trvln light]

Po - delicous and reasonably priced

[kobetobiko]

Babbo, Del Posto, and Hearth

If 26th Street is "below Midtown", then I will include A Voce.

[princeofpork]

Kobe, is Hearth really considered Italian? I ate there 2x and never got the traditional Italian feel.

[kobetobiko]

I considered Heath as contemporary Italian (definitely not traditional Italian). Some may argue that it is new American with Italian influence, so it is a fine line.

It's same for a lot of the restaurants out there; while others may call EMP New American, I really consider it more contemporary French.

[jsmitty]

i never much cared what a restaurant was characterized as.....

[Blumie]

... except that the OP specifically asked about Italian.

[princeofpork]

Not sure where "midtown" ends but I would say
Novita for upscale and Apizz for casual