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Italian

Wow, if you like Italian food, there is no place in the world like the St. Marks Neighborhood. I've been to Italy, I've eaten at restaurants there, and believe me, this is better. Seriously. All of these restaurants are good, and some of them are scary-good.

Via Della Pace

Excellent
Worth a special trip, this is my favorite Italian restaurant in the area. The food is perfectly prepared and tastes amazing. Lots of good Italian wines and Sangria on weekends. Tucked down 7th street, it's easy to miss.

I've eaten here so many times it's hard to know what to recommend. The Lasagna, Spaghetti Al Brucio, Lobster Ravioli, all great. Lots of creative Bruschette choices. Really, excellent all around. Better Italian food than I had at any restaurant in Italy. And the owner is a jovial bearded man wearing colorful scarves and looking like Pavarotti.

Appetizers $4-6, salads $6-9, pastas $8.50-13, main courses $14.50-16, sandwiches $6-9, deserts 6$. Also has a wide variety of coffees.  (2005-07-19)
Also In:    Restaurants / Categories / ** Extra Special **

48 East 7th Street (at 2nd Ave)
New York, NY, 10003,USA
212-253-5803

Bellos

Excellent
Ate at Bellos last night with low expectations. From the outside it looks like a low-quality dive.

But how wrong I was! It's a totally charming Italian restaurant with orange tile walls, movie posters, and lush crooner music. Yes, you can imagine Frank Sinatra feeling right at home. And further, they are clean, with no violation points on their last health inspection. Bravissimo!

And the food was wonderful, with well prepared, tasty dishes. I had the veal sorrento (on special - comes with steamed veggies, thank you and mashed potatoes for about $15) with the ricotta cheese cake. Both were excellent.

I'll definitely be going back.

  (2006-03-29)
Also In:    Restaurants / Categories / Cleanliness Award

130 St. Marks Place (btwn 1st and A)
New York, NY 10009,USA
212-979-2243

Col Legno

Better than Very Good
Have you ever seen the movie, "The Big Night"? This is the restaurant that I imagined they would open. They serve no-nonsense Italian grilled food. I've had the quail with polenta and the pizza - both excellent. The pizza was an individual with thin crust, Italian style.

When we were in Italy, we hired a local chef to cook our meals (we rented a villa with 10 friends and family). One evening, she started a wood fire in the wood oven in the villa and cooked an amazing meal of grilled meats and vegetables. If you want that kind of experience in New York City, this is the place for it.

And what's the deal with the pictures of women in the upper windows?

$5-8 Antipasti, $9-11 Pizza (individual sized), $13-17 main courses, $6 deserts.  (2005-12-01)
Also In:    Restaurants / Categories / Highly Recommended

231 E. 9th Street (btwn 2nd and 3rd Ave)
New York, NY 10003,USA
212-777-4650

Paprika

Very Good
I first went to Paprika a while back, maybe a year ago? And I remember it being very good - an elegant, trendy, Italian restaurant.

But for the life of me, I can't remember what I ordered. Fish, maybe? So I went back today, determined to have the two most unusual items on the menu.

The keyword is "focus". My artichoke salad was a mound of artichoke hearts with some shaved parmesian garnish, and my polenta was two large (and hot) grilled cakes in a wonderfully silky cream sauce. They were both very very good, and the two together filled me up.

But I think I'll have to go back again to get a real feeling for the place.

Appetizers $4-11, Pasta $9-13, Main Courses $11-18.  (2005-09-12)

110 St. Marks Place (btwn 1-A ave)
New York, NY 10009,USA
212-677-6563

Serafina

Very Good
A trendy, upscale Italian restaurant, including some traditional dishes (Penne Arrabbiata, Tortellini in a cream sauce, Rigatoni in a meat sauce) and lots of updated versions (such as raw tuna sashimi with a dipping sauce, spaghetti with a 1/2 Maine lobster, pizza with potatoes, creme fraiche and caviar). I especially like their large and varied selection of salads.

When I ate there, I had the Insalata Fresca, the Penne Alla Carbonara, and the Souffle Di Cioccolato (recommended). All were excellent.

And the building is absolutely beautiful. It's right next to The Public theater, with a spectacular interior that includes vaulted brick ceilings.

Appetizers $5-15, pasta $11-22, entres $15-26, pizza $10-22.  (2005-07-12)
Also In:    Restaurants / Categories / Highly Recommended

393 Lafayette Street (btween 7th and St. Marks)
New York, NY, 10003,USA
212-995-5380

I Coppi

Good
I've eaten at this country Tuscan restaurant twice now. The first time I had a salad with the grilled wild boar and polenta (I'm a sucker for polenta, I always order it). The second time I had the fusilli with radicchio and pine nuts and the pork with pears.

I would say that the wild boar was very good and definitely worth a visit. The rest of the items were quite good and well prepared - but just not special in any remarkable way.

Appetizers ($10-12), entrees ($15-25), deserts ($4-7).  (2006-02-26)

432 East 9th Street (btwn Ave A and 1st Ave)
New York, NY 10009,USA
212-254-2263


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