1. Gemma
8.2
335 Bowery (btwn E 2nd & E 3rd St), New York, NY
Italian Restaurant · East Village · 192 tips and reviews
Amy Lan: The white pizza with truffle is very tasty as is the pappardelle with oxtail ragu and linguine with shrimp in lemon sauce.
Nina Grazi: Always celebs here on Sunday morning brunch time:) good brunch not amazing great atmosphere usually long wait for table for brunch
Lacoste: Where we go for our Nutella calzone fix. Never heard of it? TRY IT. It's also a perfect spot to enjoy a cocktail after work -- just be careful the wax from the giant candles doesn't ruin your drink!
2. Porsena Extra Bar
21 E 7th St (3rd Ave), New York, NY
Wine Bar · East Village · 13 tips and reviews
The New Yorker: “On a Friday, people ate wilted-escarole salad with hot anchovy dressing, drank Italian reds, and listened to a cozy New York soundtrack: late Velvet Underground, Cotton Club-style jazz.” Read more.
Serena: one of my favorite date spots in the city. quiet, great soundtrack and softly flickering candles. the food is also exceptional (lamb flatbread, tuna puttanesca and surryano ham are all winners).
Tasting Table: Monday nights this bar turns into a Persian pop-up called Lakh Lakh. The menu is an array of small plates where nothing costs more than $7. There is such diversity they call it "street food". Read more.
Justine Weeks Sutley: CASH ONLY. Great pizza with thin crust. Try the large with 3 different pizza selections on one pie. Delicious!
Marisa Tom: The pizza here is so damn good. Diavola, D.O.C, Reginella, San Daniele, and the Romeo pizza all get top honors. Sit outside on a nice night. It's heaven.
Ricky: Absolutely the best individual pizzas in NYC! And such a cute ambiance.
7. John's of 12th Street
7.6
302 E 12th St (btwn 1st & 2nd Ave), New York, NY
Italian Restaurant · East Village · 77 tips and reviews
Greg Barila: The sort of shithouse Italian people who don't know better think is authentic and good. It is far from it. the veal was lukewarm and swimming in lemon butter sauce. Rubbish
Kevin Dudley: Avocado bruschetta and veal meatballs are awesome. Tuscan Ragu and chicken parm were very good. Staff was very attentive. Nice, quiet meal was just what we needed.
Jon Steinback: this 'candle' was started to celebrate the end of prohibition!