1. Joe's Pizza
9.1
150 E 14th St (at 3rd Ave), New York, NY
Pizzeria · East Village · 174 tips and reviews
Halstead Property: Although there’s no surprise toppings, that sweet tomato sauce flavor and just the right amount of cheese sprinkled on top makes this one of NY’s best classic plain or mozzarella cheese pizzas.
Ellis Hamburger: My favorite slice in NYC. So simple. So delicious. The tomato sauce is everything.
Joey J: Can't go wrong with Joe's. The Pizza is fresh and crispy. Their Sicilian slice is one of my favorites. You can't fake a good tomato sauce. Any Italian will agree, the sauce makes the slice.
2. Frank Restaurant
8.2
88 2nd Ave (at E 5th St), New York, NY
Italian Restaurant · East Village · 169 tips and reviews
Leslie Teng: Baked eggs pomodoro are savory and delicious; comes with toast good for soaking up the tomato sauce. French toast is amazing: firm and fluffy, filled with jam, comes with lots of fruit.
Holiday: Gnocchi in tomato sauce is perfection pairs swimmingly Chianti. Cash only is brutal and needs to end.
James J: Check the chalk board for the expanded menu! The gnocchi a must have.
3. Luzzo's
8.0
211 1st Ave (btwn E 12th & E 13th St), New York, NY
Pizzeria · East Village · 114 tips and reviews
Robert I: Pizza? Campana - tomato sauce, mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, shaved parmigiano, basil
Lucu Chalmeton: Try the prosciutto mozzarella truffle one! With or without tomato sauce!
William H: Cute spot for a pizza date. Get the #7 with black truffle pate. So good!
4. Au Za'atar
8.2
188 Avenue A (at 12th St), New York, NY
Middle Eastern Restaurant · East Village · 80 tips and reviews
Alice Eunjin: "falafel Benedict with spicy tomato sauce, or house-made hummus with shawarma. Or just keep it a la cate with chili shakshuka baked eggs or a croque monsieur"
Eater: Brunch here spans from classic French to classic Middle Easter cuisine. Menu includes shakshuka, kafta benedict, and an "Au Za'atar Breakfast," served with eggs, pita, & a selection of mezze. Read more.
Dens: Foursquare tips did not do us wrong -- kebabs are great, cauliflower is great. The pita & hummus & olive oil you get right after you sit may be the best part tho. a bit pricey. I bet brunch is killer
6. Motorino
8.4
349 E 12th St (at 1st Ave), New York, NY
Pizzeria · East Village · 318 tips and reviews
Valerie Seckler: Zingy tomato sauce makes a Neapolitan margherita memorable. A wood-burning oven delivers chewy crust. Pizza pie + mesclun w/fresh pepper+sea salt, can be had in a $12 lunch, M-F. Old New York setting.
Time Out New York: Order the Margherita— it's a classic combination of tomato sauce, mozzarella and basil with melted islands of buffalo-milk mozzarella on a thin layer of sweet sauce. Read more.
DoubleDeuce: Fantastic place. Come with your date. Not too expensive, not too loud, decent location. Always lots of neighborhood options to move along if it's going well.
7. Bar Primi
8.3
325 Bowery (at E 2nd St), New York, NY
Italian Restaurant · East Village · 203 tips and reviews
Wilson Zhou: This restaurant is my new favorite in NoHo and they are innovative. This is Italian Benedict made of special tomato sauce unlike tradition egg Benedict made of hollandaise sauce.
Zayed Khan: The fontina stuffed meatballs are as good you might imagine. The tomato sauce for it is heavy, and has a certain coarse gravity about it.
Jacqueline Shea: Carciofi. Enough said. It's mouthwatering, creamy, and the perfect balance of artichoke and a light, creamy sauce. Another must- have is the eggplant bruschetta. Trendy yet homey ambiance-- loved it
8. Supper
8.3
156 E 2nd St (btwn Ave A & B), New York, NY
Italian Restaurant · Alphabet City · 278 tips and reviews
Dave S: So awesome:Steak Alla Pizzaiola 19.95Seared Flat-Iron Steak cooked in a toasted garlic oregano Tomato Sauce, with Roasted Gnocchi and Broccoli Rabe.
Danielle Purslow: My favorite restaurant in NYC. Must try: spaghetti a limone, salsa cruda, black salt Caesar and kale panzanella.
The Local East Village: Rachel Dratch of SNL says, "Supper is my favorite East Village place, maybe my favorite New York restaurant. They have these really cool party rooms that are hidden." Read more.
9. John's of 12th Street
7.5
302 E 12th St (btwn 1st & 2nd Ave), New York, NY
Italian Restaurant · East Village · 77 tips and reviews
Village Voice: Their eggplant rollatini is one of the greatest: eggplant fried either with crumbs or without, rolled around snow-white ricotta cheese, smothered in tomato sauce, then mantled in mozzarella.
Nicole Solomon: Their seitan is some of the best in the city. The seitan alla rosa is particularly superb. This is actually one of the best restaurants in the city for vegans. Save room for the cannoli.
Jon Steinback: this 'candle' was started to celebrate the end of prohibition!
12. Gemma
8.3
335 Bowery (btwn E 2nd & E 3rd St), New York, NY
Italian Restaurant · East Village · 192 tips and reviews
Ben Mackey: Baked eggs is just eggs in tomato sauce. Tastes good, but still a bit disappointing.
Erin: Always full of beautiful people. One of my favorite brunch spots (baked eggs, truffle frittata) and excellent for dinner (arancini, kale salad, can't miss crostini).
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!
13. Cafe Mogador
9.1
101 Saint Marks Pl (btwn 1st Ave & Avenue A), New York, NY
Moroccan Restaurant · East Village · 402 tips and reviews
Grace Barr: Eggs in tomato sauce :)
Nate Beatty: It's settled - this is my new brunch favorite. A Moroccan twist on classic NYC brunch deviates just far enough from the norm, but still satisfies my Sunday Eggs Benedict cravings
Bravo: This is the place to go for Morraccan food. The tagines are so flavorful. I can't have a meal without the merquen sausage. Eric Wolitzky, Top Chef Just Desserts
15. Lavagna
8.8
545 E 5th St (btwn Avenue A & Avenue B), New York, NY
Italian Restaurant · Alphabet City · 78 tips and reviews
Desiree Barreras: Best italian restaurant in alphabet city. The owner is super nice, waiters know what they're talking about, and the pappardelle with braised rabbit is to die for.
Dev Anand: That peach dessert thing.. with the orange ice cream on top.. just do it yo.
Vanessa Smith: Food is amazing but the service is unbelievable. The best service in NYC I've had in a long time. .