Lupa
This immensely popular Roman-style osteria has made quite a name for itself thanks to owner and top New York restaurateur Mario Batali's veteran guidance. Located in the trendy neighborhood of SoHo, Lupa serves a wide range of simple and delicious Italian recipes like ricotta gnocchi with fennel and sausage, pork saltimbocca, and Swiss chard tortellini. Lupa also offers a fine selection of Italian wines served by the bottle or in a carafe. Prices are surprisingly quite reasonable, with entrees hovering at around $20 and most pasta dishes under $15. Lupa also supports humane practices in the raising of its meat, pork and poultry.
Lupa
170 Thompson St.
New York, NY 10012
(212) 982-5089
luparestaurant.com
A Voce
Despite its loud, flashy setting in a Madison Square high-rise, A Voce offers rustic Italian food with understated sophistication. Head Chef Missy Robbins perfected her craft by working at Michelin-rated Agli Amici in the Northern Italian city of Friuli. Robbins utilizes the full breadth of her talents in recipes like rabbit papardelle with ceci beans, lemon and majoram; fontina-filled pasta topped with apples, caraway, rye; and creamy white polenta with Gorgonzola and toasted walnuts. For dessert, A Voce offers equally appealing dishes like Tuscan doughnuts with chocolate sauce and warm apple tart with rum-raisin gelato and cider caramel.
A Voce
41 Madison Ave.
New York, NY 10010
(212) 545-8555
avocerestaurant.com
Barbetta
One of New York's oldest and most esteemed restaurants, Barbetta has been serving gourmet northern Italian cuisine for over a century. Specializing in recipes from the Piedmont region of Italy, the country's northernmost region, this New York institution offers truly decadent food in a sumptuous, elegant atmosphere. Choose from a wide range of hearty dishes like bolliti misti, a regional dish of boiled meats served from an antique silver tray, or fresh gnocchi doused in a rich homemade cheese sauce. In the warmer months, you can enjoy your meal in Barbetta's romantic outdoor garden. Barbetta also offers a pre-theater pre-fixe that provides a decent sampling of its inspired traditional cuisine.
Barbetta
321 West 46th St.
New York, NY 10036
(212) 246-9171
barbettarestaurant.com
Article Written By Charlie Higgins
Charlie Higgins is a writer, translator, editor and social-media consultant based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Originally from Connecticut, Higgins holds bachelor's degrees in media studies and music from Oberlin College. He currently works for the financial inclusion and microenterprise news website Microdinero.
