Great Pasta Restaurants in Lower Manhattan

Who Doesn't Like Pasta? - Where to find innovative and mouth-watering pasta dishes in Lower Manhattan. The area that encompasses Lower Manhattan is diverse, to say the least. The neighborhoods of Soho, Chelsea, FiDi, Nolita, Greenwich Village and the Lower East Side offer discerning foodies a plethora of captivating and delicious choices. With a truly international rainbow of cuisines available to you, the only real problem is deciding which restaurant to visit ( or order from ) first .One of the oldest and most popular cuisines that you will find here is Italian. The first wave of immigrants from places like Naples and Sicily settled in Lower Manhattan way, way back in the 1890s. They brought with them food such as pizza and pasta. These dishes might have seemed a bit strange to the Irish, German, and Polish immigrants who had arrived on our shores a generation or two earlier, not to mention the descendants of the British colonists. What are these squiggly, long noodles with tomatoes on them, anyway? Well, as it turned out, the naysayers soon became converts, once they tasted just how good a plate of spaghetti and meatballs could be.

Within a couple of decades, give or take, the pizzerias and small cafes on Mulberry Street became a beacon for hungry New Yorkers, bored with the hearty but plain American fare that they were used to eating. Nowadays, you can find excellent pasta all over this great city of ours. But, Lower Manhattan still lays claim to some of the tastiest and most authentic pasta dishes you'll find anywhere. So, without any further hesitation, let's take a quick tour and discover pasta-centric restaurants that you should know about.

The Spaghetti Incident - Lower East Side

Tomato sauce, basil, great pasta and rock n' roll! What more could you want? Well, you'll find all that and a whole lot more within the exposed brick walls of The Spaghetti Incident. The warm hospitality, amazing food, and intimate lighting transport you to a trattoria on the rustic streets of a village in the Italian countryside. Brought to you by chef and owner Giovanni Gentile, this small thirty-five-seat pasta cafe is big on flavor. And where does rock and roll come in, you may well ask? The place is named after 80's rock legends Guns and Roses' iconic album The Spaghetti Incident.

In addition to fabulous pasta dishes, the chef's specialty is various types of Arancini, which are Italian rice balls. The ultimate street food in locales such as Palermo and Naples, Arancini makes for a perfect appetizer. They are surprisingly light on the tummy and several tempting varieties are available including beef ragu and fontina cheese, pesto and gorgonzola as well as artichoke and Parmigiano. All come with a marinara dipping sauce. Come on, you can't say NO to this!

One of the most refreshing and delicious pasta ( all of which are made in-house ), is the Spaghetti Chitarra, whose ingredients are fresh mozzarella, basil, and chopped tomatoes. Then there is the hearty Bucatini dish, which is thick spaghetti with a hole in the middle, served up with slightly spicy Italian sausages in a pink cream sauce. You may also order a heaping dish of Spaghetti and meatballs. It's so good it will make your Nonna a wee bit jealous. The chef turns out an excellent Spaghetti Carbonara with crispy pancetta, Parmesan cheese, organic egg yolk, and a dash of black pepper. A must-have here is the incredible Spinach Fettuccine. It's not spaghetti but, with a blend of Gorgonzola and Parmesan cheeses with black sesame seeds, who cares? Right up there in the gotta-try category is the divine salmon steak in a white sauce accompanied by steamed asparagus and spaghetti.

Location and Hours :

231 Eldridge Street
New York N.Y. 10002
(646) 896-1446
www.spaghettiincidentnyc.com

Hours :

Sunday to Thursday 5 PM to 10 PM
Friday & Saturday 5 PM to 11 PM

La Devozione - Chelsea

This inviting and authentic pasta restaurant is the realization of a dream from third-generation pasta-maker ( pastaio ) Giuseppe Di Martino, CEO and President of Pastificio Di Martino , which was founded in 1912. Made from 100% Italian durum wheat semolina (non-GMO), blended with spring waters from the Latteri Mountains in Southern Italy, Di Martino pasta is sold in 35 countries. La Devozione, which is located inside the famous Chelsea market, is the brand's first brick-and-mortar restaurant in the USA. La Devozione, which translates to "the devotion " is Giuseppe Di Martino's ode to pasta in all of its shapes and sizes, from rigatoni, penne and ziti to farfalle ( bowties ), Gemelli twists, and even Greek-style orzo.

In addition to a charming little pasta shop, there are two very eye-catching spaces at La Devozione. The Oval is an intimate thirty-seat open kitchen concept serving both an a la carte and a fine dining chef's tasting menu. An immersive dining experience, guests sit at a sleek oval-shaped counter and can watch the chef at work. Among the dishes that you'll be treated to are Spaghetti Al Limone with a dressing of lemon and provolone del Monaco, Penne La Devozione, which consists of tomatoes, red beets and a Gorgonzola mousse and Linguine con Pesto alla Genovese whose ingredients are potatoes, green beans, basil and a delectable pesto and Parmigiano sauce. There's also Lasagna di Coniglio which features chunks of tender rabbit ( yes, it DOES taste a bit like chicken, but is a touch more earthy and VERY flavourful ), together with black olives, tomato sauce and black pepper.

A Tavola is more of a casual space with a pasta cafe and wine bar type of ambiance. Most of but not all of the pastas being offered at A Tavola are different from what you'll find at The Oval. One of Giuseppe Di Martino's signature dishes is the Frittatina Di Pasta. This offering consists of a lightly fried pasta " cake" or frittata that is made with diced salami, Pecorino Romano cheese, eggs, pepper, and pancetta. Also on the menu is the Gemelli dressed with pesto, garlic, basil and breadcrumbs as well as Orzo Tiepido. Your pasta is mixed with a bevy of seasonal veggies. You need to check out the Lollipop Di Macaroni which is Giuseppe's version of Italian mac and cheese in an outrageous truffle-hazelnut sauce.

In order to make your experience as Italian as possible, accompany your meal with a glass of vino or one of their superb cocktails like the Meletti 1780 Spritz made with blood orange juice, coriander and cloves. Bee Happy will certainly bring a smile to your face with tantalizing ingredients such as bourbon, amaro, single malt ginger, lemon juice, and honey. Quite fruit-forward is Pineapple Dreaming, a blend of pineapple rum, dry vermouth, pear liqueur and pineapple demerara.

Location & Hours :

Chelsea Market First Floor
75 Ninth Avenue
New York N.Y. 10011
(646) 720-0215
www.ladevozionenyc.com

Hours :

Monday to Sunday 12 PM to 9 PM

Torrisi - Nolita

Helmed by acclaimed chef Rich Torrisi Mario Carbone and Jeff Zalaznick and housed inside Nolita's iconic Puck Building, this beautiful restaurant offers a modern take on Italian cuisine with the emphasis on pasta, the likes of which you have never tasted before. For a truly memorable experience, dine at the chef's table which is located in the spectacular bar Room. The chef's table can accommodate up to ten guests with a start time of 5, 5:30 or 8:30 PM. Please note, however, that a seat here must be booked thirty days in advance. Yes, the demand is high and with good reason. For your next birthday or anniversary celebration, gather up friends and family for a delicious Italian feast inside the restaurant's cozy and very, very classy private dining room.

The main dining room blends traditional Italian restaurant decor with some nifty contemporary touches. begin your meal with one of chef Torrisi's appetizers such as Our Giardiniera, a selection of colorful pickled vegetables, or the Tuna Caponata. Stuffed pasta abound on the menu with two of the best being the Tortellini Pomodoro in a sauce of finely chopped tomatoes and the Raviolini which are mini ravioli bites dressed with saffron and served with prawns. The penne Pasta dish contains TWO kinds of mushrooms: Porcini and Chanterelle. Seafood lovers will delight in the chef's special Linguine. The al dente pasta comes in a pink Manhattan-style clam sauce,a bit reminiscent of clam chowder. it has to be tasted to be believed. When it's time to " put on the ritz " order the luxurious Capellini Cantonese. A little on the spicy side, your thin,light a feather strands of pasta are crowned by a two-pound lobster.

Torrisi's bar features a full and enticing selection of premium rye, whiskey, gin and, of course, wines from Italy. The barkeeps are good at mixing up some memorable cocktails like the garibaldi. named after United Italy's founding father, this elixir is a heady blend of Campari, orange juice, aperol and prosecco. Leave room , if you can, for dessert , especially the Sicilian date cake or the chocolate and hazelnut Napoleon.

At Torrisi the night is all about YOU.

Location and Hours :

275 Mulberry Street
New York N.Y. 10012
(212) 254-3000
www.torrisinyc.com

Hours :

Sunday Closed
Monday 5 PM to 11:30 PM
Tuesday to
Saturday 11:30 AM to 11:30 PM

Osteria Morini - Soho

Executive chef Bill Dorrler and chef di cucina Gerardo Fernandez invite you to celebrate the flavours and traditions of Italy's Emilia-Romagna region at Osteria Morini. In the olden days, in Italy, an osteria was usually an inn where travelers were served simple but hearty food and were lodged overnight. Well, you can't sleep at Osteria Morini , but you WILL experience some old school genuine hospitality. The warm and welcoming vibes start as soon as you enter the premises. The entire restaurant is quite the conversation piece as it were. Many of the stunning decor elements were shipped over from Italy where their previous home was a seventeenth century era farmhouse. Hey, we're REALLY not in NYC anymore, at least for a couple of hours. Osteria Morini's menu and wine list was curated to showcase the best of what the Emilia-Romagna region has to offer including fine wine. Did you know that the region is the birthplace of staples such as prosciutto, mortadella and balsamic vinegar ? No wonder that Emilia-Romagna is known as the Italian breadbasket.

Join in from Monday through Friday, from four until seven pm for the Morini " Aperitivo " Happy Hour. Available at the bar and on the patio only, select beers are available for just $5 including imported Peroni while a glass of house wine is only seven dollars. The Appletini cocktail ( vodka, sour apple liqueur and lemon juice ) is available for a mere nine bucks while $10 will get you a glass of Abby's cosmo, made with vodka, cointreau, lime juice, cranberry juice and boba.
Bar snacks include an $8 plate of Carciofi which are crispy fried artichokes and the vastly underpriced $9 Polpettine. These meatballs are made with prosciutto and mortadella and dressed with ricotta and tomato sauce. Don't forget to indulge your pasta cravings on Morini Mondays when each and every pasta on the menu comes in at just $15 all day and night. Dine in only, please.

When it comes to innovative pasta , chef Fernandez is not afraid to take chances and you will love the results. The flavour and ingredient blends are unique,but they all work well with your palate. His fluffy as a pillow Gnocchi are served in a kale-pesto sauce with ricotta salata. The Torcia nera is squid ink pasta accompanied by seppia and an addicting shrimp ragu. Garganelli pasta is an egg-based pasta that is a specialty of the Emilia-Romagna region. This cylinder-shaped pasta with little ridges is blended in chef Fernandez' kitchen with prosciutto, earthy mushrooms and a truffle crema. Triangoli is pumpkin ravioli in a walnut, pesto and thyme sauce.

At Osteria Morini, dessert is as special as are the pastas which is really saying something. You must try the Bomboloni which is an outrageous citrus-scented doughnut topped with caramel sauce AND chocolate sauce. Talk about a sweet ending ! The Affogato bianco consists of a scoop of vanilla bean gelato, a touch of amaro and a shot of espresso.

Before your work week begins, treat yourself to Morini's Wine Down Sundays. Every Sunday, from five until 10 PM enjoy half-off select bottles of wine.

Location and Hours :

218 Lafayette Street
New York N.Y. 10012
(212) 965-8777
www.osteriamorini.com

Hours :

Monday to Friday 12 PM to 10 PM
Saturday & Sunday 11 AM to 10 PM

Maestro Pasta - Greenwich Village

Indulge your love affair with pasta at Maestro Pasta. Now, that's amore. Born in Sicily, chef Damiano Rosella's pasta dishes are a work of art. His food is almost like a painting on your plate. It's a shame to eat the picturesque pasta but, hey, someone has to do it. A very positive and talented guy, chef Damiano enjoys chatting with his guests when he is not in the kitchen and getting feedback on his menu. The chef is forever looking to make a really good dish that much better.

The very best way to kick off your evening here is to order up a taglieri which are the chef's carefully put together cold cut boards. The plates are just enough to share with your date or a friend and each board is accompanied by a basket of chef damiano's sensational Torta Fritta ( homemade fried bread ). Where else are you going to get that, right ? Taglieri options include mortadella and fresh ricotta, prosciutto and buffalo mozzarella and bresaola , which is cured beef dusted with shaved Parmesan and sided up with a small arugula salad. A perfect complement to a dish of heavenly pasta is the signature maestro Salad. So, so good for you, this salad is the one to end them all with ingredients like spring mix, orange slices, fennel, cherry tomatoes, imported cooked ham, fresh creamy mozzarella and the chef's secret dressing.

The Linguine Aglio Olio consists of simple ingredients like garlic, olive oil, chili flakes and parsley but it packs a flavour punch. If you're ravenous, order the hearty Pappardelle Bolognese. The chef's made from scratch wide ribbon pasta is layered with tomato sauce and succulent bits of beef. The Mezzelune al Tartufo is unique to Maestro Pasta. Your half-moon shaped ravioli is stuffed with truffles and ricotta cheese and, for your supreme indulgence, imported truffle is shaved on top. Chef Damiano's wonderful Lasagna forgoes the reams of tomato sauce you'll find in most Italian restaurants and, instead, he opts for a creamy Parmesan sauce. And, by the way, should you NOT be feeling pasta on your visit, go for the Spezzatino, a luscious beef stew that's served over polenta.

Hours and Location :

102 Macdougal Street
new York N.Y. 10012
(646) 484-6446
www.maestropasta.com

Hours :

Sunday 12 PM to 10:30 PM
Monday 5 PM to 10:30 PM
Tuesday to
Thursday 12 PM to 10:30 PM
Friday & Saturday 12 PM to 11:30 PM