Every neighborhood in New York City has its own character, and this may be biased, but West Village has the most charm of them all. Tree lined streets, picturesque brownstones, and cafes and restaurants with outdoor seating – you may even spot Peter Lewy playing the cello on a corner of the West Village where he commonly can be found on a nice weekend day, making it all seem straight out of a movie.
The West Village is also home to some of the best restaurants in the city (again may be biased) from quaint cafes, delicious Italian fare, casual burger joints, and more. As hard as it was to keep this list to 20 places, browse the essential restaurants for your next day wandering the charming streets of the West Village; however, plan ahead. Popular West Village restaurants tend to gather a crowd, and therefore a long wait, so reservations are recommended.
L’Artusi
L’Artusi has two floors with plenty of tables, a private wine room upstairs, and bar seating downstairs. Despite its space, reservations are somewhat hard to come by at L’Artusi. Walk-in’s are welcome at the bar but it also tends to get quite the wait during peak dinner hours so plan accordingly. You can’t go wrong with their pastas such as their garganelli with mushroom ragu or their pici nero with crab, calabrian chili, garlic, and breadcrumbs. Their extensive wine list has something for everyone to pair with shareable starters, pastas or Italian inspired meats and seafood main dishes, and delicious desserts that change seasonally. Though the tables are wonderful, a seat at the bar is more lively and great for a change of pace for a date.
Nami Nori
Nami Nori serves temaki hand rolls, which is an open-style sushi hand roll, and small Japanese inspired bites in a clean, coastal vibe atmosphere. If you’re new to temaki hand rolls, Nami Nori offers a signature set of 5 different hand rolls as well as a vegan set. Alternatively, you can order a la carte from signature, classic, crunchy, vegan, to primo hand rolls each with the option to add ikuri or caviar to any of the hand rolls. Personal favorites: the coconut shrimp, uni, and spicy crab dynamite.
Anton’s
Anton’s is one of my picks of where to go when you can’t get into Via Carota but it really is a top go-to spot. The restaurant has an old school feel – warm, welcoming, and familiar. There are plenty of tables, all with an unusually comfortable amount of space in between them which is not very common for NYC. It’s hard not to order the same items when coming to Anton’s. Start with the oysters Rockefeller and the aubergine puree with burnt toast. The Bucatini Baczynsky is a crowd-pleaser, a top bucatini dish in the city, and is not to be missed. The angel hair Francese is a simple pasta dish but should not be passed over – it’s also one of the most popular pasta dishes at Anton’s.
Mary’s Fish Camp
Mary’s Fish Camp is a casual New England style seafood shack in the heart of West Village. Come here for the lobster roll, loaded with chunks of lobster, and shoestring fries. It’s one of the best lobster rolls in the city. Mary’s is great for lunch, a casual no-frills spot with a few outdoor tables in addition to the tables inside. Note: there are no reservations, it’s walk-in only.
Llama San
The sister restaurant to Williamsburg’s Llama Inn, Llama San mixes modern Peruvian and Japanese flavors for a unique and delicious meal that stands out. The interior has a simple, clean aesthetic that doesn’t quite stand out but leave it to the food to stand out. The dishes at Llama San are creative and unexpected, not like what you see in any other restaurants around the West Village. Order the Hamachi Tiradito, it comes with uni and a matcha foam, and the Scallop Ceviche, in the most delicious broth with edible flowers that is almost too pretty to eat. The Duck Nigiri is also a must-order with slices of duck and banana sitting under a nasturtium leaf. Lastly, do not leave without ordering the Iberico Pork with Udon Verde.
Jeju
The only Michelin starred noodle shop in the city – actually, the only Michelin starred noodle shop in the United States – Jeju serves a take on Korean cuisine. The menu focuses around Ramyun (the Korean version of ramen), a noodle soup dish that is a perfect option for when the temperatures drop in NYC. Don’t be fooled by the red Nighthawks awning outside, the previous restaurant in this location. Inside plenty of spaced out tables and a bar area for additional seating. Both the Gochu Ramyun and the Family Ramyun are delicious – the first has a rich and spicy pork broth with pork belly and white kimchi and the second also has a rich pork broth but is served with porchetta, shrimp, and squid.
Via Carota
There is usually at least a 2.5 hour wait at Via Carota even with a line starting right before 5PM to put in your name on the walk-in list for dinner. There are no reservations and many times, they stop taking names as the evening goes on once they reach max capacity. It’s not an easy table to snag. It’s a local favorite and it would not be uncommon to spot a famous face or two while here. The Italian trattoria serves delicious pastas and simple yet satisfying salads. Be patient and plan ahead for a very long wait, but the wait is worth it.
I Sodi
With the same team behind Via Carota, that should speak enough about I Sodi. One street over to Via Carota is another very delicious Italian restaurant focused on Tuscan-style fare. The space inside is small and intimate. Though waits at I Sodi are not quite as long as its sister restaurant, there does tend to be a wait. The bar takes up the main space of the restaurant with a handful of tables lining the narrow space. The food is classic and simply perfect. The lasagna is a must-order item, it’s one of the best lasagnas I’ve ever had. It comes in different variations but the classic meat sauce is phenomenal. Although you can’t go wrong with any of the pastas, another favorite is the pappardelle al limon – simple yet delicious and perfect. Though I Sodi takes reservations via Resy, it’s not easy to come by. Similar to Via Carota, patience is key and it won’t disappoint.
Buvette
In case you missed the long line of people waiting around the corner on Grove St., that’s the wait to get into Buvette. Even with their additional outdoor seating, the long wait reflects the undying popularity of Buvette. Preferably, Buvette is wonderful for brunch of light bites shared over their selection of French wines. The interior is very small but has a warm and intimate feeling that makes you want to stay longer, even if you’re nearly sharing a table with the people next to you. Like many other places, Buvette does not take reservations but instead they write your name in chalk by the door in the order people come in. My preference is to go to Buvette in the late lunch/early afternoon hours for wine and snack sized coq au vin or other French dishes to enjoy a lazy weekend day.
Emmett’s on Grove
Right across the street from Buvette is Emmett’s on Grove. Though this is a newer addition to the West Village (its original location is on MacDougal St.), Emmett’s brings Chicago style deep dish and thin crust tavern-cut pizzas to the neighborhood in a casual and welcoming supper club setting. The bar area in the front of the space gets quite busy as people wait for tables in the main dining area in the back but they do take reservations on Resy for those who plan ahead. You can build your own pizza but the Hot Papi with pepperoni, red onion, jalapenos, and housemade paprika ranch is a winner. The West Village location also serves a wider range of items on their menu outside of pizza and one item not to skip are the ribs.
Bar Pitti
Bar Pitti is a no-frills, casual Italian restaurant that draws a glamorous crowd and loyal locals. The tables are tight so be comfortable sitting close to others. There is also outdoor seating for additional space. The specials are written on a chalk board passed around by the servers as you sit down. The pasta is reliably delicious and the people watching is equally good. They don’t take reservations but waits usually are not too bad.
4 Charles Prime
A hard table to score, 4 Charles Prime is from the team behind Au Cheval. The space is very intimate with only a handful of tables inside the vintage inspired dark wood interior. It’s almost a guarantee that you will not dine here during prime dinner hours so be comfortable with either an early (5PM) or late (10PM) meal. In such a nice setting, it might seem odd to order the burger but at 4 Charles Prime, the burger gets white glove service. They’ll cut the burger to share so that you can also enjoy the prime rib as a main dish. This is not a place you go if you are a vegetarian or if you want a light meal.
Extra Virgin
A Mediterranean inspired restaurant with one of my favorite chicken dishes in the city: the mushroom crusted chicken with sweet pea risotto and truffle broth. Extra Virgin is a staple in the West Village with its green awning and prime outdoor seating on the intimate patio for people watching. It may not be a Michelin starred new establishment with a trendy atmosphere but it remains consistent and a neighborhood favorite. Extra Virgin is a comfort and it does not disappoint. It’s a great option not only for dinner but also for brunch.
Don Angie
Rolled lasagna. Need I say more? Don Angie, a Michelin starred modern Italian restaurant, is famously known for their rolled lasagna dish. The interior has a blue-gray color theme with leather booths, a contemporary gold accented bar and black-and-white floors for a sleek look. It’s the perfect place for a group because there are a lot of dishes to share – the rolled lasagna being one of them. It says for two people but it can be split for more than two people, especially if you also want to get the Chrysanthemum salad, stuffed garlic bread, and probably a handful of their other pasta dishes and entrees. You won’t leave hungry.
Pizza Loves Emily
Pizza Loves Emily is an inviting Detroit-style pizza restaurant that serves hearty and comfort food, mainly pizza, that has a bit of a different take when you want a change in your pizza routine. The pizzas are served in squares and are just the right amount of thickness that it’s not overwhelming. For the Nguyen with the Korean wing sauce, chicken, scallion, radish, and bleu cheese might sounds like a strange pizza combination but it’s a must-order. The colonie is a safer but still equally delicious option with pepperoni, pickled chilis, and honey. There’s also the Emily double stack burger, which despite what some might claim did not make my choice for one of the best burgers in NYC. It’s a good burger but it’s a bit too saucy for my preferences. Either way, it’s a great meal at Pizza Loves Emily but it is not a light meal so come hungry.