Guide to Little Italy Restaurants: Where to Eat in the Northeast’s Little Italy Neighborhoods

“A human being is primarily a bag for putting food into.” – George Orwell

A person who functions properly should never be shy from an orchestrated food item. It’s almost a crime not to indulge in eating for a human being. From centuries ago, this purpose took a new direction when taverns, small fronts and eateries were made. Present generation is blessed with restaurants. In many food cuisines, Italian is well-known for its garlic, tomatoes and olive oil and undoubtedly, it never completes without a glass of summer wines. To enter into a discussion of Italian foods and restaurants, what is better than having a little roundabout discussion of the prominent Little Italy NYC.

Location

Bill Tonelli, NEW YORK magazine said,” Once, Little Italy was like an insular Neapolitan village recreated on those shores, with its language, customs and financial and cultural institutions”. Little Italy on Mulberry Street once stretched from Canal to Houston streets, between the Bowery and Lafayette street. At present, it only covers the lower Manhattan and some portion of its neighborhood. In the west, Tribeca and Soho guards the neighborhood while Chinatown stands by the south side and Bowery and Nolita bounds this neighborhood from the east and north side. Today it is of few blocks only.

Little Italy: What is this?

As a fact, Little Italy defines a place where Italians live and thrive in uncharted territory. Basically, a place where immigrants from different decades structured a place or few blocks for themselves and own that area with their customs and cultures.

What to expect

In the 1880s, Little Italy quietly took its shape due to the immigrants of Naples and Sicily. Till date, this place holds the and enchantment. Around the neighborhood, tourist venture grows gradually every season. The Feast of San Gennaro offers an unending 11-day celebration over the whole neighborhood with its best Italian restaurants and concerts and other forms of entertainments. In Nolita and Nowlin Hill, there are some magnificent boutiques and jeweler shops and in Long Island, there are some standout shoe stores which you can run into any times of the year.

Where to eat

Little Italy NYC is strictly and worldly famous for its unique and finest restaurants. Whether you’re up for a romantic pasta dinner or a cannoli evening or a panini evening, all you can get here in Little Italy.

Lombardi’s

A time-old classic. Originated in 1905, this pizzeria offers parenthood to all other pizza joints of the United States. Gennaro Lombardi, the founder of Lombardi’s opened this store just to utilize the excessive cheese and dough goes unsold from the original Lombardi grocery store in the little Italy NYC. Scott Weiner once quoted, ‘Some pizzerias add five or six toppings, but this one delivers so much flavor with no-nonsense’. He then also added that if you couldn’t afford a whole pizza, Lombardi’s offers you only a slice or two according to your preference. Lombardi’s still uses coal oven to bake the pies to continue the tradition and taste.

Margherita NYC

Situated in Manhattan, this cozy restaurant offers many Italian cuisines and an authentic environment. This place certainly offers the flairs of Napoli and the heart of Italy. If you’ve never been to Italy or you’ve never tasted an Italian pizza, you’ll be glad that Dona Margherita serves exquisite motherland like pizzas. Another fact that joins Dona Margherita to Italy is the handcrafted oven which was manufactured and installed by Naples’ Mara Fornix.

Ferrara Bakery & Cafe

Enrico Scopa and Antonio Ferrara both founded this espresso bar which claims to be the first of its kind. The whole decor is kind of unique in its way. The bakery case, ice-cream corner, menu and the name board ‘Ferrara Bakery & Cafe’ all represents a definite and quirky sense of wittiness. It’s a landmark for tourists and locals since 1892. From cannoli’s to sfogliatella to gelato to brioche, Ferrara offers a various and longest menu of French and Italian desserts. This iconic bakery originally commenced matching the refreshments of opera lovers.

Benito One

Originally started by the chef Benito, this decade-old eatery represents the little Italy of mid-90s. It’s a small storefront for such a huge name. Present owners, Bari brothers kept all the things almost the same as it was. They offer a cozy and family restaurant environment in that 174 Mulberry Street side. If you’re looking for a place that offers the best quality foods, then Benito One might be the one for yourself. This place never looks a flashy or jazzy but the outstanding work they’re doing with their food preparation that demands extra applause. Yeah, this place might not give you a pizza option but the other Italian cuisines are as famous as anything else. When you finally meet your chosen one from DoULike.com, you both can decide for this particular eatery just for its food and nothing else. Sure, you guys could choose another famous and high-rated restaurant but after consuming the meat lasagna and seafood risotto, you might fix the next date for the next day then and there with your melted heart.

Piacere NYC

A new-age classic for the Italian food lovers. This one describes one of the best cares and deliberately crafted decor in Manhattan. Piacere definitely give you a collective chance of getting an opportunity to feel the original Italian villa flavor of food and ambience. Courteous staff and amazing service comforts your outing and demand another welcome back. Prosciutto and Guanciale pizzas are super delicious like anything and calamari is one of the famous dishes that attracts food lovers here for a second time.

Folks! Buon Appetito!