Very dark and romantic ambiance, perfect for a date night. The food is very mediocre. Lurisia sparkling $7 Ravioli $18 was good and it was made in house. Very soft with cheese Lamb $33 It was nothing mind blowing about this dish. It was very basic Fedelini Fini $16 pasta with rustic tomato sauce was rather boring. GL fongoli $12 read more

We spent the weekend in the neighborhood and got lucky enough to get reservations here. A wonderful place, good food, everybody minds their business. Our waiter was energetic and attentive without being intrusive. Would gladly return on our next trip. read more

Lavagna - Prosciutto - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Lavagna Ratings: 4.7/5 Food: 5/5 - Their pasta is definitely homemade, because they are al dente, firm, and chewy, legit the perfect pasta. I got the rigatoni pasta with sweet fennel and spicy sausage, peas with tomato cream, and it was incredible. It was saucy, creamy, perfectly seasoned, and tasty. Each bite was worth it; the chewiness of the pasta paired with a generous amount of sausage, creamy sauce, and peas in each bite was divine and an amazing food experience for me. I am literally mouth-watering while writing this review. My friend got the special tonight, which is the homemade fettuccine with wild boar ragu, roasted eggplant, ricotta, chive cooked in a light tomato wine sauce was delicious. Once again, the spaghetti tasted fresh and firm, ingredients were fresh, and it's clear that they use good olive oil in their pasta dishes. 100% exceeded my expectations. One last time, the RIGATONI is a MUST order, and I cannot stress it enough. Ambiance: 4.5/5 - There are indoor and outdoor seating, but we decided to sit inside, because it was a bit hot and the ambiance for outdoor seating wasn't that great. Interior is a cute place and perfect for a date if you are in the East Village. The staff also checked our vaccination cards if you requested to sit indoor. The vibe is chill and its fairly quiet, definitely not that busy on a Monday night. Hidden gem for sure! Price: 4.5/5 - The portion was generous. The price was reasonable. Rigatoni was $22 and the special homemade fettuccine was $25. It was super fulfilling and the total came up to be around $50 before tax and tip. Definitely good value right there. Service: 4.75/5 - Amazing service. Servers were all attentive, and our water glass was never empty. I like how they thoroughly explain to us the specials for tonight and provided pasta recommendations. Friendly and nice service, and most importantly pasta came out fairly quickly, while the plate was still hot, so overall I was very pleased with my dining experience here tonight. BLUF: Phenomenal creamy pasta sauce, al dente pasta, lovely service, and a wonderful experience! I'm sad that I didn't get to try their focaccia bread, didn't know we have a order it for $5, otherwise I would totally do it. I guess this will be one of the reason to return and eat more CARBS! Literally, just go to this place, seriously. read more

Lavagna - Daily Special - Homemade Fettuccine (top) & Rigatoni (bottom) - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Three segment honest review: 1) Restaurants outdoor seating during covid is not good. It's hardly covered with limited heaters. A little grungy and overall just ehh. Ambiance outside is not good. If you are lucky to get inside then the restaurant seems to be more desirable. 2) Don't book on Opentable or the like, you will get bottom of the barrel seating selection. Had a reservation shortly after 5:00pm and the place had a few tables inside open but we were directed outside in the cold, in a dark corner next to graffiti. We were told the restaurant had many reservations and that it would be full soon. Yeah, okay sure. It was dead the entire time there. Aggravating part was that i had spoken with with restaurant twice about moving reservation to 6 or the later but was told it was booked. During our sit down two inside tables were cleared and left open as we continued to sit outside. Only one other group sat down outside during our entire time at the restaurant. Just bad vibes. I would go on about how bad the vibe was but I'll leave it at that. Some of the staff happened to be pleasant so I don't want to completely go off. 3) I will say that the food here was good. Wine was definitely over priced for some of the mid tier selections, but overall I would say the food and drinks is what keeps this place afloat. Such a bummer the overall experience was crap, as the food here would've left me leaving and telling people, yes go. Now, I'd say you can try it if you're guaranteed a seat inside or in the warmer months. If not, I'd say try your luck somewhere else. read more

Loved dining here on a beautiful Friday night at an outdoor table. All of our food was delicious (focaccia, scallops, artichoke heart, caprese, RIGATONI - order it!!!). Was way too full for dessert, sadly. I don't live in NYC but would happily eat here again on future visits. read more

Came here for my anniversary with my BF and they have pre-fix special for $30 per person from 6 to 7 PM. First of all, I really love the decor; it is romantic and dark lit, perfect for dates. The food is excellent too. We picked different dishes for all courses. I really love the pan-seared scallops; the puree sauce is very sweet and savory and scallops totally soaked up the juice. My entree, Black pepper Crusted Tuna tastes fresh and tender as well. It came in 3 big pieces of Yellowfin tuna. Finally, the desserts were outstanding. My panna Cotta is so soft and vanilla-ish. My BF's Warm Fruit Crisp was warm, sweet and it goes very well with their Vanilla Ice cream. I want to come back to try out their Rigatoni and Chocolate Moose cake. read more

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I actually cannot wait to go back here. I got the rigatoni with spicy sausage in it and I could not get enough. The pasta was perfectly al denté and the sauce was rich. I ate the whole thing! We got bread and prosciutto to start which was a perfect compliment to the meal. From someone who has traveled and eaten all over Italy I can say this truly compares. read more

Lavagna - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Always great food and great service. It's not fancy but that's why it's so good. I've been a few times and have always been happy with everything. read more

Yes yes yes!!! 10 out of 10! Great cozy atmosphere. Our table of 7 had a great time and everyone loved their food - the pork chop was a big hit as were the pasta dishes. read more

Praying -- on hands and knees -- that my favorite NYC restaurant will weather the storm. To be honest, before COVID, while trying to be seated with a reservation, it was still American Psycho hard. That all said, I crave the food that Lavagna serves. Also, as a native, it is great to see Alphabet City transform from hell on earth to restaurant row. LOVE you Lavagna! Please pull in for us. read more

Lavagna is my favorite Italian spot in the east village - super cozy atmosphere & great food. The Rigatoni is amazing!

If your looking for the best homemade pasta in New York City, you've food your match. I've been coming here consistently for 5 years and it's always a sure bet when entertaining friends or dining with a friends. (Reservations are necessary) My go to favorites the octopus carpaccio appetizer, fresh pappardelle pasta and there's always seasonal specials that I try each time. Also their well curated wine list is always great no matter the time of year. If you get overwhelmed with ordering Italian wines as I sometimes do, just ask the very knowledgeable severs. read more

Good food. Nice little bistro. Cozy in that NYC village sort of way. Good service. Went for a birthday party and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves read more

Love this place. It's an old AC staple from years ago. Many higher profile places have come and gone in the EV since we first visited Lavagna and it's still going strong. The key is the delicious food and the atmosphere. The service is also very good and a great selection of Italian wines closes the deal. It's a little off the beaten path but well worth the trip. read more

The food at this place is amazing! Like seriously! My boyfriend and I literally wondered into this restaurant one night after our previous plans were canceled. We saw this restaurant on the corner and decided to dine in. We were greeted by the owner who pulled a joke on us telling us that the restaurant was closed. But quickly invited us in with opens arms. Once seated a very nice women with a European accent greeted us, asked for allergies, and then went over the specials. We ordered a bottle of wine, the Bronzino, and also a pizza for an appetizer. I want to make this clear this pizza is one of the best pizzas I have EVER had in my life!!!!! I felt like i was in Italy. Oh and the food was just amazing, everything was fresh and well seasoned! My boyfriend and I were in heaven! We actually order a second pizza after we finished our entree, that's how good it was! The atmosphere was very nice as well! Everyone was eating, drinking and enjoying themselves... I will definitely be back! read more

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Anything less than 5 stars is criminal. This place is amazing. Order the bread, ask for a wine rec and don't hold back. The entire menu is amazing. 1. Scallop appetizer / Artichoke Appetizer 2. Rigatoni (amazing) 3. Lamb (highly recommend) 4. Blueberry desert special (actually amazing) 10/10 - would highly recommend and will be back. Well kept secret. Keep in mind the portions pictured, other than the appetizers, is a half portion. read more

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Was that supposed to be Amatriciana? Without a doubt the worst I've ever tasted. The bucatini was grossly over cooked. The sauce was as bland as could be. And don't get me started on what is supposed to be guanciale, because I'm not sure what that was. I almost never leave a review but this can not stand, especially since they charge a fair bit for a simple pasta dish. My uncle Nino would drop dead at the sight of this dish! read more

Ignored from the moment I walked in. After 10 minutes finally got a beer ( I think the bus boy poured it) I had stopped in for a pint and a bite of food. Was never even offered a menu or asked if I wanted anything. The surly fellow in black behind the bar refused to even acknowledge my presence. Unfriendly to the max read more

Great neighborhood joint with a lot of character. Owner calling it as it is. Food was outstanding. Service was great as well. Would recommend!! A+ read more

Great neighborhood spot. The ambiance is classic NY. They accommodated vegan with a pomodoro pasta and salad. Outdoor dining and dog friendly. read more

DONT GO. JUST. DONT. I HOPE YOU SEE THIS AND DECIDE TO NOT GO. my bf had the rigatoni. Woke up middle of the night puking nonstop. After puking everything out, he had high fever and was shivering and sweating the whole night. The day after he couldn't even drink water, because he would just have shit everything out. I was reading other reviews and others had similar experience. Just don't take your chance. There are so many amazing Italian food out there - DONT waste your money time and mostly importantly, jeopardizing your health. read more

My boyfriend and I both got sick from this restaurant last night. The "pizza" is a gooey piece of bread with a bunch of cheese and 2 mushrooms. Couldn't even taste the truffle oil. Old fashioned "cocktail" was poorly made. I didn't even finish it. The Bronzino special was this meal's only saving grace, and even that was a bit oily. Don't be fooled by the cute outdoor seating area. This place isn't worth it! read more

Sorry I would not recommend this restaurant. The food was ok nothing spectacular. It was a tense dinner. I felt bad for the staff who had to deal with the owners/ managers constantly standing behind their every move. It was obvious our server tried her best to put on her best face but really ! we watched her as she trained another server. The surly guy wouldn't leave them to their job. If you guys don't think they are good enough you should not hire anyone and work all the stations yourselves. Your food is not all that where your staff should be absorbing all that pressure. Not a nice place or atmosphere read more

Had a super experience here!! Enjoyed the ambiance and food to the utmost. Came here on a Saturday night with a reservation and a craving for CARBS. My date and I ordered the prosciutto appetizer, mushroom/truffle pizza, and rigatoni to share. All were delicious. The crust on the pizza was crisped to perfection and the mushroom & truffle were a great combination. The rigatoni was just the right amount of al dente, and the sauce was so so good. This place has outdoor seating and the interiors feel homey and family style. I think this is a great place for family gatherings or date nights. The order by the glass wine options were a bit limited, but we enjoyed our selections. Service was good as well! Did not have to wait long for food and the staff was attentive. Food: 5/5 Ambiance: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Value: 4.5/5 read more

Lavagna - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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So our friend Mary (from Mary O's , yes go there for Irish music on Thur nights) told us this was her favorite restaurant. So we made a reservation and stopped by. Wow! We had a great experience. Warm and cozy interior. The service was attentive but not too much. The staff was friendly and helpful with menu ideas. The food was amazing. The focaccia bread app (always fresh out of the oven) was great. My wife had scallop app for an entree. I had the rigatoni. We shared and both were top notch. We also had the tart with vanilla ice cream. Top notch. read more

Hands down the best restaurant in New York City. Food is amazing- rigatoni is the classic order but the steak and fish dishes are also incredible. Pizza is fantastic. Wine list extensive. Yurgo the owner can often be seen around the restaurant and is super nice guy and very helpful with picking out special wines at any price range. 5 stars always a pleasure to visit!!! read more

I've been coming to this place since it opened in 2000 or so and it never fails to delight. The rigatoni is excellent (I rarely order anything else)! Reservations recommended, especially Kate in the week and at the weekend. Great neighborhood joint. read more

Traditional Italian spot in a NY atmosphere. Good quality food, good service, perfect for a date

Shit show from the host! We were a party of 5. On time. Order appetizers m, salads, pizzas, entre dessert and Two bottles of fukin marked up wine! While we were enjoying our dessert, the bill was dropped in front of us and the host asked us to pay up because of another party waiting at the bar! WTFuck?!! We've been here often enough for them to recognize us, so to usher us out in favor of the party waiting at the bar is utter bullshit! Your place is NOT that good asshole!!! read more

This is seriously my favorite Italian restaurant in New York! We stumbled upon it by chance after an event went late, and it was magical. I wish I could give them 100 stars! We started out with the artichoke hearts, and I honestly didn't think it could get any better. It was mixed with some sort of hummus and so delicious! We also tried a tomato salad that was fantastic as well. I couldn't decide what to order, but the manager told me that 17 years ago the restaurant started because of the amazing rigatoni recipe. It is the real deal. The rigatoni (and those amazing artichoke hearts) honestly made up the most incredible meal I've ever eaten in New York! I'm back home in San Francisco dreaming about it!!! I had my rigatoni with mushrooms instead of sausage, and it was just such perfection. We sat outside at one of the cafe tables by the floor to ceiling windows. The trees and ambiance of neighborhood are a dream. The staff was beyond friendly, and even brought out a blueberry dessert with a candle for my boss. On weekdays from 6-7 they have a $35 three course menu, which is an amazing deal. If you choose one restaurant in NYC, this is it! read more

Lavagna - Chocolate cake - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

I've been coming here for years and it is by far the best Italian food I've had in the city. Much better than any of the trendy / buzzy celeb spots. You can't go wrong with the Rigatoni and the pizza is fantastic. I can't say enough about this spot. read more

Dark, intimate, and very close by; I wanted to love Lavagna. But the lower half of the East Village is filled with excellent Italian food, and I suppose my standards are fairly high. We shared the quail appetizer special, and it was stringy and unremarkable, overshadowed by the risotto it was served with. As an entree, we regrettably selected the monkfish. According to my date, it had a similar flavor/consistency to scrambled eggs. I'm not going to go that far, but it was severely overcooked and it lacked flavor. A disappointment. The saving grace of the meal was their signature rigatoni, with sausage, fennel and peas in a cream sauce. Before ordering, I had asked our waitress if she recommended anything in particular. Her only comment was that "everyone comes in for the rigatoni." I only wish she had recommended a few other dishes, because it was indeed spectacular. I have heard such wonderful things about Lavagna, that I want to chalk this experience up to an off night. I will undoubtedly be back, and I hope next time everything is as enjoyable as the rigatoni. read more

This place is about as good as it gets. 1) Easy to make reservation. The restaurant is listed on OpenTable and so it took me about five minutes to pick the reservation time and date! They confirmed twice with me and had the best table in the house waiting! 2) The ambiance is perfect. The decor, exposed brick walls, crystal clean wine glasses on the tables, and the music created a very mellow and romantic atmosphere. 3) The service was very personal and attentive. Our waiter was definitely an old hat and had been around that floor once or twice. When asked for a wine reco, he immediately pointed to one and brought it over. It was so tasty that we asked him to write down the name for us so that we could get it at home. 4) The food, oh the food. We had the scallops, rigatoni, and ravioli. YUM. I would've eaten the scallop dish about 20 times over if my stomach could've handled it. YUM. I'll say it again. YUM!!!! :) 5) The bill was surprising low! For two glasses of wine, an appetizer, two entrees, and a cappuccino, the bill was only $76!! Now granted that's not cheap, but for the quality of dinner that we shared, I was shocked at how affordable it was. A great idea for a date. I want to come here every day of the week and try a new thing on the menu, so long as they bring me scallops. Lots and lots of scallops. read more

Lavagna - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Walked into here one day with my girl since we lived in the area this past year and it ended up becoming a frequent spot for us. Excellent date location. The food is great, with a particular excellence in pasta. The real winner though is the impressive wine list. As a Greek I was impressed by the Greek selection, but there's just so much to try like some adjacent Sicilian choices and more. Definitely well curated and the owner knows what he's talking about. Going to miss living close to this place. read more

My first time at Lavagna, but hopefully not my last. Everything was cooked to perfection. The pasta was amazingly delicious. The service was great; attentive without being overbearing. read more

One of my favorite restaurants in NYC. The service is impeccable, food outstanding, and the experience is always consistent. It's my go-to for out of town guests, date night, and/or a cozy catch-up with a good friend. Check it out and be sure to try the pappardelle. read more

I had a friend visiting for July 4th weekend and I wanted to go out for a nice dinner to celebrate. I was able to snag a reservation at Lavagna last minute and decided to give it a try. I'm so glad to have discovered this hidden gem so close to where I live. The atmosphere is cozy and casual and the food was delicious. Food: I started off with some steamed mussels in a light tomato broth. The mussels were soft and luscious and the tomato broth was very fresh. What a great start to the meal! For my entre I ordered the short rib pasta and my friend ordered a mushroom pizza. My pasta tasted homemade and the short ribs were very flavorful. The dish was very light for a pasta dish and I managed to inhale the entire bowl. My friend's mushroom pizza was also quite good. I would highly recommend the pasta here. Overall, an affordable, casual Italian gem that I will definitely be back for. read more

Lavagna - Short rib pasta - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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One of my favorite downtown stops for excellent food and great service. Non pretentious and great all round. Highly recommended.

Great pasta, veggies and fish last night. Authentic Italian restaurant. Comfortable indoor and outdoor dining. Good vibe.

Food was just ok. Service is lovely. The parking sucks and the neighborhood is very artsy.