Pic courtesy of Dell'Anima
If you haven’t figured out where to eat tonight but are circling around the idea of a cozy/Italian/inexpensive/crowd-pleaser/West Village sort of place, head to the triangle formed roughly by Greenwich Ave., Eighth Ave., and West 11th. Where exactly? You could start with Dell’Anima, where you’ll find all of the above elements plus a hit-the-spot Italian menu of pastas (tagliatelle bolognese, a great carbonara) and meaty dishes like their semi-famous chicken diavolo with broccoli rabe, chilies, and garlic. Haven’t booked ahead? You might strike out on a weekend, since the space is tiny—but it’s worth a shot. And you can always leave your name at the door then try your luck at the Spotted Pig a little further west, for a guaranteed wait but not-bad odds of getting seated before long, thanks to the multi-level brownstone dining room.
Rewards await at the Pig, including chef April Bloomfield’s heavenly burger with Roquefort cheese and shoestring fries, or grilled skirt steak with chilies and mint, or Italian-inspired specialties like sheep’s milk ricotta gnudi with brown butter and sage; that one’s been on the menu forever and probably will be forever, and for good reason.
Dell’Anima. 50 Carmine St. between Bedford and Bleecker Sts.; (212) 929-5050. Spotted Pig. 314 W. 11th St. at Greenwich St.; (212) 620-0393.
Prices/Features: MOD, DRK, VGT (See Welcome to Salmaland for key to letter abbreviations.)