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Malatesta Trattoria

Italian Restaurant$$$$

West Village, New York

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Malatesta Trattoria

8.5^/10

665

ratings

Ranked #3 for authentic Italian food in New York
The experts at The Corcoran Group and Village Voice recommend this place
"And the spinach gnocchi was delicious, and light for a creamy sauce!"(45 Tips)
"Excellent Tagliatelle Ragu, but ignore the Tiramisu"(10 Tips)
"Grilled octopus is amazing."(7 Tips)
"Good authentic Italian food in a cozy atmosphere."(6 Tips)

192 Tips and reviews

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good for dates
casual
chicken cutlets
bruschetta
cute
outdoor seating
bar
trendy
omelettes
great value
dinner
meats
roses
ragu
cash only
gorgonzola cheese
salads
crowded
eggplant
village
(15 more)

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New York HabitatNovember 29, 2011
Good authentic Italian food in a cozy atmosphere. Definitely try the spinach gnocchi, just remember that it's cash only!
Felicia SullivanOctober 22, 2011
Been here 5+ times
Try the Tagliatelle al ragu Bolognese - Sumptuous homemade noodles, hearty sauce and a great price make this pasta the one to beat.
JipstaJuly 26, 2015
Fantastic food and ambiance. Cash only though!
Anais YimJanuary 1, 2012
Been here 10+ times
There's always been a wait when I go but it's a lovely cozy place in the west village. Yummy home-made pasta but cash only!
JeremyJuly 12, 2012
Good pasta, reasonably priced. Was bustling and noisy when we were there but that added to the atmosphere. Cash only payment!!
MichaelSeptember 14, 2014
Been here 5+ times
Do you have enough cash to pay for your dinner? (No credit cards accepted). Excellent homemade pastas.
John DolciJuly 30, 2013
The grilled calamari with arugula is out of this world.
Munny KheraApril 3, 2011
Unbelievable tradition Italian cuisine (coming from a non-Italian food fan)....long waits, so get a reservation. Great wine selection as well.
emily chenOctober 19, 2014
the spinach gnocchi and the ragu is what to get here. expect a wait and cash only!
Niket SanghviJune 11, 2014
CASH ONLY! Also, cheap and delicious house wine :)
Kelsey✨September 7, 2020
Great service, love the meatballs and the starter salads
Martin C.August 30, 2013
Been here 5+ times
My new local favorite. The food makes me close my eyes, the service makes me feel welcome :-)
Tarik HartJanuary 20, 2015
Good pasta. If you're outside, try and sit on the Washington side, not the Christopher side to avoid the traffic fumes.
Katie ASeptember 5, 2013
Delicious tagliatelle ragu, and the grilled calamari appetizer was excellent.
Seline JungOctober 28, 2015
Home style hearty Italian. Nothing mind blowing though. Food came out lukewarm and VERY VERY FAST.
Jodee RuppelAugust 4, 2013
My fave Italian joint in NYC. Call ahead to get your name on the list.
Will CharczukOctober 1, 2016
Hand made pasta and reasonable (< $40) bottles of wine. Cash Only
DJ PerkinsOctober 15, 2012
Crowded little place. Ravioli and spinach gnocchi were both delicious. Tagliatelle and spaghetti were above average.
Caroline Kay Hwa TanJuly 8, 2015
Compared to other italian joints in the west village I'm going to give this is a 5.5. You can get a better bang for your buck elsewhere. Don't bother with the tiramisù as it is overrated indeed.
Jack MaitreJuly 18, 2014
Tasty food, well prepared. A little pricey for the service, and cash only.
Val TJuly 2, 2015
Get the spinach gnocchi, which is by far the best pasta here!
victoria mcgillAugust 29, 2015
Spinach gnocchi is bomb... I'm about to eat the last bit in one bite
Emmanuel TrentinJune 1, 2014
Great spinach gnocchi con Gorgonzola
John LApril 30, 2016
While the price is right there are definitely a lot better Italian restaurants in the neighborhood
Ana AndjelicOctober 3, 2010
Been here 5+ times
Best place in the neighborhood. Come here for brunch and get an omelette. Or get a steak, lamb chop, and calamari and arugula.
Anthony FerraraApril 22, 2016
Been here 10+ times
Best Italian in NYC, hands down. Simple as that.
Joakim ThorénApril 3, 2017
Been here 10+ times
The small corner table has a perfect view of WTC1. :-)
Berk KapiciogluAugust 21, 2014
It looks like a fun place to sit outside during summer.
Michael WaxmanAugust 6, 2014
Get the spinach gnocchi or the spaghetti! Also, cash only.
Steven KornblitDecember 31, 2012
If you're lucky you'll have Emanuelle wait on you he has all the stories and all the history
Mike DudasApril 5, 2014
The spaghetti with fresh tomato, basil & mozzarella is an absolute revelation.
Duygu BasaranFebruary 27, 2015
I don't know why and how this place got 9.1. Maybe because it is on the cheap side. Pastas were mediocre. They did not take order until we asked and forgot the appetizers. However desserts were good.
Jacob CassMarch 2, 2014
The best lamb chops in NYC hands down. Get them.
Sarah YuMay 28, 2012
really long wait times most nights but if you come for a late dinner on sunday nights you can get seated right away
HectorNovember 26, 2014
Get the gnocchi. Make a reservation for this cash-only spot.
Lea J.May 4, 2013
Spinach gnocchi with pink sauce and Chianti! Wonderful evening.
Ruaridh GallagherNovember 28, 2011
Found this little gem by accident.. only accepts cash.. brilliant spot if even in the area!!
Mandi GrossJanuary 4, 2014
spinach gnocchi, um why did it take so long for us to be introduced? will definitely go back again!
PhabiNovember 18, 2011
Check the specials: if they have the rigatoni with eggplant, arugula, & ricotta...have it it's delicious!!
CharlottesApril 14, 2017
Home style Italian al fresco. Perfect mid week meal.
Maria RiabtchenkoMarch 8, 2015
The steak is amazing!! Need to come back for more
Boon YapJune 26, 2010
Cash only, as others have noted. Arrabbiata penne excellent. Veal meatballs a must. Also, chicken cutlet. Cheap & cheerful beighbourhood joint. :/)
Tiffany SFebruary 10, 2010
Been here 10+ times
My favorite Italian neighborhood joint in NY. Best dish on the menu: spaghetti alla chitarra -- it does not get better than this.
Sudhi IyerAugust 8, 2013
Spinach gnocchi is so good. They accept cash only.
Sameepa ShettyFebruary 23, 2014
They don't take reservations for 3! And then tell you, you have 1 hr for Dinner! And the hostess doesn't make matters better (rude) the food comes fast though.calamari was good only gluten free thing
Rina MadhaniMay 2, 2013
The group consensus here is spinach gnocchi. You won't regret it! :)
Steven KornblitDecember 31, 2012
The Calamari is served in a very Mediterranean grilled style. Excellent
Jean XuApril 27, 2013
Best pasta I've ever had in NYC!
raf pSeptember 7, 2014
Been here 5+ times
transport yourself to a whole other place - amazing ambiance.
ALMay 15, 2014
Great food! Beware it's cash only!

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Malatesta Trattoria

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