L’Artusi

228 W 10th St New York, NY 10014

We are the first to have low expectations for Italian food in the West Village. Aside from the sheer saturation in the city, innovation is rare, and new ideas don’t sell well. That’s the reality. L’Artusi takes the leap and lands it perfectly.

The menu is Italian in the same way New York is American: loosely, loudly, beautifully interpreted. The crudo arrives like a whispered promise—clean, sharp, shimmering with citrus and olive oil. A palate reset disguised as seduction. Obviously, the reason anyone with a pulse returns to L’Artusi is the pasta, which is treated not as a course but as a sacrament. The mushroom tagliatelle is a study in restraint. Silky ribbons wrapped in earthy, truffled depth, the sort of dish that teaches you patience because rushing it feels like sacrilege. The garganelli with rabbit is tender, herbaceous, scandalously comforting. Even the simplest version, the ricotta gnudi, arrives with the emotional weight of a childhood memory you haven’t earned. All their other offerings also rarely disappoint. From salads to crispy potatoes to carpaccio, you’re in good hands. I prefer sitting at the bar, but you’ll be stuffed either way.