THE BEST: Pasta

[SobaAddict70]

If pasta is the gold standard by which Italian restaurants are judged, then what's a definitive top ten list in New York?

Let's start with some obvious ones:

Babbo

Lupa

San Domenico

any others? C'mon people, don't be shy.

Soba

[jogoode]

Celeste, great pasta -- some homemade, some imported from Artisinal producers. $9-11 each.

[ellenesk]

L'impero. Scott connant will prepare a pasta tasting menu if you request it.

[picaman]

I always sound like a broken record on this subject...but...

Roberto's, Arthur Avenue in the Bronx.

Jamie

[sammy]

I always sound like a broken record on this subject...but...

Roberto's, Arthur Avenue in the Bronx.

Jamie

Had ravioil stuffed with smoked filet mignon and ricotta when I was last there. Unbelievably good. The ravioli tasted like it was made just minutes before. Spoke with the chef about it and he said the most difficult part is getting the meat into the ravioli before the cooks eat it.

The spaghetti with lobster dish at Esca is great. The lobster may be a bit small for what they charge but it adds a great taste to the dish.

Edited February 4, 2004 by sammy (log)

[slkinsey]

It's a little bit difficult for me to separate best pasta from best pasta sauce.

The best artisinal dry pastas are, of course, available to all of us, and cooking them well is simply a matter of experience and good taste. By and large, I think the best dry pasta dishes are simple and to the point (Esca's spaghetti with clams, for example). I can't say that I have ever had a dry pasta dish in any restaurant anywhere that I couldn't (and haven't) execute just as well, if not better in my own home. I still have yet to eat bucatini all'amatriciana that compares with the one I make.

More complex fresh pasta dishes, and especially stuffed pasta dishes are another story. Of all the NYC places I've eaten, Babbo consistently succeeds in coming up with combinations I would not have imagined and a quality of fresh pasta that surpasses my own abilities. Lupa also makes some great fresh pasta dishes (tagliatelli with cultured butter from Tuscana and nothing else is amazing).

[LJC]

In NYC to add to Soba's list:

Fiamma

Felidia

In the outer bouroughs:

Don Pepe, Ozone Park (best white clam sauce)

Roberto's, Fordham

Areo, Bay Ridge

[rozrapp]

I Trulli

Via Emilia

[Suzanne F]

Lamarca, Third Avenue and 22nd. M-F only; cash only, but so inexpensive!

[albie]

Bravo Gianni, 230 East 63rd Street. Great pasta fresca -- tagliatelle, pappardelle, gnocchi-- all made fresh daily on the premises.

[knews9]

I would second L'Impero as having the best past in the city.

Then Babbo.

Lupa.

[a few categories down now:]

Crispo.

that place across from Tortilla Flats.

[tupac17616]

A few places where I've had very good pasta dishes:

Babbo

Felidia

Union Square Cafe

Via Emilia

Crispo

Max Soha

[EricaL]

Il Bagatto, in the East Village.

Erica

[Blondie]

In addition to the previously mentioned Babbo, Lupa and Celeste, I like Basso Est on Orchard Street (between Houston and Stanton).

[bfr]

50 Carmine is very good.

[slkinsey]

Some interesting answers here. But I'd like to hear why we think certain places have such great pasta.

[jogoode]

I love the texture of the dried and fresh pasta I've had at Celeste; the latter is almost rough. Plus, they have almost always cooked it until ideally al dente. My favorite dry pasta dish they serve is the paccheri with tomato sauce and ricotta; the best fresh pasta dish is tagliatelle with pecorino, shrimp, and cabbage. Besides from the accompaniments, which are delicious, the pasta is exceptional in both cases.

[Daniel]

Celeste is an amazing place.. It prooves how good it is in situations like last night.. I was with a four year old, she ordered a simple dish of rigatoni with MOZZ and tomato sauce; perfection! Gorgeous al dente pasta, a sauce of fresh tomato teaming with basil leaves and mozz. Most other places would completely overlook this dish, or rush it through knowing it was for a little girl.. It is emblematic of the simplistic beauty behind Italian Cooking and Celeste.

Edited April 23, 2005 by Daniel (log)

[mikeycook]

I would wholeheartedly agree with L'Impero. I think Scott Conant's pasta dishes are his best. I am going to have to ask about the pasta tasting.

[oakapple]

A New York Magazine review recently suggested that Lo Scalo (newly starred per Michelin) is excellent for its pastas.

[Dryden]

FYI - Lo Scalco.

[ASM NY]

FYI - Lo Scalco.

←

I have to agree with Dryden, I am shocked to see so little mention of this place in EG. Started a thread here.

[Dryden]

To be clear, I wasn't saying they have great pasta (I've never been), just clearing up the name of the restaurant for posterity's sake.