Via Carota

Step inside Via Carota and you’re transported to a dimly lit Tuscan farmhouse filled with antique cabinets, vintage dishware, and the kind of effortless elegance the West Village does so well. This mostly walk-in Italian spot from the team behind Buvette and I Sodi has been drawing devoted crowds since 2014, and despite the inevitable wait that can stretch for hours, people keep coming back like it’s a magnet they can’t resist.

The menu here proves that Italian cooking doesn’t need to be fussy to be extraordinary. The cacio e pepe is legendary for good reason—creamy, peppery, and so richly cheesy you’ll understand why it appears on nearly every table. But don’t sleep on the svizzerina, a remarkable chopped steak that arrives with a perfect salty crust and an almost tartare-like interior, crowned with soft roasted garlic cloves. The vegetable section of the menu deserves serious attention too, with grilled artichokes and a towering green salad that look almost too beautiful to eat.

The experience at Via Carota is as much about atmosphere as it is about food. Servers in cream-colored jackets deliver Negronis on silver trays while you people-watch and soak in the warm glow of what feels like the center of the universe. It’s romantic without being precious, sophisticated without feeling stuffy, and absolutely ideal for a date night or special occasion.

Come prepared to wait, grab a drink at a nearby spot, and let the anticipation build. When you finally settle into your wooden table and that first plate of pasta arrives, you’ll understand why this place has become a New York institution. It’s the kind of restaurant that turns a meal into a memory.