We had an OK time revisiting here, which is less than 15 blocks from our apartment. I was disappointed visiting this restaurant compared to my last experience there over two years ago. The menu seemed more limited, the value was much less(including a $6 charge for bread), and the waitress we had the last time(who was awesome two years prior) was there, but she had the outdoor tables while we ate indoors. The staff seemed to treat us like tourists and did not give us a "warm and fuzzy" like they did to the other patrons sitting near us. Plenty of other Italian restaurants in this neighborhood- probably will not be high on my list unless an out of towner asks me for an Italian Restaurant in the East Village past Avenue A in a vintage brick building. read more

Small, charming spot. The pasta dishes are flavored well. The rabbit meat surprised me the most in the best way. I do wish the pasta is a little more al dente though. The prosciutto is delicious as well. Sad I had to share. The only reason I'm giving 4 stars instead of a full 5 is because the wait time in between dishes is questionable. And we didn't come in during a busy time. Our pizza came about before an appetizer as well. read more

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My boyfriend wanted to try an Italian place in the neighborhood that wasn't stuffy, and we hit the jackpot! This place rocks. Note it is the type of place where they do pack you in there next to your neighbors. Now on to the main event! The rigatoni was the star of the show and we agreed we'd come back just for that. The rest of the menu didn't stand out too much to us, but the waitress let us order two half portions so we tried the the rabbit pappardelle and the special (lamb?). Good, but nothing could top that rigatoni. read more

Lavagna - Focaccia - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Had a wonderful meal here with 4 of us. I very much enjoyed the salmon, cooked perfect and great flavor. Another guest raved about the ravioli which was homemade but light. Others had a pasta dish that was fine but basic. The panna cotta dessert was delicioso. The service was good, atmosphere got very loud when it got crowded and the tables are so close together it was a bit tight. Yet even so strangely I wasn't bothered by the guests next to us. read more

Something about this place made me feel so comfortable. The service is excellent and don't get me started on the restaurant as a whole, what a beautiful establishment and experience I had there! Definitely will come back with my family and friends read more

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Sadly, this was super disappointing. With all the positive reviews, we really expected much better. The setting itself is beautiful and the ambience amazing. The waitstaff were charming and helpful. So this made the food all the more a disappointment. We had a salad of radishes, cheese and red peppers, and the red peppers were clearly from a bottle. We had another dish which was fried artichoke with a bean purée and sauteed mushrooms and it literally tasted like baby food. Maybe that artichoke had been fried in very hot water. It makes me sad to write this, but it's true. The only dish that was OK was the rigatoni which was modified to be veg for us. I'll caveat this by saying that perhaps the meat dishes are far better but I cannot recommend this beautiful spot for vegetarian. read more

Lavagna - Good looking salad that doesn't deliver - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

In our experience, this is the best Italian food in NYC (bold statement, but we know what we're talkin' about). Happy to deliciously debate. The chef and crew consistently put out excellent, decadent, sublime versions of every dish, with their Parpadelle, Rigatoni, scallops, and pizzas, leaving us wanting more no matter how much we've eaten. Tucked away in the LES, the quaint interior and amazing staff are always welcoming and warm. Roy is especially delightful to work with, knowing the best pairings (and remembering conversations and questions you've had with him from years ago!). This is the place that you will (and we have) invite friends and family, and spend hours in a single sitting, enjoying every minute of it (just as magical Italian food should)! read more

Food was absolutely phenomenal. Very small restaurant in Manhattan. It could use a little more cleaning/upkeep. But as I said, the food was really great, and the waitress was fantastic and down to earth. read more

Had a wonderful dinner at Lavagna in Alphabet City. The pasta tasted fresh and perfectly cooked, with balanced sauces that felt homemade and authentic. Portions were satisfying without being heavy. Service was warm and attentive, making the evening feel relaxed and welcoming. Cozy atmosphere with a neighborhood charm. Definitely a place I would return to. read more

We stumbled upon this restaurant tonight and it was amazing! The ambiance is intimate and the food delicious. The attentive service is so appreciated and we will absolutely be back for the ravioli! read more

I went to Lavagna with some friends for dinner, and it's just the coziest space. It's really clear that its been a part of the East Village for a long time, and has the feel of a classic NYC restaurant. The servers were very friendly, and allowed us to stay a little longer after we finished our meals which I always appreciate. We got the focaccia to start, which I really enjoyed. For our entrees we all got a pasta dish. I got the classic spaghetti because I'm vegetarian, and its what you would expect. Not always big on it but I was on a budget and it did the trick. My friend is vegetarian too and she asked to modify the rigatoni, which I should have done! They were able to modify it and remove the sausage which was very thoughtful of them. The other two guests got the ragu special, and enjoyed their meals! I would totally go back another time! read more

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Rigatoni with vodka sauce is amazing. Service was excellent and the atmosphere is great.

Fantastic service, a small little Italian restaurant! Pretty busy even on a Monday night. I tried the focaccia (8/10 very good), the seared scallops "agrodolce" which was my favorite (9/10 the sauce was so good I got extra focaccia to dip in it!), the carciofo al forno (6/10 the puree and mushrooms were decent, not the biggest fan of the artichoke) and the prosciutto di San Daniele (4/10 the prosciutto and cheese were good but the balsamic fig was way too aggressive in the vinegar and I couldn't finish it!) I also tasted the rigatoni (7/10 not my favorite I feel like it could've used more flavor or seasoning) and the special pasta which had eggplant in it (8/10 I'd order this one) I wouldn't actively choose to come back but I wouldn't say no if someone else wanted to go. read more

Yorgi head host and sever will ensure that you have the time of your life at East Village's most classic Tuscan dining establishment. He will be your wine aficionado and your confidant. The steak Lavagna was incredible. Cooked to perfection and the Yukon mashed were an excellent pair. I recommend hearing the specials and a pro tip: split a pizza as an appetizer. They always rotate new house specialty pizzas All of the servers and staff are friendly and make you feel like you're dining like part of the family. A+ service read more

Loud small room, tense vibe with owner cursing out staff and being rude to guests. Years ago we stopped coming here for this reason (our waiter quit mid meal!) but a friend wanted to go... Nowhere to stand if yr table is not ready. No bartender will ask if u want anything. Don't ask about the timeline, the owner will snap @ you. I like the C&B focaccia and the scallop appetizer but what a stressful environment. read more

Lavagna is an absolute gem! This cozy Italian spot in the East Village completely won me over. I had the rigatoni, and it was beyond delicious. Roy, my server, was so attentive, and friendly, which made the whole experience even better. If you're craving amazing Italian food in the EV, you have to check out Lavagna. :) read more

Pasta is amazing, one of my favorites ever. It's definitely made in the restaurant, perfectly al-dente. I love the rigatoni, but the offerings change and they've always been good. It's a pretty small place. read more

The server was very helpful and nice. She gave great suggestions based on your dietary needs and her suggestions were spot on. We ordered the scarpaccio for appetizer and shared the rigatoni and Pollock for mains. And had an apple pie type dessert (forget the Italian name). The Pollock was my favorite dish by far. The fish was soft and peppery with a hint of lemon. Just delicious! Everything else was very good too. The restaurant is very small and has a cozy apartment-like vibe. Would definitely recommend making reservations as this place fills up quickly. read more

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A cozy Italian restaurant at a quieter corner of East Village. The scallops appetizer comes with an interesting gravy like sauce. It is slightly not warm enough though and the scallop does not taste very fresh. Ordered the daily special pasta with pork ragu and eggplant with fettucine, this one tastes rich with matching flavours, and appreciated that they already come in two equal portion after we mentioned earlier that we are sharing the food. The salmon with risotto is normal, and again one point to note is that it's not served warm enough. Overall the ambiance and service of the restaurant is great. Food is reasonable but can work on the serving temperature. read more

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Do you love Italian like I do? Wow is this a great place! I'm an inside eater as opposed to most NYC diners who prefer to eat outside. (I'm so Florida and 60 degrees is too COLD to eat outside.) Let me start with telling you that just looking around this beautiful restaurant is gorgeous! Brick walls, painted floors, and old framed mirrors are the backdrop to an open kitchen with a wood burning oven glowing through wine bottles on the shelf. I kept finding myself just looking around and feeling so comfortable relaxing in the beautiful dining area. I ordered the Rigatoni with sausage in a cream tomato sauce and was so stuffed after eating about 3/4 of it. I gave the remainder to my husband as he had ordered Spinach Stuffed Ravioli and it was a much smaller portion. We also started with bread with a side of oil to dip and I want to tell you that you HAVE to order it. Order double! It is hard to describe how the bread melts in your mouth - it's not just fresh, it is uniquely special. Did you catch that I recommend you order double? We had a reservation and were seated as soon as we arrived. The service throughout the night was great and we were checked on throughout the night. I will return here and recommend it as a great overall experience for the food and service. read more

Lavagna - Rigatoni - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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This is my favorite restaurant in New York. My friends and I go all the time and specifically LOVE the spicy rigatoni and cocktails. The setting is lowkey, cozy and relaxing... this is a favorite and I always take friends and family from out of town here! We love it! read more

What a great surprise! We made a reservation without really knowing much and after looking at some mediocre reviews. It was fantastic! Lavagna has a small menu and we ordered a lot off of it. The standouts were the octopus app sliced thin and the sweet pea ravioli with a hint of mint. The scallop appetizers was also delish. Perfectly cooked. The beet salad was good. The star was the whole fish- it came flambé (which might have been a bit unnecessary) but the results were beyond. The four of us shared this for dinner after sharing apps. Great sleeper restaurant that I would totally recommend. read more

Delicious trattoria food, phenomenal wine list, and a warm, lively vibe. I've been coming here since it opened in 1999, and even though I moved out of the neighborhood many years ago, it is still and by far my favorite Italian in the East Village and well worth the trip to Alphabet City. Yorgos and his team are charming, knowledgable, and professional. The daily specials stand out in an already great menu. We've been introduced to some outstanding Greek wines throughout the years and always look forward to going back. Dining at Lavagna is what a great night out in the East Village should be. read more

Not good. Still tasting bar glass disinfectant (the gives terrible headaches) tasting hours later, for $16 wine that was not very good. The $50 lamb chops came rare instead of well ordered. Appetizer was good. Extra charge for bread. Almost $100 per person and I am hoping to not get sick. Most other people having pizza, but won't be finding out. read more

Great place to get a last minute reservation for a cozy Italian meal! My boyfriend and I shared the pizzetta del bosco and the rigatoni. Both had great textures, even though the flavors could be better. The wine we had was amazing! Shoutout to the great service for the wine pick and for bringing out the food in a timely manner. read more

Lavagna - Pizzetta Del Bosco - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Came to Lavagna with a friend on a Monday evening after 6pm in the mood for Italian cuisine. At this time I was in the mood for something delicious yet tomato-ie because why not?? They had about 4 to 5 pasta options and I choose the Fedelini Fini as it matched to what I was craving for when it comes to Italian food. The pasta was actually fresh, and very tomato-ie with the added freshly grated romano they added on top. Top this with a glass of red wine and you'll sure enjoy Lavagna. read more

Lavagna - Fedelini Fini - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Came straight here from JFK. It's 11:12 and the time says they close at 12:00. The lady said they are closed when we walked up. Supper strange and inconvenient. They should update their times online. read more

They stay open as they said they would even when other restaurants around closed early on the quieter days. The environment was energetic yet romantic just like in Italy!They got a big drink menu and a smaller section of food menu,especially for wine.(well it's an Italian place!) I had fresh pappardelle, and it was great, you can't find it often in any other places. The noodles they use are fresh! The portion's fine, might need to order some more other than just the pasta if you are a guy! It's great for me so I can still have room for a piece of cake! The chocolate mousse cake wasn't like "mousse "though, more like a creamy brownie but I did like it, just wasn't as expected. It's a great place for a late dinner, date night or just grabbing few drinks with friends. read more

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I was so pleased by my experience at lavagna. We went on a Friday night around 6:30, and though that is an early dinner, with thirty minutes, the entire place had been filled. The service was great and the atmosphere was nice. It's on a quieter street in the east village / alphabet city, but the street is lit up from lavagna and tuome across the street. The wine list is extensive and we asked the somm tasting notes of what we wanted and he was eager to help. The owner came by a few times to check in which was really nice. We started off with both salads, fall squash focaccia, and the prosciutto and fig appetizer. Ingredients are fresh and it's clear they use good olive oil. We ordered the bucatini, rigatoni and the fish for two. The rigatoni was incredible. Saucy and perfectly seasoned -- I scooped the sauce into my mouth to finish the dish -- and I will definitely be coming back just for the rigatoni. The fish was surprisingly delicious. The tomatoes as the side were perfectly good, as with the fish. Excellent restaurant, food and ambiance all around. I'll be back again soon. read more

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The service was great. We had such a ball last night. They took care of us. The drinks were delicious. The lamb was amazing. read more

Lavagna - Back at this place again. Celebrating our friend John A's birthday day. - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Service absolutely awful, rude and dismissive, ruined reasonably good food. Tight quarters didn't help, but not the main problem. Have been a few times over the years but never had this problem before. read more

We have been coming to Lavagna for years. The food is amazing! Best pasta in the city!!!!! Staff treat you like family. The space is cozy, warm, & welcoming, with a hip vibe. Truly one of NY's finest! Great E. Village night life surrounds the restaurant. read more

What a great meal! -- we dropped in a little early for a dinner reservation on a nice day so we asked to be seated outside and they were very accommodating. Our waiter was knowledgeable on the menu and even over heard us talking about vegetarian options for a friend and he came back to mention a few entrees in particular. We appreciated his wine recommendations which were great choices for us. As for food, we went with the Cesar salad, mussels, truffle pizza, rigatoni and their special pasta for the evening. Anddd there was nothing left! A great place for a small groups and they have outdoor seating during the summer and nice days. Outdoor dinner with vino anyone? read more

Food, ambiance, drinks, all perfect. Great date night spot! The staff has been around a long time and are superb.

SO YUM! Amazing vibes in the heart of the east village, the restaurant it self was a farrar atmosphere, lively & cute. Sat at the bar which was a fun experience, and the food was delicious. read more

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The best pork chop dish you may ever have. Service super friendly, bread is fresh, food delicious. Cute place for a date off the beaten path of east village. Burrata special was delicious. Fresh tomatoes and cheese. Artichoke hearts with mushrooms was amazing. Mushrooms have so much flavor soaked into them. The special pasta was perfectly cooked, and the prosciutto bites were delicious. Sweet corn was great accompaniment. Pork chop is delish as well. With beans and a bitter green underneath with pickled veg on top, the combo was perfect. We got the chocolate cake dessert and that was amazing. Very rich. Wine selection is fairly extensive and we got some help from several people to help us make a decision. They were super nice even when we came fairly close to closing! Looking forward to going back. read more

Lavagna - Roast Pork Chop very good! - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

I am so glad I picked Lavagna to dine. I am only in the city for two days so I have to pick my meals carefully. Everything was perfect from start to finish. The ambiance , decor, our waiter and the owner made it a great experience. But most of all the meal was excellent. We had the rigatoni with sausage and the lamb and cavatelli and both were amazing. I highly recommend having dinner there. It's on a nice quiet street out of the way You can site inside or outside .Make a reservation as it is popular. read more

I made a reservation at Lavagna for myself and three friends for my friends birthday on a Wednesday evening. We were seated outside at a covered table on a relatively quiet side street which was nice. The servers were attentive to our table and took our orders quickly. I would say the ambience was overall quite informal-- our waitress looked like she just walked off the sidewalk (It was a bit offputting how casual things were to be frank). The food was very good and the portions were generous. I would argue that the rigatoni may have been slightly over sauced considering the density of the cream, but the pizza was perfect. I would recommend this restaurant for more casual dining. Don't be expecting a super upscale experience, but the food is good and the prices are reasonable. read more

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I came here on a Saturday night with no res and was able to get a table outside right away. We shared the Caesar salad (pretty standard, nothing special), the rigatoni, and the steak. We really liked both of our entrees and the service was good! Solid 4/5. Would come again. read more

Lavagna - Rigatoni Pasta Steak Lavagna - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

HOLY BATMAN. I've eaten here pre-Covid and loved it but for some reason forgot to write a review. Then I was craving Italian last night and was going to order from another local place but was like -'fck it! Why don't I switch it up and order from Lavagna since they're back??' (For a while you couldn't get delivery and there were odd hours but I digress). I ordered the scallops, focaccia, rigatoni with peas, and the arugula salad with dates and prosciutto. JESUS BE A WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM - because I will now be ordering only from them when I want Italian. So. Freaking. Good. Fresh, hot and delicious. I do have a pea allergy and I asked them to remove them in the notes several times but they were still there :( no worries - took a Benadryl and spit out the peas or picked them out when I could. YOLO - hives are worth it for this meal. GETCHU SOME. read more