Malatesta Trattoria

21 Best Italian Restaurants in New York | Condé Nast Traveler

"Malatesta is the quintessential little West Village Italian spot. The restaurant’s charm draws in a big local crowd, which can sometimes mean long waits on warm summer evenings, but it’s entirely worth it for the cozy atmosphere with wood farm tables and candlelight flickering off of exposed brick walls. The handwritten menu is ever-changing, but usually includes pasta staples and seafood specials, and the house red is great and seems to go with everything. It’s a spot that works just as well for an intimate group birthday party as it does a first date." - Andrea Whittle