22 Great Casual Italian Restaurants In NYC - New York - The Infatuation

"One day, we’ll get a more casual version of Lilia where you can eat a few agnolotti and book a table without having to call and plead your case like you’re Richard Gere in Primal Fear. Until that happens, the closest we have is Misipasta. From the same chef, this little grocery store and aperitivo bar near the Williamsburg waterfront serves a brief menu that’s full of highlights like a plate of prosciutto with custardy cheese puffs. Most items are bite-size, and there are usually only one or two pastas on the menu, which you should always order. The best seats are in the leafy backyard, but there are also a few small counters inside where you can sit on a barstool and drink a quality negroni." - willa moore, sonal shah, neha talreja, bryan kim, carina finn koeppicus