Emilio's Ballato

The 12 Best Restaurants In Nolita - New York - The Infatuation

"If you’re walking along Houston Street at the northern edge of Nolita and you see a line of people on the sidewalk, it’s probably for Emilio’s Ballato. This red sauce spot has been around since 1956 (although the current owner took over in 1992), and it’s one of the few hyped-up restaurants in the neighborhood that’s truly earned its reputation. Come by to eat veal parm and clam linguine in a room that looks several hundred years old, with a few chandeliers and photos of celebrities blanketing the walls. Emilio’s Ballato doesn’t take reservations, and that’s why you’ll see a line. Go ahead and get in that line." - bryan kim, willa moore