Babbo
Restaurant · Greenwich Village ·
Elegant Italian restaurant serving refined seasonal dishes
Elegant Italian restaurant serving refined seasonal dishes
"Officially reopened and now under Stephen Starr’s ownership, the famed Italian returns with chef Mark Ladner back in the fold, rekindling the legacy that spans Babbo, Lupa, and the storied Del Posto." - Tierney Plumb
"After a few weeks’ delay, this revival at 110 Waverly Place in Greenwich Village brings back one of New York’s most famous Italian restaurants under Stephen Starr, with chef Mark Ladner returning to lead a menu inspired by what he calls “22 distinct regions”—the 20 of Italy plus two for the old and the new Babbo. The opening buzz is fueled by drama—from the Mario Batali/Spotted Pig fallout that felled the prior group to a possible appearance by Scabby the union rat tied to D.C. unionization disputes—but the focus is on the food: fin fish or shellfish crudi trios; antipasti like warm escarole salad, lamb’s tongue, and sweetbreads; a 49‑day minestrone; respun classics such as a 100‑layer Detroit‑style lasagne for four; beef‑cheek ravioli; and secondi like veal osso buco and grilled squab with grapes and hazelnuts. Desserts veer from Italian‑American tropes to include zabaglione with sour cherries, the famous saffron panna cotta with gigante raisins, and a blueberry blue cheese budino. The space has been refreshed by Gachot with red walls upstairs and restored leather banquettes, while the signature wine list and cellar remain, backed by a deep Champagne selection and an expanded cocktail bar. Service is overseen by Tizzy Beck, a “personality powerhouse,” and reservations are on Resy (Sunday–Thursday until 10 p.m., Saturday until 11 p.m.)." - Melissa McCart
"Fresh off a high-profile revival under Stephen Starr, this Greenwich Village dining room has quickly become one of the hottest reservations in town, with Mark Ladner (Mario Batali’s former right hand, who started at sibling spot Lupa and later led the kitchen at the Michelin-starred Del Posto) set to serve Babbo classics like the 100-layer lasagna and beef-cheek ravioli. The comeback arrives with baggage: Batali left the company in 2017 following a sexual harassment scandal, and in the days leading up to the reopening Scabby the Union Rat and protestors appeared outside holding “BOYCOTT BABBO” signs. Notably, United Here has not alleged wrongdoing at Babbo; the objections center on the name’s legacy and Starr’s D.C. operations, but diners may still need to cross picket lines to get in. A union spokesperson called keeping the Babbo name “tasteless and gross” and urged New Yorkers to stay away, and the rat is expected to make ongoing appearances." - Andrea Strong
"Set to reopen under Stephen Starr with former Del Posto chef Mark Ladner at the helm, this Greenwich Village landmark returns on Monday, October 6 at 110 Waverly Place (at MacDougal Street), with its Resy page live and reservations opening Wednesday, October 1. Originally launched in 1998 by Joe Bastianich and Mario Batali, it helped redefine diners’ expectations for a certain kind of Italian restaurant, with unapologetic offal dishes, silky pastas, and a then-unconventional playlist, earning critical acclaim that shook up the city’s dining scene and influenced a generation of modern Italian restaurants. After Batali exited in 2017 following a sexual harassment scandal and the change of hands led to a closure, longtime fans wondered whether Starr would restore its luster. Ladner’s updated menu will lean “Del Posto lite,” presenting refined takes on Italian classics—seasonal crudi, risotto, the restaurant’s famed 100-layer lasagna, and longtime favorites like beef-cheek ravioli—promising a comeback that may feel familiar yet refreshed and is shaping up to be one of fall’s most anticipated openings." - Melissa McCart
"One of New York’s most iconic Italian restaurants is making its way back, the intrepid 1998 debut that rewrote the rules of fine dining with offal dishes, classic rock soundtracks, and bold Italian fare — earning praise for shaking up convention and influencing a generation of Italian spots. Now, under the ownership of prolific restaurateur Stephen Starr, chef Mark Ladner returns to helm the kitchen and bring back its authority; while the space harks back to the original, the menu has been refined with a “Del Posto lite” approach featuring seasonal crudi, risotto, the 100-layer lasagna, and favorites like beef-cheek ravioli." - Melissa McCart