Cacio e Pepe

i love cacio e pepe!! such a fun, authentic, warm space. the owners and staff are incredibly friendly and welcoming. i had shown up with a large group one time and the owner gave us all prosecco just because we had to wait a bit. the food is incredible and you can tell only high quality ingredients are used. i’ve been back a couple times and will continue coming back. highly recommend!

One spoon serving for $10 is insane. The food was like the ocean, salty. The only way I could tell it was Cacio e Pepe is the coarse bits of pepper other wise the flavor of black pepper is absent and salt is REALLY prevalent. The atmosphere was cute but too humid inside. Service was fine.

This is a very cute restaurant and would be perfect for a date! The vibe is very pleasant and the staff and service were awesome. The food was just okay compared to other Italian in the city! I have no regrets about coming here but probably won't be back when there are other options to try

Amazing homemade pasta, tossed with black pepper in the cheese wheel in front of us. Great wine selection, and very nice staff. We sat in the window, but there is also a patio out back. Great bread with homemade tomato sauce.

Killer - Came all the way from Northern Colorado to eat here. Great atmosphere, amazing wait staff. Pasta was al dente. Thanks so much. I'm a Team USA Olympian and if making pasta was an Olympic Event. Cacio e Pepe would win the Gold!

Ate here tonight’s with my wife and another couple. We all really enjoyed the “Chef’s Tasting” that is a six-course sampling of some awesome dishes the chef selects (but you can ask for something specific if there something you really want to try). We LOVED it all. Tried some new dishes never had before and I can’t wait to plan a return trip. And the wait staff, Veronica and Lupe were super friendly and provided excellent service. If you enjoy trying something new and want to explore something you likely haven’t had yet, give Cacio e Pepe a try. All around, Cacio e Pepe is now one of my top five restaurants.

Cacio e Pepe in Manhattan is one of those rare spots that feels instantly comforting from the moment you walk in. The atmosphere is cozy and intimate without trying too hard, and the staff treat you like a regular even on your first visit. The food is exactly what you hope for when you crave real Italian comfort—simple, high-quality ingredients prepared perfectly. Their signature cacio e pepe is unbelievably creamy with that perfect balance of pecorino and pepper, and you can tell they really care about every detail. The pasta is always cooked just right, and the flavors are bold without being heavy. What really stood out to me was the consistency: every dish we tried—from the appetizers to dessert—felt thoughtful, fresh, and genuinely delicious. It’s the kind of restaurant that makes you slow down, savor, and enjoy the moment. If you’re looking for a spot in Manhattan that feels both special and welcoming, this is absolutely it. A place you’ll want to come back to over and over again.

Wow wow wow!! This place was nice and cozy with amazing food! Definitely make a reservation as the wait is long. The manager was super friendly and the service was amazing. I ordered the pasta that comes inside a large cheese bowl that they melt cheese on the pasta before serving. What a fun experience. Come hungry you’ll clean your plate I promise!

Solid Cacio E Pepe (I hope so, given that's the restaurant's name!). The octopus was incredible, grilled to perfection. It was very crispy on the outside but still really tender on the inside. The suckling pig was ok, not memorable. I don't even think we finished the dish. The Cacio e Pepe was done well. The pasta had a nice al dente texture. The Parmesan cheese was creamy and slightly salty and the black pepper added a nice balance to the richness. The star is supposedly the cheese wheel show, but I was thoroughly disappointed. All they do in front of you is finish mixing the pasta and plate (and they don't even plate it fancy). I wish they put on an actual show, using a torch to heat up the cheese wheel, mixing the pasta in the bubbling cheese, etc.

I gave it 2 tries . Each was with a group dinner . Picture being in a small room which was their private room for parties . I can't believe that the city of New York and the fire department even would think the room was legal. Paid 100 dollars for dinner with way too many people cramped at the tables . In December when we went the room was literally leaking . This past Sunday was not better . It's sad because the first time I went to an experience Sicily event at a different restaurant I loved it Now that they changed it to this restaurant it was not good One bit of advice to the organizers. Perhaps have less people and better food For 100 dollars we should not be cramped like cattle on tables in a room that was probably not safe Never again

Cacio E Pepe is a solid option if you're in the east village. Classic options that everyone loves and has something for everyone. If you'd really like to see the cache e Pepe tossed in a wheel of cheese then this I definitely the spot for you. The servers did a good job of explain everything, even the drinks. I ordered the orecchiette with broccoli rabe and sausage will my brother and sister in law both had the cache e Pepe. We all enjoyed our dishes but don't think anything was done above and beyond. Overall, a solid spot.

Fantastic lasagna bolognese, very nice staff and the music choice is 10/10. Great place

Great cacio e Pepe and a good aperol spritz. Lived up to the place's name! 23 dollars for an aperol spritz and a beer. But I do believe the cacio e Pepe was well worth it.

Most definitely a touristy trap kind of eatery with some dishes that stand up and some that don't. Located in one my favorite neighborhoods in NYC, this place is what I think a lot of folks imagine when they think about dining in the East Village - quaint, cozy and slightly overpriced. The best dish by far here is the namesake cacio e pepe - cheesy and peppery albeit a pretty small portion for $26. Oxtail with polenta was decent as well as the branzino. Food here is decent but you can definitely find similar cuisine that's better for similar prices. Portion sizes here are a tad small so if you have a big appetite, this might not be the place for you. Good to try once but probably not going to be a frequent flyer.

What fun! My bestie and I dined here Saturday night and it was hopin'! Couples, friend groups, families - all are welcome. Solid bar scene too. Staff were friendly and personable and gave great recommendations. We started with the Insalata di Cesare - everything you love about Caesar salad, topped with crunchy pancetta. My friend had the Orecchiette with broccoli rabe, sausage and buffalo mozzarella stracciatella - she loved it. I had the homemade tonnarelli cacio e pepe, which was served piping hot, table-side, in a giant wheel of cheese. Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Huge applause to the front and back of the house. You made our night!

We made a reservation and was seated immediately upon arrival. The establishment is small and cozy. We dined for restaurant week and they offered 1 app, 1 pasta, and 1 dessert for $45. I was very happy with the portions, service, and taste! Burrata - loved the creaminess of the burrata with the prosciutto Meatballs - I thought were pretty standard in taste, pretty sizable portions! Cacio e pepe - get ready for your pasta to be swirled it in a cheese wheel! The pasta itself was creamy. Carbonara -I enjoyed the uniqueness of the jumbo rigatoni, the Paccheri had a lovely savory bite to the pasta Cheesecake - this was my favorite because the blueberry compote was to die for!! The cheesecake was pillowy and light. Tiramisu - not too sweet, tasty, and perfect size Cannoli - wonderful outer crunch of the cannoli and forward taste of the pistachio Highly recommend!!

Easy to make reservation online. They offer Cacio e Pepe served tableside swirled in cheese wheel. Large portions and yummy. Whether it's one person getting it or entire table they still swirl tableside....even if seated at tiniest table. Prices were good too. Yummy chianti as well.

My bestie and I came here for dinner a few weeks ago and had a fabulous meal! We had a reservation and were seated right by the window. It was a pretty quiet Sunday night. The service was attentive and we got our food at the perfect time! We shared the ricotta app to start. The artichoke puree added a great addition to the dish. It was the perfect size to share and wasn't too filling. For entrees, we obviously both had to get the cacio e pepe! They prepare the sauce tableside and serve it out of a huge wheel of cheese. The presentation was so fun and the flavor was FABULOUS! I loved how al dente the pasta was and the peppercorns added a great kick. The cocktails were good and they had a nice selection of wines by the glass. I would totally come back here! I think I will have to get the cacio e pepe every time though... it's that good!

Always wanted to try pasta coming from a wheel of cheese. We got seated right away. We sat next the entry door. I didn't realize until later that there was ac in the restaurant but it didn't reach where we were sitting. Food came out pretty quick. We got the cacio e pepe and some kind of pesto with broccolini and sausage. Both pasta dishes were honestly too al dente for us. It felt like they dipped the pasta quickly into boiling water and pulled them out. The cacio e pepe sauce was pretty good but the pepper was very coarsed. It was a lot of chewing for this dish. The pesto dish sauce was very good! The sauce was very light and flavorful. The service overall was OK. Had to remind the servers several times for a check and didn't get much water.

Just got back from some time in Rome and was craving some Roman cuisine. We gave Cacio E Pepe a B+. It's good by American standards, but one way that Italian food here always fails at is that the pasta is always too soft to be al dente. Both of us thought it was closer to Chef Boyardee texture than to a true Italian al dente. Really, it's not a difficult formula. If you overcook the pasta even a little, throw it away, start over, and apologize for the delay. My daughter loved the Cacio e Pepe dish, but did think it was a bit too cheesy compared to the 3 times she had it in Italy (twice in Rome and once in Amalfi). She gave it an A-. I ordered the carbonara, and I will say that it's one of the best I had outside of Rome if only for the sauce. However, literally every one I had in Rome was better (I had it every day ) due to the texture of the pasta. Also, I feel like in Rome they fry the pancetta a bit to get more of a crisp bacon texture instead of hunks of jiggly fat, and that's just magical. Again, not a hard formula. Also the bread was okay. It was just okay. Uninteresting, mostly. Maybe a little stale. It's weird to put so little effort into the bread you serve. It should be fun. It's such a fun part of the experience for Italian food and such an easy way to score an easy win. Use fresher bread and maybe have a selection in the basket. Everyone loves focaccia. The only drink I had was the "Cacio e Pepe" (Tequila, lime, egg white, and simple), which I found... not enjoyable. I'm not sure what it was. There was some indescribable underlying flavor that was just super off-putting. The ambiance was also okay. More hole-in-the-wall than romantic. I dug it. My daughter didn't. The service was great. Top notch.

I can't wait to come back. They definitely did not hold back on the cheese! Food and service was great. Great place to have date night or even a night out on my own.

Love CHEDO!!!! Amazing experience - friend in town & birthday from Boston - 10/10!!! So fun

Pros Comfortable, open space, cozy, and cute aesthetics Superb, delicious, mouthwatering food Out of this world fantastic service Best Lambrusco I've ever had Outside seating Staff beyond accommodating Cheese wheel ( always fun to watch) Fresh baked bread Homemade desserts ATM inside restaurant Multiple outlets at tables to charge devices Bread comes with tomato sauce Normal crowd Cons Only accept cash and Amex, but ATM makes up for it!

Nice neighborhood gem, great service, relaxing setting, cocktails flavorful, with a kick, appetizer & main courses delicious. we were too full to try their desserts. We will definitely return.

First time here at Cacio E Pepe, made a reservation few weeks ahead since it was for a special occasion. I was so excited to be here after reading all the glorious reviews on Yelp. We had a choice of being seated in the backyard outdoor or inside, being a humid day we picked to sit inside. Staff was warm and friendly. Started off with drinks, I got the Basilico ( strawberry gin, lime and Basil ) so refreshing ! We were given a bread basket that came with the tastiest tomato dip hmmm so good. For the main I had to try the signature dish - Cacio e pepe itself, and watched while the pasta was being tossed in the cheese wheel at the table. It was fresh, strong cheese flavor and lots of peppercorn. Loved the experience, maybe the excessive pepper was not the right choice for me but cannot wait to come back and try the other dishes on the menu.

The service was good but the food was not. The lobster ravioli did not have a hint of lobster it mainly taste like fish cakes.

As the name suggests, Cacio e Pepe is known for its famous pasta dish of the same name, which is uniquely served out of a large pecorino cheese wheel which was very cool. Naturally, as a cheese lover, I had to order this. The pasta was cooked to be nicely al dente, and was unsurprisingly deliciously cheesy - maybe a bit too cheesy by some people's standards, but was more than fine by me. My main complaint though was that there were large whole peppercorn pieces in there, which were simply too big. With every bite, I felt an intense sharp pepper flavor that took away from the actual tasty pasta flavor. They really should just grind down these peppercorns, and the dish would be much more enjoyable. $23 for this dish might seem a bit high considering it is basically just cheesy pasta with nothing else added (aside from the peppercorns of course), but given the unique presentation, it could be considered reasonable. Plus, the portion size was decent and more filling than it looked. We also tried the 3 for $30 salami and cheese combo. The prosciutto was high quality, the capocollo salami was also good but a little too salty, and the pecorino tartufato cheese had little truffle pieces inside and was tasty. Again, I think this was a little overpriced but I suppose one could argue it is authentic and pretty high quality so not too bad. The place is cozy and lively, with some classic Italian restaurant vibes inside including wine bottles along the walls. The staff were average friendliness, pretty attentive, and the service speed was decent. For some reason, they have decided to only accept Amex or cash as payment, which is a bit inconvenient. They do have an ATM in the back though for this exact reason. It can get pretty busy during the weekends so I would recommend making a reservation if you're trying to go during peak hours. Overall, I think Cacio e Pepe is a decent authentic Italian restaurant and I would recommend it if you are interested in experiencing the cheese wheel pasta for yourself. Otherwise, I think the pasta is just okay in quality and the options might be slightly overpriced, but not exactly a bad option either.

While in NY for a week, we chose this restaurant because my Mom loves Italian food. Well... Overall the food was good. It was not great. The atmosphere was okay. Nothing to write home about. The wait staff - well, let's just say that our waiter dropped our to go boxes on the floor, picked them up and still handed them to us. Another waiter saw what happened, took the boxes and replaced them with new ones. Our waiter may have also been under the weather. Don't come to work. Our cacio e pepe was good. It was not as amazing as we had hoped. I mean, the signature dish, the namesake of the restaurant... we had high hopes. That's on us I guess. Enjoy a meal with good family and friends. Do not have high expectations, and you will enjoy your evening. The music being played was very good.

No brainer in guessing what is the best pasta dish Cacio e Pepe. It's a really cute place with great wine and food. Everything was great including their Salmon but Cacio e Pepe is a must order. Its made to order and was tossed in a pecorino cheese wheel at the table. Very creamy and authentic! Ps: This place is cash only but don't worry if you forget they have an ATM at the restaurant (with a small transactional fee).

I came here for dinner on a Saturday night with a group of girlfriends. We were all particularly excited to try the pasta wheel pasta - it looked delicious... and it was good for like 2 bites but it was SOOO cheesy I couldn't eat more than 2 bites. I HIGHLY recommend sharing this dish and not making it your entire entree. For apps we had the caesar salad which I love that it comes with bacon on top (you can ask to remove it) and the buratta which was great. I loved the plant dessert - you'll know what I'm talking about when you see it - the cream inside of it was very light and fluffy and was a great way to end the evening.

When I went to Aruba was the first time I saw a cheese wheel and was unfortunately not able to eat at that restaurant because it was booked. However, I had no idea they had that in NY until I did research. This location is nice and intimate. We went on my birthday on a Thursday and it wasn't that packed which I loved. Felt like I had the whole restaurant to myself. The service was great. The pasta was awesome. My bf and I had no complaints. The server was so nice and bought out two little shots to celebrate my bday. It was so thoughtful. I would definitely come back here again.

I really enjoyed my meal at this restaurant! Even though the restaurant is called cacio e pepe, I decided to order the gnocchetti al telefono, because I LOVE gnocchi, I just had to try it. I was very, very happy with the pasta. The dish comes with homemade gnocchi, mozzarella, and tomato sauce. It is very simple, but so delicious in flavor! The only other gnocchi I really enjoy is the one my friend makes and this definitely was just as good! This is one of those restaurants that I would go back to again just for the same dish!

Quaint & cozy spot with incredible pasta served fresh & al dente! The fresh peppercorns with a dry red wine pairing so beautifully. Our server Veronica took extra care of us although we arrived very close to closing time. We will be back for more!!

Delicious Italian dishes! Loved the charcuterie board we ordered and the lobster ravioli. They also have a cheese wheel for their cacio e pepe. Everything was flavorful and authentic. Loved the potted dessert--especially the passion fruit flavor!

Wow wow wow!! This place was nice and cozy with amazing food! Definitely make a reservation as the wait is long. The manager was super friendly and the service was amazing. I ordered the pasta that comes inside a large cheese bowl that they melt cheese on the pasta before serving. What a fun experience. Come hungry you'll clean your plate I promise!

If I can give this place a -10, I would! I came with my husband and 3 kids. We arrived at 10pm on a Saturday night, the server said their kitchen is no longer accepting orders because they're backed up! They advertise that they close at 12am, and they're turning away customers 2 hours prior. They're not even full! There were at least 5 tables that were empty. Terrible! Never trying this place ever.

Pasta was severely undercooked, nearly raw. Everyone at our table who ordered this was extremely disappointed. The vibes were great and the service was good as well, but food quality overall was very terrible

Had a fantastic meal at Cacio e Pepe last night! We sat outside on the sidewalk but there was also a gorgeous back garden that I would love to sit in next time. Service was very friendly and our food came out pretty fast. We got the arugula salad which was beautifully plated and a great pairing of the salty Parmesan cheese, sweet pear, and tangy balsamic drizzle. I ordered the restaurant's namesake and it was definitely the real deal-- the pasta is mixed in a huge round of Parmesan cheese which is brought to the table and plated in front of you which was super impressive. The cacio e Pepe was creamy and perfectly cheesy with fresh and al dente pasta. We also enjoyed the Strozzapetri with shrimp and fava bean pesto, very flavorful and lighter but satisfying dish. Will be back!

Went here for a brunch with a lot of girl friends. Really good vibes, and delicious bread! Drinks were also strong. They have a great brunch deals, meals are $13, and unlimited mimosas for $25.

My pasta was cold so asked for the pasta to be heated up. TWENTY MINUTES passed and the pasta wasn't at the table and my partner was already finish with his dish. The runner was telling from the kitchen "it's coming, it's coming" and the server wouldn't come until 15min later that she finally decided to come to let me know that the kitchen burnt my pasta and that they were making a new one. She could have told me that since beginning. They didn't make anything to make it up other than empty apologies, they just pretend that nothing happened. On top of all, the "unseat me" from OpenTable so I wouldn't leave a review. Definitely not coming back to this place.

Lovely dinner at Cacio e Pepe for a group of 10. The staff was phenomenal and very accommodating with drinks, dietary restrictions, and food. Portions were strong and the cacio e pepe is brought fresh from the cheese wheel! Must orders are the espresso martini, cacio e pepe, burrata, eggplant appetizer. Special shout-out to the staff and beautiful outdoor seating

I dropped by a few weeks ago and really enjoyed how the staff treated me. They let me sample two wines, talked to me about the history of the items, and were just super cool human beings. I only had cacio e pepe and a dessert but I found the tableside preparation of the cacio e pepe to be fascinating. Others are bitching about portion size, but I can assure you that such persons are morbidly obese and likely chug Big Gulps, as I was very hungry and could not finish my plate. I would tell those slobs to go back to Ohio and to reconsider their miserable, empty cracker lives.

Every item that we had was so delicious we cannot wait to return. It was an amazing experience. Great service, great table side manner I would recommend to anyone the restaurant is a little small so very quaint. Be prepared for great flavors!

Such a lovely restaurant. Food, service, ambience- all terrific! And when you go, you must have the signature dish!

The service was good, but the food and drinks were disgusting. I had the cacio e Pepe, the presentation was beautiful, but the noodles weren't cooked properly and the flavor was subpar I ordered a lemon drop and it was very sour. The meatballs were good otherwise. I really wanted so much to like this place.

I came here for the same reason as everyone else - the cheese wheel! The Cacio E Pepe didn't disappoint (all three of us ordered it) and it really is exciting watching them spin it around in the giant cheese wheel. The pop of black pepper also gives it a great flavor! The service was friendly and we were able to get seated immediately on a Friday night, with no reservation. Unfortunately this place only accepts cash and American Express, which we found surprising. They do have an ATM inside, but it's definitely better to be prepared. While there might be better options for Italian food in the East Village, this spot is worth trying for the Cacio e Pepe itself!

Tiny portions. Bland flavor. Bad bread. They give exactly 1 piece of bread per person, not that I would want more. Even the soap in the bathroom was watered down. Service was mediocre. Didn't feel like Italy at all. Amex or cash only. They won't split the bill. I won't return.

I've been here twice now and it has yet to disappoint. I'm admittedly a sucker for cacio e pepe but this place definitely does it right. The pasta is cooked to perfection, the pepper is just enough, and the cheese is delicious. The atmosphere is great with indoor and outdoor seating.

Staff was really friendly! I got the cacio e Pepe and it was really cool to see them bring out the big cheese wheel and toss the pasta in there. I thought the pasta was cooked perfectly and I loved tasting little bits of black peppercorn. I also ordered a cocktail - Negroni and it was very tasty! I'm giving it four stars because I think the portion size of the pasta is a tad to small for the price. This won't stop me from coming back though.

Very average food for the price, bread was stale, pasta was undercooked. Flavors are good but there are so many better Italian restaurants in the neighborhood.

Pasta was cool and came in a cheese bowl Tiramisu was ok Bread was fine Burrata was mid Prosciutto was not up to my standards

The BEST cacio e Pepe pasta I have ever had. *chefs kiss* Craved it the next day. It was so delightful

Had my sons 21st birthday dinner here. The small quaint place was perfect. We wanted the cheese wheel pasta meal. And this place didn't disappoint. They came to the table to make the cacio e Pepe sauce to order. We had Caesar Salad it was well seasoned and dressed. The porketta was good the figs and cheese were in great balance. The birthday boy had the best meatballs. Birthday boy had the cheese wheel pasta was great. He wasn't sure how much pepper he wanted so they brought it to the table. He used a lot I was surprised I also used it in my dinner. Pepper was fresh n flavorful. Hubby had the bolognese lasagna he loved it. Past cooked perfect, great flavor. I had the salmon it was cooked perfectly. Crust made my the cook was full of flavor. Because it was his birthday they gave him a free dessert. It was so cool it came in a little flower pot. It was the Spuma di cioccolato bianco, frutta della passione, terra di cacao White chocolate foam, passion fruit, chocolate cookie powder My son never had passion fruit he loved it. He said it was well balanced and awesome. It almost was better then the pasta. I loved the water and if you read my posts I'm a huge water snob. Sodas come in bottles which means they will be cold n fresh. The only thing you need to remember, if you don't have an AMEX, you'll need cash. They have an ATM with a $2.75 charge to get money. But I'm sure it's worth the charge w how good this place's food is.

i had one of the best meals of my entire life here. we came here super last minute on a friday night and were able to get seating in the back (which by the way, is decorated beautifully). We ordered pina coladas, a bottle of wine, burrata, bolognese lasagna, and of course the cacio e pepe pasta. I saw so many videos on social media of their cacio e pepe twirled in the cheese but the in person experience definitely left me so mesmerized. They literally brought out a giant block of pecorino cheese and twirled my pasta in it right in front of me-- AMAZING! Everything tasted SO good and i find myself craving their cacio e pepe on the daily. Will be back soon for seconds!

BEST PASTA I EVER HAD! I had the tonnarelli Cacio E Pepe and It was so delicious very flavorful and tasty, pasta was cooked to perfection. this restaurant exceeded my expectations. It was a deliciously beautiful experience. Customer service was also very amazing. Definitely coming back.

Cacio e Pepe is one of my favorite dishes when done right and as you can tell by their name they know what they are doing here! The fresh made pasta makes all the difference. I am not a huge drinker but recommend their espresso martini, which they pour table side. Also don't skip out on the ricotta cheesecake.

Overall great vibe! Seated easily , food is awesome! Tried the cacio e Pepe nice and cheesy Also eggplant parm (it's my new dish to keep trying at Italian restaurants) No complaints have been back twice after my initial visit! Will always comeback!

Fantastic presentation of the cacio Pepe prepared in a bowl made out of Parmesan! The pear salad was fantastic! Gnocchetti di patate al telefono, Tonnarelli cacio e pepe, Spagetti carbonara. All amazing pastas were memorable and we will be back.