Morandi

"It doesn't get more New York than a Keith McNally-run establishment. The restaurateur behind Balthazar, Pastis, and Minetta Tavern (which is just over the border in Greenwich Village) has his West Village spot in Morandi, a rustic and wood-clad Italian trattoria best visited on Sundays for the lasagna special into which they layer prosciutto, bolognese, bechamel, and parmesan. On any day of the week, though, this is a highly reliable place to sit with an aperitif, martini, and-slash-or glass of wine, eat some comforting pasta, and watch the bona fide New Yorkers coming and going. —CH"

"Like seemingly every other Keith McNally restaurant, Morandi is also a favorite among celebrities. Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden were seen here ordering a very expensive bottle of wine, Sarah Jessica Parker is a regular, and Saturday Night Live alum Maya Rudolph is also a fan of Morandi’s rustic Italian fare. Expect dishes like hand-rolled spaghetti with lemon and parmesan and Sicilian-style meatballs studded with pine nuts and raisins at this West Village hot spot." - Deuxmoi

"We didn’t very much like Morandi when it opened right off 7th Avenue South in 2007, but on a recent revisit, the food from Keith McNally was splendid. The pan-Italian menu features lively salads, fried artichokes, bruschetta, seafood fritto misto, hand-rolled pici with lemon and Parmesan, and Sicilian meatballs. As an added plus, the place opens weekdays at 8:30 a.m. with espresso and Italian breakfast." - Robert Sietsema

"He owns celeb-magnet restaurants including Balthazar, Minetta Tavern, and Morandi in New York, and offshoots of his original restaurants have opened internationally." - BySam Stone

"Morandi is a West Village favorite, a laid-back Italian restaurant by Keith McNally with views of a charming neighborhood and a menu that concentrates on savory small dishes and pastas amply sauced. The wine list is an added plus." - Robert Sietsema