Morandi
Italian restaurant · West Village ·
Rustic Italian trattoria with pasta, seafood, and sidewalk seating
Rustic Italian trattoria with pasta, seafood, and sidewalk seating
"I favor Morandi on Waverly for reliable Italian classics and the convivial, old-World West Village dining experience it offers." - Matt Ortile
"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
"A popular neighborhood Italian spot within the same restaurateur’s portfolio that draws both regular patrons and celebrity diners and has figured into public disputes tied to its owner’s outspoken social-media presence; business partners reportedly pressed for damage control during controversies, and the restaurant has been the setting for high-profile personal anecdotes involving no-shows and sharp public reproaches." - BySam Stone
