Pepolino

"Pepolino opened in 1999, by former employees of a famous restaurant in Florence. Every meal should begin with sformato, a pretty spinach flan, then progress to dishes like polenta with shaved black truffles, pappardelle in a wild-boar ragu, and roast lamb shank in red wine. The bilevel decor recalls both a Tuscan farmhouse and the Renaissance-era buildings of Florence." - Robert Sietsema

"This Tuscan restaurant offers a $30 lunch and $60 dinner with options like pappa al pomodoro, a classic Tuscan recipe." - Robert Sietsema

"If you live or work near Canal Street, you’ve walked past this Italian spot’s red awning many times. You’ve probably said to yourself, “I wonder if that place is any good.” We can tell you that the Tuscan food here is, in fact, quite good. But the real secret of this place is its second-floor level, with large round tables situated next to big windows. When it’s nice outside, they open them up, and with the sun streaming in and a glass of wine in front of you, it almost feels like you’ve left New York. We like this place for a leisurely lunch, but it would work for most situations." - bryan kim, matt tervooren

"It's easy to forget about Pepolino. But if you need to plan a last-minute dinner in Tribeca, and the folks you're eating with are set on eating Italian, you'll be grateful this place exists. The menu is extensive, with lots of antipasti, a bunch of interesting pastas like maltagliati with veal ragu, and a variety of mains, including roasted lamb shank and a 24-ounce porterhouse. Make use of their sidewalk seating when it’s nice out." - bryan kim, kenny yang, hillary reinsberg

"If you live or work near Canal Street, you’ve walked past this Italian spot’s red awning many times. You’ve probably said to yourself, “I wonder if that place is any good.” We can tell you that the Tuscan food here is, in fact, quite good. But the real secret of this place is its second-floor level, with large round tables situated next to big windows. When it’s nice outside, they open them up, and with the sun streaming in and a glass of wine in front of you, it almost feels like you’ve left New York. We like this place for a leisurely lunch, but it would work for most situations." - Katherine Lewin