VIBE

Channeling the rustic mood of an Italian villa, this restaurant comes complete with brick archways, richly colored wooden tables, and yellow lighting that echoes its warm and fun atmosphere. Keep it casual at the bar, where regular wine tastings are held, and candles flicker amid the stemware. Or opt for the more buttoned up back room, which offers a softer, more polished dining experience.

CROWD

A few families mixed in with the post-work set, along with Village and SoHo residents.

WHAT WE WOULD WEAR

This spot is casual, so we’d wear nice jeans or slacks, a cropped-sleeve blouse, and flats.

GO HERE WITH

Large groups; family; a date; yourself

WHY WE LIKE IT

With stunning flavors and fantastic wines that are offered at such very reasonable prices, wining and dining here is a steal.

WHAT WE WOULD CHANGE

It's consistently crowded and noisy, especially during the dinner hours. And with so much demand for its fare, reservations can be difficult to secure unless made at least a couple of days in advance.

GOOD TO KNOW

Ciao bella! Walking into this Roman villa snapshot may seem like a delight, but unless you speak fluent Italian, the menu might seem a bit daunting. The good news: if you don’t know the difference between formaggio and fagiolini, the menu provides a helpful glossary to enlighten. The 400+ bottle wine list is fantastic and covers all regions of Italy, giving customers the chance to tour the boot-shaped country right at their tables. Lupa was started as a joint venture among Mario Batali, Joe Bastianich, Mark Ladner, and Jason Denton. A special USD 29 per person late night menu is offered on Sunday through Thursday from 10:00pm to close at midnight: diners can select an antipasta, pasta, desert and glass of wine from a limited menu (the regular menu is offered during this time too).

CLOSEST COMPS

'inoteca (New York); Maialino (New York); Babbo (New York)

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