Skip to Content
Guides

Where to Eat Italian in the West Village When You Can’t Get into Via Carota

We have offered three high-quality, nearby alternatives to NYC's popular Via Carota when waiting for a table is not of appeal.

The facade of Rafele.

The facade of Rafele.

Via Carota is widely recognized as one of New York City’s best restaurants. The West Village osteria dazzles day and night thanks to the elegant yet casual ambiance, impeccable service, and the exquisite Tuscan-inspired cuisine served indoors or out on bucolic Grove Street. Celebrity chefs/owners and local legends Rita Sodi and Jody Williams enhance the destination status. The only problem with Via Carota as your destination is getting a table. There are no reservations. Turning that corner from 7th Avenue South onto Grove Street often involves the sight of a scrum on the sidewalk, not just waiting for a table, but waiting to put their name on the list just to be able to wait for a table.

Now, I love Via Carota, too, but “waiting” (even for food) doesn’t suit me, as it alters my expectations. What? I stood around ___ minutes for this? Know what I’m saying? So, when I see a crowd, I walk away, and where I walk when I won’t wait for Via Carota is:

Ferdi 

A few blocks down, at 15 7th Avenue South, is a brother/sister joint of Fernando (chef) and Aida (manager) Scarpati, inspired by their restaurateur grandfather and father (the latter recently passed). The family hails from the island of Ponza in the Tyrrhenian Sea, so seafood is featured on the menu, but the regions of Italy are represented, as are some Italian-American favorites. The attractive interior features exposed brick, alabaster columns, and a bar backlit in Mediterranean blue. There’s also a generous prix-fixe menu with lots of options Monday-Thursday and appealing wine deals every night.   

Ferdi Italian Cuisine is located at 15 7th Avenue South in NYC's West Village.
Ferdi Italian Cuisine is located at 15 7th Avenue South in NYC's West Village.

Olio e Più

A quick stroll up 7th Avenue to the corner of Greenwich Avenue brings a verdant tapestry with an arboretum cortile opposite a street-side terrazzo. The expansive interior is full of light, with vast seating options at wooden tables among Italian antiques, art, memorabilia and a long zinc bar from where inventive cocktails are poured. The classic trattoria fare features house-made pastas and hand-stretched pizzas from a wood brick oven. The main courses have the usual Italian suspects, plus a few surprises, like Stinco di Maiale (braised pork shank).

The interior of Olio e Più.

Rafele

At 29 7th Avenue South is an ode to Campania, where fresh flowers abound among Italian bric-a-brac, pastel touches and Neapolitan blue. The tables are wooden and uncovered above terracotta squares. The menu tilts heavily towards Campania, with a vast menu of Neapolitan favorites with expansive seafood and pizza offerings, though there are delicacies from throughout the peninsula woven in, such as Gnoccho Fritto and Ragù Bolognese from Emilia-Romagna, the classic pastas of Rome, Bistecca, and Pollo Milanese.

The facade of Rafele.
The façade of Rafele.

The reality is that New York abounds with exceptional Italian restaurants, and the point here is that within a few minutes of one of the most famous ones are three (and certainly many more) that are more than worthy should the wait time at Via Carota be too daunting.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Appetito

Piccolo Buco Expands to Naperville with Pizza and Italian Favorites

Piccolo Buco brings Roman-inspired pizza and Italian classics to Naperville in partnership with Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants.

September 17, 2025

Bosco Opens in San Francisco with Italian Cooking and Forest Design

Bosco opens in SoMa with chefs Ryan McIlwraith and Kaili Hill serving housemade pastas, wood-fired dishes, and a thoughtful wine and cocktail program.

September 17, 2025

Olive Oil Is Not an Afterthought at Sea on Board Oceania’s Allura

On Oceania’s Allura, Italian dining shines at Toscana, where an olive oil concierge and authentic recipes prove that dining at sea can rival meals on land.

September 16, 2025

Phil Stefani and Chef Art Smith to Lead Vatican Restaurant

Chicago restaurateur Phil Stefani and Chef Art Smith will lead the only dining venue at Borgo Laudato Si’, the Vatican’s historic estate.

September 15, 2025

Stracciatella in Italy: From Soup to Cheese to Gelato

From Rome to Apulia to Bergamo, stracciatella takes shape as a soup, a cheese, and even gelato. Here’s how one word ties three Italian favorites together.

September 15, 2025
See all posts