Morandi is from the people who brought you Balthazar, Minetta Tavern, and everyone's favorite choice for a hungover brunch with visiting relatives, Pastis. All of those spots have aged pretty well (Pastis actually got a revamp in 2019), but this West Village Italian restaurant isn't nearly as exciting as it used to be. It's still a useful place to know about, but the food isn't all that impressive anymore, and there are much better pasta options in the neighborhood (Via Carota and Don Angie, for example). The good news is: Morandi is really easy to get into, and it feels reasonably cool as well. So if you're planning a last-minute dinner with a few third-tier friends and you'd like to sit in a big, dark room with exposed brick walls and wine bottles everywhere, use this place as your backup plan.

Food Rundown

Fritto Misto Di Pesce

This is a great way to kick off a dinner at Morandi - with salty fried things to make you drink your wine faster. Sure, you will find the typical calamari rings in there, but there are also shrimp with their head still on and little whole fish that have been cross sectioned. It’s all tasty.

Polipetti E Sedano

A popular grilled octopus starter with celery and olives. This is good, but be warned - it’s a small portion, and it will cost you eighteen bucks.

Pici Al Limone

We like our pastas simple, especially when it’s handmade. This is a great, basic dish of spaghetti with lemon and parmesan.

Bistecca Per Due

Meet our favorite thing on the menu at Morandi. This dry aged porterhouse for two is ridiculous.

Focaccia “Occhio Di Bue”

Yes, it’s a breakfast pizza, and you need it. It consists of a sunny side egg and pancetta atop a perfect oblong pizza crust. Worth the every penny of the thirteen dollar price tag.