Via Della Pace

DELICIOUS. One of my favorite Italian places in the city. Love the ambiance — very homey. Staff is great too. I’ve gone pretty consistently for about 4 years and will continue to go!

This has been my go to Italian spot for years when I have friends or family in town. I love the rustic Italian décor and coziness of this space. Giovanni always goes out of his way to greet my husband and I and make our experience even better.
Get pasta. It is all amazing. I also LOVE the tuna/​avocado bruschetta. We will continue to dine here for years.

It is so rare that we go out for Italian food being New Yorkers with Italian grandparents. But we stumbled on via Della pace and it looked so fun and cozy we decided to give it a try. We ordered pretty basic dishes and I’m glad we did. When a pasta sauce is freshly made with chopped tomatoes lurking under the rigatoni, you can’t go wrong. Fantastic atmosphere and food. Highly recommend !

Maybe it’s totally authentic or whatever, I don’t know, but when we ordered a salad we were presented with a dry, completely undressed bowl of greens along with separate bottles of oil and vinegar and expected to figure it out from there ourselves.
Call me crazy, but when I go to a restaurant I expect the food to come fully prepared; I don’t need to pay someone to make a salad for myself, thanks.
The pizza was fine but unremarkable.
Our experience beyond the food itself was entirely dominated by an unbearably loud and painfully tactless party of 14 (!) which we were seated directly adjacent to. (The entire dining room can seat maybe 30.)
In general — and in particular for a restaurant with a capacity scarcely greater than twice the size of such a group — I can’t even begin to imagine how the short-​term gains of a large party is worth making everybody else in the restaurant miserable.
I live 2 blocks from this place and despite the convenience I won’t be back.

Top notch! The owner Giovanni is the man. Highly recommend the tuna steak as well as the gnocchi. Also must try the red sangria, without a doubt one of the best in NYC.

I’ve lived about 4 blocks away for the past year and kept saying i was going to come here but didn’t until last night. Despite no reservations allowed for our party size of 2 and a tiny space, we were seated immediately around 8pm. It was packed, people filling up tables within minutes of people leaving, but waiters were still very attentive and on time with everything. I had the rigatoni del piratta, which was delicious. Loved the sauce! My boyfriend had the lasagna, which he said was very good, but very filling. We started with the sarda because we both love goat cheese and it was also a hit.
The overall price of our meal was relatively cheap compared to other local italian places, just remember this place is cash only. At least they are kind enough to have a sign that says so right on their front door, as opposed to other places where you don’t find out until you are handed the bill.
We were pleasantly surprised and enjoyed it quite a bit. Definitely won’t let another year go by before we return!

Take note: One of the best values in NYC is Via Della Pace. It’s cash only but is worth every piece of green.
We arrived on time for our reservation for a party of 12. It was a fairly large group of people for a restaurant this size but the servers handled it with grace and helped many of us find the perfect choices on the menu. The abbreviated wine list touts mostly Italian wine with the majority of prices falling from $ 30 – 60 range with reasonable markups from retail. Definitely no price gouging here unlike many of the highly rated Italian restaurants in NYC.
After some appetizers like the unbelievable asparagus with shaved parmesan, we moved into the second course. From the white truffle steak to the baked rigatoni and eggplant, we put on a clinic trying almost every entrée on the menu. It was topped off with 5 bottles of chianti, some tiramasu (must try!) and a few complimentary after dinner cordials to settle our stomachs.
The total bill was $ 111 per couple including gratuity and we felt like we should have paid much more for such an incredible multi-​course meal with drinks.
In a city filled with over priced Americanized «Italian» food, give Via Della Pace your heart and it will give you back endless love and a full stomach.

This is my staple Italian restaurant when entertaining visiting family/​friends.
Get the lasagna.

Food: Authentic Italian. Born + raised in a family of Italian restaurants (45 yrs) this was the real deal! The appetizer Umbra — cooked to perfection. The entrée — spicy tomato sauce (not canned) rigatoni capers and olives (not canned) — cooked to perfection. Exactly what I requested.
Customer Service: Saverio Wait Staff — professionally skilled in food and a Sommelier in wine selection. Had the opportunity to meet the Proprietor/​Owner. A Roman Italian; gracious Owner/​man. He made a difference in the lives of homeowners who were devastated by gas explosion on March 26, 2015. Months after the explosion food was offered to the tenants who lost their homes.
Décor: East Village — Bohemian — Modern —
Ambiance: Great Music.
Location: It was worth the trek down to the East Village.
I highly recommend this restaurant. If you have the opportunity to chat with the Proprietor/​Owner (he may serenade) you in Italian language.

My close friend took me here for my birthday. This cosy place services delicious food. We ordered assorted bruschetta appetizer: shrimp, smoked salmon, and tuna (check the photo). Every bite was amazing. For the main course, I ordered the lobster ravioli w/​pink vodka sauce. It could have been better. Overall, the experience was great. I would revisit for the bruschetta.

I wish I could get the hype about this place.
I got there somewhat early and the restaurant was empty, aside from at least 4 staff members. Rando Italian radio station blasting, which is fine for atmosphere, but bad when an ad comes on and disrupts the party. I was immediately seated, but also realized right away that the heat was on pretty high. Meanwhile, it was unseasonably warm that day (¹⁰⁄₂₂). Most places in the area have their windows and doors opened. Sadly, I was stuck with the hot resto as I was meeting a friend.
We started with a bottle of Nebbiolo ’10. Delicious.
special bruschetta of avocado, goat cheese, red pepper purchased. — enormous portion, kinda cumbersome to eat. the bread was really flattened and subsequently very chewy and impossible to cut. It was tasty, but nothing special.
Bresoala with arugula and parmesan. — very tasty, but I, a world renowned eater of cheese, actually had to remove some of the parmesan shavings.
Friend had gnocchi which looked good, but a bit boring. I didn’t taste it as I was trying to unbury myself from parmesan mountain.
The worst part was that despite there only being a few tables with customers, I felt really rushed. After finishing the bottle, I asked for a glass of Nebbiolo, and was given something that tasted treacly and awful. When I asked the waiter what it was, he said «Nebbiolo, but a different bottle.» Then he dashed off. Clearly, I wasn’t pleased with the wine, and clearly he didn’t care.
I can see how people could like this place, large portions etc. but it felt a little more Italian American than true Italian. Plus it was piping hot inside with staticky radio and ads blasting through the speakers. No fun.

Was hanging with a friend and wanted some Italian food so I Unilocaled places close by. I always saw this place busy when passing by on 7^th street so why not give it a shot. After reading Peter Ds review I was questioning my choice to say the least.
We came in early and plenty of tables were open but the worker corraled us to sit so close to other tables already occupied. My friend didnt like this «Why are they placing us so close together» she said. I agreed but went with the flow. My friend is 21 and she is quite outspoken.
I ordered the Asparagus app with the Spaghetti All Amatraciano. The app was shared between us and was vv good. Quite simple aspargus was cooked al-​dente and was was moist
with plenty of shaved parmesan reggiano cheese slices on top.
The spaghetti was vv good a nice healthy portion with the pasta cooked perfectly. The meal in my opinion could have used some reggiano grated on top but I was never offered any. It did list pecorini cheese in it though. I did use some olive oil to make the sauce a little lighter. The sauce did get heavy and stiff.
Overall not a terrible experience service was kind and friendly… not too patronizing as this is a small dining spot. So it can seem at times the waitstaff is just waiting to turn table tops.

The loveliest quiet brunch here on Sunday, for a steal!
Arrived at 11am, and were one of the first to be seated. Service was quick, and their staff was friendly and patient.
Brunch menu: for just $ 11 you get your choice of gourmet Italian coffee, entrée, bread & olives, and sides of salad and potatoes.
My date ordered perfectly poached smoked salmon eggs benedict. I ordered the spinach and sausage frittata. Both dishes came out quickly and were excellent.
The atmosphere is adorable rustic Italian. They have soccer playing, and the coffee was delicious (a cappuccino and latte are both included with entrée).
They were gracious and helpful to a few older couples that came in and needed assistance.
Clean bathrooms!
Next time, we will sit in a quaint porch area (with umbrella) which is outdoors but also private. So unique!
Can’t beat the price, the service and high quality food. Will absolutely return!

Came here on Sunday for lunch. Sat on the few outdoor tables. Very peaceful and relaxing — it’s just off the main road. Great for people watching. Service was very attentive. Got the pesto pasta with French beans. Very nice and reasonably priced. Would come back. Nb cash only

Ok, I live in NYC but I am from Milano, and when it comes to talk about food, I know what i am saying.
I’ve been complaining for years because I couldn’t find the real Italian taste anywhere in this city. Oh no! This is just PERFECTION, I felt like I was in Rome having a delicious/​sophisticated dinner like I used to. This is Italy, honey!
The host, Giovanni, was super kind and friendly, the waiters extremely well mannered and the food, again, incredible (rigatoni del Pirata, Carbonara, FIletto di Tonno al Pesto, tiramisù that tastes exactly like the one my grandma used to make))
Plus: r-​e-​a-​l-​l-​y cool location !
I think I’ll come back like… once a week, definitely. :)

This place has great brunch and lunch deals. For brunch, you can get a drink/​coffee and a brunch entrée for $ 11. For lunch, you can get a drink/​coffee, bruchetta appetizer, and a lunch entrée for $ 16. Satisfies for a brunch/​Italian meal desire.

Via Della Pace had some mixed reviews on Unilocal but my friends and I decided to give it a shot because of their lovely ambience. We were offered a table in the corner but immediately felt a lack of air circulating and were accommodated outside. All four of us tried their pasta dishes and each one was cooked al dente. Perfect texture, not a minute under– or over-​cooked. Our favorite was the FETTUCCINE PESTO. Service was very attentive despite seated outside. I would definitely come back for their pasta dishes. Their moscato dessert wine was a delight as well.
PS cash only!

Cozy atmosphere, good wine, tasty food, very friendly service.
My friend and me visited this cute Italian restaurant a few times. It’s great when you are in the mood for a nice glass of white wine and a tasty pasta dish. This lovely atmospheric restaurant located in the East Village is just perfect for it.
Service is very friendly, the welcoming barman offered us a couple of wine tasting before we settled for our choice. You can’t go wrong with he Pino Grigio.
Great place to catch up with a friend without being rushed or any other hectic vibrations.
I definitely recommend this cute Italian to everyone and will always go back here.

This place is seriously magical. A very cute intimate restaurant in the East Village. My friend met her fiancé at the bar area while dining. Lol
We ordered a bottle of red wine. Holy cow it was smooth and oh so delicious
We had prosciutto wrapped melon Mmm
We ordered and devoured the special pasta with truffles
We ordered another pasta and did the exact same as above
The tiramisu was to die for
Definitely want to go back and try the pasta carbonara

Our group met here for dinner on a Saturday around 6. We had reservations but they wouldn’t sit everyone until the whole party was there. While I understand, it would have been an easier way to get the wine flowing.
The restaurant is small. Not necessarily cozy, at times it felt cramped. We were told to scoot our chairs in more so the waitstaff could walk back and forth to other tables. It took awhile to get bread and have our orders taken. The waiter was nice and friendly, but appeared to be busy even though there weren’t many other seated tables. I ordered the gnocchi with asparagus and shrimp. It took a while for the food to come out, and I had to ask for more bread. The bread was a French baguette sliced and toasted and a Panini maker. It was good, but we were also very hungry. When the food came out, the portion sizes were typical, not too large. For $ 17, I expected a little bit more shrimp. They had cut up maybe 3 Shrimp for the whole dish. It had a stronger fish smell, and small pieces of chopped asparagus. The sauce was light and good, but the gnocchi didn’t taste fresh.
Everyone else thought the dishes were okay, but nothing was very memorable other than the company. After waiting for awhile and finding the waiter to request the bill, it came and was cash only. It is always convenient that these restaurants that do not take credit cards always have an ATM by the bathroom…
Overall an okay restaurant, but I don’t think I will be returning soon.