Eater Updates Best Little Italy Restaurant Guide for San

Eater NY has refreshed its map of the best restaurants in Manhattan's Little Italy, adding two establishments ahead of the neighborhood's major festival. The 100th annual Feast of San Gennaro runs from Thursday, September 17 through Sunday, September 27.

The festival commemorates San Gennaro, the patron saint of Naples who was martyred in 305 A.D. According to tradition, his preserved blood is said to liquify each year on September 19. The update to the dining guide includes a new location of the pizzeria L'Industrie and the longstanding restaurant Casa D'Angelo.

Emilio’s Ballato to Lombardi’s

Emilio’s Ballato sits on the northern edge of the district. Owner and chef Emilio Vitolo often presides at a front table. The restaurant is known for celebrity clientele and simple, fundamental dishes like fried zucchini, tripe marinara, and fresh tagliatelle alla Bolognese.

Torrisi, from Major Food Group's Rich Torrisi, offers Italian American food with lines and a scene. Dishes include ham with zeppoli and linguine with pink Manhattan clam sauce. The space does not allow children.

Parm, another Major Food Group venture, is a casual spot celebrated for its heroes. The meatball Parm is called superb, and the eggplant version offers deep flavor. The guide notes it has other locations outside Little Italy.

Rubirosa, opened in 2010, is highlighted for its stuffed artichoke and sweet creamy vodka pizza. The restaurant is noted for accommodating gluten-free diners and large groups.

Peasant, founded in 1999, was an early adopter of cooking most of its menu in a wood-fired oven. Dishes include lemony branzino and whole pigs, which can be pre-ordered. A basement wine bar offers informal dining.

Lombardi’s is credited as the birthplace of modern American pizza. Gennaro Lombardi opened it in 1905, using a coal oven. The guide recommends the clam pie, describing its 16-inch crust as a crunchy canvas for garlicky clams.

Delis, Bakeries, and New Additions

Di Palo’s Fine Foods is a fifth-generation deli on Mott Street that opened in 1910. It sells freshly made mozzarella and ricotta alongside imported Italian products. The owners, Lou, Sal, and Marie Di Palo, often serve customers themselves. A nearby wine bar offers over 300 cheeses.

Ferrara Bakery & Cafe, operating since 1892, is praised for its hazelnut gelato and cannoli with a snappy shell. Its "lobster tail" pastries, a version of sfogliatelle filled with Bavarian cream, are also recommended.

The new Little Italy location of L'Industrie offers its popular pizza slices, including spicy salami and burrata, near Ferrara's desserts.

Casa D’Angelo, owned by Bruno Brancaleone, evolved from a pizzeria that opened in 1904 into a sit-down Neapolitan staple. It offers family-style meals starting at $85 per person, including antipasti, spicy rigatoni, and chicken Parm. A la carte Neapolitan dishes are also available.

Umbertos Clam House

Umbertos Clam House gained notoriety in 1972 when crime boss Joey Gallo was killed there. The guide states the key is to order anything with clams. Recommended items include littlenecks on the half-shell, baked clams, linguine with white clam sauce, and fried calamari.