Lavagna - NYC

Name: Lavagna - NYC
Address: 545 E.5th St., New York, NY, United States, 10009
Telephone: (212) 979-1005
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.9

4.9

1715 Reviews

$31 to $50

Italian

Top Tags:

Lavagna opened its doors on February 1st 1999.The restaurant offers casual Italian trattoria fare at moderate prices. The vibe is candlelit, cozy, with an old wood burning oven, exposed brick walls, a pressed tin ceiling and a small wine bar where one can dine also. A wall of French doors swing open in the warmer weather to a seasonal sidewalk cafe of 20 seats.
The kitchen concept is to create dishes traditionally Italian, emphasizing fresh, seasonal ingredients and product of the highest quality.
The menu highlights include homemade pastas, a wood oven roasted fish for two, roast pork chop, baby rack of lamb and of course the rigatoni with sweet and spicy sausage that has become a classic over the years.
The wine list has been a yearly recipient of the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 2002 and it focuses on hard to find wines from regional Italy along with other international selections.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

May 27, 2023

9:30 PM

Booked 19 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(212) 979-1005

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Cuisines
Italian
Hours of operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 12:00 pm–3:30 pm Dinner Tue–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(212) 979-1005
Website
http://www.lavagnanyc.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, MasterCard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive chef
Baldo Merlin
Private party facilities
Lavagna restaurant offers several options for private dining. Our space is available daily for daytime private dining for 20 to 50 guests; Noon to 4pm. We also offer seating up to 24 guests Sunday through Thursday evenings in our dining room. Full room buyout options are also available any night.
Private party contact
Jeff Tischler or Yorgos Hatziefthimiou: (212) 979-1005

Location
545 E.5th St., New York, NY 10009
Neighborhood
East Village
Cross street
Between Avenue A and Avenue B
Parking details
The closest public lot is located at 167 Essex Street and the corner of Houston, near Katz's Deli. It is a five block walk to the restaurant and we recommend the lot for parking during the weekends as street parking can be scarce.
Public transit
By Subway:<br />F train to Second Ave stop<br />6 train to Astor Place
Additional
Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Popular dishes

Seared Scallops "Agrodolce"$16.00
with parsnip puree and crisp pancetta
Tuscan Kale Caesar$13.00
finely slice kale, parmesan, and housemade croutons
Carciofo al Forno$13.00
wood oven roasted artichoke heart with white bean puree, and cremini mushrooms
Prosciutto di San Daniele$13.00
with figs and balsamic vinegar, topped with arugula and parmigiano
Insalata Mista$11.00
baby arugula, lola rossa, shaved asiago with roasted garlic vinaigrette
Zuppa di Cozze$15.00
pan roasted mussles in a tomato and basil broth
Octopus Carpaccio$15.00
with fresh lemon juice, evoo, chives and pepperoncini

Pizzette from the Wood Burning oven

Margherita$19.00
tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese and fresh basil
Pizzetta del Bosco$19.00
roasted wild mushrooms, fontina and white truffle oil

Pasta

Gluten free pasta is available. Please ask your server.

Fedelini Fini$16.00
with toasted gardlic and rustic tomato sauce
Rigatoni$20.00
with sweet fennel and spicy sausage, peas and tomato cream
Fresh Pappardelle$24.00
with braised rabbit, fresh thyme and black olives
Homemade Sweet Pea Ravioli$20.00
with parmesan cream and mint

Secondi

Whole Wood Oven Roasted Fish for 2
served flambe with sauteed spinach and grape tomato relish
- M/P
Pan Seared Monkfish$24.00
with roasted portabello mushrooms, baby artichokes, and a green olive vinaigrette
Pan Seared Atlantic Cod Fish$26.00
with baby carrots, fingerling potatoes, cippolini onions, in a light red wine reduction
Roast Pork Chop$27.00
with braised swiss chard, bacon, barlotti beans, and pickled red onions
Steak Lavagna$35.00
marinated beef tenderloin with seasonal vegetables, yukon gold mash, and classic au poivre sauce
Roasted Baby Rack of Lamb$34.00
with cannellini beans, broccoli rabe and rosemary jus

Cantorni

Grilled Asparagus$9.00
Sauteed Spinach$9.00
Yukon Gold Mash$7.00
Broccoli Rabe$9.00

What 1,715 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.9

4.9 based on recent ratings

4.8Food
4.7Service
4.8Ambience
4.7Value

Noise • Moderate

Sort by

KK
KKDNYC
New York Area
10 reviews
5.0
10 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent food, ambiance, service, and wine/spirits selection. Definitely a new go-to spot!
F
Feedmedeep
New York Area
12 reviews
5.0
12 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Favorite restaurant in NYC! Never miss a visit when I travel there...4 times a year!
JP
JayP
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 6 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Terrific food service and ambience. Love it! One of the best
GB
GregB
London
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined 7 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Always a great time at Lavagna - one of my NYC brunch favourites
SG
SusanG
New York Area
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 20, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food was delicious. Vibe was great. A very special nyc neighborhood restaurant.
JJ
JenniferJ
New York Area
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 19, 2023
overall3food2service3ambience4
The food and cocktails were all average at best. Cute atmosphere but really a disappointment that nothing we ordered was tasty.
F
Foodie
New York Area
112 reviews
vip
4.0
112 reviews
Dined on May 13, 2023
overall4food4service3ambience4
Wonderful local Tuscan restaurant in a lovely part of the East Village. A welcome reprieve from them frenetic restaurants that seem to be common these days . Food was outstanding ..service a bit aloof and would have been nice to have a warmer welcome and an introduction to the menu instead of just “are you ready to order”. Everything was wonderful except the service was very impersonal and almost robotic
HV
HeidiV
New York Area
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 13, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience5
I'm so glad Lavagna is still around. Consistently fresh and quality ingredients. Love the vibe too.
P
Portentia
New York Area
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on May 10, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Always excellent service and quality food with attention to detail
JK
JosephineK
New York Area
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on May 8, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent food, always reliable. We have been coming here for 25 years, each time we leave with a happy smile.
G
George
Denver
7 reviews
vip
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on May 4, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
This was a fantastic find and can’t wait to go back. My steak was incredible!
HJ
HowardJ
Los Angeles
9 reviews
vip
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on May 1, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Always a favorite. Never misses. Really a perfect spot for every occasion and the menu is perfection.
PE
PaulE
New York Area
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on April 29, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
One of the loveliest, most dependable neighborhood restaurants in New York City! The ambiance is warm and personable and the service is great!
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 27, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience5
Great spot, good food, great venue. Much better then the regular overhyped Italian restaurants in the city
AV
AdiV
San Francisco
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on April 27, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
A friend recommended this restaurant to us for our visit to NYC. It was nowhere near our hotel and took two subway trains and a bit of walking. It was the best, most quality meal we had in our week visit. I had the rigatoni which was beautifully done, and my husband had lamb which was cooked exactly as ordered. We also had the chocolate cake which would have been worth the long trip in its own right. The question I alway ask after a meal is "would I go back?" The answer on this one is absolutely.
n
notafoodie
Salt Lake City
9 reviews
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on April 22, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
We love Lavagna. Have been going for years. Always a great meal.
GK
GregK
Kansas City
27 reviews
vip
5.0
27 reviews
Dined on April 20, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Hands down, the best Italian in NYC. Love this place.
ER
ElizabethR
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We had a lovely lunch at Lavagna. The service was great and the food was yummy. You can't go wrong with one of the several pasta dishes. Also the aperol spritz was very refreshing. My husband and I really enjoyed the whole experience and we are pretty big food critics.
r
rsunshine
New York Area
50 reviews
vip
5.0
50 reviews
Dined on April 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
wonderful neighborhood place with excellent food.
TC
TimC
Atlanta Metro
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on April 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great neighborhood restaurant with terrific food.
f
foodfan
New York Area
65 reviews
vip
5.0
65 reviews
Dined on April 11, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
this place never disappoints, always great food and friendly service. if i lived closer, i'd eat here weekly.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Central Coast
8 reviews
vip
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on April 5, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Love this place. My favorite restaurant in New York, hands down
LS
LSNeats
New York Area
28 reviews
vip
5.0
28 reviews
Dined on April 1, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
The only thing more impressive than the service was the FOOD!!!! Exquisite!
KD
KellyD
New York Area
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on March 31, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The absolute BEST ravioli you’ll ever have!!! MUST go spot.
MD
MikeD
New York Area
25 reviews
vip
5.0
25 reviews
Dined on March 28, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food and ambience are incredible. The fish for 2 is incredible best I have had in NYC!! The ambience is total NYC coupled with an incredible Italian wine list!! The vibe is NYC cool!!
E
Ed20
Miami
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on March 27, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
This place never disappoints! The pastas were excellent and the owner perfectly matched our selections with some wonderful wines from an extensive list. Service was friendly and attentive. I highly recommend this cozy neighborhood restaurant.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Richmond
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on March 22, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience5
Lavagna was perfect after a long day of exploring NYC! My mom and I came here for dinner and both got the fettuccine Alfredo. It was wonderful. Small and felt local and comfortable. Would recommend!
m
melonbrain
New York Area
56 reviews
vip
4.0
56 reviews
Dined on March 19, 2023
overall4food5service5ambience4
My wife and I have been dining at Lavagna ever since it opened, well over 20 years ago. The kitchen has never lost its touch and the food is delicious. Service is outstanding and the staff remembers what we enjoy eating. Unfortunately, the price of my Manhattan cocktail has reached $18 and is beyond my willingness to pay for it. Will still return for the food.
AR
AdamR
Philadelphia
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 18, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience4
I recently had the pleasure of dining at Lavagna and I must say that I was truly impressed. The food was delicious and the service was prompt and friendly. Everything was cooked to perfection, and there were a great variety of dishes to choose from. The atmosphere was also wonderful - it had a cozy, inviting vibe that made me feel at home. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for an enjoyable dining experience.
WS
WenS
New York Area
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on March 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We were there to celebrate our son's milestone birthday. The reservation, when I had to change it slightly, was handled seamlessly, the food was fantastic, and the female server was absolutely wonderful!
RB
RaulB
Los Angeles
11 reviews
vip
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on March 17, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
As usual, great meal and amazing service! We keep coming back here, it’s just the best!
r
rutgert
London
3 reviews
vip
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on March 16, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Always loved this place. My neighborhood. Not too fussy but nice. Always has a good vibe. The staff is attentive food is solid.
KB
KenB
New England
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on March 15, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience4
A charming spot with good food and engaging service. The menu is short but full of good bets, from artisanal pizza to fine pasta and a roast pork chop. Quite pricey for what you get, but the ambience helps make up for that.
JD
JimDandy
New York Area
55 reviews
vip
5.0
55 reviews
Dined on March 11, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
A neighborhood gem that’s still delish. Like everywhere post-pandemic, prices have gone way up, but the quality is high so you don’t mind.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on March 11, 2023
overall5food4service4ambience4
A lovely and intimate neighborhood spot with a lively, entertaining staff.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New Orleans
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on March 11, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful experience … friendly and warm with absolutely delicious food
LR
LauraR
New York Area
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on March 10, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Lavagna is one of my top 3 restaurants in nyc. The people who run and work there, atmosphere/ambiance and excellent food make it a very special place. I highly recommend and send friends there often - NEVER disappoints Mushroom pizza is out of this world !!!
FO
FernandoO
Orlando
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on February 20, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Outstanding food. Owner was great. Would definitely return.
n
nycnightlife
New York Area
27 reviews
vip
5.0
27 reviews
Dined on February 19, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Never disappoints. Excellent service. Friendly owners. Incredible ambiance and food. One complaint: they should extend their hours till 11 or midnight
BB
BrendanB
Raleigh
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 19, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Consistently one of the best restaurants in the city

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily

Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

Lavagna - NYC offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (212) 979-1005.

Lavagna - NYC is rated 4.9 stars by 1715 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

May 27, 2023

9:30 PM

Booked 19 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(212) 979-1005

545 E.5th St., New York, NY 10009

Additional information

Cross street
Between Avenue A and Avenue B
Neighborhood
East Village
Hours of operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 12:00 pm–3:30 pm Dinner Tue–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
Cuisines
Italian
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
The closest public lot is located at 167 Essex Street and the corner of Houston, near Katz's Deli. It is a five block walk to the restaurant and we recommend the lot for parking during the weekends as street parking can be scarce.
Public transit
By Subway:F train to Second Ave stop6 train to Astor Place
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, MasterCard, Visa
Executive chef
Baldo Merlin
Additional
Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.lavagnanyc.com/
Phone number
(212) 979-1005
Private party facilities
Lavagna restaurant offers several options for private dining. Our space is available daily for daytime private dining for 20 to 50 guests; Noon to 4pm. We also offer seating up to 24 guests Sunday through Thursday evenings in our dining room. Full room buyout options are also available any night.
Private party contact
Jeff Tischler or Yorgos Hatziefthimiou: (212) 979-1005

Lavagna - NYC

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

Additional information

Margherita

Steak Lavagna

Rigatoni

Antipasti e Insalate

Seared Scallops "Agrodolce"$16.00

Tuscan Kale Caesar$13.00

Carciofo al Forno$13.00

Prosciutto di San Daniele$13.00

Insalata Mista$11.00

Zuppa di Cozze$15.00

Octopus Carpaccio$15.00

Pizzette from the Wood Burning oven

Margherita$19.00

Pizzetta del Bosco$19.00

Pasta

Fedelini Fini$16.00

Rigatoni$20.00

Fresh Pappardelle$24.00

Homemade Sweet Pea Ravioli$20.00

Secondi

Whole Wood Oven Roasted Fish for 2

Pan Seared Monkfish$24.00

Pan Seared Atlantic Cod Fish$26.00

Roast Pork Chop$27.00

Steak Lavagna$35.00

Roasted Baby Rack of Lamb$34.00

Cantorni

Grilled Asparagus$9.00

Sauteed Spinach$9.00

Yukon Gold Mash$7.00

Broccoli Rabe$9.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Sort by

Cleaning & sanitizing

Screening

FAQs

Does Lavagna - NYC offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Lavagna - NYC restaurant rated?

Is Lavagna - NYC currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

Additional information