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Mario Batali Restaurants in New York

Last updated on February 14, 2019

Everyone loves Mario. He hosts the popular Food Network shows “Ciao America,” “Molto Mario” and appears on the “Iron Chef America” for exciting culinary battles with other top chefs. In his Columbo style rumpled shorts and rolled up sleeves, this burly red-headed Italian chef with saffron stained fingers quickly grows on you. His high paced, informative shows peak a desire to taste these amazing dishes he prepares. If you want to try his excellent culinary fare without trying to cook it yourself, it is available in restaurants in Las Vegas, Nevada and Los Angeles, California, and in New York. New York locals and visitors recommend you try these highly favored (or highly flavored) Mario Batali New York Restaurants.

Babbo Ristorante

Mario’s original Babbo Ristorante, located in Greenwich Village, is one place you do not want to miss while in New York. Reserve one month in advance, if you know when you will be in town, and walk-ins are welcome, but expect to wait. The menu changes nightly, and it is far from ordinary Italian gourmet food, exquisitely prepared and presented. The Italian wine list is around 20 pages, with reasonably priced wines by the quartino. The ambiance is beautiful, busy, yet romantic for two, and the waitstaff and sommeliers are attentive and eager to make your experience memorable. To suggest what to eat seems silly, because everything is wonderful, but if you are in the mood for hand made pasta, try the Chianti stained pappardelle with wild boar ragu, or black spaghetti with sea urchin. After a possible four courses, leave room for desserts. The wonderful maple and mascarpone cheesecake will end the evening perfectly.

Babbo Ristorante
110 Waverly Place
New York, NY 10011
(212) 777-0303
babbonyc.com

Mario Batali Restaurants in New York

Lupa

For a taste of late night Roman styled trattoria, Lupa is the place to dine. The staff is friendly, casual dress is fine and it is open from noon to midnight. This is a great after-theater place to unwind and try some delicious food. Its excellent waitstaff, seasonal menu and extensive wine list makes Lupa a perfect place to bring a date. Try their piatto del giorno (plate of the day) for a treat, or go all out and select from antipasti such as prosciutto di parma or try an antipasti sampler for $25. For a first course, try linguine and clams with fennel and sopressatta, and if there is room for seconds, try the fluke with spinach and fried shallots. The formaggi, or cheese sampler is a great way to finish the evening with a nice wine, or end with a dessert wine from its varied selection. Be prepared to spend at least $30 to $50 per person for food.

If you are planning a private party, Lupa has two fixed-price dinner menus to select from and can accommodate between seven and 30 people. Call Marcella for daytime private party options as well.

Lupa
170 Thompson St.
New York, NY 10012
(212) 982-5089
luparestaurant.com

Esca

If you love seafood, get ready for an amazing dining experience at Esca, for the tastes of southern Italy. Located in the theater district of Times Square, this always fresh, always sophisticated, extremely delicious gourmet restaurant delivers satisfaction in every way. As you might expect, the menu is driven by the fresh fish market of the day, and rest assured whatever is available will excite the palate. Try the Branzino per Due, a whole Mediterranean sea-bass for two cooked in sea salt, or experience the crudo (raw) menu. Try the crudo tasting for six unique samplings of raw seafood for just $30. For a walk on the wild side try a handmade pasta dish of spaghetti that you are certain to find original with chilies, mint and a 1-pound lobster.

For a truly exquisite feast of flavors dive into their tasting menu and expect to sample gourmet dishes for over two hours for just $75 per person or $120 with wine pairings. Esca is business casual open for lunch until 2:30 pm, and dinner begins at five o’clock.

Esca
402 West 43rd Street
New York, NY 10036-6322
(212) 564-7272
esca-nyc.com

Casa Mono

Casa Mono is a Mario Batali Spanish taverna with a wine list of more than 600 varietals to choose from and several sherries. Reserve a month in advance or walk in and enjoy a meal at the dining counter. Enjoy tapas-style dining here along with traditional entrees and appetizers. The menu changes often, keeping locals on their toes in a quaint, small and casual atmosphere. It is open from noon to midnight and you can expect to pay between $9 and $20 per plate.

Casa Mono
52 Irving Place
New York, NY 10003
(212) 253-2773
casamononyc.com

Bar Jamon

This is Mario’s smaller version of Casa Mono, located just adjacent from each other. Bar Jamon is more of a bar atmosphere and a little less expensive Spanish tapas. This is a wonderfully casual spot to come and enjoy some trendy dishes. Local foodies love frequenting here, and the wine list is great to enjoy with their Spanish hams, cheeses and small plates.

Bar Jamon
52 Irving Place
New York, NY 10003
(212) 253-2773
barjamonnyc.com

Mario Batali Restaurants in New York

Del Posto

This is another high-class Batali restaurant with a menu featuring Italy’s regional variations. They call the Italian American cooking style “cucina classica,” or classic Italian, producing legitimate traditional Italian gourmet cuisine. Dress is formal, suit jacket preferred, and expect to pay $50 and up per person. Start with lobster salad fra diavola with broccoli rabe and dried orange, and finish with Dover sole with chestnuts, watercress, black truffles and trumpets. This is another restaurant accepting reservations one-month in advance, and walk-ins or same-day reservations are available in the Enoteca (wine cellar). Private rooms are available for groups of 12 to 250 people.

Del Posto
85 Tenth Ave.
New York, NY 10011
(212) 497-8090
delposto.com

OTTO Enoteca Pizzeria

OTTO offers affordable pizza and pasta meals and is kid friendly with a warm atmosphere in Greenwich Village. Find OTTO on 8th Street in the One, Fifth Avenue building. It has a unique olive oil gelato, which is well worth trying, and an all-Italian wine list with more than 700 bottles from which to choose and enjoy with your meal.

OTTO Enoteca Pizzeria
1 Fifth Ave.
New York, NY 10003-4312
(212) 995-9559
ottopizzeria.com

The Spotted Pig

The Spotted Pig serves seasonal British and Italian cuisine with local fresh ingredients, and it is open until 2 a.m. every day. Street parking is usually available, and a parking lot is located across Greenwich Street. Walk-ins are welcome, but call ahead to find out the approximate wait time. The menu is affordable and interesting. Try the Roquefort burger with shoestring fries and your choice of vegetable with a beer, or enjoy a bottle of wine from the varied list. This is a nice pub atmosphere with some true fatty British pub food to match.

The Spotted Pig
314 West 11th St.
at Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10014
(212) 620-0393
thespottedpig.com