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Interior - Lavagna - NYC, New York, NY

Lavagna - NYC

4.8 (1955)
$31 to $50
Italian
545 E.5th St., New York, NY 10009

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A photo of Lavagna - NYC restaurant

Lavagna - NYC

4.8
$31 to $50
Italian
East Village

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 32 times today

About this restaurant

  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Charming
  • Great for fine wines
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.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Italian
  • Hours of Operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 12:00–15:30 Dinner Tue–Sat 17:00–22:00 Sun 16:00–21:00
  • Phone number
  • 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.
  • Area
    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 transport
    By Subway:F train to Second Ave stop6 train to Astor Place
  • Additional
    Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeaway, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at Lavagna - NYC.

4.8

4.8
(1955)
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.7Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Lavagna offers a cozy Italian dining experience in NYC's East Village with "delicious food, warm service, and a beautiful ambiance." Regulars and newcomers alike praise its "exceptional pasta" and "fantastic wine selection." This neighborhood gem stands out for its "friendly staff" and consistently "wonderful atmosphere."
1,955 Reviews
  1. Jane

    New York City54 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our meal was terrific! We shared the scallops and prosciutto appetizers. I had the pollack, my partner had the pork chop - both cooked perfectly. We enjoyed a bottle of red wine and had the panna cotta for dessert. All was fresh and perfectly cooked. Lavagna is our neighborhood favorite - we couldn't recommend it more!

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  2. Daniel Gold

    Orange County30 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on 3 November 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    Exactly what had wanted a quaint low lit Italian restaurant with a neighborhood feel.

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  3. Carol Gold

    New York City60 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 26 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    I'm something of a regular, eat at Lavagna with a group from work (mostly retired). We've been going back for years, which says a lot for a bunch of fusspot oldies. Food is delicious, prices fair, service friendly and efficient.

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  4. Ishmael

    New York City2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 23 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent East Village neighborhood spot with good Italian food.

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  5. Ben Gold

    London9 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 21 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    So good. THE place I always go back to when in New York

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  6. donna

    San Francisco Bay Area5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 19 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We come to NY from CA once a year and we always have dinner at Lavagne, We love it!

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  7. kim Gold

    Washington, D.C. Area7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 17 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Good food and good service. Great neighborhood place!

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  8. Jay Gold

    New York City91 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 16 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent in every respect once again. I only wish it was closer.

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  9. Holly Gold

    Los Angeles15 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 13 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I love this neighborhood gem. The food is great. Everyone who works there is friendly and warm. The ambiance is beautiful and the vibe is always great. I’ll be back

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  10. Sarah

    New York City1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 8 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful, accommodating, delicious (!!) personal- love this restaurant. We came with a large group for an early dinner before a performance a few blocks away. I made a reservation and then our numbers changed so I called and they were so easy and flexible. Special pizza was delish, people loved the cocktails, the special fish was incredible as was the kale Caesar. Can’t wait to go back. Thanks!!

    Is this helpful?

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Italian
  • Hours of Operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 12:00–15:30 Dinner Tue–Sat 17:00–22:00 Sun 16:00–21:00
  • Phone number
  • 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.
  • Area
    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 transport
    By Subway:F train to Second Ave stop6 train to Astor Place
  • Additional
    Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeaway, Wheelchair Access, Wine

FAQs

Smart casual is the guide, polished but relaxed; many guests treat Lavagna as a date‑night or anniversary spot and often dress up a touch for those occasions.

Lavagna is at its most relaxed later in the evening, plan for a later dinner if you want a quieter, romantic visit; Saturday nights tend to bring a louder, busy crowd.

Yes, Lavagna's candlelit, cozy room, warm amber lighting and thoughtful wine list make it a popular spot for anniversaries and romantic dinners.

Lavagna feels like a candlelit, cozy Italian trattoria, exposed brick, a pressed‑tin ceiling, an old wood‑burning oven and a small wine bar create an intimate, warmly lit room that reviewers call romantic and welcoming.

Guests regularly describe the portions as solid to generous, reviewers note the servings are "solid, " "generous, " and "satisfying without being heavy."

Yes, Lavagna’s wall of French doors opens in warmer weather to a seasonal sidewalk café of about 20 seats, and guests have enjoyed dining outside there.

How FAQ content is generated

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. New York City
  4. Manhattan
  5. East Village

Make a booking

A photo of Lavagna - NYC restaurant

Lavagna - NYC

4.8
$31 to $50
Italian
East Village

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 32 times today
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