Bar Pitti

If the sauce on your pappardelle at this Greenwich Village trattoria reminds you of Kraft mac & cheese, bury the thought deep inside yourself. And if you notice a stray bottle of Windex hanging from the railing of an unswept stairwell that leads to an equally unswept basement, no you didn’t. At over 30 years of age, Bar Pitti won’t be changing its ways. Enjoy this place for what it is: an endearingly imperfect NYC classic.

Founded in 1992, the canary yellow restaurant is famous for its blunt service, cash-only policy, and sidewalk patio, which provides a high-profile habitat for tourists, A-listers, and kids in soccer uniforms. Most seats are saved for walk-ins, so pop in for an impromptu meal when you feel the itch to immerse yourself in a fascinating grab bag of a scene. You might have to wait 40 minutes, but the people-watching is unparalleled, and the food is guaranteed to grow on you.

photo credit: Noah Devereaux

photo credit: Bryan Kim

photo credit: Bryan Kim

Bar Pitti's menu is quasi-Tuscan, unpretentious, and the definition of hit or miss. And we wouldn’t change a thing. Is the signature rigatoni a downtown icon? Or is it a heavy-handed pasta with peas and (checks notes) turkey sausage? And what about the white bean salad with onions and tuna? Elegantly simple? Or so simple it tastes like it came from a can? The answer is all of the above.

Don’t get your brain in a knot trying to figure out if this is a world-class culinary experience. Just ask your server for a glass of red wine, and watch them zip off before you can get more specific. Enjoy some springy taglierini, keep an eye out for BAFTA nominees, and get here before 7pm if you don't want to spend too long bunched on the sidewalk with other prospective diners as you jostle for the owner's attention. It’s not a great waiting system, but it’s the Bar Pitti way.

Food Rundown

photo credit: Bryan Kim

Insalata di Fagioli Tonno e Cipolla

Would you care for a warm bowl of beans and tuna? Yes, you would. Bar Pitti's take on this minimalist Tuscan dish is both low-effort and fairly delicious.

photo credit: Bryan Kim

Antipasto Toscano

At any other restaurant, this skimpy meat platter might seem like a downer. Here, it’s almost charming. There are better ways to spend your money, but go ahead and enjoy a few slices of mortadella.

photo credit: Bryan Kim

Taglierini al Tartufo

People will try to convince you that the pappardelle alla fiesolana is the best pasta here. It isn't, although it is the most orange. What you really want is the taglierini al tartufo. The housemade pasta is light and bouncy, tossed in an ultra-thick sauce with thin shavings of truffle.

Chicken Paillard

There are three menus at Bar Pitti: the main menu, the chalkboard menu with its list of indecipherable specials, and the menu that only exists in the servers’ heads. Want some chicken paillard? Even if it's not advertised, they can do that. It won’t be the prettiest dish in the world, but it will be charred and juicy.

photo credit: Bryan Kim

Polpettine di Vitello

Always pay attention to the specials. You don't want to miss out on the softest meatballs in the world.