San Sabino

What happens when you combine the look of a limoncello-colored seaside cafe with the cooking skills of one of the city’s best Italian restaurants? You get San Sabino in the West Village, a fantastic seafood spot down the street from its sibling Don Angie. The place is full of people who know people. So when you have trouble getting a reservation, you can try to walk in for a bar seat by standing in line at 4:30pm. Citrusy shellfish and pastas will be worth the hassle—especially San Sabino's chilled crab and mortadella dip with pepper jelly, the stuffed farfalle, and a plate of shrimp parm in a spicy, gently sour tomato sauce. 

photo credit: Alice Gao