Lavagna is set in the heart of the East Village in New York City. We opened our doors on February 1st, 1999, and have been a downtown favorite ever since. Our East Village location offers traditional Italian trattoria fare, with affordable prices, in a casual, lively, intimate atmosphere. The vibe is candlelit, cozy, and romantic with an open kitchen, a wood burning oven, exposed brick walls, wine bar, a pressed tin ceiling and a small wine bar where the full dinner menu is also offered. A wall of French doors swing open in the warmer weather to a seasonal sidewalk cafe of 16 seats.
Our philosophy in the kitchen is to create good, simple Italian food, using fresh, seasonal ingredients and the products of the highest quality. The menu invites you to try our 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.
Lavagna’s wine list has been a yearly recipient of the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 2002. We focus on lesser known, small production wines form cutting edge producers from all regions of Italy. The list has grown over the years to one of the largest selections of Italian wines in the city, with approximately 300 selections, including many hard to find wines from classic vintages. It is complemented by a few domestic and international selections from Austria, Slovenia, Argentina, Spain, France and Greece.
Our bar features a small and eclectic selection of liquors, including small batch bourbons and ryes, single malts, handcrafted grappe, amari and digestivi.
We recommend reservations, especially for weekend nights, but we also allow tables for walk ins.
Additional Details
Dress Code: Smart Casual
Neighborhood: East Village
Cross Streets: Ave A and Ave B
Public Transit: By Subway: F train to Second Ave stop or 6 train to Astor Place
Parking: Street Parking / 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.
Reservation Recommended / Walk-Ins Accepted
Payment Options: AMEX, MasterCard, Visa, Discover
Executive Chef: Roberto Lopez Lugo