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Via Carota

New York

Seasonal old-word Italian cooking for the soul

Two become one: Run by Jody Williams and Rita Sodi, two acclaimed New York chefs and partners in life, Via Carota blends their distinct culinary backgrounds – Williams's intimate, French-inspired time at Buvette and Sodi's tradition-based Tuscan cooking at Sodi. The result is a restaurant that feels lived in with food that's unfussy yet precise.

Soulfully Italian: Opened in 2014, Via Carota quickly became a West Village fixture celebrated for its unbuttoned approach to seasonal, ingredient-driven Italian cuisine. The menu reads familiar – think salads, pasta, vegetables, protein – yet sophisticated. Dishes like the insalata verde, a towering tangle of perfectly dressed greens, or hand-cut pappardelle with rabbit ragu have become New York dining icons.

The look: The dining room has a comfortable feel: antique wooden furniture, dim lighting, vintage glassware, and weathered mirrors. Plates may be mismatched, but every detail feels intentional.

How to get in: The restaurant is perpetually packed, almost always with a wait. Word-of-mouth and the sense of community among regulars have always driven its appeal. Reservations are scarce, so many diners embrace a European-style ritual: arriving early or lingering at the bar with an aperitivo while waiting for a table.

Like this? Try that: Williams and Sodi's other Italian spots – Bar Pisellino and Commerce Inn – form a little West Village ecosystem with Via Carota at its heart. Each venue has its own personality, yet all share an ethos of old-world craft and timeless design.

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