Pasta
A plate of pasta is pictured at the Waldorf Astoria Chicago on October 6, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. Timothy Hiatt/Getty Images for Waldorf Astoria Chicago

KEY POINTS

  • According to CUNY, about 8.5% of the New York City population are Italian Americans
  • Italian cuisine is one of the most popular cuisines to try in the Big Apple
  • Some of the best pasta to try in NYC are from Michelin-starred restaurants

Pasta is one of the beloved dishes from Italy. According to CUNY, about 8.5% of the New York City population are Italian Americans, which explains why Italian cuisine is one of the most popular cuisines to try in the Big Apple. But beyond statistics, the comforting and satisfying taste of Italian food done right does not need further introduction.

Decades of Italian tradition stand out in the best pizza and pasta dishes. This National Pasta Day, celebrate by trying these 12 best pasta dishes in NYC:

1. Baked Ziti From Parm

Located on Columbus Avenue, Parm is easily accessible for NYC residents and tourists alike. You may have heard of Parm for its specialty crispy chicken parm, which you can order in hero sandwiches or naked on a plate with pasta. But they also serve a baked ziti that's to die for. You always get a corner piece – everyone's favorite – with a rich sauce and a large portion, sure to fill even the hungriest visitor. Parm also offers gluten-free options on its menu.

2. Fettuccine Alla Bolognese From Sant Ambroeus

Sant Ambroeus gives Lower Manhattan a little bit of Italy, serving dishes with Milanese origins. Their range of pasta choices will satisfy everyone in a big group. They have traditional bolognese bowls and spaghetti carbonara, but you should never order without the signature dishes Tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe and Fettuccine alla Bolognese. Try the calamari appetizers while you're at it. The restaurant has been featured on several websites, including Town & Country magazine.

3. Spaghetti all'Arrabbiata From Felice 83

With homemade pasta cooked to perfection and sauce made from scratch, you are getting the best Italian pasta from Felice 83. Their spaghetti alla arrabbiata gives just the right spice to make you want to have another forkful, and they are known for consistently serving good food that delivers a great experience every time. Locals are even willing to take a cab (in New York traffic!) to get to the restaurant to have their authentic food. Try the linguine mare too.

4. Tarajin Alla Carbonara From Dell'anima

The perfect pasta dish for brunch, dell'anima's Tajarin alla Carbonara has everything from the creamy yolk to the scallions, black pepper, speck and hefty serving of pecorino romano. The restaurant is a hidden gem that NYC visitors must try, but for locals, it is also a worthy dinner venue on any given day. For those who want to sample the food without ordering a full entree, share a bowl of tagliolini cacio e pepe for a romantic dinner.

5. Casarecce al Ragu' di Funghi From Eataly

SERRA by Birreria at the Eataly Flatiron welcomes fall in full force with its rooftop decked in rustic autumn elements and a seasonal menu to match. Go for the Casarecce al Ragu' di Funghi, a perfect fall treat with Wild Hive dark rye casarecce in a rich housemade oyster mushroom ragu topped with pecorino romano. Pair with more fall favorites, roasted Greenmarket acorn squash with walnuts and pomegranate agrodolce.

6. Garganelli With Mushrooms And Black Truffles From Da Umberto

A Michelin-starred restaurant is always one worth trying. In the Michelin Guide for 2020, da Umberto's menu was described as familiar and unpretentious, with the restaurant having an adept kitchen and superb ingredients. All of these can be experienced when you try the garganelli with mushrooms and black truffles. They also have a lovely rigatoni in a sausage vodka sauce for fans of vodka-infused sauces.

7. Tagliatelle With Bolognese Bianco From L'Artusi

Featured as one of the best restaurants in NYC's West Village by DameTraveler, L'Artusi is more than just artistic. Their famed bolognese bianco can be the centerpiece of a group dinner. You can never go wrong with classic pasta dishes such as this offering from L'Artusi. Their tajarin carbonara with speck is another option for pasta lovers out there.

8. Cheese Ravioli From Bamonte's

"You're here to experience the place and the history," wrote Matt Tervooren for The Infatuation about the unchanged interiors of Bamonte's, an Italian restaurant that opened in Williamsburg in 1900 and whose interiors haven't been changed since the '50s. The housemade ravioli's al dente pasta is loaded with soft cheese oozing as you take a bite. Other recommendations include the baked ziti, perfect for groups or families to share, and the penne vodka to cap a long night.

9. Cavatelli With Sausage & Broccoli Rabe From Rubirosa

A restaurant that welcomes celebrity visitors like Harry Styles, Rubirosa is no stranger to fame on SoHo street. According to the Michelin Guide, Rubirosa shows "how very cool pizza can be." But among its offerings, the cavatelli with sausage and broccoli rabe takes the spotlight in the pasta category for its hearty and healthy combination featuring handmade pasta. Round out your dining experience with bowls of chittara and meatballs.

10. Tagatelli Pork Bolognaise From Frankies 457 Spuntino

One of the Brooklyn Restaurants to Try, Frankies 457 Spuntino shows how pasta can be done well. Celebrities like Jimmy Kimmel even come to the place to celebrate constantly, showing the consistency of the restaurant's quality. Seasonal offerings include saffron ravioli with burrata, ricotta and sungold tomatoes – a must-try this fall – and the classic tagliatelli pork bolognaise and sweet potato and sage ravioli.

11. Tonnarelli Cacio E Pepe From Via Carota

Food critic Hannah Goldfield called Via Carota "New York's Most Perfect Restaurant" in 2018. The restaurant opened in 2014 and got popular through word-of-mouth, often being cited as a must-eat when one is looking for options in NYC. Among its offerings is the cacio e pepe -- chewy and silky and absolutely divine. A visit to Via Carota for its pasta dishes is sure to be satisfying every time.

12. Handmade Ravioli With Butternut Squash From Lil' Frankie's

Another fall offering in New York City to try is the handmade ravioli with butternut squash. You may know Lil' Frankie's for its pizza, which earned a mention in The Ultimate NYC Pizza Guide, but it also has a wide selection of pasta to try. The lemon pasta makes patrons want to come back for second helpings, and its selection of wine also pairs well with its house specials.