Ammazzacaffè

"You wouldn’t know it from the outside, but Amazzacaffe has a sizable back patio that’s great for a quiet outdoor dinner in Williamsburg. The Italian food here is also consistently impressive, especially the pasta and skewers." - matt tervooren

"You can now order anything on Ammazzacaffe’s menu for delivery by calling 929-250-2875. That way, their staff can keep more of the profits and you get to eat reginette with pork shoulder. A win-win. Amazzacaffe is also serving a three-course meal for $30, and you can find out more information here." - hannah albertine

"What It Is: An Italian restaurant in Williamsburg with high ceilings and a big back patio Perfect For: Date Night, Dinner With The Parents Every once in a while, we find a place that makes us wonder why didn’t know about it sooner. The latest example is Ammazzacaffe. It’s a good-looking space with high ceilings, big windows, and a secretly large backyard where we plan to eat again soon. We had the mafaldine with pork ragu, and when a stranger beside us leaned over and asked if it was like comfort food, we thought, “That’s a weird question.” Then we told this person that the pasta was, in fact, like some very good comfort food. The Verdict: Bring a date the next time you need to impress someone with a place that most people don’t know about." - hannah albertine, bryan kim, katherine lewin, hillary reinsberg, chris stang, matt tervooren

"If you went outside and took a poll to see which random pedestrians have heard of Ammazzacaffe, you wouldn’t find many. Which is strange, because this is a very good Italian restaurant in Williamsburg with a spacious backyard. You can eat a plate of pasta and drink some wine at a picnic table, and, seeing as this is still mostly just a neighborhood place, you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a seat. Ammazzacaffe is open at 4pm Tuesday through Sunday, and they run a daily 2-for-1 Happy Hour from 4pm to 6pm." - hannah albertine

"In a certain sense, Ammazzacaffè is like the wardrobe that leads to Narnia. From the street, this Williamsburg spot doesn’t look like much - but walk inside, and you’ll find a big space with high ceilings, tiled floors, and candlelit tables. Behind that, there’s a nice backyard surrounded by a brick wall. Factor in the above-average food, and you’ll leave wondering why you didn’t know about this place sooner. The menu here is Italian, but there isn’t any cacio e pepe or carbonara. Instead, there’s agnolotti with almond pesto, reginette with pancetta and caciocavallo, and a few other pastas that you won’t see everywhere else. There are also small plates and mains that, for the most part, are better and more interesting than what you’ll find at your average neighborhood Italian spot. Ammazzacaffè’s take on a caesar salad, for example, comes covered in bottarga, and their duck comes on a big pile of farro with some chicken and duck liver mousse underneath. It’s rich, salty, and tastes like something you’d make for Thanksgiving after you had a few drinks and thought, “Let’s do something different this year.” photo credit: Noah Devereaux If it’s nice out, have your food in the backyard. It’s full of little wooden picnic tables with strings of lights overhead, and it’s one of our favorite low-key outdoor dining options in Williamsburg. The inside is similarly impressive, with hanging light bulbs, exposed brick, and a couple of small dining rooms separated by an open kitchen. The best part is that you can get a table here any night. For the moment at least, not a lot of people seem to know about Ammazzacaffè - and you should take advantage of this. Sure, dinner can get a little pricey (pastas are around $20, and the least expensive main is $29), but this isn’t an every-night kind of place. Use it as a solid backup plan when you forgot to book a table in advance, and be sure to end your meal with an amaro (they have over 60 different kinds). Taken together, the food, space, and relaxed atmosphere make this place a secret well worth knowing about. Much like a magical wardrobe that should be kept out of the reach of children. Food Rundown Spiedini There are a few different skewers on the menu, and the pancetta one (far right) is our favorite. It’s small, but it makes for a good snack to start your meal. Lattuga This is a large bowl of romaine lettuce covered in cheese and bottarga. There’s also some bagna cauda on the bottom, and if you mix it all together, it tastes like a rich caesar salad. If you need lettuce, order it. Tartare This sea trout tartare starter has herbs and roe, which provide some good texture. You’ll want to serve it at your next cocktail party - or your first cocktail party, if you’ve never thrown a cocktail party. Garganelli Once when we were eating this, someone leaned over and asked if it was “comfort food.” It was a slightly odd question coming from a stranger, but that’s a good way to describe this pasta with bolognese and rosemary. It’s rich and satisfying, and a bowl of this at the bar on a weeknight will make you a considerably happier person. Gemelli Verde A surprisingly rich bowl of spinach pasta with mushrooms and goat cheese. If you don’t eat meat, order this. Anatra You could split this duck with one other person, and you should. It comes with sweet, crispy skin on a bed of chicken and duck liver mousse with some farro and that tastes vaguely like Thanksgiving stuffing. There’s a lot going on, but it works pretty well." - Bryan Kim