il Buco

"Sometimes, we dream that we’re in an old farmhouse in the Italian countryside. And we can come pretty close to recreating this dream by heading to Il Buco in Noho. A night at this restaurant—which opened as an antique store in 1994—feels a rustic escape from the city, and the mains here really shine. The menu changes seasonally, but you can't go wrong with the bistecca and lamb chops, and if they happen to have the risotto on the menu, you must order it." - bryan kim, neha talreja, willa moore, molly fitzpatrick, tiffany yannetta

"Il Buco’s 200-year-old wine cellar might be Manhattan’s single best private dining room, especially when you consider the fact that Edgar Allen Poe used to hang out down there. There's also a rooftop terrace where you can host your event. Be sure to book well in advance. Shockingly, you’re not the only one who wants to eat pasta with dead poets." - neha talreja, bryan kim, hannah albertine, will hartman

"This week, Mayor de Blasio announced that all NYC restaurants and bars will be required to check indoor diners’ proof of vaccination. That won’t start being enforced until September 13th, but many of the city’s spots are already operating with similar policies. If you’re already antsy to eat inside of a restaurant or have a drink in a bar where you know everyone is vaccinated, check out our list of restaurants and bars requiring vaccination." - hannah albertine

"A date in the Italian countryside is the ideal scenario, but you used all your vacation days before summer even started, and besides, your passport expired five years ago. The next best thing is dinner at Il Buco. This spot in Noho looks like an old rustic farmhouse with copper pots and pans hanging everywhere. The menu changes very frequently, but you can't go wrong with the bistecca with salsa rossa or the lamb chops. If it’s available, make sure to order what might be the best risotto in the city." - bryan kim, will hartman, willa moore, sonal shah

"“When I want to eat very good sardines in a can, I go to Il Buco. They’re in a can with oil, but the sardines aren’t fatty from the oil. They're naturally fatty, very rich and delicious. I think they’re Italian, the sardines at Il Buco, and I really enjoy them. They also have mackerel in the can, and sometimes clams and mussels in escabeche.”" - bryan kim