Lupa
Italian restaurant · Greenwich Village
170 Thompson St, New York, NY 10012
Highlights
Roman eatery with rustic charm, great pastas, and Italian wines.
Roman eatery with rustic charm, great pastas, and Italian wines.
"Opened just a year later, in 1999, the sister restaurant was reviewed as a “$25 and under” restaurant by Eric Asimov. Like its companion property, it was affected by the fallout after 2017 when Batali sold his stakes, and it has only more recently been included in the new era ushered in by Stephen Starr’s takeover of the family’s Italian restaurants." - Melissa McCart
"Is there anything more lovely than a lazy lunch at Lupa? You’d be hard-pressed to convince the regulars otherwise, as they flock in droves to this Thompson Street treasure for its amicable service, interesting wines and old-world charm. Carefully sourced products are scattered throughout this menu—witness perfectly seared octopus alla piastra, starring tender faro with crispy bits of prosciutto and fennel, or a starter of plump, marinated sardines laced with oil, coarse salt and served over diced cucumber and celery. Don't miss the multicourse Roman pasta menu with the likes of gnocchi alla Romana with savory braised oxtail ragu." - Michelin Inspector
"Lupa is a snoozy Italian restaurant in Greenwich Village, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Inside, children-of-divorce share rigatoni alla gricia with their slightly-absent father, and a couple who has come here every week since 1999—when this place first opened, and experienced the type of buzz that comes with being new and associated with an even buzzier spot (Babbo)—quietly enjoys their usual. In a city full of excellent Italian spots, a boring one, where everything on the menu tastes like a slightly less-good version of something you’ve had somewhere else is never going to be the best choice. But maybe you made the mistake of thinking you could walk into some place currently experiencing the kind of hype this place experienced several decades ago. In a pinch, you could do a lot worse than the totally serviceable Roman food at this dark, candlelit spot. Follow your neighbor’s lead and order a Grey Goose cosmopolitan, and get the tartufo for dessert. It’s a textbook version: predictable in a comforting way. Food Rundown Roasted Beets with Pistachio Pesto and Whipped Ricotta A take on the roasted beet and goat cheese dish that was hot several decades ago. Not terribly exciting, but a solid choice for beet enthusiasts. Pastas The pastas are all solid. Try the black spaghetti with seafood. Tartufo A textbook perfect take on an Italian restaurant classic. Pairs well with that third cosmopolitan." - Willa Moore
"For a taste of Roman excitement, I recommend Lupa, which is still owned by Joe Bastianich with chef Umaru Bajaha running the kitchen; it boasts many more classic Roman dishes than Roscioli—including oxtail vaccinara and veal saltimbocca—and covers the same pasta bases as Roscioli but with larger portions." - Robert Sietsema
"One of the partner-run restaurants included in the group's portfolio; staff from this location were among those who received part of a six-figure settlement paid by the management group to employees who reported sexual harassment." - BySam Stone
