Torrisi

"From the folks at Carbone who brought you the $89 veal parm with a side of paparazzi, this Noho restaurant is a full-on production. It’s big, it’s flashy, and, against all odds, it actually has a personality. In a loft-like room with emerald green columns and ceilings high enough to accommodate a game of volleyball, you can enjoy rotisserie lamb, Jamaican beef patty-inspired cavatelli, and a platter of airy zeppole with a variety of aged hams. Torrisi is more Italian-ish than straight-up Italian, and the more inventive dishes are just as good as the classics. For a fun celebratory dinner, this is one of your best options. Reservations are released online 30 days in advance at 10am. There's also a large bar area up front that's saved for walk-ins. We came on a weeknight around 6pm to see if we could snag a few of those seats, and they quoted us a four-hour wait. So maybe bring a crossword—or come for lunch." - bryan kim, neha talreja, willa moore, molly fitzpatrick, tiffany yannetta

"Right now, you have better odds of getting elected mayor than you do of snagging a reservation at Torrisi. But the Nolita spot from the people behind Carbone offers multiple buyout options, and a private dining room. It won’t be cheap, but rest assured your guests will leave properly floored by tortellini pomodoro, dover sole, and the restaurant’s signature hams and zeppole. Reservations are released online 30 days in advance at 10am. There's also a large bar area up front that's saved for walk-ins. We came on a weeknight around 6pm to see if we could snag a few of those seats, and they quoted us a four-hour wait. So maybe bring a crossword—or come for lunch." - neha talreja, bryan kim, hannah albertine, will hartman

"Verdict: Torrisi Bar & Restaurant is an Italian-ish place in Nolita from the people behind Carbone, but it's a different sort of production. Unlike Carbone, the space is huge, and the menu shows a range of influence: They do chicken livers with Manischewitz and cavatelli with Jamaican beef ragu. This is a great choice for a big night out, and it's going to be annoyingly hard to get into for quite some time. Reservations are released online 30 days in advance at 10am. There's also a large bar area up front that's saved for walk-ins. We came on a weeknight around 6pm to see if we could snag a few of those seats, and they quoted us a four-hour wait. So maybe bring a crossword—or come for lunch." - bryan kim

"Major Food Group has opened this Nolita restaurant in the landmarked Puck Building: It’s a revival of the team’s first restaurant, Torrisi Italian Specialties, which closed in 2015, which had grown from a counter-service sandwich shop that started in 2009. This iteration earned three stars from the New York Times for its take on Italian American dishes like linguine with a pink clam sauce or chicken alla griglia, as well as tributes to New York restaurant favorites, like an octopus nha trang. It’s a great dining room for general people-watching. If tables aren’t available there are always the standing spots near the bar." - Nadia Chaudhury, Eater Staff

"Sometimes, you want to go somewhere big and flashy, where you can wear something that oversells the strength of your closet and see someone who recently did a guest appearance on SNL. It’s a natural instinct. Don’t fight it. When it’s that kind of night, your best option is Torrisi. From the people behind Carbone and The Grill, this Nolita restaurant is a big-budget production with precariously high ceilings, crushed velvet booths, and servers dressed for a wedding in Southampton. It’s the sort of place where you’d expect food to be an afterthought, but every section of the Italian-ish menu is filled with highlights. Start with the fennel salad that’s infinitely more exciting than it sounds, and follow that up with the prawn raviolini and rotisserie lamb. Reservations are released online 30 days in advance at 10am. There's also a large bar area up front that's saved for walk-ins. We came on a weeknight around 6pm to see if we could snag a few of those seats, and they quoted us a four-hour wait. So maybe bring a crossword—or come for lunch." - bryan kim, neha talreja, willa moore, will hartman, sonal shah