Via Carota

Via Carota is the West Village trattoria of chefs Rita Sodi and Jody Williams, who won the James Beard Award for Best Chef: New York City in 2019. Sodi grew up in Tuscany, and together they created a place that feels like a country osteria transported to a corner of Grove Street, simple and unpretentious, with a small dining room and a few tables outside. The couple also run I Sodi, Buvette, Bar Pisellino and The Commerce Inn nearby.

The menu changes with the seasons and is built from small plates, vegetables, pastas and grilled meats meant for sharing. Vegetables are a particular strength, and the insalata verde, a tall pile of carefully dressed leaves, has a loyal following. Pastas such as cacio e pepe and the house specialities are simple and precise, and meat dishes come off the grill. The drinks list leans towards Italian wines and aperitivo cocktails, and the bar is a good perch for one or two people.

The restaurant serves from late morning until late evening without a break, which is useful for a long lunch or an early dinner. Reservations are available through Resy, but walk-ins are always welcome, and many tables go to people who simply turn up. At peak times the wait can be long, so arriving at opening time, or in the mid-afternoon lull, gives the best chance of a quick table. Leave your name and wait at a nearby bar if there is a queue.

Via Carota suits couples, friends and small groups who enjoy sharing plates; larger groups may find tables hard to come by. Prices are upper-middle for the area. Questions and comments can be sent by email to the restaurant. Check the website for current opening hours, as weekend opening times are published in two slightly different versions, and call ahead before a special trip.

The address is 51 Grove Street, just off Seventh Avenue South in the West Village. Christopher Street–Sheridan Square on the 1 line is a two-minute walk, and West 4th Street–Washington Square is a little further. Afterwards, the Village Vanguard is a few blocks north on Seventh Avenue South, and the quiet, tree-lined streets around Bedford and Commerce Streets are ideal for a walk.