The West Village is nothing but a series of trendy Italian restaurants that perpetuate an aspirational scene of the Manhattanite who can actually afford to live in the neighborhood. Where old money mingles with yuppie transplants with expendable income and a deep desire to live out their New York dreams as advertised. But anyways, I digress. Via Carota is one of such darling Italian restaurants in the neighborhood. And truthfully, even though it is a scene and annoyingly difficult to score a reservation, it does hold that cozy old world charm that you’d want in a NYC Italian restaurant.

The buzzy trattoria opened in 2014 and quickly built up a high profile fanbase of influential diners. It’s become a staple in the city’s dining scene with well over an hour long wait any given night, and limited reservations that book up weeks in advance. The space is rustic yet elegant, like the Florentine villas it’s inspired by. It feels casual enough, but in that kind of way where it’s like a fancy place cosplaying as casual. The food is at the same time homey and made with finesse. From cacio e pepe and tagliatelle alla bolognese to well dressed salads and vegetable sides and beloved mains like polpette. Most people come for the pasta, for good reason, it’s the kind that transports you to Italy. And perhaps the best part of all, this is an all day kind of place in a city that tends to favor the weeknight dinner only type of restaurants.