A highly acclaimed Italian-American restaurant in New York City, co-owned by chefs Scott Tacinelli and Angie Rito, known for its innovative approach to classic dishes.
Scott Tacinelli is a highly acclaimed American chef, known for his modern and innovative approach to Italian-American cuisine. He is the co-owner of the critically lauded New York City restaurants Don Angie and San...
Insights
ItalianSteakhouseVegetarian Vegan FocusAmericanVegan-friendlyUpscaleDinnerLunchFine DiningCocktail Bar
Last updated: 7/17/2026, 5:06:23 AM
Key Information
Don Angie is a highly sought-after Italian-American restaurant located in Manhattan's West Village. It is renowned for its unique and refined take on classic dishes, making reservations notoriously difficult to secure. The restaurant offers a 'casual elegant' ambiance, focusing on a thoughtfully designed and memorable dining experience.
Customer Perception
Customers consistently praise Don Angie for its exceptional food, particularly highlighting the 'phenomenal lasagna' and unique pasta dishes like the Buffalo Milk Carmelle. Many reviews emphasize that despite the challenge of securing a reservation, the experience is 'worth the hype' and 'every penny.' The staff is frequently commended for being warm, attentive, and contributing to an effortless and welcoming atmosphere.
Additional Details
The restaurant is celebrated for its innovative approach to Italian-American cuisine, often reinventing traditional dishes with a modern twist. Its reputation for being one of the hardest reservations in NYC adds to its allure.
Due to its high demand, securing a reservation can be very difficult. Many customers recommend arriving before opening to try for bar seating as a walk-in option. Dinner is the primary meal service, though lunch has also been mentioned.
Had a phenomenal lunch with the family today. The Chrysanthemum salad was absolutely delicious. The dressing was outstanding. The main event was the lasagna. It was cooked perfectly. The sauce cheese meat wear sublime. Dessert featured a tiramisu and a strawberry ice cream with shortcake both were excellent. It's very difficult to get reservations but my perseverance paid off and we experienced a delightful afternoon. Ana our server was incredible. Very professional friendly and efficient. The atmosphere out side was really good . The weather this afternoon was perfect for NYC. Try and get a reservation you won't be disappointed.
Had a great experience at Don Angie. The staff was incredibly nice and attentive, and the food was excellent. What stood out most was how unique the menu felt compared to your typical Italian restaurant. It had familiar flavors but with some really creative twists.
The tiramisu was definitely a highlight and something I’d highly recommend if you’re looking to try something a little different. Overall, great food, great service, and a really memorable experience. Definitely worth checking out if you’re in New York!
5
This place was truly exceptional, and I felt genuinely grateful to have been able to secure a reservation. From the moment I arrived, the staff made the experience feel effortless and welcoming. They were warm, attentive, and clearly committed to making sure every detail was just right, which set the tone for an unforgettable meal.
The food was on another level. The Japanese Sweet Potatoes and Buffalo Milk Carmelle were unlike anything I’ve ever tasted—bold, memorable, and absolutely masterful in execution. They weren’t just great dishes; they were the kind of standout flavors that stay with you long after the meal is over. The lasagna pinwheels were another highlight and completely lived up to the hype. Rich, flavorful, and beautifully prepared, they were a must-try in every sense. Even the bread served alongside was outstanding—soft, fresh, and finished with the perfect subtle crunch.
What I appreciated most was the feeling that every part of the experience had been thoughtfully designed. It wasn’t just a dinner; it was a complete experience that felt polished, personal, and deeply satisfying. I left feeling cared for, impressed, and fully content. This is the kind of restaurant you remember, recommend, and eagerly return to.
1
Don Angie (New York City)
Visiting Don Angie based on its intense online hype turned out to be a deeply disappointing experience. While the restaurant is frequently lauded as a destination spot, the reality fell far short of the reputation, making it a stark reminder to trust your own senses over social media trends.
The atmosphere was super noisy, making it impossible to hold a conversation with friends. The service was equally frustrating; the pace was sluggish, and we endured a 40-minute wait just for the pasta course to arrive.
Unfortunately, the food was the biggest letdown. A recurring, ruinous theme across every dish was an excessive amount of salt. The chrysanthemum salad was buried under so much cheese that the saltiness was overpowering. The garlic flatbread was disappointingly small and similarly over-salted. Even their signature lasagna, while visually impressive, was so aggressively salty that it left a bitter, metallic aftertaste on the tongue. Every single item we ordered suffered from this lack of balance.
If you are planning to dine out in New York, be wary of the hype. Rely on your own judgment rather than curated online popularity to ensure you enjoy your meal rather than regret the reservation.
5
The pinwheel lasagna is the dish that built this restaurant's reputation and it holds up completely. A whole lasagna roll sliced into spirals and layered with béchamel and meat ragu, it arrives as something that looks elegant and eats like the most satisfying version of a childhood memory you could possibly conjure. The chrysanthemum salad is the order that surprises most tables, floral and bright with garlic and croutons and a dressing that makes the whole thing taste more interesting than a salad has any right to. The stuffed garlic flatbread is the thing you pull apart before anything else and immediately wish you'd ordered two of, cheesy and deeply garlicky in a way that sets the whole tone for the meal. The sourdough pasta in a spicy nduja and mezcal-braised chicken sauce is the pasta that keeps appearing on tables around you, funky and rich with that smoky undertone from the mezcal doing a quiet, important job in the background. The black cocoa tiramisu is the dessert that closes things out in a way that makes you rethink the usual version, a darker, more complex take that's clearly been thought about seriously.
Walk-in seating at the bar opens at service and is the best option when reservations aren't available. The Italian Coffee Situation cocktail, their smooth riff on an espresso martini, is the right opening move for the evening.