Cacio e Pepe - East Village Reviews

Wonderful meal, great service and ambiance. True Italian food for a fair price. Enjoyable evening. This was the best meal we had had in New York!

This was a birthday celebration so it was a risk to go just on reviews. But the appetizers and main courses where very good. Friendly staff and a laided back atmosphere. You kind of felt you had been going there for years if you know what I mean. The signature dish was very good kind of wanted more meaning the portion was a little less than I expected. I mean it's spaghetti in a wheel of cheese twirled around in pepper corns. But the other dishes ordered were very good.

Realistically, this is more like 3.5 stars but I have it a three because the service wasn't great. The restaurant is extremely casual and you can sit in the front, inside or in the back yard. I ordered the caprese to start which was average but to be fair, it's a caprese. I asked for olive oil twice from the guy who brought the food, he never brought it which was very frustrating so I ate the caprese without it. I then had the Cacio E Pepe which was also very average. The way they serve it is a bit gimmicky and it doesn't have much flavor or texture. We shared an eggplant parmigiana for the table which was amazing. It's an average restaurant and probably nice if you live around there, but nothing special.

We loved this intimate, casual restaurant in the East Village! The service and food were both superb. We'll definitely return to Cacio e Pepe when we're back in the city. Delicious arugula and pear salad and fabulous pasta dishes!!

Definitely worth stopping in! The pasta here is amazing and so worth the price. The only downside is how small the establishment was so staff kept jostling my chair every time they walked by and couldn't have cared less.

It was an awesome Saturday afternoon in NYC, in fact it was my last night before traveling back home. My friend had recommended this restaurant as an off the beaten path place to try some authentic Italian food. First of all know the restaurant only accepts cash or American Express. But have no fear, there is an ATM next door. For a nominal fee of course. But the food will over exceed your expectations! I had the Gnocchi and it was perhaps the best I have ever had. Food, service and location make this an excellent choice when in NYC and craving Italian.

I accidentally wrote a review for the Cacio e Pepe in Rome. I've never been to Rome. This is the one I was talking about. Sorry. The New York Cacio e Pepe is divine. You have to make a reservation because it's small. The food Is delicious and reasonably price.

Cacio e Pepe is justly famous for its signature dish: Tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe. The pasta is mixed inside a giant wheel of parmesan and served with fresh ground pepper. Its a sight to behold to watch them mix the pasta and cheese at table and then serve it to you. The rest of the menu is also quite good.

A small room a few step down from the street in the East Village that is full on Roman fare and hospitality. It’s claim to fame name sake dish was the best we tasted this side of the ocean. Made with aged pecorino and cracked pepper corn and served table side from the pecorino wheel. Their oxtail on creamy polenta delicious, as was the salmon tartare on fennel mousse topped with a scoop of sea urchins gelato.

That really says it all. The restaurant seemed fine but I really wasn't paying attention because their signature dish involves putting hot, recently cooked pasta inside a ginormous wheel of Pecorino cheese and moving it around in order for the cheese to melt on it. Enough said. That alone should get you at least three stars even if everything else is straight out of McDonald's off of I-95, which isn't the case here. One weird thing is that they only take cash or AMEX. So, if you only carry Visa or MasterCard due their being universally accepted, this place just proved you wrong. And lest you forget, big wheel of cheese.

Beautiful little Italian restaurant, with really good food! The service was excellent, our waiter was friendly and helpful. The Food was some of the best Italian food we ever tasted! We would highly recommend. Cacio e Pepe only takes cash or American Express for payment, which was the only negative on our experience there.

Local cordiele very welcoming staff and speaking Italian! Council as an appetizer arugula with pear and parmesan Then Cacio e Pepe served in the form of cheese I found myself very well and I felt like being in Italy where I lived also delicious dumplings with figs and Stilton. great Espresso

Nice atmosphere, great service, very tasty food. We had the Fettuccine, Salmon, and Lasagna, and all were outstanding. The desert was excellent, and the green tea iced tea was also refreshing and good.

We could have sat out front or inside but we chose to sit out back on the patio and it was lovely. Very nice setting, quiet and relaxing. The 3 of us all tried different dishes and shared. I had the chicken roll up with fresh green beans and potatoes. Husband had the pasta that they cook and bring the cheese wheel to the table and swirl the pasta in the cheese wheel and pour it into the serving dish.

I’ll start by saying we were the ONLY family (of 5) there when we came in. No reservations & a family of 5 (2smaller children 1 tween) can sometimes be a problem for restaurants in NY - they were very accommodating to us! We didn’t try the signature dish - but what we had was wonderful! Gnocchi (2) & lasagna(1) were tasty — and our little people split an appetizer and had some of our meals - we also ordered one salad and dessert and shared those. MORE than enough food and we left satisfied. They were very busy but seemed attentive to us - and helpful with the menu to accommodate our kids. An enjoyable evening!

Warm and friendly staff. Charming patio in the back, with twinkling lights , made me forget i was in NY. Oh, and the Italian food was superb too.

My husband and I wanted an authentic Italian meal and he found a review for Cacio e Pepe on 2nd Avenue between 11th and 12th Streets in Manhattan. The menu looked good so we decided to try it. Our first course consisted of their signature dish which also shares it's name with the restaurant. It was a delicious mixture of pasta, butter, peppercorns and cheese stirred together in a giant wheel of Pecorino Romano cheese, served table side. My husband enjoyed a plate of salmon tartare. For our main course, I had gnocchi in tomato sauce. The sauce was light and tangy, the gnocchi was fluffy and melted in my mouth. My husband had the lasagna bolognese. He said it was fabulous and truly authentic. The meal with tip was $90.00 and well worth the price. My only complaint the bill must be paid in cash or by American Express. Cacio e Pepe is now on our NYC food list!

This was one of the top two of my family's favorites in NYC. I had the eponymous dish, and it was fantastic. Fantastic dessert, excellent wine, cool place (OK, a little cramped) and nice folks.

The pasta is ridiculous.

Delightful welcoming restaurant with an appealing menu. The rabbit ragu is especially good. There is an unenclosed sidewalk cafe to watch the neighborhood pass by, and a secluded garden.

This is a busy restaurant, so booking is a must. The garden area is lovely to eat in when the weather is warm. Thoroughly enjoyed to food. We decided to share two starters between the three of us. We had the Summer Salad with tomatoes and beautiful fresh, sweet fruits but, the star for us was the Parmesan Crème Brûlée which is just gorgeous! For our main courses two of us had the Spaghetti finished off in the wheel of cheese which was delicious and not as heavy as I thought it might’ve been. We also tried the Fetuccini which was also very good. For dessert, we had just enough space to share the Cannolo. Just a heads up for paying the bill; they only accept American Express or cash. We hadn’t realised this, but there is a cash machine in the restaurant to get cash out. There was quite a queue for that.

I found out about Cacio e Pepe through one of those Insider videos on Facebook - you know, those 30 second ones that have you drooling all over your keyboard. A quick Yelp search revealed only 3.5 stars. Call me a Yelp snob, but that made me a little iffy. But they did have pasta tossed in a cheese wheel, so that won me over. My boyfriend and I arrived on a Monday night at around 6:30. There weren't a lot of people there. The place is pretty sizable. They have garden seating in the back, which I would definitely recommend if it's nice out. It feels secluded, so it's nice to get away from the lights and noises of the city, even if it's just for an hour or so. To start, we ordered the meatballs as an appetizer. It has a bouncy texture, which I actually kind of liked. It was just a tad too salty for me. In case it wasn't good, we decided to order only one of the things with the cheese wheel, which by the way is exactly how I ordered it, just to save everybody some time, and to save myself the embarrassment of butchering the name. Its proper name is tonnarelli cacio e pepe. The pasta arrives in a cheese wheel, where they toss right in front of your eyes. Two things I didn't like: 1. Although the menu did state it, it came with whole peppercorns, which isn't my preference (my fault), 2. The pasta was cool. Less than lukewarm, which I deem unacceptable for such a pasta dish. The other pasta dish we had was the rigatoni with rabbit ragu. The pasta was undercooked, and the ragu had tiny bones in them. Definitely skip this dish. The table next to us ordered the fettuccine with arugula pesto, which was one we almost ordered instead. I wish we did because that one looked amazing. We left the restaurant still feeling hungry because the portions are pretty small. If it was quality over quantity, then fine. I'm all for that. But Cacio e Pepe lacked both of these things. If I were to review solely based on the meatballs, I would say they could get 4 stars. But based on the pasta, I'm going to have to go with a two. (Service was great though!) Bottom line - I'm glad I had a chance to try the famous cheese wheel pasta. But I'm also glad that I don't ever have to come here again. Tip - cash or Amex only. (which I didn't mind because I'm an Amex user anyway)

I went here because I love the Roman dish, cacio e Pepe. It’s a small place but I was able to get a single table inside (its too damn hot in the city right now). The waiter was prompt with the ice water and to take my order. The food was perfect. Cheesy and peppery. The wine was great as well although a little warm. I believe reds should be a little chilled, not warm. For the food, I give it a 5 but it was really loud in there. Almost too loud to make it enjoyable. I would definitely come back but during cooler months and I would sit outside. Cash and AMEX only. ATM on site.

A great place for pasta, wine and a goid time. Casual, but attentive service. Try the Toarelli Cacio e Pepe made tableside and ghe gnocchi.

THEY MAKE CACIO E PEPE IN A WHEEL OF CHEESE! In case you missed what I just said, they make cacio e pepe in a wheel of cheese! Once I heard this, I knew I had to go to this adorable restaurant. For those not familiar, Cacio e Pepe is a very simple and wonderful dish. It is pasta with cheese, olive oil and black pepper. To serve it in a wheel of cheese just takes it to another level. The restaurant is very cute and is located in the East Village. They have a lovely garden in the back, but the hubby and I opted to sit out front to people watch. Our server was lovely and quickly took our order. We had: - Arugula salad with pear and pecorino cheese - delicious - Salad with tomatoes, cheese and a curry mayonnaise dressing that was simply wonderful - Cacio e Pepe - delicious! Did I mention it was served in a wheel of cheese? - Chicken Rollatini - very good! The chicken was very tender and had the right amount of cheese and prosciutto - Ricotta Cheesecake - very good and super creamy - Limoncello - amazing, better than any limoncello we ever had before Overall we had a great meal - even the hubby was happy and he is an Italian food snob!! We definitely will return and recommend!

This is a quaint spot with a great ambiance. It's great for couples and has a good menu with great staff. The atmosphere is jovial and electric during the busy hours, 9 - 11pm, on the weekends. Definitely worth more than 1 visit.

Right across the street from the East Village cinema, so perfect for after the movies; good food, pleasant service, moderate prices.

When you enter this restaurant, the first thing you notice is how warm and inviting the atmosphere is and then the aroma tantalizes your taste buds! Had to have the signature dish, Cacio e Pepe and it did not disappoint! This was a special dining experience! The food was amazing, service exceptional and a meal I will never forget!

Amazing food but the people who work there are so rude. We made reservations for 5 people. The first 4 showed up and they sat us at a table for 6. Our other friend said they would be late. So we decided to order without him. We told the waiter we were ready to order and he told us it wasn't possible until everyone was there and we were missing two people. We told him it was fine and we would still like to order even if our friend is late and would be served later. He told us rudely it is not possible and went to tell his boss. His boss came over and asked us where the other two people are we said we had one friend not two our reservation was for 5 not 6 and our friend was late. He said we can't wait all night and was very rude. We told the waiter we are going to order anyways. Our friend ended up not being able to make it. This was very rude and unprofessional. I was really looking forward to enjoying this restaurant and it left a very bad taste in my mouth. The food was amazing but the service made it not worth it. Rude people who should know how to treat their customers- the ones who are paying.

We had a romantic dinner out on the patio here in August. I had the pasta made in a wheel of cheese. It was delicious. My girlfriend had a truffle pasta that was excellent also. This was one of the best Italian meals we had ever had.

Don’t finish your meal before your other half as your plate will get taken away.. poor table manners! It was like eating for 1! Very crowded and not a relaxed atmosphere staff very quick and it felt rushed. Food was tasty but we left feeling disappointed... in and out in about 25 mins

Celebrated daughter's birthday & she chose this place after seeing video of pasta prepared in a wheel of cheese. The table side prep & serving of pasta was fun to watch. The food was tasty, however, the noise level was excruciating. If I had known there was another seating area in the rear, I would have asked for another table. Impossible to have any conversation without yelling.

The garden and the namesake dish are both great!

Quaint cute place. Went onna recommendation from a friend. My husbands rogatoni with duck ragu was delicious. The waitress assisted me in choosing a pasta entree that could be made gluten free. I did not wamt to order chicken or fish as I heard the pasta dishes were amazing. My pasta was hardly cooked and tasteless. I was so disappointed and sent it back. As we were going to see a broadway show after I couldn’t order another entree. I simply had a salad for my dinner.

The menu at Cacio y Pepe includes delicacies that are typical in good Roman restaurants but rarely appear on US Italian menus. Ingredients are fresh --New York is a port city and also has good supply of fresh fruits and vegetables grown nearby. Not every restaurant takes advantage of this but Cacio y Pepe surely does. One of my courses was the tastiest octopus I have in years. My eyes were bigger than my stomach and so I have to return to this great find several more times to taste my way through the whole menu, Service was unpretentiously attentive and courteous,. unpreteentious

Cacio e Pepe serves great Roman fare in a cozy, neighborhood place. The inside dining room is smallish, so never gets too loud. It's a nice place to meet a significant other or a few friends for dinner. They also have a decent wine list.

We had heard wonderful things about this restaurant and were looking forward to our dinner. The service was rushed. Ends up, we were a party of 6, so the gratuity was already included in the bill. We had a few different starters. The mussels were inedible. Mozzarella was good. Meatballs were meh. Then we all had the namesake pasta for our main course. I could not eat mine. It was tasteless and overwhelmed with whole peppercorns. Some of our party had been there before and said that this was not the restaurant's best night. That being said, I won't be back.

Food was amazing…best “Cacio e Pepe” I’ve ever had with table-side presentation. Staff is great and Chef visits all the tables and is very gracious.

One of my favorite you tubers made a video about this place and it's pasta in cheese. The room was dingy in my opinion. The waiter needed to shower and the pasta was luke warm. I would go somewhere else. The staff were friendly and courteous, my opinion is based mostly on the food and the establishment. The price for just pasta in a cheese wheel was $27.00

We have been coming here for about 10 years and have never had a bad meal. Everything is good, but we almost always get the signature pasta dish of tonarelli cacio e pepe pasta, a simple dish of fresh spaghetti, pepper and cheese, stirred in and served out of a vat of pecorino. We've tried this dish in a few other places, it's never been have been half as good. This restaurant is ideal for a date, and for groups. Out-of-towners who want very authentic Italian should go here; the prices are very reasonable and it's in a popular residential neighborhood! Staff is always very friendly. And they have nice outside seating in an enclosed backyard. Go here for the start of the evening for a delicious dinner before a downtown show/club/music venue. reservations are not hard, but make one. Especially on weekends, as it's most crowded then.

If you like Cacio e Pepe, then this is the place for you. Their signature dish, Cacio e Pepe, is very good. They put on a nice show of mixing the spaghetti with the cheese and pepper at your table. We were here for restaurant week pricing - $45/person for appetizer, dinner, and desert. Good service. Good value. It's on our return to list.

We had a great meal and good times here with friends. It's a cute place, the servers are very nice and the food is very tasty. Of course we had to order the cacio e pepe, prepared tableside and it was super! We also had the vongole linguini which was good but...the clams were a little large for our taste, and there weren't many. Still tasted good though. We also had a pasta dish with beet 'cream' I cannot remember the name of, but it was really good! Overall a fun experience.

This is a standard restaurant for our family. Of course we love cacio e pepe which is the best I have ever had. Other pale by comparison. Every other dishes were fine. They have a nice garden in the back. Service is good.

Unusual serving of pasta in a cheese round ! Delicious food! Highly recommend the tiramisu ! The wait staff was very attentive and made great recommendations.

After 2 years of living in NYC and hundreds of restaurants, this place has been one of my only consistent favorites. I'm there at least every two weeks because their cacio e pepe is to die for and the craving will not subside until having it again. Highly recommend this place to everyone. The staff is very charming and genuine as well.

Fabulous food snd engaging staff make this a regular “go to” if you love authentic Italian cuisine. This is a new second location from the lower East side and a welcome addition to the UES York and 78th neighborhood. The signature pasta served from a pecorino wheel is a must, and the lasagne was equally delicious. The appetizers should not be overlooked. The salmon tartar is blissful in its simple creativity. The eggplant timballo is a wonderful upgrade from the standard rollotini offered everywhere else. Only open two months yet full on a recent night, the sizable bar area allows for very comfortable eating if no tables are available. Kudos to executive chef Salvatore Corea for venturing out with a second eatery in this post-Covid era. Well done!

The show of preparing the cacio e pepe seemed more important than the dish. Sauce was not enough bounded, not enough pepper. Very average and not worth the money. Wines by the glass very average and overpriced

After learning to make cacio e pepe at a cooking school in Padua, Italy last year, I was anxious to try it again while in NYC celebrating my 70th birthday with my niece. We arrived early and were seated in the comfortable, quiet garden area. The attention to detail by Salvatore and his staff couldn't have been better. The Gorgonzola creme brûlée was to die for. The chicken roll stuffed with artichokes and procuitto as well as the pistachio-filled cannoll at the end made for a most memorable dinner. Salvatore came to our table after each course and shared some of his secrets with us novice cooks. From the especially prepared peach belinis to the hugs from Salvatore on our way out, this couldn't have been a more memorable birthday dinner. I don't know if turning 70 had anything to do with this wonderful experience, but it was worth every year and every calorie!

We celebrated Saint Joseph’s Day with dinner here tonight. We ordered the Burrata, eggplant and meatball appetizers to start. They were very good. At our table we ordered salmon-so, so, the wild Boat Ragusa with chocolate—very good and the branzino. We also had one order of the signature Cacio e Pepe pasta dish that is served table-side in a cheese wheel. Definitely try it!

Only disappointment was they had run out of tiramisu, which was very annoying. However the pasta and chicken dish that was ordered were lovely

Someone at the reception at the hotel i stayed at recommended this great restaurant. The best cacio e pepe ive ever had, without question. And such presentation with the pasta being served directly from the cheese wheel! Loved it!!!

The food is soooo good, and they have unexpected options (like the parmesan creme brulee!) and icredible "cacio e pepe pasta" (pasta made in the cheese wheel). You must book a table though, the place is tiny and always crowded.

I've been to their sister restaurant, Cacio e Vino many times and we love it. We loved Cacio e Pepe almost as much. Great waitstaff, delicious food, reasonably priced wines. What else can you ask for?

A group of 9 of us met up at this neighborhood (for our two hosts) restaurant after we had watched 5+ hours of the 50th Stonewall/World Pride Parade. Needless to say we were all starving. The unassuming, small storefront opened up in back to a lovely outdoor eating area/garden, perfect for the size of our party which extended the length of one wall (but left plenty of other tables available for others to enjoy). There were a number of interesting menu choices: though the fennel salad (appropriate for the occasion if you know Italian slang) was actually delicious, the eponymous pasta dish which 7 of us felt compelled to try (presumably it is the house specialty) was actually quite disappointing and the portions small for the price (comparing other Italian restaurants in Manhattan). Though the service had been average, we were actually told that we needed to leave because we were tying up too many tables, so we didn't actually have a chance to try desert . . . it was a peculiar experience that I have never had in all the decades I have been eating in NYC, and certainly did not make me want to come back for another visit.

We were taken here by friends and intend to go back. Wonderful, interesting food, very pleasant atmosphere and excellent service. I'm looking forward to another visit.

a cosy restaurant with a young hipster crowd but I didn't feel out of place! Excellent food and service - really enjoyed this restaurant

Our experience at this restaurant was nothing short of disappointing and frustrating—a terrible way to start the year. The ambiance was unbearable due to the excessive noise, and for a party of four, we were crammed around an absurdly small table, making the dining experience uncomfortable from the start. While the waitstaff gave the impression of being fast and efficient, the overall service fell short. My wife’s rigatoni arrived more than 10 minutes after the rest of the table had received their dishes, which is unacceptable. To make matters worse, the pasta was completely uncooked—not “al dente,” but raw. It seemed as though it had been hastily thrown together after being forgotten. As for my dish, the saltimbocca was drenched in oil, almost inedible. The overall quality of the food was far below expectations. Due to these repeated issues—the poor food quality, subpar service, and general lack of professionalism—I decided not to leave a tip. Shockingly, as we were leaving, the maître followed us out onto the street, shouting about gratuity not being included. This was an unprecedented and deeply embarrassing encounter, as he refused to listen to our explanation and continued berating us on the street. I cannot recommend this restaurant under any circumstances. The combination of poor food, inadequate service, and rude behavior from the staff made this one of the worst dining experiences I’ve ever had. Avoid this place at all costs.

This restaurant in the East Village is small, but the food is excellent. Very authentic Roman food. Friendly staff. Have the Cacio e Pepe: I have had this in other places buy nowhere is it as good as they do it here. I highly recommend this restaurant.

We tried the new Casio e Pepe on the upper east side at 78th and York last evening. What a great addition to the local restaurant offerings! The salmon tartar and eggplant parmesan appetizers were delicious, the risotto with plum very creamy, the 10,20,30 salad splendid. Chef Salvatore has returned to UE with a wonderful new restaurant. Great Italian food, we will be returning often. Staff is very pleasant and the service is good.

would like to go back for their pasta. the entree i had was decent, but i think the pastas are better. cute place.

I went to this restaurant beacuse of the name. I have been looking for cacio e pepe in the US since my last time in Rome. Making is extremely dificult without practice and the right cheese is hard to find also. Here they use pecorino I think, but they put the pasta inside a circle in the cheese and by stirring it it creates the simple and delicious sauce. I obviously had that and each of my children between 3-12 and my husband had a different one each. (they were happy to provide half portions for the children) each one was even more delicious. Nevertheless, the three year old one, after finishing his beet cream spaguetti, asked for another one like mine, and so his sister followed. They loved the food so much!, they would have asked for thirds if we hadn't ordered desserts right away. This was not because the portions were small, they were more than appropriate in size, but the pasta was so delicious we all would have kept on trying different ones just for the sake of it... I will definitely return on my next visit to NYC.

Roman kitchen, with good spaghetti shrimp ragu with cuttlefish base (yum) and lasagne, to name two. Reasonable wine list. Easy access from midtown. Nice service and ambiance. Moderate prices and good wine list.

We loved their romantic garden setting. The food was loving prepared --- the best was the linguine with 3 meats sauce -- a hearty rich brown sauce without tomatoes; very very good. Not inexpensive but NYC priced, food was quite good.

Nice to be able sit outside. So few restaurants in new york offer garden seating. The signature dish was excellent and fun. You must try it.

Pasta Cacio e Pepe is really authentic and it is also the signature dish of this restaurant! You should absolutely try it! It is in a nice location in the East village.

Yep, that's what it means. And while this combination might not be my first choice for dinner, we stop because the place looks bright and friendly, even if small: it's the new generation of Italian restaurants in the city, all with excellent food, all featuring Italian wines, friendly service and reasonable prices. My hunch pays off. Bread arrives promptly, of the best variety: crusty Italian country bread, accompanied by a spicy Sicilian dip and good quality EVOO (on request). We share an appetizer consisting of Burrata, Sardinian flat bread, tomatoes, basil & anchovy gelato and open a bottle of Gavi di Gavi. Next, pasta: Chilled lemon linguine with clams, basil & zucchini cream and Bucatini all'Amatriciana, cooked al dente, perfect and the portions are huge. The “cacio” is served in a very original manner, but I'm not spoiling it for you, you'll have to discover it yourself. Dinner for two with a bottle of white wine comes to a very reasonable $118 with tax but before tip. Great place! My only pet peeve is the loud music in the dining room: I can never reconcile loud pop with good food, especially in the evening. I'd have rated them excellent if it were not for the music. But the patrons don't seem to mind, it was full.

Came here with a group of friends and we all ordered the cacio e pepe. It’s simply wonderful what good cooking can do to elevate simple ingredients. Will definitely be back here when I next visit NYC.

We love the food, ambience and friendly staff at this charming East Village restaurant. The menu is extensive and the food is delicious. The signature Cacio e Pepe is fabulous. This restaurant is definitely a find. Other Italian restaurants in NYC serve. "American" style Italian dishes, that's not the case here. The owner is a charming Italian man who is happy to interact with the guests.

After spending time in Rome, when I knew I was headed to NYC for work I wanted to find some authentic food. Nothing in Little Italy is Roman, so I went in search of Roman-style restaurants. I found Cacio e pepe and made reservations! I of course had their name-sake dish and it was delicious and perfect. The chef was very friendly, I spoke with him for awhile about Rome. It is a small restaurant, I would recommend reservations. It was a beautiful night and the outside tables were full. We sat inside, which was fine. I enjoyed my meal, the service was good. They only take cash or american express (which I thought was weird) so be prepared for that. This restaurant made me Rome-sick! Recommended.

The signature dish is incredible. Such fun watching them make it in a cheese block at your table. The Owner/Chef was so friendly. My daughter loved chatting with him in Italian post her semester abroad in Florence. It's a warm, cozy, yummy spot!

The Tonnarelli Cacio E Pepe is the signature dish and it is fabulous as well as entertaining. They place the hot pasta in a wheel of cheese and stir before serving. Not a great selection of wine or beer but a great place to have a great Italian dinner.

Excellent service. Extremely nice staff who was enthusiastic and helpful. We showed up on a Saturday without reservations and they were incredibly kind and fit us in. The food was delicious. Only request would be more drink options!

Wonderful food and service!! Authentic Roman inspired food.

I have been to Cacio e Pepe three times, on different trips to New York. I have NEVER been disappointed, in the slightest, with the experience. The food is wonderful, and with a seasonal menu, is always a new experience. I keep a card in my wallet and have shared the address, etc with numerous friends and other people I have encountered that are planning a trip to New York.

Met my cousin and his family there one night. He's a local, and this is one of their favorite places. Absolutely incredible pastas. He and our son had a fettuccine that was served in a wheel of cheese! It was unbelievable. Very small but very charming place. Can't wait to go back one day.

I had the chance to dine at Cacio e Pepe with my daughter (who had already experienced the signature dish) and visiting family. Our server was very honest with each of us as we asked which dish to try. We shared a bottle of Chianti at an affordable price. We also shared the Parmesan cheese appetizer with 5 versions of Parmesan presented. My favorite was the creamy cheese that fizzed in your mouth! The least favorite (but still interesting) was the frozen Parmesan in a ball drizzled with balsamic. I had the fettuccine with arugula pesto, ricotta and orange zest. It was not a mountainous serving but quite sufficient for me. My daughter tried the lasagna. It was made with very thin layers of pasta with lots of beef and cheese with a tiny hint of tomato but not drowning in sauce. I would go again to give the branzino a try. Our reservation was at 5:00 so they weren't full but I can imagine that they do fill up. We did know about the restrictions in payment systems (cash or Amex) so we made sure that we had sufficient cash but it's worthy to note as it is in fine print on the menu and could catch one off guard.

If you want to try "real deal " pasta, that's the right place for it. We ordered 3 different kinds of pasta and all of them were just perfect. Food is amazing, service is great. Definitely going back. Highly recommended!!!!

Had a few small appetizers - they were good. Then I had the cacio and Pepe. I asked if there was cream in the sauce ( not authentic) and the owner was taken back - never he said. This is a true Roman trattoria and the owner is from Rome. The pasta was finished at tableside- in a wheel of cheese!!!!!! It was twirled and scraped and then put on my dish. It was fantastic just like I've had it in Rome. Casual relaxing, fairly priced. Loved it!

If you like cheese the Cacio e Pepe dish is just delicious. My friend, who is not a cheese lover, ordered the pasta with shrimp and loved it. We both agreed that the portions as good but not enormous (positive for us). Small restaurant but friendly staff. Just remember they only accept Amex or cash.

My mouth is still watering at the thought of this FABULOUS meal! Highly recommended by a few "locals" so we gave it a try. Why can't we have a "Little Italy" in Atlanta!! Not touristy or a chain. The eggplant appetizer was incredible. The signature dish that the restaurant is named after...WOW! They dump your hot pasta into a giant hunk of peppered mozzarella. Looks like a giant bowl & they toss it around then scoop it on your plate. It's beautiful & so delicious. We also had the gnocchi with red sauce covered in mozzarella, it was tender and wonderful. The baked lasagna was delicious as well. Small & quaint atmosphere with a large outdoor garden eating area as well. We loved this meal!

Went here over the weekend . Had the Cacio e Pepe and it was great. They serve it in a large parmigiano wheel of cheese. Nice location and the prices were reasonable. We sat outside in the front which was nice but they have a back courtyard which looked very nice. Service was excellent .

I love this place. Eaten here quite a few times and it's always consistently good. The Tonnarelli is twirled in a pecorino cheese rind table side. The rest of the menu changes seasonally. Really can't go wrong with anything here. Wine selection is always consistently good as well. During warmer months, they have a nice patio in the back as well as outdoor seating in the front. Food: faves are the Tonnarelli, the beet Fettucine (when they have it in season), Tuna salad, and the Baccala.

Cute environment, very good food. Convenient location. Service was fine. It's a good place for a date or for an evening with friends.

On a recommendation, this was our first visit. From appetizer to salad, pasta and entrees we loved every dish. The menu is somewhat limited, which likely is why every dish was done so well. The braised lamb shank, surrounded by some of the best mashed potatoes I ever had, was off the charts😋. My wife's bronzini, a lighter dish, was excellent. Our adult son, as well as my wife and I, enjoyed the house special pasta, uniquely finished table side in a wheel of cheese. We thought the food was reasonably priced given the quality. The restaurant is small, tight and noisy, but definitely worth a visit. We will be back again!

Ok so yes we had the signature dish. Yes it was delicious. Yes we highly recommend it. It is worth a visit. But... There's more to a restaurant than ONE signature dish and unfortunately Cacio e Pepe was disappointing in everything else. The service was appealing. The wine was warm. The table and chairs were wobbly and dirty.

You MUST get the cacio e pepe! It’s delicious!! We also enjoyed the meatballs as an appetizer. The restaurant was clean, beautiful, and relaxing. The food tasted authentic like it was right from Italy! Definitely would recommend.

We visited on a busy Friday evening and were glad we’d made a reservation! The service was quick, the servers were friendly and helpful. Two of our party ordered the pasta mixed in the cheese wheel and were not disappointed! The cheese is to die for!

I had a very good experience at this place. Food was delicious and no complaints about the service. Would go back.

Maybe it's because we only have two nights in Nyc and we wasted a dinner here that I'm sad. On a scale of one to 10 I'd give it a 4 and that is just because the Chianti was good and at $10 a bargain. Sunday night and much too rushed , our poor waitress as sweet as she was could not keep up. My bucatini was very tasty but somewhat on the ordinary side. We had to flag down our harried waitress to get bread and Parmesan. My husband and friend's duck ragu tasted like canned chicken. The pasta was perfectly cooked but the dish itself was uninspiring ... Just blah. A reservation is a must and prices are very reasonable. Warm atmosphere and friendly hosts. But with so many options in the village, look elsewhere.

Attentive service throughout with really high quality food Highly recommended and will definitely return Try their signature pasta , the cold soup was one of the best I have had in a very long time Amazingly friendly staff and chef

Salads were large and well-constructed. The eponymous dish is very good. The branzino with white chocolate was outstanding: very fresh, cooked perfectly, with a white chocolate sauce that had just the right hint of sweetness. The hostess accommodated our request to move our reservation 30 minutes later, but still get us out in time for the theater. She checked with us during the meal to make sure everything, including the timing, was OK. The popularity, density of tables and hard surfaces make for a very loud atmosphere - the only thing approaching a complaint. We'll be back!

It was pouring cats & dogs so we ducked into Cacio e Pepe for an Italian dinner. By 6pm, a line was already forming and threatening to snake out the front door. Luckily the wait staff was able to spot us a table for two. This is a very busy energetic place -- with patrons creatively / optimally squeezed in to their respective chairs and tables. Everyone can hear everyone else's conversations so to speak, but it makes for a fun sociable setting. The Italian menu (ie, with English subtitles) was definitely creative - e.g rigatoni in an orange duck ragu). Salads were generous and freshly made. Presentation is more 'home-style' in tenor rather than 'foo-foo food' which made us feel more comfortable in a subtle sort of way. Wine selections were good, but not outstanding (e.g you cannot find a true Valpolicella, just blended Amarones), but I am now just nit-picking. Dessert was fine, not great (e.g the panna cotta - compared with others that we've had elsewhere). Wait staff were quick and attentive. They were busy and rushed, but never brusque. Would definitely come back (but remember to make reservations ahead of time).

Cacio e Pepe avoids many of the standard Italian dishes and offers some unusual sauces and pastas, usually carefully thought through and delicious. Recently, for example, Paccheri with quail ragu, porcini mushrooms and black truffle and Fettucinne with veal stock, chestnut puree, black truffle and powdered coffee were both wonderful; Orecchiette with smoked potato cream and sausage would have benefited from a thicker sauce, not accomplished by the potato cream. Several of the other pasta offerings were equally unusual and tempting. For starters we all liked the tempura of gamberi, which were feather light and delicious, but our table differed on its pairing with a creamy squid sauce. The Eggplant parmesan timballo is more standard fare. I recall preferring a lighter, barely cooked version that Cacio e Pepe had several years ago. Service was fairly efficient, but almost brusque. The wine list should be updated more often and contain more bottles under $50. While I would rate the noise level as moderate, in truth it ranged from fairly quiet when we arrived at 7:45 to fairly noisy by 9 PM. They do not play loud music, so I blame acoustics and people with premature hearing loss who feel they have to shout for the higher volume.

This place was passable in the past. Now it is terrible. Last night had the winter salad. The crispy bacon in the salad was old. Seemed like it was cooked, broken up, left in the grease from the cooking and stored in the refrigerator for too long. And the buccatini seemed either to be uncooked. or precooked. Al dente is one thing, this tasted as if it was cardboard. No chef tasting any of the food that goes to customers. I guess that is why only four table were occupied.

My niece took us here during our visit to NYC. What a delight. We ordered their specialty, the cacio e pepe. They toss the spaghetti table-side inside a giant wheel of parmigiana. It was unique and delicious. A nice neighborhood find.

As described, Pepe is a welcoming eatery with a romantic interior nook. All five of us were well pleased with all dishes, the prices being particularly digestible. Spaghetti with clam sauce drew emphatic kudos.

I've been wanting to do this for ages, finally did as I had a friend in town. Well worth it, moderately priced and understated. The perfect amount of cheese and pasta deliciously al dente.

The warmth of the NYC air certainly added to a wonderful dinner outside in the garden at Cacio e Pepe! Appetizers Eggplant Parmigiana, Beef Carpaccio, Shrimp with White Beans were all terrific. We also shared the dish for which the restaurant is named, delivered and served from a wheel of pecorino cheese which has a nice salty balance to the black pepper. Entrees included the fettuccine with pumpkin puree, the open lasagna, stuffed chicken breast with broccoli rabe and the mixed grill of sausage, pork belly and spare ribs. Nothing remained on any plate! A tiramisu and a panna cotta, and we were on our way to walk off a fabulous meal!

We were seated upon arrival on a Saturday evening around 7:30. Service was excellent. We shared the signature pasta, cacio e pepe, as an app. The presentation was fantastic. The pasta was cooked extremely well. Unfortunately, the sauce, while tasty, was oversalted by half. The entrees were moscardini (baby octopus) and the spuntature di maiale. The moscardini was a study in contrasts. The octopus, chard and mozzarella fritters were also oversalted but were served over chickpea polenta that gave a new meaning to bland. As often said on the top chef shows, don't expect to rescue an oversalted/overspiced dish by serving it with something overly bland and vice versa. The spuntature arrived a melange of split sausage, pork ribs off the bone and something that was advertised as pork belly but which lacked any of its juicy wonderfulness, all cooked in a bland red sauce and served over polenta. The dish could have been inspired, but instead was confused and lacking direction. Towards the end of our meal there were a twosome and a party of six waiting for tables. The waiter had the party of six stand adjacent to our table, so close that when one of the women craned her neck to see if any tables were opening up, her scarf actually fell across our table. I don't blame the patrons; there just isn't any place to stand (much less sit) while waiting for a table.

ok. what can I say, wine by the glass, wonderful service and very good food. We went for the cacio e pepe dish which is cheese and pepper over home made pasta. the rest of the menu is just as good. a great time to be had.

My son and I had a wonderful dinner here. Love the ambiance, but the waiter was really the crowning touch. Great recommendations, and the food, wine and dessert was delicious and delightful.

Nice little restaurant with excellent appetizers and first courses, especially the tonnarelli cacio e pepe which in all respects are identical to those you eat in the center of Rome! The staff gave that even more special touch, especially Ludovico and Stefano, who were very good and made us feel great, with great friendliness and professionalism.

Staff was helpful, friendly and fast. We go specifically to try the Tonnarelli cacio e Pepe, to see the technique as they show on the video they do at the table but sadly they come with everything ready to the table and say they do it in the kitchen, the cool thing was the experience the technique in the table as they sell you that idea in the videos so that was disappointing. Besides that FOOD was delicious. Dessert I recommend you to try this one: Spuma di cioccolato bianco, frutta della passione, terra di cacao (White chocolate foam, passion fruit, chocolate cookie powder) FLAVORFUL, DELICIOUS 🫶🏻❤️

An excellent little cafe with a lovely open-air garden out back. The pasta and the tonnarelli pasta tossed at your table is a must experience. The garden is lovely and I would recommend for summer dining. The bolognese lasagna was also excellent. Service was perfect. We ate too much but walked it off on the way back to Times Square!

If you are looking for authentic Italian Cuisine, then this is the place to go. My daughter spent 3 months in Italy before this trip and when we came to New York, she wanted to find a place that served cuisine more like what she was used to eating than the typical "American- Italian" fare. We arrived about 5:30pm and were seated immediately without a reservation. But...within 45 minutes the place was packed. She was able to converse with the waiters in Italian. Our apertivo, meal and wine were delicious, service was attentive but not overwhelming, prices were reasonable, portions were not too big but filling. ($113 including tip and wine).

Cacio e Pepe is nice casual restaurant in New York with nice food and very good service. There's variety of dishes.

A cozy little Italian place that we keep going back to! The food is great and the service is what I come to expect when I go out to eat. There is even supposed to be a garden open in the summer!!!!! The pumpkin ravioli was to die for!

This neighborhood restaurant is an absolute gem. The signature dish is pasta prepared in a hollowed-out cheese wheel, and it is superb. Salads were crisp and fresh. The staff is warm and friendly. Worth a visit no matter where you are staying in Manhattan.

In all fairness it's worth a visit. I was with a group of 8 trying to find a last minute place to eat. It made our reservation to be at 10:00pm and many restaurants will not accomidate groups this big last minute. Even at that hour it was busy. Service was good and food came quickly. Somewhat limited menu and for an Italian place did not have veal. Not sure I would return and I don't get to NY often. We went because one of our group likes their lamb shank. A few of us tried the tossed pasta in the cheese wheel which was different but not noteworthy by taste. My pasta was between under cooked and al dante. They only take cash and AMEX which is different, so be ready. Reasonably priced for NYC. OK wine list.( the house Pino Nior was good) . Lasagna was dry, very meaty, but needed more sauce, lamb was a little dry but tasty. Maybe we caught them on a bad day or too late at night to get great food.

Perfect summer night for the beautiful garden. The service was welcoming, friendly and efficient. My son and I shared the signature pasta dish as an appetizer. Fun to watch it being made table side. I had the chicken, delicious! My spouse had the summer salad that looked amazing! I’m a fan and will be back often!

nice, casual italian...some pastas are swirled in a wheel of parmesan tableside, nice.

Just ate here for the first time in years. While the service remains very attentive and very pleasant, the food is bland. Very uninspiring food. Small portions. Generic.

My wife and I have been here twice, once with friends and another time just us two. It is quiet in the summer, but the food and wine are very, very good. Really tasty cold melon soup with light drizzled oil and creme fraiche-like topping. Wonderful cacio e pepe, tossed right int eh wheel of parmesan. We will be back.

Except for the trademark dish in this restaurant's name and a few other obligatory menu selections, while Sicilian authenticity is scant, the menu was indeed creative, and execution in the kitchen, flawless. Ambience is sorely lacking, however, and the noise level and proximity of the cramped tables are not accomodating to the need for quiet conversation and/or intimacy. Accomodating wait staff, deft kitchen chefs, rowdy crowd.

My niece found this restaurant where they make Casio e Pepe table side! They toss the pasta in a huge wheel of Parmesan. Really good too. Another niece and her husband ordered the lamb shank. Just the best! Slot of meat on it. Definitely a go again place!

Good Italian. Cozy outdoor seating out back and in front. Their signature dish is cacio e pepe, pasta with black pepper and pecorino. They serve it in a wheel of pecorino. Kind of a gimmick, but fun nonetheless. It's a great little find.

Discovered this place through the famous insider video of the pasta being made in the giant wheel of cheese. We ordered that, and red sauce pasta dish as well as their unusual take on cesar salad. I thought it was all okay. Service and atmosphere was very pleasant. The food was just okay- though the pasta itself was very very authentic and cooked well. The cheese wheel is brought out with flourish. Food extremely salty. Food came out promptly. May come back for dessert but not dinner.

We end up there coming out of a music event at the st Mark church close by. Very average in that town of 6000 restaurants. From the sample we had: wife loved the fennel and orange salad, her pasta with oxtail ragout just ok. My salmon tartare appetizer my also ok, had better. The gnocchi was good. Other couple had a lasagna, not appetizing, and a pork belly entree which for me was not a real pork belly, but a pork loin. Glass of wine for 12$ was not the best. The cannoli dessert had the majority of favorable vote. Final bill, about 50$ pp with drinks. I will not go out of my way to go back.

Bit cramped and crowded on a Saturday night but service was good and attentive. Appitizers and signature pasta dish was outstanding. Very good wine list too, great place if you like Italian food and aren't lactose intolerant. We'll be back!

I live a block away from this consistently good, small restaurant (bigger when the lovely garden is open). It’s cozy, friendly, and reasonably priced. I recommend starting with the polpetinne, which are the perfect combination of the the pork, beef, and veal, or the medley of beets (4 ways) with goat cheese. The namesake Cacio e Pepe is straight out of Rome, served table side from a wheel of Pecorino. I get this almost every time I dine there. The Bronzino is also excellent. All-around, it’s a great, casual go-to where I’ve always had a nice meal.

I loved this welcoming and authentic restaurant. I fell in love with cacio e pepe in Rome and was anxious to try it here. It didn't disappoint. In addition, I loved being greeted in Italian and although my Italian isn't great, I was encouraged to speak it. Loved everything about this charming restaurant.

We had reservations at 6:30pm but we were running early and they were able to accommodate us an hour earlier. We were seated in the garden and by the time we arrived, it was already full. The menu is very limited but they had some nice vegetarian options. Of course, we had to try the famous Tonarelli cacio e pepe dish and indeed, it came with all the pomp and flair of the server 'making' the dish for us at the table. The pasta was cooked well and the pecorino cheese was delicious. The better dish was Fettuccine with arugula pesto. This just blew us away and was very close to what we ate in Italy. The wine selection was decent and the Tiramisu was pretty standard. The only reason for the 4 stars is for the value as its just not worth paying $20 per dish of pasta. I'm glad we went but don't think we will come back again. Also, take your Amex card for credit card payment.

The owner is very kind and the food is amazing. We totally recommend this, specially the Cacio e Pepe, and the drinks limoncello and grappa. The place is warm and really comfortable. We love it!!

Cacio e Pepe has all of the makings of a neighborhood Italian cafe; it offers an intimate dining area, affordable prices, mediocre service, and solid food. However, I find it a step above the rest when it really comes down to the cuisine. Their meals are innovative, interesting, and well-presented. I thought that Cacio would be a perfect destination for a my family's mini-reunion. I was the first to arrive at the cozy spot and was promptly greeted by one of the staff members. They asked if I was a member of the large 6-person party that was to be arriving around that time. I confirmed that I was, and he pointed out the nice, large table they had set aside for us. Though it was a stuffy evening, I would have liked the option of moving our reservation to the outdoor patio. However, I felt obliged to stick with the interior tablesetting, as it had been specifically reserved for our group. The gang soon arrived, and we took our seats around the round table. Our bland waiter arrived to take our order, maintaining an uninterested gaze and not providing any assistance. We dealt with his lame service with anticipation of the meal to come. A basket of somewhat dry, but doughy Italian bread arrived with a side of olive oil to loosen our palates while we caught up on family gossip. One of my cousins had ordered a pairing of a starter salad and an appetizer in lieu of an entree, however, she was presented with the delicate greens prior to the rest of the meal. She felt awkward beginning her food before her fellow diners. Regardless, she enjoyed her plate of arrugla, pear, and pecorino cheese. Each ingredient looked extremely fresh and light. Dabs of balsamic vinegar added a richness to the dish, both in color and in taste. As she was nearing the end of her makeshift starter, the rest of our meals arrived. Most of the table had sampled the various pasta dishes that graced the menu. Their signature Tonnarelli Cacio E Pepe was amusingly served tableside, pulled out of a massive pecorino romano cheese wheel and tossed with black pepper. The creamy dish was hearty and packed with cheese flavor. The Garganelli Al Ragù Di Vitello contained a pasta similar to a penne, which was blended with a savory veal ragù, buffalo mozzarella, and shaved black truffles. The fragrant mushrooms were a terrific compliment to the tender ground meat. Though I had been intrigued by their interesting homemade pastas, I opted for the lighter Grilled Salmon entree. The fillet was served over an Italian-marinated salad of San Marzano tomatoes, capers, and olives. The meal stayed true to the restaurant's Mediterranean roots with its fresh, clean flavor. Another dish that made an impact was the Insalata Di Pomodori, Fagiolini, Patate E Tonno, a small salad consisting of tomato, string bean, potato, and Italian-style tuna. While the albacore was served without a dressing other than that covering the entire salad, it was moist and not flaky, as is often the case when served in this fashion. The meal was similar to a Nicoise. Lastly, one cousin's Vitello Tonnato was an elegant plate of sliced veal in a creamy tuna sauce. She enjoyed the unique dish, but mentioned that my salmon was her favorite of the bunch. I did love my plate, but honestly found each meal equally pleasing. Cacio e Pepe offered a casual atmosphere and terrific fare, all at an extremely reasonable price. However, be aware that they only accept payment in the form of cash or American Express - a challenge that sent us all scrambling though our wallets and on a mad search for a nearby ATM.

Locals to the area my friend and I had dinner here last Saturday and was greeted by a rude hostess. Although pretty with red hair and an Italian acent she took no interest in our preference to sit in the garden even after we called ahead and we were told this will not be a problem. She clearly did not appreciate our business, did not care, and was very patronizing. We did have a table in front and the meal and our waitress was good however their greeter can use a good lesson in customer relations.If not the resturant will lose their all important local customer base.

Server was very friendly as was everyone in the restaurant. They notice we were a bit cramped and pushed over a second table. Wine, appetizers, main, and dessert were perfect. I had the bucatini which was a dream. The white cannoli was my favorite dessert. And the meatballs my favorite appetizer.

My sister recommended this restaurant. A fantastic suggestion. There’s a bar but the bartender didn’t know how to make a lemon drop martini. She researched and made one of the best lemon drops I’ve had! The food that followed was just as excellent. We had the Caesar salad, arugula salad with pears and the fennel salad with oranges and olives. All fresh and really tasty. We then had the Tonnarelli cacio e Pepe. It’s homemade tonnarelli noodles tossed in a pecorino cheese wheel and finishe dwith black pepper. Soooo good! We had a few desserts. The ricotta cheesecake and the coconut choked soup with pineapple sorbet and rum gelatin. A wonderful end to an amazing meal.

Friends in the know recommended this place and we were delighted with the food. My husband ordered the house specialty, pasta stirred in a wheel of Parmesan cheese until the melted cheese coats the pasta -- beyond yum! I ordered pappardelle, a broad noodle that's not always offered in Italian restaurants. Served with a pork-based sauce, it was delicious, with freshly made pasta. Others in our party ordered meats that also were terrific. Our service was excellent and the wine we chose was also perfect. We paid about $130 for dinner for four, with appetizers for two. We'd go back in a flash.

A friend and I went to Cacio e Pepe for dinner a few weeks ago. The cacio e pepe was so good, as were our apps and the pesto pasta. The service was very good. Prices are not surprising for New York, and the food quality was worth it.

We found this restaurant online, after looking for somewhere close to our son's apt in the East Village. Wow! Absolutely fabulous. While on the smaller side (make a reservation! They're on Open Table), we were seated right away by friendly staff. The menu has a lot of variety (Italian, obviously) with such things as Boar Ragu. But 3 of our party of 4 went for the namesake dish, cacio e pepe. It was delicious! They made it tableside, swirling the pasta into the wheel of pecorino. The portion was perfect, the taste superb. We arrived at 7, and by 8:30 or so, the restaurant was full (on a Wednesday). I will definitely go back.

Excellent Italian food, The selection of recipes and dishes are unique. Everything is very taste , from the first dishes to the main courses and the deserts. The only improvement I would make is the olive oil (which I have asked in the beginning as an extra, being used to it to dip in the bread since I am leaving in Europe), I would prefer an more reach olive oil. However this does not affect the great experience we had

My first knowledge of Cacio e Pepe was on the famous “Insider” travel website that follows trending restaurant dishes across the U.S. The idea of a traditional Italian dish of spaghetti being freshly coated in a wheel of pecorino cheese right in front of your eyes made my stomach grumble just watching it. I knew I had to visit as soon as possible. I expected this to be a popular touristy restaurant in the city but upon my arrival on a Saturday night in December I noticed the complete opposite. Yes, the restaurant was at maximum capacity when I arrived with my two friends so I was glad I made a reservation in advance. However, the restaurant is rather small and intimate. Considering its location downtown on 2nd Ave. its nowhere near the hustle and bustle of scattered Manhattan tourism. In this way, I thought it was a refreshing change but if you’re looking for a chaotic dining experience your better off going to somewhere like a Planet Hollywood in Times Square. It was clear that Cacio e Pepe’s fame was not dependent on the Insider’s recognition. A part from our group of social media obsessed foodies, the patrons at Cacio e Pepe were primarily an older crowd that probably had no idea what Insider even was. The atmosphere of Cacio e Pepe can definitely be described as more of a local Italian eatery for NYC residents. At least that’s the vibe I had on the night I visited from an outside Jersey girl perspective. Since the restaurant is small, the tables do feel a bit crowded together so if your personal dining space is important to you, there won’t be much room to stretch out at Cacio e Pepe. The bar is hidden off to the back left corner of the restaurant. They did not have a formal cocktail menu but if you ask for a drink like cosmo they will be happy to mix one up for you. If it’s wine you are looking for they have an average sized menu selection to choose from. For our appetizers, we decided to order three different dishes: the eggplant stack, meatballs, and tuna tartare that we all split between the three of us for the table. For our entrees, we all ordered various pasta dishes. I was the only one to order the famed “Cacio e Pepe” dish that sent us there in the first place. My friends were discouraged by the size of the portion that we saw at our neighboring tables so that is why they chose different dishes. I was unbothered by the rather small size of the portion so I went ahead ordering it and knowing what to expect. However, even with the appetizers we still left hungry at the end of our meal. Please be advised they keep their portions at Cacio e Pepe to meet the standard of how you would be served in Italy. If your expecting mounds of food like how various American restaurant chains like to serve their patrons, Cacio e Pepe is not the place for you. We decided to skip out on dessert and go to the nearby Chikalicious where their churro ice cream cones looked a lot more appetizing than the basic Italian treats Cacio e Pepe was offering. A big disclaimer about the restaurant is that they only take cash or American Express credit cards. Any other card will require a withdrawal from their internal ATM. We did not know this at the time so it was kind of aggravating how strict their payment methods were. It was a nice experience to have, but for what we paid with the serving sizes we received seemed to be a little overrated. I’m glad I went to try Cacio e Pepe but I would definitely put visiting them again on the back burner for a while so I could try other restaurants in its place.

Good people watching on 2nd Ave in the heart of the East village. Amazing happy hour deal Sunday thru Thursday with 1/2 off any bottle of wine under $60.00 with mucho selection from an interesting, mostly italian list. Warm & welcoming. The signature dish, Cacio e pepe is served tableside in a huge wheel of pecorino cheese but was quite salty, so next time I would order something different but I'll definately return.

Went here in our first night Wanted to try their famous pasta cacio e Pepe Portions were small and pasta was good but not great like the reviews Service was not very attentive we had to ask for water refills 4 times I would recommend it but would it go back myself

Of course we had to try the Cacio e Pepe served from the wheel of pecorino. The server was quite proud and did a good job presenting to us. The dish was very tasty. Eggplant parmesan appetizer good. The risotto with black trumpet mushrooms, watermelon and saffron very good, nice combination of tastes. Wine reasonably priced. Service good. Lots of large parties when we were there so it does get loud but we were seated near the front so it wasn't so bad.

We ate at Cacio e Pepe for my girlfriend's birthday and the food was as good as all of the photos show. Get the Cacio e Pepe and you will not be disappointed!

I came back to this place after few years and the experience was terrible. When I stepped in to the place the guy at the door (that later introduced himself as the Sicilian owner) recognized my last name being Italian and, after calling me "mozzarella" (???), he asked us to follow him to the table. The place was so noisy that was impossible to talk and it was necessary to scream to order. The carbonara my American friend ordered was presented to him with no eggs at all and full of water. The "guanciale" that was supposed to be in the carbonara was bacon in big chunks and when we asked to our waitress where the eggs were she (Romanian) told us the eggs where inside the pasta (the pasta they used were normal paccheri, dry pasta, no eggs involved). When I reply that kind of pasta is not made with eggs, she said she didn't know much about the carbonara and asked the Sicilian guy to step into the conversation. Rude and probably with very little knowledge about cooking, the guy came to our table with a terrible attitude. He insisted the eggs were there (no yellow color anywhere in the plate...just plenty of water and chunks of bacon) and he was angry at us. When I tried to explained to him I am born and raise in Rome and I know what a carbonara look like, he became even more angry. Then he came back to our table to show us, in a little pan not bigger that one inch, the eggs (kind of yellow creamy sauce) they use to prepare the carbonara. At no time, he offered us to prepare a new good carbonara or not to charge us for the dish that my American friend ended up returning to the kitchen almost untouched. I will never come back again to this place. This is the typical restaurant where "Italian managers/owners" believe that American guests will eat anything they will be offered and where the perpetuation of Italian embarrassing stereotypes are intent to be attractive to an unprepared audience who will eat anything that looks like Italian. Very bad experience!

Celebrated my sister's 50th with 15 women in the garden. The staff could not have been more accommodating.The service and food was flawless. Of course the highlight was the spaghetti being tossed at the table in the giant wheel of cheese!

Great food, 1 block from the Orpheum Theater. Great Service. Seats set up near window & they also have a nice back patio.

Good, but not THE BEST. Staff was nice. Good neighborhood restaurant. Salad was fantastic! Pasta was good, but there’s a lot of competition and I’ve had more impressive pasta in plenty of places in NYC. I think if in the area and you want convenience, it will be good enough!!

Great meal with my friends. We tried the lasagna and the Cacio e Pepe in the cheese wheel. It is a small restaurant so be sure to have a reservation to avoid the wait. Also come with cash because they don't accept visa or MasterCard

Not even sure where to begin! We were craving an Italian dinner during our visit to NYC. I saw on an Instagram post a few weeks before visiting NYC a picture of Cacio E Pepe (the pasta dish). So I started looking up restaurants in NYC that served Cacio E Pepe. After some quick research, I found Cacio E Pepe (the restaurant). They served the Cacio E Pepe dish! We didn’t need reservations, it was a Monday night (although it was crowded). We were able to sit down right away. We started with a bottle of wine and ordered two pasta dishes. I ordered the Cacio E Pepe and my wife order a Risotto dish that had Salmon Roe, Grapes, and Truffles in it. My wife was a little hesitant b/c of the salmon roe, but decided to order it anyway. Both pasta dishes were awesome! The Cacio E Pepe was unbelievable! It was prepared right at our table. As for my wife’s dish, it was even more amazing! She described it as “probably the best pasta dish she’s ever had.” I had a few bites of her risotto and it was unreal. So glad we found this place. Would HIGHLY recommend if you’re visiting NYC and want some great pasta!

Utterly lovely. Classic cacio e pepe dish will not disappoint nor will anything else. The hospitality of the staff is as if you are in Italy. Ambiance is adorable as well. Cash and Amex only!

I've been here twice, and this place has become a favorite of ours in the East Village. The restaurant is cozy but not too tight. Service is very good. The food is excellent. The next sentence may either be praise or criticism depending upon your tastes (I think it's praise!): The entrees explode with taste. I mean, this place will really get your taste buds going. The signature dish, Tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe, is served out of round of cheese and is almost overwhelmingly peppery (but I love it.) The Ricotta Ravioli with Meatballs in a Sunday Sauce is also very tasty. My wife didn't love the Homemade Fettuccine with Pumpkin Puree, which she found too sweet, but again, the dish was full of flavor (just not one that agreed with my wife). If you love big, bold flavors, Cacio e Pepe may be for you. My wife and I love exploring the menu, and it's a nice place for a date night or to bring out of town guests. Note: It serves only wine.

We came at this restaurant for the good valorations on TripAdvisor but the experience wasn't good. We waited for our order almost one hour a half and when we complained after an hour of this situation, the waitress only blame that the food isn't fast food but the others clients had their food. The food was fine but just that, fine, nothing special. We won't recommend this restaurant to anyone.

This was such a good dinner I'd love to be back again. The incredibly simple but delicious pasta made in the cheese wheel was just to die for - and the event of watching it made at the table made it even more fun. The salads and other pastas were great, but this was the best. It's a tiny place, so good idea to make reservations!

We sat outside in the lovely back garden-perfect for a summer evening. The appetizers - a watermelon and arugala salad and the carpaccio were delicious. We had the signature cacio e pepe pasta which is beautifully presented in a wheel of cheese and the lemon fettucine. Both were excellent but I would agree with a previous poster who stated that the dishes are bold in flavor. The fetttucine had lots of grated lemon peel giving it a strong lemon flavor which was not a bad thing and the cacio e pepe pasta has a strong presence of freshly ground pepper - again not a complaint at all. Just an observation for those who prefer more subtle flavor. This was a great find and the perfect ending to wonderful day spent in the city. FYI: they only accept cash and Amex.

Came to dinner with my daughter who was visiting New York for a business trip, and it happened to be her birthday. The food was delicious, and we split the signature a pasta dish and couldn’t have been more pleased. Good service, definitely a neighborhood gem.

Really delicious place downtown. We had the ricotta, mozzarella, and mixed green salads for appetizers. The cheeses were fresh and the ricotta was amazing. We had the salmon and gnocci for main dishes. Both were outstanding. Service was timely and price was reasonable.

First I have to say I have spent a lot of time in Rome and Umbria for decades and am very picky when it comes to pasta. That said, this place is the real deal. Fantastic porchetta arugula appetizer and eggplant appetizer, but the pasta was the show stopper. Their Cacio E Pepe is tossed in a pecorino round of cheese - and is perfect. So was the amatriciana. The super Toscano wine was fantastic. I cannot believe more people haven’t discovered this treasure- it’s fantastic.

I have been wanting to try this place for TWO YEARS ever since I saw them featured on Food Network and on several food blogs. I will start out by saying that they were very accommodating and nice to me even though I was a single person seated at a table for two. The bread and dip was INCREDIBLE. The server never offered me another glass of wine, I’m not really sure why. Anyway, I ordered the cacio e Pepe because that was what I came there for. I had this in Italy and it was honestly not as good. There were too many peppercorns and the pasta was cold. I think I would go back, but try one of the other recommended dishes.

Excellent service and good food. My branzino came too salty and the kitchen took it right back no questions asked. Replaced with homemade pasta with clams which was absolutely delicious! Good wine list and over all good experience. Price is reasonable. Worth the money. Will go back.