Our ‘Best of NYC’ list is growing and every month we’ll highlight the top spots you need to check out. This month we explored the most comforting food group; pasta.

There's something inherently soothing about a steaming plate of pasta, and when it comes to comfort food, few dishes can rival the appeal of Italian creations. From rich and creamy vodka sauce to flavorful spicy rigatoni, pasta has a singular ability to wrap us in a comforting, carb-filled cocoon of flavor and familiarity. 

With cold weather creeping up in New York City, we rounded up the coziest, most delicious pasta dishes that you can enjoy this season. The best part? With each of these restaurants being part of Bilt Dining, you’ll earn bonus Bilt Points when you pay with any Mastercard®, Visa®, or American Express® linked to your Bilt Wallet.

Agnolotti from Cucina Alba, Chelsea

Cucina Alba, located off the High Line in Chelsea has a gorgeous aesthetic and unique and delicious pasta offerings. 

We sampled a few pasta dishes but the absolute standout was the Agnolotti. The pasta is stuffed with creamy ricotta and caramelized onions and smothered in black truffle fonduta (a creamy sauce). The combination of flavors from the caramelized onions and truffle sauce will be unlike anything you’ve tried before. 

The Lasagne Verdi comes highly recommended and for good reason. It consists of layers of spinach lasagna, creamy bechamel, and slow-roasted eggplant. You would never be able to tell it was meatless. 

Another hit was the Burrata Orichette, which is an off-menu dish for two. Coming in at a whopping $70, the burrata cheese is cut open tableside and tossed into the pasta with a warm red sauce. It’s an impressive dish if you’re looking to make a splash on a date.

Spicy Rigatoni from Carbone, West Village 

Yes, the Spicy Rigatoni from Carbone lives up to the hype. Smooth and creamy with the perfect amount of heat, this comforting pasta dish will make you want to book your next reservation before your plate has been cleared. 

What’s known as the “Trifecta” order, in addition to the rigatoni you must also try the Tortellini al Ragu and complement the carbs with Mario’s Meatballs. The tortellini are stuffed with a cheesy filling and piled on top of a rich ragu sauce. The meatballs are tender and flavorful, marrying this whole meal together beautifully. 

While it’s not easy to get a reservation at Carbone if you set an alert a couple of weeks in advance and are flexible with dates you can typically snag a table. I’ve always had luck going for lunch which is just as special as dinner.

Linguini and Vodka from Cafe Buon Gusto, Upper East Side, and Hoboken

Caffe Buon Gusto is not your average pasta spot. Here you can create your own pasta dish from a selection of 11 signature sauces and diverse pasta shapes to create your ultimate comfort pasta dish. 

Sauce choices include Pomodoro, Carbonara, Pesto, Vodka, and Bolognese. As for pasta shapes, you can expect to find fresh Fettuccine, Gnocchi, and Ravioli. We went for the fresh angel hair and vodka sauce, which comes topped with crumbles of fresh mozzarella. It’s smooth and creamy with a touch of sweetness.

There are two locations, the Upper East Side and Hoboken, NJ. The Hoboken location is BYOB, which is always a win. 

Sheep's Milk Ricotta Filled Occhi from Misi, Brooklyn

At Misi, a pasta restaurant in Brooklyn, there are only three sections to order from on the menu, fresh vegetables, pasta, and gelato. And so making the decision to indulge in pasta is quite easy. 

The menu offers 10 pasta dishes, which you can watch being made in the open-air kitchen in the restaurant. The star dishes are the Sheep's Milk Ricotta Filled Occhi, Fettuccine with Black Pepper and Parm (their take on Cacio e Pepe) and the Bucatini with ‘Nduja (which has the perfect amount of heat). 

The portions are generous but not overwhelming, and the pasta somehow feels light, but with bold flavors. This means you can and should order a few to share so you can sample as many dishes as possible. 

Cacio e Pepe from Lupa Osteria, SoHo

Best described as a sophisticated adult macaroni and cheese, the Cacio e Pepe from Lupa is one of the most comforting pasta dishes. So good that it’s one of the dishes we think is worth traveling to NYC for. 

Fresh linguine is tossed in a combination of pecorino romano imported from Italy and fresh cracked pepper. The combo creates a smooth and creamy sauce that coats the linguine perfectly. For the ultimate comfort meal, Lupa also offers a four-course Roman Pasta Tasting, which includes the Cacio e Pepe.

Bottom Line

With so many incredible restaurants in NYC, we wanted to make sure you’re the first to know about the creme de la creme, which is why we created our ‘Best Of’ category. We add new ones monthly, so check back next month to see which are our new favorites. 

And when dining at a Bilt Dining restaurant, you’ll earn bonus Bilt Points when you pay with any Mastercard®, Visa®, or American Express® linked to your Bilt Wallet.