Located in the charismatic James Hotel, Scarpetta holds court as one of Manhattan’s most reliable Italian restaurants, shouldering plenty of acclaim despite consistent competition from the likes of Torissi and the great Emilio’s Ballato.

The restaurant opened in 2008 in the Meatpacking District to instant acclaim, glowing from a three-star review in The New York Times and enjoying a strong global following ever since. Scarpetta has gone on to open a few locations across the US, including in the legendary Fontainebleau Miami (although it’s now closed).