I Sodi

The heart and soul of this Tuscan restaurant is Rita Sodi, a Florentine who left her career as a Calvin Klein executive to pour her energy into nourishing people at the table–or the bar, a convivial perch. West Village regulars converge in the evenings for a Negroni (seven variations of the bittersweet drink are offered), an assortment of impeccably-sourced antipasti and seasonal pastas like spinach and ricotta ravioli with cultured butter and sage. Secondi include whole baked branzino and grilled tagliata with arugula. Sodi also co-founded the nearby–and wonderful–Via Carota with her wife, Jody Williams.