Cacio e Pepe Downtown

4.0

1486 Reviews

$31 to $50

Contemporary Italian

Make a reservation

2 people

Mar 15, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 13 times today

About this restaurant

Neighborhood gem
Good for special occasions
Charming

Consistently excellent, this East Village gem is known for innovation and excellence in Roman cuisine. While Chef Salvatore Corea creates a seasonal menu, partners Alessandro Peluso and Giusto Priola note that Cacio e Pepe remains faithful to its signature namesake dish: home-made pasta brought to your table and spun in a wheel of pecorino cheese, then dusted with a flourish of pepper. Voted a ‘Critic’s Pick’ by New York Magazine, Cacio e Pepe is celebrated by reviewers as a classic Italian restaurant with a sense of style: A 50-seat garden is set behind the main dining room, there is al-fresco dining out front, and waiters with superior wine knowledge help you select the perfect beverage accompaniment to your meal. The mystery remains whether it is the garden, the cuisine, or the service which lifts Cacio e Pepe above and beyond its peers on the NYC restaurant scene. The answer, however, may best be expressed in French: It has that je ne se qua.

Additional information

Location
182 2nd Avenue, New York, NY 10003
Phone number
(212) 505-5931
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Contemporary Italian
Hours of operation
Lunch Sat, Sun 12:00 pm–4:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu 5:00 pm–11:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–12:00 am Sun 5:00 pm–10:30 pm
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Street Parking
Payment options
AMEX
Executive chef
Salvatore Corea

Popular dishes

Tagliere di Salumi e Formaggi
Selection of cured meats and cheese. Prosciutto, Soppressata, Finocchiona, Capocollo, Mortadella, 'Nduja, Parmigiano, Pecorino Tartufato, Pecorino Ubriaco, Taleggio, Provolone, Pecorino Primosale
- 3 For$30.00
- 6 For$50.00
Timballo di Melanzane alla Parmigiana$15.00
Eggplant parmesan timballo
Polpettine di Carne al Sugo di Pomodoro e Basilico$16.00
Meatballs in tomato & basil sauce
Burrata, Prosciutto, Tartare di Pomodori e Gelatina di Peperoncino$23.00
Burrata, prosciutto, tomato tartar, spicy pepper gelatin
Zuppa Fredda di Fave Alla Menta con Ricotta di Pecora e Polvere di Liquirizia$18.00
Chilled fava bean soup with mint, sheep's milk ricotta & licorice powder
Seppioline con Piselli$18.00
Cuttlefish with greenpeas
Caprese di Pesce: Bufala, Salmone Affumicato, Lamponi$23.00
Fish caprese: buffalo mozzarella, smoked salmon, raspberries
Porchetta, Fichi con Rucola e Grana$18.00
Roasted sliced suckling pig with figs, arugula & provolone cheese
Insalata di Cesare$13.00
Salvatore's Caesar Salad
Insalata di Rucola, Pere e Pecorino$13.00
Arugula salad with pears and pecorino cheese
Insalata Mista con Fragole, Caprino e Mandorle Tostate$13.00
Mixed greens with strawberries, goat cheese & toasted almonds

Primi - First Courses

Tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe$23.00
Homemade tonnarelli tossed in pecorino cheese & whole black peppercorns
Bucatini All'Amatriciana$24.00
Rigatoni with tomato, guanciale & pecorino
Lasagna alla Bolognese$24.00
Bolognese lasagna
Gnocchetti al Telefono$22.00
Homemade gnocchi with tomato & mozzarella
Fettuccine al Limone$22.00
Lemon fettuccine
Paccheri alla Carbonara$25.00
Jumbo rigatoni in carbonara sauce
Strozzapetri con Gamberi e Pesto di Fave$25.00
Strozzapreti with shrimp & fava bean pesto
Orecchiette con 'Nduja, Crema di Cavolfiori e Fave di Cacao Grattigiate$25.00
Orecchiette with 'nduja, cauliflower puree' & grated caco nibs
Tortellini con Crema di Parmigiano$25.00
Tortellini with a parmesan fondue

Secondi - Entrées

Filetto di Salmone In Crosta di Patate con Zucchine alla Scapece e Salsa di Peperoni$30.00
Potato-crusted salmon filet with scapece-style zucchini & bell pepper sauce
Baccala' alla Romana$32.00
Roman-style baccala'
Straccetti di Manzo al Profumo di Origano con Rucola, Pomodorini e Patate Arrostite$30.00
Beef slices with oregano, arugula & cherry tomatoes with roasted potatoes
Saltimbocca di Vitello alla Romana con Patate e Spinaci$34.00
Veal saltimbocca with roasted potatoes & spinach
Rollatina di Pollo con Prosciutto e Fontina, In Insalata di Fagiolini, Patate e Pomodori$30.00
Bread-crusted chicken roll with ham and fontina cheese with string beans, potato & tomato salad

What 1,486 people are saying

Cacio e Pepe Downtown reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.0

4 based on recent ratings

4Food
4Service
3.9Ambience
4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

New York City
Contemporary Italian

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Cacio e Pepe Downtown offers a delightful dining experience with "amazing food" and "great service." The highlights include their signature Cacio e Pepe pasta, served in a cheese wheel, and a charming backyard patio. Friendly staff and a cozy atmosphere make it "a favorite" for locals and visitors alike.

1,486 Reviews

J
João Otávio
New York City1 review
3.0
Dined on February 23, 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
I had a reservation and had to wait up to 30 minutes.
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J
Judy
Greater Boston1 review
5.0
Dined on February 16, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent experience- food was amazing and so was the service. Highly recommend for Cacio e Pepe - table side in a large cheese wheel.
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Y
Yael
New York City1 review
5.0
Dined on February 15, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Staff was very kind and the food was delicious ! I would come back for sure
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J
Jose
New York City2 reviews
1.0
Dined on February 15, 2025
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 1
The food was undercooked, service was mediocre at best and we were seated in a really cold area. Do not recommend at all.
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P
Paul
Greater Boston1 review
5.0
Dined on February 14, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Incredible food, it lived up to all expectations!
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p
philip
New York City2 reviews
5.0
Dined on January 19, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Unique menu, excellent service, definitely going back !!
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S
Sage
New York City2 reviews
4.0
Dined on January 13, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 3
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
Food was okay, pasta was too al dente for my taste. I had the quail pasta which was nice but the serving size of all of our meals was quite small. Service was decent and the ambiance was nice.
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A
Andres
Chicago1 review
1.0
Dined on January 1, 2025
1. Overall 1
2. Food 2
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 1
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, their 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 aggressively 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.
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B
Brittany
Washington DC2 reviews
5.0
Dined on December 27, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent service and the food was divine! I highly recommend this restaurant.
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E
Emily
Washington DC6 reviews
4.0
Dined on December 21, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Meatball app was tasty! Cheese wheel was entertaining and delicious. Would definitely visit again.
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FAQs

Cacio e Pepe Downtown is rated 4 stars by 1486 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Mar 15, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 13 times today

182 2nd Avenue, New York, NY 10003

Additional information

Phone number
(212) 505-5931
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Contemporary Italian
Hours of operation
Lunch Sat, Sun 12:00 pm–4:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu 5:00 pm–11:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–12:00 am Sun 5:00 pm–10:30 pm
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Street Parking
Payment options
AMEX
Executive chef
Salvatore Corea

Cacio e Pepe Downtown

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Additional information

Tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe

Tiramisu'

Fettuccine al Limone

Appetizers

Tagliere di Salumi e Formaggi

Timballo di Melanzane alla Parmigiana$15.00

Polpettine di Carne al Sugo di Pomodoro e Basilico$16.00

Burrata, Prosciutto, Tartare di Pomodori e Gelatina di Peperoncino$23.00

Zuppa Fredda di Fave Alla Menta con Ricotta di Pecora e Polvere di Liquirizia$18.00

Seppioline con Piselli$18.00

Caprese di Pesce: Bufala, Salmone Affumicato, Lamponi$23.00

Porchetta, Fichi con Rucola e Grana$18.00

Insalata di Cesare$13.00

Insalata di Rucola, Pere e Pecorino$13.00

Insalata Mista con Fragole, Caprino e Mandorle Tostate$13.00

Primi - First Courses

Tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe$23.00

Bucatini All'Amatriciana$24.00

Lasagna alla Bolognese$24.00

Gnocchetti al Telefono$22.00

Fettuccine al Limone$22.00

Paccheri alla Carbonara$25.00

Strozzapetri con Gamberi e Pesto di Fave$25.00

Orecchiette con 'Nduja, Crema di Cavolfiori e Fave di Cacao Grattigiate$25.00

Tortellini con Crema di Parmigiano$25.00

Secondi - Entrées

Filetto di Salmone In Crosta di Patate con Zucchine alla Scapece e Salsa di Peperoni$30.00

Baccala' alla Romana$32.00

Straccetti di Manzo al Profumo di Origano con Rucola, Pomodorini e Patate Arrostite$30.00

Saltimbocca di Vitello alla Romana con Patate e Spinaci$34.00

Rollatina di Pollo con Prosciutto e Fontina, In Insalata di Fagiolini, Patate e Pomodori$30.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is Cacio e Pepe Downtown restaurant rated?

Is Cacio e Pepe Downtown currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information