Take Out Thursday: 5 Awesome Italian Meals You Can Order Right Now in NYC

Take Out Thursday is a new weekly spotlight brought to you by the Leisurely Editorial Team. We’re bringing you 5 unique restaurant meals we think you should order tonight to help support the hospitality industry, because they really need it if you haven’t noticed. This week, we’re kicking things off by highlighting regional Italian meals and the restaurants that are offering them via online delivery, take out, or curbside pick up. We’re not including Carbone as tempting as it may be because it’s clearly not safe to get take out from there right now with the pasta mob hovering at their doorstep.

Wild boar pappardelle (bottom left) is our personal pick me up Photo: Rezdora/Facebook

Rezdôra

Though you can’t get the whole pasta tasting menu experience delivered to your doorstep, you can get a delicious taste of Chef Stefano Stecchi’s popular Flatiron restaurant, which we suggest pairing with Massimo Bottura’s Kitchen Quarantine on Instagram (Stecchi trained at Bottura’s famed Osteria Francescana). While everyone else may tell you to try the pasta known as “Grandma Walking Through The Forest,” we never turn our back on a hearty pappardelle, especially when wild boar and porcini mushrooms are involved. Order it on Caviar here.

The Spicy Spring Pie from Prince St. Pizza Credit: Prince St. Pizza/Facebook

Prince Street Pizza

There’s pizza. And then there’s Prince Street Pizza. With so many pizzerias in New York, the one that always has a line pretty much tells you how good this place is day in and day out. So head over to Caviar and order their Spicy Spring Pie

Rao’s

Just like the door policy at this beloved uptown Italian institution, if you want to finally try Rao’s via take out, you’re going to have be patient and play the game. They don’t have a take out menu posted but it looks like meatballs, pasta, and lemon chicken are what’s available. Get on Instagram and DM Mel_Marc if you want to be added to the wait list, but be ready to pay CASH ONLY. Even in a pandemic, the mysterious methods of Rao’s makes us appreciate old school New York so much more.

Rosa’s Pizza

Too much pizza in this round up? NO SUCH THING. Get the upside down pie, grandma pie, and garlic knots from this beloved family owned Queens institution, which is offering curbside pick up or take out. The Williamsburg location also offers delivery. Order directly from the Rosa’s Pizza web site here.

Hank’s Juicy Beef

Italian-style beef may be a Chicago staple, but it’s hard to find a decent one in NYC. Hank’s is definitely the best, and it’s available via delivery on Caviar.