4. Monte’s Trattoria (1918)

Monte’s Trattoria in Greenwich Village
Exterior view of Monte’s Trattoria in Greenwich Village.

In 1952, a dish of Lasagna only cost 65 cents at Monte’s Trattoria on MacDougal Street. Monte’s Trattoria has served Italian food in Greenwich Village since 1918. In 1912, 97 MacDougal Street was a liquor store. In 1918, though, the Media and Monteverde families joined forces to open Monte’s Trattoria. The name “Monte” means mountain in Italian and alludes to the Monteverde family, while “Trattoria” refers to a casual family-owned restaurant. In the 1950s, the Rosasco family acquired the restaurant. Now, the restaurant’s vibe has evolved into a “romantic” and “vintage” Northern Italian restaurant while still maintaining relatively affordable prices. In 1984, the Nothern-Italian Mosconi family acquired the restaurant and saw it to its centennial.

Today, Chef Pietro Mosconi oversees the kitchen. Monte’s Trattoria offers an assortment of handmade pasta and dry pasta, including Chef Pietro’s signature taglierini Paglia e Fieno with prosciutto, cream, and peas. Outside of the kitchen, Chef Pietro’s son, Pietro, worked as a waiter after his daytime finance job. He gave the restaurant many technological updates, which allowed the restaurant to begin hosting an annual Oscars party.