When it comes to Italian restaurants in New York City, there’s no shortage of opinions. Everyone has their all time favorites, their hot takes, their neighborhood gems. The number one is a highly controversial position. But Rezdôra is a rare example of a restaurant with an undisputed reputation: everyone agrees it’s incredibly good, one of the best in the city. The Michelin-starred love letter to the cuisine of Emilia-Romagna, Rezdôra is true to its name (a Modenese word for grandmother) with cozy handmade pasta elevated to the highest level of culinary finesse under the chef Stefano Secchi.

The restaurant is a warm, intimate space. A humble storefront on 20th street, ground level and extending all the way into a cozy elevated mezzanine in the very back. The simple rustic wood furnishings feel homey, informal in the best way. And then there’s the food. The pasta forward menu is full of hits. Handmade pasta that feel simultaneously complex and simple, soulful comfort food at its best. Enough to make you momentarily forget whether you’re still in New York.