Cacio E Pepe
“This is definitely a hidden gym – I only discovered it via NY Mag when I was looking for an Italian place that took reservations in the EV.”
“In fact their signature pasta – Tonnarelli – is served in a wheel of pecorino cheese and topped off with cracked whole pepper.”
“The pasta itself could have been a bit more al dente but it was really nicely homemade.”
Cacio E Pepe
Takes Reservations: Yes
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Happy Hour: Yes
Outdoor Seating: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
PokéStop Nearby: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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So this is what you do:
-You walk in
-Order the Tonnarelli cacio e pepe
-Stuff your face
You are welcome!
Sure, the restaurant is a cute little place in the East Village, the staff is friendly Blah Blah Blah.
The reality is: They bring a MEGA WHEEL OF CHEESE to your table to toss the pasta! What else can I say?
Don't waste your time, just order that dish. Seriously!
I don't know what else to tell you.
As the very name implies, Cacio E Pepe specializes in the classic Italian pasta dish that is just an emulsion of grated cheese and black pepper in olive oil and salt.
First off let me say that this restaurant really exudes a rustic Italian atmosphere, from the wood floors to the walls and even the tables. Its not New York Italian, it really feels like Italia.
I of course ordered their famed Cacio E Pepe. They have a very special and unique gimmick they do only here………..they actually spin the hot, finished pasta INSIDE a wheel of real pecorino cheese. That definitely enhances the already naturally cheesy, creamy sauce. I really have to say, after having the cacio e pepe at Cacio E Pepe (I know, I know I'm being super repetitive) I really can't have this dish at any other restaurant. Not unless they too also serve this pasta dish in the exact same way!!
We came here after hearing rave reviews of their Cacio E Pepe dish and after 3 other restaurants we tried going to be failed because of their long waits.
This restaurant is quite charming upon entering, it had a very warm, homey and welcoming feel. Of course we had to get at least one order of the Cacio E Pepe (even though we were tempted to order multiples!). We also got an order of the fettuccine with red beet puree and gorgonzola fondue. Admittedly, I was looking forward to gobbling up the cacio e pepe more, but the tides turned after tasting both dishes.
– cacio e pepe: it wasn't a bad dish, but it seemed pretty average. The gimmick of serving your cacio e pepe from a fresh wheel of cheese is great, but the taste didn't continue to deliver from its strong start. The flavor seemed to be a bit flat and one-toned for me.
– fettuccine with red beet puree and gorgonzola fondue: It was a much more tasty and interesting dish. I like the contrast of the sweet beet sauce on the pasta with the salty gorgonzola that surrounds the mound of pasta.
I wanted to like this place more.
First things first, cash and Amex only. As some reviews state, they don't tell you this until you receive the bill! I want to love this place, I mean hello they toss your pasta in a huge parm wheel! Food is pretty solid, service is not what I would expect from a restaurant that does this well in the city. We had reservations for 9pm, showed up at 846pm. I don't mind waiting but I do mind when walk-ins and those checking in after us are seated before us. Three other parties were seated before us, for no apparent good reason. When we received our food, staff were all friendly, but one dish was severely undercooked. I'm talking about slightly crunchy noodles, so chewy that you looked like a cow chewing cud. When we asked the waiter, he argued with us saying that that was how they cooked their pasta. He even took a knife and cut a piece, saying it was al dente. I think I know what al dente is, and even if I didn't, why are you arguing with a customer? We weren't rude, didn't even ask to take it back, didn't ask to take it off the bill (they didn't btw), just wanted to let him know. After that incident I basically lost my appetite, and the waiter turned from sweet to sour in 2 seconds, talk about a reverse sour patch kid. On a good note, the pork belly was a hit- very tender and flavorful. The house dish cacio e Pepe was tasty, super peppery, but not worth the insulting service we received. To be honest, I was disappointed and it was my mom's birthday, so that was even worse!
Yummilicious factor = B
Cacio e Pepe was all around GREAT!
Went last week with my aunt and cousin & we all had a wonderful time for dinner. The waiter was very nice and kept an eye on us throughout the meal. All 3 of us had the signature dish – Cacio e Pepe and it was obviously amazing. The fact that a wheel of cheese is brought to your table side is cool. Throw in the fact that they also toss pasta & peppercorns in it makes it a dish to remember! It was delicious. For what it's worth, the peppercorns are whole which some people may find slightly overbearing.
I will definitely go back with people visiting but anyone who lives here quolls love the experience!
I love this place. Eaten here quite a few times and it's always consistently good. The Tonnarelli is twirled in a pecorino cheese rind table side. The rest of the menu changes seasonally. Really can't go wrong with anything here. Wine selection is always consistently good as well.
During warmer months, they have a nice patio in the back as well as outdoor seating in the front.
Food: faves are the Tonnarelli, the beet Fettucine (when they have it in season), Tuna salad, and the Baccala.
I'm a little bit bummed that the mediocre overall rating has, under yesterday, kept me from enjoying the pasta here, which is topped with peppercorns and tossed in a ***massive wheel of cheese***.
I had been craving cacio e pepe since first tasting the dish at Upland several months ago, so when a friend and I decided to give this place a try, we both ordered the eponymous dish. As others have mentioned, and as I have already mentioned in this review, the spaghetti (specifically, tonnarelli) and peppercorns are tossed into a somewhat hollowed-out pecorino cheese wheel, tossed around, and placed on your plate. You are asked if you would like extra cheese. You say yes. Extra cheese is scooped up and heaped onto your pasta. In heaven, you dine.
With this pasta, I would highly recommend a glass of Montepulciano D'abruzzo, as the peppery notes nicely complement the pepperiness of the dish.
We also ordered the arugula salad with pear and pecorino cheese, which came drizzled with some sort of balsamic glaze. It was a lovely appetizer, crisp and fresh, but naturally took a backseat to the primi.
I loved the multiple seating options, including sidewalk seating (we sat here, as it was a warm summer night), an inside option, and a backyard patio (I could be wrong, but this seems to be a bit of a rarity in the East Village). The bathrooms are gendered and there is only one for females, so I had to wait a bit to use it, but it was clean.
It's silly that Cacio e Pepe is cash or Amex only, but I don't feel that it warrants a downgrading of more than half a star. So, 4.5 stars rounded up.
I would just like to thank Instagram for pointing me towards this restaurant – someone I follow posted a video of them tossing the cacio e pepe in the wheel of cheese and I knew instantly I had to try this place.
I showed the video to my 6yo and she said WHEN ARE WE GOING?!
So we planned a visit to NYC and three of us ordered CEP, while one ordered the gnocchi.
I will say this – I am not the kind of person that goes out for Italian food; it just typically does not impress me, and pasta isn't my first choice for dinner, but I would come back to this place in half a heartbeat. The CEP was, as everyone before me has said, amazing. I mean I just wanted them to keep filling my bowl with fresh cheesy creamy pasta. I would have taken seconds or thirds. The gnocchi was also amazing! My 6yo thoroughly enjoyed an entire bowl of CEP on her own, then asked to try the gnocchi – and asked for more. Look if a picky 6yo is salivating over your food, you're doing something right!
I loved the ambiance of this place, and of our adorable server(s) who had gorgeous Italian accents and were so sweet and personable. Someone else mentioned this and I feel it's worth mentioning again – they only accept cash & AMEX. The credit card machine was down the night we were there, and thankfully we had the cash on us to pay. But you know, know before you go!
We will definitely be back next time we're in town.