
La Devozione: The Oval
Italian · Chelsea-Hudson Yards, New York City
Restaurant in New York City, United States
The Read
Counter-Format Pasta Tasting
Price
$$$$
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
La Devozione: The Oval is a $$$$ Italian choice in Chelsea with a 2025 Michelin Plate and a hard-reservation profile. Book it for a planned celebration or pasta-led tasting-style meal; choose Don Angie, Massara, Ulivo, or Novitá if the group wants more flexibility or a lower spend.
About La Devozione: The Oval
La Devozione: The Oval is an Italian restaurant in New York City with a $$$$ price level, making it better suited to a planned meal than an improvised low-spend dinner. The basics are direct: Italian cuisine, smart casual dress, daily hours from 12–9 PM, Michelin Plate recognition in 2025. If you are comparing other New York City dining options, cross-shop Don Angie, Massara, Ulivo, or Novitá first.
The 2025 Michelin Plate gives the restaurant a public recognition point, but the most useful decision factors are still the basics: Italian cuisine, $$$$ pricing, daily 12–9 PM hours, a smart casual dress code. Expect this to be a more deliberate choice than a bargain play. At this price tier, the value case depends on whether the table wants to make the restaurant itself the focus of the plan. For a special meal where the restaurant is the occasion, La Devozione: The Oval makes more sense than a more casual dining choice. For a quick, flexible dinner, it may be more commitment than needed.
Choose it for a planned Italian meal, not for casual Italian flexibility
The strongest fit is an occasion where everyone is aligned on Italian food and comfortable with a $$$$ restaurant. This is not the safest choice for a table that wants to keep spending low or make a last-minute, casual choice. It is a better match for diners who want a more deliberate New York City Italian meal.
That also means the risk is direct. A $$$$ Italian meal has to justify itself through the experience, not just comfort. If the group wants to compare other New York City options, Don Angie is a natural comparison. Ai Fiori is also worth cross-shopping. La Devozione: The Oval should be considered when the table specifically wants Italian in New York City and is comfortable with the spend.
The right occasion is a planned celebration in New York City
La Devozione: The Oval works well when the meal anchors the plan rather than filling a gap between other activities. The daily 12–9 PM schedule gives diners a wide window to plan around, but the $$$$ price point still makes the restaurant feel more appropriate for a deliberate occasion than a casual default.
The price point also narrows the audience: this is not where to send a mixed group unless everyone is comfortable with a splurge. For a special occasion, that selectiveness can be a benefit. For a larger or more casual group, it can become friction fast.
The practical verdict is simple: choose La Devozione: The Oval when the occasion calls for an Italian meal in New York City and the group is comfortable with $$$$ pricing and smart casual dress. Skip it when the group wants maximum choice, lower spend, or a more spontaneous night. For more dining options in the city, use a broader New York City restaurants guide; for a wider trip plan around the meal, New York City hotels, bars, experiences guides may be more useful than overbuilding the dinner itself.
Planning details
- Location
- 428 W 16th St, New York, NY 10011
- Reservations
- Book on Resy
- Website
- ladevozionenyc.com
- Phone
- (646) 720-0215
The take
The Take
The Vibe
La Devozione: The Oval feels grounded in lineage rather than personality. The narrative foregrounds Pastificio Di Martino’s century‑plus craft, and that historical weight gives the small Chelsea Market counter a deliberate, archival character. Service revolves around a tight 30‑seat counter where pasta shapes and regional sauce traditions take center stage, so the room reads less like a stage for a star chef and more like a focused laboratory of technique. The overall impression is quietly authoritative and classic: restrained, detail‑driven pasta work delivered in an intimate downtown pocket of Chelsea Market.
Best For
This is a destination for diners who come specifically for pasta: people curious about regional shapes, production history, and tightly crafted preparations. The counter format suits solo diners and pairs who want a focused tasting experience, and it’s a natural fit for special meals where the conversation centers on technique and tradition. Because seating is arranged around a single long counter, it’s best avoided by large parties; instead, treat The Oval as a place to sample a few signature pastas and appreciate the Di Martino lineage in an intimate Chelsea Market setting.
Ordering Tips
Center your ordering on the pasta offerings and the house signatures — the menu highlights dishes like La Devozione, Linguettine al Negroni di Rosso di Mazzara and Candele Spezzate con Ragu Napoletano. Given the counter tasting model, prioritize a couple of different shapes or sauces to experience the contrast in texture and technique. Ask the staff about the relationship between a shape and its recommended sauce so you maximize the pastificio’s craft. Keep in mind seating is at the counter, so plan for a close, conversational dining setup rather than a large, private table.
Venue details
Ambiance
Engaging open kitchen atmosphere with elegant presentation and artistic plating in a compact 30-seat counter setting.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Leisurely
- Capacity
- Intimate
Signature Dishes
- La Devozione
- Linguettine al Negroni di Rosso di Mazzara
- Candele Spezzate con Ragu Napoletano
Planning details
Location
Recognition and awards
Restaurant context
How it compares with New York City Italian peers
La Devozione: The Oval is the higher-commitment pick in this set: $$$$, Chelsea, Italian, harder to approach casually. Ai Fiori is the closest price-tier comparison at $$$$, but it is the better fit for diners who want a more conventional polished Italian fine-dining frame. Choose La Devozione: The Oval when the appeal is a more focused pasta-led experience; choose Ai Fiori when the group wants a safer formal-business or hotel-adjacent dinner feel.
Don Angie, Massara, Ulivo, Novitá all sit at $$$, which makes them easier value arguments for diners who want Italian without the same splurge threshold. Don Angie is the stronger choice for a livelier downtown Italian night, while Massara is the better cross-shop if the group wants serious Italian cooking with less price pressure.
For ambiance and occasion use, La Devozione: The Oval is the pick when the meal itself needs to feel planned. For value, start with Massara, Ulivo, or Novitá. For a hard-to-get Italian reservation with a broader crowd-pleaser profile, Don Angie may be the more useful target.
Explore New York City
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full La Devozione: The Oval guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare La Devozione: The Oval
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Awards | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Devozione: The Oval | New York City | Italian | 2025 Michelin Plate | $$$$ |
| Don Angie | New York City | Italian | 2026 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #182025 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #172025 James Beard Award Semifinalists2025 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence2025 OpenTable Top 100 Restaurants2025 Michelin Plate2024 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #92024 Michelin Plate2023 OAD Gourmet Casual Dining in North America Recommended | $$$ |
| Ai Fiori | New York City | Italian | Star Wine Lists 2026 · #12026 Forbes 4-Star2026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Recommended2026 Wine Spectator Grand Award2025 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #2352025 Wine Spectator Grand Award2025 Forbes 4-Star2025 Michelin Plate2024 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #250 | $$$$ |
| Massara | New York City | Italian | Star Wine Lists 2026 · #12025 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #2292025 Michelin Plate | $$$ |
| Ulivo | New York City | Italian | 2025 Michelin Plate | $$$ |
| Novitá | New York City | Italian | 2025 Michelin Plate2024 Michelin Plate | $$$ |
How La Devozione: The Oval New York City compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What time should I go to La Devozione: The Oval?
La Devozione: The Oval is open daily from 12–9 PM. Choose the timing that best fits your plan; either way, this is a $$$$ Italian restaurant, so it makes the most sense when the meal is a deliberate part of the day.
What are alternatives to La Devozione: The Oval in New York City?
Don Angie, Ai Fiori, Massara, Novitá, and Ulivo are worth comparing if you are deciding among restaurants in New York City.
Can I eat at the bar at La Devozione: The Oval?
Bar seating is not a detail here. Plan around a standard restaurant visit first, ask the restaurant directly if bar seating is important to your visit.
Is La Devozione: The Oval good for a special occasion?
Yes, it can be a strong special-occasion pick if the group wants Italian food in New York City and is comfortable spending at the $$$$ level. The Michelin Plate (2025) recognition adds a useful quality signal, the smart casual dress code fits a more polished plan.
Is the tasting menu worth it at La Devozione: The Oval?
A tasting menu is not a detail here. If a set menu or specific format matters to your group, confirm directly with the restaurant before booking.
How far ahead should I book La Devozione: The Oval?
Because it is a $$$$ Italian restaurant with Michelin Plate (2025) recognition, it is sensible to plan ahead rather than rely on a last-minute table.
What should I wear to La Devozione: The Oval?
The dress code is smart casual. Aim for polished, dinner-appropriate clothing rather than overly relaxed weekend wear.

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