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    Maialino, Restaurant in New York City
    Restaurant300Points
    Opinionated About Dining 2023

    Maialino

    Italian · Midtown South-Flatiron-Union Square, New York City

    Restaurant in New York City, United States

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    The Read

    Roman Neighbourhood Trattoria

    Dress

    Smart Casual

    Why go

    Maialino is a practical New York City Italian booking for diners who want a comfortable meal rather than a high-spend destination night. It is stronger for conversation, familiar Italian cooking, and easy group consensus than for a drinks-led evening or formal splurge.

    About Maialino

    Maialino is an Italian restaurant in New York City associated with chef/owner Nick Anderer. Consider it when you want an Italian meal in New York City and prefer a smart-casual setting rather than a highly formal dress-code expectation.

    Maialino was ranked #162 in Opinionated About Dining's 2023 Gourmet Casual Dining in North America list. That is a useful trust signal, but it should not be stretched into assumptions about pricing, service format, menu structure, seat count, or the ideal time to visit; confirm those details directly before booking.

    Book it for Italian cooking and a smart-casual setting

    Maialino is best described as an Italian restaurant in New York City with a smart-casual dress code. If you are planning a broader evening, use a New York City bars guide for a separate stop, and evaluate Maialino on the restaurant basics rather than on assumptions about a bar program or menu format.

    Chef Nick Anderer gives the restaurant a clear named culinary lead, and the 2023 Opinionated About Dining Gourmet Casual Dining ranking at #162 in North America adds a documented recognition point. Diners should confirm current practical details directly before making plans.

    Where it fits among New York City options

    New York City has many dining options, so Maialino can be compared with other named choices depending on what you are trying to plan. Ai Fiori, Café Carmellini, Borgo, Ulivo, and Norma Gastronomia Siciliana are natural names to cross-shop if you are choosing among restaurant options.

    For broader planning, use a full New York City restaurants guide rather than forcing Maialino into every itinerary. The decision point is simple: choose Maialino when the combination of Italian cuisine, Nick Anderer's involvement, smart-casual dress, and OAD recognition matches what you want from a New York City restaurant.

    The takeThe restaurant performs differently by service: lunch draws a professional crowd—notes the city’s media and finance community—while evenings skew toward neighborhood regulars and hotel guests who seek a dependable table. That split produces a room that feels institutional and steady rather than trend-seeking; it’s a reliable option when you want well-executed Roman cooking in a composed setting. If you value consistency and a calmer, residential dining environment, Maialino fits that brief across midday and dinner services.
    Venue detailsLocal Sourcing
    Know before you goBefore you book
    Recognition and awards1 source
    Also considerAlternatives

    Planning details

    Location
    Manhattan, New York, United States
    Restaurant contextNew York City, United States
    Explore New York CityNearby
    Around this placeMore Pearl picks
    The take

    The Take

    The Vibe

    Maialino reads like a settled neighborhood institution rather than a buzzy destination. Tucked inside the Gramercy Park Hotel and operating for more than a decade, the room leans quieter and more residential than downtown Italian counterparts. The menu channels the Roman trattoria tradition—offal, cured pork and focused pasta formats—delivered with a precision that underscores the restaurant's seriousness. Longevity and consistency are central to its character: this is a place that favors steady craftsmanship over opening-week spectacle, so the overall tone feels polished, measured and quietly confident.

    Best For

    The restaurant performs differently by service: lunch draws a professional crowd—notes the city’s media and finance community—while evenings skew toward neighborhood regulars and hotel guests who seek a dependable table. That split produces a room that feels institutional and steady rather than trend-seeking; it’s a reliable option when you want well-executed Roman cooking in a composed setting. If you value consistency and a calmer, residential dining environment, Maialino fits that brief across midday and dinner services.

    Ordering Tips

    Anchor an order in the Roman classics the kitchen emphasizes. The menu rewards precise execution of simple formats—Tonnarelli cacio e pepe and spaghetti carbonara are natural touchstones—and the restaurant’s namesake roast (Maialino al Forno) reflects the cured-pork traditions the piece highlights. The write-up also notes an appetite for offal and aged sheep’s cheese in the Roman repertoire, so look for preparations that foreground cured pork and sheep’s cheese to get a representative sense of the kitchen.

    Venue details

    Ambiance

    Warm, inviting rustic atmosphere with dimmed romantic lighting at night, candlelit tables, and a lively buzz.

    Tags

    Vibe

    RusticCozyElegant

    Best For

    Date NightSpecial OccasionBrunch

    Experience

    Hotel RestaurantHistoric Building

    Sourcing

    Local Sourcing

    At the Table

    Dress Code
    Smart Casual
    Noise Level
    Lively
    Service Style
    Upscale Casual
    Meal Pacing
    Leisurely
    Capacity
    Medium

    Signature Dishes

    • Maialino al Forno
    • Tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe
    • Spaghetti Carbonara
    Know before you go

    Know Before You Go

    Getting there
    Manhattan, New York, United States
    Planning details

    Location

    Manhattan, New York, United States · Directions

    Recognition and awards
    Also consider

    Where to book if this is not the fit

    Book Ai Fiori instead if the night needs a more formal Italian splurge. Book Norma Gastronomia Siciliana if the group wants Italian at a lower price tier.

    Restaurant context

    How Maialino compares with nearby Italian choices

    Maialino is the middle-lane Italian pick: more recognition than a casual neighborhood fallback, but less obviously splurge-coded than Ai Fiori. Choose Ai Fiori when the occasion justifies a $$$$ Italian dinner; choose Maialino when the priority is comfort, conversation, and a lower-pressure reservation.

    Café Carmellini and Borgo are better cross-shops for diners who care about the room and the feeling of a newer New York booking. Maialino is the safer call for a table that wants familiar Italian rather than a scene-driven meal.

    For value, Norma Gastronomia Siciliana at $$ is the more budget-conscious alternative, while Ulivo at $$$ sits closer to Maialino's likely decision set for an Italian dinner that does not need to become a major spend.

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    Compare Maialino
    Maialino and similar venues
    VenueLocationCuisineAwardsPrice
    MaialinoNew York CityItalian
    2023 OAD Gourmet Casual Dining in North America Ranked · #162
    		,
    Café CarmelliniNew York CityItalian
    Star Wine Lists 20262026 Forbes Recommended2026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Recommended2026 Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence2025 World's 50 North America's Best Restaurants · #392025 James Beard Award Semifinalists2025 Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence2025 Michelin Plate2025 OAD Top Restaurants in North America
    		,
    BorgoNew York CityItalian
    2026 New York Times Best Restaurants in New York City · #62026 Eater NY 38 Best Restaurants in New York City · #14Star Wine Lists 20262026 James Beard Award Nominees2026 James Beard Award Semifinalists2026 James Beard Award Winners2025 New York Magazine The 43 Best Restaurants in New YorkWine Enthusiast Best Wine Restaurants 20252025 New York Times Best Restaurants in New York City
    		,
    UlivoNew York CityItalian
    2025 Michelin Plate
    		$$$
    Norma Gastronomia SicilianaNew York CityItalian
    Star Wine Lists 20262025 Michelin Bib Gourmand2024 Michelin Bib Gourmand
    		$$
    Ai FioriNew York CityItalian
    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
    		$$$$

    How Maialino compares with similar nearby venues.

    FAQ

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is Maialino good for solo dining?

    For solo dining, ask about the current seating setup, including counter or bar seating, when booking. Maialino is an Italian restaurant in New York City with chef/owner Nick Anderer and a 2023 OAD Gourmet Casual Dining ranking of #162 in North America.

    What should I wear to Maialino?

    Maialino's dress code is smart casual. Aim for neat, polished city-casual clothing rather than formalwear.

    Can Maialino accommodate groups?

    If you are planning for a group, confirm current availability, seating details, private dining options, and any party-size limits directly before booking.

    What are alternatives to Maialino?

    Other names to compare include Café Carmellini, Borgo, Norma Gastronomia Siciliana, Ulivo, and Ai Fiori. Use them as comparison points when deciding which restaurant best fits your plans.

    Is Maialino good for a special occasion?

    Maialino may be worth considering for an occasion if you want Italian cuisine in New York City and a smart-casual dress code. The OAD Gourmet Casual Dining ranking from 2023 is a useful recognition point, but specific occasion fit depends on current service details that should be confirmed before booking.

    What should a first-timer know about Maialino?

    First-timers should know the basics: Maialino is an Italian restaurant in New York City, chef/owner Nick Anderer is associated with it, the dress code is smart casual, and it was ranked #162 in Opinionated About Dining's 2023 Gourmet Casual Dining list for North America.

    How far ahead should I book Maialino?