Raffetto's

SoHo
144 W. Houston St.
between MacDougal/Sullivan Sts.

P: 212.777.1261

Since 1906 Raffetto's has been making tender and flavorful fresh pastas -- to many it's the best in New York. While you can buy their products in several of the city's better grocers, it's best to shop right where the pasta is made and where you can have them cut the pasta exactly as you like it.

What's great:

They make large sheets of pasta (egg, spinach, and a dozen or so other flavors) that they will cut exactly to your specifications and their stuffed pastas include a variety of ravioli and tortellini. They also make excellent cavatelli, a ricotta cheese pasta that's hard to find in regular grocers.  Everything freezes beautifully so if you have the freezer space, buy some extra.

What to know:

They're closed on Sundays and Mondays.  No credit cards, only cash, but they have a small ATM on the premises.  Pasta prices are on their website.

They also sell a nice selection of Italian grocery items and their canned tomatoes, including DOP San Marzanos, are very well priced.

Raffetto's supplies some of the city's better Italian restaurants but why go out for lobster ravioli when you can buy it here and eat at home?