Ordered: Glass of Pinot Grigio (~$9): Corte Delle Rose, 2022; Veneto, Italy Pomodoro e Basilico (~$18 for 3 pieces): grilled peasant bread, topped with tomato, basil, red onions & extra virgin olive oil Pizza Margherita (~$21): with imported Italian buffalo mozzarella Lasagna Bolognese (~$22): homemade pasta layered with tomato meat sauce, bechamel & parmigiano cheese Vegeteranio Lasagna Flight (~$26): Quattro Formaggi, Funghi, Pesto, Arrabbiata Tiramisu (~$8) Aya's take: I heard this is one of Taylor Swift's favorite restaurants and although that's not why we came, it checks out. The inside dining area is quite dark but the backyard patio has a romantic vibe and a lot more seating. The Pomodoro e Basilico was fresh and light and the Pizza Margherita was good but slightly undercooked. I think the Italian buffalo mozzarella is a bit too "wet" of a cheese for a pizza but it definitely made it a lot creamier which I liked. Both the Lasagna Bolognese and the Vegeteranio Lasagna Flight are a must. We were licking the plates clean. It tastes like a homemade meal and I love the idea of a flight allowing us to try 4 different types for the price tag of 1. The Tiramisu was incredibly soft, moist, and not too sweet. It was comparable to what I had in Italy. All in all, great dining spot.

A good place to get a flight of lasagna. We also got a pizza with prosciutto which was okay. They have an extensive list of drinks. Their cocktails are on the sweeter side but strong. We sat in the back area so the tables were a bit small but overall a charming restaurant.

I visited La Lanterna after a night out with friends in NYC. This is a mid-sized restaurant right on McDougal Street offering Italian cuisine. The most unique thing is its outdoor backyard patio that is enclosed with a clear roof. If you get the chance, try to snag a table there instead of the indoor seating. They have a wide selection of foods, drinks, and desserts. We only came to grab some desserts so I cannot speak on the dinner menu, though I would come back to try it some time. We ordered the Tiramisu, Strawberry Cheesecake, Chocolate Cake Martini, and Creamy Chocolate Martini. They is nothing to say besides that they were all worth ordering because they left us leaving happy and satisfied. This was the perfect way to end the night and I am glad we did so! 5/5 Stars

Really awesome hidden gem! I recommend their back enclosed garden patio! They offer many delicious Italian cuisines as well as an awesome lasagna flight special where you can sample 4 different types of lasagnas and there was a few options for flights! The service was excellent and the space is gorgeous! Plus they have outlets by every table in the back where you are able to charge your phone which is a huge bonus !

Back in the early 2000s, I used to eat here somewhat regularly. It was always an 'easy' place to just pop in...the menu is expansive... I always liked the back patio ...and the fact that, if we wanted, we could easily pop into the jazz bar right next door, after our meal. Cut to 2024, when I'd probably not eaten here in almost 10 years or so. This time I decided to get their lasagna bolognese, something I'd never gotten here. And honestly, I wasn't expecting it to be anything special. After all, it's not like this place is 'high end' or anything, and they offer such a large menu, that how could 'everything' possibly be that good? Well. Can I just say...the lasagna bolognese was SUBLIME....possibly the best I've ever had. Anywhere. The dish was so 'light'....the meat, tender...the sauce, tasty...and it even had a beautifully browned cheese top. I would definitely order this dish again. The fact that this place has been in its current location, and for this long, and to serve such good food...that's a real testament to whomever owns/runs the place.

Seriously excellent service. My party of five had a 6:30 pm reservation on a Thursday, and despite arriving an hour (!) late due to circumstances outside our control, the restaurant was happy and willing to seat us. The outdoor seating structures on the street side are a little tight for a party of four, but we made it work. I tried the mare e monti lasagna flight and definitely recommend it - my favorites were the cacio e pepe and the ortolana. The flight options aren't able to be mixed and matched, fyi. Wine is very reasonable here, with options under $10.

Vibe: 8/10 (we weren't in the garden but that would get bonus points!) Service: 10/10 Value: 8.5/10 Bruschetta: 7/10 Carne lasagna flight: 8.5/10 Veggie lasagna flight: 8.5/10 Tiramisu: 7.5/19 Bread pudding: 6/10 Overall: 8/10 (4/5) [To clarify our review system: 10 = we'll never have anything else as good as this in our lives (we use 10 very sparingly!) 9 = extraordinary 8 = great 7 = above average 6 = average Anything below 6 is being critical]

Come for the space, there's a lovely enclosed patio in the back! Stay for the pizza and the drinks, both of which were surprisingly good. Be warned, however, that the menu is a novella. So many options, it's approaching overwhelming. If you like Neapolitan-style pizza, you'll definitely enjoy La Lanterna's. It was the right chewiness, and the toppings and sauce were tasty. I also had one of the many available adult beverages, opting for a hard coffee. It was excellent. The cheese and pate plate was good -- the bread it came with was well seasoned and had a nice crisp. But the presentation definitely leaves something to be desired, it definitely looked like an elementary school science fair project on the plate. Overall, good food, not too pricey, and a nice patio. Solid option!

Hidden gem in NYC! Everything we ordered was really good and I will definitely be coming back. We ordered the Pomodoro e Basilico Bruschette to start - it was so fresh and so flavorful! I could've easily ordered another serving but figured I should save room for the meal. We also ordered the Lasagna flight and the Pizza con Salsiccia (specifically hot sausage). In general, I'm not a big lasagna person but this dish came with 4 samplers of 4 different lasagnas and each one was delicious. It's perfect to share between two people (or three, if you each just want a taste). The pizza was so good! So fresh and the sausage just gave an additional kick to pizza that already had a really good tomato sauce and mozz cheese base. Pizza crust was not too thick and leaned more on the thinner side. Hazelnut gelato to top off the meal and my sweets craving was definitely satisfied. Overall, huge menu full of food and dessert options. Service was fast and attentive + a great date night restaurant for those who like a "moody" setting.