The Upper West Side is filled with plenty of old-school hang outs that locals flock to. But V & T holds a special place in my heart because I ignored it for awhile. The prices seemed too good to be true and I asked myself, “Can the pizza or pasta really be that good for that price?” It turns out this classic red sauce joint still has what it takes to make me happy. Now I know why it’s been open since 1945!

With cheap carafes of wine and stick-to-your ribs cuisine, V & T has been attracting neighborhood residents and Columbia students for decades. Although it can’t touch classic pizzeria’s like Patsy’s, it hits the spot when you get a pizza craving. I usually order my pizza here “well-done” just to make sure they get that extra crispy flavor and look that I love. When it comes to the rest of the menu, I like to stick to the Italian-American favorites like eggplant parmigiana or chicken Marsala. They also have a good lobster ravioli if you’re feeling a little decadent. 

And don’t forget to grab a mint on the way out. They have a dish of the ones that I always loved as a kid but you can’t find anymore.