Dove si puo' mangiare bene a New York - la cucina Italiana! (Where you can eat well in NYC - Italian cooking!)

Today in NY Magazine's Grub Street blog, I came across the following tidbit:

Pastas are usually not expensive, they're filling, and it's comforting to eat them in times of distress. Use this roundup of the city's notable dishes to find lasagna, gnocchi, gnudi, and whatever other kind tickles your tongue. [Metromix]

I thought I would take a moment to share my OWN favorite pasta houses, as not only do I ave excellent taste in all things carby, but I live on an extreme budget. Therefore, I would never waste your time shilling mediocre food for max-i-ocre money.

1) LITTLE FRANKIE'S
Little Frankie's is big, and not too crowded on weekdays - especially at lunch. Not only are their brick oven pizzas quite good (not awesome - not thin enough) but they serve a MEAN spaghetti al limone. The pasta is always cooked perfectly al dente, and the buttery lemony goodness will immediately put you into a food coma. A friend once described the dish to me as "it tastes like a lemon bar, but not." If you have never had it, try a home version. After you cook your spaghetti, squeeze in the juice of a lemon, swirl in a pat of butter and top with cheese. You may never dream about Mac-n-cheese again.
19 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003-9431, Phone: (212) 420-4900

2) MANDUCATI'S
This Long Island City standby serves the best damn fettuccine Bolognese I have ever eaten on this side of the ocean. I don't know what Mama Cerbone does to it, but she elevates the rich, meaty sauce to high-art. The combo of meat fat, homemade noodles and an excellent wine from the extensive list will leave you in a food coma as well. Happy sleep.
1327 Jackson Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101-5402, Phone: (718) 729-4602

3) MANETTA'S
Rumor has it that the guy who runs this place is a jerk, but I don't care. Manetta's serves up homemade gnocchi topped with chunks of mozzarella and tomato-basil sauce that Mama simmered all day in the back room. The gnocchi are soft and delicate without being mushy, and a laid back, yet respectfully formal, atmosphere is worth another trip to Queens. When picking dessert, eschew the imported ones for whatever is in a Pyrex dish. The Pyrex dish let's you know it's homemade. Tiramisu is the best I have had in NYC. Seriously! Seriously? Seriously. Add a limoncello nightcap and a seat by the roaring fire, and your food coma may last into the next afternoon.
10-76 Jackson Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101, Phone: (718) 786-6171

BTW the Queens spots are only 5 mins from Grand Central, and 1/2 hour from the East Village!
Take a trek!