East Village – the home of many bottomless brunch spots, pizza joints, and young adults trying to find the next best deal in town. With the neighborhood up in full swing at all hours of the night, you have to have some spots that don’t just satisfy the brunch lovers. So where should you go when you’re itching for a fun, cheap, tasty place for a dinner with friends? Look no further than San Marzano on 2nd Avenue and 7th St.

For large groups of 6 or more you can make a reservation, which I highly recommend you doing since larger parties are harder to accommodate during prime restaurant hours (usually 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.). For smaller parties, seating is on a first-come-first-served basis and the wait is generally 30-40 minutes, but it goes by faster than you think. My go-to for snagging a reservation during prime hours is putting my name in (I live in the neighborhood) and head back home and open up a bottle of wine until notified. But be careful because if you opt in for the 2 hour bottomless wine selection – you’ll want to pace yourself before you get started (and this is something I would recommend because I do believe it is the best and cheapest deal ni the neighborhood).

In terms of the menu, there is something for everyone – whether you are lactose intolerant, vegetarian, or don’t like pasta, this Italian joint is accommodating to all. My favorites on the menu are broken down below, as I generally tend to stick to the same order every time I come. Noting that, when I do eat at San Marzano, I am usually with 2+ people meaning that everyone can share a little bit of everything!

Favorites in order of menu –

Appetizers: Burrata and brussels sprouts are my favorite things to order for the table, 

recommend getting both of these or if you only want to pick one – the burrata is super creamy and fresh and paired with bread.

Salads: The baby arugula salad is super fresh and tasty – I am a big fan of beets so if that is not your forte then I would stray away from this one.

Fresh Pasta: San Marzano does their pasta menu a bit differently and, in my opinion, more fun. Instead of having certain pastas to choose from, they allow you to create your own with different types of noodles, sauces, toppings, all the inner workings of a pasta created by you.

There is also a selection of paninis if pasta isn’t your favorite and those are pretty tasty as well!  Regardless, this joint is interactive, delicious and most importantly CHEAP. With prices ranging from $7-$9 for food, you can leave here satisfied and not feel like you ruined your budget for the month – now that is something to toast to!