MasavsBabbo
Both restaurants are highly recommended by travel writers. Overall, Babbo scores slightly better than Masa. Babbo is ranked #15 in New York City with praise from 18 publications such as Lonely Planet, New York Magazine and Travel + Leisure.
Masa
Concierge
Travel + Leisure
Zagat
DK Eyewitness
Gayot
New York Times
Time Out
New York Magazine
Forbes Travel Guide
Village Voice Show All Reviews
10 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10019
From $0/night
Concierge "The tasting menu costs $400 before you take a sip of sake, but for fans, that's simply the price of perfection: Masa has been known to jet over to Japan to choose his impeccable fish."
Travel + Leisure "Patience grasshopper, there are some restaurants where experience trumps food." Full review
Zagat4.5
"Chef Masayoshi Takayama’s “transcendent” skills yield “superlative sushi” worthy of a “last meal” at this “tranquil” Time Warner Center Japanese." Full review
DK Eyewitness "Chef Masayoshi Takayama, of the famed LA Ginza Sushi-ko, has moved to New York to break the record of most expensive meal ever."
Gayot18.0
"If money is no object, you must go to Masa." Full review
New York Times "The food at the restaurant is exceptional, offering tastes and preparations that can be unforgettable." Full review
Time Out "Takayama prepares each perfect bite-size gift, then places it in front of you on a round slate; you almost eat out of his hands, and the sushi seems to melt in your mouth." Full review
New York Magazine Critic's Pick
"Masa Takayama, the illustrious sushi god from L.A., came to New York with a uniquely Japanese, if slightly insane proposition: that a meal of the highest quality is worth almost any price." Full review
Forbes Travel Guide 5 Stars
"The chef is infatuated with high-end, luxury ingredients such as truffles... caviar... Ohmi beef and foie gras." Full review
Village Voice Best of NYC
"For a look at how the other half lives-the wealthy half, that is-check out this off-price offshoot of Masa." Full review
Babbo Concierge
Fodor's Travel + Leisure Zagat
BlackBook DK Eyewitness
Michelin Guide Gayot New York Magazine
Rough Guide Show All Reviews
110 Waverly Place, New York City, NY 10011
From $41/night
Concierge "It was one of the first restaurants in New York to offer such an inventive and sophisticated take on Italian cuisine—with a voluminous wine list to match."
Fodor's "It shouldn't take more than one bite of tender barbecue squab to understand why it's so hard to get a reservation at this casually elegant restaurant, whose menu strays widely from..." Full review
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But be forewarned: if anyone in your party is hard of hearing, or bothered by loud rock music, choose someplace more sedate.
Travel + Leisure "If you can though, it’s worth waiting for Batali’s Hudson Valley version of Italian classics including black spaghetti with rock shrimp." Full review
Zagat ""Year after year", the Batali-Bastianich team's Village "standard-bearer" for "elevated Italian" cooking "lives up to its rep" with a "daring and fulfilling" menu." Full review
BlackBook "Leave your gustatory inhibitions at the door and gorge on beef cheek ravioli and warm lamb's tongue, Tuscan doughnuts and saffron panna cotta for dessert, killer Italian wines."
DK Eyewitness "Chef Mario Batali’s flagship restaurant is housed in this beautiful Village duplex – paradise for high-quality pasta and offal lovers alike."
Michelin Guide Michelin Plate
"Trends may come and go, but judging from the crowds that haven't subsided since its 1998 opening, Babbo's still got it." Full review
Gayot16.0
"Mario Batali and Joseph Bastianich transformed the Old Coach House, a New York restaurant landmark from the '60s, into a modern Italian trattoria." Full review
New York Magazine Critic's Pick
"The most exciting Italian restaurant in town serves food you'll never find in Little Italy. A staff as smart as you want your kids to be helps." Full review
Rough Guide Star
"Originally a coach house, this Mario Batali establishment is deservedly touted as one of the best Italian restaurants in the city."
