Ciano has been serving up top-notch Italian cuisine, at once refined and simple, for about a year now, including some of the best homemade pastas in the city. Earlier this month, the restaurant announced that chef Shea Gallante would be offering a six-course tasting menu for pasta lovers; for $79, you can sample some of the restaurant's most popular pasta offerings as well as brand new creations. More

Otto recently introduced fresh pastas ($15) to their menu, an exciting change for a restaurant that previously only offered dried pasta dishes ($10). There's a Ravioli di Brasato and the Goat Cheese Agnolotti, pictured here. It's the latter I've found myself craving. More

Last week, Joe Campanale and Gabe Thompson launched a late night "Pasta-Fixe" at their popular West Village gem Dell' Anima. The deal: a plate of the restaurant's oft-discussed pasta and a glass of wine for $25. More

At Rubirosa, the Black and White Tagliatelle ($16) in itself deserves a visit. More

Of the many pastas on the menu at Osteria Morini, the Cappelletti ($18) are my favorite. More

I've long admired Chef Andrew Carmellini of Locanda Verde. His cookbook, Urban Italian, is a staple in my kitchen. So I was thrilled to attend a cooking class with Chef Carmellini at the New York Culinary Experience this weekend. Each of the recipes Chef Carmellini shared evoked the harvest season in Italy. More

[Photographs: Maggie Hoffman] Scarpetta 355 West 14th Street, New York NY 10014 (at 9th Avenue; map); 212-691-0555; website warning: music plays Cuisine: Italian Veggie Options: 8 appetizers, 8 entrées Cost: Appetizers $12-15, veg entrées $18-24 Finding a place to... More

Editor's note: In "Fast Food International," Krista Garcia will take us around New York to the many international fast food chains that have landed in the five boroughs. She blogs at goodiesfirst.com. Country of origin: Germany Locations worldwide: More than... More

Editor's note: In "Fast Food International," Krista Garcia will take us around New York to the many international fast food chains that have landed in the five boroughs. She blogs at goodiesfirst.com. Country of origin: France Locations worldwide: Over 50... More

[Photographs: Maggie Hoffman] Caffe Falai 265 Lafayette St (between Prince and Spring; map); (212) 274-8615; falainyc.com/caffe Cuisine: Italian Veggie Options: 3 salads, 3 antipasti, 4 primi, 1 secondo Cost: Around $30 per person before drinks The streets of Soho fill... More