It seems like with Tik Tok and food blogs, there is nothing new to discover in the New York City food scene. That is why I get super excited when I try something absolutely amazing that nobody else seems to know about.
Raffetto’s Pasta Shop is certainly no secret. This fourth generation Italian shop in Greenwich Village is one of the city’s true gems which is both a gateway to the past and a legit food shop paving the way for the city’s culinary future.
I can’t imagine Marcello Raffetto, who immigrated from Genoa, could ever have imagined his great granddaughter would be making game-changing ice cream incorporating some of the most iconic ingredients in his shop. But that is what is happening here.
Come to Raffetto’s for their homemade pastas and sauces, but also be sure to look all the way down in the freezer to discover little pints of unique ice cream flavors like Zucchini Cake and Genoa-Toasted Chocolate hiding among the ravioli.
Sarah Raffetto (who recently did a stint on a Food Network reality show) got bit by the ice cream bug during the pandemic and is now making ice cream as innovative and exciting as any in the city.
On one of my recent food tours, I had to get a taste of the Strawberry Pesto and decided to share it with the others on the tour. They must have thought I was hilarious when I was gushing about the brilliance of this ice cream. But they certainly understood.
On its own as a strawberry ice cream, this is rich and fresh and constantly tastes like strawberries. It doesn’t get lost in the sugar and cream. It also has another unexpected level. Along with chunks of the fruit, you’ll also encounter salty, savory ribbons of pesto sauce (yes, pesto sauce). You’ll get hits of umami (from parmesan) and some sweet herbaceous notes (from the basil). It is an unexpected twist that marries beautifully with the strawberries.
Sarah (and her family) clearly know what they are doing. While it may not be surprising Sarah is also hosting successful reservation-only pop-up dinners at the shop, but who would have ever guessed that some of the city’s best ice cream is hiding in one of the city’s oldest Italian pasta shops. Price: $6
Is Raffetto’s the best ice cream in NY? As surprising as it is, this flavor was one of the best ice creams I have tried in a long, long time. I’ll follow back up with more flavors, but for now, it truly sits at 10 out of 10.
| RAFFETTO’S |
| 144 West Houston Street (between Sullivan and MacDougal Street), Greenwich Village (212) 777-1261 |
| raffettospasta.com |
