I Sodi

The story

I Sodi NYC – Tuscan Italian on Bleecker Street, New York City

I Sodi

On the corner of Bleecker and Grove Streets in the West Village, I Sodi has been a steady presence since 2008. This is the domain of Chef Rita Sodi, a self-taught cook whose approach to Italian cuisine is rooted in the small family farm where she grew up, just north of Florence. There, almost everything the family ate came from the land – prosciutto, salami, vegetables, olive oil – and the preparation and enjoyment of meals was a sacred ritual. That history forms the guiding ethos of I Sodi: the preservation of tradition, time-honored methods, and the integrity of ingredients matter above all.

The cooking is marked by an understated elegance that has earned the restaurant widespread acclaim. Chef Sodi won the 2019 James Beard Award for Best Chef, NYC, and the restaurant is recognized in the Michelin Guide. The menu draws directly from Tuscan tradition, offering a calm, confident version of Italian cuisine that lets the quality of each component speak.

The dining room, bar, and a flagstone garden off Grove Street all welcome guests for dinner every night and for Saturday and Sunday lunch. Walk-ins are always welcome. I Sodi is part of a small constellation of beloved restaurants in the neighborhood, including Via Carota, The Commerce Inn, Buvette, and Bar Pisellino, all run by Sodi and her wife and partner, Jody Williams. But I Sodi remains its own thing: a ristorante Toscano that feels both timeless and entirely of its moment.