All About the West Village Italian Restaurant Frequented by Taylor Swift and Her Famous Friends

In November 2014, chef-owners Jody Williams and Rita Sodi came together from Buvette and I Sodi, respectively, to open Via Carota. The refined, yet understated Italian restaurant in the West Village, has since received critical acclaim from publications like The New Yorker, The New York Times and Eater. 

Nearly a decade later, the restaurant still houses some of the most sought after tables in New York City, frequented by celebrities like Gwenyth Paltrow, Andy Cohen, Jennifer Lawrence, Adam Rippon, Antoni Porowski, Emily Ratajkowski and Eric Andre, to name a few. 

Taylor Swift has also been spotted at the restaurant on several occasions: going there after her breakup with Joe Alwyn and most recently being spotted with Sophie Turner. This outing came on the heels of Joe Jonas filing for divorce from Turner.

While the restaurant has famously been flooded with celebrities, getting a table is possible with a little bit of patience. 

Some tables are saved for reservations, but a vast majority of the seats in Via Carota are walk-in only, with lines stretching down the block at peak hours. After putting your name down, the wait could be just a half hour, or as many as three, so try to show up early.

Patrons can stop into Williams’ original restaurant, Buvette, or head up the street to Keith McNally’s Morandi for a drink before dinner, but be advised not to spoil your appetite.

The rustic interior of Via Carota is inspired by Sodi’s 17th-century country house located in the hills of Florence. The walls are clad in stone while the floors, tables and chairs are made from wood. A makeshift waiter station sits atop an antique dresser housing glassware and plates in the center of the tiny space. The restaurant almost feels as though you’ve walked into a friend’s kitchen. 

Via Carota is known for its simple, but flavor-packed interpretation of seasonal vegetables, with the “Verdure” section taking up most of the menu. Dish names are listed in Italian with simple explanations in English as to what guests may find on the plate. 

With classics like burrata, meatballs, four kinds of pasta, risotto and prosciutto and melon, the restaurant will have dishes that please everyone, while still leaving room for creativity. The portions at the eatery are large enough to share, so make sure to order a little bit of everything for the table.  

For patrons who want to get a taste of Via Carota, but can’t find a way into the buzzy eatery, there are still a few ways. 

First, the restaurant offers delivery or pickup through its website.

For a DIY approach, Sodi and Williams wrote a cookbook, with the help of Anna Kovel, named after the restaurant featuring different recipes seen on the menu throughout the seasons. Via Carota also has a line of craft cocktails for a ready to drink experience at home available on their website.

If you’re set on visiting in person — just not when the restaurant is busiest — go during lunch for a more low stakes meal.