Trattoria Ora

On our lists of the best romantic restaurants and cozy restaurants in New York.

Ray Besi and his wife Mimi, who's from Montenegro, run this Astoria Boulevard trattoria out of a renovated dining room with a white leather banquette, dark wood tables, and candlelight. The kitchen makes its pasta to order (bowtie Farfalle Dolcino with shrimp and asparagus, a Bolognese tagliatelle, a shrimp risotto) and finishes dinner with in-house tiramisu and apple strudel. Ray pours the wine himself, uncorking Chianti from Fratelli Nistri table-side and refilling glasses through the meal. There's a bar up front for a drink with friends before or after dinner.