Profile

Everything about Pepe Verde—PepeRosso's West Village cousin—cultivates a homey intimacy: The proximity of the eleven, tiny two-person tables; the self-serve water pitcher for thirsty customers; and the way strangers must navigate around one another to view two large blackboards filled with daily specials. In the irregularly shaped, green-and-white striped interior, in-house orders are placed at the counter—the same place where tips are shoved into a jar. Behind it is an incredibly small open kitchen that shrinks to one pointed corner. In these cramped quarters, a cooking staff in kitchen whites whips up bowls of hearty traditional Italian fare like spaghetti with pesto, rigatoni Bolognese and penne arrabbiata. Panini made on homemade focaccia and salads enriched by organic greens flesh out the menu. The establishment prides itself on never serving skim milk or decaf coffee, so this is truly a place to indulge. — Drew Pisarra

Daily, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., $8.45

Note
During warm weather, the front wall's floor-to-ceiling casement windows are opened to provide a sidewalk dining experience.

Pear, arugula and gorgonzola salad, $6.95; fusilli puttanesca, $8.95; gnocchi bolognese, $10.95