L'Artusi is one of my favorite spots in the west village. They serve handmade pastas with a touch of creativity and modernity. I wouldn't say this place serves authentic italian food, but its definitely good. I've tried a solid number of items on the menu and have yet to try anything bad. Most items are fairly good and simple, however their best dishes are definitely the pastas.
A few of my favorite dishes include the roasted mushrooms, garganelli, spaghetti, orecchiette (honestly all of the pastas are solid), roasted quail and bread pudding. The pastas are handmade in house. They don't overwhelm the pasta with heavy sauces but instead add a variety of unique flavorings that complement the pasta. The warm bread pudding was perfectly toasty with a slight crunch. The blueberries overcame the heaviness to make the overall piece not overly sweet but just right.
I love the ambiance of this charming little restaurant. I came here for my birthday last year and sat in a semi-private room on the 2nd floor and it was just perfect. It's modern with a blend of homeyness and quaint charm. Aside from the room upstairs, I recommend sitting at the counter, specifically the one in the kitchen where you can watch the chefs prepare the food. The lighting is also better for pictures of food, of course. The bar counter is dim and a tad more intimate. But I prefer the kitchen. It is a wonderful date spot. I personally love sitting side by side as it is a better way to converse with the other person and diminishes potential awkward silences or the intensity of looking one another directly in the eyes.
Generally you need to make a reservation far in advance, but walk ins are perfectly suffice, so I prefer the later. Unless you are going for a special occasion just go about thirty minutes to a hour before your desired time. The wait is usually not long at all, depending on day of the week.