The stars didn’t quite align for Astoria pizzeria VIA VAI, but it got pretty darn close. On Monday, premier restaurant guide Michelin — which dispenses its iconic stars to top bistros around the world — announced VIA VAI as a “recommended dining destination” in its 2019 guide. “From their wine list to the menu, it’s all about Italy here,” Michelin writes.

“The kitchen spends every morning making fresh pastas and with the likes of gnocchi orecchiette and pappardelle among the choices, you can’t go wrong.” Owner and head chef Antonio Morichini was born in Rome and attended culinary school in Piedmont, in Northern Italy. He eventually moved to Liguria, where he learned about seafood preparation. He moved back to Rome and worked in three Michelin-starred restaurants, Il Convivio, Glass Hostaria and Acquolina.