'Il Gatto Nero' Brings Italian Fare To The Upper West Side
A new Italian spot, offering salads and pizza, has debuted in the neighborhood. Called Il Gatto Nero, the fresh arrival is located at 2758 Broadway (between 106th St. & 107th St.) in the Upper West Side. This newcomer—located in the former Macchina space, which closed late last year—"specializes in simple, healthy, delicious food with a whimsical e...
Celebrating Carbonara Day at Barilla Restaurants
The other night, I visited the Barilla Restaurant in Herald Square to celebrate pre-Carbonara Day. Carbonara Day was established in Italy last April 6 as a way to hail a particularly delicious pasta that most believe was first made in mid-20th Century Rome as a hearty meal for Italian charcoal workers. Barilla Restaurants will bring Carbonara Day M...
Sinatra's restaurant sets move to new building
Sinatra's, the classic Italian-American restaurant on Kenmore Avenue, will move to its new building across the street following a charity auction on March 19. The new Sinatra's at 945 Kenmore Ave., Tonawanda, can hold twice as many people for dinner, said manager David Ortolano. New features will include gluten-free pasta, a broader selection of It...
Does This Under-the-Radar Italian Joint Have the Best Bartender in the County?
It was a gloomy, wet afternoon when I stopped by Tino’s Cucina in the Fleetwood neighborhood of Mount Vernon. But as soon as I stepped into the restaurant, there stood a man at the bar with a warm, bright smile. Many in the area know of Charlie Firneno, a 66-year-old Bronxite who’s been serving drinks at 546 Gramatan Avenue for more than a decade....
New restaurant: Sneak peek at EAT Italian's mouthwatering menu
"Chopped" champ Franco Franzese gave us a sneak preview of signature dishes anticipated at EAT Italian, his upcoming restaurant in Rossville. The casual lunch-dinner and egg-centric Sunday "colazione" concept is under construction at 655 Rossville Ave. "We're excited," said Franco, as he smiled and chatted up dishes on display in the kitchens of th...
Bruno Italian Grill to dish up quick-serve Italian downtown
The people behind Rachel's Mediterranean, relocated to 235 S. Elmwood Ave., are opening a quick-serve Italian spot in the former Rachel's spot at Chippewa and Delaware. The space, at 235 Delaware Ave., will be called Bruno Italian Grill. The restaurant's setup echoes Rachel's, with an Italian accent. Customers choose pasta, wrap or salad, then cust...
Ribalta Is as Close to Eating in Naples as you will Find in NYC
A cliché becomes useless not because it is untrue but because it becomes fatuous or all inclusive. So let me use a cliché about food that I think cannot be stressed nearly enough: Good food requires the best, freshest ingredients that should never be complicated by many others. The fact is, despite the constant repetition of this idea as a promotio...
Famed chef Andrew Carmellini drafted for Pier 17 restaurant
The Howard Hughes Corporation’s South Street Seaport has gobbled up another marquee-name restaurateur for the Seaport District’s crown-jewel Pier 17 — super chef Andrew Carmellini. NoHo Hospitality Group, where Carmellini is partners with Josh Pickard and Luke Ostrom, just signed a lease for an 11,000-square-foot space to open next year. Word of th...
At Pasta Flyer, Fast and Flavorful Italian Takes Off
Thank hospitality majordomo Danny Meyer and his 152 (and counting) locations of Shake Shack for inspiring scores of fine-dining chefs and restaurateurs to take a crack at serving high-quality fast food. For the past decade, empire-building food personalities like Bobby Flay (owner of several burger “palaces”), David Chang (of fried chicken sandwich...
Great Wines of Italy 2018 US Tour Arrives in New York
JamesSuckling.com presents the Great Wines of Italy US tour, beginning on Tuesday, March 6 at the IAC Building in New York City, featuring Italy's most sought-after wines from prestigious and renowned Italian brands as well as chosen premium boutique wineries. World-renowned wine critic James Suckling has selected more than 120 wineries to present...
Roncone's Italian Restaurant cooks legendary comfort food
There is no shortage of hugs to go around at the recently reimagined Roncone’s Italian Restaurant on Lyell Avenue in Rochester. Jimmy Paulino, Roncone's owner and chef, is now carrying on an 80-year tradition of serving soul warming Italian American comfort food and maintaining a popular gathering spot for patrons, from paesanos to politicians to p...
Maria, Italian restaurant with late night menu, will open in New Rochelle
The owner-chef behind Fratelli Pizzeria and Pop’s Espresso Bar is eyeing an early May opening for a third restaurant on Huguenot Street, named Maria. Frustrated by his own difficulty finding a late-night spot in New Rochelle, Cucullo said the kitchen will offer a stripped-down bar menu between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. Prices will range from $5 for a bar...