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In one of the main enclaves of the Nolita neighborhood, Emilio’s Ballato opened its doors back in 1956. Since then, after more than 60 years of history, it has positioned itself as one of the benchmark restaurants in the Italian-American world in Manhattan.
Ballato’s, which is now owned by the Vitolo family, and has been compared by editor Jeff Gordinier of The New York Times, as the ‘incredibly exclusive ‘Rao’s, but you can get in’, continues to reinvent the Italian tradition, serving at its tables a whole recurring cast of actors, musicians and politicians who have just elevated its status.
Emilio Vitolo, its owner, brings a taste of his native Naples to Manhattan as the visible face who greets all his diners and fans with a smile, while Anthony Vitolo runs the kitchen as executive chef.
The Italian of celebrities
The restaurant is known for hosting celebrities such as George Clooney and Barack Obama at its tables, as well as for having on its walls a photographic exhibition of the Vitolo family along with celebrities and politicians such as Denzel Washington, Justin Bieber and Rihanna.
Now, considering that we live in the era of Taylor Swift, and that all the spotlight is on her, the singer starred in a new highlight episode with Sophie Turner, Brittany Mahomes, Blake Lively and Robyn, Blake’s older sister, among others, with whom they went to dinner at the restaurant.
Gastronomic proposal
But the restaurant is not only known for its list of stars, but also for its classic Italian-American dishes, such as veal Parmesan on the bone, caprese, calamari pasta e fagioli that fall into the four sections that divide its menu: ‘antipasti’, ‘insalata e zuppe’, ‘secondi’ and ‘pasta’.
Of course, all those who want to visit the Italian see and be seen in New York, should know that they do not accept reservations, so you can only enter without an appointment, and you can only go with the great hope of getting a table.
