NYC Restaurant Innovators Sponsored By Heineken: Mario Carbone, Rich Torrisi, And Jeff Zalaznick, Michelin Meets Mulberry Street

[The team is taking over the old Rocco Restaurant at 181 Thompson street. “Rocco was open in 1922 its an incredibly historic Italian American restaurants, it was one of the last remaining old school Italian American restaurants. It was there for over 90 years. It was honestly the same food we’re doing, we’re just kind of invigorating it. I think he will be happy with what we do with it.”] Jeff: Our new project is called Carbone, we also have a small place next door that’s going to be called "The Lobster Club." It’s going to be a very boutique sandwich shop that will be an ode to the club sandwich, a sandwich we all love. They will kind of feed off each other. Then we’ve got a couple other things coming after that. Mario: “We have a general passion for doing this business. It keeps us going.” Tell me more about the new place. Jeff. “It’s set to open in two months. It’s basically our take on mid century Italian American, fine dining restaurants. Think places like Il Mulino, Rao’s, Scalinatella’s, that old school Italian New York food that’s served and presented in a formal way. You know big lobster fra diavolo, veal parm on the bone, table side Caesar salads, things like that. Rich: (laughing) What is he laughing at? Rich: “These three items embody his (Jeff’s) personality. He always mentions these three dishes. Veal Parm, Caesar salads, Lobster fra diavolos!”