Situated in a Scarsdale strip mall and boasting a big-time Manhattan pedigree—with a side of Old Hollywood lore—Il Sorrento has been churning out soulful, crowd-pleasing Italian comfort food since opening late last year.
“We wanted to bring a New York City feel to Westchester,” says Frank DiCola, one of Il Sorrento’s owners. DiCola is the grandson of Pasquale “Patsy” Scognamillo, the legendary founder of Patsy’s Restaurant on West 56th street in Midtown Manhattan, one of NYC’s most storied and longest-running family institutions—where Frank Sinatra held court at his own table with fellow Rat Pack members Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin.
A master of hospitality, DiCola retired from Patsy’s in 2018, after 50 years helping to drive the family business, as a parade of celebrities from Bono and Oprah to De Niro, Minnelli, Pacino, and Clooney sought a piece of the restaurant’s historic magic.
On a recent afternoon, DiCola sat at Il Sorrento’s long, black quartz bar, marveling at the bustling dining space as his staff ran the room with the kind of attentive service reminiscent of the Patsy’s ethos. “I was in a family business my whole life, but I never opened a restaurant,” says DiCola. “It’s been a dream come true.”
Patsy’s traditional Southern Italian comfort food inspires some menu items but head chef Joe Fusco, whose 20-year career includes a stint with Gordon Ramsey, likes pushing boundaries.
“Joe likes to put his own twist on things,” says DiCola. “He loves to experiment.”
That translates to crowd-pleasing classics like chicken parmigiana, eggplant rollatini, and spaghetti and meatballs listed alongside tuna tartar, tripe, and heirloom beet salad. Typical Northern Italian dishes like risotto, polenta, and beef carpaccio also dot the menu. “The beef carpaccio is so tender,” says DiCola. “So good.”
Il Sorrento is an homage to Patsy Scognamillo’s favorite town across the bay from his birthplace in Naples.
The name, Il Sorrento, is an homage to Patsy Scognamillo’s favorite town across the bay from his birthplace in Naples. A sunny mural of Sorrento greets diners, lending a cheery pop of color that gives way to a sophisticated, neutral pallet of light woods and a black industrial ceiling. Large fringe lighting and walls covered in graytoned grasscloth add a touch of glam, as modern cane-backed chairs lend a casual vibe to white cloth-covered tables. “No matter where you sit, we want you to be looking at something nice,” says DiCola.
The open space is cleverly divided by two artisanally hewn partitions of clear-coated white oak, which display the bottle collection and provide separation between the bar and a sectioned dining area, perfect for private parties.
From the menu to the vibe, Il Sorrento is at once cozy and open, modern and classic, sophisticated and casual. Says DiCola, “We did it our way.”
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