Rocco Restaurant / Carbone

181 Thompson Street | also 177 Thompson Street | Greenwich Village | built 1903

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Written with AI from the source each entry cites, then fact-checked.

  1. 1903

    Bernstein & Bernstein build 181 Thompson Street for Barnett Hamburger as one of a pair

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    Built in 1903 under permit NB 859-1903, this six-story brick and terra-cotta tenement shares a tax lot with the matching building at 177. Barnett Hamburger was the original owner, and the ground floor was planned for stores. Its projecting side bays carry brick quoins and terra-cotta lintels and pediments, topped by a bracketed cornice with modillions.

    Source: NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission

  2. 1922

    Rocco Stanziano opens an Italian restaurant at 181 Thompson Street that stays in his family

    Rocco Stanziano opened the restaurant in 1922 and ran it until 1966, when his nephew Gianni Respinto took over. Respinto's nephew Antonio DaSilva became owner in 1992. The building's superintendent later described it as a big mob joint, and it drew Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio in the 1950s, with Johnny Depp and Robert De Niro among later guests. Mario Batali also worked there as a chef.

    “Rocco Stanziano opened the restaurant in 1922. ... Stanziano ran the restaurant until 1966 until his nephew Gianni Respinto took over. DaSilva took over in 1992.”

    Source: Wikipedia

  3. 1952

    September

    Mobster Tony Bender reportedly dines with Joseph Valachi at Rocco's and hands him a contract

    According to Wikipedia's account, Anthony Strollo, known as Tony Bender, dined with Joseph Valachi at Rocco's in September 1952. He is said to have given Valachi a contract on Eugenio Giannini, a member of the Lucchese crime family who was informing for the Bureau of Narcotics.

    “In September 1952, he met with Joseph Valachi for dinner. He was given a hit on Eugenio Giannini, a Bureau of Narcotics informer from the Lucchese crime family.”

    Source: Wikipedia

  4. 2012

    Rocco's closes after 90 years when the landlord seeks a higher rent

    Rocco's shut at the end of 2012, when its lease expired. Owner Antonio DaSilva, a great-nephew of the founder, blamed greedy landlords and said the rent would have jumped from $8,000 to $18,000 a month. Mario Carbone and Rich Torrisi then took over the lease, and the space became the original Carbone restaurant.

    “…the landlord wanted to raise the monthly rent from $8,000 a month to $18,000 a month. Mario Carbone and Rich Torris took over the lease…”

    Source: Wikipedia

  5. 2013

    Carbone opens at 181 Thompson Street and wins three stars from the New York Times

    Mario Carbone and Rich Torrisi, who had earlier opened Torrisi Italian Specialties and Parm, opened Carbone here in 2013. They patterned the menu, decor and atmosphere on the mid-century Italian restaurants that were popular in New York. Pete Wells of the New York Times gave it three of four stars that year, and the Michelin Guide added a star in its 2014 edition; the restaurant lost that star in 2022.

    “The original restaurant opened in 2013, and replaced another Italian establishment, the 90-year-old Rocco Restaurant. Pete Wells ... three out of four possible stars.”

    Source: Wikipedia

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