NoLita · Italian · Italian-American
The Houston Street red-sauce room with the famously selective door — old New York, still holding the line
Emilio Vitolo has run this room on East Houston for decades, and its reputation rests as much on the door as on the food — the front of house decides who sits and when, a practice that has generated a great deal of mythology and a fair amount of resentment. Get past it and what you find is genuinely good Italian-American cooking: rigatoni alla vodka, veal Milanese hanging off the plate, clams and linguine done without embellishment. The walls are covered in photographs, the lighting is warm, and the room feels like a version of New York that mostly stopped existing. Be polite, call ahead, and it usually works out.
Emilio's Ballato is the Houston Street red-sauce room with the famously selective door — old New York, still holding the line. Regulars order rigatoni alla vodka and veal milanese.
Emilio's Ballato is priced at $$$ — approx. $40–$75 per person.
Emilio's Ballato takes reservations by phone — call (212) 274-8881 to book.
Emilio's Ballato is at 55 E Houston St, New York, NY 10012, in NoLita. Street parking on E Houston St; 6 to Bleecker St
Emilio's Ballato is open Mon–Thu 12–4 PM & 5–11 PM · Fri–Sat 12–4 PM & 5 PM–12 AM · Sun 12–4 PM & 5–11 PM. Hours can change on holidays — confirm on Google Maps before a long drive.