| Valbella | |
|---|---|
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1991 |
| Owner(s) | David Ghatan (also known as David Ghatanfard) |
| Manager(s) | Nick Zherka |
| Food type | Italian |
| Street address | 1309 East Putnam Avenue |
| City | Riverside |
| County | Fairfield |
| State | Connecticut |
| Postal/ZIP Code | 06878 |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 41°2′35″N 73°34′32″W / 41.04306°N 73.57556°W / 41.04306; -73.57556 |
| Reservations | required for parties of six and more |
| Website | www |
Valbella is an Italian restaurant in the Riverside section of Greenwich, Connecticut with sister locations in Midtown Manhattan and the Meatpacking District, Manhattan. Regulars included Joe Torre, "almost the entire Yankees team" and Regis Philbin, who was a Saturday night regular for 22 years; his regular table was left empty in his honor after his death.
Wine Spectator awarded them with a Best of Award of Excellence.
On December 20, 2009, there was a fire that caused them to close for a month for repairs.
Mafia
In 1998, the restaurant was invaded by members of the Gambino crime family to get them to pay protection money ($5,000/month) and free food. Underboss Anthony "The Genius" Megale, acting boss Arnold Squitieri and 30 others were brought up on federal charges of extortion in 2005.
Megale, considered Connecticut’s highest ranking Mob member, was sentenced to eleven years for this and other crimes.
Joaquín "Jack" García, a retired FBI agent, mentioned Valbella in his book Making Jack Falcone: Am Undercover FBI Agent Takes Down a Mafia Family.,
García had Caporegime Greg DePalma on tape saying he dined at Valbella for free and controlled the restaurant.
References
- Green, Sarah (5 January 2014). "Valbella: Old School Italian Elegance in Greenwich". CT Bites. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
- Anner, Rosemarie T. (April 28, 2019). "A new restaurant, big personality and lots of stars are in Tony Capasso's orbit". CT Post. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
- D’Angelo, Bob (July 26, 2020). "Regis Philbin's regular table at Connecticut restaurant stayed empty to honor TV legend". KIRO 7 News Seattle. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
- Mariani, John (January 9, 2002). "Gold Coast Tables". Wine Spectator. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
- Friedman, Debra (January 25, 2010). "Valbella's re-opens following fire". Stamford Advocate. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
- Weiss, Murray (July 25, 2005). "STEAMED MUSCLE – MOB EXTORTED POSH GREENWICH EATERY". The New York Post. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
- ^ "REPUTED CRIME BOSS SENTENCED". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. September 10, 2006. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
- "The Top Mobster Restaurants Around The Country". Insider. 2 May 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
- Smith, Kate Cornell (May 16, 2004). "'BRASCO' FED'S INSIDE STORY DINED WITH MARIAH AS HE FOOLED MOB". The New York Post. Retrieved 27 November 2022.