If you wandered the cobblestoned side streets of Hell’s Kitchen in the early 2000s, you might remember a snug wine bar on West 44th where brick walls, mahogany shelves, and the aroma of slow-simmered ragù drew Broadway crews after the curtain call. That was our beginning. Food writers praised Chef Camillo Bassani’s tiny kitchen for “family-style warmth” and bold Barolo pours back in 2008, when Gallo Nero—“the Black Rooster”—was still the neighborhood’s best-kept secret.

 Today the menu still sings of Sicily—pillowy gnocchi and ricotta-stuffed ravioli rolled by hand every morning, veal saltimbocca kissed with sage, chicken Valdostana layered with prosciutto and fontina, and a brick-oven pizza whose blistered crust crunches like a Tuscan sunset. Seafood lovers chase the scent of baked clams, white-wine mussels, and the market branzino that made our NYC regulars swoon.

Our neighbors seem to agree; locals give us 5 stars reviews on Google and Yelp, raving about the burrata-prosciutto starter, slow-cooked Bolognese, and warm, “treat-you-like-family” service. Whether you’re toasting a first date, gathering Nonna’s birthday table, or just sneaking in for a bowl of pappardelle after work, we promise a little slice of our history in every bite—and a glass of something memorable to raise in good company.

So, come, visit us and pull up a chair, pass the bread, and taste how far a Black Rooster can fly. Benvenuti a casa!