What’s the most famous food in New York? Probably pizza.
What’s the most famous pizza in New York? Quite possibly Lucali.
Frequented by celebrities from Taylor Swift to the Beckhams, this iconic Brooklyn spot by “pizza man” Mark Iacono sometimes has a line that can stretch half a day. A former construction worker, he taught himself how to make pizza, which he might credit to the inspiration and guidance of his grandmother above.
Rarely starstruck, Iacono never accepts reservations, no matter who the guest is. Everyone must wait their turn, which has further cemented Lucali’s status as a cultural icon in both New York and Miami.
Below, see where Iacono calls the best restaurants in New York City, along with a glimpse of his humble personality.
What are some of your favorite restaurants in NYC?
Oh, so many. Red Hook Tavern, Carbone, Torrisi, Lilia, Le Bernardin. I’m a big fan of Frankies 457.
I’m a really big fan of Il Buco. I've been going there for 25 years.
Usually, I go to restaurants for specific dishes. These restaurants, pretty much their whole menus are on point.
Where would you go for a classic New York meal?
How about for a first-time visitor?
Lucali.
Where do you head for simple comfort food?
Vinny’s of Carroll Gardens and Frankies 457.
Where do you suggest for solo dining?
I pretty much dine everywhere alone. I get a break in the action, and I'll just run over to Red Hook Tavern or Lilia, sit at the bar. I don't get a lot of time to go out to eat. I get these small windows from work. I work six or seven nights a week. So, it's tough. Lately, it's been really tough for me to go out and eat.
For Italian food?
Classic Italian: Don Peppe.
Innovative: Torrisi.
What’s your daughter’s favorite restaurant?
Nobu. We have a lot of fond memories of that. It's the first sushi she ever ate.
I’m dying to take her to her first fine dining experience at Le Bernardin.
Any hidden gems?
Michael's of Brooklyn and Brooklyn Roots.
Favorite hotel?
Unrelated to food, where would you go on a day off?
I love to roam around Soho.
Ed Sheeran’s “First Times” is partially inspired by Lucali, from when he waited outside in line with his girlfriend like everyone else. What’s your friendship with him like today?
Ed's an amazing guy, actually. When he was living in Brooklyn, he was here once, twice a week. I don't get to see him that much anymore, because he's touring all over the world.
He's just a regular guy. It's amazing. He'll eat here, and he's like, “Come on, let's go to a pub.” He's a very, very, very humble and down to earth friend.
Other stars are known to love Lucali, but you rarely get starstruck. Have you gotten starstruck before?
I'm not gonna lie. I got starstruck on Paul McCartney. It's a Beatle. A Beatle walks into your place, you get starstruck.
Who’s been a very memorable guest?
Alice Waters. The first time she came here, we got hit with a really big snowstorm and got snowed in here. We were just cooking things and drinking wine all night.
Who is someone you’d want to eat at Lucali that you think hasn’t dined there yet?
Stevie Wonder. I’m a very big music guy. The Lucali playlist that I curated in the beginning, Jay-Z actually put on Tidal when he was involved. It’s a big part of Lucali. I started walking into a lot of restaurants playing my playlist verbatim, especially when I opened up in Miami.
As a former construction worker, you’ve built houses. What did you learn that you use in your restaurants?
I'm the maintenance man. I'm the plumber. I'm the electrician at the restaurant. Saves me a lot of money.
What would your grandmother think of Lucali?
She passed right before opening, and she was such an amazing inspiration for what’s going on here. Unfortunately, she never got to see it.
She would have been blown away by it. I really feel that she's been the angel on Lucali’s shoulders all this time.
You helped save a customer’s life through helping him find a kidney donor (thank you, Rusty Rastello, formerly of SingleThread and Eleven Madison Park). How did that experience change you?
I didn't save anybody's life. Rusty deserves all the credit for that. I mean, this guy gave him a kidney. All I did was put up a post, and Rusty came to the rescue, I really didn't do anything. Rusty gave his kidney to a stranger.
Any other favorite memories as a “pizza man”?
I have two that I'm really fond of.
I did a pizza making event for a school with kids with special needs. There was this young girl that was very introverted. She was just absorbing everything as I was teaching all the other kids to make pizza. At the very end of the day, when no one was looking, she started making pizza like she was doing it her whole life. All the kids in the class started cheering for her. It brought her out of her shell. And the teachers said it was a permanent thing.
Another one was, I see this old lady dining by herself. She reminded me of my grandmother. I don't charge her for dinner. About a half hour later, the hostess and the lady come over, and they're both hysterically crying. And I was like, “what's the matter? Was the pizza that bad?” She was just walking around the neighborhood, didn't know about Lucali. It happened to be that her husband passed and that she came in on what would have been her 50th wedding anniversary, and I just bought her dinner. It was like her husband bought her dinner on her 50th. Reminded me of my grandmother sitting there.
What's something most people wouldn't know about you?
I’m pretty much an open book. I have no secrets. I have 400 white t-shirts.
Do you have any upcoming projects you are excited about?
At the moment, no. I’m just enjoying what I’m doing right now.
Nowadays, what’s your dream?
A happy, healthy life for my daughter. Every time I blow out the birthday candles, that’s my wish.
Address Book
Brooklyn Roots
8620 3rd Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11209
Don Peppe
135-58 Lefferts Blvd, South Ozone Park, NY 11420
Frankies 457
457 Court St, Brooklyn, NY 11231
il Buco
47 Bond St, New York, NY 10012
Lilia
567 Union Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Lucali
575 Henry St, Brooklyn, NY 11231
Nobu
195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007
Michael’s
2929 Avenue R, Brooklyn, NY 11229
Vinny’s of Carroll Gardens
295 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY 11231
Hero image: Harry Ford / Mark Iacono
