The 25th Anniversary of Il Gattopardo, a New York Story

NEW YORK, Sept. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Il Gattopardo celebrates its 25th anniversary in September of 2026. Known among culinary aficionados as New York's best southern Italian restaurant, Il Gattopardo has an intricate story that is uniquely New York: A story of immigration, resilience, the city's cultural and business worlds and, above all, a timeless love story.

Founded by Gianfranco Sorrentino (who passed away in 2024), Paula Bolla-Sorrentino (Gianfranco's business partner and wife) and its talented Executive Chef Vito Gnazzo, Il Gattopardo never set out to become one of New York's trendiest restaurants — which may key to its enduring success for the past quarter century.

An Immigrant Story

A native of Naples, Gianfranco landed in New York in 1985, after nearly 15 years of restaurant and hotel experience in Europe. He became a prominent Maitre'd at the famed Bice on 54th Street, connecting with figures across New York's business, political, celebrity and art scenes. There, he met Chef Vito Gnazzo, beginning a professional partnership that would span more than 30 years.

Born and raised in Felitto in Salerno, on Italy's Cilento Coast, Vito Gnazzo began his culinary career in Milan, later working at three-Michelin-starred Antica Osteria Del Ponte. In 1981, he immigrated to the United States, eventually becoming Head Chef at REX il Ristorante in Los Angeles before moving to New York as Executive Chef at Bice.

In 1990, Gianfranco opened Sette MoMA at the Museum of Modern Art, where he, and later Gnazzo, ran the food operations. At a time when "museum food" was rarely taken seriously, Sette MoMA became a destination for power lunches and celebrity sightings.

It was also at Sette MoMA that Gianfranco met his future wife and partner, Paula Bolla. Brazilian born and raised, with an Italian father from the Veneto region, Paula began her career as a model. After a decade living and working around the world, she settled in New York to study graphic design and began working at Sette MoMA while in college, a move that changed her life forever.

"A vast majority of us are either immigrants, or sons and daughters of immigrants. We've worked with entire families, with fathers and sons, with cousins and brothers, and with strangers that became lifelong friends." – Paula Bolla-Sorrentino, Managing Partner, IL GATTOPARDO GROUP

IL GATTOPARDO

In 2001, Gianfranco, Paula and Vito opened Il Gattopardo in an unassuming townhouse across from MoMA. It was September 18, just one week after 9/11, amid profound uncertainty in New York — and just three days after Gianfranco and Paula's wedding, making it their "honeymoon restaurant." Despite being called "those crazy Italians" for opening at such a difficult moment, they drew inspiration from the city's resilience and remained committed to authentic Italian cuisine, culture and hospitality, an ethos captured in their motto: "Passion is our main ingredient."

What began as an upscale Midtown trattoria grew into a restaurant beloved by generations of New Yorkers, known for Italian quality, service and, above all, hospitality.

Il Gattopardo is named after Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa's masterpiece, later portrayed in Luchino Visconti's film The Leopard. Its themes of tradition and change would come to resonate with the restaurant itself.

After more than a decade, Il Gattopardo moved a few doors closer to Fifth Avenue into the Rockefeller Townhouses. Quoting Lampedusa, "If we want things to stay as they are, things will have to change," Il Gattopardo evolved to stay the same, under a different skin. Formerly home to Aquavit, the landmark space was renovated with a minimalist design by the architecture firm led by former MoMA Architecture and Design Chief Curator Terry Riley.

A Discreet Spot for Power Lunches and Celebrities

Il Gattopardo's reputation for quality, warm hospitality and discretion has long made it a favorite among prominent figures in finance, politics, entertainment, fashion and sports. Over the years, the restaurant has welcomed Paul McCartney, Jimmy Fallon, Stanley Tucci, Meryl Streep, Blake Lively and Shaquille O'Neal, among many others.

Its dining room has also welcomed Bill and Hillary Clinton, Michael Bloomberg, Joe and Jill Biden and Tony Blair, alongside leaders from Bank of America, Morgan Stanley and Warner Bros. Discovery, as well as MoMA directors, curators and artists.

Rather than pursuing the attention of a celebrity hotspot, Il Gattopardo has cultivated an understated elegance, where impeccable service, consistent cuisine and discretion allow high-profile guests to feel fully at ease.

'It Takes a Village'

Il Gattopardo is about people and the moments shared around the table. Italian food and wine are at the center, but the experience is also about relationships, culture, family, friendship and memories, rooted in a deep respect for authentic Italian cuisine and hospitality.

That same commitment extends to the artisans behind the restaurant's cuisine. Over the past 25 years, Il Gattopardo has built a trusted network of Italian producers, including a farmer in Caserta known for exceptional bufala mozzarella, fishermen supplying branzino, producers of Cilento olive oil and partners sourcing Sardinian water.

Il Gattopardo also works with boutique Italian wine importers to showcase indigenous wines from across Italy, reflecting its commitment to quality, authenticity and continuity.

"People go out to eat for many reasons — to celebrate, do business, explore and simply connect. Real human connection has the power to unite people. Our success over the years has been an unspoken endorsement of 'our way,' a constant pursuit of quality, hospitality and community. In a fast-paced New York dining scene where trends are short-lived, the deep roots we've grown remind us that we must be doing something right after all." – Paula Bolla-Sorrentino, Managing Partner, IL GATTOPARDO GROUP

SOURCE Il Gattopardo