It’s no easy task taking Italian-style food back to its homeland, but the New York City restaurant group, LDV Hospitality, is more than up for the challenge. After all, “LDV” stands for “la dolce vita,” the way of life centered on Via Vento in Federico Fellini’s iconic film of the same name — and it’s the street of its new Scarpetta restaurant location in Rome.
The Rome opening marks LDV Hospitality’s first in Italy, located inside the InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace. After launching in New York City in 2008 and becoming a mainstay for its delectable spaghetti, wagyu and more, the hospitality group opened other locations around the country including in the Hamptons, Las Vegas and Philadelphia, plus abroad in London, Tokyo and Doha. The May 2023 opening in Rome though is a long time coming for founder and president John Meadow.
“For me, Rome has always been my favorite place in the world. And our whole ethos and philosophy of LDV Hospitality is to look at this kind of nostalgic Old World hospitality, bring it to life in today’s modern terms, and the crux of that is literally on the street Via Vento,” Meadow tells GRAZIA USA.
Meadow and his team are bringing the ambiance they’re known for to the Rome audience and giving “a more modern approach to Italian cuisine,” he explains. The space is open for lunch and dinner daily, and offers signature Italian dishes and homemade pastas, plus a “significant” steak program thanks to the space’s steakhouse, American Cut.
“The one thing Italians really give us Americans credit for is for our meat,” says Meadow. “Making this a Scarpetta steakhouse represents something that I feel very confident that the Romans will in fact engage with and that will appeal to the international tourism. We’ll give tourists the ambience and the charm that I think is more difficult to find than one would expect in the city center, and we’ll represent a New York steakhouse for Romans. That’s a very fine thread, but we feel confident that we are unique in that.”
Adding more New York nods to the space, there’s also a rooftop nightclub named Charlie’s. Delicious drinks, sprawling views of the city, live music and DJ sets all contribute to the “soulful, mature, funky vibe” of the venue, says Meadow. “Experiences featuring both a steakhouse and a lounge do not exist [in Rome], which is great for us because we get to just create what’s very natural and true to us, with integrity, in a place that we love.”
Scarpetta restaurant was designed by New York-born, Rome-based interior designer Anton Cristell who created a “warm enveloping” experience for guests, as Meadow put it. The deep velvet round banquettes pull guests into the red and emerald green eatery. There’s a patio that runs the length of the space, a Bardiglio marble fountain stationed in the garden, plus — most unusual for Rome — a large and inviting bar. “If you go to a restaurant in Italy, they never have a bar,” says Meadow. “The idea of a New York City restaurant always starts with a bar and we have a substantial one.”
Quintessentially Roman materials were used, including different types of natural stone that have been utilized throughout Roman history. “I would call it maximalist,” says Meadow. “New York City vibe meets Roman materiality.”
Down the line, Meadow dreams of creating a Scarpetta sister seafood restaurant on the Italian coast, but for now, he’s savoring the feeling of being a part of the social fabric of a city that’s near and dear to his heart. “Really becoming a part of the community is the beauty of opening a restaurant,” he shares. “Being able to go spend time there with a real intention and purpose, in the community of people, is something I’m very grateful for.”
Scarpetta and Charlie’s in Rome is now open.
