Trattoria da Vittorio is a must-visit this spring for those seeking an authentic dining experience straight from the many regions of Italy. Though Vittorio Lanni only founded Trattoria da Vittorio in Piermont in 2024, his years of restaurant experience span all the way back to his childhood, assisting his mother and father in the kitchen every day and surrounding himself with rich and classic Italian flavors.
After a career that brought him to a variety of different locations, from working as a chef in a private membership club in New York to founding two popular Italian restaurants in South Florida, Lanni’s and San Gennaro’s, to his work in the wine industry in New York that enhanced his wine and spirit knowledge, Lanni arrived in New Jersey in 2010.
Years later, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Lanni challenged himself to reenter the restaurant business by creating yet another high-end restaurant in Sparkill out of an old preschool with his wife Kimberley. However, Lanni wanted to expand his clientele, resulting in him opening Trattoria da Vittorio and giving more people a taste of Italy through the food, wine, and décor, the latter of which was Kimberly’s personal touch.
“We really tried to make this restaurant feel very Tuscan,” Lanni said, “with the old beams and the old floors. When you travel here, you really feel like you’re in Italy. I even put the prices in Euros to make people feel like they’re in Italy.”
That wonderful Italian feel, alongside the warm staff and varied menu, allows the restaurant to truly thrive, easily selling out on weekends as both reservations are made and walk-ins arrive at dinnertime, packing the small restaurant as each table begins with their homemade focaccia and roasted garlic.
The bread, of course, is only the beginning. Lanni’s menu brings back many classic 1980s Italian appetizers such as spiedini alla romana, alongside of newer ones, a prime example being their zucchini flowers, lightly fried and stuffed with ricotta, that burst with flavor. The restaurant’s charcuterie boards are also a must-order as each bite of fresh prosciutto is sliced in their hand-cranked imported slicer, retaining the meat’s rich taste.
Their signature in this department, though, is their melt-in-your-mouth pizza, which is cooked inside an 800-degree wood-burning oven Lanni had transported from Italy when the restaurant was first created and is used to make sure each pie tastes like one you could find in Naples.
Trattoria da Vittorio’s entrees, including their linguine with clams, are equally as delicious, each dish crafted with care by Lanni and his four-man team. The drink menu is just as varied. They offer a 50-for $50 wine menu, created based on Lanni's extensive experience as well as Italian beer and cocktail selections, to compliment each part of your meal. For dessert, Trattoria da Vittorio prides itself on its creamy and foamy espresso, using Kimbo, the best Neapolitan coffee in Italy, for every cup.
Each of these details is a product of Lanni’s love of food and family, which has thrived years after those days with his parents in the kitchen. That dedication to sharing these passions allows Lanni to truly love each aspect of what he does, making each interaction with his customers rewarding.
“It’s about greeting the people,” Lanni explained, “about saying ‘good evening’ and ‘goodbye’ and seeing the smiles on their faces and them saying ‘Vittorio this was great, this was one of the best meals I’ve ever had."- Vittorio Lanni
As spring approaches, Lanni’s drive to create a happy and authentic space continues, with the menu reflecting the season through a focus on spring salads, seafood, white wines, and their ever-popular seasonal rosés.
“Once you start seeing people asking for a rosé,” Lanni commented, “you know springtime is around the corner.”
The outdoor seating adds to the experience, the warmer weather allowing Lanni’s guests to enjoy his food and wine in the open air. Those wonderful features only make Trattoria da Vittorio more of a must-visit, both for spring and every season after.
To make your reservation, call (845)-259-1122.
Trattoria da Vittorio is open seven days a week from 11:30am-9:00pm and open for lunch daily.