Faces of Nolita

Emilio Vitolo Sr.: NOLITA ICON / CHEF / OWNER OF EMILIO’S BALLATO SINCE 1991

• Q What’s on the menu at Emilio’s Ballato?

  A Simple, southern Italian, made like grandma used to cook for Sunday dinner. I use quality, seasonal ingredients and cook with all my heart.

• Q What’s unique about the Ballato experience?

  A People feel like they’re being welcomed into my home. I want them to put down their phones and have long conversations and stay awhile. Like how families used to eat.

• Q How did you meet Lenny Kravitz?

  A Lots of celebrities eat here, but when Lenny came in we just clicked. Next thing I knew, Lenny was calling me up when he was sick and I was hand delivering food to his door. My kids grew up with his kids.

• Q What’s Lenny’s favorite dish at Emilio’s Ballato?

  A Lenny has amazing taste in clothes, friends—and food. He loves my rigatoni with zucchini.

Faces of Nolita

Alex Wilcox: BESPOKE BRIT / MEN ’S TAILOR / OWNER OF LORD WILLY’S SINCE 2005

• Q What’s the story behind Lord Willy's?

  A Mrs. Wilcox and I offer New Yorkers classic English tailoring with a playful twist, right on Mott Street.

• Q Why did you choose Nolita for your shop?

  A It sits nicely between the designer boutiques of Soho and the edgy East Village. The location really suits us, pun intended.

• Q What do you love most about Nolita?

  A Nolita’s very much a neighborhood—even New Yorkers like to visit. Many of our clients daytrip from uptown. They soak up the diversity and grab a bite while they’re here.

• Q Does Lord Willy’s have a mascot?

  A We have two Jack Russells in the store, Baxter and Bailey. They help us with accounting.