It may not be entirely true that every Irishmen wants to own a bar but a great number of Italian entertainers have wanted to get into the restaurant business, as have Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Robert DeNiro, Lou Costello, Francis Ford Coppola, Madonna, Paul Sorvino, Liberace, Sonny Bono and Lady Gaga to name a few.

So, when approached by veteran restaurateurs Jack, Jeff and Ross Sinanaj (of Empire Steakhouse and Ben & Jack’s), actor/writer Chazz Palminteri was only too happy to lend his name and investment to an east side Manhattan Italian restaurant, later re-located to the Theater District. This summer, again with the Sinanajes, he debuted Chazz Palminteri Restaurant in the New York suburb city of White Plains. Since Chazz lives in nearby Bedford, he’s usually at the restaurant a couple of times a week.