Cafe BarBosso

Chef Joe DiMaggio, Jr. created Cafe BarBosso in honor of his old friend Frank "Frankie Bumps" BarBosso. Their story is a movie worthy one, rich in culture & character, about a man & a boy.

Growing up poor in the 1930's Little Italy wasn't easy, yet an ambitious Frankie knew, that one day through hard work, he'd take his family out of poverty. When Frankie was 8 years old, he caught the eye of Crazy Tony Blue Eye (a notorious Union Organizer from Mott Street) when he chased a kid down the street who had stole his grandmother's milk bottles off her stoop. Crazy Tony was impressed by the way Frankie used one milk bottle to get the rest of them back and soon thereafter Frankie proudly became a full-time knock-around guy for Mr. Tony.

The young BarBosso thrived as he was now a respected guy in the neighborhood. Frankie loved food so much that in 1955, at the age of twenty-six; he opened "Little Charlie's” an intimate Italian restaurant named after his father. The joint was an immediate success, not only because the food was the best, but because people were forced to eat there. They served the best veal in NYC, the best eggplant, the best meatballs, the… BEST everything, Capisce?!

Cafe BarBosso, a humble Italian restaurant featuring live artists & the best food you'll ever have. Great ambience & exceptional service, except for Frank.