Main Dining Room, Il Fiore di Melanzane
Il Fiore di Melanzane
Fashion District, Gotham City
Gotham City's finest Italian eatery, also being only one of few awarded all three coveted Michelin stars, Il Fiore di Melanzane is also the favourite of Mafia crime family bosses, who meet in its private dining room monthly to discuss matters of mutual importance.
Owned by Sicilian immigrant Ippolito Parisi, who opened its doors in the spring of 2009.
Il Fiore di Melanzane (Italian: The Eggplant Flower), with its very upscale, elegantly rustic décor, flawlessly discreet service, extensive cellar of French and Italian–Tuscan in particular–wines and, of course, phenomenal cuisine quickly attracting a devoted, highly discerning clientele, drawn from many of the city's elite social circles, who encouraged their much-obliging favourite chef to abstain from advertising his pride and joy, for fear it would be overrun by tourists and other, equally undesirable, hoi polloi spoiling the sublime dining experience.
Of course, the secret eventually, inevitably leaked, with word of the ever-changing, seasonal menu of Italian classics, with an emphasis on traditional Sicilian dishes and authentic ingredients, many flown in weekly, as well as bold, new offerings now the talk of the Gotham City foodie scene.
Chef Parisi still holds court over the kitchen battery, while his two eldest sons, Luigi and Stefano, manage the just-redecorated dining area, and his daughter Angelina the head Barmaid. Furthermore, he's closed Il Fiore di Melanzane on Thursday evenings to all but his most loyal customers, whose reservations are handled by their own, personal waiters after the style of the grand, turn-of-two-centuries-past Parisian eateries.
Needless to say, given who comprise his loyal clientele, neither Il Fiore di Melanzane, nor its staff have been troubled by would-be robbers in over a decade.
Private Dining Room, Il Fiore di Melanzane
In addition to the aforementioned, Gothamites known to frequent Il Fiore di Melanzane include: Mayor David Hull, Bruce Wayne, Sofia Falcone, Selena Kyle, María Sofía Márquez, Mr./Mrs. Everett and Madeleine Harding, Beatrice Cavanaugh and, when in town, Lex Luthor, Vandal Savage, and Rā's al Ghul.
Dolce: Cannoli Siciliani
Due to clamorous demand on the part of its clientele, Ippolito expanded the family business in 2019 by opening Panificio Parisi across the street. The Italian bakery's specialty being its dolce, such as its signature Cannoli Siciliani (pictured, above).
The patisserie is managed by Chef Evangeline Jilani, graduate of Le Cordon Bleu, luring the up-and-coming pastry chef away from none other than Chef Eric Ripert of Le Bernardin fame.
Menu (Partial): Wine, Spirits