Last week the Wall Street Journal reported that the owner of Manganaro's Grosseria in Hell's Kitchen had put the building up for sale, and would be closing as soon as it's sold. However, their "Eatery Closes After Decades-Long Family Spat" headline rubbed the owner's son the wrong way. Proprietor Seline Dell'Orto told the Observer, "We're not closing! No one said that to that idiot reporter!" And apparently all the attention has Ms. Dell'Orto feeling guilty about their service.
Ms. Dell'Orto has gotten a reputation for nasty service—commenter ed_Ex wrote that once, "I ordered my sandwich and the woman was such a witch, I walked out before paying." Ms. Dell'Orto said, "I alienated a lot of people. I've said mean things. I'm not an angel, but I'm better than that. That's why I'm crying. I can't tell you how many nights I didn't sleep over something I said to someone." But she explained that it's because she's Italian: "It's in the genes! Italians all have the jealousy and gloating and 'I'm gonna fuck you' gene." When the reporter mentioned he was Jewish, she replied, "Oh, so you know."
Despite the ongoing family feud between Manganaro's Grosseria and Manganaro's Hero-Boy next door and Ms. Dell'Orto's admission that, "People don't want this food. They don't. They want pan-Asian fusion food," the store has no plans to close anytime soon. It's unclear what would happen if they did sell the building, so get your prosciutti and meatballs while you can. And who knows, service might even be friendly!
