#InauguralReview #DonFilippos Since 1980 by #PhilipArcara #Italian #1133LexingtonAvenue between 78th and 79th #UpperEastSide
You absolutely must have Phil's Favorite under Don Filippo's Specialty Pasta
It's not who you know, it's WHOM YOU KNOW and now we know the fabulous Philip Arcara, Founder, Executive Chef and Owner of Don Filippo's in Manhattan's Upper East Side, the best part of town. Since April 26, 1980, the storied Don Filippo's has been impressing the most glamourous palates of the city with their understated elegance and beaucoup de culinary talent. Arriving in the USA at age 9 in 1963, Philip, a native of Montemaggiore Belsito (town of his birth in Sicily) is a trained chef with experience from Rocco's Restaurant in Ozone Park, Queens where from 1968 to 1972 he was Executive Chef, and later, he owned restaurants in Brooklyn and Long Island. When you walk by, it seems like an unassuming place but we can assure you the minute you sit down and start eating, you will see why this place has been a total winner for 45 years and we only regret to begin telling you about it starting today! The menu is extensive and it runs deep.
The salads in their glorious sophistication put the competition to shame.
The House Garden Salad is composed of iceberg lettuce, beefsteak tomato, red onion, cucumber, peas, radishes, cherry tomatoes, and we chose to add grilled shrimp as a protein. Normally it is also embellished with two kinds of olives but you know who, Ms. Pretty Picky, said please no olives and they listened the first time. In general, grilled shrimp, grilled chicken, prosciutto and capicola are offered as protein options for salads.
This one is the basic salad building block and it announced that Don Filippo is in it to win it.
Most pizza places put lettuce, tomato, onions and maybe one or two other items and say that is a salad.
We say THIS is a salad.
Also, this is not simply a pizza place.
Caesar Salad is just what we are looking for and we chose to add grilled chicken, which was perfectly tender and cut well. It goes without saying that all produce elements of all salads were fresh and terrific, bursting with flavor.
Phil's Favorite Salad is comprised of shrimp, gorgonzola, artichoke hearts (yay!) and roasted red bell peppers over mixed mesclun and romaine, garnished with sliced oranges.
Note for all salad dressing aficionados, the proprietary dressing of fourteen components is sure to be calling your name! Sandwiches are ten inches, and always served toasted. The Chicken Parmigiana delivered a solid performance.
Phil's Favorite is definitely the piece de resistance of this entire menu, in our first experience here anyway. We have further menu ambitions to see what might be Peachy's favorite, but this was her favorite this inaugural visit. In perfect proportion, meet penne with shrimp and chicken with broccoli in a garlic and olive oil sauce with a touch of cream! The flavor is simply outstanding and really sets this place apart, and after eating professionally for sixteen plus years we know we have not seen this combination before. The flavoring is proprietary and delicious and you should order two of these because you will want to eat it again tomorrow! We maybe tasted a touch of mushroom flavor.
Chicken Don Filippo is another popular item we're told: Chicken Breast sauteed with Garlic, Onion, Butter, Sherry Wine and Chicken Broth announce absolutely not this is not just a pizza place! Served with a choice of pasta, salad or french fries, we opted for Angel Hair with garlic and oil: we reveled in the simplicity, so well done.
Pictures are always unedited and the truth is Phil is talented!
The pizza delivered a solid performance and what we liked best was the sauce. Large pizzas are 18 inch as one would expect and are a major component of the business here, although we would tell you based on this one experience you should not limit yourself to just pizza at Don Filippo. The name is of course after the owner, and Don is a expression used as a sign of earned respect and recognized prestige. We decided to ask Grok (artificial intelligence by X) and the expert level said:
What does it mean when you call someone a Don
"Don" can have several meanings depending on the context when used as a title or descriptor for a person. Here's a breakdown of the most common interpretations:Spanish/Italian honorific title: In Spanish-speaking countries (and historically in Italian), "Don" is a formal title of respect prefixed to a man's first name, similar to "Mr." or "Sir" but often reserved for older, esteemed, or gentlemanly individuals. For example, "Don Juan" or "Don Quixote." It's derived from the Latin "dominus" meaning "lord" or "master."
Mafia or organized crime boss: Popularized in films like The Godfather, "Don" refers to the head of a crime family or a powerful underworld figure, emphasizing authority and respect within that world. This usage stems from the Italian honorific but has taken on a specific connotation in gangster contexts.
British academic title: In the UK, particularly at universities like Oxford or Cambridge, a "don" is a senior member of a college, such as a tutor, fellow, or lecturer.
Slang for a leader or influential person: In modern slang (especially in urban or hip-hop culture), calling someone "a Don" or "the Don" means they're a boss, expert, or highly respected figure in their field—someone who's at the top of their game. Note that "don" can also be a verb meaning "to put on" (e.g., "don a hat"), but that's unrelated to calling someone by the term. The exact meaning usually depends on cultural, regional, or situational context.
So there you go!
Everyone knows Peachy often orders vegetables on her pizza, and this time she chose Garlic, Mushrooms, Onions, Fresh Tomato and Spinach and it was a colorful bastion of nutrition:
Make one of the 40 seats yours! They offer beer and wine too.
Don Filippo's impressed us on our first visit and we look forward to seeing what they do next.
