#InauguralReview #TheOriginalVincents Since 1904 #Italian by the late great #VincentGeneroso Now by his daughter #MargaretAnnGeneroso brother #MichaelGeneroso and his nephew #MichaelGeneroso #119MottStreet #LittleItaly #Manhattan
Unbeatable Lobster Ravioli!
The best we have had anywhere so far in 2026.
The Seafood Salad was an absolute triumph!
It's not who you know, it's WHOM YOU KNOW and now we know The Original Vincent's! We were delighted to work with Michael Generoso (the third), who owns it along with his cousin, Margaret Ann Generoso and his dad, Michael Generoso (the second), who are all following in the legendary footsteps of the late Vincent Generoso, Margaret Ann's dear old dad. (DADS are obviously the very best.)
We asked Grok about Vincent Generoso and Grok said:
Vincent Generoso (often referred to as Vincent M. Generoso or simply the owner of Vincent's) is the longtime co-proprietor and co-owner of the Original Vincent's restaurant (also known as Vincent's Clam Bar or Vincent's Little Italy) at 119 Mott Street in Manhattan's Little Italy neighborhood.The restaurant, a historic Little Italy institution established in 1904 (originally as a pushcart clam bar by Giuseppe and Carmela Siano in 1894, then indoors with their son Vincent Siano, after whom it was named), specializes in Italian seafood, pasta with their famous "Secret Old World" red sauce (sweet, medium, or hot), and classic dishes. Vincent Generoso is related to the founding Siano family—his grandfather Jimmy Generoso was a cousin of the Sianos, making the Sianos his granduncle(s) in family terms. He and his brother Michael (sometimes spelled Michele) are grandsons of Jimmy and took over/co-operated the business around the 1970s–1980s (Vincent has noted he assumed the building in 1976). As of the early 2000s and into the 2020s, the restaurant remains family-run under Vincent (with mentions of Michael and Michael Jr. involved historically), and public records and permits continue to list him in connection with the property and operations. He has been a prominent figure in the Little Italy community, serving as second vice president of the Little Italy Chamber of Commerce (and involved with the Little Italy Merchants Association/LIMA). Born around 1940 in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, he was quoted in local coverage celebrating the restaurant's 100th anniversary in 2004 and defending the neighborhood's culinary heritage.He is the father of Margaret Ann Generoso, one of his three daughters (with wife Margaret; two of the daughters were noted as teachers in 2004 coverage). Public property records directly link Margaret Ann Generoso to Vincent Generoso and the 119 Mott Street restaurant address (e.g., as co-parties on deeds or related filings), confirming her connection to the family business/property. She is "of the Original Vincent's Little Italy" in that sense, as part of the owning/generational family tied to the iconic spot.Vincent Generoso remains the key modern face of the restaurant in historical accounts, preserving its century-plus legacy amid Little Italy's changes. (Note: This is distinct from unrelated individuals with the same name who passed in other parts of New York.) The spot is still operating as a classic, old-school Italian eatery in the neighborhood.
Oh we love history! For so many years people have asked Peachy what on earth would one do with a B.A. in American History from BC. Her answer it turns out is to eat with it, sometimes!
Michael (the third) started working here in 1994 and he takes immense pride in the family vocation, and once you taste your dinner, it will be elucidated entirely to you!
There are 121 coveted seats at 119 Mott Street, just off of Mulberry in Manhattan's Little Italy and this classic institution really impressed us on our first visit.
We began with the Caesar Salad, and we ordered it with Grilled Chicken, which was done perfectly and cut well too. They make their own fresh Caesar dressing and Ms. I Hardly Like Anyone's Dressing Anywhere really adored this incarnation of Caesar Salad dressing as well as the fresh salad itself. Lesser venues have inferior croutons but even the croutons here boast a satisfying crunch and standout flavor. Vincent's Famous Original Specialties encompass quite a lot of shrimp, and we opted for the steamed version that comes in the number of Gordie Howe (9 of course) for health reasons and also to see the intrinsic quality of the fresh seafood. Seafood here is delivered three times a week and you will see in every bite that the freshness that is celebrated here makes a true difference. This venue is known for their sauces: sweet, medium and hot. Peachy started with baby steps in general with the sweet, but here, you can see she tried all three and they are all winners in their own right. It just depends on your personal preferences. We have lots of sauce ambitions here because indeed it is quite distinguished in quality flavor.
Note we never edit pictures.
You excel like the Generoso family, or we do not publish.
You excel like the Generoso family, or we do not publish.
One of the best elements of this entire review, and there were no weak dishes, was without a doubt the Seafood Salad. Some places put seafood with other ingredients but here, its level of purity and quality is truly optimal. A perfect array of calamari, scungilli (conch) and shrimp team up in fresh fashion to wow you with cocktail sauce, just as good of a sauce as the three versions of tomato sauce. This could be a meal in itself with superb protein and for everyone that is following the protein trend, allow us to remind you that the classics beat trends always because here since 1904 it seems like protein has been celebrated.
Obviously, Italian places should hit the nail on the head with building blocks such as linguine with meatballs, and this arrives in style with two thoughtfully-crafted carnivorous wonders of equal parts beef, veal and pork (one-third each.) The linguine was al dente just as we wanted and of course like many things in life, was made even better with cheese.
We are fans of vegetables generally speaking, so opted for the steamed broccoli with garlic and oil. It was perfection in every crunchy bite and outshines its competition in its robust flavor and color, probably evocative of a high level of nutrition (Peachy makes no medical claims.)
The richness of the Homemade Meat Lasagna crafted with their signature red sweet sauce is layer after layer of deliciousness in every bite. We were wowed by its culinary prowess.
Lasagna glamour shots:
We take Chicken Parm seriously, and when we said "enchante" to this edition, it flashed us its most fabulous saucy smile! Arriving in style with al dente linguine, the Chicken Parm was a celebration of the amazing sauce here plus the perfectly pounded chicken and the ideally creamy mozzarella which made our day. However, the superstar of the entire review was without a doubt the Lobster Ravioli with vodka sauce, which we virtually crown the winner of the mountain on Peachy's palate this inaugural visit. Five of them line up at attention dressed to the nines in vodka sauce and you see when you cut into it that there is substantial quality lobster ready to greet you, appropriately hiding inside.
There are two seafood specialties: one is the Broiled Salmon filet which weighs in at eight ounces and was medium: exactly as we had ordered it. The aforementioned broccoli joins it with laudable potatoes culminating in a terrifically solid entree performance. We also happen to agree on both the music choices and the volume which is not too loud and ambient.
We were impressed and we can't wait to see what The Original Vincent's does next!
Also, we saw some people we "know" on the wall
Read NHL Peachy! This is the Messier guarantee team complete with fellow awesome Connecticut person who went to AOF and BC, Brian Leetch.
The website says:
OUR ILLUSTRIOUS HISTORY...
Following the Historic turn of the century, ending the Illustrious Gay 90's, Giuseppe and Carmela Siano established the now World Famous Vincent's Clam Bar, in 1904, named after their son. The sidewalk clam bar was located at the corner of Mott and Hester street in Little Italy, New York City, Where it still flourishes today, serving succulent varieties of Italian Seafood. It is the original home of Vincent's Sauce.
THE SAUCE
It was also in 1904 that Carmala Siano introduced her secret old world recipe for the internationally celebrated Vincent's Sauce. Many have tried to imitate her secret ingredients and processing unsuccessfully!
FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED
Original Vincent's is proud to have preserved the secret of the ancient recipe and to be able to serve you for your enjoyment!
- The entire Vincent's Family
