early 1930's Cetta Family Founders of Sparks Steak House: Brothers Mike and Pasquale Cetta
In the early 1930s, Rocco Cetta, his wife Maria, and their young son Michael emigrated from Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi, Italy. Born Angelo Michele, named after Michelangelo, Michael later modernized his name. After some childhood illnesses at the age of three, he and his mother traveled by ship to the United States through Ellis Island, joining his father in Brooklyn, New York. The family owned a neighborhood "Mom and Pop Supermarket," where Michael quickly learned about food preparation and the butchering of meats.
Michael excelled academically, skipping grades and later attending the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he graduated with a degree in History in 1948. After working for Johnson and Johnson and serving two years in the Army during the Korean War, Michael transitioned to a manufacturing firm, where he met his wife, Marsha. The couple married in 1963 and welcomed their son, Steven Michael, in 1964.
Michael Cetta, Owner of Sparks Steak House
In 1966, Michael and his younger brother Pasquale (Pat) decided to venture into the restaurant business, purchasing Sparks Pub, a small English pub on East 18th Street, and converting it into Sparks Steak House. The steakhouse was originally located at 123 East 18th Street but moved to its current location on East 46th Street in 1977. Today, the restaurant occupies 27,000 square feet and seats up to 684 guests.
Brothers Michael and Pat Cetta perfecting the art of aging beef, 1970s
The Cetta brothers perfected the art of aging beef, a hallmark of Sparks Steak House. Their dedication to quality and innovation set the foundation for the restaurant's enduring reputation.
Brothers Mike and Pat Cetta received Wine Spectator Magazine’s Grand Award for 23 years in a row
Sparks Steak House has consistently been recognized for excellence, including receiving Wine Spectator Magazine's prestigious Grand Award for 23 consecutive years. This achievement reflects the restaurant’s unmatched commitment to quality and its extensive wine library.
Sparks Steak House main dining room, 1999
Sparks Steak House’s elegant interior is a significant part of its charm, with the main dining room serving as a hub for its world-class dining experience.
Pasquale Cetta, Owner of Sparks Steak House, standing at a Bounty Table
Pat Cetta, known for his charismatic personality and expertise as a wine sommelier, was an integral part of Sparks Steak House. Sadly, Pat passed away on the evening of January 24, 2000, following a heart attack in his apartment. His legacy, alongside Michael's, continues to define Sparks Steak House.[2]
Michael passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 20th 2024, with his wife, Marsha, by his side after one week of hospice care. His legacy lives on, with Sparks Steak House continuing under the leadership of the second generation. Steven Michael Cetta, Michael’s son, now owns and manages the restaurant, ensuring that the family’s dedication to excellence and tradition remains at the heart of the business.
Sparks Steak House Exterior Photo, 2001
Diners at Sparks often come as much for the experience and atmosphere as for the cuisine. Known for its elegant interior and iconic exterior, Sparks has become a sought-after filming location for television and movies, adding to its allure as a New York City icon.
Entrance in 2008, at 210 East 46th StreetPaul Castellano, Gambino crime family boss and regular patron of Sparks Steak HouseJohn Gotti, orchestrator of the Castellano and Bilotti assassination
Castellano, a regular patron of Sparks, was killed by four men conspicuously dressed in trench coats and Russian fur hats. Alongside him, Gambino underboss Thomas Bilotti was also killed. The hit was orchestrated by John Gotti, who watched from a nearby car to ensure “Big Paul” was killed.
The assassination was carried out with military precision, timed perfectly as Castellano arrived at the restaurant during the bustling Christmas season. “It was daring in the sense that it was done in Manhattan, in the Christmas season, early in the evening,” noted Howard Blum, author of *Gangland: How the FBI Broke the Mob*.
At the time of the murder, Castellano was the head of the Gambino crime family, one of New York City’s most powerful Mafia families. Known for his imposing presence and strict leadership, Castellano had recently issued an edict prohibiting family members from trading drugs, fearing increased federal scrutiny. However, Gotti, a rising member of the Gambino family, defied this order and continued his heroin operations, eventually drawing Castellano’s ire. Facing the possibility of retribution from Castellano, Gotti preemptively planned the hit to secure his position as the family’s leader.
After Castellano’s death, Gotti succeeded him as the Gambino family boss, becoming one of the most notorious mob leaders in history. Dubbed the "Teflon Don" for his ability to evade conviction, Gotti went to trial three times in the late 1980s without a single conviction. However, in 1992, he was finally found guilty on numerous charges, including Castellano’s murder. Key to the conviction was testimony from Salvatore “Sammy the Bull” Gravano, a former Gambino member who revealed details of the assassination, including the use of walkie-talkies to coordinate the hit and his presence alongside Gotti in the car during the murder.
Gotti was sentenced to life in prison, where he died in 2002. The assassination of Castellano and Bilotti outside Sparks Steak House remains one of the most infamous mob hits in American history, cementing the restaurant’s place in Mafia lore.
Reviews
In 2003, Wine Spectator gave a Restaurant Awards to Sparks Steak House.[8]
In 2004, New York Magazine gave it the award of the Best Places to eat in New York City.[9]
In 2005, New York Magazine – Adam Platt's – Where to Eat.[10]
In 2005, GQ Magazine voted Sparks Steak House in the top 10 Restaurants That Still Matter.[11]
In 2007, Sparks Steak House is voted The Greatest Steakhouse in Manhattan by Yahoo.[12]
In 2010, Sparks Steak House is voted one of the top 100 restaurants in America.[13]
In 2013, Zagat gave it a food rating of 26 (out of 30), and ranked it the #2 steakhouse in New York City.[1]
John Gotti was an American mafioso and boss of the Gambino crime family in New York City. He ordered and helped to orchestrate the murder of Gambino boss Paul Castellano in December 1985 and took over the family shortly thereafter, leading what was described as America's most powerful crime syndicate.
Constantino Paul Castellano was an American crime boss who succeeded Carlo Gambino as head of the Gambino crime family of New York City. Castellano ran the organization from 1976 until his murder on December 16, 1985.
Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano is an American former mobster who rose to the position of underboss in the Gambino crime family. As the underboss, Gravano played a major role in prosecuting John Gotti, the crime family's boss, by agreeing to testify as a government witness against him and other mobsters in a deal in which he confessed to involvement in 19 murders.
The Gambino crime family is an Italian-American Mafia crime family and one of the "Five Families" that dominate organized crime activities in New York City, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the American Mafia. The group, which went through five bosses between 1910 and 1957, is named after Carlo Gambino, boss of the family at the time of the McClellan hearings in 1963, when the structure of organized crime first gained public attention. The group's operations extend from New York and the eastern seaboard to California. Its illicit activities include labor and construction racketeering, gambling, loansharking, extortion, money laundering, prostitution, fraud, hijacking, and fencing.
Aniello John "Neil" Dellacroce was an American mobster and underboss of the Gambino crime family of New York City. He rose to the position of underboss when Carlo Gambino moved Joseph Biondo aside. Dellacroce was a mentor to future Gambino boss John Gotti.
Thomas "Tommy" Bilotti was an American mobster who briefly served as underboss of the Gambino crime family in New York City. It was his promotion that helped trigger the 1985 assassination of Gambino boss Paul Castellano; Bilotti would end up killed as well as part of the assassination.
John "Jackie" D'Amico was an American mobster and caporegime in New York City who served as street boss of the Gambino crime family from 2005 to 2011. "Street boss" had been the family's number one position ever since official Boss Peter Gotti started serving a life sentence in prison.
Bartholomew "Bobby" Boriello was an American mobster who belonged to the Gambino crime family and served as boss John Gotti's favorite bodyguard and chauffeur. A prominent hitman during the 1980s, Boriello participated in the 1990 murder of Gambino soldier Louis DiBono.
Frank DeCicco, also known as "Frankie D" and "Frankie Cheech", was an American mobster and eventual underboss for the Gambino crime family in New York City.
Angelo Salvatore Ruggiero Sr., also known as "Quack Quack", was an American gangster. He was a member of the Gambino crime family and a friend of John Gotti's. After Gotti became leader of the family he made Ruggiero a caporegime.
Dominick "Skinny Dom" Pizzonia is a New York mobster and captain with the Gambino crime family who was a hitman and loanshark. Pizzonia allegedly participated in several high-profile murders.
Thomas Francis Gambino was an Italian-American New York City mobster and a longtime caporegime of the Gambino crime family who successfully controlled lucrative trucking rackets in the New York City Garment District. He was the son of Carlo Gambino nephew of Paul Castellano and son-in-law of Tommy Lucchese.
Boss of Bosses is a 2001 American made-for-TV movie about the life of former Gambino crime family boss Paul Castellano directed by Dwight H. Little. It stars Chazz Palminteri as Paul Castellano, Patricia Mauceri as his wife Nina, Mark Margolis as Joseph Armone, and Angela Alvarado as his mistress Gloria Olarte.
John "Johnny Carnegs" Carneglia is an American mobster in the Gambino crime family. He was sentenced to 50 years in prison in 1989 for racketeering and drug trafficking charges.
Salvatore Scala, also known as "Fat Sal" and "Uncle Sal", was a New York mobster who became a caporegime in the Gambino crime family.
James "Jimmy Brown" Failla was an American mobster who was a high ranking caporegime with the Gambino crime family and a major power in the garbage-hauling industry in New York City. Failla's crew was based in Brooklyn, with operations stretching into Staten Island, Manhattan, and New Jersey.
Anthony J. Rampino, also known as "Tony Roach", was an American mobster who was affiliated with the Gambino crime family of New York City, and involved in truck hijacking and drug trafficking.
Joseph Watts also known as "The German" is an associate of the Gambino crime family. He was a close confidant of former boss John Gotti and participated in the infamous 1985 assassination of Paul "Big Paul" Castellano. Watts was not a made man due to being only Italian on his maternal side, while being German, Welsh on his paternal side.
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