It's been nearly a decade since Chef Scott Conant landed on the New York scene with critical darling Scarpetta. It was here that the Food Network star earned acclaim in the city with instant crowdpleasers like the Scarpetta stromboli and the stunningly simple spaghetti pomodoro. Since severing ties with the restaurant several years ago, however, he hasn't had much of a presence in New York City. That's why last night, the SAVEUR team was thrilled to collaborate with Chef Scott for the opening of his first NYC concept in many years: the Italian-accented Fusco.
The more intimate, white-clothed restaurant is named after the chef's grandmother, Carminella Fusco Varrone. Done up with mirrors and chandeliers, the dining room brings a little bit of elegance to the downtown Gramercy location. Standing in front of a crowd of journalists, influencers, and other food-world fans, Conant explained that, with the opening of Fusco, he would be able to bring back "the level of hospitality that we would find from our grandparents—that old-world hospitality." As guests mingled and munched on some of Conant's greatest hits—including the spaghetti pomodoro, of course—while clinking glasses of bubbles from Mionetto Prosecco through the night, we'd say he's off to a great start.
