About Us

The Isle of Capri restaurant was established by Maria and Vincenzo Lamanna in the spring of 1955. After 53 years of business, you will still feel the warm and family friendly atmosphere you felt in the beginning.

Maria and Vincenzo came to the United States from Calabria in 1939 and began their first venture, a gourmet delicatessen located on East 59th Street called "Lamanna" in the late 1940s. Together with their two daughters, Gloria and Jane, they worked hard selling imported delicacies.

In 1955, they decided to take on another venture, and started the Isle of Capri Restaurant along with a partner from Capri, and this is where the name comes from. After a few months, Vincenzo assumed sole ownership of the restaurant.

At first, the Isle of Capri had a small menu consisting of desserts, coffees, and panni (a traditional Italian sandwich). As time went on, the menu expanded, and Maria, who was known by her customers as "Mamma" throughout the upper east side, brought with her from the Calabria region of Italy a unique charm and culinary expertise that still exists today. The Isle of Capri chefs have been apprenticed in the same culinary style, which has been handed down through the years.

In 1965, Vincenzo decided to expand the restaurant and renovate and open his downstairs dining room. Once the downstairs dining room was complete, this allowed him to close upstairs and expand as well.

With the passing of Vincenzo in 1990 and Mamma in 1993, the tradition still continues with their daughters and co-owners, Jane and Gloria.

The Isle of Capri is known for its consistency, which will explain its close following and repeat business. There are a lot of customers that have been dining in the restaurant since 1955, and continue to dine today.

The Isle of Capri excels from the sun-drenched, ground-floor dining room, where gourmet delights, aged cognac, and specialty wines are displayed, to downstairs in the "grotto," where many romantic, clandestine encounters have passed. A favorite of many writers, Broadway performers, and movie actors, the Isle of Capri is rich in dreamy, fanciful history. You can just feel it echoing out of the old brick, stone walls, and classic sculptures. Not enough can be said for the atmosphere or the warm and friendly staff.