Tom Piscitello is a New York maître d’ legend! He ran the door at some of the city’s best Italian restaurants, including Coco Pazzo, Babbo, Beppe, A Voce, and Ci Siamo. 

Tom joined us from his terrazzo in Sicily, where he and his husband now live the semi-retired life of private hospitality, making beautiful memories for their guests at a 3-bedroom luxury lighthouse with a view of Mt. Etna, hosting and taking care of visiting friends and locals. Che bella vita! 

Tom saw it all working in the hottest spots in the 1990’s and turn of the millennium New York dining scene, and in this episode he shares some glimpses from behind the scenes and among the celebrity-filled tables at the restaurants that had the bella fortuna to have him as their host. 

Join us as we talk about: 

~ How to make a good first impression on the welcome

~ The two words that people always say when they’re lying

~ The thing he can’t tolerate from guests or staff

~ How great Esca was and what a genius Dave Pasternak is 

~ One way to make a guest “yours for life”

~ The time some old guy punched him for a table

~ The qualities he looks for in a maître d’ 

~ The one thing you should never ask on a first interview

~ Tom's favorite part of Italian hospitality