This New York Gem Is One Of The Best Italian Restaurants In America, Per Stanley Tucci

Foodie culture has boomed over the past few decades, and plenty of celebrities are getting in on the action. Florence Pugh takes time out as a food influencer on Instagram, and Snoop Dogg formed an unlikely partnership with Martha Stewart, later publishing his own book of soul food recipes. The current kitchen heartthrob may be Emmy Award-winning Jeremy Allen White of "The Bear," but few Hollywood actors are more closely associated with food and fine dining than Stanley Tucci. Since appearing in his much-loved passion project "Big Night" in 1996, he has carved out a knowledgeable foodie sideline to compliment his prolific screen career, writing cookbooks, becoming a reality TV travel host, and going viral with his cocktail recipes. As such, everyone wants to know Tucci's thoughts on food, and he regularly gets asked about his favorite eateries. Perhaps unsurprisingly, one joint close to home is his go-to pick.

Born in Peekskill, New York, to Italian-American parents, the actor often champions cuisine from the Old Country, whether it is waxing nostalgic about his mother's traditional cooking in his memoir, "Taste: My Life Through Food," or praising great Italian restaurants he has encountered on his culinary journeys. Choosing a favorite is always a tricky question for anyone with a love for dining out, but that was the challenge Bon Appétit asked him in an interview in 2016. He's traveled far and wide, but he plumped for a classic Manhattan joint not all that distant from where he grew up and found his passion for food: Scalinatella.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of "Big Night," Bon Appétit's writers interviewed Stanley Tucci and other stars from the movie about a range of food-related topics. When it came down to choosing the best Italian restaurant, Tucci namechecked the extensive portfolio of Mario Batali but settled on one eatery in particular: Scalinatella in New York. He speaks often of his love for authentic Italian cuisine, stating that his usual order is either gnocchi or veal Milanese.

Scalinatella is tucked away on the corner of 3rd Avenue and East 61st Street in the Upper East Side of New York. The unassuming entrance provides few clues that an exclusive old-school Italian restaurant lies within, simply providing shelter for a staircase (Scalinatella means "little stairway") leading to the cellar dining space below. Indeed, it is so exclusive that it doesn't have a functioning website and flies under the radar of many "Best Italian Restaurants in New York" lists.

The slim menu features pretty much what you'd expect for a traditional Italian joint. Fresh pasta and seafood features heavily, plus Bolognese dishes and classics like pollo al pepe verde (chicken with a green peppercorn sauce). And yes, it has a veal section too, which may be why Tucci likes it so much. Scalinatella currently holds a 4-star rating on Tripadvisor, with negative comments highlighting the priciness of the food — something that the indifferent review by The Infatuation also declared "overpriced." Reservations are recommended for dinner.

Stanley Tucci has some other Italian restaurant recommendations outside of the United States. Across the pond in England, his pick is Locanda Locatelli when visiting London. Attached to the Churchill Hotel in the posh neighborhood of Marylebone, the restaurant was opened in 2002 by celebrity chef Giorgio Locatelli after he made a name for himself at Zafferano in the similarly affluent borough of Knightsbridge. Since then, Locanda has earned a Michelin star of its own by serving excellent modern Italian cuisine in an intimate contemporary setting. Despite the high price tag (some of the more expensive bottles of wine run to £997 — or $1,284), the restaurant is noted for its warm and welcoming atmosphere and currently holds a rating of four stars on Tripadvisor.

The Emmy-nominated travel show "Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy" has given the actor a chance to wander around the Old Country, and he is effusive about his favorite destinations to eat and his favorite dishes, from carbonara in Rome to seafood along the Amalfi Coast. Out of all the restaurants he experienced, his choice is La Scoglio, a family-run spot in Marina del Cantone, a lovely area on the Sorrentine Peninsula around a 90-minute drive from Naples. First opened in 1958, the eatery serves the finest locally sourced delicacies from surf and turf and is renowned for its gorgeous terrace overlooking the sea. Tucci isn't the only celebrity guest, either – Jennifer Lopez, Oprah Winfrey, and Rihanna have stopped in for a bite in the past.