Zi' Pep (CLOSED)

Owner Gerard Renny—the small-plates king behind Stuzzicheria and Pane Panelle—pays homage to his family's Brooklyn Italian roots with this throwback clubhouse in the East Village. He named the joint after his grandfather's late East New York restaurant, Pep's Bar & Grill—a haunt straight out of Goodfellas where his uncle, Brooklyn Democratic boss Meade Esposito, held court with neighborhood associates. This spot recalls that bygone era with vintage black-and-white photos of the original, a copper-topped bar and antique mirrors. Chef Paul Di Bari's old-school menu also channels the past with remakes of family favorites (fusilli with ragù and buffalo ricotta) and Southern Italian classics (pork ribs alla pizziola).