Mob Friend on House Arrest Sneaks Out for a Staten Island Slice

Mobster couldn’t resist NYC pizza, despite being on house arrest

While on house arrest in Staten Island for racketeering, John “Porky” Zancocchio, the 60-year-old consigliere to the Bonanno crime family, slipped out to a nearby pizzeria, Italian restaurant, and bakery. Zancocchio was reportedly allowed out for his aunt’s funeral, but he extended the terms of that release to stop for some food at Bella Mama Rose, Denino’s pizzeria, and an unnamed bakery. As a result, he’s now back at Metropolitan Correctional Center facing up to 20 years in prison for extortion, loansharking, wire and mail fraud, narcotics distribution, and conspiracy to commit murder. This would be his third time behind bars.

Openings, closings, and coming attractions

The newest vendor in Columbus Circle subway food hall Turnstyle is Daa! Dumplings, a Russian dumpling purveyor that sells steamed or boiled pelmeni stuffed with pork, beef, chicken, potato, or veal. In Brooklyn, Shanghai street food restaurant (and popular soup dumpling seller) Yaso Tangbao reopens its Downtown location at 148 Lawrence St. after a renovation. Meanwhile, four-year-old Bowery brewery Paulaner has closed for unknown reasons.

Goldman Sachs exec moonlights as a DJ

Finance bros might be flocking to Williamsburg nightclub Schimanski — Goldman Sachs co-president David Solomon DJ’ed at the club on Saturday night. Solomon’s alter ego is apparently “D-Sol,” which he donned for three hours with SiriusXM’s Liquid Todd. This is likely a vanity project for the exec, considering his annual salary is reportedly $1.85 million.

LES Sweet Chick screws up gas for entire apartment building

The Lower East Side location of chicken and waffles restaurant Sweet Chick has been off since late January, so it pivoted its concept to a waffle shell taqueria in the meantime. But it turns out the gas was shut off for alleged “use of gas without authorization,” and that during the fix, gas has now been shut off to the entire building. Needless to say, residents are not happy.

Westville updates its menu for the first time in 14 years

Westville lovers will be excited to hear that the American mini-chain has added new vegetables to its menu for the first time since it opened in 2003. New sides include a warm lentil salad with carrots, onions, and celery as well as roasted eggplant with cucumbers and tahini. There are other new brunch, dinner, and lunch items, too, like a farro and mango salad and a fried chicken sandwich.

Watch the entire chicken yakitori prix fixe at Torishin