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Michael Imperioli’s Scarlet Turns Up the Heat on the UWS
February 7, 2024, 7:04.45 pm ET

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Photos: Scarlet

Scarlet, Soprano’s start Michael Imperioli’s upscale speakeasy, has become the place to be and be seen on the Upper West Side. Our spies tell just snagging a spot at the bar can be quite a fete given that the place is “walk-ins” only. They also tell us that the bartenders are right on point delivering drinks with a smile even on the busiest of nights.

That is the work of Imperioli and his wife, Victoria, who partnered with restaurateur, Jeremy Wladis to create Scarlet, located at 468 Amsterdam Ave near West 83rd Street. Wladis operates The Restaurant Group whose popular UWS spots include Good Enough to Eat, Freds NYC and Nina’s Great Burrito Bar.

Victoria Imperioli, meanwhile, is the force behind the restaurant’s glam with its gold accents, red bar and plush red banquettes. Scarlet also draws its inspiration from Michael’s grandfather who was a bootlegger during prohibition.

Mixologist Matt Burkhardt is known for his signature cocktails employing trendy techniques like fat-washing, smoking, and clarification. Burkhardt’s concoctions include the Scarlet Letter, a play on the restaurants red decor, made with Pomegranate Infused Grey Goose Vodka, red wine gastrique, Luxardo Cherry, Cointreau, lemon, cardamom bitters, and thyme. Then there is The White Lotus named after the dark comedy Imperioli stars in, also on HBO. The drink is a mix of of Clarified Don Q Cristal Rum, pineapple, yuzu, coconut sugar, and champagne. Visitors will also find a series of cocktails inspired by the Roaring Twenties.

Dishes meant for sharing dominate the menu like Mini French Dip Sliders, Fritto Misto with shrimp, clams and calamari, and Caviar with crispy fingerling potatoes to name a few.

Imperioli recently joined fellow cast member Loraine Bracco at the Emmy Awards to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Soprano’s this year in a tribute to late actor James Gandoldfini. A new book about Gandoldfini, “On Locations: Lessons Learned from My Life On Set with The Sopranos and in the Film Industry,” was just released. According to Page Six, the book claims the Soprano’s star had an “apparent discomfort” with fame.

As for Imperioli’s Scarlet Lounge, fame appears to come naturally.



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