# Sparks Steak House

Sparks Steak House is a steakhouse restaurant in New York City, located at 210 East 46th Street (between Second and Third avenues) in Midtown Manhattan.

## History

In the early 1930s, Rocco Cetta, his wife Maria, and their young son Michael emigrated from Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi, Italy. Born Angelo Michele, named after Michelangelo, Michael later modernized his name. After some childhood illnesses at the age of three, he and his mother traveled by ship to the United States through Ellis Island, joining his father in Brooklyn, New York. The family owned a neighborhood "Mom and Pop Supermarket," where Michael quickly learned about food preparation and the butchering of meats.
Michael excelled academically, skipping grades and later attending the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he graduated with a degree in History in 1948. After working for Johnson and Johnson and serving two years in the Army during the Korean War, Michael transitioned to a manufacturing firm, where he met his wife, Marsha. The couple married in 1963 and welcomed their son, Steven Michael, in 1964.
In 1966, Michael and his younger brother Pasquale (Pat) decided to venture into the restaurant business, purchasing Sparks Pub, a small English pub on East 18th Street, and converting it into Sparks Steak House. The steakhouse was originally located at 123 East 18th Street but moved to its current location on East 46th Street in 1977. Today, the restaurant occupies 27,000 square feet and seats up to 684 guests.
The Cetta brothers perfected the art of aging beef, a hallmark of Sparks Steak House. Their dedication to quality and innovation set the foundation for the restaurant's enduring reputation.
Sparks Steak House has consistently been recognized for excellence, including receiving Wine Spectator Magazine's prestigious Grand Award for 23 consecutive years. This achievement reflects the restaurant’s unmatched commitment to quality and its extensive wine library.
Sparks Steak House’s elegant interior is a significant part of its charm, with the main dining room serving as a hub for its world-class dining experience.
Pat Cetta, known for his charismatic personality and expertise as a wine sommelier, was an integral part of Sparks Steak House. Pat died on the evening of January 24, 2000, following a heart attack in his apartment. His legacy, alongside Michael's, continues to define Sparks Steak House.
Michael died on Sunday, October 20, 2024, with his wife, Marsha, by his side after one week of hospice care. His legacy lives on, with Sparks Steak House continuing under the leadership of the second generation. Steven Michael Cetta, Michael’s son, now owns and manages the restaurant, ensuring that the family’s dedication to excellence and tradition remains at the heart of the business.
Diners at Sparks often come as much for the experience and atmosphere as for the cuisine. Known for its elegant interior and iconic exterior, Sparks has become a sought-after filming location for television and movies, adding to its allure as a New York City icon.
In 1985, Gambino crime family boss Paul Castellano and underboss Thomas Bilotti were gunned down outside its entrance on the evening of December 16. The hit was given under the orders of John Gotti.
Castellano, a regular patron of Sparks, was killed by four men conspicuously dressed in trench coats and Russian fur hats. Alongside him, Gambino underboss Thomas Bilotti was also killed. The hit was orchestrated by John Gotti, who watched from a nearby car to ensure “Big Paul” was killed.
The assassination was carried out with military precision, timed perfectly as Castellano arrived at the restaurant during the bustling Christmas season. “It was daring in the sense that it was done in Manhattan, in the Christmas season, early in the evening,” noted Howard Blum, author of *Gangland: How the FBI Broke the Mob*.
At the time of the murder, Castellano was the head of the Gambino crime family, one of New York City’s most powerful Mafia families. Known for his imposing presence and strict leadership, Castellano had recently issued an edict prohibiting family members from trading drugs, fearing increased federal scrutiny. However, Gotti, a rising member of the Gambino family, defied this order and continued his heroin operations, eventually drawing Castellano’s ire. Facing the possibility of retribution from Castellano, Gotti preemptively planned the hit to secure his position as the family’s leader.
After Castellano’s death, Gotti succeeded him as the Gambino family boss, becoming one of the most notorious mob leaders in history. Dubbed the "Teflon Don" for his ability to evade conviction, Gotti went to trial three times in the late 1980s without a single conviction. However, in 1992, he was finally found guilty on numerous charges, including Castellano’s murder. Key to the conviction was testimony from Salvatore “Sammy the Bull” Gravano, a former Gambino member who revealed details of the assassination, including the use of walkie-talkies to coordinate the hit and his presence alongside Gotti in the car during the murder.
Gotti was sentenced to life in prison, where he died in 2002. The assassination of Castellano and Bilotti outside Sparks Steak House remains one of the most infamous mob hits in American history, cementing the restaurant’s place in Mafia lore.

## Reviews

In 2003, Wine Spectator gave a Restaurant Awards to Sparks Steak House.
In 2004, New York Magazine gave it the award of the Best Places to eat in New York City.
In 2005, New York Magazine – Adam Platt's – Where to Eat.
In 2005, GQ Magazine voted Sparks Steak House in the top 10 Restaurants That Still Matter.
In 2007, Sparks Steak House is voted The Greatest Steakhouse in Manhattan by Yahoo.
In 2010, Sparks Steak House is voted one of the top 100 restaurants in America.
In 2013, Zagat gave it a food rating of 26 (out of 30), and ranked it the #2 steakhouse in New York City.