215 Cucina Napoletana

The few times I've walked by and thought maybe I should try it out, one look inside is all you need to scare the crap out of you. It would be like walking into a social club. There is nothing welcoming about the place, despite what I'm sure is amazing food.

"Look around to see authentic pictures on the wall of the most famous gangsters of the 20th century hanging around on the streets of South Brooklyn.""

Exactly. These "most famous gangsters"would be the not too distant relatives of the owner/proprietors. Screw this place. Its a mob front. I have tried to eat there twice, once alone and once with friends. Both times I went in they looked at me like I had taken a wrong turn. It hasn't been reviewed because with a review comes customers and with customers, they can't invite their friends and business associates to have dinner at their private restaurant.

Mysteriously small web presence?

Fugeddaboudit!

Maybe the major press is just scared to expose it. Mr B, on the other hand . . . .

I had a similar experience - walked in and walked right back out.

Too funny, I just walked by the other day and had a similar experience. I feel like that stretch of Carroll Gardens (or "Columbia Waterfront") is so hit or miss. Some places are so nice and charming, and some just scream "go away, I hate you".

yes.. YES! everytime I walk by when I'm walking the dog everyone in there looks at me and gives me a " F-you" look.. the doors are usually open and I've wanted to try it but have been " F'd away"

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Has anyone eaten here???

I need to try this place!

I have soldiered through and placed an order. I wouldn't call it fantastic. No better or worse than Francesco up the street. And my chicken parm entree was $16-18, thereabouts. Expensive for the quality. May very well be a mob front. One night around the holidays I saw no fewer than a dozen fur coats go in. For much better Italian, walk a few blocks to Fragole.

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I assumed this is the place to which Benson was referring in the Red Hook/Mob thread a couple of days ago.

If it's a mob front where visitors are unwelcome, then why does it have a sidewalk chalkboard?

"why does it have a sidewalk chalkboard?"

to make it a very convincing mob front.

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I have eaten here. There are lots of regulars but they were perfectly nice to us. The food was basic tasty red sauce Italian. It was worth it simple for the people watching and live music--it's usually some classic crooner guy singing over prerecorded tracks. If you are going to venture by, check the signs out front to see when there is entertainment--usually Saturday nights. I will not speculate on the rest!

"Simply" not "simple...I wish i coiuld edit mistakes...

The Facts: Frank, the owner was shot 6 or 7 times and survived a hit on his crew, they died, he lived.

It is a mob front. It is also a delicious, authentic Italian restaurant.

I always boycotted the place until I had family in for New Year's Eve and no where to go, so we went there. I was back a few times because it was and is that good, fighting all my urge to boycottt the place.

Great food, bad guys?

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Interesting review, um..." Vinnie Blue Eyes".
And your first post on Brownstoner.

Have we met before? Aren't you Louie the Snake's cousin?

The "social club" comment is a good call. It's basically a place run by old-time locals FOR old-time locals. Born and bred Italian-American oldtimers go here to hang out with one another. (I won't comment on whether there's any active mob presence on hand.) It is rather unwelcoming, but they don't exactly want you to get lost. You can eat here. They won't give you a hard time. I've eaten here once. Many old residents of Red Hook told me the food was like the food they used to eat in the nabe back in the day. If that's so, the food in the old days must have been pretty underwhelming, because nothing wowed me. It was fine, but not memorable. And at the prices they charge, I wasn't encouraged to return. I love the old Columbia Street photos on the wall though.

The food is amazing. You shouldn't let you personal stereotypes get between yourself and a quality Italian meal.

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I agree - this place is awesome and definitely worth the trip. And the service is great - all the waiters are so nice and totally eager to get you whatever you need. I love it there and have had fantastic food.

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Lot of first time reviewers for this one!

I didn't let sterotypes get in the way. There are many "old school" italian joints like this up in north brooklyn. I just don't feel comfortable when I walk into a place, and you can't tell who is hanging out and who is working - and everyone scowls at you.

Word to the first time posters who are obviously shilling for the restaurant they are trying to protect.

I eat in PLENTY of restaurants run by less than desirable characters. From Coney Island to the Bronx to SI and Jersey, there are plenty. And some of them actually don't upnose the "non locals" who might actually be interested in eating some good food. I could care less if a joint is run by the Mob, homosexuals, aliens from another planet or the ghost of Al Capone, if I walk into your place and want a bowl of red sauce Manicot don't look at me like I work for the FBI, because I don't.

My family and I live on Tiffany Place and have eaten at 215 Cucina many times. In 2008, when we were looking for a place to hold my son's baptism party, we wanted to support a local restaurant, and happened across 215. We spoke with Bobby and he invited us to have dinner, to sample the food before booking the party. He was very friendly and the food was classic neopoletan -- great portions, flavorful sauces, hearty pasta and well-prepared meats. We held my son's party there and many of our guests raved about the buffet Bobby and the restaurant prepared. The service was cordial and attentive. The per head cost was competitive with other restaurants that we looked at, and we were able to design our own menu. The bottom line is that this restaurant serves delicious food. Yes, it is not always packed, and maybe newcomers feel less comfortable entering, than those of us who walk by the restaurant daily. But once you speak to Bobby or any of the staff, you will find this to be an inviting restaurant, worth traveling to from other parts of South Brooklyn. If you are too closed minded to try this restaurant, then it is your loss and our gain. More yummy food for us!

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Love how the shills all do the rating bars. I'm with Dirty Hipster. I don't do stereotypes, and I loooooove old school Italian joints. So no bias against 2 Fifteen. It's decent food, not great. I'd call it good food if the prices were lower.

this is called south brooklyn, and always has been. The restaurant is fine, I am sorry so many people are sacred away because if they were in the area 20 years ago, they apparently would have starved.

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I've always found the service at Cucina great and the owners and staff very welcoming. This is authentic Italian food like my mother made (in fact, I actually got a tear in my eye the first time I had the meatballs here. Holy Shit were they good). Not fancy upscale, which is a different animal, or the crap that passes for Italian food in Little Italy. It's way better than the food at, say, Two Toms, which I always found overrated.

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