Cleveland Classics: The New York Spaghetti House

Tucked away in downtown Cleveland, The New York Spaghetti House was a place where people gathered for good food and familiar faces. For 74 years, it served steaming plates of Italian comfort food and shared stories with locals, travelers, and celebrities. When it closed in 2001, with a brief reopening and closing in 2005, and the building was demolished in 2015, it left behind more than an empty lot—it left a history of hard work, kindness, and meals people never forgot.
In 1927, Mario Brigotti, an Italian immigrant from Sutri, Italy, opened the restaurant at 2173 East 9th Street. Mario didn’t arrive in Cleveland right away—he first worked in New York City at the Plaza Hotel, building his skills in hospitality. But it was Rome’s neighborhood trattorias that first sparked his love for the business.

When he visited Cleveland, the city’s slower pace drew him in. He and his wife Maria settled there, turning a modest basement space into an Italian eatery. The dim lighting and close-knit atmosphere reminded Mario of the spaghetti joints back in New York, which inspired the restaurant’s name.
Before long, The New York Spaghetti House became a popular spot for performers from the Empire Theatre. Vaudeville stars like Jimmy Durante, Mickey Rooney, and W.C. Fields often came in after their shows. Maria would sit by the window, enjoying her meal, drawing the attention of curious passersby. In the back, Mario handled everything—cooking, pouring drinks, and chatting with customers, always with a friendly smile.
The early years weren’t easy, but Mario’s grit and warmth kept the restaurant going. Even when business was slow, the place felt alive with conversation and music.

When the Great Depression hit, Mario and Maria didn’t just run a restaurant—they ran a lifeline. Customers would barter for meals with small trinkets or handmade crafts, many of which ended up decorating the walls. During World War II, the Brigottis took things further, serving free meals to soldiers passing through town. For Clevelanders, Mario and Maria were more than chefs; they were neighbors who understood hard times and showed kindness when it was needed most.
In the 1950s, Mario’s son, Jim Brigotti, took over the family business. He brought a fresh polish to the place, adding murals by Hungarian-born artist John Cgosz—vivid scenes of Venice, Florence, and Naples that transported diners straight to Italy. The red-and-white checkered tablecloths and dark wood-paneled walls stayed, grounding the space in old-world charm.

The restaurant’s signature “brown sauce” became the stuff of legend—a hearty, savory blend of tomatoes, herbs, and slow-cooked meat that diners couldn’t get enough of. People begged for the recipe, but the family kept the exact ingredients under lock and key. Even after the restaurant closed, loyal customers could still find jars of the famous sauce at local grocery stores—a little taste of nostalgia in every bite.
The New York Spaghetti House’s menu was packed with Italian-American comfort classics. Some favorites included:
- Artichokes Franchese: Crispy, golden-brown artichokes in a tangy lemon butter sauce.
- Veal Parmigiana: Tender, breaded veal smothered in marinara and melted mozzarella.
- Shrimp Fra Diavolo: Spicy shrimp served over spaghetti, swimming in rich marinara.
- Eggplant Parmigiana: Layers of eggplant baked with marinara and cheese until bubbling.
In 1999, the Brigotti family expanded their dream with a second location in Westlake. But despite their best efforts, the new spot struggled to draw regulars and closed within a year. By 2001, the original downtown restaurant followed suit, ending 74 years of family dinners, date nights, and celebrations.
However, in 2004, the family made one last attempt to resurrect the magic. The New York Spaghetti House reopened for a brief time, drawing crowds of loyal customers eager to relive their fond memories. But the revival didn’t last long.

In 2015, the beloved building on East 9th was torn down. Yet even as the walls crumbled, the memories built within them remained strong. Those who grew up eating there still share stories of twinkling lights, hearty laughter, and Mario’s “Farla Bene” philosophy—“Make it nice.”
The New York Spaghetti House was a place where people came to feel at home. Mario Brigotti’s dream of serving good food with an open heart became a legacy that spanned generations. Today many Clevelanders fondly remember that magical little restaurant, with its inviting architecture, and its cozy interior, it’s history, it’s downtown charm, and how it was in many ways uniquely Cleveland.
Even in 2025, 10 years since the restaurant was torn down, you can find mentions of it on Cleveland-centric forums like Reddit and TripAdvisor. For example one TripAdvisor user wrote:
I don’t know of any restaurant in town that has the famous “brown sauce” of the NYSH.
On a Reddit forum one Clevelander desperately appeals to the public for the brown sauce recipe:
A long time ago, The New York Spaghetti House existed in Cleveland and was famous for their brown sauce. Even after the recipe closed, some stores in the area still sold brown sauce under The New York Spaghetti label. As far as I know, the sauce hasn’t been sold in years though.
I have tried to find a recipe because I miss this brown sauce so much, but no luck.
Anyone know if one exists??