STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — On Staten Island, where classic Italian restaurants are woven into the local food fabric, music has never been an afterthought. And as viral moments like Barilla’s pasta‑timed playlists spark fresh conversation about mood music and mindful meal consumption, many local chefs say certain soundtracks have been on their minds for decades. From the dining room to the bowels of the kitchen, music sets the tempo as much as the temperament, guiding the easy flow of both food and service.
Bocelli in Grasmere even draws its name from the famed tenor Andrea Bocelli. Sometimes you’ll hear his music there. But at Joe Mozz’s cheese factory in Port Richmond, you really hear the music.
Giuseppe Badalamenti, better known as “Joe Mozz,” says the songs help guide his workdays spent crafting hundreds of pounds of fresh mozzarella.
“When I cook, I enjoy listening to Andrea and Matteo Bocelli, Laura Pausini, Domenico Modugno,” Badalamenti said. The Italy native, now a proud New Yorker, also appreciates Billy Joel. An equal‑opportunity piano lover, he says the instrument itself is part of the appeal, though his heart remains with older Italian songs.
“It makes me relaxed,” Joe Mozz said.
Chef Gianfranco Franzese of Eat Italian in Rossville named Al Bano, praising the singer’s sweeping, romantic pop ballads and his powerhouse voice. “His songs are amazing,” Franzese said.
Chef Massimo Felici of Don Cheech, meanwhile, points to “Caruso” by Lucio Dalla and nearly any of the greatest hits by the Italian singer Mina.
“Mina is the ultimate Italian icon—from the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s and ’90s,” Felici said. “She’s still around. There’s no one bigger than her.”
Felici also credits Dalla not just as a performer but as a songwriter. “Lucio Dalla wasn’t just a singer,” he said. “He wrote all his own material and wrote for many other major artists.”
“You can translate the lyrics of their songs,” Felici added. “If you do, you’ll understand how deep these stories are. This is real Italian music—not the Sopranos and Godfather stuff from the movies. In Italy, this is what we listen to even today.”
Felici was referring to “Caruso,” which imagines the legendary tenor Enrico Caruso in his final days in Sorrento, reflecting on love, memory and the narrowing window of life.
Another song from Felici’s playlists underscores the emotional depth beneath what might otherwise sound like casual humming. “Bella senz’anima” by Riccardo Cocciante endures because it strips romance of sentimentality and reveals love at its most unbalanced—beautiful on the surface, devastating underneath. It’s the kind of song that hits long after the music stops. For Italian speakers, one could say it’s the kind of song that opens the door to a good, ugly cry.
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Eddie DeGorter isn’t a chef, but as an electrician known as “Eddie the Hat” who spends plenty of time in Italian restaurants, he has strong feelings about atmosphere.
“I remember an old Italian restaurant with an antique jukebox,” DeGorter said. “Every record was Frank Sinatra. You didn’t put money in—you just pushed a button for your favorite song. They kept the sound low, the lighting the same. A real lovers’ hangout.”
DeGorter won’t share the exact name of the place. There’s no sign on the building, just “a spot on Mill Road in Brooklyn.” The owner’s name is Frank, so everyone simply says, Meet me at Frank’s place.
It doesn’t open until 2 p.m.—what DeGorter calls a late lunch. When it’s time, Frank steps outside with a container of salt and sprinkles the sidewalk. That’s how you know it’s officially open.Like a well‑made plate of pasta finished with garlicky tomato sauce, the moment is fleeting but deeply felt. DeGorter says it’s a memory that hangs around.
“By the way,” DeGorter adds, “Basilio’s is celebrating its 105th anniversary. Stop by and say hello to Maurice. And if you do get the chance, ask him to put the jukebox back in the dining room.”
