At Emilio’s Ballato, fame can get you a table, but it might not get you into the back room. Entry is granted personally by Emilio Vitolo, the actor and restaurateur who presides over the downtown New York institution. Inside, celebrities, artists, and politicians mix with neighborhood regulars around tables laden with red-sauce classics served family style. The only qualification? “I gotta like you,” he says.
Vitolo joined the family business in 2008, almost 20 years after his father took over the restaurant that first opened on Houston Street in 1956. It feels appropriate that his personal style belongs to an earlier era: He mostly wears bespoke suits and cap-toe shoes.
The most modern thing about him is his watch collection—and his attitude toward it. When he acquired his ultrarare Patek Philippe “American Beauties” Calatrava, one of only 15 in existence, his 1-year-old daughter promptly put it in her mouth. He considers that patina. “Hopefully she holds on to it and can tell the story I just told you,” he says. “And that’s the beautiful thing about watch collecting.”
What have you done recently for the first time?
I opened up a production company. I have about 14 artists who perform in and out of the streets—mostly jazz musicians with a little R&B as well.
Which apps do you use the most?
I’m really not an app guy, to be honest. I try to stay off my phone as much as possible. The only things I look at frequently are email and, obviously, text messages.
What is the first thing you do in the morning?
I hang out with my daughter. We have breakfast, do puzzles, and she likes to play “coffee shop” in the house. When the weather is nice, we’ll go in the pool.
Vitolo in the dining room of his Long Island mansion, built in 1906.
Weston Wells
What in your wardrobe do you wear most often?
My suspenders. I have all different colors.
Do you have a uniform for certain occasions?
I try to dress up every day: nice button-up, dress pants, suspenders, a watch, sometimes a tie. When it’s cooler out, I’ll be wearing a full suit every day.
What do you crave most at the end of the day?
A drink.
What is your favorite cocktail, and how do you make it?
I’m a bourbon guy, neat. Willett Pot Still Reserve is one of my favorites, but my doctor told me to stay away from bourbon because of the sugar. They told me that if I’m going to drink, I should drink something lighter, so I try to stick with tequila.
How do you find calm?
I find calm when I throw my phone away and hang out with my kid. That’s calming for me.
Who is your guru?
I would have to say my father. He and I never had that good of a relationship growing up because he was always working and never around, which I didn’t understand until later in life. Once I got into the business and had my own child, he basically said, “You know, I would have loved to be home with you guys all the fucking time, but… I had to do what I had to do as a man and provide for you guys.”
What is the most recent thing you’ve added to your collection?
A Patek Philippe Ref. 5089G-149 from the American Beauties collection. It’s a solid-gold Calatrava with a hand-painted enamel dial, one of 15 in the world. It’s a beautiful fucking piece.
What is the most recent thing you regret not buying?
The anniversary Nautilus with the Tiffany stamp.
Who is your dealer?
London Jewelers. Scott takes care of me over there.
From left: His collection of Patek Philippe watches; the colorful suspenders he wears every day.
Weston Wells
What is the most impressive dish you cook?
My favorite is seafood, so I’d have to go with linguine alle vongole. I can make that dish in my sleep.
What is your exercise routine?
I’d much rather work on my house—cut the lawn, cut down trees and branches, and do all the gardening. I have four and a half acres of property, so it’s a lot of work. Just imagine one person doing all that work by himself. I think that’s better than the gym.
What does success look like to you?
Success for me is just knowing that my fiancée and my kid have everything they need—clothes on their backs and food to eat. As long as we have that, I think we’re successful.
If you could learn a new skill, what would it be?
Probably coding. It’s very complex.
What is your definition of luxury?
Having a happy and healthy family.
Where do you get your clothes?
I partnered up with a buddy of mine from Salerno, Italy. His family had a suit company that they opened up in 1986…. He and I have been working together on suits and shirts and stuff like that. But if I don’t wear my own stuff, I can walk into Hugo Boss, buy a 38R suit right off the rack, and leave with no alterations.
How would you describe your style?
Old-school—that’s all I’ve got to say. I feel like I should have been born in the ’20s or ’30s because I love dressing up.
What advice do you wish you had followed?
Not going out every night and partying. I wasted so much money.
Vitolo, who’d rather drive than be driven, behind the wheel of his 1967 Volvo P1800.
Weston Wells
What is the last piece of advice you gave?
Be passionate about what you do, because if you do it with passion, failure is not an option. The drive is completely different than doing something just for money.
Drive or be driven?
Drive.
What’s your favorite hotel?
I’m not really a vacation guy, but I went to Greece and stayed at the Four Seasons Astir Palace. They have their own little private island area over there that used to be an old military base. It was magical.
What is always in your carry-on luggage?
You’re going to think I’m crazy for this, but I normally don’t like traveling with bags. I’ll just get on the flight because I don’t like carrying shit, and I’ll buy a bunch of clothes wherever I’m going.
What car are you most attached to?
I was in line to get a Ferrari 360. One of my favorite Ferraris is a 360 Spider, manual gated. But I put everything on hold the second I bought the house and had to play it chill in regards to buying toys.
His 1950s MG TD roadster.
Weston Wells
Do you still write letters?
I wrote a letter probably about a month ago to a friend named Michael. I had an artist friend make him a portrait, and I wrote a letter on the back of it about how grateful I am for him and everything he’s done for my family, and that I love him very much.
What kind of music makes you happy?
Classical music. It’s very calming and relaxing.
Authors
Taylor Stoddard
Taylor Stoddard is a freelance journalist covering the intersections of luxury and culture from haute horology to hidden-gem hotels, and celebrity interviews on the passions that define them…
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