Aj Pappalardo, the son of Giuseppe Pappalardo, the founder of Joe & Pat's in Staten Island, wanted to create an institution l ... ike his father's in Manhattan. He was inspired by the 57 year old family recipe and created his own instant classic. Rubirosa is a family-run, Italian-American, neighborhood restaurant and pizzeria. In addition to our famous pizza, we proudly offer Italian-American classics featuring a wide array of pastas made fresh in-house daily. Rubirosa is located in the heart of Nolita and its clientele bridges the gap between the old and new neighborhood regulars. Rubirosa's homey and comfortable atmosphere welcomes every occasion, from family-style group dining to drinks and antipasti at our cozy bar. read more