Warner Bros.
In addition to being one of the best gangster films of all time, Goodfellas is arguably more Italian than any movie was actually made in Italy. Martin Scorsese— who group up in Little Italy in New York City— plays plenty of tribute to his heritage, and while it might not play a leading role, his use of food throughout the film adds an authentic (if somewhat stereotypical) touch to the story.
While the famous tracking shot in the restaurant scene focuses mostly on the atmosphere, there are plenty of pivotal scenes with a focus on food, including the one where they stop at Tommy’s mother’s house to get a couple of objects ideal for disposing of a body and are forced to sit down eat while she shows off her impressive painting abilities.
However, there’s nothing more iconic than the cooking scene in prison featuring incarcerated mobsters making a traditional dinner.
There are plenty of Italian restaurants out there, but if you want the full Goodfellas experience, you don’t have to look any farther than Beginnings Restaurant on Long Island. According to Newsday, the Atlantic Beach eatery has designed a five-course meal inspired by scenes in the movie.
Here’s the full menu:
Wise Guys Eat Like Kings In The Joint
Ziti, tomato gravy, a variety of meats, and razor-sliced garlic.
Paulie Turns His Back
Sausage and peppers, accompanied by the “I’m Funny How?” cocktail featuring whiskey, red pepper, and bitters.
Don’t Let The Sauce Stick
Veal cutlets with fried capers and string beans with capers and oil.
The Spicy Wiseguy
Scungilli and calamari in fra diavolo sauce with black pepper-laced friselle
Henry and Karen’s Wedding Cake
Tiramisu topped with a macaron and served with a “Like A Schnook” digestif of Amaretto di Saronno, coconut, and lemon
The menu will debut on March 21st, but if you can’t make the trek, then you might want to take a look at how to make the sauce from the prison scene on your own.