Originally opened in 1994 as a rustic antique store on NoHo’s cobblestoned Bond Street, il Buco is today one of the most beloved restaurants in New York City. As pioneers on Bond Street, independent filmmaker Donna Lennard and her then-partner, Alberto Avalle, invited their antique customers to join them for their midday “pranzo” before procuring a wine and beer license and creating an eclectic Mediterranean menu—part Italian, part Spanish, part invention—dedicated to sourcing the greatest prime ingredients both locally and in Avalle’s native Italy. The il Buco culinary philosophy is firmly rooted in the Italian tradition of seasonality and the integrity of all ingredients. Our cuisine is inspired by mother Italy as well as the Iberian Peninsula. We spend an enormous amount of time sourcing ingredients and derive great pleasure in working with our producers to bring the best product to your table. What we can’t find locally we source in Italy through a network of family and friends developed over the course of our lifetime.