That’s a number of clams.
Now they’re actually cookin’ at Lengthy Island’s celeb-fave Vincent’s Clam Bar — the place the crimson sauce that retains them within the black is about to be bought in jars up and down the East Coast.
“We are able to hand you the recipe,” restaurant supervisor Danny Pepi informed The Submit — earlier than co-owner Bobby Marisi jumped in so as to add, “However you’ll by no means be capable of come out with the identical product.”
The sauce bosses on the staple Italian restaurant — a must-stop for celebrities from Don Mattingly to Shaquille O’Neal and Julie Andrews — have inked a cope with Walmart Neighborhood Market to promote their model within the Carolinas and Florida come early 2026, following success down south in Virginia, after years of native reputation.
The product’s New York origins lend road cred in atypical red-sauce markets, in line with Marisi.
Gradual cooking
Vincent’s recipe stands out for its simplicity, minimal texture and “nothing inexperienced” relationship again to 1904 at its unique location at Mott and Hester streets in Little Italy in Manhattan.
“It started as folks shucking clams and oysters on the road, just about the identical method you’d have a scorching canine cart right now,” Marisi mentioned.
Homeowners Giuseppe and Carmela Siano, who named the enterprise after their little boy, wanted one thing to pair with their seafood.
“You needed to stretch {dollars}. So what they did was they determined to make a sauce, mainly a paste, that may be very thick and heavy, which you may get a number of quantity out of,” Marisi mentioned.
They served the sauce delicate, medium and additional scorching and nonetheless do to at the present time in Nassau County.
Marisi mentioned servers give clients a small check of the new earlier than permitting them to order it in full.
“There’s no level in killing your style buds,” Pepi mentioned.
He instructed that newcomers work their method up from delicate to medium on the eatery — which additionally sells “Depart the gun, take the cannoli” shirts and provides free jars to clients celebrating birthdays.
Pondering exterior the pot
Vincent’s expanded to Lengthy Island within the Eighties. Its unique Manhattan location continues to be working however now not affiliated.
The franchise ultimately started promoting jars of its sauce to domestically based mostly King Kullen supermarkets and incrementally moved additional by New York and the tri-state space.
“It’s very easy and splendid — very full-bodied and really flavorful,” Marisi mentioned of the sauce.
Former New York Islander hockey ace Billy Smith, plus ex-Yankees and Mets stars comparable to Mattingly, Tino Martinez, Darryl Strawberry, Gary Carter and Doc Gooden and NBA nice O’Neal quickly turned hooked.
Along with the sports activities stars, Hollywood A-listers have been dipping into the sauce, too — sufficient so that every desk has a number of nameplates of well-known clients, together with Hillary Duff, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jordan Spieth and Ricky Henderson.
“We’d mail it to Billy Joel’s workplace as soon as a month over in Oyster Bay. Julie Andrews liked it, Chazz Palmenteri liked it when he was right here,” Marisi mentioned.
Lengthy Island’s personal Vito from the hit HBO collection the “Sopranos,” a ok a Joe Gannascoli, is one other common on the red-sauce joint that heats by 400 gallons a day.
Folks through the years have tried making a proposal that Marisi couldn’t refuse to purchase the recipe, however he shuts them down earlier than they even blurt out an asking worth.
Different know-it-all clients suppose they’ve found out what makes Vincent’s sauce, which can be the bottom for the restaurant’s widespread alla vodka, such a success.
“Through the years, we’ve heard, ‘They put carrot juice in it. Oh, no, no, they put espresso grinds in it, Tabasco,’ ” Marisi mentioned.
“We had one man are available in along with his apron on, coated in sauce with a pot. ‘I understand how to make this!’
“Buddy, you’re not even shut.”
The precise legendary “lock and key” cooking course of — the place Marisi says the “magic” occurs — is as sealed because the jars the sauce is available in.
“Solely three folks on Earth know, and also you’re two of them,” he mentioned, including that Marisi’s brother, co-owner Tony, is the third.
“We’re not even enthusiastic about succession in the meanwhile. … We’ve acquired a protracted strategy to go.”
