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Key people at Lavo New York.
LAVO New York, a Tao Group Hospitality brand, delivers sophisticated Italian dining. Specializing in signature meatball and homemade pasta, it currently operates via delivery and catering. Historically, LAVO integrated high-end dining with a vibrant nightclub, positioning itself as a unique Manhattan destination.
The concept originated from Tao Group Hospitality co-founders Noah Tepperberg and Jason Strauss. Their early 2000s vision was to create immersive venues blending upscale dining with nightlife. Launched in 2010, LAVO New York embodied this, offering a comprehensive culinary and entertainment experience that became a prominent fixture in the hospitality sector.
LAVO New York serves an upscale clientele seeking premium Italian fare and a sophisticated social scene. Its immediate vision focuses on securing a new Manhattan location to re-establish full-service restaurant and entertainment operations. This highlights its commitment to evolving the brand and maintaining its position as a premier luxury hospitality provider.
Key people at Lavo New York.
LAVO New York is an upscale Italian restaurant and former nightlife venue in Midtown Manhattan, part of the Tao Group Hospitality conglomerate, known for signature dishes like the 16-ounce LAVO Meatball and the 20-layer Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake.[3][4][5] It generates approximately $27 million in annual revenue with around 21 employees, blending high-end dining with event hosting for corporate functions and social gatherings, while serving celebrities and affluent patrons through delivery and catering post its physical closure.[1][5][6][8]
Originally combining a vibrant restaurant with an underground nightclub, LAVO NYC attracted crowds with its eclectic menu, late-night hours, and $90 average check, establishing it as a key player in New York's entertainment and hospitality scene.[8][9]
LAVO New York opened in 2010 in Midtown Manhattan as part of Tao Group Hospitality, which traces its roots to 2000 and was formally founded in 2009, headquartered in New York City.[3][9] Helmed by Chef Partner Ralph Scamardella, it quickly gained fame for Italian cuisine and an adjacent subterranean nightclub, positioning it as an uptown nightlife hotspot despite competition from nearby Tao.[3][4]
The venue operated successfully for 13 years until January 2024, when its 58th Street location closed due to the building's redevelopment by a new landlord; it now focuses on delivery, catering, and plans for a Manhattan reopening.[3][5]
While LAVO New York operates in hospitality rather than tech, it rides trends in experiential dining, celebrity-driven nightlife, and digital food delivery amplified by platforms like Goldbelly.[4] Its timing aligns with post-pandemic shifts toward hybrid venue models—dining plus events—and Vegas-style expansions into markets like San Diego (2022), leveraging robust bar scenes, conventions, and young professionals.[3][7]
As part of Tao Group, which boasts top-grossing U.S. restaurants like Tao Las Vegas, LAVO influences the ecosystem by setting standards for high-revenue, multi-concept venues (restaurants, clubs, rooftops under 44 brands), driving competition and innovation in urban hospitality amid redevelopment pressures.[3][7][8]
LAVO New York is poised for a Manhattan relaunch, capitalizing on its proven revenue model and Tao Group's global footprint, including recent openings in London (2024) and Los Angeles (2022).[3][5] Trends like delivery growth, event demand, and international expansion will shape its path, potentially evolving into more tech-integrated experiences such as app-based reservations or virtual events.
Its influence may grow by blending nostalgia with modern adaptability, reinforcing Tao Group's dominance in high-end hospitality and attracting investors eyeing resilient consumer-facing brands. This positions LAVO to reclaim its status as NYC's premier Italian-nightlife hybrid.
