Gargiulo's

"Gargiulo’s on Coney Island isn’t just a restaurant that’s been around since 1907. It’s a place you come to learn the true meaning of the word “gesticulate.” It’s a place where you can eat calamari racanati and oyster’s Rockefeller while enjoying the din of the palazzo-like dining room with 30-foot ceilings. The tuxedo service could not be classier, and while the food won’t blow you away, the whole experience will. But the most fun thing about Gargiulo’s is the dice game you play when you get your check. Choose a number between 1-90, and if your number gets rolled, Gargiulo’s will eat your check faster than you ate your mozzarella in carrozza." - willa moore, will hartman, sonal shah, neha talreja

"The Deal: $45 Lunch, $45 Dinner There are two distinct types of Coney Island days to have. You can sit on the beach, ride The Cyclone, and eat some very famous hot dogs, or you can button yourself up and watch as waiters in red tuxedos deliver you pasta at Gargiulo’s. We always go for the baked clams and calamari racanati when we come here. Just make sure you aren’t wearing flip-flops—Gargiulo’s has a dress code. " - bryan kim, willa moore, sonal shah, neha talreja, will hartman, molly fitzpatrick

"Gargiulo’s has been around since 1907, and it’s the most formal place to eat in Coney Island. If you plan to end your beach day here, you’ll probably need a change of clothes—they don’t allow shorts, white t-shirts, or hats. But assuming you have acceptable attire, you can get some good Italian food at this old-school spot. After the huge complimentary bread basket and some appetizers like baked clams, try a few different pastas, like the fettuccine alfredo (half-orders are plenty of food). When the bow-tied servers bring you the check, they also shake up a jar filled with dice labeled 1-90. If you guess the number they pull out of the jar, your dinner is on the house." - neha talreja, bryan kim, matt tervooren, kenny yang

"Garguilo’s has been a Coney Island staple since its opening in 1907. After being hit hard by Hurricane Sandy in 2012, the restaurant reopened with its old-school, classic Italian cuisine and grand decor. It’s a fancier way to top off your day strolling on the boardwalk or hitting up the aquarium." - Sarah Weldon

"Italian cuisine became so popular post–World War I and through the 1970s that it spread beyond the artsy crowd and out to moderately affluent suburbanites. This was the era of the Italian restaurant as spectacle: Gargiulo's in Brooklyn." - ByPaul Freedman