Scenes From An Italian Restaurant

Rule number one of eating at an Italian restaurant with alleged mob ties (but there's evidence of that at Rao's): Keep your complaints to yourself. Rule number two: Shut up.

More details are emerging about the shooting at Rao's Italian Restaurant in East Harlem which left Albert Cicerelli (photo) dead. The Daily News (and many other papers) reports that when Rena Strober began to sing "Don't Rain On My Parade," Cicerelli complained, "Oh God. Could someone shut this f–––ing broad up?" Louis Barone said, "Hey, watch your mouth. Mind your manners. You're talking about a lady." Cicerelli responded, "F––– you, I'll f––– you in the ass and I'll split you in two." The two argued some more, until 67 year old Barone fatally shot 37 year old Cicerelli. Barone tells the Post, "I lost face. I had to defend my honor. I had no choice but to shoot him. I had no choice but to kill him."

The NY Times looked at the crime as well as how the murder wasn't that big a deal to the neighborhood, at least not to the homeless guy rooting through the dumpster out front. The Post also notes that Rao's did "bang up" business last night, post murder.

Moblike names mentioned in the articles: Louis Lump Lump (Barone), Nicky the Vest (the Rao's bartender), Frankie No (Rao's owner Frank Pellegrino)