A History of Sparks
In the early 1930s, Rocco Cetta, his wife Maria and their young son Michael, emigrated from Sant’Angelo dei Lombardi, Italy. As young men, Mike and his younger brother Pasquale, fondly known as Pat, joined their father in his butcher business. During that time they developed their palate for wine, by crushing grapes in their cellar and making their own vintage, a custom common among many Italian immigrants.
The Cettas poured their passion for food and wine into the restaurant business. In 1966 the brothers bought Sparks Pub, a small English pub on East 18th Street owned by a man named Don Sparks and converted it into a steakhouse. In 1977, they moved the restaurant to its current site on East 46th Street, which, now occupies 27,000 square feet and seats 684 guests.
Sparks is recognized worldwide for aged beef and fine wine and a variety of seafood, second to none. A lifelong love and appreciation of wine is apparent in our massive library of wines from around the world, including California, Bordeaux and Italy and especially hard-to-find aged wines.
Diners at Sparks are often here to people-watch as well as to dine. You never know who you might be seated next to. Our beautiful interior is a much sought-after location for tv and films, see if you recognize Sparks in your favorite tv shows and movie.
