With Valentine’s Day coming up in 2 weeks, we started thinking about the restaurants where we first went on dates many years ago and one of them was Gino’s on Lexington Avenue.

This restaurant was opened in 1945 by Gino Circiello. Gino's specialized in moderately priced #Italian 🇮🇹food 🍝 and was known for its tomato-red wallpaper printed with 314 leaping zebras 🦓 . Ed Sullivan and Frank Sinatra often dined at Gino's aka Gino of Capri.

Gino passed away in 2001 at age 89 and his long-time waiter, Salvatore Doria, took ownership of the restaurant along with the chef, Michele Miele.

Sadly, they were forced to close the this historic restaurant in 2010 when their rent was increased by $8,000 a month to over $30,000 a month.

A cupcake cafe with an ATM-type cupcake dispenser (Sprinkles Cupcakes) took over the #storefront.

• • Please let us know what special NYC restaurant or bar you first had dates with or met your current sweetheart 💕.

If we have a photo of it (and we have thousands of restaurants and bars in our collection) we will post it and dedicate it to you and your loved one!