There is nothing higher than the loyalty of his team.
The owner of beloved Brooklyn pizzeria Lucali rebuffed the Los Angeles Dodgers when they tried to get a reservation at the hot spot Sunday night — saying he loves the Yankees too much to feed their World Series rivals.
“Yes, that’s not happening, there’s not going to be a collision between the two guys in the Locale,” owner Mark Iacono told a team representative — referring to the viral, enthusiastic celebratory stunt that Dodger players flaunted during the playoffs.
Mark Iacono banned the two-man bump at his pizzeria. Steven Young USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Conn
The native Brooklynite, who has been a die-hard Bombers fan since childhood, declined the 30-person reservation on the eve of Monday’s Game 3 at Yankee Stadium because he could not in good conscience serve the enemy.
“My father was turning in his grave,” Iacono said when contacted by The Post. “No Ohtani’s pizza here.”
The Brooklyn joint has become a favorite among Yankees fanatics. Stephen Young’s pizzeria Mark Iacono in Carroll Gardens often draws lines around the building. Steven Yang
Iacono — whose star-studded brick oven restaurant often draws lines around the building in Carroll Gardens — said the Dodgers representative, who called on Oct. 23, understood why he was playing culinary hardball and accepted the rebuff.
On Tuesday night, Yankees players were talking about disdaining the red sauce after the team’s upset win, according to a Yankees insider.
Any restaurant that serves anti-Americans should be “cancelled from New York City,” the insider half-jokingly said.
The bat was given to Mark Iacono, founder and owner of Locali, by Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge. Steven Yang
But at least one Dodgers player ended up eating Italian food in the Big Apple on Sunday.
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman dined at star-studded restaurant Emilio’s Ballato in Soho on World Series night out, according to restaurant founder Emilio Vitolo.
“When he’s in New York, Freeman loves coming here,” said Vitolo — who claimed he would still fight for the Bombers despite throwing a grub at their opponent on the field.
Mark Iacono declined a Dodgers representative’s request to hold 30 people. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Asked why he agreed to feed the enemy, Vitolo pointed to a picture of Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge on the wall Wednesday afternoon and said, “I love everyone.”
“I hope to see the Yankees blow them out of the water tonight,” he said.
His son, executive chef Anthony Vitolo, quipped that The Post caught him feeding the wrong team.
“How did you guys know that information?” he asked. “We’re supposed to be a Yankees restaurant.”
The Dodgers lead the Yankees by a 3-to-1 record in the World Series. The two teams are scheduled to face off again on Wednesday evening.
