Patrizia’s in Williamsburg names spaghetti after Jose Alvarado

That’s Amore

An Italian restaurant in Brooklyn is expressing its admiration for Jose Alvarado by creating a dish in his honor. Alvarado, who grew up in the neighborhood, now shines as a star player for the Knicks.

At Patrizia’s located on Broadway in Williamsburg, the menu features spaghetti and meatballs named after the point guard, presented in a bread bowl shaped like a basketball.

“He makes this neighborhood special, especially for the kids. It helps them feel connected to the team,” said Antonio Alaio, 37, who has been running the restaurant since 2009.

Alaio noted that this dish was renamed for the Knicks’ special menu, which also includes the popular blue and orange Jalen Brunson Rigatoni and a complimentary shot if the team secures a victory.

Alvarado spent his childhood playing basketball in Williamsburg before his family moved to Queens, where he quickly became a standout at Christ the King High School in Middle Village.

Alaio mentioned that many locals fondly recall Alvarado from his younger years.

Given the team’s remarkable season, it seemed fitting to commemorate him on the menu, especially after learning that the players enjoyed the $26 pasta dish.

“We discovered that his favorite dish was spaghetti with meatballs, so we thought it would be a nice tribute,” Alaio explained.

“We designed a bread bowl that looks like a basketball to give it a unique touch.”

Since the introduction of Alvarado and Brunson’s menu on Monday, a surge of fans has come by to try the pasta, with around 600 pounds sold. Even Alvarado’s family visited and enjoyed the dish, according to Alaio, who is a lifelong Knicks supporter.

“We’re planning to keep it on the menu even after the game. Who knows? Alvarado spaghetti and meatballs in a bread bowl might just become a permanent offering,” he remarked.

“In Game 4, they couldn’t have won without him. His presence alongside Brunson transformed the game,” he reflected, recalling Alvarado’s pivotal three-pointer in the fourth quarter.