La Ultima

Tired of the countless trattorias that have opened in recent years, DODA.A wanted this one to be the last! Its name, therefore, is “La Ultima.”

Like a movie title, this name—along with the floor plan of the space, itself highly cinematic—evokes a fallen world forever etched in our collective imagination: that of the Italian-American mafia, immortalized by Scorsese, Coppola, De Palma, and, more recently, by Besson in Léon.

Beneath the historic awning of Gibert Jeune—re-canvased in the colors of Italy for the occasion—the establishment takes on the appearance of a small, traditional Italian restaurant, steeped in the aroma of pizza and fresh pasta. Welcome to Tony’s!

A keen eye, however, will notice the paintings hung on the walls, revealing the customs and lifestyle of the “patron”; the brass-trimmed bar counter, ready to serve delicious cocktails; and, most strikingly, a bulb-lit sign towering above a polished mahogany door with a brass porthole. Like a secret casino, La Ultima hides in Tony’s backroom.

Once through the door, the hidden world reveals itself! Guests are greeted by a black marble platform, adorned with a brass reflecting pool, elegant planters, and baroque floral wallpaper—an architectural stage set that overlooks a mysterious dining room from a world that seemed long forgotten.