I've been reading Joe Pistone's new book, Donnie Brasco: Unfinished Business, and he talks about the Vesuvio restaurant in NYC, which was frequented by members of the NYC mob, especially the Bonanno crew.

Is this real restaurant the basis for either the original Vesuvio from the first season, or Nuevo Vesuvio from later seasons?

I doubt it DJ, but you never know. Vesuvio is actually a very common name for an Italian restaurant.

As far as Pistone's new book, what an ego, huh ?

Is the book any good?

I'm really enjoying it. It does quite a bit to fill in some blanks in the Donnie Brasco movie, and also the truth/fiction in that film.

I'd recommend it. It's a decent read, though you can tell Pistone isn't a writer.