Is it just another evening at the hugely popular Italian restaurant of proprietor and bookmaker Louis Cropa in New York? Anything but as tonight’s guests include; a local police detective and his wife specially invited by the owner; on the balcony rival bookmaker gangsters from Queens who want to become partners in the restaurant; in the corner renowned food critic ‘the food nymph’ is her usual demanding self; and at the bar, seemingly unnoticed, is Ken. As the evening continues enter Duncan, inveterate gambler and sous-chef on-the-line in the frenetic kitchen downstairs, who acts as the catalyst that causes the evening to draw to its inevitable, explosive, deadly conclusion.

Dinner Rush (2000)
  • Rating: (3,337 votes)
  • Tagline:Revenge is a dish best served cold. »
  • Runtime:99 minutes
  • Director: Bob Giraldi
  • Country:USA
  • Actors:
    Louis Cropa
    Danny Aiello
    Gary Lieberman
    John Rothman
    Enrico Coventie
    Frank Bongiorno
    Lucy Clemente
    Lexie Sperduto
    Adrian
    Zainab Jah
    Paolo
    Alex Corrado
    Carmen (as Mike McGlone)
    Michael McGlone
    Detective Drury
    Walt MacPherson
    Natalie Clemente
    Polly Draper
    Chef Udo Cropa
    Edoardo Ballerini
  • Genres:Crime, Drama, Romance
  • Producers:
    Michael Baumont
    executive producer  
    Robert Cheren
    executive producer  
    Louis DiGiaimo
    producer (as Louis Digiaimo) 
    Patti Greaney
    producer  
    Matt Janes
    line producer  
    Vince P. Maggio
    associate producer (as Vince Maggio) 
    Robert Steuer
    executive producer  
    Phil Suarez
    executive producer  
    Bob Giraldi
    producer (uncredited)  
  • Plot: Is it just another evening at the hugely popular Italian restaurant of proprietor and bookmaker Louis Cropa in New York? Anything but as tonight's guests include; a local police detective and his wife specially invited by the owner; on the balcony rival bookmaker gangsters from Queens who want to become partners in the restaurant; in the corner renowned food critic 'the food nymph' is her usual demanding self; and at the bar, seemingly unnoticed, is Ken. As the evening continues enter Duncan, inveterate gambler and sous-chef on-the-line in the frenetic kitchen downstairs, who acts as the catalyst that causes the evening to draw to its inevitable, explosive, deadly conclusion. Written by Mark Smith <msmith@osi.co.uk>
Dinner Rush
  • User's comment:Brilliant and charming, a bit like a fine restaurant by claes-bertilson

    This is really a hidden gem that should have had a major impact at the cinemas everywhere. It truly is a loss to anyone who misses it.

    The characters are charming, obnoxious, familiar, unexpected and with a great many stereotypes this offers a fascinating mix played out at a weird and wonderful pace that switches easily between relaxed and frantic. The character gallery on its own is reason to see this film but the various tracks of the story offers added value not seen as comfortably intertwined in other films for many years. The stories are steered by an amazing screenplay based on non-stop dialogue that places you right at the centre of affairs, or indeed inside the restaurant where 90% of the film is set.

    If you enjoy the witty repartee of Smoke or Clerks (although nowhere near as vulgar) then you must see this film.

    Danny Aiello is brilliant, so are the majority of the not so well known cast and the supporting role of John Corbett offers a new perspective on an otherwise strong stereotype, almost worth the ticket price itself.


  • Quotes: Udo Cropa: There are only three proper responses when I say something to you: "Yes chef," "No chef," "I don't know chef." Ken: When did eating dinner become a Broadway show? Udo Cropa: What's that smell?
  • Also known as: Dîner entre ennemis (Canada - French title), Dinner Rush (Japan - English title), Dinner Rush - Killer zum Dessert (Germany), Hiljaa hyvää tulee (Finland - TV title), Maffia az étteremben (Hungary - imdb display title), Uma Receita Para a Máfia (Brazil),

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