Former Giants player spotted at Rockland restaurant

It's almost time to kick off the football season and what better way to celebrate than by eating out? Carl Banks, a radio commentator and two-time Super Bowl champion with the Giants, recently enjoyed a meal at Lanni's Cucina Verace in Sparkill.

According to Chef/Owner Vittorio Lanni, the former Giants linebacker dined at the restaurant Aug. 21 and enjoyed a host of specials as well as items from the menu including tuna tartate with broccoli rabe, pesto with roasted pignoli nuts, Clams Casino, beef carpacio with bufala ricotta, Pappardelle Ghizzano style and potato-crusted halibut.

Banks is not the only celebrity spotted at an Italian restaurant in the lower Hudson Valley this summer. Author James Patterson was with his wife and friends (and fellow co-authors) Bill and Hillary Clinton at Tesoro D'Italia in Pleasantville.

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Jeanne Muchnick covers food and dining. Click here for her most recent articles and follow her latest dining adventures on Instagram @lohud_food or via the lohudfood newsletter. 

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Super Bowl champ Carl Banks dines at Italian restaurant in Sparkill