Shameless, misspelled counterfeit Carbone in Little Italy trying to cash in on celeb hotspot’s success

John “Baby John” DeLutro
Cannoli King John “Baby John” DeLutro is trying to capitalize off of Carbone.Page Six

It’s a Carbone copy.

An old-school Little Italy restaurateur is trying to drum up a little business by piggybacking on the success of the city’s chicest hot spot.

Greenwich Village pasta joint Carbone has become known around the world for its A-list clientele and its signature dish: the spicy rigatoni.

And the Cannoli King of Mulberry Street, John “Baby John” DeLutro, figured he’d get a piece of the action for himself with the help of his own homemade legal analysis.

DeLutro has a pasta stand at Little Italy’s annual, two-week-longstreet festival, the Feast of San Gennaro, and he’s been advertising “KAR BONE FAMOUS SPICY RIGITONI” on a huge sign above the stall.

When we asked him about the bold move, the “Cannoli King,” who also owns the Caffe Palermo bakery and Baby John’s Pizzeria, told us he thinks he’s on firm legal ground.

“I had [a rival] use my name with cannoli and [they spelled it with] a ‘K’, and they were allowed to do it… So, I figured it was good for them to do that, I could use the letter ‘K.’ instead of [C],” he said. He’s also misspelled “rigatoni” for good measure.

A phony replica of the famed Carbone has popped up in Manhattan’s Little Italy. Christopher Sadowski

Baby John spelled Carbone with a “K” and rigatoni with an “I.” Page Six

The sign is displayed in front of Baby John’s Pizzeria. Page Six

“Nobody has contacted me,” he added, “I don’t think it’s a big deal, but if they wanted me to take it down, I’d probably take it down. I’m not here to hurt nobody’s feelings.”

Carbone is known for its popular spicy rigatoni dish. Carbone New York

Besides, “I had lines last year without the name ‘kar bone,’ so this year I just added a new spice to it. It’s all in good fun,” he said.

The not-so-bashful Baby John also pointed out, “I think I make a better spicy rigatoni than [Carbone]… I’m one of the best pasta guys around here!”

Baby John describes himself as one of the best pasta guys around. caffepalermonyc/Instagram

“I’m hoping maybe a couple of tourists do know the name, so I can get a little play from it,” he said.

Carbone has not contacted about the fake sign. Christopher Sadowski

The 11-day, 98-year-old festival, honors the Patron Saint of the southern Italian city, San Gennaro. It ends on Sunday.

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