Barstool Sports Raises $100K For Astoria Eatery After Viral Video

ASTORIA, QUEENS — Barstool Sports' fund for small businesses has donated $100,000 to an Astoria restaurateur who went viral for protesting New York City's indoor dining ban by filming himself dining outside during last week's snowstorm.

The Instagram video that Trattoria L'Incontro owner and chef Rocco Sacramone posted of his frosty outdoor dinner caught the attention of Dave Portnoy, founder and president of the digital media company Barstool Sports and a noted pizza reviewer.

Portnoy stopped by the next day to review Sacramone's pizza and talk to him about the struggle to keep the restaurant afloat during the coronavirus pandemic.

"His restaurant went from 40-plus employees to five during this time, and he shared with us that he's barely keeping the lights on — and the worst thing he had to do was tell 20 of his employees before the holidays that he can't pay them," Portnoy told Patch through a spokesperson.

"It's heartbreaking, and I think what a lot of small businesses like Rocco's I've spoken to are saying is that they want a plan to help them survive."

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Portnoy did more than eat pizza, though.

Through the Barstool Fund, which has raised more than $2.75 million to help small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Portnoy mobilized Barstool Sports' massive following to raise $100,000 for Trattoria L'Incontro.

The Astoria restaurant is among six that have gotten funding so far, according to the Barstool Fund's website.

"I am happy to help Rocco and L'Incontro through the Barstool Fund — his story and everything his restaurant stands for is what and who we are trying to help with this," Portnoy said. "I'm glad we could step in and bring light to his story and many other small businesses that are dying and struggling."