MAKERS: Owner Scott Phillips and Chef Carmen Puntel
BUSINESS: Guarino鈥檚 Restaurant
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS: Guarino鈥檚 was started in 1918 by Vincenzo Guarino. He and 鈥淢ama鈥� Guarino served food to many generations of Clevelanders. Their only son took over the business in 1954 after his father鈥檚 death. It鈥檚 the city鈥檚 oldest restaurant, and 2018 marks its 100 th year.
CONTINUING THE FAMILY TRADITION: Although the Guarinos no longer own the business, it continues to be a family restaurant. Nancy Phillips was a close family friend, and she took over the business in 1988. Her children, Scott and Rachel, helped her bring the business into the 21 st century. Now, they are looking forward to continuing this tradition into the restaurant鈥檚 centennial.
OLD MIXES WITH NEW: Many things have changed in the 100 years since Guarino鈥檚 started, but a lot has remained the same as well. Their signature marinara sauce is the same recipe from Mama Guarino, and it鈥檚 even cooked on the very stove Mama Guarino used. There have been some renovations to the interior since 1918, and the Phillips family has plans for upgrades in the future, but make no mistake: this is the same old-school, authentic Italian restaurant you could find back in Little Italy鈥檚 early days.