Little Italy's Ristorante celebrates its ribbon cutting on Thursday, April 30. Photo by Abbie Pace
Little Italy's Ristorante celebrates its ribbon cutting on Thursday, April 30. Photo by Abbie Pace
Little Italy's Ristorante celebrates its ribbon cutting on Thursday, April 30. Photo by Abbie Pace
Little Italy's Ristorante celebrates its ribbon cutting on Thursday, April 30. Photo by Abbie Pace
Little Italy's Ristorante celebrates its ribbon cutting on Thursday, April 30. Photo by Abbie Pace
Little Italy’s Ristorante celebrated the ribbon cutting for its new location at 814 S. Atlantic Ave. in Ormond Beach on Thursday, April 30.
Owner Mario Recupido relocated his restaurant from Beach Street in Daytona Beach to Ormond, and said he plans on bringing the same feel and cuisine from his previous location.
“We’re bringing scratch kitchen, authentic Italian food," he said. "Every cook in my kitchen is Italian — real Italian. The way it’s supposed to be.
Recupido prides himself on his fresh food; he does not utilize any bleached or bromated flour. It is all fresh and he also does not add sugar in his sauces, he said.
“I let the flavors speak for themselves, the tomatoes speak for themselves,” Recupido said.
The new Ormond location is five times the size as the original Little Italy’s. Outside on the patio, Recupido has expanded his restaurant into a sports bar, with multiple TVs playing sports games.
“This wasn't the plan, but I’m excited to be here,” Recupido said.
Why did he relocate to Ormond Beach? Recupido said it was due to a "lack of transparency" which led to issues with his previous landlord on Beach Street in Daytona, who purchased the building in January. Soon after the purchase, the new landlord, NSB Three LLC, informed Recupido his lease would not be renewed.
A lawsuit was filed on April 16 by the landlord alleging over $100,000 in damages.
Recupido said he plans to countersue.
Despite this, Recupido said he is excited to embark on a new journey in Ormond Beach and is pleased to have Andy Romano Beachfront Park right across the street from Little Italy’s.
“The people here are wonderful, very nice, very pleasant. My neighbors: Charlie Horse, Riptides, oh they’re good people,” he said.
Recupido also owns Dino’s Bar and Grill in Daytona Beach, which is run by Recupido’s nephew, Nick Federici. Dino’s is named after Federici’s dad, who is Recupido’s brother.
