Outside of ciabatta and olive oil, his mother’s meatball recipe and all the famous faces you see on the wall, Michael Lopercio says the secret for a successful Italian restaurant is simple — treat everyone who walks through the door like they’re part of your family. “My business is my family, everybody says that but we truly are a family restaurant,” said Lopercio. Sometimes, that means adjusting to challenges.

During the pandemic, Lopercio added windows and doors near the front entrance so staff could better access customers driving through. He said the changes he made helped them sell 60% of what they would have if dine-in was an option at the time. Most recently, Lopercio added an 'inflation buster' meal to the menu. For one night a week, four people can enjoy high-end Italian cuisine for $20.