It has been a Little Italy landmark since 1918 and hasn’t changed much since its grand opening. “We’ve changed very little,” said co-owner Scott Phillips. “We kept everything the way we found it. The sauce is the original sauce from Mrs. Guarino!”  The sauce simmers on an antique stove that was repaired using discontinued parts purchased online.

From the décor to the beads hanging from the bar, Phillips respects the history. “They were here during prohibition. The idea was to protect the individual drinking illegally from being seen from the road.” The symbols of prohibition continue in the kitchen. “Behind this panel, there’s a door frame and there’s still a door back there,” Phillips pointed out during our tour. “It doesn’t lead to anything anymore, but it used to lead to our other basement with an escape hatch for prohibition.”