Dover’s Roma Italian Restaurant marked its 50th anniversary this week in an event hosted by the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce.
Giuseppe Garramone moved from Italy to New York with $8.25 in his pocket and after working 16 years as a chef opened a pizzeria at what is now the location of the restaurant.
The elder Garramone died in 2020.
In 1999, the operations of Roma Italian Restaurant were handed over to his son, Joseph Garramone, who has been working in the kitchen since he was 10 years old.
Teaming up with long-time industry professional and wife Kristin, the couple added their own twist to the restaurant. with the addition of the Sul Tempo, which opened in 2015 as Dover’s first cocktail lounge.
Roma Restaurant and Sul Tempo Cocktail Lounge offer classic Italian favorites and new twists on other Italian offerings, a release stated.
Further information is available at www.romadover.com.
Taco Festival returns
The Delaware Taco Festival will return to Wilmington for the sixth time.
The event will be held Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park on Saturday, September 24 and Sunday, September 25.
Two dozen taco vendors will be on hand. There will also be a margarita bar, games, children’s activities, and mariachi music.
Click here to buy tickets, which range in price from $9.99 to $54.99 for VIPs.
Nicola headed to the highway
It was a bittersweet moment in Rehoboth Beach this week when Nicola Pizza closed its doors.
The two locations in the beach town were sold, with Nicola reopening on Coastal Highway next month in a new building.
It’s part of a trend driven by year-round customers preferring a location with convenient parking and high prices for commercial real estate.
Nicola is best known for its Nicoboli stromboli, although it offers a broad range of Italian cuisine, including pizza.
The restaurant is a long-time rival to Grotto Pizza. Owners went in different directions, with Grotto becoming a regional chain, with Nicola expanding in Rehoboth.
An early Oktoberfest
The Delaware Saengerbund’s Oktoberfest is coming this weekend, with dancing food, beer and music .to its long-time grounds on Salem Church Road south of Newark.
The Saengerbund is German culture and singing society that once held a private celebration but later turned it into a community event.
Despite its name, Oktoberfest typically gets underway in mid-September here and in Munich. The German version stretches into October, while the Delaware event is held over the weekend.
If the Delaware Oktoberfest seems to be earlier than usual, it is. It turns out that according to a social media post, a Delaware Saengerbund delegation is headed to Munich to march in a parade.
The Delaware Oktoberfest will return to its normal dates next year.
