“It was the best sandwich I’d ever had.” – Gino Antonelli
With more than 20 years in the food service business, Gino Antonelli is bringing his experience and love of food to Chester Township in the guise of Gino’s Italian Grill and Bar.
Planning a soft opening the week of Aug. 5 at 8389 Mayfield Road, Antonelli said he leased the space at the corner of Maywood Center shopping plaza about a month ago and has been working with his wife, Carolina Antonelli, to “massage” the environment into “causal Italian” and brand the familiar eatery as his own.
As owner/chef of his new enterprise, Antonelli brings to the spacious venue his own Italian recipes to the kitchen and bar, and will offer craft beers.
But his unique contribution is his signature wedge sandwich called The Panino.
The Panino had its origins in Antonelli’s trip to New Orleans with a friend. They visited the famous Napoleon House restaurant and he had his first taste of the muffuletta sandwich.
“I instantly fell in love with every bite of this muffuletta sandwich, especially the amazing sesame-seed-topped sweet brioche bread,” Antonelli said. “It was the best sandwich I’d ever had.”
Back in Ohio, he experimented until he had the recipe perfected and is ready to offer the wedge sandwich to guests the first week in August.
For the last five years, Antonelli has been operating his Bistro at Bratenahl Place, a community restaurant that rates 4.5 stars on YELP online.
Ready to expand, he spent a couple of months looking for the right venue on Cleveland’s east side. His search brought him to Chester Township and, since he has a lot of friends “out this way,” he decided Maywood Center is a good fit.
“Everyone is so friendly here, my wife is looking for a house,” Antonelli said, adding Carolina is “the silent boss” and has been instrumental in selecting the décor and organizing the catering side of the operation.
The space he is leasing is large enough that he plans to close off a portion into an event room where the restaurant will cater large parties, he said.
“My biggest challenge has been finding staff,” he said.
The operation will need 15 to 20 workers, most of whom will be part time. Until those positions are filled, Antonelli said he will ask employees at the bistro to help out.
Hours will be from 4-11 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 4 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. Hours Sunday are to be announced.
