The Spinato's Experience From Anthony Spinato's POV

A Labor of Love, 51 Years in the Making

Fifty-one years ago, my mom and dad took a leap of faith. With just scant operational knowledge but a heaping cup of love and hospitality rooted in our big Italian family, they opened their first restaurant. They didn't know much about the restaurant business, but they knew everything about preparing, cooking, and serving with love. That's how the Spinato's Experience was born.

Some of my earliest memories are of being at the restaurant with my dad, watching him, my mom, and my grandparents work tirelessly to prepare for each shift. The same care went into opening the restaurant as went into our home when family came over for dinner.

At home, preparation often started three days before a holiday. My mom would polish the dining room, set the table with her best dishware, and make sure every detail was perfect. If we dared walk through that room after it was set, well, let's say a few wooden spoons were cracked on my culo (that's "butt" in Italian)!

The food was always a labor of love. Homemade cookies, biscotti, polenta, and my all-time favorite, gnocchi with Bolognese. Depending on how many guests were coming, the gnocchi could take all day. But like anything unforgettable, it was always worth it.

The day of the gathering, my dad would give us "the talk." It was about how to greet people. You didn't wave from the couch while watching a game; you got up, ran to the driveway, opened the door, and welcomed them with hugs, kisses, and joy. We spent hours around the table, laughing, connecting, and creating memories over a great meal. And of course, when it was time to say goodbye, the famous "15-minute Italian goodbye" began, more conversation, more hugs, and always planning the next meal together.

That tradition of love, respect, and gratitude expressed through food and hospitality is what we now call the Spinato's Experience. In fact, it was felt on our very first day of business on November 9, 1974. That day, our only guest purchased a soft drink for just 69 cents. No pizza, no food, just a soda. But I know they felt it because even something as simple as a poured drink was delivered with care. That guest surely came back, not just for the food, but for the way we made them feel.

For decades, I watched my mom and later my sister deliver that same experience to thousands of guests. My mom never introduced herself as an owner; instead, she asked about them. She wanted to know their story, their kids, and their smiles. To this day, our team wears name tags not to announce who we are but so we can skip past introductions and focus fully on our guests.

It wasn't until we expanded in the 1990s that we realized the Spinato's Experience needed to be taught and carried forward. Our biggest fear was: "Who is going to take care of our guests like Mom does?" So, we began to define it. Simply put, we train our team members that the Spinato's Experience is:  "How we would take care of you if you came to our home for a meal."

And that's exactly what we still do today. From the moment a guest walks through our doors to the moment they leave, everything we do, every dish we prepare, every greeting, every goodbye, traces back to how my parents welcomed family into their home.

After 51 years, it's clear: the Spinato's Experience isn't just about pizza. It's about family, community, and serving with love. And for that, I am forever grateful to my mom and dad for showing us the way.

From Our Family To Yours,

~Anthony Spinato

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