Once upon a time there were 9 Manero’s restaurants, in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Florida. The Westport location — where Rizzuto’s is now — was one of the most popular. For decades it drew steak lovers from far and wide.
Today there are only 2 left. One is in Palm City, Florida. Longtime Westporters (from left in photo below) Loretta Santella Hallock, her husband Bob, and their good friends Wanda Tedesco and Chip Platow, had dinner there the other day. Loretta, Wanda and Chip all graduated from Staples High School in 1962.
They remember Manero’s fondly. “The fantastic prime rib and classic Gorgonzola are still on the menu,” Loretta reports. “They were delicious.”
Of course we remember Porky sitting at the entrance greeting people.
We visited the Maneros in Florida and there signature salad was not as good as well as the prime rob.
PORKY MANERO WAS THE BROTHER OF NICK MANERO WHO OPENED THE ORIGINAL MANERO’S IN GREENWICH. THE PROPERTY IN WESTPORT WAS OWNED BY JOHN SANTELLA (WHO ALSO OWNED THE NEXT DOOR PROPERTY WHERE VIVA ZAPATA IS LOCATED). I MAY BE WRONG BUT I THINK JOHN SANTELLA WAS FRIENDS WITH “SQUINTY” TEDESCO..
Don’t forget those tankard-like martinis. That’s what drew the big lunch crowds in Westport. (I guess I’m dating myself.)
“Beautiful women eat steak”. Porky Maneros in Greenwich was our spot.
Worth the drive every time. If a baby was born at the restaurant they were able to eat there for free for life!
My father was a waiter there a long time ago. Don’t know what year, but he often told us stories about his experience there.
My parents went every Thursday for the filet and Frank was always their waiter.