Vincent "Vinny" Fortunato has a knack for opening restaurants.
Fortunato moved to the U.S. from Italy in 1974 at age 17. Two years later, after saving up $10,000, he launched his first Italian eatery near Aberdeen Proving Ground, an Army post outside of Baltimore. In four decades, he's opened (and sold) a total of 63 restaurants in both Maryland and Tampa Bay.
"The first one I opened was just me, then my brother, Carlos, came from Italy to help me run it. I go there whenever I go back to Baltimore. You'll see my picture hanging on the wall there," Fortunato says.
Locally, his first restaurant debuted in 1988 at Seminole Mall. More establishments followed with stints inside Tropicana Field, as did the popular Verducci's Pizzeria and Trattoria in St. Pete Beach, which he still owns. But Fortunato has nixed the upscale vibe of Verducci's for his latest venture: Fortunato's Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria.
The family-style South Pasadena restaurant opened a month ago at 6890 Gulfport Blvd. Part of a shopping center, the space was previously a sushi joint and a doctor's office that Fortunato combined together.
He'd like to host a grand opening celebration, with the mayor and chamber of commerce in attendance, next month.
"Verducci's is more of an upscale restaurant. Fortunato's is what you'd call a casual Italian restaurant," he says, adding that the newbie's relaxed atmosphere makes it a good fit for the South Pasadena community. "You can get pizzas for here or to-go."
According to Fortunato, every item on the menu, from the thin-crust pies and pasta to the sandwiches, is made fresh and in-house daily. Dishes start at $5 for garlic knots, rounding out at $23 for frutti di mare with linguine.
"I wanted to have a place where everything is fresh-made daily and a family-type restaurant. The reason prices are so low is because there is no middleman. We make our own sauce, bread, dressings and dessert," the owner says.
The restaurant is about 2,400 square feet, with seating for 75 outside and 35 inside. Guests can watch TV while waiting for their meals to arrive, or hang out by the counter and watch the preparation of a pizza or two.
“Fortunato's is known for good food — it's not like I just started this yesterday," Fortunato says. "The people know they can come here and relax with their families and eat pizza."
Fortunato's Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria operates 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 4 to 10 p.m. Sunday.
This article appears in Jan 10-17, 2019.