President Joe Biden continues his love of revisiting familiar places during his stay in Delaware.
The president, who was staying at home in Greenville this weekend, spent part of Saturday dining with his sister, Valerie Biden Owens, at Mrs. Lovino’s Restaurant. This landmark Italian-American restaurant on Union Street in Wilmington’s Little Italy neighborhood has been part of the Delaware dining community since 1940.
“He’s a great guy. That’s what I have to say,” Owens, who hugged his brother after leaving the restaurant, told reporters.
She said the lunch was “delicious” and added, “I didn’t have to cook.”
The president did not speak to reporters.
Where does President Biden like to eat?
Biden is known as a longtime lover of Italian food. He was a frequent visitor to the long-defunct Katie’s Restaurant in Wilmington, two blocks away from Union, at Sixth and Scott Streets, until it closed. Biden also mentioned the restaurant during the 2008 vice presidential debate when he was a senator.
In December, the president and his son Hunter went to “old school” Wilmington and had lunch at Rocco’s Italian Grill & Sports Bar, run by Susan Rocco, at Seventh and Union streets in the city’s Little Italy neighborhood. Ta.
Lenten Alert:Fish fry at Delaware church returns on February 16 to mark the start of Lent
Many may remember it as the former site of Pala’s Cafe, home of “The Worst Pizza in the World.”
Mrs. Robino’s Restaurant is located about two blocks away from Rocco Italian Grill.
Humorously, at least to longtime Delawareans, one British media site called Mrs. Lovino’s “Wilmington, Delaware’s little-known Italian restaurant.”
Why Delaware Loves Mrs. Lovino
Mrs. Lovino’s, one of the state’s most famous restaurants, is doing something that would probably ruin most other eateries. Little has changed since it first opened 84 years ago.
A gondolier adorns the menu, and tables are covered with paper placemats emblazoned with recipes for classic cocktails such as the Pink Lady.
The platter of spaghetti, cheese ravioli, lasagna, and pork cutlet is huge in quantity, but the price is not that high. A collage of photos of longtime customers hang on the walls.
Loyalists who have been passing their forks over homemade pasta and dipping bread in red sauce for decades are passing on Delaware’s food traditions to other families.
Mrs. Lovino is also featured in Food Network star Guy Fieri’s long-running series “Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.” In 2019, Fieri parked his signature red vintage Camaro convertible outside Mrs. Lovino’s at 520 North Union Street and photographed the restaurant’s staff and customers.
Guy Fieri of Delaware:Mrs. Lovino stars in “Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.”
President Biden and Delaware’s “Little Italy”
President Biden has strong ties to Wilmington’s Little Italy neighborhood. He attends St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church at 9th and Dupont Streets and was close to the late Father Roberto Balducelli, pastor emeritus, and St. Anthony’s Church was the site of his son Beau’s funeral in 2015. It became.
Biden has also frequented the St. Anthony’s Italian Festival over the years and has shopped at Papa’s Food Market on West 6th Street.
The president and first lady Jill Biden often visit local restaurants while in Delaware. They include the Quoin Hotel in Wilmington (owned by longtime family friends Rob Buccini and Chris Buccini), Baldea Food & Drink in Wilmington, and Matt’s Fish Camp and in Rehoboth Beach. I once had a meal at Egg.
After lunch Saturday, Mr. Biden shopped at a Jos. A. Banks store near his home in Greenville and attended Saturday Mass at St. Joseph’s Brandywine Catholic Church.
The president and first lady Jill Biden left Wilmington for Washington at about 9:54 p.m. Sunday night, with the Super Bowl game being shown on a large television in the staff room, Pool reported.
Please contact Patricia Talorico. ptalorico@delawareonline.com or 302-324-2861 and follow her on Twitter at X @pattytalorico register for her Delaware Eats Newsletter.
Dishes that make you feel relieved:President Biden dines at memorable ‘classic’ Wilmington restaurant
Celebrity guests:The president and first lady dine at The Quoin in Wilmington.and they didn’t get the same dishes