Wilmington's landmark Mrs. Robino's to receive Delaware restaurant industry's top honor
Patricia TaloricoThe owners of Wilmington's iconic Mrs. Robino's restaurant in Little Italy will receive the 2024 Delaware Restaurant Association's Cornerstone Award on Monday, Oct. 7, in Dewey Beach.
The award is given to restaurateurs who embody the spirit of hospitality and iconic operators who have ingrained themselves and their establishments in the heart of their communities. Past honorees in recent years have been the owners of Nicola Pizza, Cool Springs Fish Bar & Restaurant, La Casa Pasta and Klondike Kate's.
Mrs. Robino's, a family-owned restaurant at 520 N. Union St., has been serving Italian American food to Delawareans since 1940. It has been featured on Food Network star Guy Fieri's TV show "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" and was visited in February by President Joe Biden and his sister, Valerie Biden Owens.
Its operating partners are Andrea Minuti Wakefield, the great-granddaughter of founder Tresilla Robino, and her cousin Robin Robino Mabery. They are the fifth generation of the family to continue the traditions that have been a part of Wilmington's dining landscape for more than 84 years.
The Delaware Restaurant Association will host the 22nd annual Restaurant Industry Cornerstone Awards at the Lighthouse Cove Events Center in Dewey Beach.
The organization also is honoring Lion Gardner, David Gonce, Tyler Townsend and Bob Suppies, the partners of Second Block Hospitality, as Restaurateurs of the Year. The group runs the Rehoboth Beach restaurants Drift Seafood & Raw Bar, The Pines and Bodhi Kitchen.
Their first venture, The Pines, was inspired by the history and hospitality of Rehoboth when pine trees once met the ocean. Their newest ventures, Drift Seafood & Raw Bar and Bodhi Kitchen, showcase sophisticated seafood and Asian-inspired street food, earning awards, accolades and features in top regional publications.
Industry Impact Awards will be presented to Katie Kutler, owner of kaffé KARMA in Greenville; Chef Matt Kern, owner of One Coastal in Fenwick Island; and Hank Rosenberg of Harrington Raceway & Casino in Dover.
These awards honor those who have dedicated themselves to making a difference in the industry and the lives of its workforce and are highly respected amongst their peers and colleagues.
Kutler's kaffe KARMA in Greenville's Barley Mill Plaza, near the Wegmans store, is a coffee shop by day and a yoga, meditation and wellness studio by night. It was designed to be a “third place.”
Kern is the first finalist for a James Beard Mid-Atlantic Chef Award in Delaware and has received two other semifinalist nominations for his work at Heirloom in Lewes. At One Coastal, he champions sustainable Delaware agriculture and watermen.
Rosenberg has been with Harrington Raceway & Casino for more than 24 years and is known as a leading advocate for inclusive hiring practices and industry education, mentorship and training. Harrington Raceway employs graduates of the Food Bank’s Kitchen School and provides industry training and employment opportunities for individuals in the disability community.
More dining news:Wilmington restaurant gets a new (slightly different) name; lunch service returns soon
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“We’re thrilled to honor these remarkable restaurateurs at this year’s Cornerstone Awards,” said Delaware Restaurant Association President & CEO Carrie Leishman in a prepared statement. “Their stories of resilience, passion, and dedication to hospitality and training the next generation reflect the heart of our industry. Each of our awardees will undoubtedly leave a long-lasting legacy among the communities in which they serve.”
More than 500 people attended the 2023 Awards.
Patricia Talorico writes about food and restaurants. She received an impact award in 2023 from the Delaware Restaurant Association. You can find her on Instagram,X and Facebook. Email[email protected]. Sign up for her Delaware Eats newsletter.