Douglaston’s Giardino Italian restaurant closes
Restaurant was in business for 27 years, owner welcomes patrons to his other eateries
BY JENNA BAGCAL
After 27 years, a Douglaston
restaurant known for
delivering fine Italian dining
shut its doors on June 30.
Giardino’s website
displayed a heartfelt message
from owner Frank Russo
Jr., executive chef Mike
Competiello and manager Joe
Competiello letting patrons
know that this was not
goodbye forever.
“It is with a heavy heart
that after 27 years of great
food, delicious wine, wonderful
people, fun times, hard work,
ups and downs, we have
decided it’s time to move on to
the next life adventure,” read
the message on the website.
Russo encouraged regulars
of his restaurant at 44-37
Douglaston Pkwy. to dine at
another one of his eateries,
Vetros in Howard Beach. The
website message stated that
Mike and Joe Competiello
would be joining the Vetros
team as chef de cuisine and
general manager respectively.
The Howard Beach
restaurant, which opened
in 2009, suffered millions
of dollars in damages
after Hurricane Sandy but
successfully reopened in
2013.
QNS reached out to Vetros
to ask Russo the reasoning
behind Giardino’s closure
and is currently awaiting
a response.
In addition to Vetros,
Russo also owns the
eponymous Russo’s on the
Bay, a popular events venue in
Howard Beach.
According to a bio on
Vetros’ website, Russo got
his start in the food industry
working with his father and
uncle at Villa Russo and Il
Palazzo Catering Hall.
“I always remember my
father as a very hardworking,
humble, family-oriented man,
always taking care of his
customers, making sure that
the restaurant was a home
for them. From my parents I
Giardino in Douglaston closed on June 30 Photo via Google Maps
learned to respect others as
you want to be respected, and
always remember that your
work is your most important
thing,” said Russo.
In 1987, Russo opened
Russo’s on the Bay followed by
Giardino in 1992.
Reach reporter Jenna
Bagcal by email at jbagcal@
qns.com or by phone at (718)
260-2583.
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