Stino da Napoli to Close in December

Chef-owner Agostino Iacullo is retiring and with that the doors of his Rocky River Italian institution will be closing as well.

But fans have plenty of time left to make a stop by Stino Da Napoli, as the restaurant won’t be calling it a day until Dec. 20.

“We are deeply grateful to all of our loyal patrons, friends, and supporters who have become like family to us over the years. Serving the community has been one of the greatest joys of our lives, and we are honored to have shared our passion for Neapolitan cuisine with you,” management said in a social media post.

“Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your lives — whether it was for a special celebration, a casual dinner, or simply a shared love of good food. The memories made within these walls will stay with us forever.”

Iacullo opened Stino in 1991 about a decade after moving to America. It quickly found a devoted following by delivering simple, well-executed Italian fare in the west side suburb. By the time Scene reviewed it in 2005 — gushing that the “kitchen turns out spot-on preparations of simple standards, and does it so well, so intelligently, that it makes a jaded diner want to weep for joy” — it had already been open for more than a decade and was still one of the tougher reservations to snag at the time. Things haven’t changed much in the ensuing 20 years, which makes the news all the more sad for fans of Iacullo’s understated, classic approach.

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Vince Grzegorek has been with Scene since 2007 and editor-in-chief since 2012. He previously worked at Discount Drug Mart and Texas Roadhouse.

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