Co-owners Retiring; Partners Taking Over Iconic Utica Restaurant. Still No Butter

UTICA, N.Y. — Dante Rose’s family co-owns Pelletieri Joe’s on Utica’s east side.

But he’s been going here since before he was old enough to twirl his spaghetti.

“My parents would bring the entire family to St. Anthony’s, and we’d go right Joe’s after that. And there’s pictures of us in high chairs—me and my three siblings,” Rose said.

Soon, the Roses are going from co-owners to owners, as Tony and Sue Zysk retire after about six years of co-ownership.

Rose’s family is proud to hold the torch for an iconic local establishment that’s been around many years—around 115, to be exact, with few owners.

“It’s a Utica staple. I mean, it’s like a landmark in Utica. Everybody knows it. Just to be a part of it. It’s awesome,” said Rose.

As far as food and atmosphere are concerned, don’t expect new and improved.

The Roses are going to go with familiar and trusted because nothing will ever taste as good as nostalgia.

“To start, we’re going to just keep the bar open seven days a week, and once we get adjusted to things, we’ll get food back on Tuesdays and Saturdays, like always. And then, we’ll eventually, possibly, do another day or two in the week,” said Rose.

So, the bar won’t close during the transition.

“I’ve been coming here since we were five years old,” said lifelong customer George Frattasio, one of several old-neighborhood fixtures at the bar on this Wednesday afternoon.

“I lived on Mary Street, so we’re three blocks away, and my friends that are out there are all St. Agnes kids,” Frattasio said.

In all those years, did he ever ask for butter?

“No! We knew better!” he said.

They didn’t ask because they knew the restaurant didn’t have it.

Where did that “tradition” start?

“I don’t really want to give the wrong answer, but I know an Italian thing. Back in the day, was never butter. They did oil, grated cheese, stuff like that. But it was not butter. I’m pretty sure it’s a classic Italian thing. Tradition thing,” said Rose.

One of the two families that owns the iconic Pellettieri Joe’s, located at the intersection of Jay Street and Pellettieri Avenue, will be retiring by mid-September.