A culinary institution in South Windsor is closing its doors this week after more than four decades of service.
Lena’s Restaurant & Bar on John Fitch Boulevard announced that its last day of service will be Saturday, Sept. 26. The restaurant cited “ongoing kitchen staffing challenges” as a reason behind the decision to close its doors.”
“Lena’s has proudly been part of the community since 1982, creating many memories and serving generations of guests. Despite our continued efforts, ongoing kitchen staffing challenges have made it increasingly difficult to sustain our restaurant operations at the standards we expect. After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to close operations at this time,” according to a statement on the restaurant’s website.
Originally started in 1982 when Pasquilina and Giuseppe Lonero purchased the pizza and grinder shop Pizzarama, the business’ menu grew as did its footprint with the addition of a banquet area. The name changed to Lena’s Restaurant in 1992 — which it has remained since, according to its website. Among the signature menu items at Lena’s Restaurant & Bar are its eggplant fries, chicken parmigiana, N.Y. calamari and its specialty pizzas.
Last year, ownership of the restaurant transferred from the Lonero family to longtime customers Ram Chagantipati and Rakesh Narra, according to the Hartford Courant.
Dining and Cooking