anyone remember rubino's restaurant in middletown?

it was a hoppin place in it's time. they served really good italian food and brick oven pizzas. always busy for lunch and dinner. sadly they had some sort of tax issues and one day the doors were shut for good. i know sal and his wife opened a cafe in the antiques mall, so far from my home and not the same food altogether. those were the days. the meatballs and sauce was delicious. they were huge and moist and lots of seasonings. just like my mama made.

I have quite fond memories of Rubino's. One of many great places we've lost over the years. So sad.

Was that the place on the right as you head east on Shelbyville Road that now is an interior design studio or something similar.

[Robin Garr]

Was that the place on the right as you head east on Shelbyville Road that now is an interior design studio or something similar.

Historical note: It was actually ORIGINALLY over on Dupont Circle during the '80s. The Middletown spot was its second incarnation.

Was that the place on the right as you head east on Shelbyville Road that now is an interior design studio or something similar.

I think you're recalling another Italian restaurant that was in that building (near the corner of Shelbyville Rd and Evergreen --"Batista's"??)....very good food as I remember, but short-lived....

According to this link http://www.voice-tribune.com/index.php? ... &Itemid=12 Rubino's opened in Middletown in 1988.

In 1988, Sal and Cindy Rubino opened Rubino’s in Middletown, a casual Italian seafood place. They opened The Café in the Louisville Antique Mall on Goss Avenue in 1996, and relocated it last year to Brent Street, near Louisville Stoneware.

The entire article is a SUPERB read regarding the germination of the current Louisville restaurant scene. Enjoy.

wow doogy, i really enjoyed reading the article. it seems everyone started at grisanti's and flourished from there. thanks for posting it. annemarie

Glad you likie the linkie. I try to help when I can. BTW, you are so correct about Grisanti's.

Historical note: It was actually ORIGINALLY over on Dupont Circle during the '80s. The Middletown spot was its second incarnation.

I opened the Tumbleweed in Dupont and remember Rubino's opening in 83' or 84' across the street in the old Bennigans.

Speaking of Grisanti's, I have a former Grisanti sous chef as a General Mgr.

Historical note: It was actually ORIGINALLY over on Dupont Circle during the '80s. The Middletown spot was its second incarnation.

I opened the Tumbleweed in Dupont and remember Rubino's opening in 83' or 84' across the street in the old Bennigans.

Speaking of Grisanti's, I have a former Grisanti sous chef as a General Mgr.

I worked as Marketing Manager for Grisanti, Inc. (corporate) during their expansion phase (late-'80's-early'90's) when they took the Mamma Grisanti's concept, changed the name (Grisanti's Casual Italian) and opened in several markets outside of Louisville....a good concept that (sadly) wasn't nurtured further....

Historical note: It was actually ORIGINALLY over on Dupont Circle during the '80s. The Middletown spot was its second incarnation.

I opened the Tumbleweed in Dupont and remember Rubino's opening in 83' or 84' across the street in the old Bennigans.

Speaking of Grisanti's, I have a former Grisanti sous chef as a General Mgr.

I worked as Marketing Manager for Grisanti, Inc. (corporate) during their expansion phase (late-'80's-early'90's) when they took the Mamma Grisanti's concept, changed the name (Grisanti's Casual Italian) and opened in several markets outside of Louisville....a good concept that (sadly) wasn't nurtured further....

So, you are part of the beginning the link speaks of?