Enlarge Mauro Scotto, manager of Portofino's on Eastway prepares a couple of slices.

Posted: September 30th, 2009 Rhiannon Fionn-Bowman

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Portofino's Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria

3124 Eastway Drive

Mauro Scotto, manager

A native of Naples, Italy, Mauro Scotto was "born and raised" with the owners, Gino Villano and Josh Coppola, of the five-restaurant chain known to most in Charlotte only as "Portofino's." As young men, they even emigrated to New Jersey together.

That's why, when Gino needed someone to watch the Eastway location while he returned to Italy for his wedding, Scotto was glad to help. He immediately packed up and came to Charlotte.

That was three and a half years ago (update as of 2010), and now, he says, he's definitely here to stay. Today, he's the manager of the restaurant's Eastway Drive location.

"The weather is delicious," he says, though he does miss the snow. "There is no Christmas without snow."

But, the friendly, interesting people and growing city more than make up for the lack of frozen precipitation, he says. "It's not a crazy life, like in New York and New Jersey," he says, "Everybody's in a rush up there."

"We try to make everyone comfortable," he says, adding, "Portofino's is flexible." If they have the ingredients for a dish you're craving, all you have to do is ask, he says.

For those who don't want to venture off the menu, he suggests the house dish, "Chicken Portofino's," which includes ham, mushrooms, onions and cream sauce.

In addition to offering a variety of comfort foods, he says he makes a point to greet every customer and wish them well when they depart. He also wants them to tell him how he and his staff can make them even more comfortable, that's why he's always asking people, "How's everything?"

Portofino's Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria; (704) 568-7933

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