Still going strong: Luigi’s Italian Restaurant celebrates four years in Eustis

Luigi’s Italian Restaurant in Eustis is still going strong, despite a rough beginning. Opening at the beginning of the Covid pandemic proved challenging, but owners Luigi and Samantha Folgore were no strangers to the restaurant industry and were able to pull through.

“People were waiting for us to open,” Luigi said. “Phones were ringing off the hook for takeout.”

Fast forward four years and they can still pack out the house.

Luigi’s family is originally from Naples, Italy, bringing generations of culinary tradition. Luigi learned the art of Italian cuisine from a young age, working alongside his parents, Pasquale and Maria Folgore, at the original Luigi’s Italian Restaurant in Eustis in 1990.

Luigi continued the family tradition, opening his own establishment in 2007. In 2020, Luigi fulfilled his own dream by reopening the original Luigi's Italian Restaurant in Eustis, in hopes of preserving his family's legacy and sharing their famous recipes with a new generation of diners.

Their menu offers a selection of pizza, salads and pastas with all the classics like lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs and chicken Alfredo.

The homemade garlic knots are served with dinners, and they are one of the items people look forward to. They are made fresh, topped with butter and garlic. They also offer cold-cut and hot subs, with signature favorites like the Italian combo, grilled chicken, Cuban Italiano and Italian provolone.

Pasta is always a good choice, with options like chicken or veal piccata, marsala, Alfredo, ravioli, manicotti, stuffed shells and more.

Then there’s the pizza. With fresh-made pizza dough, hand-tossed to order, it’s easily the No. 1 item on the menu. Some of their signature flavors include the meat deluxe, white, vesuvio and the vesuvio special. You can also build your own or order by the slice. They also offer calzones and stromboli.

Luigi's Italian Restaurant, 2814 David Walker Drive in Eustis, is open daily 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, visit Facebook.com/LuigisItalianRestaurantEustis.

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Lake County Florida restaurants: Luigi's is soaring in Eustis