EAT
A Delicious Legacy The Martuscelli family’s restaurants are Delaware-area icons
I
By Pam George
t was the summer of 1978, and Giuseppe and Anna Martuscelli were worried. The couple had relocated from Philadelphia to Glasgow, Del., to open a small Italian restaurant. After three months, their partners had pulled out, citing concerns about the area’s viability. On New Year’s Eve 1977, not a single customer had stepped through the door. The Martuscellis had scraped together $20,000 to make La Casa Pasta their own. Still, the lack of sales was dire. Then Otto Dekom came to dine. The taciturn News Journal critic ordered mussels fra diavolo. “I have never had them as good as any restaurant this side of the Pennsylvania Line, and rarely on the other,” he wrote. The antipasto was “generous,” the house-made lasagna was “exceptional,” and the zabaglione was “delicious.” In all, the food and service were “very good.” ► Anna and Giuseppe Martuscelli (center) with kids and grandkids during the Restaurant Group's 40th anniversary celebration. Photos courtesy of Martuscelli family AUGUST 2021
| OUTANDABOUTNOW.COM 41
