Ferraro’s family restaurant enjoys continued success
By Kiko Miyasato
Teresa Ferraro-Marretti
A lot of restaurants claim to be family joints—but when you get there? Not an owner or family member is in sight. That isn’t the case for one of Vegas’ most popular restaurants, Ferraro’s Italian restaurant and wine bar. “We’re a family establishment. My brother is in the kitchen cooking, I’m doing (my job), my mother’s always here, my father’s always here. When people come in here, they get a lot of recognition. You have the family-friendly atmosphere,” said Teresa Ferraro-Marretti, Ferraro’s marketing and events coordinator.
Nearly three decades ago, Ferraro’s was a deli, opened by Teresa’s parents, who emigrated here from Italy. It eventually expanded into a restaurant. Now Ferraro’s occupies a sizeable space across the street from Hard Rock Hotel. From the time Teresa was a young girl, she’s worked in the family business—everything from waitressing, bussing tables and working in the kitchen to managing and hosting duties. “I’ve really done it all,” she said.
And just like the full plates of authentic Italian cuisine that Ferraro’s serves, Teresa’s plate is quite full, too. She books large parties (8-300 people) in the restaurant’s four semi-private dining areas. And she’s also beefing up Ferraro’s social media, and working with the family’s plans to open 200 quick-serve Italian franchises, the first in September. But despite all that, Teresa says she’s just “that old fashioned Italian that likes to cook and be with my kids; that’s who I am.”
Pomegranate Martini
Straight from Ferraro’s specialty drinks menu, the pomegranate martini is mixed with Three Olives pomegranate vodka, Amoretti pomegranate martini mix and Pama pomegranate liqueur, and garnished with a lemon peel.
Make sure to take advantage of Ferraro’s reverse happy hour from 11 p.m.-2 a.m. daily, where a robust menu offers everything from pasta and salad to appetizers and pizza, and you receive 25 percent off your entire bill. And the perfect place to enjoy the reverse happy hour is on the patio, where you can chill around the bar, fire pit or play a round on the mini putting green.
