Taste the Love – Lido 73

The Wright family was curving their way through the hills of the tiny Italian island of Vulcano, determined to find the authentic flavors Tony grew up on. Spending every summer at Taormina as a child, Tony tastes his memories better than he envisions them, and he wants his children to have the same experience.

However, on this trip, they found nothing but disappointment. Dishes that spanned generations were disappearing from menus, replaced with quick and easy alternatives. Flavors that once conveyed love and passion now conveyed convenience and efficiency.

“It was breaking my heart to taste such food in Italy,” Tony, owner of Lido 73 by Italian Food Company, says. “So, when we heard of a small family restaurant on the other side of the island, we hit the road.”

The journey was worth it. Tony and his family were welcomed with a familial atmosphere and the smell of authentic Italian flavors. They were greeted by the owners’ son, who beamed with pride over the 3-generation family restaurant.

“You could taste the love that went into the food,” Isis, Tony’s wife and business partner, says.

The Wrights left the restaurant with their hopes renewed and even more dedicated to their mission to bring authentic Italian food and experiences to the Keys.

The Wrights are already succeeding in this mission through the Italian Food Company, with locations in Key Largo and Islamorada, and the Italian Food Company Express in Tavernier. Now, they are providing an Italian inspired seaside experience with Lido 73.

Lido 73 recently opened its doors at an oceanfront property in Tavernier. The atmosphere resembles that of Taormina, where family and friends enjoy delicious food under vibrant umbrellas and with a stunning view.

“Our other restaurants celebrate all things Italian, but we’re doing something a little differently at Lido 73,” Tony explains. “In addition to Italian favorites, we’re serving local favorites with an Italian twist. It’s the best of the Keys merged with the best of Italian cooking.”

Examples of this Coastal Americano cuisine include their Italian Burger topped with sundried tomatoes and crispy Italian prosciutto on homemade bread and their Calabrian Bang Bang Shrimp, a twist on spicy shrimp that uses Calabrian peppers from Italy.

“Our last trip to Taormina taught us that fusion not only involves merging flavors but also merging traditions. That’s why we still use authentic Italian ingredients and cooking methods no matter what. It takes much longer and is more expensive to make, but we would rather eat into our profits than our quality.”

Most of Lido 73’s ingredients are handmade or imported from Italy, and are lovingly prepared with an early start each day. The soups are made, the meatballs are rolled, and the meat is battered fresh. “The preppers are the heroes of our kitchen,” Isis says.

Lido 73 currently has an extensive menu, and the Wrights want their customers, whom they consider family, to have a say in the final menu.

“The strong sense of community and beauty of the Keys resembles that of my Italian village,” Tony says. “That’s why it’s so important to me to nurture our Keys community through good food and family fun.”

Though Tony, Isis, and their daughters look forward to their annual trips to Italy, they don’t look any further than the Keys to experience the truest sense of home. They love sharing their cultural background with a community that lovingly welcomes it and shares in its enjoyment.

To have your say in the new family menu and get a taste of a Sicilian seaside experience, walk, drive, or boat to Lido 73. Taste for yourself the love that goes into each dish. Lido 73 is located at 90451 Old Highway, Tavernier. For more information visit lido73.com

–Jerrica Mah is a writer, Army wife, and freelance book editor, who loves to travel with her family