Town, village and business reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. AUBURN — Much has changed at Michael's Restaurant on Clark Street over the last 90 years. But much has stayed the same — and will continue to do so.
Francis "Duffy" Mastropietro, the Italian restaurant's chef and third generation of ownership, is preparing to pass the torch to his stepson and general manager, Mark Jordan. The two sat down with The Citizen in the restaurant's dining room Wednesday. Mastropietro, whose personality shined as he spiraled through family tangents, wore a vibrant blue and pink flamingo shirt.
He's currently 90% retired, he said. Jordan was more subdued, sitting quietly in a black T-shirt but smiling often. Though it may not have appeared so, the two have much in common.
They grew up in Auburn, and learned about the restaurant industry through hands-on experience. While Mastropietro attended the Culinary Institute of America and worked up and down the East Coast, Jordan has been at Michael's since he was 7. Where Cayuga County Eats is a new monthly feature in The Citizen highlighting the "hidden gem" restaurants of the area.
To suggest a restaurant for a future edition, email david.wilcox@lee.net , call (315) 282-2245 or message @auburncitizen on Facebook.
The family-owned Michael's Restaurant in Auburn had humble beginnings in 1933. Entering Michael's Restaurant, the Italian bistro-style dining area greets p.