Photo by Bill Bittar
Chef Billy Weitzler shows off Retro Grub & Pub’s three-pound lobster mac and cheese. Ten servings are available Thursdays on a first come, first serve basis.
Two of Derby’s sons opened Retro Grub & Pub, a new restaurant at 87 Elizabeth St., for friends and family to gather for food, drinks and fun.
Greg and Gary Pettinella, brothers with deep family roots in town, will host comedy and trivia nights, live music and other social events.
“I just want to open a place like an old-time tavern, where people can have a good time,” Gary said.
On Friday afternoon, patrons ate lunch in the bar area of the restaurant, where two big screen TVs were tuned to ESPN.
Retro Grub & Pub’s two most popular dishes are its stuffed shrimp and mashed potato pizzas. The restaurant also prepares a variety of hamburgers and tacos.
“Everyone loves burgers, tacos and pizza and we have it all under one roof,” Greg said. “Who can ask for more than that?”
Greg has a long history in the restaurant business.
Among the establishments he has owned is the Killer B Burger Bar in south Norwalk. While there, he advertised a three-pound lobster mac and cheese on Facebook, which attracted a lot of traffic.
“I had people coming from Springfield, Boston, Albany, New York City, Westchester, New Jersey and Virginia,” Greg said.
Retro Grub & Pub will prepare 10 servings of the lobster mac and cheese every Thursday and sell it on a first come, first serve basis.
Greg said it will be market price, usually around $65 or so.
The pub also has “Taco Tuesdays” with 10 specialty margaritas and a Sunday brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. is coming soon.
Among its sweets are an assortment of dessert pizzas, including s’mores, deep fried Oreo and Fruit Loops.
The business is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. and until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Comedy dinner shows will be performed in the back room of the restaurant Saturday nights.
Gary has done standup since 2009, performing in casinos, including Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods on the East Coast and as far west as Minnesota.
Growing up, Gary said his favorite comedians were Andrew Dice Clay, Bob Nelson and Don Rickles.
“My personal comedy is more along the lines of Dennis Leary and Ron White — sarcastic humor,” he said.
Photo by Bill Bittar
Brothers, Gary and Greg Pettinella, second and third from left, opened Retro Grub & Pub on Elizabeth Street with business partners Frank R. Hemmock, far left, and his son Frank A. Hemmock, at right.
Gary said Retro Grub & Pub’s shows will feature local talent, as well as national headliners.
Trivia Night is on Wednesdays in the main bar with a different theme every week. Among the topics will be popular TV shows like “Game of Thrones,” “Friends,” “The Office” and “Seinfeld.”
Acoustic nights with live music are Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Retro Grub & Pub has seating for close to 200 patrons with its bar, main dining areas and back room, which allows for restaurant access and outside catering for birthday parties, private shows and other events.
The space most recently housed Bar None and, before that, Connie’s.
Most of the pub’s 15 employees are from the Valley.
The restaurant opened March 26, but a formal ribbon cutting ceremony is planned for 2 p.m. on Monday, May 20.
Derby Mayor Richard Dziekan and Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce President Bill Purcell are scheduled to attend.
On that day, 25 percent of the proceeds will benefit the Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness at Griffin Hospital.
The cause is near and dear to the Pettinella brothers, who lost their mother, aunt and two cousins to breast cancer.
The Pettinellas trace their family roots in Derby back to the early 1900s, according to Gary.
Their father, Carl, owned Napolitano’s Pizza in town and both siblings are graduates of Derby High School.
Greg and Gary said they want to sponsor local sports teams and to find other ways to support the community that has been so good to both of them.
On Thursdays, Retro Grub & Pub has Emergency Services Night, with food and drink specials for police officers, firefighters, EMS volunteers, nurses and dispatchers.
