Enfield Alliance Spotlights Giardino Di Andre’s Italian Restaurant: A Beloved Italian Eatery

In its 41st installment, the Enfield Alliance Monthly Business Profile proudly features Giardino Di Andre’s Italian Restaurant, formerly known as Marina’s Family Italian Restaurant. This cherished establishment—Enfield’s only pizza parlor for years—has been serving up authentic Italian cuisine since 2003. Now under new ownership, the restaurant enters a bold new chapter, blending tradition with innovation.

For more than a decade, Marina ran the restaurant after her husband Vito first opened it, building a loyal base of dine-in and takeout customers. On May 27, 2025, Marina passed the torch to Andres Romero, a seasoned hospitality professional with over 20 years of experience. Andres has worked at North Raleigh’s AC Hotel and Dante’s Italiano Restaurant, while also managing a weekend special-events business—a flair he plans to bring to his new Enfield venture.

The restaurant is now open under its new name, Giardino Di Andre’s Italian Restaurant, and is undergoing gradual updates. Andres envisions a cozy outdoor veranda with a new fence, updated seating, and a revitalized dining space. The heart of the menu will remain proudly Italian, but with exciting additions drawn from rich Italian-American culinary history.

Romero plans to introduce signature dishes that reflect the influence of Italian immigrants on American cuisine. Among them:

• Chicken Tetrazzini, first prepared in the early 1900s and named for famed operatic soprano Luisa Tetrazzini, known as “The Florentine Nightingale.”
• The Muffuletta Sandwich, a New Orleans classic created in 1906 by Sicilian immigrants for fellow workers, made famous by its Sicilian-style sesame bread and hearty meat-and-cheese filling.
• Cioppino, a robust seafood stew developed by Genoese fishermen in San Francisco, inspired by the traditional ciuppin of Northern Italy.
• And yes, even the beloved Philly Cheesesteak, widely credited to Italian-American inventors.

These offerings pay tribute to the enduring influence of Italian culture on American dining, while also giving Enfield diners new tastes to explore.

Andres’s wife, Veronica, shared that they chose Enfield after discovering the opportunity online. “We were looking for a place to invest, and Enfield seemed like a quiet and prosperous place,” she said.

Continuity and customer care remain central to their vision. Erika Williams, a longtime waitress during Marina’s ownership, has stayed on to ensure a seamless transition. Erika, known for her professionalism and warmth, is now mentoring the Romeros’ 17-year-old son, Elijah, who helps out on weekends while attending high school in Wendell.

Located at 210 N. McDaniel Street, Giardino Di Andre’s Italian Restaurant is open Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Whether you’re craving a classic pizza or curious about the origins of Italian-American cuisine, a visit promises flavor, family, and a story in every bite.

Giardino Di Andre’s Italian Restaurant
(formerly Marina’s Family Italian Restaurant)
210 N. McDaniel Street
Enfield, NC 27823
Phone: (919) 757-3019