Home / Lifestyle / Lakeland Loses Beloved Restaurateur Mario Scarpa
Lakeland Loses Beloved Restaurateur Mario Scarpa
16 Jul
Summary
- Restaurateur Mario Scarpa opened a fine dining Italian restaurant in 1976.
- He was an Italian immigrant and a U.S. Army veteran.
- His son Glenn Scarpa now runs the family restaurant.
Mario Scarpa, an Italian immigrant and U.S. Army veteran, has died at the age of 90. He passed away on July 13 in Lakeland. Scarpa was celebrated for bringing authentic fine dining Italian cuisine to Polk County, starting with his first restaurant in Winter Haven in 1976.
He later opened Mario's Italian Restaurant in Lakeland, which continues today as Scarpa's Italian Restaurant, now operated by his son, Glenn Scarpa. Scarpa, who had no formal chef training, drew inspiration from his family and his time in the Army to create his signature dishes.
Friends and family remember Scarpa for his hard work, passion for improving his restaurants, and his warm, grandfatherly demeanor. He was a devoted husband to Jane Scarpa and a loving father to his five children. His legacy extends beyond his restaurants, as he instilled values of hard work and generosity in his family.
