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Grande notizia: The popular restaurant at 215 Halstead Ave. in the Village of Mamaroneck is back in business after some major repairs and renovations covered by insurance.
Rosa Merenda, owner and chef at Rosa's, said her life has mostly returned to normal now because cooking and being around customers is her passion in life.
"I just want to thank my customers for being patient,'' Merenda said on Tuesday.
Merenda is a native of Pulia, Italy, and grew up with six siblings, so said she especially enjoys it when large families with children come to dine at La Scarbitta -- which means "take your bread and clean your dish."
Her husband, Angelo, said they were fortunate to get a restoration company to the restaurant within a few hours of the Feb. 18 pipe burst and flood.
The couple lives in New Rochelle; they first opened the Mamaroneck restaurant five years ago.
Tuesday, Crews were busy painting a hallway that had been flooded. And the popular "fireplace room" at the rear of the restaurant still needs some major renovation.
Most of the flooding went next door into the basement of the Town House Bar.
To thank her customers, Merenda promised to treat everyone to their first glass of wine on the house Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
And because Merenda has survived two heart surgeries, she makes it a point of serving low-fat meals and uses virgin olive oil, while avoiding fried dishes like calamari. Special orders, like wild boar pastas, don't upset her. She serves plenty of meatballs when the children are on school breaks.
Angelo Merenda said the restaurant has a loyal following from Larchmont and Mamaroneck, but also draws regular customers from Harrison, Rye, Scarsdale and Greenwich.
"We are very blessed,'' he said.
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