Image courtesy of Trattoria L’Incontro () InstagramGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028.

Trattoria L’Incontro’s owner Rocco Sacramone’s mission has been to make his restaurant a place where you receive a dining experienceGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. When you are limited to only offering take-out, it becomes an additional challenge of trying to reinvent yourselfGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. With take-out, you can’t express yourself on the plateGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. There are also adjustments of what you can offer on the menu, taking into consideration foods that can travel well, and of course adjusting menu items to new economic situationsGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. 

Prices of food have reached insane inflation, and there is also extreme scarcity of what is availableGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. Sacramone says that he tries to be considerate of this scarcity and consumes less as to make another family happyGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. He feels that the only way to truly overcome this crisis is by being conscious of each other and working togetherGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. However even by changing the menu, he is intent on keeping the quality of his food, putting passion and pride into what he offers to his customersGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028.

Chef Rocco says he loves what he does but he understands how hard it is to stay motivated during these timesGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. He tries to keep his team motivated by changing up menu items, as to avoid a mundane “day in the office”, and above all tries to keep positive morale in the restaurantGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. He says, “Every problem has a solution, and if there is no solution, there is no problemGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028.” These are unprecedented times, and while businesses can always rebuild, the real “problems” are humanitarian, and he hopes that these issues don’t take real psychological tolls on peopleGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. 

Image via Trattoria L’Incontro () InstagramGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028.

You can only keep people locked up for so long, and now especially as the weather gets nicer, people want to be out and working againGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. As the city begins to open up, Sacramone is online researching and staying up to date with all the protocolsGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. The staff already has adapted to wearing masks, gloves, and avoiding each other as much as possibleGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. Once fully opened, social distancing is to be expectedGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. They will likely have to remove many of the tables in the restaurant and therefore, take-out will also remain an option at Trattoria L’IncontroGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028.

“Yesterday is the past – there’s nothing you can do to fix it, today is your gift, and tomorrow is a mysteryGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. So this is how we go about living our livesGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028.” Sacramone sees this as the end of the road for COVID19, in a positive way, and feels that we are currently in a recovery stageGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. Astoria is a great community to be a part of and there has been tons of support from the localsGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. His best advice would definitely be continuing to supportGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. Our community organizations have helped tremendously and not only giving back in donating to hospitals and our first responders, but also helping our local businessesGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028.