Pascone's Ristorante's Roots

In late 1996 Judi and Bob Stanley bought the 1906 home once owned by a local dentist, Dr Weymouth and his family.  The Weymouth family sold the home in 1965 to an investor that leased the property to a local business.  With a keen eye for designing and decorating, Judi went with a European decor sprinkled with antiques.  In August of 1997 she opened the Ivy Manor Inn, an eight room bed and breakfast and Michelle's Fine Dining.  As an aside:  Michelle is our daughter, had just graduated college and was instrumental in working with her mom to make her namesake successful.  Michelle now owns her own restaurant in downtown Sarasota, Michelle's Brown Bag Cafe. - which also had its original roots in Bar Harbor, Maine.

Continuing our story.....

Two years later Judi brought Chef William Sellner on board as her chef at Michelle's Fine Dining.  Together Judi, Michelle and Chef Sellner took the restaurant to a AAA Four Diamond rating. (Be sure to catch up on Chef Will's travels and how he and Judi came full circle in the "About Us" tap above.)  The restaurant held that prestigious designation until 2012 at which time Judi leased the property so she could be in Sarasota for the birth of her grandchildren.  I am not sure if the decision was driven by the family instincts of her Jewish genes, or the Italian in her, but combined the decision was a no-brainer.  

Another aside:  see the photo of those grandchildren on the Children's Menu.

The lease ended and she took the Ivy Manor Inn back in the fall of 2016 only to discover the brand, Michelle's Fine Dining, had been destroyed.  You will have to have her tell you (after she has had a Scotch) about the condition of her beautiful Inn.  Rather that try to resurrect the brand, she reinvented herself.  Reaching into her heritage (her dad was from France and of Jewish decent and her mom was pure Italian) she yielded to her mom's side this time (Michelle's Fine Dining was French cuisine) as she was raised on red sauce.  Her mom's maiden name was Pascone..  On July 5, 2016 Pascone's Ristorante in Bar Harbor, Maine opened to the public. (You will want to read about the Pascone's in the 'About Us" tab above.)

Two successful seasons later and unsolicited, a buyer appeared in October of 2017, took ownership of the Ivy Manor Inn in December, 2017 and as they say, that chapter closed.

So here we are in Lakewood ranch, for many years our winter residence, now full time with nothing to do.....soooooo on July 27, 2018 the doors of Pascone's Ristorante in Sarasota opened to the public.  Fully conceived and 100% decorated by Judi and her vision of what a New York Italian restaurant should look like, and with the help of our son, Tony (you will find him behind the bar in Sala del Gallo.  Be sure to ask him about his adventures on the high seas.  He lives on a 42 foot Hunter sail boat)

History is still to be written but it is going to be another fun ride for our entrepreneur and the many guests that will pass through the front door.  We are thrilled that you may be a part of that legacy!!