Spotlight: Chop…Chop!

A Community Classic Gets a Face Lift

By Gus Mollasis | Photos by Nancy Guth

The corner of Main and Palm has long been a prime spot in downtown Sarasota. It perfectly fits the well-known real estate mantra: “Location. Location. Location.” 

While sky rise condos have changed the downtown landscape in our alluring seaside town, and old haunts like The Sport’s Page and Two Senoritas have disappeared, some legendary watering holes and bistros have hung on to write the next chapter in their story. 

Even in the best of times, the restaurant business is precarious. Enter a pandemic and a prolonged shutdown, and many restaurant owners have been challenged to come up with a new recipe for success. But there’s once classic spot on that prime corner of Main and Palm that’s handled that challenge and is moving to its next chapter—Clasico Bistro is now Clasico Italian Chop House. 

The former location for two bookstores—Charlie’s News and Sarasota News & Books—there’s big news coming out of this corner spot that’s had lots of people turning pages inside its walls for many years. Clasico has gone through a complete transformation, and while owner Raffaele (Raff) Perna is still there to greet you with a smile and implement his stellar attention to detail, he has new partners: Kevin Enderle and Dick Rivera from Brick’s Smoked Meats. Rounding out the new team is Executive Chef Raymond Ortiz. 

According to Raff, “We had been doing the same thing for the last eight years and we needed a refresh. That often happens in the restaurant business. You need a re-investment in concept and energy. These gentlemen have vast experience and I was excited about the fresh concepts that they brought to the table.” 

Aside from the management line-up changes, the dining room has been boldly remodeled to give an airy and sophisticated yet comfortable feel. Oversized booths provide a setting that will remind some of a Vegas hot spot or old Hollywood combined with an old country roadhouse out east. 

So, while we were all in shutdown, this dream team demonstrated tremendous courage and used this time to boldly renovate what is arguably the best corner in Sarasota. The result is a unique vibe and one that of course can only be experienced by being there. And while the management team and service may all be first rate, and the new décor pleasant, the food, as it should be, is the best part of this dining experience. 

The joy on Raff Perna’s face said everything as he talked about the new raw bar and wood burning pizza oven that are new to Clasico. But the thing he really wanted to talk about were the chops—bone-in pork chops, rack of lamb, bone-in ribeyes, and other amazing steaks. 

As we talked between jazz riffs from the overhead music, a baby grand piano sat invitingly. I could hear the music that will be played in future days. That’s when it came to me. What this new place was and what it represented—a relaxed joint where memories will be made as you enjoy great food. The kind of place Sinatra would have been comfortable in. Holding court with his entourage hanging on his every word while the Chairman of the Board paused mid story to say, “Have the chops. They’re just marvelous.” 

And because he’s Italian like old Blue Eyes, Raff’s eyes light up when asked about the lunch menu and the pizza.

“It’s an Italian Chophouse – so we have to have pizza. But this is not regular pizza that you pick up and it folds and falls in your lap. It’s nice and crisp. We make it in house.” 

From food talk Raff turns to his new-found partners. “They brought a dream team. Our executive chef Raymond Ortiz is assisted by our concept chef, Fernando. And Kevin is all about the concepts and taking restaurants to the next level. His goal is to build a brand and something that can be duplicated. That’s what he and Dick do. I was looking at expanding the brand and they are the guys to do just that.”

And just what is the Clasico Italian Chophouse brand? Who will eat here? Raff says it’s for adults and families, and is also a place for foodies and businesspeople. A place that is exactly like a second home and an office to entrepreneur and gentleman Joe Rhem. 

Joe joins the conversation and our talk turns to technology and dreams—the soul food for all entrepreneurs. Joe is an entrepreneur who developed his own brand of success in technology as a founder of Star2Star Communications, a business solution provider that was named “Product of the Year” by Internet Telephony magazine. 

His latest venture, WiredIQ, a unified communications company, offers an entire suite of managed services and business needs including state-of-the-art SD-WAN Networking, Network Security, Audio Visual Services, Surveillance, Alarm, managed WiFi and IT support all managed via one intelligent appliance—The Wired IQ BrainBox. Basically, they offer everything from a technology standpoint that a business needs except for point of sale.

That’s a full plate. A buffet of services that Joe Rehm is as excited talking about as the food at Clasico Italian Chophouse. “The food here is first class. So much so that I leased an office upstairs,” says Joe. “All the technology I offer is incorporated here at Clasico. Services that help run a restaurant operation like this. They are all on full display.” 

Joe has created a special relationship with Clasico to showcase WiredIQ’s varied technology. Rather than show a potential franchise owner a power point or meet them in a trade show booth, the Clasico power team can fly prospective franchise owners into Sarasota and invite them to experience its technology in action and have a great meal at the same time. Now that’s a businessman’s luncheon! 

“When you open a restaurant, you’re opening up your home. You’re inviting people to come to your home. You like your guest to be treated like family.” 

Raff Perna

“We are particularly focused on restaurants, hotels, retail and other businesses with multiple locations that would benefit from centralized management and support. Our systems are monitored and notify us automatically if there is any kind of system failure. Most of the time we can correct things from our network operations center,” says Joe.

Now that’s a kitchen that’s cooking with gas. 

Joe Rhem is the kind of guy who thinks big and has made it big. And he’s a man who thinks highly of this restaurant at one of the best corner properties in town. “Everything here is outstanding,” he says. “Make sure you try the burgers, and the wings are out of this world. But if you like chops, this will be the place for you.”

Bullseye. I am, after all, a meat man’s son. My mouth starts watering at the thought of a ribeye. 

But it is 3:00 p.m. Raff interrupts my ribeye dream. He chimes in, “It’s a great marriage. Joe’s able to showcase his products in the restaurant to his clients, and he’s able to show what can be done visually and with audio for your business.” 

Joe jumps in, “And somewhere in that day the tech talk turns to food. I’m a foodie so I have no problem telling them to try the chops or boast about the braised short rib.”

As we sit outside on this fabulous corner on a sweltering July day in Florida, we are all thankful just to be out. If anything, the recent pandemic has taught many of us to count our blessings, something Raff has always counted. And one of his greatest blessings is his outdoor seating.

“We are known for our outside seating. We are one of the few restaurants anywhere in Sarasota with this much outside seating,” says Raff.

So just how tough is the restaurant business, I ask. “They say that to be in the restaurant business you really need a hole in the head,” Raff quickly quips. We all laugh. 

But now Raff gets serious and you can hear the passion in his voice. “The true restaurateur loves hospitality and loves people. When you open a restaurant, you’re opening up your home. You’re inviting people to come to your home. You like your guest to be treated like family. Many times in a good restaurant the owner will serve you. I have no problem bringing a dish to a table whether we are busy or not, because it’s an honor for me to serve my guests. If you have that in your being then there is no reason why you shouldn’t be in the hospitality business.” 

So, here’s a news flash from that fame corner property of Main and Palm, from which news played the starring role for many years: 

Raff Perna loves to serve people. He’s got great food, a great attitude, a wonderful venue, and new partners with talent and vision. It’s a winning combo that’s destined to make the next chapter of Clasico Italian Chophouse one of the hottest places and most successful joints in Sarasota. A place that old Blue Eyes would dig. A place where entrepreneurs entertain their clients. And a place where you’re treated like family. A place with big chops. 

What are you waiting for? 

Clasico Italian Chophouse 

1341 Main Street

Downtown Sarasota 

941.957.0700

ClasicoSrq.com 

Hours of Operation – Open Sunday, Monday & Wednesday 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 12 a.m.