I turned onto Little Debbie Parkway and quickly spotted the familiar big bold red letters fixed onto the side of a stone building: Emmanuel’s. I had arrived at my destination.
Emmanuel’s is Ooltewah’s new Italian restaurant and pizzeria, boasting dine-in, carry-out or drive-thru options. Its storefront is similar to that of its Cleveland counterpart, Gondolier, but that is not the only comparison between the ethnic eateries.
Both Gondolier and Emmanuel’s are owned by Emanuel Makrinakis. Both restaurants are family- owned and operated. Emmanuel’s Italian is ran by Emmanuel and the three Tony’s: Emmanuel’s son Tony Makrinakis and managers Anthony Giannourakis and Antonis Zakas. Now, don’t let their surnames trip you up too bad. All you really need to know is that the crew has a lifetime of experience cooking Italian and Greek specialties.
“We wanted something like Gondolier closer to people who didn’t want to make that drive,” Emmanuel told me.
Although the two restaurants are closely related, there are some differences. For instance, Emmanuel’s menu has a slight emphasis on Italian over Greek fare. There are a few additional dishes exclusive to Emmanuel’s, like, for instance, the “Emmanuel’s sandwich,” made with salami, ham, lettuce, tomatoes, special dressing and mozzarella on a toasted french roll. Sandwiches are served with a side of potato chips. Everything in store is served with a side of history.