Tony Lorusso’s family immigrated from Vieste, Italy. His father, Raphillo Lorusso, was in the military during WWII under Mussolini which led to challenging times in Italy after the war. It was then that his father decided to pack up the family and venture to America. This included his 3 older siblings. Speaking only Italian with very little money, Tony’s family chose to pursue opportunity in the American Dream. 

After landing by boat in NYC on St. Patrick’s Day, they ultimately settled in Worcester, MA in the Italian side of the city.   Tony says, “Our new family life began in a two bedroom one bathroom apartment. We lived, laughed, and loved every day from our humble beginning. We didn’t have much, but we had each other.

I really do believe that all Italians learned in their early age that family, food and wine was a passion. You don’t just taste food and wine, but you smell it, you touch it, admire its color, sample it for its ripeness. It’s this food that brings people together and eating is the one universal thing, I believe, that all of us in the world do. Italians just know how to do it best!”

Our Story begins in Viesté, Italy.

From Italy to Rhode Island.

Our family came to the shores of America in the late 1950s. Our Italian culture has been passed down for generations, ensuring our food is served fresh and with love. Viesté Simply Italian restaurant is inspired by the culture that surrounded life in Italy which continued on in our family life in America. Keep it simple, make it fresh, and serve it with love.