For owner Karen Mennuti-Raju, SAVI Cucina + Wine Bar is more than a restaurant; it is the culmination of a lifelong passion for Southern Italian hospitality and a love for cooking inspired by her grandmother, Savanelle Marino, the restaurant’s namesake.
Mennuti-Raju was raised on a farm where an appreciation for fresh, home-cooked meals was instilled in her from an early age. She received her first cookbook at age 7 and was raised by parents who “knew great Italian food.”
Though drawn to the hospitality industry in college, Mennuti-Raju spent 18 years of her career working for Bank of America. After retiring, she and her husband pooled their collective strengths to open SAVI Cucina + Wine Bar.
Her love of making connections and extending hospitality, paired with Ty’s passion for wine and amazing business sense, helped bring SAVI Cucina + Wine Bar to life. She and Ty, a certified sommelier and the restaurant’s wine director, curated their menu pulling from some of Mennuti-Raju’s beloved family recipes. Her grandmother’s eggplant parmesan is a great example.
According to Mennuti-Raju, “One of the most important things to us is having something for everyone. If you want pasta with marinara; if you want fresh, local seafood; if you are gluten-free, vegetarian or vegan, we’ve got you! We truly want to be able to accommodate as many folks as possible.”
For more information, please call (843) 606-1856, or visit savicucina.com.
By Sherry Whiting