Agostino Gabriele first encountered his passion for the restaurant business at an impressionable age. In 1963, at age 14, he was hired as kitchen help at "Rosticceria Domore" in Palermo, Sicily.

  There was an immediate magnetism for Agostino and his intense desire to learn took him, over the next four years, to train at several fine restaurants, including internationally renowned "Le Caprice" under Chef Cascino.

  At age 18, along with brother Rosario, who had many years of restaurant and hotel experience, Agostino operated "Desire," a resort restaurant, for one season. In 1968, at age 19, Agostino was manager at "La Scuderia" owned by Mr. Pino Stancanpiano.

  Agostino took an opportunity to come to the United States in 1969. He worked at his uncle's restaurant in St. Louis in 1972 when his wish to acquire additional experience took him to Dusseldorf, Germany's "Park Hotel" and "The Secondo Matteo" Restaurant in Milan, Italy. Agostino returned to St. Louis with an exuberant desire to create a restaurant that could encompass all he had learned and where he could put his personal touch into each dish.

  The time wasn't quite right, however, so he worked with his brother Giovanni at "Giovanni's on the Hill." Finally in 1975, his dream materialized with brother Rosario's help, and the tiny restaurant was christened "Agostino's Little Place." It was a meager beginning with only nine tables.

  Within three years the tremendous following of long lines outside in freezing temperatures warranted the relocation of the business to a much larger and elegant place. The move was a good one as "Agostino's Little Place" enjoyed success in a city known for having perhaps the finest Italian restaurants in the United States. "Agostino's Little Place" was voted in the top six restaurants yearly and received the Best Restaurant Award for eight consecutive years.

  The people of St. Louis are missing Agostino but he has found a new home in a partnership with brother Vincenzo in Louisville, Kentucky. The brothers had contemplated such a merger of their talents for many years. Agostino now devotes his culinary abilities with an owner's personal touch again at Vincenzo's.

150 S. Fifth Street   Louisville, Kentucky
Call (502) 580-1350 for information.
Email : Vincenzo@vincenzositalianrestaurant.com