Tambellini's Re-Opens After July 10 Flooding

When an employee called Dan Tambellini on the morning of July 10 and said, “You’d better get here soon,” Tambellini said he knew exactly what was happening.

McLaughlin Run already was overflowing into the neighborhood when he arrived at his restaurant, Tambellini’s, on Railroad Street, and it wasn’t long before more than three feet of water settled in the lower level of the building.

The restaurant owner worked quickly. Just six days after the flood, the main kitchen, dining room and banquet room re-opened, and the lower-level banquet room is expected to re-open by this weekend.

“Each day we get calls from people asking, ‘Are you open?’” Tambellini said. “We’re glad to have our customers coming back. For each person who calls though, how many more are out there not calling, just assuming we’re still closed?”

Flood water on July 10 damaged much of the lower level of the restaurant, but thankfully did not reach the main floor or the main kitchen. 

On the lower level, carpet, furniture, food and beer, and equipment from the second kitchen had to be thrown away, at a cost of more than $130,000 to the restaurant. Tambellini said he hired a professional cleaning company to safely clear and sanitize the space.

Since re-opening, business has been slower, and Tambellini said he fears customers don’t realize the restaurant has re-opened.

Tambellini’s has been through its fair share of hard times.

The restaurant was closed for six months in 2004 after rain from Hurricane Ivan caused severe flooding in the area. Tambellini said the restaurant does have flood insurance, but very little is covered, and damage from Ivan cost about $340,000. 

Shortly after Tambellini’s re-opened in 2004, there was a fire at the restaurant and it had to close again.

“We’ve had fires and we’ve had floods,” Tambellini said. “In my experience, flooding is worse.”

But Tambellini said the restaurant—family-owned for 28 years—has always bounced back, and he’s not planning to go anywhere this time.

“We’re still here, and we’re still one of the few old-world Italian restaurants in the area,” he said. “It’s the same Tambellini’s, and the same food and service we’ve always had. We’re looking forward to seeing our customers back.”

Tambellini’s is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and on Sunday from 4 to 10 p.m. The main banquet room is currently available for rentals. For more information, see the Tambellini’s website, or Tambellini’s Facebook page.