Pepino’s Restaurant in Sylvan Lake Closes After Nearly 40 Years | Eater Detroit

"Family-run since 1984 by Swiss chef Joe Bernardi and his wife, the restaurant built a loyal following for classic steak, pasta, veal, seafood and salad offerings and was particularly known for its rainbow trout and chargrilled lamb chops. Bernardi — a World War II veteran who once cooked for troops and later served as executive chef for notable figures — guided the kitchen’s identity. The business survived a 2015 fire by relocating to Sylvan Lake and weathered a temporary COVID-19 closure earlier in the year, but owners announced on social media that they are permanently closing after nearly 38 years, citing an inability to replace retiring or medically absent staff; the farewell post framed the closure as the end of a long, sentimental run full of first dates, engagements, birthdays and family gatherings." - Monica Williams