Last week Hunter Thomas and his staff, along with city and business leaders, and a good showing of community pizza lovers, celebrated the return to indoor dining at Padrino Fort Thomas.
Thomas cut the ribbon on Friday, Oct. 28, and shook hands with Mayor Eric Haas to officially open the restaurant’s new space. With room for 67 people inside and about 35 guests outside, the restaurant is ready for full service.
The bar is stocked and ready to go, said Thomas, with four beers — and wine (one red, one white) — on tap. He noted that wine on tap keeps it freshest. Because you are not opening a bottle, no air is introduced.
As you walk into the space, one of the first things you see is a large very colorful mural featuring a graffiti treatment of the restaurant name. The image, Thomas said, was painted on the wall of the garage when the restaurant first opened. Due to the pandemic, the garage was converted so that it could serve as a take out area. The image had since been covered up by renovations for the kitchen. He said he was happy they were able to resurrect the digital image for the new indoor space.
Selling frozen pizza from the garage of the building was not part of the original plan for Padrino. Thomas had planned a sit-down family restaurant at 14 North Grand similar to his restaurant by the same name in Milford. Yet he was well into the project when the pandemic hit.
While it was a challenge, he made it work by “pivoting” to a carryout format out of the building’s garage, which he outfitted with freezers. Since then, he added outside dining areas and now has completed his plan with an indoor dining area, a bar — and a celebration.
Padrino Fort Thomas is located at 14 North Fort Thomas Avenue. Check their Facebook page, “Padrino Ft Thomas” for updates on hours and menu items.
