[StBernard] Fire damages Rocky and Carlo's restaurant in Chalmette

[Westley Annis]

Fire damages Rocky and Carlo's restaurant in Chalmette

Published: Sunday, February 12, 2012, 11:15 AM     Updated: Sunday, February
12, 2012, 3:18 PM

 By The Times-Picayune 

Firefighters are investigating a two-alarm blaze that caused significant
damage to historic Rocky and Carlo's restaurant in Chalmette this morning.
The 9 a.m. fire started in the kitchen of the restaurant at 613 W. St.
Bernard Highway. The eatery is closed on Sundays and there were no reports
of injuries.

A Sunday morning fire caused major damage to the iconic Rocky and Carlo's
restaurant in Chalmette.

The iconic Creole-Italian restaurant has heavy fire damage in the kitchen
and smoke damage throughout, St. Bernard Parish Fire Chief Thomas Stone
said.

"It's a huge part of our history," Stone said. "There's no injuries but a
lot of broken hearts." 

Founded in 1965 by Sicilian immigrants Rocky Tommaseo and Carlo Gioe, the
restaurant is famous for serving heaping plates of veal parmigiana, stuffed
bell peppers and beef-gravy-covered macaroni and cheese.

Nearly 50 years after its founding, more than a third of the restaurant's
employees are still from the original two families.

The restaurant's owners declined to comment this morning, but they said they
would release a statement later in the day.