MANITOWOC – Mark Tennie has worked in kitchens throughout the U.S., but when it came time to open his own restaurant, he came home to Manitowoc.
Tennie is opening the new Trattoria Tennie at the site of the former Grizzly’s, 2204 Washington St., on April 23.
Chef Mark Tennie brings decades of kitchen experience back to Manitowoc
Tennie’s love of the restaurant life came early. While in high school, he worked his first restaurant job at the former The Galley Restaurant in Manitowoc.
The hometown chef spread his wings after high school. He worked at restaurants in California, Montana and Pennsylvania.
He’s also worked in kitchens throughout Wisconsin, including La Crosse, Eau Claire and Kohler.
“I saw the old Tony’s — that’s how I remember it — was up for sale, and decided to go for it,” Tennie said. “Owning a restaurant was always in the back of my mind. I was looking for a job, then this came along and it seems like the right time to do it.
“It seems sad to have this building empty,” he added.
Hand-rolled pasta, scratch sauces and a casual Italian menu
Tennie said he’s not remodeling for now, and the restaurant and menu will have a casual feel.
Trattoria Tennie will offer homemade food using quality ingredients, including hand-rolled pasta and sauces made from scratch.
An initial menu shows a variety of pizza, including build your own; chicken alfredo; shrimp scampi; short rib pasta; and pasta puttanesca.
“I’m loving all the messages I’m getting from people about the new place,” Tennie said. “My dad taught in Manitowoc, so a lot of people know him as well.”
What ‘trattoria’ means and the restaurant’s hours in Manitowoc
Trattoria Tennie is, of course, an ode to his family name. And “trattoria” is an Italian word for a casual, family-run restaurant serving traditional, regional cuisine. The atmosphere is usually intimate, rustic and unpretentious.
Hours will be 3-8 p.m. Thursdays through Mondays. Trattoria Tennie will be closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Why Grizzly’s closed and the building’s restaurant history on Washington Street
Grizzly’s Food and Spirits in Manitowoc closed in July 2025.
“It is with a heavy heart that we must inform our loyal patrons and friends that Grizzly’s in Manitowoc will be permanently closed,” Daryl and Trisha Jeske wrote in a Facebook post at the time.
They said they had hoped someone would buy the business in Manitowoc, but did not have a buyer. They did not own the building.
The couple continues to own and manage Grizzly’s Two Rivers location, 3312 Lincoln Ave.
The Manitowoc building is the former site of Casa di Amici, an Italian restaurant that closed in July 2021.
Staffing challenges were one of the main reasons Mark Weston, owner of the former upscale Casa di Amici, gave for closing the restaurant’s doors.
Before that, the building housed the popular Tony’s Pizza.
Contact reporter Patti Zarling at pzarling@usatodayco.com or call 920-606-2575.
This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: New Manitowoc Italian restaurant Trattoria Tennie opens April 23
Reporting by Patti Zarling, Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter / Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter
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