Phil Romano

{{short description|American restaurateur and entrepreneur}} {{Infobox person | honorific_prefix = | name = Phil Romano | honorific_suffix = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date =  | birth_place = | disappeared_date =  | disappeared_place = | disappeared_status = | death_date =  | death_place = | death_cause = | body_discovered = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates =  | monuments = | other_names = | citizenship = | education = | alma_mater = | occupation = Restaurateur | years_active = 1965–present | employer = | organization = | known_for = Founder of Fuddruckers and Romano's Macaroni Grill | notable_works = | style = | height = | television = | title = | term = | predecessor = | party = | movement = | opponents = | boards = | criminal_charge =  | criminal_penalty = | criminal_status = | spouse = | partner = | children = | parents = | relatives = | callsign = | awards = | signature = | signature_alt = | signature_size = | module = | module2 = | module3 = | module4 = | module5 = | module6 = | website =  | footnotes = }}

'''Philip J. Romano''' is an American restaurateur and entrepreneur. He is best known as the founder of the restaurant chains Fuddruckers and Romano's Macaroni Grill.<ref name="The story of Phil Romano">{{cite web|title=The story of Phil Romano|url=http://www.actonhero.org/celebrating-heroes/stories-of-heroes/phil-romano.php|publisher=ActonHero.org|accessdate=18 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304071152/http://www.actonhero.org/celebrating-heroes/stories-of-heroes/phil-romano.php|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Early life ==

Romano grew up in Auburn, New York. He moved to Florida in his early 20s and then moved from West Palm Beach, Florida, to San Antonio, Texas, in 1976.<ref name="Love 'em And Leave 'em">{{cite news|last=Richman|first=Tom|title=Love 'em And Leave 'em|url=http://www.inc.com/magazine/19860501/5929.html|accessdate=22 October 2011|newspaper=Inc.|date=1 May 1986}}</ref>

== Career ==

Romano has founded multiple restaurant chains with a national or international reach. His biggest successes to date are Fuddruckers, Romano's Macaroni Grill, and EatZi's.<ref name="The story of Phil Romano" /> Romano has founded more than twenty different restaurant concepts in his career.<ref name="Inc. (1986)">{{cite news|title=Philip J. Romano's History Of Restaurants|url=http://www.inc.com/magazine/19860501/605.html|accessdate=18 September 2011|newspaper=Inc.|date=1 May 1986}}</ref><ref name="Nick & Sam's">{{cite web|title=Philip Romano|url=http://www.nick-sams.com/mobile/philip.htm|publisher=Nick & Sam's|accessdate=18 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402141806/http://www.nick-sams.com/mobile/philip.htm|archive-date=2 April 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Romano was also one of the earliest investors in the heart stent.<ref name="The story of Phil Romano" /> His initial $250,000 investment returned millions of dollars in royalties.<ref name="The story of Phil Romano" />

Romano now runs a number of restaurant incubators in the west Dallas area known as Trinity Groves. He also co-owns an art gallery on Dragon Street in Dallas, Texas, called [https://samuellynne.com/about Samuel Lynne Galleries], named in part after his son, Sam.

== Philanthropy ==

Romano is the co-founder of Hunger Busters with his ex-wife Lille, a Dallas charity that feeds the homeless. Romano stepped away from Hunger Busters in 2018.<ref name="The story of Phil Romano" /><ref name="Hunger Busters">{{cite web|title=Hunger Busters|url=http://www.hungerbusters.com|accessdate=18 September 2011}}</ref>

== Personal life ==

Romano was married to Lillie Romano (they divorced in 2013), with whom he has a son, Sam.<ref name="Nick & Sam's" /> Romano and his son, Sam, live in Dallas, Texas.<ref name="The story of Phil Romano" /> Romano is listed as an [https://www.samuellynne.com/philip-j-romano-biography artist and author] on the website for Samuel Lynne Galleries in Dallas, Texas.

Romano faced controversy when he used racist language and jokes on one of his restaurants' menus.<ref>{{Cite web|last=McCarthy|first=Amy|date=2020-04-03|title=Restaurateur Phil Romano Removes Racist Jokes From His New Chinese Spot's Menu|url=https://dallas.eater.com/2020/4/3/21206846/phil-romano-sum-dang-good-chinese-food-racist-controversy|access-date=2021-03-11|website=Eater Dallas|language=en}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == *[https://web.archive.org/web/20160304140826/http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2011/02/05/super-bowl-xlv-sighting-hilary-swank/ Photo with Hilary Swank at 2011 charity event] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20120402141907/http://www.leezasplace.org/events_photos/philan_world/philan_world.html Photos with Leeza Gibbons at charity event] *[https://www.dallasnews.com/business/2015/12/04/phil-romano-hopes-to-leave-indelible-mark-for-more-than-burgers-and-pasta/ Story: Phil Romano hopes to leave indelible mark — for more than burgers and pasta]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Romano, Phil}} Category:Living people Category:American restaurateurs Category:Philanthropists from New York (state) Category:People from Auburn, New York Category:People from Dallas Category:Year of birth missing (living people)