Giuseppe
Owner
Giuseppe Grisio was born in a small town in the Puglia region of Italy. He spent most of younger years living in Irsina, Italy. His extensive experience in the food service industry began in Italy in his mother's deli and later in his family's restaurant.
Giuseppe then worked in Monte Carlo, as a general manager for BICE restaurant. Working for BICE also included working in their other locations in both Paris and London.
In 1997, Giuseppe was transferred to the United States where he worked as Manager for BICE in Palm Beach, Florida. This included training and opening new restaurant's in Miami, Chicago and Mexico City.
In 2000, Giuseppe became Area Director for Sbarro on Long Island, a division of Umberto's restaurants. It was on Long Island that he met his wife, Lauren.
In 2004, Giuseppe and Lauren moved to Saratoga Springs and opened Mama Mia's Pizza and Cafe.
Lauren
Owner
Lauren Grisio, a native of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., brings to Mama Mia's a background in marketing and media design.
After finishing college on Long Island, Lauren remained and worked with many innovative companies and entrepreneur's on Long Island and in New York City. She designed for back-end portals and created marketing designs and animations for companies such as Verizon, The Jacob Javits Center, the New York Islanders and the New York Jets.
Although Lauren incorporates her marketing and design skills into the everyday business aspect at Mama Mia's , her main focus is on accounting, bookkeeping and human resources.
Tom
Executive Chef
Tom Clark’s love and passion for food began at a young age. He could always be found helping his Mom in the kitchen.
Tom’s professional career started in the US Navy which provided him with the opportunity to attend a culinary art program, designed by The Culinary Art Institute, graduating at the top of his class. This was the beginning of his 30-year career in the food-service industry.
Tom brings to Mama Mia’s years of experience and knowledge from having been a chef in both cafe's and ristorante's. His knowledge of Italian cuisine, along with his passion for food, are what keeps our guests coming back, time and time again.
Joe
Manager
Joe Green has been with Mama Mia's since 2009 and has worked in the restaurant business for twenty-five years. He began his career right after graduating from college.
Through the years, Joe has been a manager, chef, maitre d and waiter at various local and national restaurants including Jack’s Oyster House, Sperry's and Bennigan's. This experience has contributed to Joe's well rounded knowledge of the food service industry which makes him the great manager that he is.
Joe believe's that "here at Mama Mia's you should be treated like family. That's how Lauren and Giuseppe treat me."
Alberto
Manager/Catering, Event & Party Coordinator
Alberto Lupia's experience comes from a family owned pizzeria and restaurant. "In the restaurant, I greeted and talked with everyone that came in to dine", Alberto says. "My goal was, even at a young age, to try to make everyone feel comfortable and to make sure that everyone left happy." It is this experience that shines through to anyone who meets and works with Alberto at Mama Mia's.
Before joining the Mama Mia's team, Alberto worked for a radio station as an account executive. He worked with many different companies to promote their business through the use of radio. His big emphasis was on what the radio could do for them. Along side promoting their business through the air waves, Alberto always stood by his basic premise, "I focused on tailoring advertising so that is was the best for the customer, so that they were happy and when they needed something, they could always count on me."
Alberto's main focus at Mama Mia's is overseeing and assisting customers for their catering, events and party needs.
Scott
Bar Manager
Scott Urell has had an extensive career in the hospitality business. He has spent 30-years in the business and 20 of those in a management position with Volume Service America; opening and operating different venues throughout the Southeast.
Scott was raised in Saratoga and has just recently made his home here year round. Scott joins the Grisio’s and the Mama Mia’s team as Bar Manager.
