It’s tough in the restaurant business right now; many places are suffering declining business as customers switch to pre-made foods picked up at grocery stores or even meals delivered prepared for home cooking. Not Domenico’s. “This year is better than last,” owner Mike Rhodes said. “And our catering business is up as well.”

Rhodes said they do seven or eight catering jobs a day. Besides being the oldest restaurant in Long Beach, Rhodes said they’re the only neighborhood old school Italian place in Long Beach. “I call it ‘American Italian,’" he said. “It’s food for people, lots of flavor and big portions. The customers like the food.”