Rezno Menzerotolo

Meet Rezno Menzerotolo! He is the owner of Rezno’s. It is a traditional Argentine Asado and Latin America’s Classic Cuisine. He is a successful tennis player from Venezuela and came down here to play because he got a free private clinic when he was 11 years old and his parents fell in love with Tampa so they decided to stay. His father is originally from Uruguay and his mother is from Venezuela.

Q: What inspired you or led you to your current career?

A: My mom and grandma were great cooks. I have been working in the hospitality and hotel industry since I was 16 years old. I worked my way up from the bottom all the way to the top 3 different times and I got tired of it, so I decided to do something on my own in 2007. My parent’s business in Venezuela went sour due to the political situation there. We were going back and forth to Miami once a month to get the products that we liked so much and just couldn’t get them in Tampa. We would load up and bring them here. I wanted to be unique and have a different menu that you couldn’t see anywhere else.

Q: What is something that attracts people to Renzo’s?

A: We have a diversity of foods. They can get Mexican, Italian, American and Sushi. Renzo’s is a Uruguayan/Argentinian steakhouse. We specialize in meat and we have 8 different varieties of steaks all from the back parts of the cow which is very tender. Cuts traditionally from Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil. And we have a little bit of flair from Central America, which is your yucas, your tostones, your plantains and all those delicious things.
Tampa is evolving, it used to be a small food community, now it is a huge food community. For example, Loli’s has the best tacos in Tampa and they are right here in this community.

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would that be?
I’m a foodie. I travel to eat. One of my favorite places on Earth is San Sebastian in Spain. It’s in the Basque country. I’m a seafood buy and it’s all finger foods. It also has one of the best culinary schools that I have always wanted to go to.

Q: What is your favorite movie ?

A: The first movie I saw was Aladdin. I remember my aunt drove me to a drive-in theatre. I like comedy movies too like Adam Sandler and Jim Carey’s movies.

Q: How long have you lived or worked in North Tampa?

A: I moved here in 1994.

Q: Who’s had the biggest positive impact in your life?

A: My parents that have always been there to support me. In terms of the culture and the person who drives me would be Anthony Bourdain.

Q: Why did you decide to open here in Carrollwood?

A: We opened here because it is very commercial area. It is a small residential and homy, it’s quiet here and it’s like a night dinner crowd. This is a family oriented restaurant. Carrollwood is very suburban and we are somewhat in the middle so if you don’t want to drive all the way to South Tampa we have something in the middle.

Q: What would be your best piece of advice about life?

A: Stay humble, stay true to yourself, be real and don’t lie. Give and expect nothing in return.

Q: What is your favorite music/ 3 bands you would like to see (dead or alive)?

A: I grew up on electronic music so I like Daft Punk. I like Michael Jackson, Guns N’ Roses and Friends which isn’t a band. I love Rock and Roll.

Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?

A: I don’t have secrets. I’m very open, that’s makes me who I am as businessman.

Q: If you were cast into a major motion picture and had your choice of anyone to be your co-star, who would you choose?

A: Probably Seth Rogen he is very funny.

Q: Do you think it is important to have that face to face contact and get to know your neighbors?

A: I do, I think that’s all that we have left. People are starting to be more introverted. I wish all the people were extroverted, go out there socialize, talk, make friends travel and get off your phone.

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