ABOUT US

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GM and owner Massimo Papetti hails from Rome, Italy. He met his wife Carolyn in Rome in 1998 while she was studying there. They moved to East Hampton in 2005 where Massimo began his restaurant career and became a local celebrity! 

Sommelier and owner Carolyn Papetti hails from East Hampton, NY. She lived in Rome for 8 years where she completed her MBA in marketing, and later her sommelier certification. Carolyn has been working in wine at the helm of restaurants, clubs and tourism ever since!

The Papettis began running restaurants together in 2005. They live in the neighborhood and have two boys, Francesco, and Luca, who are often seen working at Eddie or the Italian Bar!

Opened in 2018, I'm Eddie Cano (say it fast and you're pronouncing Americano with a perfect Italian accent) was a lifelong dream fulfilled of three friends who loved Italy, Italian culture, food and wine. 

The trio had worked together in East Hampton since 2005 and had dreamed of opening a neighborhood restaurant with a cult following that would celebrate the best of Italian Italian and Italian American cuisine.

Marketing Maven Carolyn lobbied hard to name their restaurant something that would turn heads. "Italian restaurants are dime a dozen", she proclaimed, "We're new to DC and no one is going to give us the time of day unless we grab their attention!"

Grab attention they did!!. Massimo came home one day, months before the restaurant had opened, and he was totally devastated lamenting to his wife "1,200 people have voted in this DCist poll and they hate the name of the restaurant! We have to change it!"

Carolyn looked at the poll and retorted "Well that means 1,200 people know who we are and we haven't even opened the doors!"

Since 2018, I'm Eddie Cano has twice been recognized by the Michelin Guide with a "plate" and twice been on their list of the top ten Italian restaurants in DC. DC Eater has also recognized I'm Eddie Cano as one of the top pasta spots in the city five years running! The Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema awarded I'm Eddie Cano two stars after his dining experiences on day 2, day 5, day 7 and day 11 of opening (note: most reviewers allow a new restaurant at least three months to find their sea legs!)