The Man, the Legend Phil Mancini

Here’s the thing about Phil Mancini, co-proprietor of Michael’s On East, the fine-dining restaurant and consummate catering company that has dominated Sarasota’s food scene for decades: The man is a legend. He is. I don’t say it lightly and I certainly wouldn’t say it about many, but Phil manages to embody a mixture of hardworking and heroic characteristics that are very seldom seen in those so close to the spotlight.

And here in Sarasota, there is no greater food stage than Michael’s On East, with a cast and crew that are so adept at what they do they have become stars all their own. However, a big part of Phil’s charm is how little he longs to be recognized. He relishes his directorial role, nudging every little, tiny, microscopic detail toward excellence to ensure their catered events are as close to perfect as humanly possible while upholding a standard of philanthropy, in both his personal and professional lives, that is practically unparalleled. His clients respect him for it, his staff reveres him for it, and the rest of us sit back and regard how a boy who came from next-to-nothing so graciously and skillfully made his way to the top only to turn back around to stand in the trenches with his team.

I could fill three magazines with information on Michael’s On East. With over 30 years’ experience serving Sarasota, Michael’s On East has set the standard for fine dining, award-winning cuisine, and exceptional service. It’s won what is considered the Oscars of the restaurant world, and received its 28th consecutive AAA Four-Diamond Award in 2017. Phil, and partner Michael Klauber, have built their reputations upon their unwavering dedication to their industry and the culinary duo have been internationally recognized for helping more than 500 nonprofit organizations throughout Sarasota and Manatee Counties, and giving back more than $1 million through in-kind donations, contributions, and partnerships.

The company’s history charts a fun and interesting course through decades of incredible anecdotes and a seedling that started with the duo’s beginning days at The Colony, once a Sarasota classic run by Michael Klauber’s father, almost 40 years ago. But much of that history has already been told. Even if locals don’t know every chapter of the Michael’s On East narrative, they are generally well aware of the story’s premise. Though Phil happens to be one of the main characters, his own story remains lesser known as his attitude is more aligned with doing the work rather than raising his hand for recognition.

Phil is a hologram of a human being, with his characteristics shifting depending on which angle you look from. His strong Rhode Island accent and recognizable Italian-American demeanor give him the kind of air usually reserved for Joe Pesci characters in a mob movie, though Mancini would equally be right at home joyously reading illustrated books to a room full of 5-year-olds. He’s open and friendly and insanely generous, with an ironclad backbone and a strict policy of refusing to skimp, not even an ounce, on protocol and procedures that put his company and its efforts ahead of the pack. He’s the kind of guy you could call at 3 a.m. in an emergency and he’d help out, no questions asked, while also being the sort you simply don’t mess with because Phil Mancini does not have time for your bull.

So, what kind of conditions carve out a man like that? Adversity. Adversity and determination and a fair amount of good luck.

“My mother was 31 with six kids when my father died of a massive heart attack at 48. I was 12 years old,” says Phil. “My mom was an only child and her own father had passed. It was just her and my grandmother. She was a saint. They were both saints,” he continues. “I don’t know how she did it. We had nothing at all, yet we seemed to have everything.”

“At that time, I had a paper route,” he explains. “There was a catering company at the end of the street and the owner, Paul Audette, gave me a job washing dishes. He gave a lot of the neighborhood kids jobs. We would work our way up the ladder and Paul would drive us to parties to run events,” says Phil. “That was my first job in the catering industry. That was 48 years ago. I’ve been in catering ever since.”

Phil’s pull-himself-up-by-the-bootstraps backstory is the core essence of who he is. During our interview, he regaled me with great tales from his youth and funny memories from his career but the quote above stuck out amongst all the rest as it seems to encapsulate every facet of this fascinating man. In just a few short sentences, Phil explained a childhood that many would use as a crutch for why they couldn’t succeed in life, yet he flipped it to become the foundation for what made him move forward. He recounted the people in the community who showed up for him and his family in their times of need. He expressed boundless gratitude for the opportunities that came his way and displayed a deep drive to excel at his commitments. He has put his blood, sweat, tears, brain, brawn, charm, and chutzpah into his career and it all stems from a childhood that handed a hardworking kid a lucky opening and now, decades later, Phil has spent a lifetime paying it forward.

“You know what I think about all the time?” Phil says aloud, “The restaurant business has been so good to me. It’s allowed me to give back, to work with kids and the elderly, to make a difference in the community. I remember being a kid with nothing,” he recalls. “I remember how the church came to our aid and all of the people that showed up for my family. There’s not much that I haven’t already been through. That’s why I don’t want to stand at a podium and talk about philanthropy. I want to be a part of all of it as my family has seen it all: bullying, depression, suicide, poverty, the opioid crisis, you name it.”

Phil Mancini is a magician, an alchemist. He knows how to take the breadcrumbs of life and turn them into a feast fit for kings. He’s a good guy, a good friend, a good husband, and a good boss and I’ll tell you what—I have two sons and if either of them grows up to be like Phil Mancini, I’ll be eternally grateful, because the world sure could use a lot more folks like Phil.