"We love what we do and I think people feel that vibration," said Penny Gargano, who owns The Porterhouse with her husband, Joseph.
"It makes a difference when the owners are here," said Joseph Gargano, who is also the executive chef.
"Correct, and we are always here," said Penny Gargano.
The Porterhouse Steaks and Seafood wasn't the couple's first venture into the restaurant industry. The two first broke into the Hot Springs restaurant scene with an Italian restaurant.
"So, we came from New York, Manhattan, and we purchased Belle Arti, which was an icon here in Hot Springs, it was the Italian restaurant two doors down. And then we purchased the bar in the middle, which was Lucky's Bar and Grill for 13 years, and then my husband decided he wanted a steakhouse," said Penny Gargano.
The couple bought and remodeled the empty building where The Porterhouse currently sits at 707 Central Ave. around 20 years ago.
"It's what he loves to do. He's a visionary when it comes to food and design, and he simply had done the Italian thing, had done the bar thing, and wanted to try the American thing," said Penny Gargano.
What set the restaurant apart, she said, is that he introduced prime beef, which she said was very difficult to get in Hot Springs back in the day, though it's become more popular now.
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Joseph Gargano's culinary adventures started in Italy, cooking with his family, before expanding across the globe. Gargano said he later trained in London, before coming to the U.S. and working in areas ranging from New Jersey to California. Gargano said he was even able to train under former Vice President Walter Mondale's White House chef when they worked together in California for a year.
The upper floor of The Porterhouse previously hosted The Porterhouse Club, but has since been refitted to be a banquet facility.
"So, while Joe was building all his various enterprises, I had a little hissy fit and told him my specialty was banquets," joked Penny Gargano. "That's what I did in New York. And I did it on yachts, I did it for large groups, four, five, 600 people ... Joe refitted (the club) to be a banquet facility so that I would have something that would make me happy."
The two started "downsizing" around three years ago.
"Our children are grown, they've gone on in their own ways, and running three restaurants was becoming difficult," said Penny Gargano.
They sold Lucky's, which eventually became Copper Penny Pub, and sold the building after closing Belle Arti, not wanting to sell the name since it was "kind of associated with us."
One of Joseph Gargano's Belle Arti creations, the strawberry salad, still gets asked about to this day, said Penny Gargano, with the dish currently appearing on The Porterhouse's menu.
Other famous items include their crabcakes as well as their titular porterhouses.
"It's the flagship of the meat," said Joseph Gargano.
The "Porterhouse for Two" is a New York strip, a filet mignon, and two lamb chops served with two baked potatoes and two sides of vegetables. Penny Gargano called it a "beautiful display of food."
Though she wouldn't call them a "mom and pop shop," she said they aren't corporate, and there's a lot of personalization with the guests.
Coming from out of state, the couple wasn't sure how they would be received, but said the community has been welcoming.
"We were welcomed with open arms. Our kids grew up here. ... " said Penny Gargano.
"And we're here to serve," said Joseph Gargano.
"That's what we're here for," said Penny Gargano.
Q&A with the Garganos
The following are excerpts from the interview with the Garganos, presented in a question-and-answer format:
Q: Favorite food of all time?
Penny: Italian food.
Joseph: Italian food, yes. Especially coming from Brooklyn.
Q: Favorite restaurant anywhere in the world?
Joseph: One if by Land, Two if by Sea.
Penny: It's in New York ... it's still there; it's been there for many years. What's the one where we go and have fun ...? It's been so long since we've been back.
Joseph: My God, it's on Broadway and it's famous ... Carmine's! Carmine's is like walking into a big wedding.
Penny: Oh my God, it's just hysterical ...
Joseph: ... they have all kinds of deserts ...
Penny: One if by Land, Two if by Sea is just a beautiful, high-end restaurant, but Carmine's is just fun. I mean, just fun. Just packed with people and tables of 20 and everyone is just having a good time and they don't know each other and everybody's talking to each other and then they're singing and they're spinning their napkins. I mean, it's just wonderful. We have fun there.
Q: Favorite part of working in Hot Springs?
Penny: The people.
Joseph: The people -- without them, we wouldn't be here.
Penny: We see so many people come from so many other states and even other parts of the world, they come for the water ... and they'll pass through The Porterhouse ...
Joseph: And we want to thank also A&P and the racetrack for bringing all these people from the regions of other states, and we want to thank them for that, too.
Penny: Engaging in conversation, referring them to visit the Three Sisters or the bath houses or what hotel or what BnB. It's the people that make you eager to return.
Q: Go-to comfort food?
Penny: Pizza!
Joseph: Pizza, different.
