05/15/2026
If you’ve spent any time at Lake Oconee in the past, you surely went to Da Corrado Ristorante. It was a great spot, but was eventually sold.
Then I met Gus. He bought the place and had it fully renovated with his vision for a 70s/80s New York Italian American restaurant. If you talk to him for even a minute about it, you know he’s not just some guy picking a theme and trying to make a restaurant work. He’s recreating “some of the most fun” he’s had in a long time, in his words. He’s creating Santoro’s Italian Kitchen. Homemade pasta with a New York water system, a separate pizza kitchen from the main kitchen, and a ton of authentic, nuanced details I’m not even smart enough to appreciate.
This restaurant opening has been highly anticipated in the area, and this past weekend was a soft opening that Gus hosted for a close circle of friends and family. A chance to get the gears turning for the team and the facility. I had the opportunity to capture some content for their socials and website, and I’ll tell you; not only is it done very well, and creative, and beautiful, but there was something else there, too. Seeing the pride Gus and his family carried as he greeted tables and led the team gave ME a sense of pride that we have something really special here now, with good people behind it.
I got a call from a friend who knew I was working with them. He left them a message about getting a reservation, and was floored when they got a personal call from Gus, the owner, to book it.
I also saw some of the owners of Table at the Lake - good friends that I shoot content for their restaurant as well. They called me over when their cannoli arrived -
“we figured you’d want to get a good picture of this before we dig in.” (Pictured below)
Here are just a few of the pictures to give you a glimpse.
They are now open. If you are in the area, grab a reservation and check it out.