He was born on September 16, 1954, and will be 71 years old in 2025. This person is well-known in New England because he is a chef and TV star, especially because he has been on Food Network and other cooking shows. Martorano became famous for his Italian-American cooking skills, which he used to run popular restaurants and write cookbooks. Steve Martorano net worth, restaurants, TV shows, and endorsements are thought to have brought in about $5 million for him by 2025. He has a family and likes to keep his personal life out of the public eye. Instead, he focuses on sharing his love of cooking and helping up-and-coming cooks.
Steve Martorano married Marsha Martorano. They met when he opened Café Martorano in Fort Lauderdale. They work together on their food projects and other business ventures and have a strong personal and professional relationship. Their family is also very important to them. Their late son Joey Martorano was very active in their restaurant business and died at age 32.
Social Profiles
Quick Bio
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Steve Martorano |
| Birthdate | September 16, 1954 |
| Age (in 2025) | 71 |
| Birthplace | South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Occupation | Chef, Restaurateur, TV Personality |
| Known As | “Godfather of Italian-American Cooking” |
| Notable Work | Owner of Café Martorano (Fort Lauderdale) |
| Culinary Style | Italian-American cuisine with emphasis on high-quality ingredients and homemade preparation |
| Career Start | Began with a sandwich delivery service, opened first restaurant in 1982 |
| Business Locations | Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Philadelphia (Rivers Casino) |
| Family | Married to Marsha Martorano; have lost a son, Joey |
| Media Appearances | Featured on Food Network, “The Real Housewives of Miami,” and various cooking shows |
| Net Worth (2025) | Estimated around $5 million |
| Hobbies | DJing, mentoring chefs |
Who Is Steve Martorano?
Early Life & Influences
Steve Martorano grew up in Philly in a rough Italian-American area. His early life was shaped by traditional Italian food, and he started cooking by making sandwiches in the basement of his mother’s house. Because he was passionate and dedicated, he turned a small business into a kingdom of restaurants with many locations. In his early years, music and dancing also had an impact on him. Before he became a chef, he worked as a DJ.
Breakthrough & Brand Identity
Martorano is famous for his “Philly-Italian” style, which combines real Italian-American dishes with a lively, friendly atmosphere. Food experts and famous people have said great things about his meatballs. Martorano’s restaurants offer more than just food. They also have fun, lively atmospheres that are often improved by DJ music and other entertainment, making each meal a unique experience. His clients have included famous people from sports and culture, which makes him more appealing to the media.
Steve Martorano Net Worth in 2025
As of 2025, Steve Martorano is thought to have a net worth of about $5 million. He is very rich because he has a successful chain of Italian-American restaurants in Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, and Atlantic City. He is also famous for his best-selling cookbooks, TV appearances, brand ads, and real estate investments. Martorano is famous for his special mix of high-quality Italian and American food, his famous meatball recipe, and the lively atmosphere of his restaurant, which often has DJ sets. He is very wealthy, but he stays grounded. He credits his love of cooking and his Italian-American background for a lot of his success.
| Year | Estimated Net Worth | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Early 1990s | Modest (starting capital) | Started culinary career with a sandwich shop in Philadelphia. Moved to Fort Lauderdale with $40. |
| 2000s | Several million dollars | Opened Café Martorano in Fort Lauderdale, building reputation and clientele including celebrities. |
| 2010s | Tens of millions | Expanded businesses to Las Vegas, Atlantic City; published cookbooks and appeared on TV. |
| 2024-2025 | Around $5 million | Wealth from restaurant chains, cookbooks, TV appearances, brand endorsements, and food service products including meatballs and sauces. Strong personal brand and philanthropic efforts. |
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Business Ventures and Income Sources
Restaurants
- Café Martorano in Fort Lauderdale is Martorano’s main restaurant. It serves Italian-American food and has live music and movies for fun.
- Martorano’s Prime (Rivers Casino Pittsburgh) is an Italian-American steakhouse idea that serves high-end foods like fresh mozzarella, classic pasta, and prime cuts of beef.
- Martorano’s Prime (Rivers Casino Philadelphia): This Italian-American steakhouse is set to open in Steve Martorano’s neighborhood and serve food based on family recipes.
One more popular branch for Martorano on the East Coast is in Atlantic City.
Food Products
- Martorano has turned his signature dishes, like his famous meatballs, sauces, and desserts, into products that can be bought all over the country through partnerships and sales.
Television and Media
- Often seen on Food Network, doing food demos on “Good Morning America” and “Today Show,” and appearing as a guest on late-night shows.
- He is the host of cooking shows and other special events that raise his profile and build his brand.
Books and Publishing
- He makes money and builds his name by writing cookbooks with his Italian-American recipes and stories about his food journey.
Event Hosting and DJing
- Offers a unique eating experience with movie projections and live DJs, which directly increases restaurant sales.
Philanthropy and Brand Endorsements
- Does good things for others and promotes food items that fit with his brand.
Real State Ownership and Properties
Instead of the personal homes that get a lot of attention, Steve Martorano owns and runs several restaurants. His most important restaurant sites are:
- Café Martorano is the chain’s main and most popular restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It is located on Oakland Park Boulevard, close to the beach. The restaurant is in a leased storefront that was hired on a low budget at first but has since become a high-grossing property that brings in more than $5 million a year.
- Martorano’s Prime in Rivers Casino Pittsburgh is a steakhouse idea inside the casino. It is one of more Martorano-branded restaurants opening in busy places.
- Coming up at Rivers Casino Philadelphia is Martorano’s Prime: This site will have restaurants, entertainment, and a bakery run by his wife. It will open in his hometown along the Delaware River and have beautiful views.
- Martorano has locations in Atlantic City and Las Vegas, bringing his business to big entertainment hubs.
- Steve Martorano’s business strategy includes renting out prime commercial real estate in big shopping malls and casinos to get the most foot traffic and exposure.
- Not much is known about his personal home, but he is known to have a waterfront home near the Fort Lauderdale restaurant that he shares with his family. Even though his restaurant is famous, they stay out of the public eye there.
- In line with his brand identity, most of his sites offer unique Italian-American dining along with fun entertainment like DJ booths and movie projections.
Personal Life
Steve Martorano Wife: Marsha Martorano
They met at Café Martorano in Fort Lauderdale in 2005. She helps people with their money issues and does their makeup. She is an important part of the businesses they run together. They got married in 2017 and now work together to grow the Martorano brand. One project they’re working on is Marsha’s dessert line, “Lilly Cakes.” Through their charity, which focuses on education and personal growth, they work together to help others.
Family & Privacy
There are references to Steve Martorano’s son, but specifics about what happened to him are kept secret and have not been proven by the public. This is to protect family privacy and stop rumors.
Career Highlights & Media
Television & Press
Some of the major TV shows that Martorano has been on are “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and “The Real Housewives of New Jersey.” The media’s attention on him has helped both his business and the demand for his restaurant. Besides cooking, he is also in high demand as a speaker.
Film Roles
Steve Martorano has had small parts or cameos in a number of media projects. Verified titles need to be confirmed, but public performances have helped him stay famous and in the public eye.
Legacy, Awards, and Impact
Legacy
- Steve Martorano is known as the “Godfather of Italian-American Cooking,” which solidifies his role as one of the first people to make high-quality Italian-American food famous.
- He took traditional Italian-American recipes and made them more gourmet while still staying true to their roots.
- He has an effect on how Italian-American food is seen and valued all over the US, not just in restaurants.
- A big part of his legacy is that he helped many young cooks and restaurant owners get started in the business.
Awards
- Martorano has won many awards and honors in the food business over the course of his career, recognizing both his cooking skills and his influence in the field.
- Food reviewers have given his restaurants great reviews and named them the best Italian-American restaurants in more than one city.
- He has been praised by the media and food groups for his genuine contributions to Italian cooking and his drive to succeed.
Impact
- Martorano’s influence goes beyond the kitchen. Through food, media appearances, and public events, he has made Italian-American society more well-known.
- Adding entertainment like live DJs and movie showings to his places made the dining experience better.
- Martorano’s way of cooking combined Italian-American recipes and practices with modern cooking methods to spark a new interest in them.
- His charitable work and participation in the community show that he wants to give back and help people who are in need.
Struggles with Mental Health, Addiction & Homelessness
- As a voice for mental health and addiction recovery, Steve Martorano has become an advocate. He hosts a podcast called “The Behavioral Corner” to teach and tell people about these problems.
- He talks openly about the problems that many people with mental health and drug abuse are having, pointing out the shame and difficulties they face when they try to get help.
- Martorano stresses how important it is to be honest, have support systems, and go to treatment programs. He also urges people who are in trouble to reach out for help.
- He talks about how addiction and mental illness are often linked to homelessness and how many people move from one unsafe living situation to another because of these problems.
- He works as an advocate for tools, treatment, and recovery services to help break down barriers and false beliefs about mental health disorders and addiction.
Current Status
- In the world of food, Steve Martorano is still busy and influential, mostly through his restaurant businesses.
- His most famous restaurant, Café Martorano in Fort Lauderdale, is still open and famous for combining Italian-American food with live music and entertainment. It has kept its reputation for great food and a lively setting.
- The Rivers Casino Pittsburgh location of Martorano’s Prime is still open and serves standard Italian-American steakhouse fare as well as his famous meatballs.
- However, Martorano’s Prime in Rivers Casino Philadelphia, which opened in July 2023, shut down in early 2025 after less than two years because both the restaurant and the casino agreed to it.
- Around the same time, the linked Martorano’s Pizza Sicilian Slice in Philadelphia’s Rivers Casino also closed.
- Martorano and his wife Marsha are working on new projects besides restaurants. These include Joey’s Italian Kitchen by Martorano’s, a fast-casual Italian concept, and Martorano’s Pizza, which specializes in Sicilian-style pizza, as they try to expand their cooking reach.
- Even though some of his restaurants have closed, Martorano is still a well-known food businessman who is constantly working to grow and innovate in the Italian-American cuisine space.
Public Perception & Media Coverage
- Steve Martorano is a famous and respected chef in the world of food and among Italian-Americans. He is known for being honest and passionate about cooking great Italian-American food.
- People love him because he’s known for having a strong personality. He’s known for being honest and not apologizing for his food and style, which makes him stand out in the restaurant scene.
- The media often talk about his “rags-to-riches” story, focusing on how he went from starting out with $40 in Fort Lauderdale to owning several popular restaurants and becoming a famous chef.
- People love his restaurants because they have fun, lively atmospheres that combine food, music, and movie culture to make an unforgettable experience.
- The media praises his cooking, especially his famous fried meatballs, which some people think are the best in the world. Both food reviewers and celebrities have said nice things about them.
- Martorano is better known to the public because he has been on several national TV shows and a cooking web series.
- His dedication to quality and authenticity, along with his honest, tough-talking style, have earned him a loyal following of people who love both his food and his personality.
- People also know him for the charitable work he does and the teaching he gives. These things help him have a good reputation based on loyalty, generosity, and commitment to the community.
FAQs
How many restaurants does Steve Martorano own?
A number of places, such as in Pittsburgh, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, and Atlantic City.
Is Steve Martorano still married to Marsha?
As of 2025, they are married.
Who owns Martorano’s restaurant?
Steve Martorano mostly owns it through his LLCs.
What movies did Steve Martorano play in?
He has had cameos and supporting roles in movies, but the exact names need to be confirmed.
Steve Martorano age?
Born around 1953; will be 72 years old in 2025.
Steve Martorano net worth?
Based on a specific method, it is thought to be around $5 million.
Conclusion
Steve Martorano grew up in South Philadelphia and is now a famous chef, restaurant owner, and media star. His story shows how passionate, enterprising, and good at cooking he is. He has built up an impressive net worth of about $5 million through a variety of restaurants, great brand extensions, and a strong media presence. His story shows how powerful it can be to combine real food with friendly, personality-driven service and smart business growth.
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