Here lies the story about a 27-year-old guy from Staten Island living the restaurant dream. That's what Rob DeLuca will tell you when you sit down with him in his soon-to-open first restaurant.

"My culinary background started just down the street at Nucci's South. I was 17 years old and I was bussing tables," said DeLuca. His venture will be called DeLuca's Italian Restaurant and it takes the place of the former DaNico's of Mulberry Street, a 3-year-old restaurant that closed suddenly on May 1.