Caruso’s Restaurant
Caruso’s Restaurant
50th Anniversary Shirt Design
Caruso’s Restaurant is a long-standing Italian restaurant celebrating its 50th anniversary. Located in the heart of lake country, the restaurant sees an influx of summer visitors and “lake life” regulars.
This project focused on creating a custom shirt design that captures both the restaurant’s identity and the seasonal energy of its audience.
Project Overview
The goal was to design a piece of wearable merchandise that feels fun, memorable, and highly relevant to Caruso’s summer crowd.
With over 100 lakes in Steuben County, the concept leans into a lake lifestyle—blending it with the restaurant’s Italian roots and wine bar atmosphere.
Design Approach:
The design centers around a bold, illustrative composition that merges lake culture with food and drink.
A wine bottle anchors the design—representing Caruso’s wine bar—while also acting as a frame. Inside the bottle, a lake sunset scene unfolds, complete with water and a pontoon boat, capturing the essence of summer evenings in the area.
Behind the bottle, a fork wrapped with spaghetti crosses in the opposite direction, adding movement and reinforcing the restaurant’s Italian identity.
Typography plays a key role in the personality of the piece:
“Lake Days, Wine Nights” as the primary statement
Supporting phrases like “Pour Decisions” and “No Reservations” add humor and relatability
The design was created with versatility in mind, intended for rashguard-style shirts and adaptable across multiple colorways.
services:
Custom illustrated t-shirt design
Concept development and art direction
Apparel-ready artwork (multiple colorways)
Graphic design for promotional merchandise
Results / Impact
The final design:
Captures the intersection of lake lifestyle and dining culture
Appeals directly to seasonal tourists and local regulars
Creates a memorable, wearable piece of branded merchandise
Supports anniversary marketing and in-restaurant sales
Offers flexibility across apparel styles and color variations
Looking to create merch your customers actually want to wear?
I design custom apparel that blends storytelling, illustration, and brand personality—helping restaurants and lifestyle brands create pieces that sell.