One of Harvard Square's most popular restaurateurs was honored this weekend for his work on behalf of the mentally retarded.

Citing Frank Cardullo's "faithful and loyal service," the Greater Boston Association for Retarded Citizens (GBARC) named the owner of the Wursthaus Restaurant their 1982 Man of the Year award.

Cardullo recently directed a successful fundraising drive to pay off the mortgage for the group's new building in Boston.

A former member of the Massachusetts Insurance Commission who said he "came to Boston to study pharmacy and ended up compounding sandwiches," Cardullo has been active in many other charitable organizations.