Strizzi's In Downtown Pleasanton Celebrating 30 Years

PLEASANTON, CA — Thirty years is a long time for a family owned restaurant to survive, much less thrive. But Strizzi's in downtown Pleasanton is celebrating three successful decades of serving up hungry patrons.

The eatery at the corner of Main and St. Mary streets is marking its 30 years with an anniversary kickoff on Friday that includes — what else — a series of $30 specials.

Known for its menu favorites that originate from family recipes traced to Villa Santa Maria, Italy, where the Strizzi clan hails from, the restaurant's backstory typifies the American Dream. Opened by Pleasanton resident Ray Bartolomucci in 1989, Strizzi’s first debuted in San Leandro in 1986. Bartolomucci named the restaurant after his maternal grandparents, Luciano and Assunta Strizzi, who settled in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and opened the L. Strizzi Deli Shoemaker Shop in the 1920s.

Bartolomucci, who spent more than a decade in corporate hospitality, worked alongside his grandfather in the shop's kitchen during his youth. He always aspired to open a restaurant and after launching the San Leandro location, Bartolomucci set his sights on downtown Pleasanton.

“I was raising my family here and saw an incredible amount of potential downtown,” Bartolomucci said. “We were one of the first restaurants to call Main Street home and it is incredible to see the evolution of this area. We are excited to continue to be a part of that.”

Bartolomucci helped bring outdoor dining to downtown Pleasanton.

“Let’s just say it was quite the process to get the green light on what was Pleasanton’s first sidewalk cafe," he explained. "Thirty years later, outdoor dining is highly coveted and ingrained in the identity of downtown Pleasanton. I think it is hard to imagine coming here and not being able to dine or drink outside!”

Now Strizzi's has three locations with outdoor dining — Fremont, Pleasanton and Livermore — each serving hand-tossed pastas and homemade sauces, as well as signature dishes like rigatoni Bolognese, seafood fettuccini, spaghetti and meatballs, and many other family favorites.

Strizzi’s is no longer a small operation. The restaurant is part of Ray Bartolomucci’s Strizzi’s Restaurants, Inc., which also includes Rigatoni’s and Rigatoni’s Red Smoke Grill. The company also offers full catering services, as well as a retail line of marinara sauce.

If you've never tried Strizzi's, Oct. 4 might be a good time to check it out. The $30 menu specials will begin and will change weekly at each Strizzi's location, giving guests a different experience each time they visit.