Cafe Fiore Brings Authentic Italian Food to Woodland Hills

Known for its fresh ingredients and traditional Italian cuisine, Ventura-based Café Fiore has expanded to Woodland Hills.  

Executive Chef and Owner Saverio Posarelli said the restaurant decided to open a new Café Fiore in the West San Fernando Valley because the restaurant was ready to try a new venture.

“There weren’t really any traditional Italian restaurants nearby and we thought we could bring something to the area,” Posarelli said.

A lot of detail and research went into creating the new restaurant and it incorporates a selection of materials including metals, old wood and old machinery.

“We wanted to create a place that looked like it was here forever,” Posarelli said. “I’m surprised by just how beautiful it is. It’s a really, really pretty restaurant,

Café Fiore offers authentic Italian dishes, like the tortellacci di zucca and home-made pastas. It also serves pizza made fresh from the oven.

“The pizza is exceptionally good. We make it through a natural fermentation called pasta madre or ‘mother dough,’” Posarelli said. “The dough is crispy and it has the right chewiness. It’s bubbly and very digestible.”

The restaurant also offers a selection of beer, cocktails and martinis and a deli section for food to take home.

Restaurant favorites include the pineapple basil drop, made with Skyy Pineapple Vodka, fresh basil, lemon and pineapple juice and the avocado martini, made with Cruzan Mango Rum, mango, fresh lime and muddled avocado.

Posarelli said that while he leaves philosophy to the Greeks, when it comes to food, he strives to use fresh traditional ingredients.

“I like to eat well. I enjoy food. My passion is rediscovering what used to be, the way to cook like my grandma, my mom,” Posarelli said.

Using organic ingredients is also very important to Posarelli.

“We don’t prepare almost anything. We really try to put nature in the food,” Posarelli said.

 “I believe when you have a good ingredient 50 percent of your job is done. The other 50 percent is up to your ability to put the ingredients together.”  

Posarelli, a family man, said it is important promote that kind of eating in his restaurant as well.

“I have three kids, I like them to eat in a certain way and I like to provide the place for other people to eat in a certain way too,” Posarelli said. “Life is so busy. When we can sit down to the table and have something that is good, fresh, just made, I’ve done my job.”

Happy hour begins at 5 p.m., every night of the week, and all champagnes and wines are 30 percent off in the martini bar. To make a reservation call 818-888-4314. For more information visit Café Fiore at www.cafefiore.net.