Watch just one episode of the FX drama, The Bear, and you’ll realize quickly that running a successful restaurant is not for the faint of heart. It requires long nights, early mornings, and a dedication to quality in every aspect of the experience. So, how exactly has Gaetano’s managed to achieve all of this for the past thirty years? For Vince Giuliano & his family, owners and operators of Gaetano’s, family and a fierce dedication to service have helped them keep the doors open since 1993.
Vince and his sister Andreanna, quite literally, grew up in the restaurant business. The Gaetano’s story began when their father and mother, Steve and Dori, opened Gaetano’s Deli in 1993, serving up pastas, salads, pastries, sandwiches, and freshly baked breads. Between Vince’s homework and sports practices, there were sandwich orders and wood-fired pizza ovens to tend to. It may not have been a typical childhood, but helping around the shop instilled in Vince a sense of pride and a work ethic that has served him throughout his life.
When Gaetano’s Deli became Gaetano’s Restaurant, what should have been a celebration for the family was, unfortunately, marked by the passing of Vince’s dad, Steve. While Steve’s passing left the Giuliano family heartbroken, Vince’s mother, Dori, refused to let it end the Gaetano’s story. Thanks to the support of family and friends, Gaetano’s Restaurant was able to weather the storm and emerge on the other side stronger.
Those tough early life lessons left their mark on Vince and inspired him to take on the family business full-time after college. While there were certainly some early mistakes in Vince’s tenure, a constant for him and the rest of the Giuliano family has always been a relentless pursuit of excellence.
That commitment to excellence is never more apparent than when it comes to the food. While classics (many of the recipes handed down to Vince by his grandmother, Dotty) like Eggplant Parmigiana and Chicken Marsala embrace tradition, Vince works closely with his head chef to ensure they always have an eye on the future. New recipes are created and refined over and over until they meet the Gaetano’s standard. The classics aren’t immune from scrutiny either. Vince once noticed customers weren’t ordering the tiramisu as often as they had been and, after a careful taste test, determined the recipe wasn’t right. It was back to the drawing board to rebuild the dessert until it was worthy enough to be placed back on the menu.
While great food can get people in the door, memorable and excellent service is what keeps them coming back. Vince and his wife, Giordana, have made world-class service a non-negotiable. While the list of what keeps a restaurant successful for three decades could fill a menu, there are five elements that have helped Gaetano’s not just survive but thrive:
- Team first: A happy team leads to happy guests. It’s as simple as that. Gaetano’s works hard to ensure that every team member, from the kitchen to the bar to the front of house, feels comfortable and empowered in the restaurant.
- Pass the baton: Restaurants, like art studios, are a creative space. The staff at Gaetano’s are always encouraged to explore new ideas and suggestions without fear of failure. Sometimes new ideas stick, and sometimes they don’t. What’s important is that an atmosphere of experimentation and collaboration exists to keep the business ever-evolving.
- Appreciate the guest: There is no shortage of restaurants vying for customer business, and Gaetano’s knows this. Something Vince and Giordana instill in their staff is to never take customers’ patronage for granted. When someone chooses to dine at Gaetano’s, it’s an honor that should not be taken lightly.
- Always be better: Complacency can be alluring but is often the death knell in the restaurant industry. Gaetano’s has been able to balance a dining experience that is both traditional and forward-thinking. This dedication to constant improvement has helped grant them license to explore more adventurous dishes while always honoring menu staples.
- Support the community: When a community has supported you for 30 years, you be sure to show them the very same support. Whether it’s a Little League sponsorship, a food bank request, or donations to local South Bay causes, giving back whenever possible isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s what being a member of the community is all about.
Running a restaurant requires a million different things to be done at all hours of the day in order for the operation to run smoothly. Maintaining the level of commitment necessary to deliver excellence day in and day out isn’t easy to maintain. But at the heart of Gaetano’s is a family bound by a dream created by their father so many years ago. A passion for food, family, and friends that has kept the seats warm and the plates clean. It’s a shared love that has spanned generations and been embraced by a community that continues to come back for more. So, the next time you find yourself at Gaetano’s, raise a glass to the next thirty years of success, and don’t forget to try the tiramisu.
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