For many years they’ve been providing food to families, teachers and football players, city employees and technicians, birthday children and anniversaries.
Now, after 52 years within the hospitality business, the Fiorillo family plans to serve their final plates of Seafood Pasta Fiorillo and Chicken Marsala — two of patriarch Vincent's favorite recipes — on Saturday night. A hit story that began with a deli in Palo Alto will end after they close the doors of their 350-seat restaurant and banquet hall in Santa Clara.
“We felt like now was the right time,” said Michael Fiorillo, son of gregarious founder and owner Vincent. Michael, his sister Renee Fiorillo Kelley and other relations have run the business since Vincent's death in 2010.
His mother, Elaine, agreed. After working in plenty of Italian restaurants, sometimes seven days per week, “it's time for me to enjoy my family,” she said.
She and Vincent, each children of immigrants from Naples, lived in New York City before moving to Silicon Valley in 1972.
Kelley Bell, a longtime customer, talks in regards to the impact the Fiorillo family and their restaurant have had on the community. “They are part of the foundation of Santa Clara,” she said. “This place is another home.” And even when the name disappears from the facade, their presence will still be felt on this neighborhood: In 2022, the town dedicated a Vincent Fiorillo & Family Park nearby.
In the times before the closure, longtime customers flocked to this restaurant on El Camino Real near Santa Clara University for one last meal. Or two, or three.
And everyone, it seems, has a Fiorillo story.
Kris Zankich Jr. has known the family for the reason that Seventies and remembers asking Vinny to sponsor his adult softball league. It was a wise business decision, Zankich said, recalling Vinny telling him, “I knew I would make my money back quickly” when all of the ballplayers began eating on the restaurant.
Ardie Peavy of San Jose first met the Fiorillos within the Nineteen Eighties when he discovered they were New Yorkers like him – she from Brooklyn and he from Queens. “That was our connection,” he said as he and his wife, Debra, waited for a table. Their order? They didn't need to have a look at the menu. Veal parmigiana (or perhaps scallopini) for him and the large Italian baked shrimp for her.
Jeff Smith, a San Benito County resident whose office had been nearby for greater than 25 years, “drove up from Hollister for one last shot,” braving rush hour traffic on Highway 101 to run a giant errand and send his regards to the family.
Bell, husband Tim and daughter Sadie planned to eat at home Thursday night and likewise order the foremost course, Toscana, to go for his or her mother, Dorothy Kornder. For Sadie, it's all in regards to the sauce. “This is the best Alfredo I've ever had,” she explained.
She will not be the just one who’s already mourning the lack of her favorite.
“Many customers have asked if we're going to write a cookbook,” Michael said. “The funny thing is that our father never measured anything when he cooked. He knew exactly which spices to use and how not to overcomplicate the dishes.”
As they arrange the tables for the last banquet and shut down the business, the Fiorillos prepare for his or her final farewell.
“We are fortunate to have great cooks, servers, bartenders, dishwashers and hosts,” Michael said. “We have employees who have been with us for over 20 years.”
And what’s next for this a part of Santa Clara’s culinary history after this weekend?
A catering group has purchased the property, so the venue will remain a restaurant.
“But,” said one customer ruefully, “it won’t be Fiorillos,”
Details: Open from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the last days – Thursday, Friday and Saturday – at 638 El Camino Real, Santa Clara; 408-984-0414
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