FEBRUARY 2017 MARKETPLACECONTRACOSTA.COM 37 and tax preparation, and landed a good job working for UC Berkeley in 1993. At that time, Martino lived in Richmond, and for over a year, drove past the empty storefront that now houses La Strada. The location had previously been a coffee shop, and later VP’s Lounge, both of which were out of business. One day, he and his brother-in-law, Adrien Munoz, inquired about leasing the location, and all the pieces fell into place! They leased the building in April 1996, and after a lot of hard work, opened La Strada (which means “The Road”) just three months later on July 24th. The rest, as they say, is history! Leveraging his learnings from working at La Felce, and with support and encouragement from his former employers, Martino and Adrien launched a very successful Italian restaurant that has become a pillar in West County. Six years later, the owners opened a second La Strada location in Napa, which recently celebrated its fourteenth anniversary. Adrien primarily runs the business in Napa, and Martino is primarily responsible for the San Pablo location. La Strada in San Pablo is fortunate to have a number of long-term employees who know their customers, and make dining here very “homey.” In addition to Martino, who can converse with customers in fluent Italian, other long term employees include general manager, Peter Lampert; our server, Albano; Terry and Mark, who serve and bartend. Most importantly, two of the cooks have worked at La Strada for seventeen years, helping to provide a consistent culinary experience to their customers. Not only is La Strada a wonderful place to dine, but the owners are extremely active in charitable community events. Martino shared that he enjoys helping and supporting local organizations, and frequently donates gift certificates to organizations such as the Soroptimists, Rotarians, Boys and Girls Club, local schools, and too many others to list here! Martino currently lives in Hercules with his wife, Christina, and his two daughters, Isabella (14) and Elizabeth (12). For me, La Strada conjures fond memories of a number of special celebrations I’ve enjoyed there over the years—Christmas parties, my daughter’s graduation party, and my grandmother’s 94th birthday celebration. Each and every time, we enjoyed great food and service, and a welcoming, unrushed atmosphere which made each event that much more enjoyable. In addition to the spacious dining areas, La Strada also has a downstairs banquet room that holds 85 to 100 guests, and is booked frequently for parties, weddings, business meetings, and more. You’ll also want to check out La Strada’s special events for holidays and other occasions, such as Valentine’s Day, St. Patty’s Day and Mother’s Day. So, the next time you’re looking for a nice restaurant to enjoy an excellent Italian lunch or dinner with friends or family, or if you are celebrating a special occasion, check out La Strada in San Pablo. I’m confident you’ll enjoy not only your meals, but also the atmosphere, and the welcoming and friendly staff who are eager to serve you. And if you see Martino, congratulate and thank him for bringing to West County a wonderful and authentic Italian restaurant that we can enjoy close to home. Buon Appetito! Open for Lunch and Dinner Albano, Ginger, Martino, Peter and Jose Affogato
Contra Costa Marketplace - Feb 2017
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