Spaghetti con Polpette Beef Carpaccio
FAMIGLIA ITALIAN RESTAURANT
Where Families and Good Food Come Together!
If you’re accustomed to traveling to San Francisco or other
East Bay cities to enjoy authentic Italian food, there is a new
local option that will no doubt satisfy your palate and save the
consternation of driving, paying tolls and parking! Famiglia
Italian Restaurant, one of Pinole’s newest dining establishment
opened for business in June 2017, and is open for your dining
pleasure seven days a week for lunch and dinner. Conveniently
located on San Pablo Avenue, Famiglia’s somewhat unlikely
location (in an Industrial Park-like setting), affords plenty of
parking for customers. The restaurant sits back from the street,
which may make it difficult to spot in the daytime; but the
bright neon signage visible in the evenings beckons hungry
diners in for a warm welcome and a delicious meal.
Upon entering Famiglia, you may miss the familiar
ambience of some Italian restaurants. At the time of this review,
32 MARKETPLACECONTRACOSTA.COM MARCH 2018
there were no pictures on the walls, only a few plants, no
white tablecloths, and no evidence of traditional Italian décor.
Some customers have characterized the restaurant as looking
like a cafeteria. But co-owner Miguel Guillen assured us that
the venue is a work in progress, and that customers will see a
number of enhancements in the coming months. The interior
of the restaurant was entirely designed and constructed by
Miguel and his brother David, who jointly own Famiglia, and I
found the design appealing even sans the décor. The large open
space has a defined entry lined with comfortable chairs, and
leads into the dining room with table seating for approximately
60 guests. Large windows along the right side of the restaurant
provide plenty of natural lighting during the day. Behind the
dining area, there is a long, customized bar/counter designed
by David, which has the word “Famiglia” hand set across its
RESTAURANT REVIEW
812 San Pablo Avenue, Suite 1, Pinole | (510) 283-5971 | famigliaitalianrestaurant.com
By Vickie Lewis