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| Gino’s
Trattoria –A Touch of Naples with a Floor Show
It is easy to pass
by tiny Gino’s Trattoria on a Southwest corner of Thousand Oaks Blvd.
between Moorpark Road and the 23 Freeway.
When Gino Settola from Napoli opened his eponymous eatery 4 1/2
years ago, it appeared that he could not survive. He had been part of the
supposedly upscale Ritrovo. But
in a management dispute he departed.
Settola didn’t have a beer and wine license for a number of
months. He was hanging on by his fingernails. However, Gino was on the job
every moment the restaurant was open; and with hard work, and high energy,
combined with amiable and competent employees, he struggled through. So
that he, unbelievably, may now be operating a financially more successful
and probably more popular restaurant than the one that he left in North
Ranch. The customers certainly get as much personal attention as they can
handle as well as the one of best thin crusted classic Napoletano pizzas
in town. |
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He actually may be the real life character after whom Roberto Benigni patterned his waiter’s role in the Academy Award winning Italian movie “Life is Beautiful”. Gino’s truly transports you into a friendly and happy neighborhood trattoria on the Amalfi Coast. When you are seated Gino goes into his recitation of the “Specials of the Day ”. Sometimes he announces the “Specials” to the entire room. Occasionally he sits down at your table, to give you the “Specials” such as Osso Buco at $20.95 or a sumptuous bowl of Linguini with fresh clams, fresh mussels, calamari and shrimp at $17.95. Gino loves to tell you about the “Specials”. |
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Large Pizzas are $9.25 for Checca and Margherita to $11.75 for the wonderful Prosciutto Funghi and the Vegetariana. All are classic Southern Italian thin crusted with your choice of crispness. Pastas start at $9.25 for Fettucini Bolognese, $10.25 for Lasagna Napoletana and Ravioli San Remo to $11.25 for Spaghetti with fresh clams. Chicken Cacciatore, Marsala and Picatta are all $12.75 and Veal Saltimbocca, Piccata and Pizzaiola are $14.75. Specials are offered and priced each night as indicated above. Gino’s Trattoria offers solid basic Italian food in an attractive setting. When combined with Gino’s non- stop Italian headwaiter routine it produces an entertaining evening of dining and unexpected comedy. Occasionally he gets carried away, plays the tambourine and dances with the customers to lively Italian music. It brings most people back again. He is, however, an acquired taste. Gino’s Trattoria 720
East Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand
Oaks 805-494-7743 |
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