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You’d be hard-pressed to find another fine Italian burger, for lunch. Tony says his personal favorite is
restaurant where diners can also get a German the tournedos of beef, a $30 item that comes with
bratwurst, some Chinese chicken, a range of mashed potatoes that is topped with garlic crostini
hamburgers, or a few pieces of lumpia of equal or and two filet medallions and béarnaise sauce.
better quality than the pasta. However, Zio Fraedo’s’
owners, Tony and Sherry LoForte, say they’ve found “That all goes back to being a place that provides a
that in a diverse town like Vallejo, you can’t serve the big enough variety to where we can get people in,
whole community if you specialize in one thing. more than just on special occasions,” Tony said. “We
do specials through the week, including all sorts of
“We really mix it up, and that’s something you can fish specials. We have a bar special every night. We
do when you own your own business,” Tony said. do taco Tuesday, which is super. We just try to have
“It’s our place, so we have a lot of fun with it.” something for everybody.” He later added, “You can’t
really open a super eclectic restaurant in a town like
Tony has been in and around restaurants “pretty much Vallejo. You wanna make something that’s all-inclusive.”
my whole life.” His father, Tony Sr., owned multiple
restaurants in Contra Costa and started the first Zio Tony loves being in the restaurant business, and though
Fraedo’s in Pleasant Hill during the early 2000s. he and Sherry own other spots in the Bay Area, he
said the Vallejo Zio Fraedo’s is his
“My dad is actually from Brooklyn. “baby.” Some have compared the
One thing he noticed that they didn’t restaurant industry to juggling 50 balls
have enough of out here was those at once. It took several years to get
Zio Fraedo’s off the ground, and Tony
restaurants that are truly part of the
Dinner neighborhood and do weddings said he and Sherry are very grateful
for the folks who keep coming back.“
and community events,” Tony said.
“He thought if he started one on the
West Coast it would be successful,
and he turned out to be right.” “My wife is the anchor of that
place; she’s the rock. For one thing,
Out After years of working with his dad, said. “Sherry’s pretty fearless, and
she’s way smarter than me,” Tony
Tony split off and founded Vallejo’s
when she’s scared, I’m not, and
Zio Fraedos. The restaurant is
vice versa. We love Vallejo; we’ve
divided into multiple rooms, which each have their own
atmosphere. There is a bar with TVs that are usually done very well in this town. It’s been good to us.”
tuned in to whatever big game is happening right then. Zio Fraedo’s is located at 23 Harbor Way in Vallejo. It
is open from 11:30 a.m. through 9 p.m. from Monday to
Dining at The dining area of Zio Fraedo’s has all the appearances Thursday, and 11:30 a.m. through 10 p.m. on Friday and
of an upscale restaurant with a dress and a language Saturday. On Sunday, it’s open from noon to 8 p.m. Its
code, but don’t be fooled: the folks at Zio Fraedo’s Contra Costa County-based counterpart is located at 611
Z io Fraedo’s definitely have a bit of a risqué sense of humor (just ask Gregory Lane, in Pleasant Hill. For additional information,
them to recite some of their old cocktail names), and or to make a reservation at the Vallejo Zio Fraedo’s,
they like to keep it light. In late November, they’ll be call (707) 642-8984. You can reach the Pleasant Hill
Nate Gartrell presenting a live interactive painting night hosted by Kevin Zio Fraedo’s at (925) 933-9091. For a full menu, go to
Pride, an Alameda-area artist who offers a “comedy-filled, www.ziofreados.com. For updates, pictures of specials,
allejo might be the most underrated city of painting party experience” featuring a lot of “R-rated” and announcements of upcoming events, follow them
jokes. “It’s a festive atmosphere, but not so much so that on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ziofraedos.
dining in the Bay Area. It has restaurants
there are people screaming at the TV all night,” Tony said.
from a wide spectrum of cultures, with
Vfood from nearly every part of the world. Zio Fraedo’s offers more than 20 different appetizers
(not including salads and soups), from stuffed
However, there’s one eatery—although it’s billed as an mushrooms to seafood, and even lumpia, a popular
Italian restaurant—that can do it all: Zio Fraedo’s, located Filipino egg roll. Some noteworthy meals include the
filet of salmon, the carbonara, and the bleu cheese
on the Vallejo side of the Mare Island waterfront.
