My
Story

Biography

Born and raised in Taranto, Italy, Gianni immigrated to San Francisco in 1980. During his 40+ year career in the dining industry, he has founded multiple restaurants in the Bay Area, including Gradimento, Medioevo, and Pasta?. From 1995 to 2002 Gianni also served as President of GDS Foods. In 2014, Gianni founded Doppio Zero with business partner Angelo Sannino in Mountain View. Doppio Zero is a traditional Italian restaurant with homemade pastas, Neapolitan pizzas and homemade desserts. Since opening, Doppio Zero has become one of the most successful Italian restaurant chains in the Bay Area, winning numerous awards and opening four additional locations in San Francisco, Concord, San Carlos, and Campbell. Over the past decade, Doppio Zero has been featured on prestigious guides such as Gambero Rosso, 50TopPizza and the Michelin Guide. In the summer of 2022, Gianni took his culinary passion and expertise to Southern California, where he opened his second flagship restaurant, Nardò. Nardò is a contemporary Southern Italian restaurant with innovative dishes, Neapolitan pizzas, and a voguish interior. Located just off of Pacific Coast Highway by the Huntington Beach Pier, Nardò combines striking ocean views with authentic Italian food and a fun atmosphere. Since opening, Nardò has already cemented itself as one of the top Italian restaurants in Southern California, winning awards from both 50TopPizza and Gambero Rosso. In January 2023, Gianni embarked on a new culinary journey with his business partner, Angelo Sannino. Together, they opened their first Spanish restaurant, Vida Tapas Y Cocteles, in Mountain View. Vida is a Spanish tapas restaurant and cocktail lounge located in the heart of the Castro Street business district, just a few short blocks from Doppio Zero Mountain View. Featuring a ritzy interior with handpainted murals, decorative art, and greenery, Vida offers a unique dining experience in a swanky ambiance. Since opening, Vida has received lots of press for its authentic food and stylish design, quickly becoming one of the premier Spanish tapas restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Culinary Philosophy

For Gianni, the philosophy behind each of his restaurants is a blend of tradition and innovation, grounded in an unwavering commitment to impeccable service and culinary excellence. He believes that a restaurant should be more than just a place to eat, but a true dining experience that satiates the senses. Gianni's culinary ethos is centered on using fresh, locally-sourced ingredients, which are the bedrock of his unique and artfully created dishes, embodying the vibrant flavors of his Italian heritage, while embracing the diversity of world cuisine. Each of his restaurants serves as a testament to his belief in sustainability, community connection, and the transformative power of food. Yet, despite their shared ethos, no two Gianni's establishments are the same. Each restaurant tells its own story, reflecting the rich tapestry of the neighborhood it inhabits. This is the philosophy that has earned Gianni a reputation as not just a successful restauranteur, but a beloved gastronomic storyteller. At the core of Gianni's success as a restaurateur lies a deep-seated respect for the culinary arts, and an innate understanding of the unique role that a restaurant plays in the life of a community. He sees each establishment not merely as a place for meals, but a haven for the holistic dining experience - a space where senses are awakened, and conversations flow over beautifully presented dishes. His choice of using locally-sourced, fresh ingredients speaks to his unwavering commitment to sustainability and a keen understanding of their role in enriching the flavor profile of his creations. His diverse restaurants, while united in their overarching philosophy, boast distinct identities, narrating tales of their own, much like the culinary compositions served within their walls. His masterful blend of tradition and innovation is not just confined to his menus, but also extends to the ambience, the service, and the overall ethos of each establishment. These principles are the bedrock of Gianni's endeavors, marking him not just as a successful businessperson, but a true artisan and connoisseur of the gastronomic arts.

Family Tradition

Family is at the very heart of Gianni's world. From his early years in the warmth of his grandmother's kitchen, where the intoxicating aroma of home-cooked meals first ignited his culinary passion, to his present day role as a devoted husband and father of five, Gianni's life is a testament to his unwavering commitment to his family. He fondly remembers the countless hours spent by his grandmother's side, savoring her stories as much as her food, absorbing not just her recipes but also her wisdom, values and love. Today, he cherishes the time he spends with his children, teaching them the art of cooking, and more importantly, the joy of breaking bread together as a family. For Gianni, his wife and children are his greatest source of inspiration, his steadfast support system, and his cherished taste-testers. They are deeply interwoven into his professional and personal journey, shaping his decisions, guiding his creativity, and fostering the spirit of warmth and hospitality that defines his successful restaurants.

Family Tradition

Restaurant Brands

Restaurant Locations

Restaurant Brands

Born and raised in Taranto, Italy, Gianni immigrated to San Francisco in 1980. During his 40 year career in the dining industry, he has founded multiple restaurants in the Bay Area, including Gradimento, Medioevo, and Pasta?. From 1995 to 2002 Gianni also served as President of GDS Foods. In 2014, Gianni founded Doppio Zero with business partner Angelo Sannino in Mountain View. Since opening.