After 25 years in enterprise, Rocco Biale nonetheless works seven days per week at his Italian restaurant, Rocco’s, in Walnut Creek.
“I’m a hands-on owner,” stated Biale. “I grew up in the restaurant business. It’s the only job I’ve ever had.”
This weekend will mark an enormous celebration for Biale, who’s slashing costs on pizza, beer and wine to almost 50% off in honor of the twenty fifth anniversary of Rocco’s.
From Thursday, Oct. 31, by means of Sunday, Nov. 3., any pitcher of beer, any massive pizza — even Dante’s Inferno and the Dominator, which frequently promote for $32 — and any bottle of wine — even these marked as excessive as $45 — might be simply $19.99 to have a good time the yr Rocco’s opened in 1999.
The pizzas are named after Biale’s sons, Dante, 32, and Dom, 30, who work on the restaurant as a bartender and prepare dinner, respectively, whereas his daughter, Nina, 28, is a server and infrequently runs the entrance desk.
“It’s a true family business,” Rocco stated. “We have six staff members who have been with us since the day we opened, and many more who have been with us 15 to 20 years.”
Members of the family Dante Biale, left, brother Dominic, second from left, sister Nina, her son Scotty ,4, with Rocco Biale, proper, at Rocco’s Pizzeria on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, in Walnut Creek, Calif. The household owned pizza restaurant has been working for 25 years. (Aric Crabb/Bay Space Information Group)
Rocco grew up within the Italian part of Potrero Hill in San Francisco, the place his grandparents, Giovanni and Virginia Biale, first settled after shifting from Genoa, Italy, in 1922. They quickly opened “Biale’s Meat Market.”
Rocco’s father, Mario, and uncle, Rudy, each entered the restaurant enterprise, ultimately opening “Rudy’s” in Waikiki, the place Rocco labored for 3 years earlier than shifting again to the Bay Space.
“After working for other people for many years, I decided if I’m working 80 hours a week for someone else I might as well do it for myself,” he stated. “Borrowed a little here, a little there, found a spot and opened up.”
Rocco’s served beer and wine with pizza for the primary six years, then bought the adjoining liquor retailer and added a full bar and 90 extra seats. Now it seats greater than 300 individuals with 70 workers.
A lot of the meals on the menu comes from household recipes. Rocco’s favorites are the polenta, risotto and pesto gnocchi.
“My family comes from the Genoa region, very famous for its pesto, so I grew up eating a lot of pesto, ” he stated.
Rocco’s additionally has dwell music two nights per week.
Biale stated he’s most grateful for the group that supported the restaurant by means of two lockdowns through the pandemic. Now Rocco’s donates a number of hundred reward baskets to native charities annually.
Particulars: Rocco’s is situated at 2909 Ygnacio Valley Highway in Walnut Creek and is open every day at 11 a.m.; roccospizzeria.com.
Nina Biale carries a pizza to a desk at Rocco’s Pizzeria on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, in Walnut Creek, Calif. The household owned pizza restaurant has been working for 25 years. (Aric Crabb/Bay Space Information Group) 
Dominic Biale, left, and his father Rocco work the entrance counter at Rocco’s Pizzeria on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, in Walnut Creek, Calif. The household owned pizza restaurant has been working for 25 years. (Aric Crabb/Bay Space Information Group) 
Proprietor Rocco Biale carries pizzas to a desk at Rocco’s Pizzeria on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, in Walnut Creek, Calif. The household owned pizza restaurant has been working for 25 years. (Aric Crabb/Bay Space Information Group)
