Nonno’s Ristorante
by Tom Plant
One of the first things you notice about Chef Luigi Mazzaro is his attention to detail. While visiting with him before enjoying lunch at his Nonno’s Ristorante in Murrieta, his eyes rarely left the front door. Within seconds of a guest entering, he’s there to greet them with a warm smile. He prides himself on his service and points to the glowing reviews on Trip Advisor, Yelp and the like. The restaurant has been nominated for best food in the Inland Empire.
In September 2012, Ravioli’s became Nonno’s, Italian for grandfather, the name a tribute to Luigi’s nonno. Luigi credits his mom for his love for food. She was a chef, and at age 13 he started following in her footsteps. He grew up in Naples, Italy and seafood is an absolute favorite of his. Seafood doesn’t come much fresher than what you find in Naples and his love for fresh seafood is as strong today as it was when he was a young boy.
Everything at Nonno’s is house made: dressings, pasta, desserts, even the bread. He uses local organic produce sourced from area farmers. In addition to a full bar, there’s an extensive wine list featuring wines from Temecula, Northern California and Italy.
The menu features the cuisine of Southern Italy, and a visit there won’t break the bank. The most expensive entrée is $24. Your most difficult task will be selecting what you want from the extensive menu. I’ll offer a few suggestions. On the antipasti menu you can’t go wrong with the Carcioffi Croccanti, fried artichoke hearts with Parmesan cheese and lemon aioli, and the sautéed mussels and clams in a garlicky white wine sauce are equally good. There’s a wide selection of fresh, house made pasta as well as pizza, veal and daily specials.
Nonno’s is open for lunch Monday through Friday and for dinner seven nights a week. They have banquet facilities and offer an extensive catering menu. The atmosphere is warm and inviting and the service is impeccable. Adding to the ambience is the projection of Italian movies on the back wall TV. The staff is attentive and very friendly without being overbearing.
I asked Luigi what I should have for lunch and he suggested the Spaghetti alla Pescatora: shrimp, scallops, mussels and clams with a white wine and spicy tomato sauce. The portion size was perfect and I savored every bite. This dish is an ideal combination of savory, perfectly seasoned fresh seafood with cooked to perfection pasta.
Nonno’s Ristorante is located at 40711 Murrieta Hot Springs Road in Murrieta. (951) 461-7998.
