Co-owners of Cinque Terre West restaurant are chef Giaba and Marlo Vinzoni, who were forced out of Pacific Palisades during the Palisades Fire. Their restaurant, which initially opened in May 2019, had quickly become favorite among those who wanted genuine Italian food. Now, much to the delight of customers, they have opened at a new location in Venice.
Gianba, who is also the chef, said, “Like many people in our community, we were misplaced by the wildfires and wound up staying in a friend’s house in Venice. We realized that a big part of our Palisades community had relocated in Venice-Marina Del Rey-Santa Monica, so very close to us…..so I googled ‘Restaurant space available to lease in Venice’….and this location came up, 523 Rose Avenue.”
With help from a new Palisadian partner, they took over the Blue Stone Lane space and transformed it into a 50-seat restaurant.
This restaurant in the heart of Venice will now have a much wider audience. The menu includes fresh seafood, house-made pastas, risottos, and made-from-scratch pizzas, bringing the flavors of the Cinque Terre region of Italy to the heart of Los Angeles.
Signature dishes include roasted Branzino alla Mediterranea, Spaghetti di Mare (house made spaghetti), Trofie al Pesto and Pollo al Limone, and Brasato di Manzo – slow cooked short ribs, smashed pee wee potatoes and rainbow carrots with au jus and gremolata.
They will serve breakfast and brunch, which will include their house-baked cornetti (Italian croissants) which one resident said “By far the best pan au chocolat and best croissant in Los Angeles.”
“We are thrilled to be back and grateful for the support we’ve received from our community during such a challenging time,” Marlo said. “We had a get together Sunday at the new restaurant in Venice. More than 200 people showed up, mostly Palisadians. There were many people crying with tears of joy. Me included.”
“It’s been a long road, but we’re excited to be back,” Gianba said.
Cinque Terre West is located at 523 Rose Avenue between 5th and 6th in Venice, California. The restaurant is open for brunch daily from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.; for dinner Monday-Thursday from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. until 9:30 p.m., and on Sundays from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. www.CinqueTerreWest.com
Co-owners of Cinque Terre are chef Giaba and wife Marlo, who have opened in a new space in Venice. Here they’re pictured at their Palisades eatery before the fires resulted in evacuations.