Word spread like wildfire Thursday that Maurizio Cutrignelli had
reopened his restaurant. He had hoped to have a
“soft opening,” he said last week.
Word spread like wildfire Thursday that Maurizio Cutrignelli had reopened his restaurant. He had hoped to have a “soft opening,” he said last week.
But it was not to be. Customers began to line up hoping to end the long drought without his cooking.
Restaurants normally prefer soft openings so they have time to get the staff working smoothly together before the demands of a full house of customers descends.
However, Maurizio’s Italian Cuisine had only been closed a few months and most of the staff was already trained and experienced from working with him before. They had – along with most of Morgan Hill – waited to return for the grand reopening.
Server Tara Torrez said she missed the restaurant while it was closed. Even though she has a “day job” in the computer industry, she enjoys meeting people as well as working for Maurizio.
By Saturday night everything appeared to be running like clockwork with Maurizio in the kitchen and his wife Sara at the front desk. The restaurant at 25 E. First St. is smaller than either of his previous full restaurants.
Maurizio had turned one large room in an old building into two small rectangular dining rooms plus an open kitchen.
“I like to see people while I cook,” Maurizio said. And indeed, he cooked and waved, making frequent forays out into the dining room to see how the diners liked his food – as he always did before.
The place was full of happy diners.
Anna Friebel, retired Britton teacher, 2002 Chamber of Commerce Educator of the Year and a woman who is proud of her Italian heritage, was at a corner table with her son, daughter-in-law and grandson.
“We’re really glad he’s back,” she said.
The walls, painted a warm yellow above and wood-toned brown below, made for a cozy feeling. One wall was covered with small oil paintings of Italy; the other with framed posters of Italian foods and events. A sign over the large window to the kitchen said, “Danger, Men Cooking.”
Maurizio’s menu is extensive, as before, with plenty of pastas to choose from plus fresh fish and meats, all prepared with the invention and touch of someone who cares about food.
This is the second grand reopening of a famous Morgan Hill restaurant in less than a week. It was only Feb. 15 that Sinaloa Mexican Café reopened in Maurizio’s old spot on Monterey Road between West First and West Main. The two will boost dining possibilities in a downtown beset with a variety of restaurants from many parts of the world, including right here at home.
The return of Maurizio’s brings to four the number of Italian restaurants in town, three downtown including Sicilia in Bocca at 25 W. Main Ave. and MezzaLuna at 17230 Monterey Road. Giancarlo’s is further south at 16180 Monterey Road.
Maurizio’s is open for lunch, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday; for dinner Monday-Thursday 5-9 p.m. and dinner Friday and Saturday, 5-10 p.m. www.maurizioscuisine.com/ To make reservations, call 782-7550.
