DICICCO'S ITALIAN RESTAURANT
DiCicco’s is synonymous with homemade Italian food in the greater Fresno area. Familia is at the foundation of this family-owned and operated establishment, which opened its first location on April 12th, 1956, at Blackstone and Belmont Avenues. Today, there are 13 DiCicco’s Italian Restaurants. “Each is owned and operated by different family members: Enrico DiCicco, Vitorrio DiCicco, Carlo DiCicco, Joanna Vitucci, Greg Vitucci, Marco Santeufemia, Domenico Santeufemia, and Franco Santeufemia,” recounts Enrico DiCicco, a second-generation DiCicco’s Italian Restaurant owner. Now, the third generation of DiCiccos is maintaining the traditions of their Italian forefathers with a modern twist.
“The Four Sons of Italy” started it all. “DiCicco’s Italian Restaurant was born from the collective efforts of four brothers from Italy—Nick DiCicco, Al DiCicco, Frank Vitucci, and Bob Vitucci—alongside their parents, Pasquale and Maria DiCicco.” The brothers practically provided dining entertainment. “They brought more than just delicious food to their restaurant—their vibrant energy and tradition of singing with customers added an authentic, old-world charm to the dining experience,” Enrico elaborates.
New DiCicco’s are still popping up. Enrico and his cousin Carlo DiCicco, together with Enrico’s three kids, recently opened the newest location at Shields and Armstrong Avenues. “My own children Dante, Rocco, and Arianna DiCicco are the first third-generation owners of a DiCicco’s Italian Restaurant,” he shares. All of them worked at DiCicco’s Italian Restaurant in their younger years. “Their participation in the family business demonstrates that the passion and drive that created DiCicco’s in 1956 remains alive. They want to carry on the DiCicco’s legacy and honor what their grandparents created when they immigrated to this country.”
“The heart of DiCicco’s Italian Restaurant lies in its recipes, originally from Pasquale and Maria DiCicco, which are rooted in the peasant food culture of their native Abruzzo,” shares Enrico. “This infusion of traditional Abruzzese cuisine gave DiCicco’s Italian Restaurant its distinctive flavor and contributed to its enduring success.” Each location is similar yet unique. “We all do our own thing. The Cedar and Nees location and this location have pretty much identical recipes,” asserts Carlo. “As for the other locations and relatives, they all have their own recipes. We all have our own little core, regular customers. And that’s kind of how that goes.”
Although the menu, which only offered about 10 items when DiCicco’s Italian Restaurant first opened, has come a long way in nearly 70 years, Scarface Pasta remains the top-selling pasta dish. Especially known for its pizza, pasta, and red sauce, DiCicco’s Italian Restaurant today has expanded its menu to include creative new dishes using the same core ingredients, demonstrating innovation within tradition. Even the Shields and Armstrong cocktail menu includes thoughtfully crafted concoctions, such as “The 1956” signature drink. This and the original location are the only ones with a full bar.
The décor of this new location pays homage to the family’s roots with contemporary touches. One of the customers at the original location was so taken with the founding brothers that they painted “The Four Sons of Italy” as a gift for them. A replica of that painting hangs by the front door. A panoramic image of the DiCicco’s hometown of Pacentro, Italy papers one wall, while a blown-up canvas photo of a Fiat in that town, taken by Arianna on a recent trip, can be seen near the bar. Quintessential checkered tablecloths adorn the tables.
DiCicco’s ability and willingness to move with the times contribute to their stay-power. “We’re more of a new-age DiCicco’s,” says Carlo. “The other ones still have pretty old-school setup—it’s darker with lower ceilings.” The most common comments they get from DiCicco’s customers are “Wow, this doesn’t look like a DiCicco’s!” “This is the 2022 version of the DiCicco’s that started in 1956,” Enrico reiterates. However, if you’re from this corner of California, chances are you’re biased to a particular DiCicco’s location. “The hope is that DiCicco’s will continue to be a place where families gather to enjoy good food, each other’s company, and authentic Italian charm for generations to come,” professes Enrico
www.diciccos.com | 6407 East Shields Avenue, Fresno, CA 93727 | 559.292.0544
