Photograph by Robert Scheer
Sous chef Oscar Gonzalez shows off his raspberry cheesecake at Sunnyvale's Il Postale restaurant.
ByKATHERINE PETERSEN
Owners Joe Antuzzi and Tom Caso named their downtown Sunnyvale restaurant Il Postale (Italian for "the postal") because customers might get tongue-tied saying ufficio postale (post office).
Antuzzi and Caso refurbished Sunnyvale's first post office on Washington Avenue in its original style. They kept the old-fashioned, curved windows, brick interior and hardwood floors. The walls are decorated with Italian pictures with scenes of gondoliers and the like that Antuzzi and Caso blew up and turned into postage stamps--complete with notched borders and other postal information.
"We also have an exhibition kitchen, so customers can watch the organized chaos. It has a bistro feel to it--crowded, loud and friendly," said Antuzzi, who makes a point of chatting with customers.
Patrons can also sit outside at patio tables with umbrellas and enjoy the late fall weather, Antuzzi said. Favorite dishes at Il Postale include chicken, broccoli, pasta, and veal steak stuffed with prosciutto, provolone and spinach. Entree prices range from $5.95 to $14.50.
The viability of Sunnyvale's upgraded downtown attracted the owners here, Antuzzi said.
"We were looking up and down the Peninsula for a small downtown. We wanted to be close to the train station," he said, adding that being near the Sunnyvale Town Center also brings in foot traffic.
Before coming to Sunnyvale, Antuzzi, who manages the front of the house, and head chef Caso, had accumulated 35 years of restaurant experience between them. Both owned restaurants in Santa Clara before going into business together with Il Postale, which opened a year ago.
"We wanted to extend the catering end of the business here, and it's worked out well," Antuzzi said.
Il Postale, 127 W. Washington, Ave., Sunnyvale. Hours: Mon.-Thu., 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Fri., 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sat., noon to 11 p.m.; Sun., 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (733-9600). Reservations accepted for a party of five or more. The restaurant is wheelchair accessible.
This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, October 9, 1996.
©1996 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.