Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer
Dishes Your Life: Suzanne and Greg Russi are preparing to open their new restaurant, Vin Santo, in the former location of the China Palace restaurant on Lincoln Avenue. The couple plan on having the restaurant up and running by late spring with a menu that will emphasize Northern Italian dishes.
Husband and wife team bringing taste of Tuscany to WG this spring
Couple spent years working on dream of owning a restaurant
By Kate Carter
A new restaurant coming to Lincoln Avenue is a dream come true for two Willow Glen residents.
Greg and Susan Russi have spent more than 10 years working to own a restaurant of their own. They hope to see the payoff this May, when the doors to Vin Santo at 1346 Lincoln Ave. open for the first time.
The Russis are a husband-and-wife team who don't want to give too much away about their plans for the restaurant. They will say the restaurant will feature fine Northern Italian cuisine for lunch and dinner, and will have seating for about 60 people. But there's no word yet on what to expect from the entrees, pastas and desserts.
They are pretty excited about what's in the works, though.
Greg is a chef who has worked for numerous Italian restaurants in the area, including Paolo's in downtown San Jose and Piatti at the Stanford Shopping Center, as well as at the Silicon Valley Country Club. He even worked to help open Willow Glen's Cafe Primavera eight years ago.
"I really like taking components and assembling them in ways that make people happy," he says.
But all along, he really wanted to use his skills, talents and culinary vision in a kitchen of his own.
Greg says he plans to remain true to the authenticity of food from Northern Italy, often described as somewhat less rustic, and more influenced by colder weather and French and Swiss cooking than its southern counterpart.
Greg discovered his love of cooking after graduating from Santa Clara University with a degree in history in 1985. It wasn't a total waste; he met Susan, an '86 linguistics major, there, even though the two had both attended Saint Francis High School.
Greg's parents came from Lucca, Italy, a town in the Tuscan region. He and Susan went there to visit and get inspiration, which even led to the name of their restaurant. "Vin Santo," or "holy wine," is a sweet after-dinner drink that is native to Tuscany but served all over Italy.
After they married, Greg's dream became Susan's, too. She works in the human resources department at Apple in Cupertino, but has plans to spend most of the rest of her time with her husband in the restaurant.
"Being a chef is long hours and evenings and weekends," Susan says. "As long as you're going to do that, you may as well do it for yourself. Families are in it together, and they actually have time together. Plus, we love to entertain."
Other opportunities for their own restaurant arose over the years, but none were in Willow Glen. They wanted to be in Willow Glen, a convenient location in a community in which they enjoyed being a part. So they held out for the right opportunity until it practically announced itself to them.
Susan says she admired the location where until last fall, the China Palace was when they first moved to the area in 1989. It was in an eye-catching place with good sunlight and "the perfect size--not too small and not too big," she says. It even came with a kitchen already in place.
When the Chinese restaurant left in September, the Russis let the building owner, Steve Hanleigh, know they were interested right away.
"It's all timing," Greg says. "It takes work and determination."
"We were willin g to wait," Susan says. "It's going to be worth it for every right reason."
Susan beams at her husband as they survey the work-in-progress of their new investment. Someone is even doing some construction in the back.
Again, no hints on what the interior will be like, although all upgrades are strictly "cosmetic improvements."
Hanleigh says the outside will get a facelift, too. The front will be replastered and repainted in an appropriately Tuscan color--soft yellow or sienna. Two lamps by the front door and metal grating will be restored, as well as the balconies off the building's second floor, where Hanleigh's realty offices are located.
"I think it's going to be the pride of Willow Glen when it's done," he says.
Willow Glen, California Since 1992
