Frankie, Johnnie and Luigi Too! is back – just under a different name

A 65-year-old Italian favorite is back in Mountain View. 

Giorgio’s Italian Grill & Pizzeria, formerly Frankie, Johnnie and Luigi Too!, opened its doors on June 19 after a three-year renovation that transformed the historic restaurant into a three-story, mixed-use building. 

“It’s not Frankie and Johnnie’s name, but it’s the same – same family, same ownership, same food, same recipes,” said co-owner Mike D’Ambrosio.

The menu, offering Italian classics like pasta, pizza and sandwiches, is similar to that of Frankie, Johnnie and Luigi Too!, but the ambiance has changed. The restaurant is about half the size it was prior and now features a large outdoor patio. Due to Mountain View regulations, the kitchen is now fully electric with the exception of the pizza oven, which is the same type of oven used before the renovation. Giorgio’s Italian Grill & Pizzeria will be receiving a full liquor license within the next month or two, said D’Ambrosio, but for now, the restaurant sells wine and beer. 

The D’Ambrosio family owns three other Giorgio’s, with locations in San Jose (established in 1959), Milpitas (since 1997) and Morgan Hill (since 2022).

“The difference in the locations is this location is smaller (and) we’re focusing more on takeout and delivery because that’s kind of what was happening at this location before we closed it,” D’Ambrosio said.

The name change was due to two reasons, said D’Ambrosio: to create distinction between Frankie, Johnnie & Luigi Too! in Dublin owned by his cousin and because it’s easier to brand. 

“Frank was my grandfather and John was my great uncle,” D’Ambrosio said. “And Luigi was just some random business partner they had when they were getting incorporated. He was with them at the office, and they were like, ‘Let’s add Luigi on,’ and that’s how it became Frankie, Johnnie & Luigi Too!”

Giorgio’s Italian Grill & Pizzeria’s decor pays homage to Frankie, Johnnie & Luigi Too! The original “Pizzeria” sign faces El Camino, a pizza peel made by John D’Ambrosio in 1956 is framed on the wall and an art piece depicting generations of the D’Ambrosio family (including Mike in a bowtie and an apron that says “Mikey D”) hangs between the two restroom doors. 

While there are two stories of memory care homes directly above the restaurant, Villa Toscana Memory Care’s kitchen and Giorgio’s are two distinct entities. 

“Other than providing the family members a nice place to come down and eat if they want to … it’s pretty separate,” D’Ambrosio said.  

D’Ambrosio’s three favorite dishes are the penne di bari with filet mignon, mushrooms and Gorgonzola brandy sauce; the Italian sausage burger made with sausage from his family’s sausage company New York Style Sausage; and any of the pizzas. 

“Our pizza here, because of the water, the pizza dough here is special,” he said. “Wherever we get our water from in this area, it makes the dough just a little bit better for some reason.”

D’Ambrosio looks forward to a grand opening sometime after the Fourth of July weekend. 

Giorgio’s Italian Grill & Pizzeria, 939 W El Camino Real, Mountain View; 650-963-4142, Instagram: @giorgiosmountainview. Open Tuesday to Thursday 3-9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 3-10 p.m.

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