As longtime residents, business owners and community supporters, Vince and Inge Cristiano and their grown children Nino, Mike and Carina have always believed in the power of small businesses when it comes to building strong communities. The Cristianos maintain that small businesses are the key to providing a neighborhood with a sense of personality and cultural diversity as well as to strengthen community ties.
So when the Cristianos, the family that owns the Bixby Knolls landmark establishment Nino’s Italian Restaurant, sat down to decide how they would commemorate the restaurant’s 49th anniversary, which happens Tuesday, July 31, it only made sense to do so in a way that is in keeping with Nino’s tradition of community service.
On Monday, Aug. 13, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Nino’s Italian Restaurant will host a reception for the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) so that other business owners can have an opportunity to meet and greet. The mixer is also a welcome party for the SBDC, which recently moved its office to Bixby Knolls.
“We couldn’t be more proud of our city and the wonderful friends we have made over the years by working together on community projects as volunteers,” said Carina Cristiano Leoni, who grew up in the restaurant. She took her first steps in the restaurant as a toddler, had regular customers help her with math homework as a child and even met her future husband there as an adult.
“We wanted to share our gratitude with others by sharing our celebration and recognizing others. This is a fantastic city for dining, shopping and entertainment,” she said.
Throughout the years, Nino’s has hosted everything from first dates and anniversaries to corporate lunches.
With its Old-World charm, Nino’s is a place for diners to sit down after a tiring day and relax with a glass of Chianti and a plate of traditional spaghetti and meatballs. The restaurant serves authentic Italian cuisine such as homemade lasagna, chicken cacciatore, eggplant parmesan, antipasto salad and classic pizza–dishes that have become like home-cooked meals to generations of repeat customers.
Nino’s also offers full catering services, banquet rooms and a full bar with a martini emphasis.
Nino’s Italian Restaurant is located at 3853 Atlantic Avenue in Bixby Knolls. For information, call (562) 427-1003.
