Gill Out: Tarantella Ristorante Pizzeria

By Valeria Olano •

Every Friday evening, Juan Acosta and his wife Karen enjoy wining and dining at Tarantella Ristorante Pizzeria. What makes their nights memorable are the people who serve them.

“The staff is always courteous and treats me like one of their own,” Juan said. “I always enjoy the food and the service.”

A sense of belonging is what keeps them coming back.

“It’s unlike any other restaurant I’ve been to because it feels like I’m a part of their family,” Karen said.

In Nov. 2001, Weston’s Tarantella Ristorante Pizzeria was one of the first restaurants to open in the newly developed Weston Town Center.

Gianpiero and Karen Cangelosi, the owners of Tarantella, brought a piece of their home in Italy into their business, welcoming the local community with Italian open arms.

The restaurant is praised for its customer service, welcoming ambiance, rich history and authentic Italian food.

The restaurant decor, from the cerulean ceramic tiles adorning the tables to the portraits of Italian cities hanging on the walls, is courtesy of Italian artist Nino Parrucca.

“It was designed to resemble a small Italian store,” said John Can, manager of the restaurant. The restaurant’s staff carries a familial attitude while on the job, not only toward the clients but with each other as well.

“The people we have here, all the workers, have names. They do not have only an employee number. For us, people are first because, without employees, we cannot provide the service you deserve,” Can said.

Tarantella emphasizes Sicilian culture, which serves as the inspiration for the vegetable- abundant menu. Customers often return for a specific dish created by the restaurant’s head chef Cruz Verde.

“Our most popular dish is the Zuppa di Pesce—clams, mussels, shrimp and calamari sautéed with fresh tomatoes served over linguine,” said Verde.

The menu offers a variety of dishes, such as Italian gourmet-size pizzas baked in a brick oven, homemade bread, pasta and desserts. The full menu also offers chicken, veal, steak, lamb chops and fresh fish specials.

One waitress, who has been with the restaurant since its opening 21 years ago, said the clientele is her favorite part of the job.

“I would meet the kids when they were teenagers, and now they come as adults, married, and some growing their families,” she said. “This is what we call a family restaurant. I am proud to work here.”

Can said that the waitressing team is handpicked to make sure that all who join the restaurant’s staff live and breathe people.

“It’s what keeps people coming back,” he said. “People think success is just selling products, serving the best dish, with the best- tasting wine. My definition of success is making the day of the person who walks in here. You can find delicious food anywhere for a price that fits you. But where else can you find delicious food served with love?”

Karen and Juan Acosta agree.

“I feel like I am in my family’s dining room,” said Karen. “More than the delicious food that I never get tired of, if you’re missing home, this place will open its arms to you.”