|

PROPRIETOR
Joe Florentine has grown up in the food and beverage industry. Restaurant and Tavern
experience began with the family when his grandfather was hired by the Hilton Company as a union bartender in the 1940's.
At the time when the coat and tie were daily attire and a bartender was always a gentleman, Joe's grandfather laid the foundation for a family tradition in restaurant hospitality.
Since then, Joe's father Tony, has owned restaurants and taverns of his own and has groomed his son for the business. And now, with his wife Robin, have added their own warmth and personal touch of ambience, exceptional food and personal guest service to Florentine's Downtown Grill.
Features of Florentine's Downtown Grill include a tavern with a 55-foot bar on one side with the other offering comfortable seating on two separate levels. The mezzanine level is quaint and allows for a nice higher view of the restaurants’ hustle and bustle on busy nights. Turn of the century brick walls and high ceilings compliment the modern art work to include a sense of place that many of the regulars call “home.”
Florentine's delivers an atmosphere that is just comfortable enough that all will feel welcomed. The menu is California casual favoring an Italian– American fare and, is family friendly with something for everyone.
Photos on the entry walls depict the “old days” of downtown Fullerton, and bring the history of the early 1900’s to life. The Fullerton train station, old soda shops and drug stores bring the past of “Spadra” Avenue to the forefront of many of the restaurants old-time customers.
By 10 pm, Florentine's Downtown Grill morphs into a pulsing landscape of young adults, professionals, and college students, all dancing the night away to one of Orange county’s premier DJ’s, “Prince.”
WINES
Many of the wines are produced in the northern California regions as well as the coastal areas of California. Other regions of wine production include Oregon and Washington as well as imports from Italy.
|
|
| |
|
From Joe Florentine...
Robin and I are proud to offer our guests a unique & positive place to come and eat and drink with family, friends, and loved ones. We truly want you to feel as comfortable here, as you do in your own home. For us, creating comfort, familiarity and a warm "sense of place," in addition to great food and value, is an experience that we hope all will enjoy when visiting Florentine's Grill.
Our strong faith in God and having wonderful and supportive friends and family, have encouraged and allowed us to establish ourselves as a successful restaurateurs. We enjoy giving back to our community and doing what we can to further God’s Kingdom.
Robin and I enjoy serving others and hope that it will be a testimony to everyone who walks in our doors that we love them and sincerely care about them.
|
|
|
CHEFS
Cuahetumoc Diaz (17 years)
and Lucio Ortiz (9 years) take exceptional pride in their creations preparing the fresh items that please our customers’ palates daily. With our pasta dishes sautéed fresh to order each time, both Cuahetumoc and Lucio pride themselves on offering nothing but the freshest ingredients to all our menu items.
Fresh seafood includes Atlantic salmon, Mexican jumbo shrimp and Ahi tuna just to name a few. Joined on the menu by our fresh chicken dishes, and steaks and filets, there isn’t a patron in our place that wishes they had gone somewhere else. That’s how confident we are when we say, “we have something for everyone.”
Florentine's Downtown Grill has even made their sandwich menu and large salad items available at dinner. After all, who doesn’t appreciate a good value these days.
"It is truly satisfying to see our guests so delighted when they enjoy our food," says Florentine. He's right! You can really tell when a restaurant operates on a very conscientious level by the time and effort they devote to remain consistent when serving quality food. And believe me, this one does!
We cannot feature Florentine's Downtown Grill without mentioning desserts, namely Tiramisu. The home made Tiramisu is wonderful, with a nice, light consistency and a touch of rum. Not only the Tiramisu, but Chef Cuahetumoc prepares some of the most mouth watering cheesecakes you could ever lay your taste buds on.
His latest creation is his Vanilla Berry Brittle where they concoct their own almond brittle cup and fill it full of creamy vanilla ice cream and add fresh tropical berries with a sweet raspberry sauce and powdered sugar. It has become another house favorite.
MANAGEMENT
Growth and success only come from a loyal, devoted restaurant and catering staff. Florentine's Downtown Grill employs 46 employees to serve its 140 seat restaurant and their multitude of catering clients.
Patrick Sullivan manages Florentine's Downtown Grill as well as the Tuscany Club and Palapa Grill, and has been loyal to the family for seven years. He does an outstanding job along with other key staff members including prep cooks, serve staff and bus people, to represent the Florentines and their restaurant as a place of comfort and, to many, a home away from home.
Florentine's Downtown Grill has received numerous high ratings from food critics as well as awards from the Southern California Restaurant Writers Association and Zagat's Survey. The restaurant has acquired a very favorable reputation in the community and has been recommended to guests by regulars, local hotels, businesses, Fullerton Chamber of Commerce and the Anaheim Convention Bureau.
Florentine’s Grill has become a very popular dining location for the local community as well as for visitors to the Fullerton area. "Our repeat guest business has increased dramatically over the last decade. Whether our guests are local, or from out of town, our attitude of making them feel comfortable and welcome has always been of utmost importance to us and our staff.”
|
|
 |