Gennaro’s Ristorante is a hidden gem located in the heart of Glendale. While it may be easy to miss from the outside, the experience waiting inside is unforgettable.

Open for more than 26 years and awarded the coveted Four Diamond Award consecutively for the last 10, Gennaro’s is a nostalgic visit to the days of decadence and class. Beginning with the French baroque décor, fresh flowers and candlelight and ending with the exceptional pianist performing nightly, the restaurant boasts not only fine Italian cuisine but the ambiance of a European night on the town.

The menu is a collaboration of Italy’s best cuisine, whether for lunch or dinner. Diners begin with scrumptious garlic bread offered while perusing a seemingly endless selection of fine salads, pastas and high-quality steaks, fish and poultry. The restaurant’s bar skimps neither on taste nor portions while making favorite cocktails as well as offering a list of fine wines and champagnes.

Visitors should not be surprised if they are welcomed with open arms and warm conversation as the family owned restaurant promises to know its customers by name before the end of the night – making it a wonderful atmosphere for celebrations and family gatherings.

Gennaro’s is also the perfect venue for romance. Guests enjoy the delicious three-course meal and are serenaded by relaxing music while, weather dictating, they enjoy the wood-burning fireplace in the marble-floored sitting lounge.

The quaint, relaxing environment is a worthwhile substitute to the bustling and impersonal dining experiences offered locally. The high-end service is accented by the courteous wait staff that efficiently makes sure a glass is never half empty but without interrupting a business meeting or intimate conversation.

Located at 1109 N. Brand Blvd., local diners will be delighted to find that the restaurant offers free parking in its private lot.

Gennaro’s Ristorante is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch and Monday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. for dinner.