Back in the early 80’s, brothers Larry ’82 & Brian ’83 Leonardi would shower after the Saturday afternoon football game at CHC (usually a win) then forego the post-game parties for something they enjoyed a lot more: they went to work at their uncle’s restaurant in Little Italy, Velleggia’s. A few decades later, the restaurant business is still in their blood. They opened Ristorante Firenze (EatFirenze.com) in Reisterstown in 2015, continuing a life-long tradition of great food and service.

Firenze is a family affair. Larry’s son Zach is the head chef, and his wife Kelly hand-makes some of their most popular items, like the Tiramisu, Lemon Bars, or the 5 flavors of ‘Cello. Larry & Brian’s father, Sonny ’58, can be found there often, especially when something needs to be fixed!

Firenze’s cuisine is modeled after the classic meals served in Little Italy in those early days. The restaurant’s chefs make all their pasta in-house, offering a menu that Zach calls “fresh, authentic Italian with some of our family’s flair added to it.” The red sauce is Sonny’s long-kept secret recipe, passed down and perfected for generations.

Of course, you can’t have Italian food without some Vino. The 100+ bottle wine list focuses on the classics from California and Italy. Brian taste-tests candidates on a weekly basis, and hand-selects every wine based on taste and value.

The upscale-casual vibe of Firenze lends itself to a comfortable, yet elevated, Italian dining experience. The bar is next to a fireplace outfitted with leather chairs just right for sinking into. Photos of Italy and Leonardi family mementos line the walls to add to the cozy feel. One such memento is a framed wine list featuring make-us-nostalgic $3 bottles. “My dad bartended at Velleggia’s,” Larry says. “It’s a little bit of family history.” The private dining area, suitable for groups of 25, features walls decked with authentic Venetian masks, while an intricate, glass-blown chandelier from Murano hangs above.

Filling the seats of a new restaurant involves formulating an appealing offering and communicating that as widely as possible. Delivering an exceptional dining experience (food, beverage, service, atmosphere) keeps people coming back. More than anything, word of mouth recommendations from satisfied diners is the key to growth.

New for 2018 is the Peroni Beer Garden, an outdoor space open on weekends (weather permitting) and for special events. The atmosphere is very laid back, with picnic tables, fire pits, and acoustic bands on the pallet-wood stage. The Peroni Beer Garden will be host to a fundraiser for the new Veterans Memorial at Calvert Hall on Sunday September 16^th. Click here for more information. 

The values learned at Calvert Hall, either on the football field or in the classroom, translate well to the hospitality business: work hard, treat others well, take pride in service. “Community” takes many forms, and the CHC community and the Little Italy community both form the basis of the Leonardi brother’s approach. The Leonardi’s invite everyone from Calvert Hall to visit Firenze’s at 2 Hanover Rd in Reisterstown. Be sure to ask for Larry or Brian, they are usually there, and they always love to see Calvert Hall family members!