Citing financial struggles, the owners of Trattoria Cattaneo say their last day will be April 30.
Riccardo Cattaneo tries to stay positive and always look on the bright side, but when he thinks about closing his family’s restaurant Trattoria Cattaneo next week, it makes him cry.
“I personally am so upset but there’s no other choice,” Cattaneo said.
He and his wife, chef Julie Cattaneo, have owned the place for 22 years, serving up homemade specialty pastas such as chicken cannelloni, cheese ravioli, gnocchi and cheese tortellini at the Bennett Valley dining spot on Yulupa Avenue.
After struggling financially to keep the lights on since the pandemic, the couple said they will close when their lease expires April 30 — which happens to be the birthday of their twin boys, Giuliano and Dante.
“It still seems surreal, you know. It doesn’t see like it’s going to happen.” Julie Cattaneo said. “I know that Riccardo feels like he’s letting people down, but it’s not that. It’s just the way the business is nowadays.”
With rising costs for ingredients, labor and utilities, along with the post- COVID slowdown, Julie Cattaneo said “the formula” to keep it afloat is no longer profitable. She said some nights they had no customers, but still had to pay their servers, so they lost money.
The financial burden became so heavy that she started working the graveyard shift counting money for Graton Casino, and her husband began picking up shifts at a local bar ironically called Ricardo’s Bar and Grill.
Julie Cattaneo said the uncertainty of the restaurant’s survival had also begun to wear on them personally.
“It’s to the point where it’s so stressful that it’s affecting our personal life,” she said. “It’s just not fun anymore.”
She said the restaurant prided itself on being a homey environment with traditional home cooked food “the way your grandma would make it,” but after trying to sell it for three years, any lacking any competitive offers, the couple decided to close instead.
Riccardo Cattaneo said he has had a hard time letting go because of how much he will miss his customers. Saying goodbye to the staff was difficult too, since they would not have succeeded without them.
“It’s very bittersweet,” he said. “One thing that’s special about this area is the community and we were fortunate enough that our kids grew up here.”
Julie Cattaneo said she remembered meeting customers who were just starting their families whose now-adult children are starting families of their own. After she posted on social media about shutting down, loyal customers came in while others shared their feelings on social media.
Cindy Vine commented: “Riccardo & Julie, you guys were the most welcoming restaurant we’ve ever been too! We loved sitting at the bar where a lot of great friends and great memories were made. Thank you and best of luck for the next chapter in life.”
Audrey Davina Krahne posted: “Oooohhhh … Our very favorite restaurant! We love you Ricardo, Julie & your boys! You and your family have worked so hard, we wish you good health, rest & happiness, for the next chapter of your life. You will truly be missed, thanks for the memories. With love, Audrey & John.”
After they close, Julie Cattaneo said she plans on remaining with Graton while Riccardo will likely continue in the food business, possibly collaborating with their sous chef, but she no longer wants to be in the restaurant business.
“We’re just going to move forward.”
You can reach Staff Writer Melanie Nguyen at 707-521-5457 or melanie.nguyen@pressdemocrat.com. On X (Twitter) @mellybelly119