STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Zio Toto closed in June and will soon reopen as Filippo’s, marking a fresh chapter for the long favored Richmond Valley address at 86 Page Ave. Owner Filippo Giuffre, who also runs the Mancini Giuffre salon next door, has transformed the space through a dramatic months-long rebuild.
The new storefront features a sleek design.(Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)
Zio Toto had operated since 2007 with a white, chic interior and a name honoring Giuffre’s late father, Salvatore—known locally as “Toto.” In Sicilian tradition, Zio Toto means Uncle Toto, a tribute that helped define the original restaurant’s identity.
The new Filippo’s unveils an immersive aesthetic transforming the space into a modern Italian jewel box. Rustic touches meet refinement with wagon‑wheel lighting, gold-toned accents, and coffered metal ceilings casting a warm glow. Slatted woodwork draws the eye upward in clean vertical lines framing a dining room designed around intimate alcoves. At its heart, a striking Italian marble bar—white stone threaded with bold gray veining—anchors the lounge, setting the tone for a sophisticated dining experience.
An Italian marble piece wraps around the bar.(Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)
Opposite the bar, a glass-front refrigerated wine room emphasizes Italian labels. Its gold-metal cabinetry mirrors the glowing slats behind the bar. These panels rotate to section off the lounge, giving the venue the flexibility of two connected but distinct rooms.
The lounge opens to an outdoor dining area, while the main dining room glows with backlit sculptural wall forms, a refreshed coffered ceiling and a blown‑up image of Palermo, Sicily—the owner’s hometown and the visual emphasis of the redesign. Beyond the dining room is a brand-new, fully outfitted kitchen, completing the transformation. An open‑kitchen corner within the dining room is centered on a pizza oven.
The gold theme continues throughout a striking, climate-controlled wine cabinet. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)
As renovations finished last week, Giuffre greeted visitors warmly as he reflected on the scale of the work involved.
“I gutted everything down. If I was going to do it, I wanted to do it right,” he said.
The renovation required customized sealing systems, specialized ventilation, and an obsession with craftsmanship.
“We went through such a process for this thing, sealing everything, upgrading everything. No air goes in or out unless we want it to.”
Spoiler alert: the wrapped up chairs are a handsome white leather.(Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)
He explained that a recent trip to Italy also shaped his vision.
“I just came back from Tuscany, and I knew we had to elevate everything—the food, the feel, all of it.”
But the most personal decision was the name. At first, he considered keeping Zio Toto but ultimately abandoned the idea. He shared, “I thought about keeping the old name, but people needed to know something was different. We had to bring them back.”
The bar and lounge area can open up to a patio section.(Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)
The new name arrived through a mix of intuition, family influence and coincidence. Giuffre was wrestling with naming options when his sister made a suggestion. The same suggestion was later echoed unexpectedly by a customer.”
“My sister is really the reason for the name,” he said. “She pushed me. And then a customer said it, too. It just clicked.”
The Staten Island location, with seating for about 150 guests and a full bar, is larger and more ambitious than its Brooklyn counterpart, still called Zio Toto at 8407 Third Ave. The brick‑oven pizza and beloved dishes like pasta con sarde will remain, joined by new additions including steaks and an expanded wine list. Filippo’s is expected to open by Valentine’s Day. And if its namesake has his way, the restaurant will be reborn with renewed purpose and polish.
Dining and Cooking