Giuseppe’s on 28th, a casual Italian restaurant helmed by chef and owner Richard Bock, has closed.
Jamie Peachey
A meal at Giuseppe’s on 28th was a memorable experience. From the stark black-and-white checkerboard interior to the hearty seven-meat Bolognese ragu, bold details left an impression and kept diners coming back for nearly a quarter century.
On Sunday, after 24 years in business, Giuseppe’s served its final customers. The restaurant posted about the closure on its social media pages.
“A cherished neighborhood institution, Giuseppe’s On 28th has been the backdrop for countless celebrations, anniversaries, family dinners, and milestone moments. Under Richard Bock’s leadership, the restaurant earned not only the loyalty of generations of guests, but also widespread recognition for its excellence,” the post says.
The restaurant has closed due to Bock’s retirement. The chef is also a professional cellist, and while he was playing in an orchestra in Italy, he studied the cuisine of his adopted country. When he returned to the United States, he played music in New York and then joined the Phoenix Symphony in 1984, where he was the principal cellist for 24 seasons. He bought Giuseppe’s on 28th, a small restaurant just off Indian School Road, in 2002.
In the following years, the restaurant drew crowds for its cuisine and won four consecutive Best of Phoenix awards. In 2003, we crowned it the Best Neighborhood Italian spot. In 2004, it won the title of Best Veal. Then in 2005 and 2006, it earned the top spot for Best BYOB.
Just like its multi-talented owner, the restaurant was known for more than its food. It was featured on Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” twice. The Food Network star initially visited the restaurant in 2009. Fieri recently returned for “Triple D Nation,” a show in which the chef revisits restaurants years later to check in on them.
Not long after Fieri’s second visit, Giuseppe’s on 28th has said its final goodbyes.
“From Richard Bock and the entire Giuseppe’s On 28th family: thank you, Phoenix, for your decades of loyalty, love, and support,” the post says.
Dining and Cooking