From the iconic seascapes of coastal Italy to the breathtaking vistas of Napa Valley, ours is a story decades in the making.
Our Story
Scala Osteria offers traditional Southern Italian, seafood-centered recipes meant to be shared with family and friends in our warm and welcoming dining room. Our menu is influenced by the traditional Italian osteria where creating simple yet delicious food is paramount, and our atmosphere is always inviting and full of life.
Giovanni Scala, of Bistro Don Giovanni, along with wife, Minta, and dear friends and partners, Aaron and Rosa Diaz, have been playing with the idea of a joint venture for years. So, when Giovanni heard of an available space on First Street they jumped at the opportunity to open a restaurant they could pour their hearts into. At the time Giovanni was already well known for Napa favorite Bistro Don Giovanni, however this new project would be something he could share with his family, and with that in mind, Scala was born.
In 1993 Giovanni opened the Napa staple Bistro Don Giovanni with his late wife Donna. The restaurant has had tremendous success, but not everyone knows that Giovanni has earned his reputation as a successful restaurateur by opening and operating not only the Bistro but also the first six locations of Piatti located throughout California, as well as Scala’s Bistro, a San Francisco hotspot inside of the Sir Francis Drake Hotel, Union Square. While he opened those restaurants and helped them succeed, his heart has remained here in the Napa Valley and his focus has remained on the Bistro. Along the way Giovanni has made friends who have become family, and it is with them that he takes this step into his next project.
Aaron Diaz and Cristian Corro each started working for Giovanni as busboys more than thirty and fifteen years ago, respectively. Each growing through the ranks to restaurant management and even ownership. Today, Aaron is Giovanni’s Director of Restaurant Operations and “his right hand” and Cristian is the Scala General Manager. Throughout the decades several people came together while serving plates and wine in Napa’s bustling hospitality industry. Aaron and his wife Rosa, as well as Cristian and his fiancé Ruth, met in the industry, some of them even at the Bistro. Even the Executive Chef of Scala Osteria, Bryce Palmer is joined by his wife Niki who helps manage our Social Media pages. It is this dedication to family that makes Scala special, and creates the inviting, uniquely charming experience we present.
Combining a background of over twenty-five years in the restaurant industry with a PhD in literature, Minta Scala brings a unique perspective to Scala Osteria and it is her vision that has helped create such a memorable space and experience. She worked with Shopworks, a talented local design team, to realize the restaurant’s stylish but comfortable Mediterranean aesthetic that tells the Scala story. From the charming blue awnings and barn lights of the storefront, to the original mural of the Gulf of Napoli and the hand-tiled oyster bar of the interior, the restaurant is as beautiful as the food is mouthwatering.
The Family
An osteria is a type of restaurant found in Italy that offers simple yet unforgettable food and wine in an unpretentious space. Our philosophy is to combine this traditional simplicity with more refined touches. The feel is casual yet vibrant and unique. We are dedicated to creating an authentic Italian experience. We call ourselves both Scala Osteria and, more simply, Scala.
Scala focuses on Southern Italian coastal cuisine with other Mediterranean and Californian influences. Giovanni was raised in Torre del Greco, just outside of Naples, Italy, and much of the menu was inspired by dishes from his childhood–either recipes his Mamma Concetta made or local street food. As a historic port town, Naples is a place that has long brought together diverse people and traditions, and this broad appreciation for cuisine is reflected in our menu. Our wine list also casts a wide net, combining many of the Mediterranean wines we love with local wines that Napa is known for.
Scala welcomes all guests, you can stop in for some oysters or a panini, or stay for a three hour lunch or dinner. All is possible here.
From Napoli to Napa
California artist Jayde Cardinalli created our mascot, Pulcinella, as well as the large mural just left of the bar. Pulcinella, of the Italian tradition of Commedia dell'Arte, is the character Naples claims as its own and our version speaks to this Neapolitan tradition. He has both rural and urban associations and is a melancholic dreamer as well as a sly, slightly transgressive character. You’ll find Pulcinella throughout the restaurant, in various poses and situations, including the primary pose of Pulcinella holding a piece of coral–a nod to Giovanni’s hometown of Torre del Greco which is known for its coral work.
