At the newly remodeled Spruzzo’s, variety is the spice of life.
By Kim Devore / Special to The Malibu Times
There’s something different at Spruzzo’s Cafe. The longtime local eatery has gotten a fresh, new makeover and has been renamed Spruzzo Restaurant and Bar.
“We changed everything,” co-owner Ray Gowhari said. “You wouldn’t recognize it.”
While the atmosphere remains relaxed, the look is a great deal more polished.
“We really wanted to warm it up and make it cozy,” Gowhari explained. “The fish tanks are out, but now we have booths. We got out of the café set-up and now it’s more of a restaurant and bar.”
And with 3,000 square feet inside and 2,000 outside, the eatery can easily accommodate hungry hordes. As for the facelift, Spruzzo’s fans clearly approve.
“Everybody is amazed,” Gowhari said. “They’ve all been telling us how much they like it.”
This hasn’t been the first big change since Gowhari and his partner took over the Spruzzo’s location 13 years ago.
“I had a restaurant background, but, of course, my dream was to have a place of my own. We were looking around for a restaurant and this one came up,” Gowhari said. “The business was struggling. We decided to keep the name and then we knew we had to make it happen.”
As the years went by, Spruzzo’s Café developed a loyal base of local diners.
“We get everybody,” Gowhari said, “from families with kids to couples on a romantic dinner date.”
When it comes to food, Spruzzo’s everything-but-the-kitchen-sink menu is anything but limited. Sure, there’s plenty of Italian fare. You can enjoy classics like fried calamari and bruschetta as well as Spruzzo’s signature pizzas made in a wood fire oven.
“We have great pizzas,” Gowhari said, “but we don’t think of ourselves as a pizza joint. We also have a nice selection of entrees, fresh fish and salad.”
There’s something for everyone and even a few things you might not expect. When was the last time you heard of an Italian eatery that also offered Chinese chicken salad or buffalo wings? There are hearty entrees like filet mignon served with a brandy peppercorn sauce and a fresh baked salmon with papaya mango salsa and a lemon-lime sauce. You’ll find burgers and fries for the kids and Boston cream pie for desert. And while the restaurant has gotten a tad more sophisticated, it won’t leave you cold.
“It’s a friendly place,” Gowhari said. “People still come here and really feel at home.”