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ANDREA GALABINSKI
Bianca’s Ristorante Italiano & Pizzeria owners Stacey and Bill
Esposito.
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ByANDREAGALABINSKI,
nfmneighbor@breezenewspapers.com
If you want to know if an Italian restaurant’s food is authentic,
ask an Italian.
The first customer I talked to when visiting Bianca’s Ristorante
Italiano & Pizzeria was Giovanni Gammieri, originally from Florence,
Italy, now a North Fort Myers resident.
Self-described as “100 percent Italian” he said, “Everything was
perfect!” and he had nothing but great things to say about the food
and service.
New owner Bill Esposito said that 100 percent customer satisfaction
and great food is his goal for the restaurant.
“My customers deserve that, and that’s the only thing acceptable.”
Esposito credits his no-nonsense, high standards approach to his
restaurant business to his military background.
“I was in the military 21 years and traveled extensively, including
to Italy,” he said. He’s U.S. Army, retired, and it was in the
military that he met his wife, Stacey, who is his partner. “We met
in Fort Polk, Louisiana,” he added.
Stacey isn’t the only other family member in this “all in the
family” business. Son Brandon is a busser, and son Anthony assists
and does prep work in the kitchen. Anthony, by the way, is a
culinary arts student at Lorenzo Walker, planning on transferring to
prestigious Johnson & Wales hospitality school.
They all spend a lot of time at the restaurant, but they get to do
it as a family.
“We’re all about family,” said Bill.
“And I love it here, it’s wonderful,” added Stacey.
They bought the restaurant several months ago from a previous owner
who had already established a great reputation. The restaurant,
located at 16251 N. Cleveland Ave., in the Tamiami Plaza, had won
local awards for the last seven years straight, including Best
Italian Restaurant.
They plan on continuing that award-winning tradition, while adding
their own chemistry.
“With our own style of customer service and consistency of food that
will be above reproach, you’re going to hit a home run,” said Bill.
His style includes spending about 80 percent of his time out on the
floor, talking to customers and checking on service and food
Customers enjoy it, especially Northern transplants, who feel
comfortable with another Northerner. Bill is originally from New
York and has a gregarious personality.
The eatery boasts a large menu, with over 150 items. The most
popular are the Frutta Del Mare (which means “Fruit of the Sea” in
Italian), the Veal Saltimbocca and the Livornese, which comes in
grouper, chicken or veal.
The hours for Bianca’s are Tuesday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to 9
p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
“On July 22 we’re expanding our hours,” said Stacey. They’ll be open
Sundays from, 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. |