La Mesa Restaruant Chef Vito’s Closes After 40 Years

Chef Vito’s Italian Restaurant - La Mesa, CA - March 25, 2007 / Photo by Victor Santana

It was March of 1967 in the city of La Mesa on Spring St. when Chef Vito’s Italian Restaurant (formerly known as Villani’s) opened it’s doors. After 40 years Vito Insigno and wife Connie Insigno have decided to finally retire from the restaurant business.

Vito Insigno had worked in “Little restaurant’s to expensive restaurant’s” to working in Venice for Princess Cruises. Once on vacation from the cruise line, it was then when Vito met Connie Villani and moved to the US where they married in 1975.

Customers never thought that day would come, where The Insigno family would flip that sign over for the last time. Chef Vito’s Italian Restaurant, La Mesa, California - March 25, 2007 / Photo by Victor Santana

Connie’s parents owned and managed Villani’s Italian restaraunt. When Insigno and Villani married they worked for the restaurant. Vito worked as the chef for the restaurant. After the unfortunate death of Connie’s father, Insigno’s took over the restaurant, changing the name to “Chef Vito’s Italian Restaurant’s”.

The Insigno’s: Diana, Roseana, Rita, Vito and Connie from Chef Vito’s Italian Restaurant - La Mesa, CA - March 25, 2007 / Photo by Victor Santana

Chef Vito’s was a family operated restaurant. Insigno’s daughters Rita, Roseana and Diana all started at a very young age, seating guest and taking orders. The delicious food was inspired by Insigno’s homeland of Sicily. Unlike the restaurants now a days where the food is industrialized and bland–Chef Vito’s really went out of their way to keep food from turning into such unadventurous dishes.

The Santana’s customers since the early 80’s. Chef Vito’s Italian Restaurant, La Mesa, California - March 25, 2007 / Photo by Victor Santana

Growing up I looked forward to Chef Vito himself greeting us at our table. It was routine for him to stop by each table and greet his guest’s “My desire is to keep people happy”. Well tonight being the last night being opened for business, guest brought flowers and expressed their appreciation for the Insigno’s. The family really made every guest feel at home and like family, while some laughed and others shared tears of happiness. As Chef Vito always said “Buon Apetito“.