Fritto Misto

My name is Robert Kerr. I am the owner/operator of both Fritto Misto Neighborhood Italian Cafes. When I grew up in Napa in the 1960s, it was a small, unpretentious, mainly agricultural town, where just about everyone knew just about everyone else. When my family went out for dinner we were welcomed by name and treated graciously, with affection and humor. They knew our favorite table, what we liked to eat, and my fathers favorite wine. We were warmly thanked upon leaving and invited to come back. The food was good, the portions large, and the prices low enough that our family of seven could actually afford to go out regularly. When I moved to L.A. to attend the Restaurant Management program at Cal Poly, I found that things were often very different when I went out to eat here. The attitude too often was they made me feel like they thought they were doing ME a favor by letting me dine in their establishment. The food was very good but the portions way too small. It was unreasonably expensive. The service was often indifferent. I kept hearing from wait-staff that they were not really a waiter, Im an actor/model/writer, etc. I was not made to feel particularly welcomed and valued. No one knew who I was and they didnt seem interested in finding out. Fritto Misto was founded on the principles that everyone needs recognition, that everyone deserves to be valued as an individual and made to feel welcome, that everyone appreciates high quality at reasonable prices, and that no one wants to leave a restaurant feeling hungry after eating nouveau portions. We also believe that Italian food is best when served with wine, and that you shouldnt have to pay $50 for a bottle of wine that you can buy at Vonss for $15. Fritto Misto is owner operated. Frank Amaya is the executive chef in Santa Monica. Jesus, the Hermosa Beach kitchen manager, has been with us since 1995. As of 2012, our other cooks have been with us an average of 14 years. Our front house managers have been here since