Photo by cee cee robins
BUON APPETITO. If you want great food and wonderful customer service in a warm and friendly environment, stop by Joeseppi’s Italian Ristorante, which Tacoma Weekly readers voted Tacoma’s “Best Italian Restaurant.” Here owner Joe Stortini (left) pauses for a photo with customer William Robins.
Almost anyone who has lived in the Tacoma area for the past 50 or so years has come in contact with Joe Stortini, or one of his restaurants, and might not have realized it. With his dedication to the community, impeccable business sense and successful restaurants, Stortini has been providing a constant staple of fundraising services and Italian cuisine in Tacoma for many years.
Stortini’s career, surprisingly, did not start in a restaurant, but rather in sports. He earned a sports scholarship to the University of Puget Sound, and years later he launched a teaching and coaching career that spannned 25 years in local schools including McCarver Elementary, Wilson High School, Mt. Tahoma High School and University of Puget Sound. After teaching he began his second career as a Pierce County Executive and later represented the 27th District in the state Senate. His political profession lasted for 24 years.
In 1993 Stortini ventured into the restaurant business, opening Mama Stortini’s in University Place. He eventually sold the restaurant after five years and began working there as an employee. After that, Stortini opened Joeseppi’s Italian Ristorante, his current labor of love.
At Joeseppi’s the motto is “community service, a way of life,” a creed by which Stortini lives. Stortini is a community man, conducting fundraisers and providing services for the community through his businesses. For example, every Monday and Tuesday night (also known as “Monday and Tuesday takeover”) the restaurant is run by local community groups, with the participating groups receiving 25 percent of the total profits made. Also, when having fundraisers, one of the biggest profit generators is both Mama Stortini’s and Joeseppi’s special spaghetti sauce known as “Mama’s Spaghetti Sauce.” These fundraisers are hugely successful and have made tens of thousands of dollars.
Speaking of the food, two of the most popular dishes at Joeseppi’s, also Stortini’s favorites, are the Chicken Marsala and the Chicken Parmesan. The restaurant provides a variety of dishes including steak and other meat dishes, pastas with an array of sauces, salads and pizza. Of course, do not forget the desserts! Everything is made and served with love and warmth and the general atmosphere leaves a warm feeling in the heart. The restaurant also has a deli and lounge, and provides catering and banquet services.
At the restaurant exit there is a saying above the doorway that reads, “Come in as strangers, leave as friends.” With that kind of saying, you cannot help but feel Stortini’s love of the community and wanting to spread that love through his customers. Join the community and visit Joeseppi’s.
Joeseppi’s Italian Ristorante is located at 2207 N. Pearl St. at Westgate North. Operating hours are Monday-Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday-Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday Dinner from noon to 8 p.m. For more information, call (253) 761-5555 or visit http://www.joeseppis.com.
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