Inspired by the fresh pasta shops of Northern Italy, John and Lois Solomon opened the original Caffe Venezia in 1980. A year later, a second restaurant, Ristorante Venezia, was created across the street. Venezia moved to its present location in 1992, bringing together the best of both restaurants, in menu and ambiance. John built the entire interior from the ground up, and Lois and master painter Silvio Ronzone created a stunning atmosphere.
In 2004, after twenty four years in the business, John and Lois decided it was time to pass the business on to their long time managers, Jeff Wizig, Roger Feuer and Chef Cindy Deetz. In their new roles as owners the three are committed to the same vision and spirit which has led the restaurant to become a Berkeley institution.
Chef Cindy Deetz brings 24 years of East Bay restaurant experience to Venezia. At 19 she held her first chef position. In 1983, her story at Venezia begins with a short stint as pasta maker at the Caffe before being snapped up by the chef at Ristorante Venezia and put to work on the line. It wasn’t long after that she became chef of the Caffe in 1989, a position she held for nearly 4 years before she left to explore work in other kitchens. She returned to Venezia in 1998 as chef and in 2004 became co-owner with long-time managers Jeff Wizig and Roger Feuer.
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