Let’s meet at Tofanelli’s

ASK SUSAN PURDY WHY TOFANELLI’S Gold Country Bistro is one of the most popular restaurants in Nevada County and she answers without hesitation. “Good food,” she says. “That has always been what is most important.”

And when Purdy says always, she is reflecting on six decades and four generations of combined experience with partner Frank Cooney. That includes 20 successful restaurants in three states.

It was a fortuitous fluke that Tofanelli’s became one of those restaurants when Susan and Frank moved to the foothills in 2005 with the idea of retiring. Their first night out in Grass Valley just happened to be at the historic brick building and patio at 302 West Main Street.

“Basically, we came here for dinner one night and never left,” Purdy says, simplifying their somewhat spontaneous decision to purchase Tofanelli’s. “The beautiful brick building was so full of history and the patio had such marvelous potential.”

Soon, Susan added the award-winning breakfast and lunch menu popularized at more than a dozen of her Golden Egg Omelet House restaurants. The dinner selections drew from Susan’s background as a French chef and was influenced by Frank’s favorites from his family’s Italian-style restaurants in San Francisco and San Jose.

The result is an award-winning experience for Tofanelli’s guests, who enjoy the picturesque venue for breakfast, lunch, dinner or sometimes just relax on the patio or enjoy appetizers, a cocktail and conversation at the full bar.

Breakfast choices begin with their well- known selection of 101 omelets and a dozen gourmet Eggs Benedict. Lunch offerings include 13 varieties of hamburger, lavish salads and exciting daily specials.

An entirely different menu takes over each evening, when favorites are creative fresh fish specials, Italian meatloaf, lasagna, prime rib and a selection of ravioli and pasta.

Make sure to to leave room for Chef William’s house-made desserts, including the dense and decadent Katherine’s Chocolate Cake, a dazzling array of cheese cakes, fruit crisps and an elegant Tiramisu.

All of this is why historic Tofanelli’s is a Grass Valley tradition that just keep growing.

302 W Main St, Downtown Grass Valley
530-272-1468 Tofanellis.com