Nothing But Love at Luigis Restaurant in Fairfield
Family is the operative word at Luigi’s Restaurant in Fairfield. Chef and owner, Giulio Cavalli, joined his brother, Gianni, in 1976 to establish and run this community gem. 46 years later, Giulio is still using his mother’s recipes that he watched her prepare in his hometown of Ripi, Italy. Today, Giulio’s wife, Lauren, a teacher in Stratford, is also an integral part of the business, filling any role needed, including baking her popular blueberry crumble during the summer months! Other family members are often spotted lending a hand in the kitchen, behind the register, or serving tables. What makes Luigi’s exceptional is the extended family the Cavallis have also created among their long-time staff and customers.
Multiple generations of guests visit the restaurant, sharing their love of Giulio’s authentic Italian cooking with their children and grandchildren. They come back to share a piece of what they love and to celebrate family milestones. “The best memories are made around the table'' is the tagline on Luigi’s gift cards. One of many fans is Rev. Dr. David Johnson Rowe, Pastor at Greenfield Hill Congregational Church, who claims, “Luigi’s is what you hope for in an Italian restaurant—that it feels like you’re in your own home.” He adds,
“For the last several years of my father’s life, it was our go-to place when he visited. He loved it!”
Giulio Cavalli | Owner & Head Chef, Luigis Restaurant.
Photo Cred: Harrison Gordon Photography
Recently, a former employee called from Spain to organize a dinner for his father’s 80th birthday. (Tears filled Lauren’s eyes as she shared this story!) One former staffer claims, “I started with Giulio as a kid and left as a man. Giulio was the best boss I ever had.” Another who currently lives in London, added Luigi’s to his travel itinerary on his family's first trip back to the U.S. to show them Luigi’s and meet Giulio. Employees—past and present—feel like they will always have a place at the family table. A longtime staffer even made Giulio and Lauren godparents to her daughter, and another stood in for a missing groomsman at the couple’s wedding. Two staff members have worked with Giulio for over 25 and 35 years! Clearly, love and loyalty are the common threads that tie this restaurant family together.
Giulio’s generosity extends to the community, supporting many local schools, sports teams, and programs with food, gift cards, and advertisements. He looks forward to contributing to the annual Bigelow Tea Community Challenge, and national organizations including Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, an effort he maintains to honor the memory of his beloved oldest daughter. Luigi’s is also one of the few restaurants that have not raised their prices or added fees since before the Pandemic, which is remarkable knowing how costs have skyrocketed in recent years.
Ironically, Giulio’s start at Luigi’s wasn’t an instant success. As a young man who spoke no English, thrust into the chaos of a busy restaurant, Giulio began packing his bags to return to Italy almost immediately. Fortunately, his brother unpacked his suitcase and encouraged him to stay. This pattern continued for weeks until Giulio felt more comfortable in his new surroundings. After shifting from dishwashing to making pizza, Giulio learned all aspects of the day-to-day operations, and his presence at Luigi’s became permanent. While Gianni returned to Italy for several years in the 1980s, Giulio remained at the helm.
Photo Cred: Harrison Gordon Photography
Over the years, Giulio and Gianni transitioned the pizza-based offerings to an extensive menu featuring traditional Italian dishes. In addition to using his mother’s recipes from Italy, Giulio has studied the works of other chefs and read countless cookbooks, but at the end of the day, he is a self-taught chef. Giulio still sees himself as a student, convinced there is always more to learn about cooking. His favorite entrees combine the classics with unique additions. Customer favorites run the gamut from Timballo, a layered dish with eggplant and homemade pasta to Short Ribs, Ossobucco, and Pasta Zafferano. Weekly specials draw a cult-like following -- some customers actually ask for a call when a favorite dish is being served! Recent hits are Shrimp Scampi Pizza, Pappardelle Gustose, and Lobster Combinations. Even the basics come from Giulio’s kitchen -- they infuse their own olive oil, bake their own bread, and of course, make their own pasta!
The pizza oven is another standout feature at Luigi’s. The giant rotating oven with long trays was originally designed for bakery use, but Giulio had it modified to include extra shelves. The oven is the largest of its kind in the area and produces delicious, evenly-cooked pizzas.
Luigi’s hasn’t escaped the notice of local celebrities over the decades. Actor Jason Robards was a regular, and the Bigelow family are longtime customers. Luigi’s was even mentioned in the movie, Going the Distance, featuring Drew Barrymore and local son, Justin Long.
Today, Giulio is still in the kitchen, preparing meals and tossing pizzas for fans, friends, and family. Post-Covid, restaurants are particularly short-handed, which makes for long days, fueled by espresso and a genuine love of serving homemade Italian dishes to multiple generations.
Want to learn Giulio’s tricks of the trade? Luigi’s is hiring cooks and pizza makers. Hungry? Go to Luigi’s Tuesday – Saturday, 11 am – 10 pm, and 3 pm – 10 pm on Sundays or pick up some of Giulio’s specialties from their market offerings. Follow them on social media to keep up with specials.
Buon Appetito!
