Fior d’Italia Restaurant Celebrates its 125th Year Anniversary as America’s Oldest Italian Restaurant with Menu Prices from 1886

On April 30th, 2010 America’s Oldest Italian Restaurant, Fior d’Italia celebrated its 125th year anniversary by serving selections from its original menu at their original prices. Established in 1886, “The Fior” offered meals from $.05 to $.30, as they did at 100 and 110 years.

“In the past the public celebrated these anniversary events with much gusto – which is why we are expecting the same enthusiastic throngs this 125th year,” said owner Bob Larive, prior to the event. Despite the contraction of the hospitality industry during the present recession, the storied Fior d’Italia remains a perennial draw featuring the fine Northern Italian offerings that made San Francisco’s Italian cuisine famous.

“We have survived fires, earthquakes, Prohibition, a depression and several recessions, two World Wars and are still here and looking forward to our next 125 years,” said Larive. “We’re very proud of our authentic Northern Italian cuisine and our culinary tradition,” said Chef Gianni Audieri, “And through it all we’ve remained true to our Northern Italian cuisine using the best of seasonal quality ingredients.”

The restaurant offers a wonderful menu, and customers rate the Calamari, Gnocchi, Osso Bucco, Veal entrees and Caesar Salads as “The City’s best.” When the Fior d’Italia first opened its doors, great sailing ships packed San Francisco’s harbor, goats roamed Telegraph Hill and the Barbary Coast was a rough and tumble district.

“The Fior” catered to the growing Italian community and achieved universal recognition as San Francisco’s most elegant dining spot. After the great earthquake and fire of 1906 destroyed the Fior, it was soon back in business in a tent and then in a new building. This location and the next were the site of numerous banquets sponsored by Italian social and fraternal organizations and many family and social events for locals and visitors to the city. In 1953, the Fior located directly across from Washington Square Park.

But on Valentine’s Day 2005, a fire forced a move to the historic San Remo Hotel at 2237 Mason Street. The restaurant’s private banquet and meeting rooms are filled with memorabilia from San Francisco’s rich history and can accommodate small or large events up to 250 guests. Call 415-986-1886 or visit www.fior.com for directions, information and reservations.