Owner/Chef Biagio Riccio

For over a decade Biagio “Gino” Riccio has received acclaim for his ultra-popular, award winning Quattro Pazzi restaurants in Fairfield and Norwalk, where he has placed his own creative stamp on authentic Italian cuisine.

Riccio, whose family is from Calabria, Italy, trained under world renowned chefs and restaurateurs both in Europe and the United States. While Riccio’s cuisine is rooted in tradition and reflects his culinary background, he breathes new life into classic fare through his innovative use of ingredients and modern techniques.

In 1997 Riccio opened Quattro Pazzi Cafe and Bar in Fairfield. He quickly gained the reputation as being one of the best chefs in Connecticut. Having met success with his Fairfield restaurant, he opened Quattro Pazzi at Oak Hills Park in Norwalk in 2004 and in 2005 launched Café Quattro Fairfield, which is a perfect recreation of an authentic Italian cafe. All three businesses have earned outstanding reviews.

To remain connected to his roots and gain inspiration, Riccio returns to Italy each year to study the latest techniques and bring the newest culinary trends back to the States. Riccio’s specialty pasta, meat and seafood dishes, as well as his desserts (of special note are his homemade gelatos) all reflect a union of old and new worlds. He still continues to go to the market himself to pick the freshest and highest quality ingredients, just as the chefs do in Europe. Riccio has even perfected his cappuccino & espresso, making his virtually indistinguishable from those served in cafes throughout Italy.

Riccio’s work to provide patrons with spectacular dining experiences and dedication to meeting their unique needs extends beyond the recesses of the kitchen and pours into the dining room. His front of the house staff is professional and highly adaptable. Whether they’re serving an early morning snack to golfers before they tee off or a large group gathered for a tournament or conference, Riccio ensures that his culinary, wait and bar staff are prepared, poised and professional.

The success of Riccio’s restaurants is the result of this chef/owner’s dedication to creating outstanding cuisine and providing impeccable service and his personal commitment to meeting his patrons’ unique needs. A forward thinker, he plans to continue creating new dishes, developing new techniques and delivering an extraordinary product and experience to his patrons.