About us

It all began in 2021, with a never-ending line at the Uptown Phoenix Farmers Market.

Brandon Gioffre and Michele Gioffre, New York natives with Calabrese roots, brought the Italian food they grew up on to the market, hand-pulling fresh mozzarella, filling cannoli to order, and preparing recipes passed down through generations.

What started as a small stand quickly built a loyal following, drawn to something people recognized instantly and kept coming back for.

In 2022, they took a chance on a small neighborhood café in the heart of Scottsdale, expanding the menu to include dishes like arancini, clams oreganata, chicken scarpariello, and house-made lasagna. Everything is and always will be made from scratch using high-quality ingredients, with a clear focus on doing things the way they’re done in old-school New York Italian kitchens.

Frank DiMaggio, a local developer, former professional baseball player, and part of the DiMaggio family legacy, first visited as a guest and immediately recognized what was being built. That visit—alongside his wife and acclaimed designer Lauren Wallace—evolved into a partnership, grounded in a shared vision and the belief that this kind of Italian dining was missing here.

In 2024, the restaurant was reintroduced as DiMaggio’s Italian Restaurant, reimagined to reflect the timeless character and spirit of old-school New York Italian dining in a space where everyone feels welcome.

We continue to operate at the same standard we started with: traditional recipes, high-quality ingredients, and an experience people return to again and again. Today, Executive Chef Brandon Gioffre still hand-pulls fresh mozzarella in-house each morning.

The Uptown Phoenix Farmers Market stand remains part of our story, and is still going strong every Saturday morning.

thank you!