ABOUT US

What began strictly as an investment in 2005 unearthed restaurateur and owner Gerry Sarmiento’s life’s passion. Through a series of seemingly random opportunities, Gerry, an electrical engineer with an MBA—whose successful track record in business included running global operations for Fortune 500 companies but not professional cooking or restaurant management—found himself as executive chef of his Mezzanotte Ristorante in 2006. Under the leadership and vision of he and his wife, Adriana Gutierrez-Sarmiento, six years later Mezzanotte is now widely known for its world-class cuisine and extensive wine list as well as its unusual caliber of hospitality.

Mezzanotte is fine Italian food paired with outstanding wines selected from around the globe. Traditional favorites infused with Gerry’s signature style include Ossobuco served with Saffron Risotto, Pumpkin Ravioli, Fried Calamari and Filet au Poivre. The restaurant also features dynamic new flavors inspired by the chef’s international upbringing and disciplined research. More recent additions to the menu include Tocino Ahumado, an adapted Peruvian recipe for pork bellies, and Bife Cabrales, a Spanish Tapa. Weekly specials further ensure guests enjoy an ever-evolving menu.

With its bold color scheme and walls showcasing local art, Mezzanotte is anything but pretentious. Guests instead find a congenial atmosphere without prerequisite. New to wines? Wonderful! You are most welcome at any occasion, but you may find Mezzanotte’s mini wine tastings and food pairings (on Tuesday evenings) particularly informative. Long-standing wine connoisseur? Excellent! Every other month Mezzanotte hosts a wine dinner, often accompanied by a guest speaker, for a memorable evening. In addition to these events, the restaurant also offers evenings dedicated to tapas (Mondays and Wednesdays), steak (Thursdays), and live music (Fridays and Saturdays).

When creating Mezzanotte, Gerry and Adriana wanted more for their restaurant than only great food and wine. They wanted an establishment with soul. What distinguishes Mezzanotte from other restaurants is this passion and energy undergirding each detail. Gerry and Adriana thoughtfully oversee these details personally: Gerry the extensive menu, and Adriana the meticulous service.

Food has always been Gerry’s passion. Born and raised in South America, he was an only child. As a young boy he would accompany his mother to cooking classes offered by local chefs. From this early age Gerry’s palate was shaped by world cuisine—Peruvian, Chinese, French, Italian. As an adult, Gerry quickly discovered a fondness for Italy in particular, frequenting the country whenever possible, devouring the local dishes unique to each region and then recreating those dishes for friends and family at home. Once at Mezzanotte, Gerry schooled himself professionally in the culinary arts at the Culinary Institute of America and, with Adriana, at the International Sommelier Guild.

To only know the restaurant as fine Italian fare, however, is inadequate. Mezzanotte is an extension of Gerry and Adriana’s home. The restaurateurs intentionally speak to virtually every guest, inviting each and every one to experience Mezzanotte like family. There are times of momentous celebration, times of sadness and worry, holidays abroad traveling and always there is eating and drinking wine together. Gathered around the table, sharing in one another’s lives, it is an authentic community of friends drawn together in large part by the couple’s warmth and generous spirits. It is Mezzanotte hospitality: An open invitation to newcomers and frequent diners alike to join in the comfort and soul that is the Mezzanotte experience.