Roma Antica is preparing to open a new location on 172 E 3rd Ave in downtown San Mateo, expanding the San Francisco-based Italian restaurant farther down the Peninsula, according to Palo Alto Online. Owner Roberto Sbaraglia told WhatNow that the restaurant is currently training staff and is targeting an October opening, although the date has not yet been finalized.
The San Mateo restaurant will continue Roma Antica’s focus on Roman cuisine while incorporating additional Italian influences. Sbaraglia said the menu will include the restaurant’s Roman-style pizza and other established dishes, while chefs and team members from different parts of Italy will contribute their own specialties and interpretations.
The expansion follows the group’s existing presence in San Francisco and Larkspur, as well as its connections to other Italian concepts in the region. Sbaraglia said the team wanted to move farther south on the Peninsula after establishing its presence in other parts of the Bay Area.
San Mateo was selected because of its location in the heart of Silicon Valley and the restaurant group’s existing business relationships in the area. Sbaraglia said the team expects the new restaurant to support catering and events throughout the Peninsula in addition to serving diners at the San Mateo location.
Roma Antica’s original San Francisco location opened in 2017 and was founded by Sbaraglia and Dogukan Solmaz. The restaurant is known for Roman and Italian cooking, including handmade pasta and Roman-style dishes. Sbaraglia said the San Mateo team is now focused on completing the remaining preparations and training employees before opening.
