Nonno’s Pizza: A Legend in Redwood Estates

Ralph DiTulli is king of the hill at this cherished Santa Cruz Mountains eatery and gathering place.

By Julie Horner

Pizzaiolo Ralph DiTullio offered a brief history of Nonno’s in a nutshell: “In 1995, my sales gal from Ledyard Foods in Santa Cruz came to me and said, ‘Ralph! I’ve got the perfect spot for you guys, it’s up by your house, go check it out!’” Ralph and his wife, who live off Soquel San Jose Road, were talking about retiring at the time. In those days they had a very successful take-and-bake storefront in Campbell. They also filled the local markets from “the top of Bear Creek all the way down into Felton, what used to be Roy’s Market,” now Felton Wild Roots, with their ready made pizzas. The building across from the tiny market and post office in the sunny center of Redwood Estates, a quiet bedroom community in the Santa Cruz Mountains at the junction of Highway 17 and Summit Road/CA-35, looked like the perfect place to open a new restaurant. The only eatery on the hill, Ralph said, “Within the first year, we had so many people knocking…we started selling pizzas out the back door.”

By 2013 they wound up buying the property from the landlord, who retired and moved to Egypt. The building was originally a residence in the early part of the 20th Century. According to Ralph, it’s been a gambling parlor, a hardware store, several video stores, a hair salon, and a soda fountain. Ralph developed adjoining land into a comfortable terraced outdoor dining room under the gnarled oaks, put in a bocce ball court, and installed the now famous traditional clay wood-fired pizza oven built by Brent Sumner, a New Zealander who lives in the neighborhood.

A Mountain Way Station

“We pretty much cater to the local crowds. On the weekends we get a lot of overflow from the wine tasting, and that sort of thing.” Ralph used to be in the wine business and for many years hosted wine tastings at Nonno’s. He’s well known among the local wineries — and mountain commuters — as the place to stop on the way home for a glass of something tasty, enjoy a relaxed dinner, and wait for traffic to subside.

A longtime mountain local, Ralph was a 13-year-old in 1965 when he and his sister celebrated birthdays within a week of each other at the Brookdale Lodge. “It was at the end of its heyday, but they still had tuxedoed waiters, cart service, and flaming dishes. The history of that place! It was a real high-end place back in the old days.”

In addition to the famous wood-fired pizza, Nonno’s has a low key music scene, fresh BBQ options, and a full deli. “You’ve got to give them a variety,” he said, “it’s the only game in town. We try to meet as many needs as possible.” Many folks call ahead to order pizza to go. “It’s surprising how many people we have from Felton and Boulder Creek who come through here to stop and take things home.” And Pliny the Elder lovers rejoice! Ralph is proud to say that Nonno’s has the largest selection of Russian River beer on tap in the Bay Area.

Still eyeing retirement, what keeps him going is the sense of community that has grown around the place. Ralph has created a family-friendly space at Nonno’s where everyone can meet.

Nonno’s, 21433 Broadway Rd, Los Gatos
FB @NonnosItalianRedwoodEstates
Order pizza or make reservations for dinner: (408) 353-5633

Open Tuesday through Sunday 11am to 8pm. Closed Monday.

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Featured photo: Pizzaiolo Ralph DiTullio tending the wood-fired oven at Nonno’s

Julie Horner writes about art, music, and the local business scene in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Photos by Julie Horner

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