Arrivederci, Cafe Luigi, Til We Meet Again

compiled by the citizen of bedford

When news of cafe luigi’s closing broke on his facebook page in early August, the post was shared 266 times and generated an almost endless stream of comments, ranging from “I guess this is a good time to go on a diet?” to “oh no!” and “I hope all the longtime employees come back!”

Reading: Cafe luigi’s reopening

café luigi does not say goodbye at the close of operations on August 29, but ‘arrivederci, until we meet again’. it will come back when the time is right, when there is a building to move into; “Spring 2016,” according to the restaurant’s website.

Some predicted that Luigi wouldn’t waste a day, that there would be a bucket brigade moving pots of pasta, fields of salad greens, and buckets of parmesan-pepper salad dressing across the parking lot.

The owner, Richard Stoico, worked at Mario’s Italian restaurant in Lexington when he was a high school student. Returning to the area after college, he teamed up with Mario’s owners and opened Cafe Luigi on June 22, 1988, replacing the Center Haven coffee shop back in the days when Bedford Market was known as Bedford Shopping Center. over time, café luigi’s took over the old craft store (the current kitchen occupies the space where arts and crafts supplies once sold), then expanded the dining room when the dry cleaner closed and the bank moved to a new location.

since its opening, café luigi has been one of bedford’s most popular establishments, known around the world as “the” place for great food, but its longevity and success are based on much more than delicious Italian Food: Cafe Luigi’s customers and staff are the cornerstone of the restaurant’s success.

Café Luigi’s initial customers were mostly young families, and Stoico hoped the restaurant would begin to attract an audience of older, more sophisticated diners. those customers came and the younger generation stayed. “It’s sad,” he said stoically, “after so long in one place, to see so many of our original customers pass by.”

Laura Ricker has worked in the cafeteria for at least a couple of days a week since she opened Luigi’s and was in high school. she loves meeting the new babies that arrive with second and even third generation clients. Worshipers come, even during snowstorms, she said, “and there’s a couple who come from Norwood every Sunday. a friend brought them to lunch years ago, and they still come back!”

Hearing that Stoick credits the staff with Café Luigi’s success, Ricker pointed out to him that the large staff (30-35 front of house, plus kitchen help and others) wouldn’t be as effective as they are without his leadership. “He keeps an eye on things,” he said, “and that’s why everything works. I consider Richard to be both a friend and a great boss.”

customers come to café luigi from all over new england or even much further afield. marion and gerry roantree, visiting from ireland in 2008, loved it so much they decided to return for their last night in bedford, two days after their first visit. the waitress remembers them and still mentions them. Gerry, a Dubliner by birth, goes on to talk about Café Luigi as a highlight of his trip to America.

a bedford resident arrives every friday night for prawn scampi, sits at “his” table and occasionally looks askance at intruders who have sat there before he arrives. he plans to arrive at the restaurant in plenty of time to sit at his usual table on August 28.

reports are that a nurse in a boston hospital lit up, practically salivating, when her patient told her she was from bedford, “ah, bedford!” he said, i live in chelmsford, but i’m in bedford whenever i can to go to cafe luigi.”

There is no real agreement on the tastiest item on the menu, every regular has their favorite. Ricker suggests chicken tornelli with broccoli to please the crowd. “But, I’m spoiled,” she says. “Whenever my friends want to go out for Italian [food], I try to take them to Luigi’s because nothing else is as good.”

More than one diner goes just for the experience. “It’s my company’s cafeteria. It is my summer kitchen in any season. everything is cozy and familiar, from the patrons to the staff to the lasagna special, which you can order daily with meatballs or sausage, or both.”

And there are those who count Cafe Luigi Party Plates as must-have staples for home entertaining. According to Ricker, Christmas Eve is a “crazy time, but in a good way,” when customers arrive in waves to collect their holiday party fee.

how did café luigi find so many customers? Perhaps they were in Bedford for a medical appointment and were referred by VA Medical Center or Lahey Clinic; they may have originally come for a working lunch and returned to their family; Or they may be Bedford residents who have moved out of town and are returning for a nostalgic visit. never mind, everyone is looking forward to the new space and can’t wait for cafe luigi to reopen.

After August 29 and until the new space opens next spring, patrons can try the other restaurants in the Luigi Family Café: Mario’s Italian Restaurant in Lexington; Jimmy’s Steer House in Arlington or Saugus; Jimmy’s Tavern and Grill in Shrewsbury; Grassfield’s in Waltham or Andover; and prime 131 grill in wayland.

editor’s note: andrea cleghorn and julie turner contributed to the preparation of this story