Today we’d like to introduce you to Leo Gravina.
Hi Leo, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
After finishing my career in soccer, I have to decide to adventure myself in London and learn English. I had no expectation on job quality, I was no needed of money to live, but I wanted to find a job to do an experience. I end up to work for British Pub as a bar back and I was very happy to do that experience.
After one month my manager told me that all the customer, they were pleased with me and they really liked me!
So, I have been promoted as Bartender. Working with co-workers from Sweden, Australian, and South Africa I was improving and learning my English. Meantime I had some Italian Customers working for Italian Fine Restaurant (Bice Group), they offer me to go working with them as well. So, I accepted the position, but I wanted to keep me current job as well.
So, I had very good time and experience! After 1year and half they offer me to move in Miami Florida and for me was the dream came through! I worked 11 beautiful years with Bice Group and grew with them. I worked with a lot of professionals that improved my skills and mentors like Bernardo Nolfo which became my partner For Numero 28 Allen, Roberto Ruggeri, Francesco Pistorio and many more!
My dream was to end up in USA!
Following this experience, I worked several years with Hilton Hotels, and 2010 I have been contacted from Richard Gussoni for Culinaire International to open an Italian restaurant in the heart of Highland Park in Dallas.
After few years I had the opportunity to work for Marriott International Hotels. It was a very good experience but not exactly my style. Meantime Mr. Alberto Lombardi contact me and after several meeting talking to him and trying to understand his philosophy as restaurateur and see if I was the right fit with his company, I have decide to join the Lombardi Group as a Director of Operation.
It was a pleasure to work directly with Mr. Lombardi and learn from his long and successful experiences.
I was very happy to work with his group, but one day, one of my neighborhood restaurant close down and I had the inspiration to adventure to be an entrepreneur. I called my partners Bernardo Nolfo and Rolando Biamonte asked them if they wanted to be part in this project. We analyze all the situation being under Covid and now here we are with Numero 28 Allen!
Most important was to be in same page between us regarding the concept and recreate the flavors of Italian dishes from our moms and grandmothers when they were cooking for the family.
Keep the originality of the real Italian cuisine in North Dallas.
So far it is a good adventure and hopefully, we will have the opportunity to be part of more projects in the future.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Coming from good background of experiences between all of us, it wasn’t difficult to put it together, but as you know when you open a business there is always some sort of challenges.
Of course, with our experiences on this field, we can pass difficulties and move forward to be successful!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
We welcome guests like a family making them feeling like at home, feel comfortable, and affordable great Italian food. We are not like robots but we personalize all the guest needs, making sure when they leaving, they are already have in their mind on when to come back!
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up.
Family reunion with my mom, my grandmother and other family members on cooking, spending some good simple quality moment enjoying food, wine and be happy with few things!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.numero28allen.com
- Instagram: numero 28 allen
- Facebook: numero 28 ristorante pizzeria
- Yelp: numero28allen
