Melo's Italian Table To Open In Walnut Creek

WALNUT CREEK, CA — Melo's Pizza and Pasta, a staple for New York-style pizza and other Italian food in Contra Costa County for over 50 years, will soon open its fifth location.

Melo's Italian Table is opening in early September at 1360 Locust St. in downtown Walnut Creek. The "slightly different" iteration of the popular East Bay restaurant chain will feature a full bar with craft cocktails and a menu with some of Melo's favorites along with new and elevated dishes, according to Erin Piccolo, a family member and Melo's partner.

"We've always wanted to open a Melo's in Walnut Creek as we live there and are part of the WC community," Piccolo told Patch. "We've jumped at this amazing opportunity."

Exact opening plans were still in the works this week but Melo's hopes to have several days of soft opening. The restaurant is in the process of hiring a full staff and expects to bring about 50-60 job opportunities to Walnut Creek.

"We are thrilled at the opportunity to serve Walnut Creek," Piccolo said.

Melo's consistently strives to offer a menu that is fresh, healthy and updated in a setting appropriate not only for families but for romantic dates and business occasions.

Over the decades, Melo’s has remained true to its roots by staying "passionately Italian" and keeping all locations — Pleasant Hill, Brentwood, Livermore, Danville and now, Walnut Creek — family-owned and operated.

Gaetano Piccolo has owned the original location in Pleasant Hill since 1981 and is part owner in all other locations along with various family members. Gaetano was born in a small town called Seminara in Calabria, Italy, and moved to the United States with his family in 1953 when he was 6 years old.

In addition to Gaetano, co-owners of the new Walnut Creek location include Gaetano's son, John Paul Piccolo and his wife, Erin Piccolo; Gaetano's wife, Olga Piccolo; Gaetano's daughter, Erica Piccolo; and Dominic Cianfarini, business partner.

With Brentwood and Livermore open since 2008, Danville open since 2015, and construction underway on the Walnut Creek location, no additional sites are planned in the near future.

"We have no plans for any other new locations as of now, but you never know what the future holds," Erin Piccolo said. "Right now our focus will be on making WC the best it can be."