Our Story
How it all started...
It was when Giuseppe was sitting in a Florence café making careful observation of his surroundings when the epiphany occurred to him to launch a café of his own in the heart of Manhattan. The idea marinated in his mind for the remainder of his trip and upon return, he put the idea into action. His first café was a small Gelato shop called “Firenze.” Winter came fast and upon some advice, Firenze went from a small Gelato shop to an authentic café.
From that point on, the café grew exponentially. Giuseppe decided he wanted to start a family. In 1987, six months before he got married to his wife, he sold Firenze. Giuseppe went into construction and upon having his children, he knew in his heart that he had to follow his passion. 4 years later, he returned to the restaurant business and in 1992, Il Bacco was born.
Twenty-five years later, Il Bacco has been going strong with a strong loyal clientele and passionate employees. Who would’ve thought a young boy from Italy who once shined shoes would become a powerhouse in the restaurant industry? This is what hard work is all about.
Joe Oppedisano
Proprietor
Giuseppe Oppedisano is the acclaimed pioneer of Il Bacco Restaurant. A true innovator. His success as a restaurant entrepreneur was hard-earned through sacrifice, diligence, and perseverance. Success didn’t come easy. He manifested his destiny through sheer determination. It is for this reason why he’s beloved by the community and all of his employees.
He was raised in humble beginnings. Born in Reggio Calabria in the Southern region of Italy in 1958, Giuseppe moved to the United States when he was 13 years old. When his family came to New York in 1971, they settled in Queens. Giuseppe is no stranger to labor. While in high school, he worked as a shoe shiner, pizza boy, and food market employee…just to name a few. After high school, he took a job as a Taxi Driver in Manhattan. He knew he needed a change. He sought to find his purpose. So in his early 20’s he set out for Florence, Italy. It is here where he re-discovered his ancestry roots and fell in love with the way of life.
Tina Maria Oppedisano
Operations Manager
Tina Maria was raised in the Il Bacco environment from a very early age. She is the daughter of Giuseppe Oppedisano and is a true visionary when it comes to restaurant hospitality. Her passion for the restaurant industry shines through in the relationships she has built over the years with Il Bacco’s patrons. Tina Maria is strong, focused, powerful, and highly influential. She is the future of Il Bacco, overseeing the majority of special events, rooftop parties, and creative administration.
Her objective is to take Il Bacco to a higher level of expansion. She believes in pushing boundaries and bursting through obstacles. There is no greater achievement than the ironclad bond she formed with her father. Together, they are a force of extraordinary character. As she follows in her father’s footsteps, Tina Maria has evolved into a true leader.