Center City restaurant rolls back prices to celebrate 40th anniversary

OLD CITY (WPVI) -- Forty years ago, La Famiglia restaurant on Front Street made its mark as a fine dining spot serving elegant and authentic Italian cuisine.

To celebrate their culinary legacy, the family is taking patrons back to the beginning - to the day they opened and the prices on that very first menu.

"This is the restaurant when we started. This is La Famiglia - this is the whole famiglia," said owner, Giuseppe Sena.

It was 1976 when Carlo Sena, his wife and kids opened the doors to La Famiglia on Front Street in Old City.

"This was his dream of his lifetime to open his own restaurant with his family," said Giuseppe.

And Carlo's famiglia still runs the place.

"When you come to our restaurant, it's like coming to our home," said Giuseppe.

And 40 years later, as a tribute to Carlo and his dream, sons Giuseppe and Gino are rolling back the prices to the day they first opened the doors.

"Spaghetti carbonara - carbonara! That's going to be on the menu," he said.

On Mondays and Tuesdays through the end of August, their original menu will be served at the original prices - even the steak, which will go for $15.95.

"This is a way to say to our guests, thank you for supporting us for 40 years," said Giuseppe.

All of the little touches around the restaurant are reminders of their roots, from the extensive wine cellar to the homemade salumi and cured meats.

"I have something very special here. This is homemade sausage, we make that here!," said Giuseppe.

Carlo brought many traditions with him from Naples. He learned to cook in the Italian navy and was trained at the finest hotels in Europe.

"He was a butcher, a rotissiere, he was a pastry chef - he did it all," said Giuseppe. "My mother made all of the fresh pasta - agnelotti, tortellini, fettucine..."

And Mama Sena's original gnocchi recipe is still on the menu!

The DellaBarbas from South Philadelphia have been loyal patrons for all 40 years and came back for that gnocchi - at the 1976 price.

"Its nice that Giuseppe is honoring his parents this way. It touches your heart and that's the Italian way," said Jody DellaBarba.

You can call the restaurant directly and make a reservation - seats are filling up fast!

To view the menu or make a reservation at La Famiglia, CLICK HERE.