by Hoyt Nelson, Board Member
On Fathers’ Day this year, my son took me to a unique place in the hills off Hwy 17 past Los Gatos. It’s called Nonno’s (that’s Italian for Grandfather’s) at 21433 Broadway Rd. in Los Gatos (but actually in Redwood Estates), tel. 408-353-5633. See YELP for more details. You start by taking a R off Hwy. 17 going S from Los Gatos and take a R toward Redwood Estates/Holy City (6 or 7 mi. S of Los Gatos). Then turn R onto Madrone Dr and take a L to stay on Madrone and another L to stay on Madrone. Turn L toward Broadway Rd. and then take a slight R onto Broadway. Hopefully you have GPS for more clarification since it can be a bit tricky to find. The small cluster of rustic buildings has no large signs, but you may notice a tiny (12 ft. X 12 ft.) post office on the L just across the street from the restaurant. Head to the back yard on the far R side of the main building where you will see 2 bocce ball lanes and lots of picnic tables in the woods. The side of the building is where food and drink are dispensed.
Nothing but lots of very friendly locals here (and a couple of visiting Norwegians here on holiday). It’s easy to get into a fun conversation with anybody there. Great salad and pizza bars and pizza (made in a wood-fired oven shaped like a 5ft. high garlic bulb). Even the kinds of pizza that I never order tasted great and the salad bar had fresh ingredients with most of the stuff you see in fancier places. Some reviewers say it’s the best pizza in California. Desserts and sandwiches are also available, but don’t miss the pizza. I think it was $22 for all-you-can-eat salad bar and pizza but that might be just for Fathers’ Day. The cook just keeps pumping out different types of pizza in response to requests or his whims. Beer, wine, etc are extra. I believe the back yard pizza thing is just weekends, but check. There’s a restaurant along side, but there’s no menu. The guy says Yelp doesn’t keep it up to date so he doesn’t list it anymore. Just call. The 2 bocce courts and balls are free. The lanes are just pounded dirt with rough wood sides and a few markers, and are a little squirrelly, but you may figure out some of the major lumps after a while. As we left, the woman who runs the small store next to the Post Office waved at us and smiled as drove off. It’s just that kind of a place. My son and I had a great time and you will too.
