TOSCANA IN BRENTWOOD —
Toscana is a neighborhood trattoria that celebrates the rustic, authentic, farm-to-table flavors of Northern Italy. For thirty-five years, we have stood tall on a corner in Brentwood. Toscana has set the backdrop for special meals shared by generations of families, friends, neighbors, renowned entertainers, and elites from the worlds of entertainment, sports stars, fashion icons, and all our valued guests from around the globe. Toscana is our home, where every guest, famous or not, is treated like family.
Lunch ~
Daily
11:30 AM to 2:30 PM
Dinner ~
Monday — Thursday
5:30 PM to 10:00 PM
Friday & Saturday
5:30 PM to 10:30 PM
Sunday
5:00 PM to 10:00 PM
WHO WE ARE
KATHIE & MIKE GORDON
Co-Founders
Theirs is a love affair… one steeped in good food, phenomenal wines, and all things Tuscan. Mike Gordon comes by his passion for food honestly. His father, Bobby, simply loved to eat and Mike inherited the gene. But being seasoned restaurant diners wasn’t enough for Mike and Kathie Gordon. They wanted to open their own restaurant which would feature the tastes and feel of a land they loved. Armed with a notepad and camera, they took off for Tuscany and immersed themselves in the foods, wines, and traditions of the region. Upon returning home to LA, Mike summoned the skills and connections he honed as an entertainment industry business manager, while Kathie, an award-winning writer and skilled landscape designer, called on the stamina she gained as a marathon runner to lay down the groundwork necessary to bring their dream to fruition. In 1989, Toscana opened on a corner in Brentwood where a pharmacy once stood… and its legacy grew.
Today, there are a total of five restaurants in the Toscana Restaurant Group family, including Bar Toscana in Brentwood, Nerano in Beverly Hills, Nella Kitchen & Bar located in the Fess Parker Wine Country Inn in Los Olivos, and S.Y. Kitchen in Santa Ynez where Mike and Kathie now reside with their impossibly cute dog, Bruno.
ROBERTO FACCIOLLA
Partner / General Manager
Born in Bari, Italy, Roberto Facciolla grew up in the small southern town Gravina di Puglia. As a young boy he worked in la campagnia (the countryside) on his family farm, picking olives and harvesting grapes from their family vineyard to produce olive oil and wine. From his exceptional palette, a passion for wine was born. It quickly earned him a Sommelier D’Italia Degree certified with the IACCW. He went on to earn his Degree in Hospitality at Benedetto XIII, Puglia, Italy. Today, Roberto is well known in the Los Angeles community as one of the most knowledgeable in his field.
Roberto has been an integral and treasured part of the Toscana family for more than 20-years. When he is not overseeing the continuous goings on at Toscana and Bar Toscana, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Michelle, and their two young sons.
MIGUEL MARTINEZ
Executive Chef
He says his favorite dish is the Tagliatelle Bolognese, just one of the traditional Tuscan recipes Chef Miguel Martinez has mastered, honored, and enhanced with his exquisite touch. As a young boy growing up in Mexico, Miguel dreamed of being a pastry chef. That dream is now a reality and only a fraction of what he does as Toscana’s Executive Chef and a beloved member of this family since 1999.
Miguel first knocked on our door at the turn of the century. He was the only member of his family to come to the United States and Toscana was the first stop he made. With no prior restaurant experience, he began as a dish washer and worked his way up the ranks.
With a keen eye for quality and an impeccable sense of what foods work best together, Miguel takes great pride in all he makes, but by far he is most proud of his family which includes his wife Geysy and their three children, Ethan, Catherine, and Emily.
LISA KOZEL
Chief Financial Officer
Lisa was lured to Los Angeles in 2015 by Mike and Kathie and was originally assigned to oversee bills and assist Mike with management. An intuitive learner with great determination and drive, Lisa quickly demonstrated a finesse for understanding the nuances of the restaurant and the hospitality industry. She earned her role as Chief Financial Officer for the Toscana Restaurant Group. As CFO, Lisa is responsible for guiding and directing the financial operations of Toscana, Bar Toscana, Nerano, S.Y. Kitchen, and Nella Kitchen & Bar in Los Olivos.
Both Lisa and her daughter, Kaitlyn, are graduates of the University of Nebraska, and Lisa enjoys visits back to her hometown of Omaha, as well as exploring new places to indulge her newfound interest and love of food and wine. Now, with the Pacific Ocean just a quick jog from her front door in Brentwood, Lisa continues her enjoyment of running and marathon training without the threat of snow and freezing temperatures.