Located in Newtown Square, PA
Who We Are
Opened in 1997, La Locanda believes in combining traditional Abruzzi Cuisine with new world style. Sharing a passion for food, wine and celebration is the foundation in which this restaurant was built, and is what La Locanda continues to stand on today. Opening with a menu full of recipes inspired by an old family cookbook, Mario Palumbi and Franco Stefanatto have allowed their restaurant to grow with the industry, while staying true to their Italian traditions.
Franco Stefanatto
Partner
Franco, formerly of Primavera Pizza Kitchen in Ardmore and Downingtown, brings with him both culinary and dining expertise.
He began schooling in Northern Italy, where he was born, and went on to work for some of the finest hotels in Switzerland and France. He then traveled to Bermuda, where he enjoyed a career with Princess Hotels. After arriving in the United States he joined the team at the world famous Monte Carlo Living Room and Primavera Restaurants in Philadelphia. Managing the Private Club of the Monte Carlo Living Room was one of his many successes.
Franco, and his partner Mario Palumbi, have been successfully catering to the Main Line (Delaware, Chester and Montgomery counties) nine years and continue working to satisfy their guests every day.
Mario Palumbi
Partner
Born and raised in Abruzzo Italy, Mario Palumbi knows great food and fine wine. However, his early passion was with automobiles. After a few years of apprenticeship in Italy and brief stint with General Motors in Switzerland, Mario came to the United States in 1963 in search of the American dream and started his own auto body shop. After a couple of years of hard work and getting himself settled he returned to Italy and married his sweetheart from down the road Maria. Together, Mario and Maria raised a family in the suburbs of Philadelphia and continued the tradition of making good food and celebrating with friends. After a successful 40 years in the auto body business, Mario and Maria decided that it was time for a change and opened a restaurant to share their love of food, wine and celebration. Using recipes inspired from their family cookbook they opened La Locanda in 1997 and have enjoyed celebrating with restaurant patrons ever since.