La Norma brings homey feel to restaurant renovation

A restaurant that stands the test of time is built on solid financial planning, as La Norma owners Daniela and Giuseppe Fornieri explained.

However, there is room for the occasional decision fueled by compassion, and when a 90-year-old patron falls in love with a particular gnocchi dish that otherwise isn't as popular as other menu items, keeping it on as a secret item can be one of those exceptions.

The couple brought their experience in the world of finance to bear when they took over the restaurant several years ago. They recently reopened after a brief redecoration, during which they incorporated homey design elements.

Photo by Dana Kampa

"It used to be quite dark, with a lot of brown," she said. "We changed up the color and decor, and we gave it a personal touch."

Now hanging on the walls are black-and-white photographs with scenes from Catania, Italy dating back to the 1920s.

"These have been hanging in our house for a long, long time," Giuseppe said. "The idea is that La Norma should feel a bit like home."

Some of Daniela's favorite decorations include a set of hand-painted plates from Italy and the sunny lemons evocative of the quality ingredient-based style of Italian cooking.

Giuseppe said they have worked hard to curate a menu that offers "The Classics," with favorite Italian American dishes like chicken parmesan. But they also feature a "Signature Dishes" section, which includes dishes more specifically tied to the region of Italy they know and love.

Their flagship "Rigatoni La Norma" features ciliegino sweet cherry tomatoes, creamy burrata and fresh basil.

They have been glad to offer fun events for community members to enjoy as well, from wine-tasting classes led by an expert sommelier to sourdough bread-making with artisan baker Carolyn Presutti.

Photo by Dana Kampa

The two met while working high-level finance jobs in London, and afterward, they opted to travel the world while building their family. Eventually, they moved to the area to work with Giuseppe's sister in the restaurant business.

While a passion for food is important for running a business, he said having a solid understanding of financial planning is absolutely essential.

He said they do their best to use that financial sense to benefit their hardworking staff, which has helped the owners retain a committed team built to last in the long term. Their planning has also helped them navigate curveballs like last year's hurricanes.

Currently, only indoor seating is available, but the restaurant plans to reopen its patio seating soon as they welcome back seasonal residents to see its new look.