News – Maria's Italian Kitchen

MATTEOS AND LITTLE TASTE OF HOBOKEN CLOSES MAY 3 2025

I40Group — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 16:39:23 +0000

The End of an Era… and the Heart of a Legacy

In the fall of 1963, my uncles Matty and Mikey Jordan opened the doors to the legendary Matteo’s Italian Restaurant on Westwood Boulevard in Los Angeles. What started as a dream became a beloved fine dining destination, known for its warm hospitality, authentic Italian flavors, and loyal clientele—among them, Hollywood celebrities, athletes, and neighborhood families alike. But Matteo’s was more than a restaurant—it was a family story, rooted in love, tradition, and food. When Uncle Matty was preparing to open, he called his baby sister—my mother, Maria—still living in Hoboken. He asked her to come to Los Angeles to teach his kitchen staff the Naples-style cooking their mother, Luisa, made when they were growing up. Of course, she said yes. She adored her brothers, and she lived to cook. So, with Matty as the visionary, Mikey as the charming maitre’d, and Maria as the culinary heart, Matteo’s was born. It became a gathering place that made everyone feel like family—whether they arrived in a limousine or on foot.

Years later, in 1986, my uncles visited me at the first Maria’s Italian Kitchen in Sherman Oaks—a casual dining spot offering delivery and takeout. Inspired by its energy and menu, they created “A Little Taste of Hoboken”—bringing the classic Matteo’s experience into a cozy, more approachable setting. Now, more than 60 years after Matteo’s first opened, we are saying goodbye. With Uncle Mikeys passing in 1994 and then Uncle Matty’s passing in 1999, and the upcoming closure of both Matteo’s and A Little Taste of Hoboken on May 3, this marks the end of an era for our family. It’s a sad day—but also one filled with deep gratitude. To the many loyal fans and longtime guests: thank you for being part of our story.

The good news is, you can still find those same nostalgic Italian flavors, served with the same heartfelt hospitality, just around the corner at:

Maria’s Italian Kitchen
10761 W. Pico Blvd. (at Malcolm)
310-441-3663

We’ll keep the spirit of Matty and Mikey alive—one dish, one story, and one warm welcome at a time.

With love and gratitude,

Maddy Alfano

Maria’s Italian Kitchen

Concern Foundation 2022

I40Group — Wed, 20 Jul 2022 09:40:15 +0000

In July of 2022, Maria’s Italian Kitchen was honored to be a part of the Concern Foundation’s Fundraiser event.

We have participated in this annual event for over 20 years!

This year, our kitchen donated and served our Famous Meatballs, Chopped Italian Salad, and Rosemary Bread to around 4000 attendees at the back lot of Paramount Studios.

We had a terrific time serving the public and being a part of the Concern Foundation’s yearly event that aids cancer research in hopes to find a cure.

Maria’s Safety Protocols

I40Group — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 03:54:00 +0000

Marias Italian Kitchen cares deeply for the safety of our staff and patrons. Here are the Safety Protocols that we have implemented to ensure everyone stays safe while enjoying the delicious Italian food you’ve all come to love:

Steps for SAFE SERVICE:

Call to Reserve a Table, Order Your Meal Ahead, Join us! WE miss you.
Our mission at Marias is 100% guest satisfaction and our culture is based on the foundation of caring for our customers, coworkers, and communities, and treating them like family.

WHY?

In an effort to follow the LA County Health Department regulations and due to our Limited Seating we have created a program that will allow our customers and staff a safe environment while offering quality time to enjoy a meal within an hour.

How it Works

Customers Call ahead to Reserve their table.
We Take their Name, Phone Number, and Email, and time and day the want to join us; Number of guests is Max 6 persons.
We check available time slots and if the time slot is full, we can offer alternate times that are available.
Times will be on the hour and allow 10 minutes for sanitizing between guests.

We ask that guests order their meal ahead.
Don’t know what you want? That’s ok, Download our Menu and we will call you back on the DAY of your reservation between 1 pm – 4pm to take your order. You can always add on when you arrive.
Taking the food order ahead will allow more time when guests arrive to sit down and enjoy the experience of Dining Out Again.

We Greet you, Seat you, and tell the kitchen to prepare your hot food while we bring beverages and our Famous Hot Rosemary Bread.

Our goal is to allow our guests to enjoy a meal outdoors, so we are testing an Order Ahead for DINE-IN at Marias program.

Eat, Drink, Smile… Thank you for your Loyalty, Maddy Alfano

Here are other ways we are keeping out guests and coworkers safe:

Clean and Purified Air

• HVAC Air Scrubber (Hospital Grade)

Disinfection Service

PPE (Personal Protection Equipment)

• Face Shields
• Masks
• Gloves
• Plastic Aprons

Safety Protocols

• Employee Temperature and Symptom Checks before and during the shift
• Handwashing, especially after each exposure
• Hand Sanitizer stations for Guests and Employees
• No Contact Payments
• Sanitized Pens for Guest Use
• Routine Sanitizing for each work station
• Required Physical Distancing
• Following all current CDC and Local guidelines

Comprehensive Employee Training

• CV-19 Safety Certification Course Required
→ In House
→ Delivery
→ Pick-Up/Takeout

• CV-19 IIPP (Injury Illness Protection Program)
→ Complete Action Plan to Protect Guests and Employees

• Ongoing Training
→ Daily Pre-Shifts discussing safe work habits
→ Communication regarding all CV-19 Updates
→ Consistent communication regarding Safe Practices outside of work