Barone's Pizzeria  History

In 1945, the first Barone’s restaurant was established. Several siblings consisting of Josephine Barone, Tony, Frank and Mike Arpaia, Joseph Izzo, and most noteably Frank Monteleone, made Barone’s what it is today.  For  well over a  half century the  restaurant has truly been a family affair. Through the years, family members pitched in with cooking the secret family recipes which were derived from their grandparents from Sicily and Naples, serving, tending bar and even entertaining the customers with  a song !

History of Pizza

Pizza has evolved tremendously since 1st Century B.C. In the translated version of “The Aeneid” written by Virgil, it describes the legendary origin of the Roman nation, describing SQUARE  cakes . In the 1st Century A.D. in Pompeii, a Chef , Marcus Gavius Apicius handcrafted his version of a pizza. To avoid famine and poverty he developed a variety of ingredients on a base of bread like chicken meat, pine kernels, cheese, garlic, mint, pepper and oil. 

The first Pizza used Chicken?

Who knew this was the start of chicken on a pizza and not some weird fad that started in the 80’s.  After Mt Versuvias erupted and smothered Pompeii within ashes they found evidence of a flat flour cake baked and widely eaten at that time in Pompeii and nearby Neopolis, the Greek colony that became Naples.  

During the 16th Century tomatoes were brought back to Europe from the New World. The people of Naples began to add tomatoes to their yeast dough and created the first simple pizza,

as we know and love. By the 17th Century people would venture to Naples to taste the peasant dish known as “pizzaioli”. Around June of 1889, to honor The Queen of Italy, Margherita of Savoy, the Neapolitan chef Rafaele Esposito created “Pizza Margherita”, a pizza garnished with tomatoes, mozzarella cheese and basil. The Queen was very pleased with how this pizza represented the colors of the Italian flag and asked for it to be named after herself. It wasn’t until the late 1940’s that American’s really began to notice pizza. Celebrities of Italian origin, such as Jerry Colonna, Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Durante and baseball great Joe DiMaggio all devoured pizzas. It is also said that the line from the song by famous singer Dean Martin “When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that’s amore” set America singing and eating pizzas.

When the doors of Barone’s first opened in 1945, pizza was just becoming American’s comfort food. What an amazing opportunity for Californian’s to experience pizza for the first time with the authentic Italian flavors developed by these families. Barone’s was the 1st pizzeria to establish in the Los Angeles area.
Today we are bombarded with fast food pizza that lacks the true authenticity of flavors first established by the Italians of Naples. Keeping with their Italian heritage and commited to continuing their famous family legacy, Mike Monteleone and his son Stephan ventured into the 21st Century with, Barone’s The Pizzeria Express, a quick service restaurant.

They wanted to provide the community with the same great taste of the original Barone’s pizza, in a fast, convenient approach with out lacking in taste. They proudly continue their lineage and use all the original famous Barone’s secret family recipes. All ingredients are fresh and locally grown and the restaurant utilizes the latest and most advanced energy efficient “green” ovens. Mike and Stephan are 100% committed to fulfilling their Mission Statement by delivering “The Ultimate Pizza Experience” and thus continues the legacy of the greatest pizza that people have been eating for over sixty five years. Enjoy, bring your family, and experience that pizza your grandparents loved and taste the same flavor and varieties that have blessed the taste buds in California over a half a century.