Every time I read that one of my favorite restaurants is renovating and revamping its menu, I’m filled with a sense of existential dread.
All too often, these kinds of massive changes result in a place that’s weirder, harder to book, and more expensive. That’s why I was concerned earlier this year when I read that Piatti, a restaurant in Danville, California, was closing down for a multi-month renovation.
My family has been visiting Piatti restaurants across California for decades. We celebrated all kinds of major milestones at the Piatti in Danville. Throughout the pandemic, we visited every single week and ate on the outdoor patio, even when the interior was still closed down.
I had no idea whether Piatti would succeed in renovating the restaurant without ruining it. When Piatti reopened this month after the renovation, I immediately booked a table to try out the new place and see what they had done with it.
So, what’s the verdict? Did Piatti improve their Danville restaurant, or ruin it with the renovations?
The New Interior
Piatti is located in the Danville Livery shopping center. The shopping center is on the older side, and for the longest time, the interior of Piatti reflected its surroundings.
The restaurant had a modern farmhouse feel, without necessarily intending to. There were big exposed beams, an open kitchen with a giant pizza oven, and traditional red booths with wooden chairs. The décor was understated—it felt like the food was the centerpiece, and the design of the interior wasn’t a big focus.
With the new design, the interior of Piatti is much more the star of the show. The restaurant went from a modern farmhouse look to a much more contemporary interior with lots of natural, earthy colors.
There are subtle greens everywhere, and the number of tables has been reduced in favor of a more open-feeling interior.
Many of the bones of the restaurant are still there. The giant pizza oven didn’t move!
The exposed beams are still present, although they appear to have been repainted.
Gigantic metal pendant lights illuminate several parts of the dining room.
These remind me of the barrel stave lights at the new location of The Coop in Walnut Creek. They’re dramatic and definitely make a statement.
The large fireplace and hearth in the main dining area, which used to capture the feeling of a modern farmhouse, have now been reduced in size and turned into something much more minimalist.
There are also some interesting Art Deco elements in the new design. The bathrooms and the area around them reflect this most dramatically—there are lots of big, exposed, shiny metal dividing walls and other features in the restaurant.
One of the most dramatic changes is to the lighting. Whereas before, there didn’t seem to be any particular lighting concept, there are now lots of directed light and little illuminated alcoves around the restaurant.
In the same style as the line of pizza ingredients on display at Slice House in Walnut Creek, Piatti now has a line of Italian ingredients on shelves brightly illuminated from behind as you walk into the main dining area.
The Food
When Piatti announced its renovation, the chain said that it would also be streamlining its menu. Often, that spells two things: higher-concept dishes and higher prices!
Thankfully, Piatti seems to have resisted the urge to dramatically change the food they offer. Many of my favorite dishes are still on the menu, including Piatti’s delicious Brussels sprouts.
Their sausage pizza with “sweetie drop” peppers survived the redo.
So did their bread with dipping oil (although it now costs $4).
It appears they’ve added some more homemade pasta dishes, but otherwise, they haven’t made very dramatic changes to the menu.
Another thing they haven’t changed is their kids’ menu. This has always been a highlight at Piatti. Kids can get things like penne noodles with butter and cheese, or a kids’ pizza, and every kids’ meal comes with a nice scoop of gelato.
Thankfully, they’ve kept both of these items, preserving the family-friendly vibe.
The Verdict
So, did Piatti do a good job with the renovation?
Firstly, let’s celebrate the fact that they didn’t change their menu too much. The prices seem to be fairly comparable to before the renovation as well.
In terms of the interior space, the new design is definitely more contemporary. I really liked how the directed lighting felt more intentional, adding a classy vibe.
The lack of big tables is tough if you are coming as a larger party, but the more open feel inside the restaurant is nice.
My kids loved the giant pendant lights and thought they looked like bowls that could be filled with noodles! Although I like the new interior, I’m not sure it was necessary for Piatti to renovate. I liked the old space as well, and it didn’t seem like it was preventing people from visiting the restaurant.
Maybe that’s just because I’m a regular who’s been going there for years. Perhaps the new space will draw in a different clientele. But part of me feels that the modern farmhouse look Piatti had unintentionally achieved was just as contemporary as the new styling.
Overall, I’m happy with the renovation, though. The restaurant maintains much of its family-friendly charm, but the styling now feels more like a farm-to-table place you’d see in the city.
Understandably, reservations are a bit tough to come by now that the restaurant has reopened, and many locals who were deprived of Piatti are heading back! Book well in advance, or opt to sit outside on the back or front patio, which have also been updated.
Although the restaurant has retained some of its staff and managers, there appears to have been some turnover among the waitstaff.
It’s likely that some staff couldn’t wait for the full span of the renovation, and the restaurant seems to have hired new servers since reopening. Some of these new folks are still getting up to speed on the menu and wine list, so just be patient with them.
I’m thrilled to see Piatti back in action. I’m sure I’m not the only community member that’s very happy to be able to return to this iconic Danville spot once again.
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