{"id":88083,"date":"2026-01-03T11:55:28","date_gmt":"2026-01-03T11:55:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/88083\/"},"modified":"2026-01-03T11:55:28","modified_gmt":"2026-01-03T11:55:28","slug":"ny-restaurateurs-come-to-ct-open-eatery-that-draws-from-3-states","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/88083\/","title":{"rendered":"NY restaurateurs come to CT, open eatery that draws from 3 states"},"content":{"rendered":"

A couple already owned and operated an Italian restaurant in New York City when they spotted a vacant business in Connecticut.<\/p>\n

Their work was cut out for them, but they made a decision: they would open an \u201celegant casual\u201d restaurant here too.<\/a><\/p>\n

Now, for those walking into the warm, rustic yet elegant interior of Geppetto on East Main Street,<\/a> it signals the start of something wonderful, the owners say: good food, good wine and space for friends or family to share them with.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s what the Pulixi family intends for their customers, many of whom have become good friends since the osteria opened three years ago in Torrington. The restaurant, Geppetto Osteria e Bisteccheria, is owned by chef Carlo Pulixi, his wife Michelle, son and chef Federico, and daughter Elizabetta.<\/p>\n

\"RestaurantRestaurant Geppetto Osteria e Bisteccheria in Torrington is owned by chef Carlo Pulixi, his wife Michelle, son and chef Federico, and daughter Elizabetta. (Emily M. Olson)<\/p>\n

The restaurant\u2019s dining room offers tables for as many as 12, with cozy corners for tables for two or four, and a spacious bar where guests can enjoy a variety of cocktails, wines or grappas.<\/p>\n

The dining room, with hardwood floors, a long copper bar, and d\u00e9cor that includes collections of antiques, copper bowls, ceramics and pottery and sturdy wooden tables with room for big plates and wine glasses.<\/p>\n

On a recent afternoon, the family was getting ready for another busy night.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got about 40 people expected tonight, and we\u2019ll get walk-ins,\u201d Michelle Pulixi said.<\/p>\n

Federico, dressed in chef\u2019s clothes, was in and out of the kitchen, as was his sister, who bustled to and fro with other waitresses to wait on the early diners: a group of 11 coworkers celebrating the holidays together.<\/p>\n

Several of the couples said they had been to Geppetto more than a few times. \u201cWe like the food and the atmosphere,\u201d said Tony Ponte, a Torrington resident.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s authentic. It\u2019s nice to see Italians operating an Italian restaurant,\u201d he said. \u201cThey all speak Italian, and the food is very good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"RestaurantRestaurant Geppetto Osteria e Bisteccheria in Torrington is owned by chef Carlo Pulixi, his wife Michelle, son and chef Federico, and daughter Elizabetta. (Emily M. Olson)<\/p>\n

Joe and Jeanne Maiarese said Geppetto has originality and a great atmosphere. \u201cIt\u2019s a nice place, and we love the menu,\u201d said Jeanne.<\/p>\n

The menu that night featured dishes with beef, pork, seafood or vegetables. There were special pastas, good steaks and innovative starters. It\u2019s a curated collection of dishes with specials, as Federico Pulixi and his father, a longtime chef himself, create new recipes for their customers. The menu changes three times a year, along with the seasons.<\/p>\n

\"RestaurantRestaurant Geppetto Osteria e Bisteccheria in Torrington is owned by chef Carlo Pulixi, his wife Michelle, son and chef Federico, and daughter Elizabetta. (Emily M. Olson)<\/p>\n

\u201cThe passion Federico has for cooking is really amazing,\u201d said Carlo Pulixi. \u201cHis imagination, his willingness \u2026 He\u2019s really learned so much.\u201d<\/p>\n

Geppetto\u2019s winter menu has a calamari appetizer, stewed with swiss chard and tomato; a braised artichoke, polenta; roasted chicken livers with pancetta. For dinner, Federico and his staff were offering herb crusted rack of lamb, a pork chop with butter, sage and mortadella, or pan-seared halibut. Pasta dishes featured linguine with seafood, tagliatelle, gnocchi, or agnolotti filled with braised short ribs.<\/p>\n

Geppetto is also known for its ribeyes, New York strip steaks and other cuts of aged beef. \u201cThe meat is fantastic,\u201d Federico said. \u201cPeople love it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bread, baked by Michelle and Elizabetta, has become a staple in the restaurant\u2019s offerings. The sourdough loaves, with pretty patterns scored into the crust, are selling on their own by advance order.<\/p>\n

And \u201cyou have to have bread with dinner,\u201d Michelle Pulixi said. \u201cI wanted to make bread, and now people are buying it. And we have it on the table.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Restaurant<\/p>\n

Restaurant Geppetto Osteria e Bisteccheria in Torrington is owned by chef Carlo Pulixi, his wife Michelle, son and chef Federico, and daughter Elizabetta. (Emily M. Olson)<\/p>\n

\"Restaurant<\/p>\n

Restaurant Geppetto Osteria e Bisteccheria in Torrington is owned by chef Carlo Pulixi, his wife Michelle, son and chef Federico, and daughter Elizabetta. (Emily M. Olson)<\/p>\n

\"Restaurant<\/p>\n

Restaurant Geppetto Osteria e Bisteccheria in Torrington is owned by chef Carlo Pulixi, his wife Michelle, son and chef Federico, and daughter Elizabetta. (Emily M. Olson)<\/p>\n

\"Restaurant<\/p>\n

Restaurant Geppetto Osteria e Bisteccheria in Torrington is owned by chef Carlo Pulixi, his wife Michelle, son and chef Federico, and daughter Elizabetta. (Emily M. Olson)<\/p>\n

\"Restaurant<\/p>\n

Restaurant Geppetto Osteria e Bisteccheria in Torrington is owned by chef Carlo Pulixi, his wife Michelle, son and chef Federico, and daughter Elizabetta. (Emily M. Olson)<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 5<\/p>\n

Restaurant Geppetto Osteria e Bisteccheria in Torrington is owned by chef Carlo Pulixi, his wife Michelle, son and chef Federico, and daughter Elizabetta. (Emily M. Olson)<\/p>\n

Expand<\/a><\/p>\n

Their curated wine list is Carlo\u2019s special forte, Michelle said. \u201cHe\u2019s just good at it because he loves wine,\u201d she said. \u201cHe\u2019s a good curator.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI do love wine,\u201d Carlo Pulixi said. \u201cWithout it, I couldn\u2019t do it \u2026 I help people choose what to have with what they\u2019re having for dinner. And dinner has always had wine.\u201d<\/p>\n

His collection of grappas, a drink made from leftover wine grapes, is gaining ground with customers too, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople are curious to try it,\u201d he said. \u201cYou sip it like brandy. We have about 15 different kinds.\u201d<\/p>\n

Geppetto\u2019s beginnings<\/p>\n

Carlo Pulixi and his wife own Convivium<\/a>, an Italian osteria in New York City, which they\u2019ve operated since 2000 in Park Slope, Brooklyn.<\/p>\n

Michelle Pulixi noticed the vacant restaurant space during a visit to Torrington, and the Pulixis moved quickly to occupy it. Their landlord, Vinny Cappelletti, has renovated and restored a number of buildings in Torrington.<\/p>\n

Carlo Pulixi and his son, Federico, set about renovating the restaurant and ordering equipment in 2021. The project began in the former home of Dick\u2019s Restaurant, a popular dinner spot, and more recently the bar O\u2019Connor\u2019s, which closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

\"RestaurantRestaurant Geppetto Osteria e Bisteccheria in Torrington is owned by chef Carlo Pulixi, his wife Michelle, son and chef Federico, and daughter Elizabetta. (Emily M. Olson)<\/p>\n

Issues during the pandemic and an accidental fire in the building in early 2022 slowed the Pulixi\u2019s restaurant project\u2019s progress.<\/p>\n

But when Geppetto Osteria e Bisteccheria opened in September 2022, the result was an \u201celegant, casual\u201d dining establishment, meant to provide a place where eating and drinking is intended to be an experience, hopefully a fun and relaxing one, Federico Pulixi said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean, come for dinner with friends, and make a night of it,\u201d he said, \u201cOr come in when you just want a bite to eat. That\u2019s what an osteria is; come when you want.\u201d<\/p>\n

Their customers, in the early days of Geppetto, asked for pizza, and didn\u2019t quite understand what the menu offered. Today, there are regular customers, many from out of town, who make a point of having dinner weekly at Geppetto.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a lot of customers, but not so many from Torrington,\u201d Carlo Pulixi said. \u201cThey come from everywhere else; around Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York. We want more people locally to try us too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wine dinners<\/p>\n

To bring their dining style to more people, Geppetto has held wine dinners, a five-course meal with different wines provided for each course, as well as an expert to explain where they\u2019re made in Italy.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an honor,\u201d said Federico Pulixi. \u201cPeople just buy the ticket, without even seeing the menu. They love the five course pairings. We\u2019ve done four or five of them and every time we do it, we sell out.\u201d<\/p>\n

They\u2019ve also held a New Year\u2019s eve party, from 10 p.m. to midnight, with \u201csmall plate\u201d hors d\u2019oeuvres, wine, and a champagne toast at midnight.<\/p>\n

\"RestaurantRestaurant Geppetto Osteria e Bisteccheria in Torrington is owned by chef Carlo Pulixi, his wife Michelle, son and chef Federico, and daughter Elizabetta. (Emily M. Olson)<\/p>\n

This Dec. 31 marks their third such party at Geppetto. \u201cThose are getting more popular too,\u201d Michelle Pulixi said.<\/p>\n

Opening an osteria in Torrington, they said, wasn\u2019t a big leap. \u201cWe\u2019re established in Brooklyn, and we work very hard to keep it that way,\u201d Carlo Pulixi said. \u201cAnd here in Torrington, Geppetto can really shine.\u201d<\/p>\n

The couple\u2019s plan to get Federico\u2019s career as a chef under way has also paid off. Their son is heading to Bologna, Italy, in January, to learn more about Italian cooking. At Geppetto, he and Johnny Rivera, a cook who previously worked at Convivium, run the kitchen.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s known since he was a little boy that this is what he wanted to do,\u201d said Carlo Pulixi. \u201cHe\u2019s really doing well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFood is amazing, what it can do,\u201d Federico Pulixi said. \u201cJust to be able to share and introduce people to Italian food that we make here is amazing. I watch videos and try to learn as much as I can about the best restaurants in Italy, and what they\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

His father smiled as Federico spoke. \u201cI never expected the talent and the passion he has,\u201d he said. \u201cHe\u2019s going to be an amazing chef.\u201d<\/p>\n

Geppetto is located at 24 East Main St., Torrington. Visit geppettoct.com, on Facebook<\/a>, or call 860-618-0721.<\/p>\n

Editor\u2019s note: The name Geppetto has been corrected.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A couple already owned and operated an Italian restaurant in New York City when they spotted a vacant…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":88084,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[42327,42313,42328,98,288,42310,8032,8478,42307,42317,1070,42326,42318,42324,42309,42321,9,24,11,10,49,51,50,42322,42316,42323,42314,42319,1302,42315,42320,32785,42311,42312,42325,42308],"class_list":{"0":"post-88083","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-york","8":"tag-agnolotti","9":"tag-braised-artichoke","10":"tag-braised-short-ribs-italy","11":"tag-brooklyn","12":"tag-business","13":"tag-calamari-appetizer","14":"tag-chef","15":"tag-dinner","16":"tag-dinners","17":"tag-federico","18":"tag-food","19":"tag-gnocchi","20":"tag-herb-crusted-rack-of-lamb","21":"tag-linguine","22":"tag-litchfield-county","23":"tag-mortadella","24":"tag-new-york","25":"tag-new-york-city","26":"tag-new-york-headlines","27":"tag-new-york-news","28":"tag-new-york-state","29":"tag-new-york-state-headlines","30":"tag-new-york-state-news","31":"tag-pan-seared-halibut","32":"tag-pancetta","33":"tag-pasta-dishes-featured","34":"tag-polenta","35":"tag-pork-chop-with-butter","36":"tag-restaurant","37":"tag-roasted-chicken-livers","38":"tag-sage","39":"tag-seafood","40":"tag-stewed","41":"tag-swiss-chard-and-tomato","42":"tag-tagliatelle","43":"tag-torrington"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88083","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=88083"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88083\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/88084"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=88083"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=88083"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=88083"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}