Discover Santa Clara: Mio Vicino
In a quiet Santa Clara neighborhood, Mio Vicino has been serving timeless Italian dishes and a sense of community for more than three decades.
The family-owned restaurant has been drawing returning diners since opening in 1992, becoming a fixture in the South Bay dining scene.
"It's kind of become a staple here in Santa Clara," said John McGrew, owner of Mio Vecino. "One of the last family-owned Italian restaurants here in Santa Clara, and in the South Bay."
Known for its fan-favorite chicken cannelloni, house-made sauces and comforting takeout fare, the award-winning restaurant attracts a wide range of customers, including loyal San Francisco 49ers fans who stop by before or after games at nearby Levi's Stadium.
"You know we are happy that Levi Stadium is here, not too far from us," McGrew said. "People always seek us out for a good Italian meal."
Among the longtime patrons is Peggy Dent, who recently celebrated her birthday at the restaurant and has been dining there for two decades.
"It's relaxed, it's cozy, it's homey, and the staff is always very friendly," Dent said.
While the food plays a major role in the restaurant's appeal, McGrew says the real secret lies in its connection to the surrounding community.
"The magic is, you know, we are a family-oriented place. Neighborhood place," he said. "Mio Vecino means 'my neighbor.' It's the families, the generations that have come, the kids we've seen growing up, Santa Clara University, the city workers — very community oriented."
More than 30 years after it first opened its doors, Mio Vecino continues to prove that nothing brings a neighborhood together quite like quality pizza, pasta and a glass of wine.