Sarrica’s Little Italy started with a passion for authenticity.
When Gina and Santi Sarrica moved to Lafayette from New York City three years ago, they hit the ground running. First, it was Neapolitan-style pizzas, sold out of their home using ingredients imported from Italy. Sarrica’s Italian Pizza was quick to develop a following, even as they moved around town in search of more and more oven space — first a food truck down Johnston Street, followed by a brief stint in a downtown beer garden.
Sarrica’s Italian Pizza rebranded into Sarrica’s Little Italy in early 2025 with a move into their first true brick-and-mortar restaurant, at 3546 Ambassador Caffery Parkway — formerly occupied by Tabouleh Lebanese Cuisine. Over the past year, the Sarricas have fully moved into the space, transforming it into the kind of old-school, vibrant Italian restaurant that feels like a family dining room, with murals on the wall, candles everywhere, and a crowning portrait of Santi, Gina and their daughter, Esmeralda, in the center.
The move came with a menu expansion into the broader world of Italian cuisine, featuring classic dishes like Ossobuco over red wine risotto, and fettuccine with wild mushrooms and truffle oil (the menu also changes every couple of weeks). Gina Sarrica is the driving force behind the restaurant’s creative vision, according to Santi, who said that she is constantly researching new menus…