Business Spotlight: Girardi’s Osteria
Small businesses and the people who own and work in them are the heart of our Edmonds community. To keep our downtown thriving, it’s more critical than ever that we think local first.
In this new series, we will be highlighting independently-owned businesses, and learn more about the folks that make them run!
Meet Fred Milani from Girardi’s Osteria
What is your favorite part of your business?
Providing guests with a pleasant and memorable dining experience at easily affordable prices. Our average ticket price is around $30 per person and our dinner plates are very generously portioned.
Why did you start your business?
I purchased an existing restaurant, Girardi’s Osteria, which has been an institution in Edmonds. My wife and I had dinner at Girardi’s and loved it. When we found out it was for sale due to Bruno retiring, it was a no-brainer.
Why did you choose Edmonds for your business?
Quaint little town with lots of restaurants, friendly people, reasonable safety. Besides, Girardi’s was in Edmonds!
What is unique about your business?
Happy hour all day, warm and friendly small family restaurant, and loyal, long-time staff who’ve been with the restaurant much longer than we have owned it, some by a decade or more. We serve our very popular $5 glasses of house wine all day long and we pour very generously with all wine.
Why should people do business with you?
Always great and friendly service and food, beautiful heated patio with hanging grapevines (and grapes in the summer and fall), a multi-tiered fountain, and when you head inside, a beautiful bar, a great multi-sided fireplace, and Italian music on the speakers.
What are you currently doing differently during this time?
Opening 4 to 8 pm Monday through Wednesday due to staff shortage. Thursdays we open noon to 8, Friday through Saturday is 11:30 to 9:00 pm, and Sundays are 11:30 to 8. We follow all county, State and CDC guidelines, sanitize surfaces, menus, and check presenters very frequently for the sake of our guests and our own families.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself!
I am a computer Geek and an engineer by education and owned a network management company after I left Microsoft in 2012. Retiring from IT into a restaurant that I love at a time COVID hit? Priceless!!
Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about your business?
All we try to do is to get you out of your kitchen and into our dining room and make life easier for you. Let us do the cooking, serving and cleaning while you dine, enjoy a glass of wine, and have fun with your friends. Often times it is less costly to dine out than to make everything yourself at home, and the shopping and the chopping and the preparing and the cleaning and the washing and putting things away…
Girardi’s Osteria
504 5th Ave S
Years in business: 23
