The Golden Palate: Bice Naples: Milanese Classic in the Heart of Paradise on Fashionable Fifth Avenue South in Naples, Florida!

The beautiful “al fresco” seating area at Bice on the corner of 5th Avenue S. and 3rd St. S, the best corner in downtown Naples!

The network of Bice restaurants spanning the world today began 90 years ago in Milano, Italy by Beatrice Ruggeri – also know as Bice. She was the first child of a family of 10, and so had to help her parents raise her young siblings almost as they were her own. They lived on a farm where all had to work on the land and help with all chores, so she learned a lot of things that would help her create her future. For years she was encouraged to open her “cucina” to the public as she was known for her extraordinary hospitality and personal warmth, and in 1926, when her husband Gino asked her to move to America with him where he had previously been to make good money, she decided that she would rather try a city like Milano so that she could stay close to her family. They agreed to open a “trattoria” – loosely translated as a friendly gathering place with a farm to table approach. With Bice in the kitchen and her brothers and sisters serving in the dining room, il ristorante “Da Gino e Bice”, or Bice as it would later be known, had a family feeling. The first customers said it was like being at the home of a friend, as Bice hoped they would.

Beatrice “Bice” Ruggeri

As Milano emerged as a European fashion and banking center in the 1970’s, Bice Milano was embraced by a new international clientele that included the continent’s reigning designers. In a city where understated elegance is the norm, word spread of the restaurant’s stylish interiors, the Tuscan origins of the food and of Bice Ruggeri’s unwavering commitment to satisfying her clients. Bice was now a recognized Milanese restaurateur and her sons, Remo and Roberto, were taking steps to extend her vision throughout the world.

In the early 1970’s Remo and Roberto took a more active role, as they ventured into learning all that could be learned within the restaurant business. They managed to stay true to their mother’s vision of Bice Ristorante being an inviting place where friends and family could come together and feel much as if they were at the home of a friend. Bice Milano remained a flourishing local establishment throughout World War II and is enjoying 9 decades of success located at Via Borgospesso 12, Milano, Italy. In 1978 Remo and Roberto took the first steps to give Bice an international cache, opening a second Bice in Porto Cervo, on the island of Sardinia, where the Aga Khan had just established a playground of sorts for international socialites, celebrities and other affluent world travelers. It wasn’t unusual to find royal families in addition to the Agnelli’s and the Kennedy’s dining on the same night. This international destination was a good match for the Bice brand of hospitality and for contemplating future locations.

Fast forward to 2008, Bice opened in the heart of fashionable downtown Naples, adding to its roster of Florida restaurants in Palm Beach, Orlando, and Miami.

Luca Di Falco, born in Italy (Catania, Sicily) started his career at the young age of 15 when during his study at the Hotel Management School started working at a his brother restaurant in the “Centro Storico of Catania”. His passion for the hospitality, service and food industry grown when at the age of 18 started traveling outside Sicily, working for a very big company called “Bagaglino Vacanze” in Porto Cervo (Sardinia); that is when Mr. Di Falco, working as a server in one of the best hotels of Italy, serving the top clientele from all over the world, got promoted at his young age as Chef De Rang. From the hot summer of Sardinia, was transferred to their locations in the cold “Madonna di Campiglio”, a very famous ski place for the “Alta Borghesia” of Italy.

After a few years Luca got hired from one of the top hotels of London, The Grosvenor House Hotel. “One of the best experience was working in a different country learning another language and meeting international chefs and Maitre D`”, Mr. Di Falco says. His career take him back to Sicily and while working for a five stars “Grand Hotel Excelsior” got hired from Disneyworld in Orlando, Florida. His American Dream started from one of the biggest worldwide company as Disney back in 2002.

At the age of 23, Luca moved to California working in La Jolla, a very rich community not too far from San Diego in one of the best restaurants of Prospect Street. After one year, Luca got hired from the Princess Cruise in one of the biggest company on the sea. It was while working on the Cruise when the land called him back: BiCE Group, was opening a new restaurant in Orlando, in the city where his American Dream has started. One of the best year of his life, working with an amazing group that became slowly slowly like a family for him. It is with BiCE Group that Luca started his first management role at the opening of BiCE Sunny Isles (Miami) at the Le Meridien Hotel by Starwood.

At the young age of 25, Mr. Di Falco was promoted as a Corporate Maitre D’ for BiCE Group training also all the future Managers for the other locations. While opening BiCE San Diego and BiCE Chicago Luca was relocated again in Florida, in the beautiful city of Naples running one of the best restaurant of this town: BiCE Naples!

Today, Mr. Di Falco is Managing Partner for BiCE Naples, proud to run an operation of 75 employees. His vision is not only to provide the best customer service, the best italian cuisine but also to make sure that every single guests, when they enter to BiCE, they feel like they have just traveled to Italy.

Above photos by Caronchi photography.

Bice Naples is a favorite spot for lunch, dinner, and especially to enjoy happy hour:

5$ HOUSE WINE BY THE GLASS, WELL LIQUOR – $4 BEERS

Every Day (except holidays) from 3PM to 5:30PM

Plus live music! The patio overlooking fashionable Fifth Avenue South is one of the best spots for people watching in Naples.

Above: two Milanese classics: Veal Ossobuco with Saffron Risotto alla Milanese and Veal Chop alla Milanese.

Bice Group’s focus is on furthering its reputation as the premiere Italian restaurant company throughout the world. This is accomplished through expansions in strategic locations and countries, and the continuous improvement and monitoring of each element of our operations. As we establish new restaurants, Bice makes a commitment to position each concept and location as a very welcoming place where friends and family come together for a skillfully prepared and authentically Italian dining experience – just like they did in Bice’s kitchen in the 1920’s.