Longtime local Italian restaurant opens in Carmichael’s Milagro Centre

Longstanding Carmichael restaurant Serritella’s opened its new location in Milagro Centre, where Broderick Roadhouse and The Patriot stood before, on Tuesday night.

Founded in 1965 by Al and Emma Rio, what was once known as “Red Devil Pizza” has since shortened its name and modernized marginally. Current husband-and-wife owners Robert Contreras and Bonnie Prophet, the fifth generation of owners, brought in their own marinara recipe and added bruschetta to the menu but kept the community favorites like ramekins of chunky peanut butter and garlic butter accompanying breadsticks.

Maintaining Serritella’s old-school charm is Contreras and Prophet’s top priority as they move into the new building, she said. The walls that she said previously seemed “cold and sterile” has been painted over, and drapes will block kitchen noise while soften the room’s aesthetics.

“It is big and new and fancy, but it’s kind of heartbreaking for us to have to be in a position where we’re forced to move,” Prophet said. “It was just falling apart over there, but we have so many memories over there and such great clientele. I understand we’re not going to please everybody, but our first focus has been on how soften up this space.”

Booths are new to Serritella’s Milagro digs, and the bar has triple the seating, though the restaurant’s liquor license hasn’t transferred over yet. The old building had a long-leaky roof, non-functioning kitchen outlets and minimal parking, Prophet said, and hampered Serritella’s ability to expand its offerings.

Contreras and Prophet closed Serritella’s at 6346 Fair Oaks Blvd. in August to prepare to move across the street. The 46,000-square foot Milagro Centre opened in May 2016.

“We are SO excited to announce we will be opening our doors TONIGHT at 5pm!!!” Contreras and Prophet wrote Tuesday on Facebook. “Although we are still working out a few imperfections (such as no alcohol just yet), we’re so incredibly thankful to have this opportunity to expand ourselves and we couldn’t have done it without all of YOU! We hope to see you there!!”

Serritella’s shares the Milagro Centre with five other restaurants, including the River City Brewing Co., plus the Ghiotto Artisan Gelato stand and the Carmichael Chamber of Commerce. It’ll be open for lunch at 11 a.m. Wednesday through Friday, with dinner from 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 5 to 9:30 p.m. Friday and 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday.

This story was originally published November 13, 2019 at 11:53 AM.