The world lost a legend on March 13, 2022. Valter Cianni, 57, of Westwood was a restauranter and chef who had a passion for food and serving his customers. He had a charismatic smile and called his establishments the “Hollywood” of restaurants. In honor of the anniversary of his passing, Valter’s niece, Roberta DiMaggio, is sharing his story.
Born in Calabria, Italy, Valter came to the United States in 1980 at age 16. As Roberta says, he traveled with nothing and was looking to live the American dream. His first job in America was working as a busboy and waiter at Macaluso’s, a wedding venue in Hawthorne. From there, he moved his way up to owning a deli, Amore in Hawthorne. After Amore, Valter partnered with his brother Pasquale to open Grotta Italiana in Washington Township and Il Ruscello in Closter.
Valter’s Most Popular Restaurants
As his skills as both a restaurateur and chef sharpened, Valter went on to open Tuscany Trattoria in Westwood. The restaurant was popular for serving authentic Italian dishes, along with homemade fresh pasta and bread. “This restaurant is where he became very successful, grew a passion for the restaurant business industry, and where he made lifelong customers for years to come,” Roberta says. “He paved the way for many families, including his own, and gave many of his coworkers life-lasting opportunities.”
Valter went on to own a few other spots. In particular, he ran Vivi in Hawthorne, a few restaurants in Florida, and Osteria Prime 151 in Montclair. Osteria Prime 151, which operated from 2013 until 2021 and was his final restaurant, quickly became popular for their lasagna. “One of his favorite things to say to his customers was that he made the best lasagna in the history of lasagna,” Roberta recalls. His signature recipe used homemade tomato sauce with chopped meat, onion, mozzarella, and mascarpone. Patrons also loved his bread pudding, which Valter would describe as “mind blowing”.
Valter was passionate about being a restaurateur, learning most of his recipes from his grandmother. She taught him how to make everything from fresh pasta and gnocchi to meatballs, fettuccine, homemade bread, and Bolognese sauce.
A Lasting Legacy
“My uncle loved what he did because he loved to feed people. He was a giver, and he was selfless,” Roberta says. “If you were a frequent customer, he treated you like family. He had this unique way of making people feel special. You just loved being around him.”
Roberta says her uncle was “A true, authentic Italian,” with a deep love for his family, culture, and food. Recalling her childhood, Roberta says Valter “would drown me with his affection and love. He made me feel special. He was the cool uncle, the uncle that drove a black, white-striped Dodge Viper sports car in the 1990s.”
Valter was an uncle to 15 nieces and nephews, and father to two children. Roberta says that while he had no filter at times, he always walked around with his heart on his sleeve. His best way of showing how much he loved his family? “Showing up whenever and wherever you were with a bag of fresh food, ready for you to stuff your face.”
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Top (Hero) Photo: Taken by Carmelina Cianni
Photo #2: Taken by Carmelina Cianni
Photo #3: Taken by Valter Cianni
Photo #4: Provided by Roberta DiMaggio (used with permission)