Vesta is one of the hottest restaurants in Redwood City. Peter and Courtney Borrone, son and daughter-in-law of Roy and Rose Borrone, are the owners of the cafe, which specializes in handcrafted wood-fired pizza and small plates.
Their eatery is located at 2022 Broadway in Redwood City, the same location where the original Cafe Borrone opened back in 1979. The dining scene in downtown Redwood City is a lot livelier these days. The restaurant has been packed since opening in 2012.
Would-be food critics on Yelp rave about the sausage and honey pizza, green olive pizza, mushroom toast, roasted pears with burrata, kale salad, and lush desserts.
Vesta was named to the 2014 Michelin Bib Gourmand list, and critics comment on the professional, friendly and prompt service at the restaurant. Growing up in the restaurant business, Peter Borrone learned his lessons well. As did his wife, Courtney, whom he met when she applied to work at Cafe Borrone.
Station 1 and Kristi Marie’s
Kristi Borrone and Zu Tarazi opened Station 1 restaurant in Woodside in 2010. The restaurant was popular with locals and named to the Chronicle’s Best 100 Restaurants list the next year. After the restaurateurs were unable to come to a lease agreement with the property owners, Station 1 closed in December 2013.
Now they are intent on a new project: Kristi Marie’s, a cafe and bakery at 318 Arguello St. in downtown Redwood City, scheduled to open in April. Hours will be 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., giving the couple more time to be with their children Camila, 11, and Santino, 8.
“It’s going to be fun working in the same city as Peter and Courtney,” says Kristi. Living in Redwood City, she plans to ride her bike to work.
Kristi, the youngest Borrone daughter, also grew up helping out at Cafe Borrone, and Zu worked at the cafe in his late teens, long before becoming a general manager at John Bentley’s. The couple say they are enthusiastic about the new venture and eager to become part of Redwood City’s restaurant scene.
