Eatery tweaks recipe for success with entertainment

jenna dosch/ViewGallo?s Pizza Kitchen owner Casey Moore, left, talks on Aug. 28 with Raye Zammit, center, and singer Danny Rome, who sings at the eatery on Friday and Saturday nights. Moore assists Rome with publicity. Jenna dosch/ViewThe LaVerne Christie Trio performs at Gallo?s Pizza Kitchen, 3250 N. Tenaya Way, Aug. 28. Members of the group are, from left, LaVerne Christie, Mike Candito and Mark Ruben. Advertisement

When Casey Moore took over Gallo's Pizza Kitchen about two years ago, he said the first thing customers asked him was, "Are you going to have live entertainment?"

It prompted him to set up a karaoke night at the 70-seat eatery.

"But, we wanted to be different, not do the late-night thing," he said. "We do family karaoke."

The Italian eatery, located at 3250 N. Tenaya Way, has been booking some type of event or entertainment ever since.

About five months after starting karaoke, Moore tried a battle of the bands competition. Then he hosted a bingo night, a speed dating night and a Name that Tune night, each with varying levels of success.

"It doesn't always work out," Moore said. "Sometimes, you throw something against the wall that doesn't stick."

Now, Gallo's covers all bases and offers live entertainment seven nights a week.

Currently, there's Jamie Hyde and the Blaze Blues Band on Monday nights; Steele, James and Nickels on Tuesdays; and jazz and classical music from the LaVerne Christie Trio on Wednesday and Thursday nights. Danny Rome sings popular hits from the 1950s, '60s, and '70s on Friday and Saturday nights.

"Danny can have them lined up out the door," Moore said. "He's a walking jukebox."

Rome proved so popular, Gallo's now takes reservations for his twice nightly shows.

Rome, who has performed at Red Rock Resort, Texas Station, the Cannery and Green Valley Ranch with his Good Fellas band, appears as a solo act.

"When I first started doing gigs in restaurants, it was in Denver," he said. "It was kind of intimidating. You're always wondering if the audience will like it. But it always turns out good."

The stage is small -- an alcove cleared of tables really -- but Gallo's has laser strobe lights, a fog machine, and colored lights to take things up a notch.

Kevin Barber and his hillbilly-jazz trio are booked there, too.

"It's an interesting joint to play," Barber said. "It's got a real homey feel to it."

Even if there weren't live music, Chuck Zammit, a security worker, would frequent the restaurant, he said.

"I'm Italian and I've eaten a lot of Italian food, but none as good as this," he said.

It's a real credit to Moore, who grew up in a family known to welcome a person with the word "mangia" -- Italian for "eat" -- before asking your name. The recipes are ones he learned from his mother, who was born in Sicily.

"While everybody was watching TV, I'd run back there (to the kitchen), and say, 'What are you cooking?' " he said.

The result is a menu as long as your arm, with tongue-in-cheek sections like Dillinger's Drinks, Gotti's Homemade Cuisine, Sammy the Bull's subs and Bugsy's Children's Menu.

And just to forewarn newcomers, the seven television sets stay on. It's appreciated by families with children and sports fans who can't miss an at bat, Moore said.

"Yeah, it takes a little away from the ambience," he said. "But it's like being at home, like this is your home away from home."

What's next in the live entertainment possibilities? Stay tuned. Moore is considering the Gallo's Gong Show.

For more information, visit www.gallospizzakitchen.com, or call 656-9191.