santonastaso fell in love with cooking at an early age. after attending culinary school at newbury college, he honed his skills in fine restaurants on both the east and west coasts, including los angeles' famed patina restaurant. most recently, he served as the opening executive chef at the north end’s lucca restaurant, where he earned acclaim from restaurant critics, including alison arnett, who wrote that santonastaso's dishes "sparkle with the kind of freshness and immediacy that makes us all love italian food.” santonastaso stayed in the north end until he had the opportunity to open his own restaurant.