Maria’s Italian Kitchen is one of those grand American success stories. It all began in the Italian quarter of Hoboken, New Jersey, where Maria Aflano grew up learning recipes for the real Italian food of Naples from her mother, Luisa. This home-grown education in the fundamentals of Napolitano sauces, soups, dressings, lasagna and other regional fare was put to delicious use in 1968 when the Alfano’s and their five young children moved to Los Angeles and bought a tiny grocery store called “Village Mart” in prestigious Brentwood Village and converted the one car garage into the first Maria’s Italian Kitchen. Today this legacy lives on, as Madelyn, daughter of Maria, leads her staff’s shared vision of producing the best Italian food this side of Hoboken. The result of her dedication to real Italian cooking; an intimate, neighborhood dining environment and warm friendly service is an 8-location culinary gem in Los Angeles called Maria’s Italian Kitchen.