Apple strudel from Franchettis' Gasthaus
photo credit: Franchettis' Gasthaus + Biergarten

A beloved German-Italian restaurant in Santa Rosa is closing its doors at the end of the month.

Chef John Franchetti has a long history in the North Bay, with restaurants in St. Helena and Santa Rosa. He opened Rosso Eventi + Rosticerria with his wife Gesine in 2014 in a business park off of North Dutton. The eatery was eventually renamed Franchettis’ Gasthaus + Biergarten with a menu focused on Gesine’s German heritage and John’s Italian ancestry.

Despite loyal customers, the Franchettis say the site never gelled the way they had hoped.

John Franchetti says they are now passing on their lease to a neighboring tenant, a church called The Promise Center.

"The Promise Center makes much more sense in this space than we do," John said.

Fans are upset, especially with the support the Franchettis provided the community after the 2017 Wildfires, supplying countless meals to those who had lost their homes.

“Everybody is heartbroken. I was waiting tables last night and I mean it’s like, so sad because everybody is sad," said Gesine Franchetti.

She says customers are telling her about creative ways they plan to keep their favorite menu items around.

“’I’m gonna buy all the food and put it in my freezer so I can have it later.’ You know, it’s just like, oh man," said Gesine, and then John interjected, "So am I!"

Gesine said with a laugh, "Yeah, we are also."

So, what’s next?

“Some customer said, ‘Gesine, why don’t you guys do a Franchettis' cookbook?’ And I think we’re gonna do that," said Gesine.

They are also considering bottling one of their popular salad dressings, and beyond their final day of regular service on December 21st, John says they are planning a fun blowout after Christmas.

“We’re gonna have a garage sale," said John, with Gesine finishing his thought, "Oh we have a garage sale on the 28th." John added, "And maybe there might be food available."

"We are gonna do pizza and beer. We are gonna drink out the restaurant and we are gonna... how do I say that… and eat out everything we have," declared Gesine.

For a couple who finish each other’s sentences, this is clearly not the end of the story for the Franchettis.