Michelangelo Pinto, the chef and owner of Locanda Positano who served the Marina del Rey community for more than 15 years, died unexpectedly Oct. 11. His sudden passing left his family facing both emotional grief and urgent financial burdens.
"We are heartbroken to share the sudden and tragic loss of Michelangelo Pinto — a beloved husband, father, and friend — who passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, October 11th," his son Julian Pinto wrote in a statement. "His passing has left an unimaginable void in the life of our family."
Pinto was born and raised near Naples, Italy, where he developed his passion for authentic Italian cuisine from family recipes and summers spent in Positano, the coastal town that would later inspire his restaurant's name. He spent roughly 25 years in the Los Angeles hospitality scene before opening Locanda Positano in April 2010 with business partner Paolo Scovolo.
The restaurant started as a cozy 30-seat trattoria on Lincoln Boulevard, instantly recognizable by a sign with a blue-and-white boat motif. Under Pinto's leadership as executive chef, the establishment quickly gained a reputation as a hidden gem for genuine Italian cuisine on the Westside.
"Michelangelo was a kind, devoted, and loving man whose presence lit up every room," Julian Pinto said. "He was the rock of our family — a steady, caring soul who worked hard to provide, protect, and love deeply."
Pinto was known for his gregarious hospitality, often visiting tables to recommend dishes and pour complimentary wine or limoncello for guests. His wife, Patrizia Martiradonna, curated rotating local artwork displayed in the dining room and often greeted guests alongside her husband.
"His absence is not only emotionally overwhelming, but it has also brought on an urgent financial burden," Julian Pinto said. The family established a GoFundMe campaign to cover funeral arrangements, memorial services, restaurant expenses and the cost of taking Pinto's ashes back to Italy to be laid to rest with his parents.
Pinto's professional philosophy centered on cucina genuina — genuine, high-quality cooking. He insisted on making all pastas in-house and importing key ingredients including Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, San Marzano tomatoes and Prosciutto di Parma to maintain authenticity. He also embraced California's farm-to-table movement by sourcing organic produce and humanely raised meats locally.
"Il cibo è l'essenza della vita" — food is the essence of life — served as the restaurant's ethos, with Pinto crafting a menu that emphasized fresh, organic produce, seafood and wild game in line with Italian seasonal traditions.
Signature dishes included Santa Barbara shrimp, wild boar pappardelle and Mediterranean branzino. The restaurant's menu featured both traditional Southern Italian recipes inspired by the Amalfi Coast and Naples region, as well as Northern Italian classics.
Under Pinto's guidance, Locanda Positano earned significant recognition. The restaurant was repeatedly featured in Gambero Rosso's Top Italian Restaurants international guide, first appearing in 2019 and continuing through subsequent years. In 2024, it achieved a rating of "2 Forchette" — two forks — signifying very good to excellent Italian dining abroad.
Gambero Rosso praised the restaurant's "cleverly updated traditional cuisine" and "clean, straightforward" cooking, noting dishes like burrata with San Daniele prosciutto and paccheri al limone as highlights reminiscent of Positano's flavors.
In 2018, Thrillist honored Locanda Positano as the best Italian restaurant in Marina del Rey. The restaurant also won a Best of Los Angeles Award for best authentic Italian restaurant and earned OpenTable Diners' Choice recognition with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 from more than 1,600 reviews.
The restaurant adapted during the COVID-19 pandemic by opening an outdoor patio for al fresco dining in 2020, the year it marked its 10th anniversary.
Pinto is survived by his wife Patrizia and sons Julian and Luca. To donate, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-loving-memory-of-michelangelo-help-support-his-family.