Danny B’s Italian Food, located at 708 W. Third St., Jamestown, opened on Valentine’s Day, which is appropriate because the new business carries on a family tradition of love for homemade Italian dishes made from scratch.

The owner of Danny B’s is Cris Benevento, who is carrying on his family’s legacy that started when his father, Danny, and mother, Sandy, opened their own pizzeria in 1977.

“They were successful and provided for me and my two sisters,” he said. “They gave us a good life.”

Benevento has obviously included his father in his new business by naming the restaurant Danny B’s. He also included his late mother Sandy by using some of her recipes such as her secret meatballs and special red sauce, which can be order with spaghetti or made into a sandwich.

Danny B’s Italian Food restaurant is now opened at the Third Street Plaza. The new pizzeria offers pizza, pasta, sandwiches, wings, salads and other Italian favorites. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

Benevento has also included his own dishes he learned at fine dining establishments he has been a chef at since 2000. One of those entrees includes a walleye sandwich, which is a filet of walleye, garlic aioli, provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion.

“I wanted to bring my fine dining skills back to my roots of a pizzeria,” Benevento said. “We didn’t want to be like the other guys when we opened.”

Benevento said since 2000, he has been a chef in Rochester, Buffalo, Ellicottville and in Phoenix, Ariz. Originally from Amherst, Benevento wanted to move back to Western New York.

“I’ve been all over the place, but I wanted to come back home,” he said.

Lauren Leahy, Danny B’s Italian Restaurant manger, said so far the community has been very welcoming of the new restaurant.

“We love this community,” she said. Benevento added, “Every business has been friendly. The customers have been great. Everyone has welcomed us with open arms.”

Even though the business has only been open a week, Leahy said they had several repeat customers, or what she likes to refer to as “repeat friends.”

“We like to have fun and make the best products we can while doing it,” she said.

The restaurant offers take out each business day and delivery on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Benevento joked that the business also takes reservations for the one table inside the restaurant that seats four. He might have been joking about the limited number of seats inside the new Italian restaurant, but he is very passionate about his craft.

“We want to do a really good job,” he said.

Danny B’s Italian Restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. To order, call 488-7003. There is a 10% discount for military and first responders. For more information, visit Danny B’s Italian Food restaurant on Facebook at facebook.com/dannybspizzeria.