Domenico Centofanti

Domenico was born in Rome, Italy and you could say that being a Chef and Restaurateur are in his blood.  As a young boy he worked in his family’s restaurant and learned the business from busboy through Master Chef.  Domenico is a classically trained Italian Chef and through the years has added his own flair to his amazing culinary talents.  

His first restaurant was called L’Oroglio Bar/Restaurant House in Rome.  When he left Rome in 1990 he was in his mid twenties and he joined his Uncle who owned La Veranda Restaurant on the Waterfront in Philly.  He was the Executive Chef there until 1998 when he found a wonderful opportunity in Bucks County and he opened his first restaurant in the US.  Da Cesare was a wonderfully intimate Italian Restaurant in Washington’s Crossing, PA where Domenico greeted all his patrons himself and made them feel like family.  He would often come out of the kitchen to take your order himself and encourage you to order off the menu so he could showcase his talents and give each customer a unique dining experience.  In 2003, Domenico was given another wonderful opportunity which presented a new challenge for him.  He had the opportunity to purchase Downey’s Restaurant on South Street in Philadelphia and he became the owner of this famous and well known Philadelphia landmark.  

Domenico and his family have embraced Philadelphia and have mixed the Old Irish charm of Downey’s with some of Domenico’s Italian roots which makes Downey’s a very unique dining experience.  Domenico is hoping to continue one of his family’s many traditions by teaching his young son the business and working side by side with him in the kitchen of Downey’s as he gets older.