Martino DiGrande is a quietly rising star in San Francisco’s dining scene.  The scion of a Sicilian restaurant family, he learned the ropes early. After winning a Golden Gate Restaurant Association college scholarship, obtaining a hospitality degree,  and completing an internship at the venerable La Planeta in Sicily;  he was hired right out of school in 2006 when Palio D’Asti’s then chef-owner Dan Scherotter wandered into the DiGrande place one night and was impressed by how Martino bartended, waited, hosted and bussed tables- all while keeping a positive attitude.

Martino initially worked under Palio’s wine director before taking over both the wine program and the bar when he became General Manager in 2008.   In 2011 he became part- owner,  and in August 2012 he took over the reins of Palio as a single owner. He's been responsible for modernizing the restaurant’s cocktail program, instituting new events,  and has built up the restaurant’s popular “$1 pizza” happy hour that draws fans from throughout San Francisco’s downtown financial district.

“Excellent service is what’s important to me because it will always trump trendiness,” said DiGrande.  “True hospitality requires building long term relationships and paying constant attention to what your customers are telling you that they want on a daily basis.  I love this business and want to insure that Palio features the kind of consistency that only a hands on owner can offer over the long term.”