Kitchen Doors: The Maggiore Group Celebrates Family

Restaurateurs honor their father’s legacy 

Joey Maggiore is having a great year with the launch of his first cookbook “Brunch King” and the opening of The Italiano, his newest restaurant located in Scottsdale, inspired by his father, the legendary chef and restaurateur Tomaso Maggiore, who passed away in 2021.

“I was in the kitchen at a young age, learning from my father,” Maggiore said. “I have so many memories of him cooking and bringing out beautiful dishes in his white chef’s coat. People were so excited about his food. I wanted to do what he did.” 

Family is an important part of Tomaso’s legacy. His daughter Melissa owns The Italian Daughter restaurant in Scottsdale. The Maggiore Group, which is run by Joey and his wife of 25 years, Cristina, has 16 restaurants in three states, including several locations of Hash Kitchen and The Sicilian Butcher. The Maggiore Group has over 1,000 employees with most of them in Arizona. Joey and Cristina have three children, including son Tomaso, who is learning to be a chef.

The Maggiore Group restaurants are known for larger-than-life items like the Bloody Mary bar with more than 50 toppings at Hash Kitchen and the five-foot boards and meatball ferris wheel at The Sicilian Butcher.

“People eat with their eyes,” Maggiore said. “We want diners to have a fun and exciting experience when they come to our restaurants.”

Everything Maggiore does is inspired by his father, who grew up in Sicily and opened more than 50 restaurants in Arizona and Southern California, including the iconic Tomaso’s in Phoenix. 

To further build on Tomaso’s legacy, the family established the Tomaso Maggiore Culinary Arts Foundation, which gives scholarships to students pursuing culinary and hospitality careers in partnership with Northern Arizona University, Scottsdale Community College and the Careers Through Culinary Arts Program.  

“My father always helped people, and the foundation in his name was created to help the next generation of chefs,” Maggiore said.

Many of the Maggiore family restaurants have a picture of Tomaso on display. “I love to see my father’s photo in our restaurants,” Maggiore said. “I know he’s here with us and he’s always on our minds.”

To learn more, visit maggioregroup.com.