Tony D'Amato passed away on Tuesday, June 30, at the age of 73 while traveling overseas with his wife, Maria. His death has sent waves of sadness through Bay Park, Clairemont and San Diego's restaurant community, where D'Amato was admired not only for his culinary accomplishments but for the genuine relationships he built with guests over nearly five decades.
Born in Porticello, Sicily, D'Amato immigrated to San Diego as a teenager and began working in restaurants shortly after arriving in the United States. His career started humbly as a dishwasher at Mister A's before he worked his way through nearly every front-of-house position, eventually becoming a captain. Drawing on years of experience and an instinctive understanding of hospitality, he opened Baci Ristorante on West Morena Boulevard in 1979.
What began as a modest Italian restaurant steadily evolved into one of San Diego's most respected dining institutions. Known for its white tablecloths, tuxedoed servers, extensive Italian wine cellar and timeless Sicilian cuisine, Baci earned a loyal following that included neighborhood regulars, business leaders, celebrities and visiting dignitaries. The restaurant received numerous accolades over the years, including repeated recognition with the AAA Four Diamond Award.
Yet friends say it was never the awards that defined Tony. Night after night, he could be found near the front entrance greeting guests by name, remembering anniversaries, introducing newcomers to longtime patrons and making everyone feel as though they had been invited into his home. His wife, Maria, stood beside him throughout much of that journey, together creating the atmosphere that made Baci feel less like a restaurant and more like a family gathering place.
In 2012, D'Amato expanded his family's footprint by opening Luce Bar & Kitchen next door, transforming the former DaNino's space into a contemporary gastropub operated alongside his brother Gaetano and later his children. The concept offered a more casual complement to Baci while remaining rooted in the same commitment to hospitality that had become synonymous with the D'Amato name.
Over the years, Baci became known for hosting special dinners celebrating regional Italian cuisine, including memorable sea urchin feasts showcasing local seafood paired with imported Italian wines. D'Amato was an enthusiastic ambassador for Sicilian food traditions and often spoke passionately about introducing diners to ingredients and recipes they might otherwise never experience.
For many in Bay Park, Tony represented something increasingly rare in San Diego's ever-changing dining landscape. As longtime independent restaurants continue disappearing amid redevelopment and generational change, Baci remained a steadfast neighborhood anchor. Friends describe D'Amato as an old-school restaurateur whose success was measured less by trends than by the relationships he built over decades.
"He was a true host," one longtime friend told SanDiegoVille. "People in Clairemont and Bay Park are really going to miss him. Old-school places like that are going away fast. Nobody can just replace him."
That sentiment was echoed by D'Amato's niece, Angela Salemi, who said her uncle possessed a remarkable gift for making everyone feel welcome.
"Whether you were family, a lifelong friend, or someone he had just met, he greeted you with genuine warmth, kindness and open arms," she said. "He had a way of making people feel like they belonged, and that is something so many will remember about him."
Angela described Tony and Maria as true soulmates who built not only a beloved restaurant but a loving family together. The couple raised two sons, Salvatore and Philip, and were blessed with four cherished grandchildren.
"My Zio leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of love, generosity, hard work and unwavering devotion to his family and community," Angela said. "His impact will continue to live on through the countless lives he touched and through the family and traditions he loved so deeply."
Fortunately for the neighborhood, D'Amato had already begun preparing the next generation. His children have long played active roles in the family businesses, and those close to Tony say he had been gradually stepping back to spend more time traveling with Maria, visiting family in Europe and enjoying one of his greatest passions - fishing.
While the loss has left the family devastated, they say the greatest tribute to Tony is continuing the work that meant so much to him. Baci Ristorante will reopen on Tuesday, July 7, following its previously scheduled vacation closure.
"While our hearts are completely broken, we know that is exactly what my Zio Tony would have wanted," Angela said. "There is no better way to honor him than by continuing to welcome others with the same warmth, hospitality and love that he showed every single day."
Tony D'Amato is survived by his beloved wife, Maria; his sons, Salvatore and wife Carolina, and Philip and wife Katherine; several cherished grandchildren; his siblings Pete, Esther, and Gaetano; many nieces & nephews; extended family; devoted employees; and the countless friends and loyal guests whose lives he touched during nearly five decades of welcoming San Diegans through the doors of Baci Ristorante.
Born in Porticello, Sicily, D'Amato immigrated to San Diego as a teenager and began working in restaurants shortly after arriving in the United States. His career started humbly as a dishwasher at Mister A's before he worked his way through nearly every front-of-house position, eventually becoming a captain. Drawing on years of experience and an instinctive understanding of hospitality, he opened Baci Ristorante on West Morena Boulevard in 1979.
What began as a modest Italian restaurant steadily evolved into one of San Diego's most respected dining institutions. Known for its white tablecloths, tuxedoed servers, extensive Italian wine cellar and timeless Sicilian cuisine, Baci earned a loyal following that included neighborhood regulars, business leaders, celebrities and visiting dignitaries. The restaurant received numerous accolades over the years, including repeated recognition with the AAA Four Diamond Award.
Yet friends say it was never the awards that defined Tony. Night after night, he could be found near the front entrance greeting guests by name, remembering anniversaries, introducing newcomers to longtime patrons and making everyone feel as though they had been invited into his home. His wife, Maria, stood beside him throughout much of that journey, together creating the atmosphere that made Baci feel less like a restaurant and more like a family gathering place.
In 2012, D'Amato expanded his family's footprint by opening Luce Bar & Kitchen next door, transforming the former DaNino's space into a contemporary gastropub operated alongside his brother Gaetano and later his children. The concept offered a more casual complement to Baci while remaining rooted in the same commitment to hospitality that had become synonymous with the D'Amato name.
Over the years, Baci became known for hosting special dinners celebrating regional Italian cuisine, including memorable sea urchin feasts showcasing local seafood paired with imported Italian wines. D'Amato was an enthusiastic ambassador for Sicilian food traditions and often spoke passionately about introducing diners to ingredients and recipes they might otherwise never experience.
For many in Bay Park, Tony represented something increasingly rare in San Diego's ever-changing dining landscape. As longtime independent restaurants continue disappearing amid redevelopment and generational change, Baci remained a steadfast neighborhood anchor. Friends describe D'Amato as an old-school restaurateur whose success was measured less by trends than by the relationships he built over decades.
"He was a true host," one longtime friend told SanDiegoVille. "People in Clairemont and Bay Park are really going to miss him. Old-school places like that are going away fast. Nobody can just replace him."
That sentiment was echoed by D'Amato's niece, Angela Salemi, who said her uncle possessed a remarkable gift for making everyone feel welcome.
"Whether you were family, a lifelong friend, or someone he had just met, he greeted you with genuine warmth, kindness and open arms," she said. "He had a way of making people feel like they belonged, and that is something so many will remember about him."
Angela described Tony and Maria as true soulmates who built not only a beloved restaurant but a loving family together. The couple raised two sons, Salvatore and Philip, and were blessed with four cherished grandchildren.
"My Zio leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of love, generosity, hard work and unwavering devotion to his family and community," Angela said. "His impact will continue to live on through the countless lives he touched and through the family and traditions he loved so deeply."
Fortunately for the neighborhood, D'Amato had already begun preparing the next generation. His children have long played active roles in the family businesses, and those close to Tony say he had been gradually stepping back to spend more time traveling with Maria, visiting family in Europe and enjoying one of his greatest passions - fishing.
While the loss has left the family devastated, they say the greatest tribute to Tony is continuing the work that meant so much to him. Baci Ristorante will reopen on Tuesday, July 7, following its previously scheduled vacation closure.
"While our hearts are completely broken, we know that is exactly what my Zio Tony would have wanted," Angela said. "There is no better way to honor him than by continuing to welcome others with the same warmth, hospitality and love that he showed every single day."
Tony D'Amato is survived by his beloved wife, Maria; his sons, Salvatore and wife Carolina, and Philip and wife Katherine; several cherished grandchildren; his siblings Pete, Esther, and Gaetano; many nieces & nephews; extended family; devoted employees; and the countless friends and loyal guests whose lives he touched during nearly five decades of welcoming San Diegans through the doors of Baci Ristorante.
Funeral arrangements have not yet been publicly announced.
Originally published on July 5, 2026.
