L'Antica Trattoria at St. Bart's

Welcome to L'Antica Trattoria, where friends come to meet. For the past 30 years, Rino and Lidia Maselli have operated St. Bart's Social Club in Silver Lake. Though it is still well known as "St. Barts", hosting parties and events, sometimes in the basement, they have tailored the concept to include a restaurant, which now occupies the upstairs (streetlevel) of the club. L'Antica Trattoria is a typical Italian neighborhood restaurant, with the distinction that Lydia is the only cook in the kitchen, one thing that has remained the same over the past 30 years. When asked whether this evolution has helped the club survive amidst the changing cultural climate, Lidia conceded that this was probably the case. She explained that the traditions they used to uphold began to wane because "people didn't seem to want to get involved... to put their time in. They are very busy." Yet the Masellis still have regulars that have come for years that are "like family," and they have seen children grow up and have children of their own that they bring to the club. While people may not have as much time for card leagues or leisure games, going out to eat with the family is a tradition that only seems to increase in popularity. With the advent of L'Antica Trattoria, the Masellis have tapped into the pulse of a new generation.