Pinocchio's

Oven Baked Sandwiches are the heart of Pinocchio’s. Back in the 1960’s, what started as Pinocchio’s Italian Deli Cold Sandwiches was transformed by baking those same sandwiches in the brick oven. Over time the menu has evolved and there are now so many great options to choose from. To see all sandwiches, visit our website at pinocchiositalianrestaurant.com.

A year with constant uncertainty and change, ups downs back and forths! We are thankful to each of you for supporting our small business through this unprecedented time. We will be closed from today at 3:00 until Tuesday 1/5 for some much needed R&R for ourselves and our incredible staff. Wishing you all a very happy and safe New Year and again, we are beyond thankful for you and this community we live in!

Tickets still available!

We will be closing for a few days to give our staff some well deserved time off! Wishing everyone a happy and safe New Year! #2021

We had the most incredible day! We love our community, we love our town and we sure do love our customers. From all of us at Pinocchios, we wish you a very Merry Christmas surrounded by the ones you love!

What a YEAR! In more ways than one. We are sooooo close but I’d love your help to reach this goal! So PLEASE like and share our page to spread the love ... we Italians don’t like to fall short! #teamlittlesister #5000likes #almostthere #smalltown #bestcustomers

* Current Specials! * Chicken Marsala and Pumpkin Cannolis! What better combo to help us break into the fall and winter season! Come see us soon and try these delicious dishes before they are gone! Marsala is available for dinner only, from 4pm to close.

Our crew loves catering season. It seems every week and every weekend now through the end of the year we get to provide food for an event or gathering. The staff works so hard and as a team to make sure each order is done exactly the way the customer asked for! Lasagnas, Pastas, Garlic Bread, Salads, Sandwich Trays, Desserts - let us know how we can help! 209-533-1996

The Cauliflower Flatbread has been an undeniable hit since we added it to our menu. It’s thin and crispy, full of flavor, Gluten Free and also lower calorie and carb than regular bread! Our customers love having their favorite sandwiches served on this bread and the word of mouth has made it one of our most popular items. It is a MUST try!

Please Share - Let’s help our community

* Current Special - Baked Penne and Sausage! * Penne Pasta tossed with a house made deep Red Wine Sauce with Italian Sausage and Mushrooms and topped with Mozzarella and Parmesan Cheese! Baked in our oven to give it that delicious comfort food finish! This dish is available in house only, and from 4 - 8 pm only, while supplies last! Get it before it’s gone!

It’s a small space but our staff works so well together putting out orders of any size! It took some time to work out the kinks of the Take Out Only world, but we seem to have it down to a science now! Thank you for your continued support - we couldn’t do this without all of you

We would like to wish a VERY Happy 40th Anniversary to our Mom and Dad!! They were married on October 11, 1980 at The Church of the 49ers in Columbia. To say we have been blessed with our parents is a sincere understatement. Day by day and as the years go by, they continue to show us the ultimate love and support and have always provided us with a safe place to return to. 40 years of marriage is incredible. From opening a Pinocchio’s restaurant in Merced, moving to Sonora, Mom working insurance for 30 years, opening the restaurant here in town ... all of our schooling, sports and events ... each difficult time our lives have tested us with ... Mom and Dad have been our rocks. They are the most genuine, selfless, loving and loyal role models we could have. Today we celebrate them: Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad! We love you guys.

* Now On Special * Spicy Sausage Penne. A bold and spicy tomato sauce with Italian Sausage, Bell Peppers, Mushroom and Onion tossed with Penne Pasta and served with our Signature Garlic Bread! Dish available from 4-7 pm only! Come see us soon .. we are open for Take Out Monday - Saturday 11-7!

The simple things mean SO much to us. Thank you all for the continued years of support and friendship

A lot of customers keep asking Where’s your Dad? How’s Joe? What’s Joe been up to!? Dad is doing great. He may have been tough on us sometimes as kids but he is a full blown softy when it comes to his 4 Grandbabies.

* Current Special - Seafood Linguine! * Linguine Pasta tossed with Bay Shrimp, Clams and a Garlic White Wine Sauce. Served with our signature Garlic Bread! Come see us soon!

* Oven Baked Veggie * Your choice of two cheeses, mayo and mustard, black olives, mushrooms and Italian dressing all oven baked on our signature sub roll until melty and delicious. Then it’s topped with lettuce, sliced cucumber and tomato! A delicious way to get in your veggies! Our favorite is Hot Pepper and Mozzarella Cheese with the Peppers and Onions of course! Open for Take Out Monday - Saturday 11-7!

Our hearty Bolognese Sauce was created in the 1960’s by Grandma Alyce who put together the right combination of ingredients to make this sauce something that family and customers alike came to love. She used her knowledge from her mother and also the ideas from Grandpa Joe’s Italian side and with a little of this and a little of that - voila! We use the same recipe today that she developed back then and in many of our dishes on the menu. Lasagna Rossa, Pasta Bolognese, Ravioli’s, and several of our sandwiches such as the Meatball, Sausage, RJ, Mikey’s - just to name a few! Many of our customers ask for a side of sauce to dip their Cricket or other sandwich in! Come see us soon and try something new with this sauce that is dear to our hearts.

* Open for Take Out Only * *Monday - Saturday 11-7 * * Family Trays Available * *209-533-1996 * *pinocchiositalianrestaurant.com* *THANK YOU for your support! *

Please share. Free meal to those in need

We made a BIG change today! Well ... big to us! Today we said GOODBYE to "Old Faithful," our super heavy and durable 20 year old Deli Case we used to store deli meats and cheeses, beer and lasagnas. A need for more storage space has been an issue for a while, so today a brand new shiny sparkly fridge on wheels showed up! This simple change has us reminiscing today and thinking about the growth and change of Pinocchio's over the years. We are so thankful to our Great Grandparents, Grandparents and Parents for paving the way for us and creating such an incredible legacy for us to follow. It's just a fridge ... haha ... but we are so thankful for it.

We want to wish Cat a very Happy 40th Birthday! We’ve had the pleasure of having Cat work with us for three years now and she is very much part of the family. We celebrated with birthday fist bumps and a delicious Berry Pie from our neighbors at Barrow’s Cafe! Remember to support local and know that we are here for your take out needs. Stay safe and healthy, friends!

* The Mama’s * This menu item stands alone as a vegetarian sandwich full of variety and flavor! The story behind it makes it even better. In the early 1980’s, Grandma Alyce created this sandwich mainly because SHE liked it! When a group of her Catholic friends had requested a sandwich with no meat to go along with their giving up meat for Lent, well Grandma then introduced them to the Mama’s. As with all good things, word spread and a desire for the sandwich was born. Oven baked on Garlic Buttered Sourdough with Provolone, Hot Pepper and Mozzarella Cheeses along with sliced Tomato, Mushrooms and Marinara Sauce- yum! Some customers like to add meat - we’ve seen Turkey, Salami and Pepperoni! Come see us soon and try Grandma’s favorite

Visit our website to view full menu, restaurant history, reviews, photos and online ordering! We offer in house socially distant dining, take out and catering! We are open Monday through Saturday from 11 am - 8 pm. As always we are so thankful for the continuous support and friendship of our local community as well as the customers we have who travel to come see us! See you soon pinocchiositalianrestaurant.com

* Now on Special - The Ultimate Dip served with Peroni Beer Cheese! * We slow roast our beef with our own dry rub and lay it thinly sliced on our fresh sub roll with Mozzarella cheese and top with sautéed fresh bell peppers, onions and mushrooms! To take it EVEN farther, we add a side of House-made Peroni Beer Cheese for dipping! This is a staff favorite and won’t last long - come see us soon!

* Cauliflower Flatbread * It’s Gluten Free, Lower Calorie and Lower Carb than traditional bread AND it’s delicious! A great way to stick to your healthier habits while still enjoying the sandwiches you love. Choose your sandwich, ask for the flatbread - and see what all the fuss is about! See you soon.

A little in house joke between the staff is about these four sandwiches which we now refer to as the Core Four. To anyone who gets the Yankees baseball reference, high five! These four sandwiches are the day in, day out FAVORITES here at Pinocchio’s. 1. The Cricket/Pinocchio Special 2. The Mikey’s 3. The Meatball... 4. The RJ Which one is YOUR fave?! See more

We have catering options for any size gathering! Perfect for holiday gifts or a way to say Thank You to friends, family, employees, etc. Call for details!

It hasn’t necessarily been easy to navigate through the delivery changes, meat and other item shortages and guidelines that go along with Covid-19. Some of our... customers may have noticed a change in the meat on our main sandwiches (Cricket, Mikey’s, RJ, etc). We always try to find the best quality of what’s available and this one meat in particular has been the toughest to find in recent times. We are pretty excited to share that we FINALLY have one in stock that meets our standards. We found a company that has been around since 1896 and produces a very traditional style Cotto Salami. We apologize for any disappointment this shortage may have caused and also want to thank you for being so patient with us during this wild time! Come see us soon - try your favorite Sammy and let us know what you think. Pictured here is a Full Cricket with Peppers and Onions! See more

We want to give thanks today to our incredible customers for your support and friendship through an unprecedented year. You don’t just support us; you support our staff, our children and our community overall. We wish you all the Happiest Thanksgiving From, The Pinocchio Family

Best Selling Pasta Dishes: Lasagna Rossa and Lasagna Bianca. Both are hearty with layers of cheeses and noodles, but different with sauces and meats! Our Rossa has our Bolognese Sauce and Meatballs while the Bianca has our Alfredo Sauce, Chicken and Zucchini. BOTH are delicious and BOTH are a must try! Take either one home today!

Help support this little warrior, Liam, as he battles acute lymphocytic leukemia. Our community is the BEST when it comes to supporting and caring for our own. Drive Thru Family Pasta Dinner for $50 on Sunday, January 17, 2021. Tickets now available here at Pinocchio’s! Please share and help us spread the love.

Getting closer!!!!

Beginning Tuesday 11/17, we will be open for Take Out only. As always, we and our staff will continue to maintain the highest standards of cleanliness and care when it comes to the health and safety of our community. We appreciate the genuine support through this time! Stay safe friends

Wishing a Happy 50th Birthday to our dear friend and customer, Cyndi Simonson! And THANK YOU for choosing our Lasagna, Bread and Salad as your dinner choice!! Remember, you can order Lasagna or any pasta Family Style with Bread and Salad to make a stress free way to feed the whole family! Visit our website for more details pinocchiositalianrestaurant.com

You guys What an incredible day! It was so busy I could only snap pics of some of the veterans we had the pleasure of serving. Each one full of stories, a sense of pride and honor. What a truly GREAT day for all of us at Pinocchio’s. God Bless America

In gratitude for their service and sacrifice, we would like to offer all veterans a complimentary meal tomorrow, November 11, 2020. Please help us spread the word and show appreciation to these brave men and women.

Back by popular demand is our house made Peroni Beer Cheese! For a limited time only - ask for a side of this cheese to go with your favorite sandwich! Our customers have raved over this cheese - so come try it before it’s gone!

It has been a whirlwind of a year with hardship and difficulty for our little community. As we begin our favorite time of year, we want to bless a family in need with a free meal. If you know a family in need or deserving of this gift, please send us a message with a little information to nominate them. We will provide the meal on November 25, the day before Thanksgiving. Stay healthy and safe friends!

* Now on Special * Tortelloni Alla Vodka and Pumpkin Cannolis! Tortelloni stuffed with Cheese, Zucchini and Asparagus then tossed with our house made creamy... Vodka Sauce! Served with our Signature Garlic Bread! Cannoli Shells stuffed with deliciously sweet whipped Pumpkin and Ricotta filling then finished with Chopped Pecans. Both dishes available Mon-Sat from 11-8, for in house dining or take out as well! Come see us soon!! See more

Catering for 400 people on Saturday: Lasagna Rossa, Lasagna Bianca, Spaghetti, Garlic Bread and Salad. This was our biggest event to date! We are thankful for the referrals and word of mouth. We wouldn’t be able to do what we do without all of you

Have a Happy and Safe Halloween!! From all of us at Pinocchio’s

736 Mono Way in Sonora - Come see us!

Our generator runs our fridges and freezer but isn’t enough to keep us open! When power is restored, we will be back in business!

Spaghetti and Meatballs We take so much pride in serving our Grandma Alyce’s Bolognese Sauce and Meatballs so many years after she developed her recipes. I was plating a dish today and thought, Check this out Grandma: 50 years later and people still LOVE your recipes! We sure miss her. Come see us soon @pinocchiossonora

2nd Generation Grandpa Joe began working for his dad, Tony, at the age of 12. He left to serve in the Navy in WWII and after returning, he was married to Grand...ma Alyce in 1948. Grandpa worked for Great Grandpa Tony increasingly more as he and Grandma started to have their children. He ended up leaving to work for a Glass Company in 1953 but the bad, lengthy commute ended up being not worthwhile to him. In 1959 Grandpa Joe and Grandma Alyce purchased a small deli in Lakewood California and named it Pinocchio’s Italian Deli. Here they sold imported canned goods, cheeses, meats and pastas. They also had Italian grocery items and fresh bread from Torino Bakery for sale and business was booming for them as they were the only deli in the area. When they began selling deli style sandwiches the actual deli become less necessary. They soon added tables and chairs for the customers to dine in and by 1962 they added a brick oven to make pizzas! It wasn’t long after that those deli sandwiches were thrown in the brick oven and the magic really began. Oven. Baked. Sandwiches. In 1969 Grandma and Grandpa opened a second location in Cerritos. Both the Lakewood and Cerritos store were sold when Grandma and Grandpa decided to relocate to Sonora in 1975. They began in Sonora with a small restaurant located in the Sonora Plaza (where Tias Tub-n-Toys is now). In 1981 they purchased a building and moved to the location that many people remember us by (across from the now Sonora Ford.) This building was spacious and very easy to accommodate a large group of people. They served pizza, sandwiches, beers on tap and had a nice salad bar. The party room had a big screen TV for watching the sports games and some video games for the kids. At this location Pinocchio’s became extremely well known for the pizza, but more than anything it became well known because of Grandma Alyce. Customers thought she was Italian but in fact she was full blooded Armenian. She was only 5’1 tall and so bubbly and friendly and loving that most people called her Mom. Since Grandpa Joe had gone to work at the prison for a time, Grandma found her special calling there at Pinocchio’s with all of her customers. In 1988 they opened a second location in Angels Camp and in 1990 one in Modesto. Both locations weren’t around for too long but were a way Grandma and Grandpa hoped to branch out our family business. Grandma passed away in 1991 from a heart attack and soon after the family sold the restaurant here in Sonora. We are both sad to say we wish we had more memories of Grandma Alyce as she passed when we were 6 and 7. What is incredible though is that her legacy lives on in the stories of all of her wonderful customers and friends. Thanks for following! Next week - 3rd Generation!

Choice of Pasta and Sauce, Salad and Garlic Bread Let us help your early week start nice and smooth Call 209-533-1996 or order online at pinocchiositalianrestaurant.com

* The RJ Special * This is a spin-off of the original sandwich, The Pinocchio Special. We take the same delicious meat trio of Cotto Salami, Dry Salami and Coppocola and top it with your choice of Meatball or Sausage! Don’t forget the peppers and onions and a side of meat sauce! A hidden gem here at Pinocchio’s and a definite MUST TRY!

The lights are on and the lonnnnng weekend is over! We will be open normal hours beginning tomorrow - come see us! 736 Mono Way in Sonora. Dine In or Take Out!!

#tuolumnecountystrong

Pinocchio’s Restaurant spans four generations in our family and the history is pretty incredible. We are going to share with you each generation of our family s...tarting back with the 1st, Great Grandpa Tony Pinocchio. Great Grandpa Tony immigrated to the US from Calabria, Italy around 1910 through Ellis Island. He was eight years old and was sent by his mother to live in San Bernardino with her brother. Living with his Uncle didn’t work out for Gr. Gpa. Tony so he went out on his own to find his way. He soon met Johnny and Charlie Lamendola who were Uncles to our soon to be Great Grandma Mary. One of the Uncles had mob ties and Tony ended up part of their bootlegging operation and was busted in 1921 for transport of illegal booze. While locked up, he started to write love letters to Mary. When he came home from serving time, they were married in 1924. Great Grandma Mary told Tony no more risky business - time to straighten up! He found legitimate jobs at a local bar and soon at The Airport Cafe. In 1937, he opened Pinocchio’s which was a dinner house serving mainly seafood and shellfish, with some American and Italian options on the menu. His two sons began working for him right away, one of those being our Grandpa Joe. When Disney released the movie Pinocchio in 1940, Great Grandpa Tony wasn’t appreciative of the jokes and sarcasm made to him about our last name so he changed the name of the restaurant to Tony’s Fisherman’s Wharf. Grandpa Joe and Great Uncle Jim had gone to serve in the Navy in WWII and it wasn’t until their return years later that Great Grandpa Tony changed the name back to what it was always meant to be, Pinocchio’s. That and a location change was all he needed to settle in and proceed in his business until he retired in the mid 1970’s. Stay tuned for next week’s history on the 2nd Generation of Pinocchio’s. Thanks for following!!

* Current Special - Turkey Bacon Pesto on Parmesan Crusted Sourdough! * A combination of some seriously incredible flavors!! Sliced Diestel Turkey, Crispy Bacon, House-made Pesto, Hot Pepper Cheese and Tomatoes oven baked on Parmesan Crusted Sourdough Bread! Available only while supplies last - see you soon!

Beginning Monday 8/31 we will be OPEN FOR DINE IN!! We will be following the capacity and spacing restrictions set by the state and continuing to provide a clean and sanitized environment. We are SO excited to have you back in our dining room! See you soon.

* Current Special - Bacon Club Pinwheels with Pesto Aioli! * Deli sliced Ham and Turkey, Strips of Bacon, Choice of Cheese, Lettuce and our house made Pesto Aioli in a Garlic Herb Wrap served with a side of Potato Salad! A light and delicious meal during these hot days! While supplies last - see you soon!!