How this family-run Italian restaurant found a home in North Texas

Francesco and Jane Secchi met on a cruise ship in 1974. They’ve been sailing through life happily together ever since.

The owners of Ferrari’s Italian Villa and Chop House in Grapevine have been inseparable since that fateful moment. He was a 28-year-old Italian maitre d’ of the ship’s fine dining restaurant and she was a 22-year-old award-winning hairdresser from Great Britain.

Neither had marriage on their radar. Their dream was to see the world. Instead, they ended up being each other’s world.

Jane, whose last name was Sexton then, recalled the awkward moment she and Francesco literally bumped into each other. Her bag spilled onto the floor.

“You know what all you carry in a traveling bag. It was a bit embarrassing,” she said.

Her eyes get misty even now when she recalls the captain later telling Francesco “You’re going to marry that girl.”

“To be honest, I said no way,” Francesco recalled. “My future was ahead of me. But when it is the right person, there is nothing you can do.”

They were married exactly a year later: Oct. 18, 1975.

Because the company had a rule that employees could not date, much less be married, Jane had to return to England in the early stages of their marriage. However, at the risk of losing Francesco, the company relented and she was brought back onboard — albeit living in separate quarters.

But, as Jane noted, the ship had a “generous captain.”

“I’d sneak up and try to push this door open (to Francesco’s living area) and he’d see me and come push it open, saying with a smile, ‘Get in there!’” she remembered.

She said she later learned the captain told his wife, “Those two people are going to be special.”

Stop in Dallas leads to restaurant opening

In 1981, Francesco and Jane vacationed in the U.S. They stopped in Dallas for a couple of days to see some old friends and instantly found a liking for the area — so much so they decided to leave the ship and open their first restaurant together in an old bank building in the West End.

“Everyone was so friendly,” Francesco said. “We looked around for a couple of days and found a great place.”

Francesco, inspired by his mother’s cooking for him and seven siblings, studied at the Sardinia Istituto Statale Alberghiero di Stato Alghero in his hometown of Sardinia, Italy. Jane’s mother and father were in the pub/nightclub business, and her grandfather was a chef on the legendary Queen Mary cruise ship.

They have owned numerous restaurants in the Dallas area, though now they just have the Grapevine location. Their list of clientele has included actor Robert Goulet and his wife Vera, Jerry Lewis, Tony Bennett and Geraldo Rivera, along with local celebrities such as Dak Prescott, Dale Hanson, Troy Aikman, Jimmy Johnson and many more.

“We drank out of the Stanley Cup. You should have seen his face!” Jane exclaimed of a visit from Mike Modano after the Dallas Stars won the NHL championship in 1999.

Francesco recalled a visit from Elizabeth Taylor’s boyfriend who was quite enamored.

“He called from a party Elizabeth Taylor was catering,” Francesco said.

He wanted Francesco to coach the party chef through making dishes for that night. The always friendly Francesco obliged.

“It’s Saturday night. We’re packed and he’s on the freaking phone with this guy in LA,” Jane said. “But that’s Francesco.”

“The West End was fabulous. Two-hour waits most of the time,” Jane said.

Then came a night of terror in 1990. They were leaving the restaurant around 2:30 a.m. and found themselves in the middle of a gang shootout.

“One gang jumped in front of us and one behind us,” Jane recalled. “They weren’t shooting at us, but we were in the way.

“Francesco and I were in the car holding each other’s hands. Police thought we were dead in the car.”

Feeling lucky to be alive, they immediately sold the restaurant and left.

Restaurant finds a home in Grapevine

The Secchis found success with their handful of restaurants, but in 2007 they made a decision to capitalize on the location of Grapevine. Their accomplishments had caught the attention of city leaders.

“They needed more family owned restaurants to offer out-of-state guests,” Jane said.

“There are so many hotels nearby, along with the airport, and it’s such a great city to visit,” Francesco added.

He noted that in 1987 they were approached about opening a location in Sundance Square in Fort Worth, but the timing just wasn’t right.

“We were opening in Plano at the time and it just didn’t all come together,” he said. “But we are so glad to be here now and it’s been great.”

A visit to Ferrari’s often begins with being greeted at the door by the Secchis. Once inside, there are photos of their family history, a welcoming touch whether it’s a first visit or 50th.

This includes their three sons, all of whom helped the business grow and thrive.

Stefano, the oldest, was formerly Ferrari’s featured chef before moving to New York and opening nationally acclaimed Rezdora and Massara. He is preparing to open two more restaurants in Miami. He is a 2001 graduate of New York’s Culinary Institute of America.

Second son Gavin owns the popular 3 Nations Brewery, which is attached to Ferrari’s. His beverages are also served in his parents’ restaurant.

Youngest son Gianni is a caricature artist whose work can be seen in 3 Barrels, among many places. He has also produced and launched a gaming video named “Open Season.” He’s worked with Stefano in New York and some friends in a Chicago eatery.

“We educated them at all the best schools and colleges to guide them away from hospitality,” Jane said with a laugh.

The Secchis say they have no plans to open another restaurant, though their love for what they do is as strong as ever. However, Jane said the time is coming to simply continue adding to their vault of memories.

“It would take a miniseries to tell all,” Jane said. “There is nothing that I have seen in a movie or on television that comes even close.”

This story was originally published June 24, 2025 at 9:40 AM.