Having won Best Restaurant of 2008 and 2009 from Inland Empire Magazine, the Pinnacle Restaurantin Temecula wine country does not stand pat. Co-owners Ray and Loretta Falkner added a new Executive Chef, Gianni Ciciliot, for their award winning and popular restaurant. In Temecula, the Pinnacle Restaurant provides great panoramic views, outstanding American/Mediterranean style food, an international wine list, and high quality service for lunches 7 days a week. Set on a 1,500 foot hilltop, the Pinnacle offers customers a choice of seating between the air conditioned indoors or on the open-air outdoor balcony. The restaurant also serves as an evening wedding and banquet venue.

Chef Gianni started on March 1st and has a great cooking and leadership background at establishments such as Tommy Bahama’s in Newport Beach, Ritz-Carlton in Laguna Niguel, Yardhouse Restaurant in Irvine, Tutto Mare in La Jolla, and Amici’s and Lugano’s in Costa Mesa. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in St. Helena, Chef Gianni specializes in Mediterranean Cuisine, particularly Italian cuisine. According to co-owner Ray Falkner, -We are excited to have Gianni join us as we strive to become the best eating establishment in the Temecula area-. Chef Gianni also handles all the catering aspects of the Falkner Winery wedding and banquet business. In April he introduced his new summer menu that shows off his unique cooking skills. The menu includes items such as his Seafood Portofino (Pasta with jumbo shrimp, lobster, bay scallops, fresh garlic, basil, sundried-tomatoes, artichoke hearts and lemon in a white wine pomodoro sauce), and Soy Glazed Flat Iron Steak (8 oz. flat iron steak grilled and glazed in a sweet & spicy soy glaze served over seasonal sauted vegetables). Chef Gianni will offer a special New Release Sunset Wine Dinner outside in the winery lawn garden area on August 29th featuring 5 courses all with 2 wines paired apiece. For lunch or wine dinner reservations, contact the restaurant at 951-676-8231 x1.