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NORTHFIELD VILLAGE, Ohio – For Chef Frankie Porcelli, the road back to Northfield Village wasn’t paved with simple recipes, but with decades of grit, global adventure, and a deep-seated commitment to the community where he raised his family. At Ground Xero, Porcelli isn’t just running a kitchen; he’s curating a “foundry social”—a sprawling, multi-room destination where history, resilience, and world-class flavors meet.
Porcelli’s journey is a full-circle moment decades in the making, shaped by leadership, corporate precision, fine dining discipline, and a lifelong belief that food should bring people together—especially families.
A Leader Before He Was a Chef
Porcelli’s path didn’t begin in a white jacket. It started at just 13 years old, when his mother insisted on Catholic school for structure—and told him he would have to work to pay tuition.
By the time he was 17, he was already a full-time shift manager, closing stores, managing teams, and eventually attending Hamburger University in Chicago—an experience that shaped his lifelong respect for systems, consistency, and leadership. “That was my foundation,” Porcelli said. “I learned how businesses actually work—not just food, but people.”
Corporate Scale, Big Lessons
Those lessons carried him into large-scale operations most chefs never experience. Porcelli became part of the original expansion team for Rally’s in Ohio, opening 22 locations in two years, training staff, and hopscotching stores all the way to Pittsburgh. At its peak, the concept sold an astonishing 33,000 burgers per week per location.
Later, he helped open Spaghetti Warehouse locations in Akron and Cleveland in the early 1990s, training in Fort Worth, Texas, under a corporate culture guided by none other than Stephen Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. For months, Covey taught in person—lessons Porcelli credits with shaping not just his management style, but how he approaches life. “I didn’t realize it then,” he said. “But that training saved me later.”
Becoming a Chef—the Hard Way
Despite corporate success, Porcelli felt something was missing. He understood numbers, scale, and profit—but he wanted mastery of the craft itself. He stepped back into kitchens, training under chefs at Marriott properties and ultimately alongside family in Little Italy, where culinary tradition wasn’t theory—it was heritage.
His family story spans continents. Porcelli’s parents were born in Asmara, once the capital of Italian-occupied Ethiopia, where his grandparents ran an open-air market café by the sea. During civil unrest, the family fled to Italy, then America—carrying with them a singular pasta recipe so important his father refused to board a ship until Porcelli’s mother perfected it.
“He missed two boats,” Porcelli said. That pasta—handmade, rolled by hand, passed down only to Porcelli and his sister—has appeared on every menu he’s ever created. It is a centerpiece at Ground Xero.
Loss, Purpose, and Perspective
Porcelli’s life has been shaped by profound loss. He openly shares that he buried a daughter—an experience that reshaped his priorities and, eventually, his purpose. For ten years, life went sideways. Then he rebuilt.
That rebuilding included becoming a Registered Nurse, specializing in child and adolescent behavioral health—a background that now directly influences how he designs programming, menus, and entertainment for families. “It’s all connected,” he said. “Food, confidence, kids, families—it matters.”
Why Ground Xero, Why Now
When Porcelli was approached in 2024 about Ground Xero, the concept was in trouble. But he immediately saw what others missed. “This isn’t just a restaurant,” he said. “It’s a foundry social—a chef-driven, multifaceted entertainment space for families, kids, and the community.”
Now co-owner and partner, Porcelli has fully rebranded the operation, redesigned the menu, and introduced theme-driven programming seven days a week, blending scratch cooking with live entertainment. His pizza alone tells the story: instead of traditional red sauce, Porcelli uses a vodka sauce base, one of several proprietary sauces designed to separate Ground Xero from the pack.
A Week of Experiences
Ground Xero is designed as a sprawling, multi-room destination where every night offers a different vibe:
- Monday: Little Italy Chef Night with homemade meatballs and cannolis.
- Tuesday: Taco Tuesday featuring “the best Mexican menu in the area” and frozen margaritas.
- Wednesday: Country Southern & Western Wing Night (Buy 6, Get 6 Free).
- Thursday: Game Night with Boozy Bingo.
- Friday: Frivolous Friday featuring live comedians, magicians, or bands.
- Saturday Morning: Sunny Smiles Kids Entertainment Breakfast (10 a.m. – 1 p.m.) with Kid Karaoke and “Giggle Milk.”
- Saturday Night: The Nightlife Band Experience.
- Sunday: Ladies Night with $10 “Girl Food” worldly wraps and karaoke.
Valentine’s Day: A Romantic Transformation
Looking ahead, Porcelli is preparing to transform the multi-room venue for a special Valentine’s Day event. True to his “foundry social” vision, the evening will blend a high-end culinary experience with the perfect romantic atmosphere. Couples can expect a curated menu featuring Porcelli’s signature Italian influences, intimate lighting, and live entertainment designed to make the night unforgettable. Reservations are highly recommended as the community rediscovers this Northfield Village gem.
A Homecoming With Intention
Porcelli previously opened La Tavola Bona in Northfield Center in 2001. Twenty-six years later, his return feels intentional—grounded not in nostalgia, but in purpose.
“I don’t do anything halfway,” he said. “If I’m going to do it, I want to see how good I can make it.”
At Ground Xero, that answer is unfolding daily across a sprawling destination—through handmade pasta, vodka-sauced pizza, children singing karaoke, and a chef who has finally brought every chapter of his life together under one roof.
For more information or to book private daytime dining, visit www.groundxerogastro.com.
