Muscio’s Opens Its Welcoming Doors

Last Friday, Michael and Mickiy Domer quietly opened the doors to the new restaurant now occupying the space of the former at 1200 Grant Avenue.  

The new Italian restaurant Muscio’s is named for Michael’s grandfather, who with his family settled in West Marin in the late 1800’s.  True to Italian tradition, the Muscios grew and harvested their favorite foods by hand, and celebrated their bounty at the family table. Domer’s grandfather ran bars and restaurants his entire life. 

At one time, the Muscios owned The Western Saloon in Point Reyes.  Domer’s aunt ran a dairy farm in the area with her husband, and her son still operates it today. Mickiy and Michael now live in Novato and have an 8-year-old daughter in third grade.

Michael Dormer says he undoubtedly “inherited the hospitality gene” as he now has 30 years of restaurant experience himself.  He started doing dishes at 15 and managed his first restaurant at 19.  He later went to Cornell and graduated from their Hotel School. 

"From there I went to Asia for 15 years to run restaurants, before moving back to Marin to be closer to my family,” he said. "Now I'm back at home doing what my family did for generations."

The “soft opening” has been hugely successful thus far.  Muscio’s is currently open for dinner at 5 p.m. and will be adding a lunch menu in the not-so-distant future.  The dinner menu offers a variety of appetizers, salads, pastas, pizzas and main courses.  The lunch menu will feature sandwiches, salads, pastas and burgers. There are plenty of options for the little ones with a kid’s menu priced at $4.95.  Kids can even ask for some “free broccoli” to ensure they’re getting their veggies for the day. 

Muscio’s official grand opening will coincide with the event for the downtown project on Monday, March 19.  The Domers will be donating 50% of the restaurant’s proceeds to benefit the project.