Seeing the potential of the nearly abandoned area known as Cannery Row, they chose to open their restaurant in a building where sardine workers were once fed.

"We had no money and we built a restaurant on the wrong side of the tracks. We broke every rule. We were under-financed, it was an ugly building, stairs had to be climbed and there was no marketing program or theme. We had nothing and we created it all when we built The Sardine Factory," said Balestreri.

The Sardine Factory Restaurant opened October 2, 1968 starting with only 72 seats and an annual gross revenue of $380,000. Featuring one of the premiere wine programs in the nation, which has been innovative in its use of California wines, the restaurant has grown to triple its seating capacity to 250. The Sardine Factory is today one of the most successful, widely recognized, and highest grossing dining establishments in the country.

Having set the standard for excellence throughout the years, The Sardine Factory has been the recipient of virtually every major restaurant and wine award in the industry, including, the prestigious Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRoNA) Award (1993-present); selected as a member of Epicurean International; American Automobile Association's (AAA) Four Diamond Award; Wine Spectator's Grand Award since 1982; four-star designation in Al Alessandri's 1997 Guide; Restaurant Hospitality's Top of the Table Award (first place, 1983); Nation's Restaurant News Hall of Fame Award (1981); Restaurants & Institutions Ivy Award (1980), and the list continues. The Sardine Factory was also honored as one of 50 restaurants in the United States to serve at President Reagan's inaugurations in 1981 and 1985.

The Sardine Factory's success has been the wellspring for many other ventures. At a time when many considered their decision to locate The Sardine Factory amid the ruins of Steinbeck's Cannery Row a folly, Balestreri and Cutino saw opportunity. In fact, The Sardine Factory signaled the beginning of a rebirth for the area with Balestreri, Cutino, and their partners becoming the driving forces behind the revitalization of Cannery Row. Today, they own over 70% of Cannery Row, an area which now caters to the Monterey Peninsula's thriving tourism industry with approximately 30 restaurants and over 100 retail specialty shops, hotels, and visitor attractions. The real estate division owns and operates a number of commercial buildings in the Monterey area, including shopping centers, office buildings, retail stores and food and beverage outlets.

Balestreri and Cutino are also committed to giving back to the community and industry that have contributed to their success. With a strong belief that young people are society's most precious resource, they established the Balestreri and Cutino Scholarship Fund in 1986. “I think supporting youth is key to our future,” says Cutino. Administered through the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, the fund awards scholarships to deserving hospitality students who aspire to a career in the Food Service Industry. Balestreri has become particularly active in supporting the fund through his work on the Monterey Wine Festival Auction Board. Cutino has additionally spent many years working with Horizons 2000, the educational outreach foundation of the American Culinary Federation.

The SARDINE FACTORY history & recipe book for $27.95