From dough balls to fine dining, Clayton welcomes Eñye Latin Table
CLAYTON, CA (Feb. 24, 2025) — Excitement filled the air on Jan. 18 as Kent Ipsen opened the doors to Eñye Latin Table and a wildly successful Friends and Family soft opening for 250 eager guests.
Just days earlier, the restaurant was a flurry of last-minute preparations, with chefs perfecting dishes and staff adding final touches to the sleek, modern space. The buzz surrounding the opening was undeniable, and the night exceeded all expectations – setting the stage for Clayton’s newest fine dining destination.
Already presiding over a thriving restaurant empire led by neighboring Skipolini’s Pizza, Ipsen set his sights on something new. Enter Eñye, an upscale Latin American restaurant in Clayton’s Rhine Building at Oak and Center streets.
The building, formerly known as Flora Square, had long struggled to obtain tenants, and the corner space that now houses Eñye had never been occupied. Ipsen saw an opportunity to breathe new life into the space.
From abuela’s kitchen
The inspiration for the name Eñye, a nod to the tilde over the Spanish “ñ,” was a moment with two of his staff members – Victor from Mexico and Tony from Guatemala.
Eñye aims to bring a communal, shareable dining experience to Clayton with a full bar, small plates, and entrees for lunch and dinner. The menu, influenced by traditional Latin American flavors, is an homage to “abuela’s kitchen.”
The restaurant features an urban yet warm aesthetic, with taupe, gray and black tones complemented by vibrant and colorful, tropical-style wallpaper.
With a staff of about 50, including six kitchen members led by executive chef Mike Fischetti, Eñye is Ipsen’s most ambitious project yet.
“When you’re doing it the right way, it takes a lot of hands,” he said.
Ipsen was mindful of the town’s existing restaurant landscape when planning Eñye. “I didn’t want a restaurant that would disrupt the other restaurants in Clayton – didn’t want to be cannibalizing the other businesses,” he emphasized.
Instead, Eñye fills a void in the market, offering a fine dining experience that showcases Latin American cuisine in a way that had been missing.
“The Latino culture in general is underserved from the perspective of nicer dining,” Ipsen said. “There’s a taqueria on every corner but no dining spot that showcases the flavors of their culture.”
From toys to pizza
Skipolini’s Pizza has been a staple in Clayton for 50 years. Ipsen’s parents, Skip and Beverly, founded it in 1974 on a mission to provide high-quality food in a family-friendly environment at an affordable price.
Skip was a toy salesman when he announced to his family that he was opening a pizza restaurant. Kent, then a fourth grader at Mt. Diablo Elementary, was puzzled. “We don’t even make pizza at home, Dad – I don’t understand the concept.”
Despite early skepticism, Skip opened Skipolini’s Pizza Garden, serving pizza and three sandwiches. Kent and his brother grew up making dough rolls in their pool house on Kenston Drive, an early glimpse into the family’s hands-on approach to the business.
When Clayton was just a burg of about 800 people, the restaurant inspired a bumper sticker that became famous all over the Bay Area: “Where the hell is Skipolini’s?”
An eye for expansion
By 1994, Ipsen took over the family restaurant, expanding it beyond Clayton’s downtown to 11 locations – including eight pizza/Italian restaurants and fine dining establishments in Carmel, Clayton and an upcoming location in Sausalito.
His father was content with a single restaurant, but Kent had a bigger vision. “He could never wrap his head around the idea of more than one restaurant,” Kent recalled.
His journey is a testament to entrepreneurial spirit and deep community roots. In recognition of this milestone, the city honored him with a proclamation on Dec. 17 celebrating Skipolini’s 50 years in business.
During the City Council meeting, Ipsen described the family’s first pizza. “It was loaded with fresh vegetables and six types of meat. The creation weighed over four pounds and could have cured the hunger of several small countries.”
Giving back to the community
Philanthropy has always been at the heart of the Ipsen family business. In 2014, the family spearheaded the creation of the Ipsen Family Bocce Park in collaboration with the Clayton Business & Community Association (CBCA). The Ipsens provided the land on the corner of Oak and Center streets and an initial $125,000, while CBCA contributed another $175,000 to build the facility.
Skipolini’s has also been a long-time supporter of local youth sports, reinforcing its role as more than just a restaurant but a community cornerstone. Ipsen credits much of his business philosophy to his mentor, Ed Moresi, the former Skipolini’s manager who later opened Ed’s Mudville Grill and Moresi’s Chop House.
“All of the love and grace you guys experience in Clayton was because of him,” Kent told the City Council, his voice thick with emotion. He became visibly moved when reflecting on how much he had learned from Moresi’s leadership and the impact it had on his career.
Ipsen saw the Rhine Building’s potential where others saw an underutilized space. Upstairs, he has replaced office space with six luxury loft apartments, a reflection of an evolving society.
“We had to rethink what the community really wants,” Ipsen explained. “It didn’t need offices anymore.”
Daring to dream
Looking out over his newest venture, Ipsen considered the full-circle moment. “It’s an interesting dynamic – 50 years ago, my mom and dad started their little pizza restaurant. Now, 50 years later, this property touches the original property. Our oldest one in the city is sitting on that corner, and the newest one is sitting on this corner.”
As the interview wrapped up and the day drew to a close, Ipsen said he likes to take this time for reflection and a glass of wine as he ponders his latest dream coming to life.
“Dancing inside my dream,” he said with a smile, as Eñye prepared for its grand opening.
From dough balls in a pool house to fine dining in Clayton, Ipsen is creating a story of evolution, resilience and a deep love for the community that shaped him.
Eñye Latin Table is open everyday 4-9:30 p.m. For reservations, call 925.672.5555. Walk-ins welcome.