Tastemakers: Casa Paolo Ristorante Italiano celebrates 25 years of cooking from the heart

Casa Paolo Ristorante Italiano is more than just a restaurant; it’s a tradition. It’s the best combination for a memorable meal out: warm, old-world atmosphere, authentic mouth-watering Italian comfort food, and great service that makes you feel like part of the family.

That’s exactly what Paolo, Caterina and Frank Spagnolo are hoping for when welcoming guests to experience Casa Paolo Ristorante Italiano in Cornwall. Their passion for offering the best in homemade Italian cuisine has shone through every dish since opening 25 years ago. It has made Casa Paolo a local favourite with a stellar reputation for excellent food.

Frank Spagnolo said that was the goal when opening Casa Paolo. “We wanted to bring old school flair to a modern table,” Frank said, noting that chef and owner, Paolo, was eager to share his cooking experience and vision. “Born in Italy, he knew the importance of cooking from the heart and having it implemented into each and every dish.”

Guests can feel that as soon as they walk in the door, greeted warmly by Caterina. “We want them to feel like they’re entering a part of Italy,” Frank said. The restaurant decor has been chosen with the intention of increasing comfort, with warm and rustic colours, grapevines, and lights hanging from the ceiling to give the impression of eating under the stars. In the summer, a beautiful terrace can be enjoyed outside.

The menu only elevates the experience, featuring homemade Italian cuisine, succulent steaks, veal, chicken and seafood. When it comes to crafting the menu, catering to customers’ palettes is top of mind. “We always thought of it as our big Sunday Italian dinners at home, and ensuring we had various dishes for everyone to enjoy, no matter how big the group would be."

Mission accomplished on that front.  Everything on the menu is made in-house with fresh, high-quality ingredients, giving the food a natural edge. Frank noted that traditional Italian cooking means making everything from scratch with only the freshest, top-quality products, such as San Marzano tomatoes, AAA beef, milk-fed veal, and grain-fed chicken. 

“It does take extra time to prepare certain dishes, but the flavours and end product speak for themselves,” he said. 

In addition, all of their sauces and dressings are also made on site, the steaks are cut in-house, the veal is portioned in-house, and most of their pastas are made in the kitchen too. 

Although everything on the menu is delicious, there are a few stand-outs. The demi-glace is a signature sauce at Casa Paolo Ristorante Italiano. “The preparation and completion is a two-day process… it’s labour-intensive, but we believe any authentic taste can’t come from a bag.”

The Spagnolos put that same care and attention into every dish on the menu - it’s extensive, and the portions are generous. A customer favourite item on the menu is the veal. “It’s an item that isn’t found too often on menus anymore,” Frank said, “but we wanted to make sure we still offer that to our patrons.”

It’s that passion and constant dedication to providing the best for their customers that keeps loyal patrons returning - and welcomes new friends with open arms to Casa Paolo.

“We strive for everyone to have a relaxed and fulfilling experience that makes them want to return and discover their next favourite dish,” Frank said. “We take pride in ensuring everyone leaves with a smile and has that sense of being part of our extended family.”

Learn more about Casa Paolo Ristorante Italiano or peek at the menus at casapaolo.ca or follow along on Facebook @casapaoloristoranteitaliano. 

Better yet, visit in person to experience a meal at 1600 Vincent Massey Drive, Cornwall, or make a reservation at 613-938-3706.