After growing up in the restaurant industry, Tom and Anthony Roberto are branching out on their own. The fine dining restaurant was famous in Niagara for 48 years before closing Oct. 31. Now the brothers are switching gears and opened their own casual-style restaurant, Strada West, located at 7805 Lundy's Lane inside the Mulberry Centre plaza.
“We wanted a more local-type restaurant,” said Anthony, 42. “There are enough restaurants in the tourist district to go around. That industry isn’t steady, there are a lot of ups and downs.”
Strada West opened Wednesday after nearly a year of planning. In keeping with the family’s tradition at Casa D’Oro, food is prepared in house.
“We make our own pasta, sauce, hamburger patties, meatballs,” said Tom. The menu features speciality burgers and sandwiches using bison meat, lamb, lobster and veal. Pasta dishes include fettuccine, gnocchi and ravioli. Strada West also features a variety of w**es, cocktails and domestic and imported beers. Prices range from $8 appetizers to $18 linguini pescatore. The 3,600-square foot restaurant features a lounge bar, 40-seat patio and has a “modern, yet chic” feel to it, Tom said. The dining area seats 75 people and the bar can fit up to 32 people.
“We tweaked every little detail,” said Tom, 40, mentioning they styled the place to resemble lounges and restaurants typically seen in Toronto. The Robertos are going from being a part of management at a family-owned operation to leasing the property. Tom said leasing is better suited for those wanting to start out in the industry.
“You don’t have to put the huge cash up front to buy the property, which keeps costs down. You don’t have to look after landscaping, the roof or an aging building,” he said. Frank Grottola, who owns the Mulberry Centre, said the plaza is now full less than five months after the first business — Grottola’s Salon and Spa — opened its doors.
“This is where the growth in the city is,” said Tom. “It’s a great location so it was a natural fit for us.”
The brothers said plans are in the works for a grand opening ceremony sometime in May. Wednesday April 17, 2013 MIKE DIBATTISTA Niagara Falls Review
