Looks can be deceiving, especially when referring to the rustic Casa D'Italia Market and Café, whose veneer inspires memories of its deli/market days of years past.
But step inside and you'll venture into Italy.
The cozy interior has room for only eight tables, an open kitchen, displays of antipasto, dessert and dried goods - all of which contribute to its intimate appeal.
The back patio also seats guests in the summer.
Portraits of grandparents and parents on the west wall pay homage to owners Anthony and Angeli Donatone's Italian lineage.
"It reminds me a lot of the small cafés in Italy," customer John Hall remarked.
The corner café stands alone in the residential area of Ravenna, but it has become a widespread favorite for neighbors and, through word-of-mouth, a destination location for people who love Italian-American food.
Taking root in Ravenna
The simple exterior - touting two Italian flags and a concrete sign adorned by two tomatoes - is at 2615 N.E. 65th St. in Ravenna. It has experienced numerous changes, but most recently the storefront was a deli and market for close to 40 years. A photo in the corner displays the building's first owner: "Spanky" from the "Little Rascals."
Casa D'Italia recently celebrated its fifth anniversary. The restaurant opened a week before The Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks occurred. Numerous restaurants floundered around that time, yet Casa D'Italia became a hub for neighbors to unite and watch the news together.
"We had only been open a week, and to have that bond with the neighborhood...the neighborhood has definitely made us what we are," Angeli said.
Open 4 to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday and all day Saturday, Casa D'Italia welcomes families and adults and caters to all types of customers, even offering a vegan pasta.
They also cater events, create gift baskets and, in keeping with the market tradition, sell dried goods, Italian wine and beer.
Anthony, as the head chef, purchases fresh, seasonal ingredients two to three times a week. "It's always changing, which is good. We don't have the same menu, or the same prep - even the wine list changes. We choose things according to what's available in Seattle," he said.
He often incorporates wild game - such as elk, boar and venison - into dishes.
Menu items come from his Italian family (originally from Naples), with some traditional Italian recipes and some his own creation, based on the seasonal produce available.
Angeli makes all the desserts and pastries. "The ricotta cheesecake that I make, which is a house specialty dessert, is his grandma's recipe, which is about a 100-year-old cheesecake recipe," Angeli said.
A balancing act
Anthony, a transplant from New York, brings a lifetime of restaurant experience and family recipes to Casa D'Italia's menu. "My family, my dad, my grandmother - we always ate together," he said.
He traveled extensively, working with various restaurants before he met Angeli after his move to Seattle in the '90s. Previously a school teacher, Angeli is a fourth-genera-tion Seattleite whose Italian grandfather was one of the original vendors in Pike Place Market.
As new parents, Angeli now spends about three days at the restaurant. But despite help from six to eight part-timers, depending on the season, the couple can still work 16-hour days.
"It's a way of life for us; it's not just a job," Anthony commented.
The dedication pays off. John Hall, a customer since the beginning, stops by about twice a month.
"There are many other Italian restaurants in this area, and by far, I think it is the best one. The food and atmosphere to me is most like what you can find in Italy," he said.
A place for families
The Donatones have invested their heart and soul into Casa D'Italia.
They've kept a photo album of the rebuilding process: a complete renovation, tearing up the floor by hand and transforming the concrete slab out back into a garden oasis for guests to enjoy.
Fresh herbs grow abundantly to soon flavor rich dishes. Grapevines sweep up the protective white tent, which is enveloped by subtle, white lights.
Each piece of the building has a story behind it and attributes to its charm - whether it be the pieces of driftwood supporting the outside bar, the 1934 saltbox near the entryway for good luck or the framed photos of their young son Frankie placed above the hostess stand.
It's a place where guests are more than just customers. "I think Anthony and his family add a flair of familial ambiance to it, which is nice and refreshing to me. They're just good people," Hall said.
Abby Lund writes about places Off the Beaten Path on the third Wednesday of the month. She can be reached at needitor@nwlink.com.
[[In-content Ad]]
