Customers will feel like like they have stumbled into an authentic Italian cafe, when they enter i-Pasta at 134 E Gay St.. Patrons can catch up on their Italian with the Italian literature that line the windows. The tin-decorated ceiling, rustic red brick walls, and granite tabletops create an old world cafe ambiance. The owners commissioned an Italian artist who lives in West Chester to paint the creations that add Italian character to the dining room. Each piece features people holding plates of pasta in festive Carnevale costumes from different regions throughout Italy.
Owners, Pietro and Antonella Belfiore, hail from Northern Italy and arrived in the USA in 2001. After attending West Chester University, Antonella fell in love with the borough, and both her and her husband felt that the Borough reminded them of the quaint small towns in Europe. Currently, the stores’ employees are just the husband and wife duo, Pietro manages the business end and Antonella is the master chef. She creates the reasonably-priced menuand has over 25 years of cooking experience. She didn’t want to be confined with a static menu and is always creating new masterpieces. The kitchen is filled with pasta makers and only one freezer, to guarantee the freshest experience as possible. “Everything is fresh, that’s our philosophy here,” said Antonella.
The recipes are made with the traditional styles of Italy and are prepared with the quickness required in the US. Customers can choose their own pasta from the nine available and pick one their 12 sauces made from scratch. The sauces are constantly changing but they keep a balance of the types of sauces- Tomato (a southern Italy style), Heavy Cream (Northern Italy), and Veggie. Some of their unique sauces include a walnut cream sauce, Gorgonzola Radicchio (Gorgonzola, onion, and sauteed radicchio), and Salento (fried shrimp, feta cheese, and tomato sauce). New sauces are created each day and take hours to simmer to perfection.
Salads, soups, and desserts are available but when it comes down to it-it’s all about the pasta (hence the easy to remember name). “I think that pasta has always been a complimentary dish. Pasta as far as by itself deserves a lot more, especially from the nutrition point and taste point of view,” said Pietro. They are looking to add crepes and raviolis to the menu in the future.
They also have special orders like Lasagna or Cannelloni that require 48 hours notice and a minimum of two people. These dishes involve more preparation than the other dishes on the menu (which is tough on a two person staff) and this way customers won’t receive a piece of lasagna which has been sitting out or was frozen. They offer unique lunch combos to go and a 10% with a WCU id. At night, customers may bring their own bottles of wine to sip while savoring their pasta.
“If I could use one word to sum up my experience there, it would be homey- the ambiance was cozy and comfortable, the service was welcoming and friendly but not at all overbearing. The food was pure Italian comfort- the same hearty portions and fresh flavors you’d expect from someone’s Nonna. We were the last table in the restaurant, but the staff was never anything but gracious, ” said Gabriella Benner
The hours are 11 am-8 pm from Monday-Saturday and they are closed on Sundays. Learn more about them by visiting www.I-pasta.net or calling 484-887-0760. After one bite of their tender pasta with it’s tantalizing sauce, you will immediately decide it’s amore!
Photo Credit: www.une-vie-saine.com
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