If you drive along East Gay Street often, you may have noticed a new Italian restaurant has recently opened. Core De Roma Trattoria quietly opened their doors in October. Other than a sign out front, they haven’t advertised the opening because owner Luigi Pinti wanted to get everything just right.
Luigi, who is known as “Papa Gigi” by the staff and regulars, is originally from Rome. He came to the United States in 1977 and worked for years in Computer Science before opening his original Core de Roma at 2nd and South Streets in Philadelphia. Luigi stresses he doesn’t make “Italian-American” dishes, but focuses on authentic Roman cooking. The restaurant’s name, “Core de Roma,” literally means “the heart of Rome” in the family’s dialect. The South Street trattoria has developed quite a following. Luigi told me “a lot of people from West Chester were coming to Philadelphia and they were nice people.” They kept encouraging Luigi to open a restaurant out in the suburbs and he finally found a space that worked well.
Among the most popular dishes are Artichokes alla Core de Roma, Gnocchi alla Romana and Bucatini alla Matriciana. All the dishes are titled in Italian, though the descriptions are in English. Appetizers range from $6 to $12, while pasta and meat dishes range from $12 to $23. The West Chester restaurant has ninety seats and is a BYO. Luigi doesn’t want a liquor license at this location, he wants to focus on the food. They are making their own pasta fresh daily on the premises — “fresh gnocchi and fettuccine,” Luigi said. They are also making their bread daily.
When asked about opening his doors quietly in West Chester, Luigi replied, “We didn’t want to rush it, we wanted it to be good. We wanted to be sure of the service, and that the food is just right.” Now that he is happy with the service, “Papa Gigi” is ready to spread the news. The Core de Roma website will soon feature both locations. Core de Roma West Chester can also now be accessed through OpenTable for reservations. “In January, we’ll have lunch Thursday through Sunday,” Luigi added. “We will also add brunch in January, and in the Spring we will have tables outside.”
Core de Roma Trattoria is located at 327 E. Gay Street, West Chester, PA. They are reachable by phone at (610) 701-8485.
Interior photo credited to OpenTable.
