WestChesterBuzz.com

Polly Campbell reports:

Persian cooking, though it has some things in common with the Arabic cooking of the rest of the Middle East, is a distinctive cuisine to itself. Lots of herbs, sweet-sour flavors, saffron, different ways of cooking rice, roasted meat and fish are all part of Persian, or Iranian cuisine.

Persian Nights is a new restaurant on Cincinnati-Dayton Road that serves this complex and delicious cuisine. It’s owned by the Mostofi family, with Mehrdad Mostofi in the kitchen as chef. He previously owned the Caspian in Symmes Township. Son-in-law Tony Abbas is the general manager. He said this restaurant has more in the way of atmosphere and polished service than the Caspian did.

On the menu: must-o-khiar, a homemade yogurt with cucumber and mint, kookoo sabzi, an egg and herb dish, barley soup, shirazi salad, koobideh: kabobs of seasoned ground beef, chicken or lamb, and nightly specials often a polo dish, much like a pilaf. There are also lunch specials for $5-7.

Persian Nights is located at 7967 Cincinnati-Dayton Road and can be reached at 513-777-4111. It is open from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Posted in: Business, News |

Tags: Tags: cincinnati restaurant opening, Cincinnati restaurants, restaurant, restaurant opening, West Chester business, West Chester business news, West Chester restaurants

Rachel Richardson reports:

Marion’s Piazza manager John Davis knew the restaurant would be a hit when he opened the doors for lunch and was greeted by a party of 30 hungry guests.

The Dayton-based chain celebrated the grand opening of its newest restaurant — its ninth overall — Tuesday at the corner of Tylersville and Snider roads in Mason.

The Mason opening marks the company’s first Greater Cincinnati location.

“We were real busy,” said Davis of the lunch crowd. “Everybody said, ‘We can’t wait until you get here.’”

• Photos: Marion’s Piazza opens in Mason

The 11,000-square-foot Mason location employs about 50 people and seats 520, including 70 in an outdoor patio and 100 in a private banquet room. Carry out service is also offered.

Marion’s is one of the first developments to break ground on the 9-acre site owned by Everybody’s Farm Inc. A dermatologist office is slated for another lot, according to Jeff Eichhom of Henkle, Schueler & Associates, whose sister company, Bunnell Hill Development Co. Inc., is the project’s developer.

The chain’s success lies in its pizza, known as Dayton-style pizza, said Roger Glass, company president. The crust is thin and pies are cut in bite-size squares instead of slices, he said.

Eighty-five percent of the company’s sales are pizza; other fare includes salads, sandwiches, lasagna and spaghetti.

“We must be doing something right. We keep setting records for business every year,” said Glass. “If you come to Marion’s, you’ve got to be hungry for pizza.”

Mason proved an attractive area for expansion because it is a populous area with a solid base of industry and other development, said Glass. Mason is also close to the company’s Dayton-based commissary, which ships out fresh dough daily.

Linda Bonnell of Loveland got hooked on Marion’s in the 1990s after her child’s basketball team played in the area. She was at the restaurant on opening day for dinner.

“We couldn’t wait until this one opened,” she said. “The pizza is wonderful, absolutely the best.

Restaurant hours are 10:30 a.m. -11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 10:30 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.

The restaurant is at 6176 Soundwave Blvd. and can be reached at 513-398-9998.

Posted in: Business, News |

Tags: Tags: business, Dayton, everybody's farm, expansion, marion's piazza, Mason, opening, pizza, restaurant, roger glass

Pitrelli's Italian Ristorante serves Veal and Prosciutto Tortellini and Antipasta in their restaurant in old Mason. The Enquirer/Jeff Swinger

Pitrelli’s Italian Ristorante, owned by Jim and Linda Pitrelli of West Chester, was voted to be the most romantic Valentine’s Day date spot in Mason by readers of MasonBuzz.com.

The locally-owned family eatery topped the charts with 43 percent of the 575 votes cast.

• Photos: Pitrelli’s Italian Ristorante voted top V-Day date spot in Mason
• Read: Metromix reviews Pitrelli’s Italian Ristorante
  

Jim and Linda Pitrelli launched Pitrelli’s out of their West Chester home.  The husband and wife team were teachers at St. Susanna’s in Mason when the longtime food lovers and part-time caterers got their first big order for their line of Italian sauces from retailer Jungle Jim’s.

It wasn’t long before rave reviews of their sauces and catering led to the opening in 2004 of Pitrelli’s Italian Cafe.  In late 2010, the couple relocated and expanded the now renamed Pitrelli’s Italian Ristorante to 404 2nd Ave. in downtown Mason.

Nicknamed by patrons as the “Italian Cheers” of Mason, the restaurant has become known as a warm and inviting mom-and-pop operation providing authentic Italian cuisine amongst a sea of chain restaurants.

“Forget the big chain restaurants where you are just a piece of plastic,” wrote Lynn Daum in her nomination of Pitrelli’s.  “If you want someplace romantic, try Pitrelli’s.  Comfortable, friendly, great service, and authentic Italian food – not some goo smothered in tomato paste.”

Linda Teater Trammel says she enjoys the restaurant’s ambiance, good food and reasonable prices.

“It has great food, is a romantic setting with great ambiance and being housed in an old post office, it definitely has lots of memories. There is no other place in Mason that has what it has,” she wrote.

“Wonderful violin player strolls among the tables, fabulous food, cozy atmosphere, the food is top shelf. Dessert? The restaurant is is connected to a bakery! Pitrelli’s – absolutely fabulous!” echoed Angelina Mueth.

The Pitrelli’s say they work hard to create a welcoming atmosphere where patrons feel like family. The 5,000 square-foot space is broken up into four dining areas to offer diners a cozy, intimate atmosphere.

A serving of cannoli at Pitrelli's in Mason. File photo

“When you walk in, it’s like you’re walking into our house,” said Jim. “In the front hallway when you come in, there’s pictures of our family: Linda and I at prom, our wedding photos and family pictures. That’s part of the charm of the restaurant.”

It’s the restaurant’s homespun blend of ambiance, family atmosphere and its Italian comfort food menu that turns diners into regulars, said Jim.

The restaurant is famous for its signature eggplant Parmesan (believed by many a hopeful pregnant woman to induce labor) and lasagna. Pizza is also a popular menu offering, said Jim.

“The pizza is phenomenal,” he said. “We make a really good pizza.”

The restaurant also boasts a full-service bakery, offering cannolis, tiramisu, crème brûlée cheesecake and other sweet treats.

But diners hoping for a Valentine’s Day dinner will be disappointed to know the restaurant is completely booked tonight.

“I couldn’t get Obama in tonight. We’re booked solid,” said Jim with a laugh.

The restaurant is accepting reservations for later this week and weekend. To make a reservation, call 513-770-0122.

Posted in: Business, News |

Tags: Tags: business, date spot, food, italian, jim pitrelli, linda pitrelli, masonbuzz, most romantic, pitrellie's italian ristorante, restaurant, Valentine's Day, West Chester

The Trinity Pub is a relatively new restaurant in West Chester Township. The pub was first announced in September of 2007, but didn’t open until March 25, 2011. It is located at 8953 Princeton-Glendale Road.

According to Polly Campbell of Cincinnati.com, there are 20 beers on tap, and food from casual pub grub to upscale entrees. The entrees include Guinness-batter-dipped fish and chips, specialty burgers, corned beef and cabbage. Steaks come from an open wood grill, and the flatbreads from a wood-burning brick oven.

>>> PHOTOS OF THE TRINITY PUB IN WEST CHESTER<<<

Trinity Pub is open from 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Monday-Saturday and noon-2 a.m. Sunday. The kitchen is open until 10 p.m. during the week, until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

For more information, call 513-860-2023.

Posted in: Business, News |

Tags: Tags: American pub, beer, food, Irish Pub, photo gallery, photos, restaurant, restaurant opening, Trinity Pub

Get your Irish on this St. Patrick’s Day in West Chester.

Cavanaugh’s Irish Pub at 7340 Kingsgate Way will celebrate the luck o’ the Irish with a kegs and eggs breakfast from 6 – 11 a.m. and all-day drink specials of $5 Irish car bombs, $4 Guinness pints and $3 green beers, in addition to traditional Irish food offerings.

Live entertainment will be provided by DJ Johnny at 10 p.m. with no cover charge.  The restaurant will also give out 40 special St. Patrick’s Day t-shirts.  For more information, call 513-779-7241 or go to www.cavanaughspub.com

For those who prefer a quieter celebration, the Dingle House at 9102 West Chester Towne Center Drive will offer food and drink specials today, with evening performances by the McGing Irish Dancers and Kevin Fox on acoustic guitar at 9 p.m.

The restaurant’s St. Patty’s Day bash continues tomorrow with a kegs and eggs breakfast at 9 a.m., live entertainment by Pub Uglies from 4 – 8 p.m., a DJ from 9 p.m. to close and traditional Caledonian pipe and drums and McGing Irish Dancers performances throughout the day.  For more information, call 513-874-7468 or go to www.dinglehouse.com.

Posted in: Events, Recreational events |

Tags: Tags: cavanaugh irish pub, celebration, dingle house, drink, food, irish, mcging irish dangers, restaurant, St. Patrick's Day