CASANOVA

Posted: November 1st, 2012



If there is one thing I think all Americans can agree on is our immeasurable love of Italian food. Some incarnation of the region’s cuisine finds its way onto almost every restaurant menu, and if you have a kid who is a picky eater, they will probably perk up if you put a bowl of spaghetti in front of them.

However, of the dozens of Italian restaurants you can visit in the Lexington area, if you’re looking for one that is guaranteed to give you real Italian food made by real Italians, you should be prepared to fall in love with Casanova Italian Restaurant.

Both the restaurant’s owner Leonardo Capezzuto and its location have a fair share of history. Capezzuto was born in Naples, Italy and practically lived in his mother’s kitchen, learning the details of her techniques and recipes. He took his passion for food and service to manage several coffee shops and restaurants in his home country. His family introduced itself to Lexington both with Capezzuto’s Leonardo’s Café and when his sister Annarita, her husband Jason Gresham and his brother Giovanni, a cheese master from Napoli, opened Sapore D’Italia Market, which sells imported Italian foods, pastas and pastries with his hand- made Italian cheeses.

Casanova Restaurant was opened in February 2011 in the location of the long-standing upscale restaurant The Coach House. Guests of Casanova that experienced The Coach House for themselves may get a bit of déjà vu. Capezzuto said the restaurant’s dimly lit, romantic atmosphere with white tablecloths, rose centerpieces and crystal chandeliers may have what he calls an “antique” look he may change in the future, but it becomes immediately apparent that this is a place where the food is truly the star.

Capezzuto takes extra effort to ensure you have little choice than to have a truly Italian experience from the first sip of wine to the last bite of dessert. The slightly higher prices at Casanova are for good reason. If a dish isn’t made in-house with local ingredients, the restaurant imports those ingredients and many of its hard-to-find wines and signature desserts from Italy.

The fresh-baked Italian bread has the perfect contrast between the crisp exterior and soft, fluffy interior to sop up your extra virgin olive oil and Italian herbs. It can wet your appetite for any number of Italian antipasti, whether it’s the antipasto misto, deep-fried calamari and shrimp, bruschetta or Zuppetta di Cozze e Vongole (seasonal mussels and Manila clams sautéed in roasted garlic, chopped tomatoes and white wine).

The Caesar salad is a sizeable one, with baby field greens, walnuts, shaved Parmigiano, Caesar dressing and garlic- herb croutons. This salad can be made into a healthy entrée with the Insalata con Salmone, with perfectly grilled Atlantic salmon, sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts and balsamic vinaigrette.

Capezzuto takes particular pride in his secret recipe for his Bolognese sauce, a meat sauce he simmers to perfection for four hours and lets it refrigerate overnight to further enrich the sauce. This finds its way into its classic spaghetti Bolognese and the Lasagna alla Bolognese, which might be the best lasagna in Lexington. Its four cheese blend of ricotta, smoked provolone, mozzarella and parmesan (all courtesy of his brother) is served on a pool of marinara whose bright acidity and freshness complement the savory richness of this perfect pasta dish. If meat lasagna isn’t for you, you can also try varieties featuring mushroom and spinach, a veggie variety or a five-cheese Lasagna.

Casanova is also home to plenty of meat and seafood dishes, whether it’s veal, chicken, swordfish or a filet that its regular customers say is one of the best steaks you’ll get in the Bluegrass. A Casanova favorite is the lobster ravioli with homemade cream sauce and Parmesan cheese. It’s for good reason. Ask about getting the restaurant’s filet mignon with this delectable pasta and get a redefined version of surf and turf.

While you can finish up your meal with desserts that include imported Sicilian cannoli or Sorbetto al limone (lemon sorbet), the delicate, creamy and masterfully prepared tiramisu is the way to go. Combine the espresso flavor and sweetness of this dessert with a stiff, after-dinner digestive drink like Limoncello and you’ll reach a level of satisfaction that can be understood in any language.

Casanova Italian Restaurant is what results when a man like Capezzuto is determined to give guests a taste of his home – even though that home is thousands of miles away. Luckily for Lexington, a trip to this place can help you make that journey with just a few bites.

859.309.3313 | 855 South Broadway | casanovaky.com
 


Join TOPS on Facebook




tops in lex twitter