TownNews

by Marshall Williams - Special to The Sun

Customers crowding the PizzaPlace on a Saturday night might be surprised to learn that the restaurant's take-out business is almost as robust as its in-house service. The restaurant has such a welcoming and homey atmosphere that you'd think everyone would want to eat there.

"We try to make it comfortable and friendly and a place for everyone, from couples to large families," says owner Rosario Cacciatore of this unimposing Italian restaurant at the corner of Broad and Union streets in downtown Westerly, across from the library and post office. "It's easy for us to accommodate large parties, and the open kitchen helps make everything accessible. Even when people are waiting for a table in the front, they have a good time talking to the cooking staff, asking us questions and checking out the food.

"A lot of our customers have a relationship now with the staff, because they get to know each other. We really try to encourage that. It's really the staff here that keeps everything going," he adds.

Cacciatore, 35, has been single-minded in his pursuit of creating an authentic Italian restaurant and pizza parlor, as his name might suggest. "I've been cooking since I was 13," he says with a laugh, and he worked at The Recovery Room restaurant in New London before opening the PizzaPlace in 1998.

Cacciatore's idea is simple and basic: "I believe in making pizza using the best ingredients, and having a menu that's consistent and reliable, so customers know just what they're getting when they come in. It's really important for the restaurant to be clean, and we want a fun, comfortable atmosphere. So that's what we have."

The PizzaPlace seats about 150, with an additional 50 places in the summer when the patio is open, and it's always crowded on weekends and in the summer, which is "busy all the time," Cacciatore says. His staff of 35, which grows to 48 in the summer, includes 14 cooks. "I love to cook myself," he says. "My favorite thing is to be behind the line making pizzas." Cacciatore also enjoys working on new menu items, often with the help of his staff.

"We introduced what we call David's Garlic Bread," he says, "which comes from one our our chefs, David Reeves, who's been here about four years. He used to make it for himself and we were always eating it on him, so we just had to put it on the menu."

The one-of-a-kind garlic bread features touches of mozzarella, oregano and marinara sauce.

This fall and winter, Cacciatore will be working on a new line of authentic Italian grinders, something he feels has been missing at his restaurant and other restaurants in the area.

"Over the next few weeks, people will be able to try out a few different things as we experiment with them," Cacciatore says. "Right now we're just testing different breads, to get a grinder roll that's crispy, not soft. Then we'll be working with different ingredients for the fillings, and maybe over the winter we'll try out our different ideas. People can keep an eye out for that."

The PizzaPlace is known for various authentic Italian dishes, not just its signature red and white pizzas, Cacciatore says. The popular gorgonzola salad makes a terrific side or main dish, and the pasta offerings include a classic marinara in the simple Westerly style, as well as chicken ravioli, spicy sausage ravioli and mac and cheese for the kids.

"We dedicate our time to each of them so that everything is the best," Cacciatore says.

Parking No Problem...
Customers of the PizzaPlace don't need to be worried about any lack of parking in downtown Westerly, says proprietor Rosario Cacciatore. There's always room in the parking garage accessible from Broad and Main streets, next to the restaurant entrance. "People sometimes forget the parking garage is there," Cacciatore says, "and it's open and free on evenings and on weekends. And during the weekdays, if people come in, to eat or to pick up an order, we'll validate their parking ticket, so it's always free."