Sagra Italia opens in downtown Rochester: video
Pastas are homemade at this counter service restaurant with a full bar.
The owners of a popular bar and restaurant in downtown Rochester has opened an Italian restaurant two doors down.
Sagra Italia has opened at 155 St. Paul St., a few steps away from Tapas 177, which has been a lively gathering place since 1996.
The new restaurant is owned by Demetrio and Gretchen Cavatassi together with Chris Ziogas. Also involved in the business are Ava and Mia Cavatassi, daughters of the Cavatassis; their third daughter, Gretta, lives in New York City.
Demetrio Cavatassi said his heritage is Italian, and he had always wanted to own an Italian restaurant. Sagra is named for the traditional festivals that villages and regions hold in Italy.
Sagra incorporates a full bar, espresso bar and counter-service restaurant. An inviting dining room that looks out onto the street can accommodate roughly 35 people; a cozy nook for four has a couch and a couple of chairs. There are several places to charge phones and laptops.
The full-service bar focuses on Amaro, Italian wines and craft cocktails made with an Italian flair. Customers are also welcome to dine at the long bar.
The food menu includes homemade pastas, pizzas, sandwiches, salads and sides. “We created this menu based on things we love making at home,” Ava Cavatassi said. “We’re focusing on real ingredients.”
Thick-crust pizzas are served by the pie and by the slice. Sandwiches, three of which are based on fried chicken cutlets, are stacked on thick homemade focaccia.
Pastas are homemade and its bolognese sauce, made with beef and pork, is a standout. Its lasagna has been an early customer favorite; rather than the thick American-style lasagna with ricotta cheese, this thinner version layers homemade pasta sheets with bolognese sauce, a creamy béchamel sauce and parmesan and romano cheeses.
The restaurant group also runs Event 180, an event space and wedding venue that’s across the street from Sagra Italia and Tapas 177. It opened in May 2024. Ava Cavatassi said the family is passionate about being a positive presence in that section of downtown.
“We want to improve it as much as we can,” she said. “With the new apartments, there’s a new crowd coming down here and we’re excited about it.”
If you go
Sagra Italia is at 155 St. Paul St. It is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday; the kitchen closes at 9 p.m. Takeout is available. Online ordering, curbside pickup and delivery will be added soon. Find the full menu at sagraitalia.net. Reservations are not accepted.
Metered parking is available on the street (it’s free after 6 p.m. weekdays, on weekends and on legal holidays).
Accessibility: The space is wheelchair-accessible (enter through the door to the south of the main entrance). It has two large unisex bathrooms. The seating is at standard height tables, with the exception of bar stools.
Tracy Schuhmacher has covered the Rochester-area food scene for more than 10 years. Send story tips to tschuhmach@rocheste.gannett.com.
Dining and Cooking