A popular Italian restaurant that serves ‘recipes from my Nonna who was straight off the boat’ has reimagined it’s space downstairs: an upgraded bar for those who like to drink, watch sports, mingle and listen to live music.
Fornarelli ‘s Ristorante, run by a father and son, will also soon add a “show” of sorts upstairs in it’s family oriented restaurant: an ala carte cheese wheel that will bring its fresh in-house pasta and sauces to the tableside.
“We make the pasta right in front of you,” said Vito Fornarelli, the son in the duo. “It’s a whole show in itself.” That service will begin in November.
Fornarelli ‘s Ristorante in Colchester, run by a father and son, added “The Grotto” as it’s called – Italian for basement – which has six televisions, a 150-inch big screen, and more. (Courtesy)
Recently the Colchester restaurant also remodeled its area downstairs for those who like that kind of atmosphere.
“The Grotto” as it’s called, Italian for basement, now has six televisions, a 150-inch screen, a TV projector, two professional dartboards, upgraded lighting, new furniture and a high top bar with 28 bar seats.
The Grotto, formerly known as “the lounge” fits about 75 guests with the full menu from the upstairs family restaurant plus a bar menu of wings, hamburgers, tenders, and quesadillas.
The Grotto has live entertainment on weekends, either a band, musician or disc jockey, and a 50 foot light up epoxy bar with the image of an Italian running through the bar top.
Fornarelli said he did the renovations in summer with his friend and contractor, Rick Donohue of Donohue Design Concepts.
Upstairs, there’s no mistaking the casual, family-oriented vibe and, according to online reviews, the delicious food.
“Excellent, fresh food every time we go, huge portions, nice selection of changing seasonal specials,” one guest wrote. “I like the family atmosphere upstairs and more lively lounge downstairs and outdoor dining options. The fried artichokes are to die for! Highly recommend.”
Another wrote: “Who knew that you could find good traditional Italian food in Colchester? Can’t wait to go back, enjoy the food, and hopefully meet the Pugliese chef! Unpretentious place, homey atmosphere, nice waitstaff, and traditional freshly made Italian food.”
The guest reviewer added: the “bonus” is guests can buy the “delicious,” made-from-scratch pasta to take home.
“We care about the community and guests,” Vito Fornarelli said. “Our motto is come in as as a guest, leave as family.”
Fornarelli ‘s Ristorante in Colchester, run by a father and son, added “The Grotto” as it’s called – Italian for basement – which has six televisions, a 150-inch big screen, and more. (Courtesy)
Vito Fornarelli and his dad, John, also own a Fornarelli’s Ristorante in Manchester with a speakeasy setting downstairs.
As for the menu content, “Recipes are from my Nonna who was straight off the boat with limited ingredients,” Vito Fornarelli said.
“We do everything home made like they did in Italy,” he said.
The menus have specials weekly and are fresh fish focused, although they serve pasta, chicken parmesan, ravioli, veal, steak and more.
Vito Fornarelli said they get whatever fish is the freshest every week, then figure the recipe based on the fish.
At various times they carry swordfish, clams, muscles, haddock, sole, and sea bass.
The upcoming cheese wheel tableside service will be as tasty as it is entertaining when the warm pasta hits the cheese, he said.
Fornarelli ‘s Ristorante in Colchester, run by a father and son, added “The Grotto” as it’s called – Italian for basement – which has six televisions, a 150-inch big screen, and more. (Courtesy)
The homemade from-scratch pasta comes in linguine, spaghetti, penne, and rigatoni. The sauces available will be Alfredo marinara, vodka marinara, and meat sauce, Then there are the side choices such as sausage.
Vito Fornarelli said he grew up in Colchester.
“When we moved here (the restaurant to Colchester) we wanted to bring what we had to offer back to the town I grew up in,” he said.
Fornarelli ‘s Ristorante in Colchester, run by a father and son, added “The Grotto” as it’s called – Italian for basement – which has six televisions, a 150-inch big screen, and more. (Courtesy)
Dining and Cooking