Pelino’s Pasta is ready to bring an authentic taste of Italy to King Avenue. The previously traveling enterprise and pasta pop-up will make things permanent with their first brick-and-mortar restaurant.
Owners Vinny and Christina Pelino transformed the former home of Yellow Brick Pizza at 245 King Ave., and will celebrate the grand opening of Pelino’s Pasta on Thursday, August 5.
Diners will find a seasonal menu of antipasti like prosciutto and melon, caprese with balsamic caviar, and panzanella salad with octopus, as well as a few small filled pasta plates. As the name implies, the main attraction will be the pasta, made fresh daily in-house. And it’s dinner and a show for guests who order the star of the Pelino’s menu, a traditional Cacio e Pepe, which will be tossed tableside in a massive wheel of pecorino romano.
It wouldn’t be an Italian meal without bread, which will be focaccia, also baked fresh daily in-house in traditional and seasonal herb varieties. To finish the meal on a sweet note, Pelino’s will offer coffee service and a selection of desserts of Christina’s making, from classic tiramisu to a variety of seasonal crostatas.
The wine list will be all Italian, focusing on smaller vineyards and some unique varietals to pair with the regional dishes on Pelino’s menu. Instead of having a traditional liquor license, the restaurant will use its alcohol sales as a unique way to give back to the community.
“We are going to partner with local charities, a different charity each week, and we’re going to do special event permits,” Christina says. “100% of alcohol sales will go to that charity.”
The State of Ohio grants temporary liquor permits to nonprofits to sell alcohol for a limited number of days.
Pelino’s will support nonprofits like WAV, ROY G BIV, Columbus Fashion Alliance, Ronald McDonald House and more. The restaurant is also looking for additional nonprofit partners to fill up its schedule. Vinny and Christina hope that the unique set-up will also help raise awareness of some smaller nonprofit organizations making an impact on the community.
Seats are filling up quickly for opening weekend, so the Pelinos highly recommend reservations.
Pelino’s Pasta will be open Wednesday and Thursday from 5 – 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5 – 10 p.m.
For more information, visit pelinospasta.com.
All photos by Susan Post unless otherwise noted
