A new ownership group has opted to purchase one of Buffalo’s most beloved Italian restaurants. Mark Longo and Jennifer Hurley – both attorneys – along with home builder David Capretto, have stepped up to save the West Side landmark, Santasiero’s. Currently, the building is under contract, with closing anticipated this coming Monday. That same day, work on refreshing the interior will commence. It’s been a hot minute since many of the worn and torn restaurant aesthetics and features have been spruced up at this eatery.
Since 1921, the family operated restaurant, founded by Italian immigrant Dominic Santasiero, has been a reliable West Side go-to for lunch and dinner. Last year, Santasiero’s sadly closed its doors when fourth-generation owner, John Brands Jr., suddenly passed away. That’s when the building went on the market. Thankfully, it didn’t take long for someone to realize the opportunity at hand.
An exciting aspect of Santasiero’s 2.0 is that the new owners intend on running the place much as it did for decades. John Brands’ sister, Patricia “Trish” Brydalski is being brought onboard as general manager, which means that the original recipes will largely remain in place. That’s great news for anyone that ever fell in love with their pasta e fagioli (or pasta fasoola, as it was listed on the menu). There was really nothing like it, and for that reason alone Buffalo should be extremely excited about the salvation of this iconic establishment.
So, what else will be new at Santasiero’s, other than the owners and the interior aesthetics? I understand that there might be some new menu specials introduced down the road. Plus, there will be a full bar, along with Italian classics like Peroni and Italian sodas, Brio, aranciata, and San Pellegrino. There’s even talk of a patio feature with bike racks, which would be incredible. And you never know, maybe they might even serve up some coffee this time around. Now that would really be something!…