A reservation-only Italian restaurant on Columbus's northeast side is up for sale for $1.2 million, but its longtime owner insists the doors aren't closing. Pasqualone's Ristorante, tucked into 5766 Emporium Square, is looking for a new owner to carry on a kitchen that's been booked solid through Christmas.
David Pasqualone plans to retire after running the restaurant for over 20 years with his wife, Lori, according to 614NOW. He's now searching for a successor to take over the business, and as reported by NBC4 WCMH-TV, Pasqualone said the restaurant is not closing and that he's aiming for a seamless transition to new ownership that continues its legacy. The listing is for a buyer to take over the restaurant as it runs, according to Columbus Navigator, with an asking price of $1.2 million.
A Family Kitchen With Deep Roots
The restaurant's story stretches back further than the Pasqualone name on the sign. The space opened in 1993 as La Plaia before Dave Pasqualone purchased and renamed it Pasqualone's Ristorante in 2005, per the Columbus Navigator report. David Pasqualone prepares every entrée to order, running the place alongside Lori, per the same account.
The menu draws on family heritage, too. Per the restaurant's website, dishes are inspired by the Collecorvino region of central Italy, the birthplace of David's father, Otello Pasqualone. Diners can expect pasta, chicken and veal dishes, including spaghetti with marinara sauce and tortellini with alfredo sauce, alongside appetizers like mussels in white wine sauce and escargot, finished off with gelato or cannoli for dessert.
No Walk-Ins, No Carry-Out — Just a Long Waitlist
Pasqualone's has built its reputation without the conveniences most restaurants lean on. The dining room serves dinner Wednesday through Saturday, with reservations taken by phone, according to the Columbus Navigator. The restaurant does not accept walk-ins or offer carry-out or catering, per 614NOW's reporting, instead operating purely as a reservation-only dine-in spot known for a long waitlist.
That demand has been building for years. As Step Out Columbus put it, anyone hoping to dine there typically has to make a reservation weeks in advance. The restaurant was also a recent Top 10 finalist of Best Italian restaurants in Ohio, 614NOW reports, and has built a devoted following that includes prominent Columbus residents, per the listing.
Conflicting Details on Size
Reports differ on exactly how big the dining room is. Columbus Navigator describes it as a 48-seat restaurant, while 614NOW reports the space totals 1,875 square feet and can accommodate up to 60 guests. The discrepancy between those seating figures hasn't been explained in available reporting.
For whoever takes over, David and Lori Pasqualone are offering more than just the keys. Per the listing, David is prepared to provide the restaurant's recipes to new owners along with extensive training and support for as long as needed. The listing describes the dining experience as authentic cuisine with old-world elegance, crediting the couple's dedication of over twenty years to perfecting the guest experience — a legacy Pasqualone hopes the next owner will carry forward, booked-through-Christmas waitlist and all.
