The Peru Gazette

By John T. Ryan

Undoubtedly the “talk of the town” in Peru the last several months has been the popularity of Pasquale’s, a local restaurant in the middle of town with a brand new building. Passers-by can’t help but notice the full parking lot and quickly find themselves stopping by to find out what the excitement’s all about.

If you ask Pasquale’s owner Scott Bazzano why his restaurant is so popular since it re-opened last September he responds, “If it’s not right we make it right.” Sandy Bazzano, Scott’s mom who manages the restaurant, says, “There are three things. We have a great product, we have really good prices and we’re really friendly.”

Pasquale’s opened in September 2004 at the same location in a building that had been occupied by Passino’s Pizzeria.  Scott Bazzano says that after a few months in business he  realized that Peru needed another restaurant with good, consistent food.  Sandy added, “We also wanted a bigger, full-service bar.”  The new Pasquale’s has a beautiful copper-top bar and a bar area that includes five flat screen televisions and seating for about thirty. The dining room seats about fifty customers. Sandy describes the atmosphere as “Italian-Adirondack” which seems appropriate because much of the memorabilia on the dining room walls recalls family ski outings at Whiteface Mountain.

Sandy Bazzano describes Pasquale’s pizza as New York City style. She said, “The two most popular pizzas are cheese and pepperoni.”  Another popular local favorite is what Pasquale’s calls “garbage spaghetti.” It consists of spaghetti, meat sauce, meatballs, sausage, mushrooms, green peppers and onions topped with mozzarella cheese. Customers should not leave hungry. All entrees come with a salad and very popular garlic knots. Prices range from $7.95 for spaghetti and ravioli to $17.95 for scallops.   Michigans and burgers are very popular lunch items.  The restaurant’s bar is crowded almost every evening. Bar customers are offered ten draft beers, forty bottled beers and a wide variety of liquors. 

Take-outs and delivery are a big part of Pasquale’s business.  By the end of May the restaurant will open a separate building dedicated to take-out and delivery.  It should relieve some of the congestion that has been taking place in the restaurant entrance area.  

Pasquale’s is named after Scott Bazzano’s grandfather who immigrated from Italy as a young boy and settled in New York City. Scott grew up in Peru graduating from Peru High School in 1999.  The restaurant business has roots deep in the Bazzano family. After graduation Scott worked for his brother Jon in local restaurants prior to joining the U.S. Navy. Sandy Snow Bazzano’s family operated the well known Wharf Restaurant on the Lake Shore Road for several years and she managed that restaurant for three years. She has also operated the Twin Ponds Campsite for many years.

Pasquale’s is quickly becoming an important part of Peru’s social and business scene. Couples, friends, neighbors and families gather there on a regular basis. The restaurant has a staff of eight fulltime and seven part-time employees making it a vital part of our local business community.

The restaurant is open Monday-Thursday 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. and Sundays noon – 9 p.m. The bar is usually open later. Pasquale’s phone number is 643-0791. It is closed on Tuesdays.