“We have a big fan base here, a big family fan base,” says David Bafaro, who co-owns Revelstoke’s new Padrino’s Pizzaria with life partner Jess Sessa.
Both under 25, they have nearly two decades of restaurant experience between them. With a love of Italian culture and their hometown, they jumped at the opportunity to take over the former Little Caesar’s location and turn it into a home for their talents.
“I’m trying to bring in the best ingredients,” Bafaro said of his philosophy. “The freshest.”
He imports San Marzano tomatoes, bocconcini mozzarella and sources the best bacons, sausages and flours.
Bafaro strives to create a uniform, clean, healthy, quality product. Preparation work is done daily – dough is mixed and panned, vegetables sliced and sauces prepared.
They offer thin, regular and deep-dish pizzas.
For those on gluten-restricted diets, they offer a medium-sized gluten-free crust; they’ve also got soy-cheese for vegetarians.
They’ve also got a selection of chicken wings, Italian standard dishes (calzones, panninis), and a range of desserts and dessert pizzas (Apple Eat-Za-Pie, S’More Gallore).
Bafaro also offers some individual touches to the menu. There’s the dill pickle wings, salt & vinegar chicken wings, or the Franco pizza complete with mandarin orange slices.
The business partners plan to keep daytime hours, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. They have daily lunch panninis, They serve pizza by the square for $2.50. The lunchtime student and downtown crowd will be a big part of their trade. They’re open for dinner, but close at 9, taking a pass from the rowdy late-night bar crowd.
“I want this to be the family pizza restaurant,” Bafaro said. So far, their family connection has kept them overwhelmingly busy. The Bafaro and Sessa names are two of the most recongizable family names here, and they’ve been “slammed” with business in the week since they’ve opened.
The young entrepreneurs hope to build upon their connections to develop Padrino’s Pizza.
Oh, and who’s Padrino? The Godfather.
Contact them at 250-837-3300, or find them on Facebook (for specials and contests), Twitter (@PadrinosRevy), or on the web at padrinospizzaria.com.
They offer pick up, eat in or delivery.
