Casa Di Copani

Discover a well-kept secret just off Erie Boulevard, where too many fast food joints proliferate! You will find a hidden treasure tucked in a mini-mall just north of several car dealerships at 3414 Burnet Ave, Syracuse NY 13203. As, almost too simply stated in its name, The Casa di Copani (The Home of the Copanis) offers much more than just classic Italian fare. It serves it with home style care.
Genuine Italians serving up extraordinary Italian fare in a charming atmosphere is a rare find. Owner and chef John Copani delivers in both the dining room and the kitchen. This is a sizeable family-operated restaurant, offering an impressive menu while still providing an exceptionally intimate atmosphere. There exists an elegant, yet modest ambiance. Most of the softly played music is very meal-appropriate. A small, tasteful bar is at the front of the building, separated from the two dining rooms where you may sit in either free standing tables or comfortable booths.

Casa di Copani offers tasty and authentic Italian specialties at a reasonable price, and does it in such a singular way that it becomes a memorable experience. Elegance and tradition, right down to the attire of the experienced wait staff - black and white, Casa di Copani is artistically decorated in white stucco. Although the walls are painted white, with indirect lighting the ambiance is quite inviting and surprisingly comforting. The soft light mixed with the separate sections of the restaurant combine to produce welcoming and friendly surroundings that left me wanting to sit there all evening socializing in a nearly European way with my family, while eating the delectable food. The Casa has a separate menu for lunch, dinner, take-out, and for banquets.
On this night Kim, a veteran Casa wait person, took our wine orders. Exuding a quiet grace, she subtly guides our menu selections without a hint of anything but absolute courteousness. She inspires confidence without exerting an opinion, she knows exactly what to do and when to do it, a certain quality lacking in even the most experienced of wait staffs.

We each ordered a superb wine blend from Kendall Jackson called Tiz. A blend is the mixing of two or more different wines together to produce a consistent, finished wine that is ready for bottling. The Tiz was smooth with a fragrant bouquet, and cost $6 ($22 for a bottle). We were poured a very generous glass that was well worth the price. Casa di Copani had an extensive wine list with most selections priced at $5.25 per glass.
After settling in and ordering wine, we began to scrutinize the menu. Before our main courses, we were served a wonderful tomato, onion, and mozzarella salad along with bread with olive oil and fresh parmesan cheese to dip it in. Our wait person didn’t rush us, and was very obliging in explaining the specials and what the restaurant was noted for.

We decided on two appetizers: a light garlic pizza ($6.95) and one of their specialties, fried olives ($5.95). We also learned that another popular starter was fried calamari ($9.95). The pizza was excellent! The size was perfect, and it was neither greasy nor overly filling. The crust was thin and the garlic taste was mild.
After the appetizers the first thing we realized was that we had no idea what we wanted to order as everything looked uniformly enticing. I finally decided upon one of the specials, a Prime Rib Marsala ($18.95) smothered in mushrooms with a baked potato and side salad. A typical Marsala sauce involves reducing the wine almost to a syrup with onions or shallots, then adding mushrooms and herbs. The rib was cooked to perfection and you could have cut it with a butter knife. As I cut the tender rib with my thin knife, I savored the tastes, smells, and textures of this dinner which simply induced euphoria. A vegan, I am not!
We also sampled a few other selections. One was the Boston Baked Haddock ($16.95), that is one of the most flavorful of all white-fleshed fish, here served as a square chunk with very light breading along with pasta on the side (another one of the specials) and the Veal Copani with Mushrooms ($12.95). The servings were enormous and we probably could have left then, fully satiated.

Casa di Copani also has an impressive and quite reasonable lunch menu. Some of the other Italian specialties on the lunch menu included: Eggplant Parmigiana ($8.95), Chicken Riggies ($8.95), Veal Marsala ($12.95), Veal and Peppers Cacciatore ($9.95) and many hot sandwiches for modest prices.
The entrees were quite filling, but I had tiramisu nonetheless. The name Tiramisu is Italian and means “pick me up” (a reference to the effects of two of its ingredients: sugar and espresso), but can be translated figuratively as “cheer me up”. All I wish to share with you is the fact that I was wide awake and very happy. The tiramisu was velvety and quite rich. I also sampled a carrot cake tart along with a crème brûlée that melted in my mouth. Crème brûlée is a French dessert consisting of a rich custard base topped with a layer of hard caramel, created by burning sugar under a grill, or with a blowtorch. No blowtorch here, but the taste was still remarkable.

Casa di Copani is a Syracuse favorite that has been around for as long time. It is a charming Italian restaurant that is stylish, yet feels like a family run business. The atmosphere is relaxing, inviting, and romantic. The decor has aged like a fine wine and the restaurant has the look and feel like it is the establishment of a proud family. The staff was very pleasant and pleasing. The food was terrific, and I cannot say enough about the service; it was a perfect balance of friendliness and efficient professionalism. You really felt pampered, but not rushed in the least. With the traditional Italian music, the dim lighting, this is definitely one of the most enjoyable dining experiences in town.

Hours of operation
Mon-Thurs: 11:30am - 10pm; Fri & Sat: 11am - 11pm and Sunday: 3pm - 9pm
Reservations: 315-463-1031?

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