Studies show as many as 61 percent of restaurants don’t make it to their third birthday; considering the numbers, it is a tribute that Pasquale’s Pizza & Pasta House has been a Westerville favorite for more than 20 years. On a recent lunchtime visit, Pasquale’s was packed. So what does this pizza place do to keep regular customers coming in for two decades?

First, there is the family-owned aspect: owner and Columbus native Jim Francisco named the restaurant after his father-in-law Pasquale Vitullo. The walls of the dining room are adorned with pictures of Pasquale’s wife Rosa making pasta, and Fransisco’s mother Lena making meatballs. Other family pictures abound. The Vitullo and Francisco families emigrated from the Abruzzi region of Italy in the first half of the 20th century. Their recipes and traditions are carried on faithfully today. Jim’s daughter Lisa Preston is a server and manages inventory, while his son Anthony works as general manager.

Beyond the family aspect, the restaurant serves high quality, freshly-made pastas, baked goods and sauces, all at very affordable prices. Pizzas range from 7 to 16 inches and start at $4.95 for a small cheese pie. Besides the usual toppings found in most pizza restaurants, there is a breakfast pizza ($13.95 to $19.95) with eggs, ham, bacon, onion and green pepper; and a bianca with garlic butter sauce and cheese. Subs run the gamut from ham and cheese, Italian, meatball, veggie and chicken, all priced at $5 to $7.50.

Lena, the baker in the family, makes the garlic twist rolls ($1.95 for a basket) daily, as well as calzones, gnocchi and lasagna. Various traditional pastas and appetizers including antipasto platter ($6.95) are plentiful. There is an inexpensive wine selection at a reasonable $4 to $5 per glass, or $18 and up per bottle. Non-alcoholic beverages are refilled free.

There is also a lunch special every day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. For $6.95, you can choose from:
• Rigatoni dinner with salad and garlic twist rolls
• Sub, salad and soda, or
• 7” cheese pizza, salad and soda

For pizza fans, the pepperoni pizza had adequate amounts of high-quality meat. The crust is thin and crispy with a yeasty crunch. The sauce is satisfying: not too tart or salty, nor is the pie over-sauced. It’s all topped with a blend of real Italian cheeses.

You will come back to Pasquale’s, if not for the ambiance, for the quality preparations served by friendly and attentive staff, even when very busy.

Pasquale’s Pizza & Pasta House
14 N. State St.
614-882-6200
Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday
Domestic and imported beer and wine.
Kids menu available.