Business of the Week: Tuscany Cafe
When Sal Cappiello Jr. opened Tuscany Café on Central Avenue in White Plains, he knew he had cooking traditional Italian dinners down pat. He had helped his father, Sal Sr., run Emilia’s Restaurant onArthur Avenuein theBronxfor years, keeping customers like Billy Joel, Christie Brinkley and Rudy Giuliani satisfied and competing with some of the city’s most respected eateries on a block known worldwide for its Italian food. InWestchester, though, Cappiello felt he needed more than just the best dinner dishes around if his newest establishment was going to thrive.
Cappiello decided the way to make Tuscany Café a success in the down economy was to attract a range of clientele – those looking for a nice dinner out, a good breakfast to start their day or a coffee and biscotti during their lunch break.
“If you feel like a sandwich or salad, you have that choice. If you feel like a dinner, you have that choice,” Cappiello explained. “It’s really whatever you’re in the mood for.”
Growing up in the restaurant business, Cappiello didn’t think he’d follow in his father’s footsteps and make it his career. He went to The City College of New York, where he studied to become a teacher, but found he wasn’t as ready as he thought to put the culinary world in his rear-view mirror.
“I really missed the people,” Cappiello, a teacher at Rockland BOCES by day, said. “You can take something and really make people happy.”
After his father sold Emilia’s in 1999 after 11 successful years, Cappiello opened Michele Michelle in Valley Cottage,RocklandCounty. Two years ago, he brought what he learned in the Bronx toWhite Plains.
“It’s got theArthur Avenue, Belmontflare without the drive down to the Bronx,” explainedWhite Plainsresident Anthony Lauro, a frequent Tuscany Café diner.
Cappiello gets his coffee from Coffee Labs Roasters inTarrytown, and he says a lot of his customers come in just for their caffeine fix.
“A lot of people think we’re just coffee,” he said. “If you want a cup of good coffee, we’re probably one of the best inWestchester.”
To create the best panini, salads and sauces, Cappiello handpicks all the meat and vegetables himself, though this isn’t as easy it was at Emilia’s.
“It’s got to go through my hands before it could go out on the table,” he said. “Being onArthur Avenuein theBronx, you’re able to get any product you want at any time. Now, being in Westchester, I have to run down to theBronx.”
Naturally, the philosophy that worked onArthur Avenuehas been a big hit onCentral Avenue. Tuscany Café’s Eggplant Parm won this year’s Best of Westchester award from Westchester Magazine, while some argue that the lasagna with a meatball is in fact the better dish. They’ve got a Chicken Danielle with mushrooms and peppers that’s also straight out of theBronx.
“Every little inch of this menu has some kind of significance to it,” Cappiello said. “Something from the past.”
Among the satisfied customers at Tuscany Café are Vincent Pastore (Big Pussy from the Sopranos) and Rocky Marciano’s brother, Lou.
Cappiello’s sister, Michelle, works at the restaurant with him while his father recently published a book called “My Life onArthur Avenue.”
“My mother and father taught us a good work ethic,” Cappiello Jr. said. “One of the things that my father taught me is to always give the customer the best product, as fresh as possible, at a very good price.”
Tuscany Café is located at 239 Central Avenue in White Plains. For more information on Tuscany Café visit www.tuscanycafe.us or call (914) 358-1550.
