Anna Donato-Ghani regularly dishes up Italian favorites through her Pickles catering company, but she also gets questions from people about how they can pick up a dish for an average week night dinner.
“People kept saying we love that you cater, but we would also love to get a pizza or lasagna or spaghetti and meatballs,” says Donato-Ghani.
So this summer, Donato-Ghani decided to open up a pop-up restaurant on Wednesdays outside of her floral shop at 36th Avenue and Noble Avenue.
“We’ve only been doing it for five weeks, but it’s really successful,” she said.
Donato-Ghani makes a limited amount of her family-style gigantic meatballs and spaghetti. She serves up lasagna and wood-fired pizzas. She prides herself on quality tomatoes, basil and olive oil that is fresh and flavorful.
Customers have noticed. Some nights she sells out.
“The food is fabulous. We love it,” says Sandy Belden, who has dined al fresco every night the restaurant has been opened. “We love the experience of eating out here in outdoors.”
“It was really fresh. I could see the tomatoes were mashed up instead of processed and they were ruby red,” says Gage Senear. “I like it.”
Anna Donato-Ghani plans to keep offering the pop-up restaurant on Wednesdays. She advises if you want to come, check the forecast and check Facebook (@mamadonatos). If the weather is nice, you can come buy some food.
“We love doing this,” says Donato-Ghani.
Shannon Slatton, reporting
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